Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday said the Election Commission should clarify its stand on reports that the US spent USD 21 million for “voter turnout in India”.
Talking to reporters on the sidelines of a function here, he vehemently opposed foreign interference in the country’s democratic exercise.
“It (foreign interference) should not happen. So far, there is no proof of foreign interference… the Election Commission has to clarify whether foreign interference had taken place in our elections because to date we are of the belief that our elections were conducted in a free and fair manner,” Abdullah said.
He was responding to a query about US President Donald Trump’s questioning the need to spend money on voter turnout in India. Trump also speculated that the previous Biden administration was attempting to “get somebody else elected” in the country.
“It is up to America and it is their aid whom they want to give or not. Where is that decision ours?” the chief minister said.
The US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) led by billionaire Elon Musk recently announced a series of expenditure cuts, including USD 21 million allocated for “voter turnout in India.”
No scope of talks with Pakistan as of now: CM Omar Abdullah
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has said there was no scope of talks with Pakistan over Kashmir issue amidst spree of terror attacks on security forces in Jammu and Kashmir.
“There was no scope of India initiating a dialogue with Pakistan following a spree of terror attacks on security forces and construction camps in Jammu & Kashmir,” Omar Abdullah said in an interview to BBC.
Omar, who had last year pitched for dialogue between two nations, accused Pakistan of “meddling” in the affairs of Jammu and Kashmir.
“Pakistan has never stopped meddling (in J&K’s affairs). It would be foolish to suggest that what J&K has seen has been purely indigenous without outside assistance. At the moment, there is no scope (for talks) due to the sort of attacks that have happened in the past few years,” Omar Abdullah said.
Officials said that 122 people were killed in 60 terror incidents across Jammu and Kashmir, including 32 civilians and 26 security forces personnel in 2024.
The National Conference (NC) vice president Omar Abdullah empahsised that Pakistan would have to take on board some of the Indian government’s concerns for a “friendly working relationship”.
“Trying to get Pakistan to take on board some of the government’s concerns so that we can establish a friendly working relationship is something the National Conference has talked about,” he further said.
The chief minister also ruled out any possibility of Article 370 restoration, which was abrogated in 2019, being restored in the region.
Pertinently, ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, both Omar and his father Dr Farooq Abdullah batted for the resumption of dialogue with Pakistan. During campaigning for regional elections, the chief minister supported dialogue with Pakistan, and urged the BJP led government at the centre to pay heed to Late Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s doctrine.
