EC Must Restore Democracy In J&K, Announce Dates For LS, Assembly Polls: Omar

PTK News Desk

SRINAGAR: National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah has called on the Election Commission of India (ECI) to uphold democracy in Jammu and Kashmir by scheduling both Parliament and assembly elections in the Union Territory.

Abdullah emphasized the urgency, stating, “We have no expectations from the Election Commission. The EC should play its role as part of its mission of maintaining democracy. It has been 10 years that J-K has not seen an assembly election.”

Referring to the report submitted by the former President Ram Nath Kovind-led committee on ‘one nation, one election,’ Abdullah urged the initiation of this policy in Jammu and Kashmir. He highlighted, “What can we hope for from them: drum-beating ‘one nation one election’ if you do not start from J-K. Is it to fool the people? There have to be elections in J-K, and it is a golden opportunity.”

Responding to inquiries about potential meetings within the Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD), Abdullah redirected the question to the alliance’s office bearers, stating, “If there is (a meeting), you ask (alliance president) Farooq Abdullah. I am not an office bearer in the PAGD, I belong to NC. Ask those who hold an office in the PAGD.”

On the subject of announcing candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, Abdullah asserted, “Whenever we wish to.”