Srinagar, Jan 29: Former chief minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday said holding Lok Sabha and Assembly elections simultaneously in Jammu and Kashmir was a test for Prime Minister Nerendra Modi.
He said holding separate polls for Lok Sabha and Assembly would sent out a message that situation in Kashmir during three-year rule of PDP-BJP coalition has become “un-conducive” for conduct of Assembly polls in the state.
Talking to journalists in Shangus area of Anantnag, Omar said that the scheduled visit of Election Commission of India (ECI) officials to the state was deferred due to upcoming visit of PM Modi.
“They (ECI) were forced to postpone their visit to the state due to PM Modi’s visit,” he said.
Omar said that his party favours early elections in the state as per Supreme Court guidelines.
“Elections shouldn’t be postponed. They should be held within six months as per Supreme Court guidelines. I think it is a test for Modi Sahab. Have they (Centre) deteriorated the situation in Jammu and Kashmir to an extent that elections can’t be held? Modi sahab has to be decide this,” said Omar.
He also took a dig at the BJP and PDP for what he said asking Delhi to postpone the Assembly polls, saying that “PDP goes to Delhi for begging over the demand for deferment of polls as the party has lost ground in Kashmir.”
He also said that “PDP’s demand suits BJP which too has lost ground in its strong bastion Jammu.”
He said deferment of Assembly polls and conducting Lok Sabha and Assembly polls separately would be a big failure of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Jammu and Kashmir as the same would sent out a message that Modi government has failed to create conducive atmosphere for holding of Assembly polls in the state.
Omar Abdullah said keeping in view the ruling of the Supreme Court on holding Assembly polls within six months after the imposition of President’s rule in any state, the holding of Lok Sabha and Assembly polls simultaneously is a big challenge for Prime Minister Modi.
He said National Conference has always stood for timely conduct of elections and is vehemently opposed to any deferment of the Assembly polls in the state.
PDP ready for polls, Omar Abdullah's statement is an invented misinformation. In a recently held All Party Meet by ECI, PDP made its stand clear. Also its a constitutional obligation now to hold time bound polls. Why would PDP object to that. Ironic that NC seems out of agenda
— Rafi Ahmad Mir (@Rafiahmadmir) January 29, 2019
