SIR could interfere with J&K polls: CM

Srinagar, Oct 7: Alleging that the delimitation exercise was held to benefit Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday said the proposed Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Jammu and Kashmir could be used to interfere with elections.
Talking to reporters on the sidelines of a function here, Chief Minister Omar said, “There is a possibility that the SIR could be used in J&K in a manner similar to what had happened during the delimitation exercise. We have already been victims of this game. We have not forgotten the delimitation.”
The Chief Minister said the purpose of the delimitation exercise was to “benefit” the BJP and expressed apprehension that a similar situation could arise during the SIR.
He, exuded hope that the proceedings underway in the Supreme Court, particularly concerning Form 6, would make it difficult to exclude people from the electoral rolls. “I hope it will be difficult for them to get people out of the voter list,” he said.
On the protests related to the Chief Election Commissioner and the detention of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, the Chief Minister questioned the government’s failure to initiate defamation proceedings against The Indian Express if its reporting was fabricated.
“If this is all fabrication, then why don’t you take action against them? I have not seen any defamation against them. What The Indian Express has written is right. If it was not written, then the government would have taken action against them,” he said. “At least there would have been defamation,” he added.
Omar said the ongoing protests were part of the programme announced by INDIA bloc leaders following their recent meeting in Delhi. “This is the result of the INDIA bloc meeting that took place in Delhi the other day. And the calendar of the whole month was presented to the media. We are taking that forward,” he said.
On the expansion of his Council of Ministers, the Chief Minister said a decision would likely be taken after his return from Delhi and consultations with National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah.
He said the government would first complete the GST Council meeting in Delhi an would consult Dr Farooq Abdullah on the cabinet expansion.
On recent administrative changes, the Chief Minister said some transfers had been ordered by the elected government while others had been carried out by the Lieutenant Governor.
He said the government would work together with the officers who had been posted in various departments.
On Prime Minister Narendra Modi completing 25 years in public life, the Chief Minister said it is not easy to win elections continuously for such a long period. “He has been standing here for 25 years. People must have voted again and again. It is not easy to win elections for 25 years in the government and then to come at the central level,” he said. “I would like to congratulate him on behalf of myself and my colleagues,” he added.
Regarding the pending recruitment rules for Government Medical Colleges (GMCs), CM Omar said the rules were almost ready and were being given the final shape. “There were some contradictions in the rules that were made and proposed. Those contradictions are being removed,” he said.
He said the government did not want to rush the process and added that the contradictions and conflicts were being resolved. “The whole process is being done. All the contradictions and conflicts are being removed. I think it will be notified soon,” he said. (KNO)