Srinagar, Apr 30: National Conference (NC) vice-president and former chief minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said it for the first time since 1996 that Assembly elections in the state were not conducted on time.
Talking to reporters in south Kashmir’s Shopian district on the sidelines of a public meeting, Omar said that the last five years of Prime Minister Modi-led government have proved disastrous for Jammu and Kashmir. “He (Modi) deteriorated the stabilized situation created by my government till 2014,” he said.
Omar said that the deterioration of situation has also caused inordinate delay in holding of Assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir. “It is for the first time since 1996 that assembly polls are not being held on time in the state.”
He added that it was Modi-led government at the Centre and BJP and its former ally PDP in J&K who are responsible for the delay in Assembly polls.
Notably, Jammu and Kashmir is under President’s rule from the past 10 months while as reports suggest that Governor administration has urged the Election Commission to go for polls in November.
Reports said that the poll panel was expected to conduct state elections in June-July, however, Governor administration while opposing the move has cited Ramazan, Amarnath Yatra and peak tourism season in the Valley as the reasons for delaying polls.
Earlier addressing the election rally, Omar Abdullah reiterated that his party would scrap the controversial Public Safety Act (PSA) if voted to power.
“No mother will have to look for their children in jails if we are voted to power and for it this parliament election would serve as a semi-final,” he said addressing a poll rally at Circuit House in Shopian.
He said that this election was being fought for the protection of the special identity of Jammu and Kashmir.
“Elections are generally contested for the development but this time we are fighting them for safeguarding Article 370 and 35-A,” said Abdullah.
He said that people would lose their land and employment if the special status of state was abrogated.
