National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah asserted on Sunday that the recent surge in terrorist attacks should not be used as an excuse to postpone assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir. Abdullah highlighted that elections were held even in 1996 when militancy was at its peak.
"Some people are saying the situation has deteriorated and hence, there should be no elections. What happened to you? Are we so weak or has the situation worsened so much that there are no chances of holding elections? We held elections in 1996 and you have to agree that there is a difference of heaven and earth between the situation at that time and today," Abdullah stated, as quoted by news agency PTI.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a public rally at Gurha Slathia in Samba district, Abdullah criticised those opposing the elections. “Those who do not want to hold elections (in J&K) should tell that we are bowing before the gun-toting forces and are accepting defeat, besides ignoring the sacrifices of our forces. You tell our enemies that we will lay down without fighting,” he said, as per PTI's report.
Abdullah further noted that if the authorities wish to avoid elections due to the prevailing situation, they should express their stance openly. "If you want to bow before such forces then don’t go for the (assembly) elections. We have no objection because this election is taking place on the orders of the Supreme Court which has set a deadline of September 30," he said.
Challenging the authorities, he added, “You say in the Supreme Court the situation is not conducive for holding assembly polls and we are bowing before the forces who over the past (three) years martyred our 55 bravehearts. If you want to ignore and waste their sacrifices, we will bear the decision silently as there is nothing else we can do.”
Govt Failed To Ensure Development Of J&K, Security Also Compromised: Omar Abdullah
Abdullah criticised Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha for delaying a joint high-level meeting in Jammu to devise a strategy against the escalating terror incidents. “We know they won’t desist from their activities but somehow we were also found off-guard,” he remarked.
He lamented the delay, saying, “The meeting should have been called long ago after the first terror incident. Why did he wait for so long? It was only after we started raising the concern that the meeting was convened.”
Addressing the gathering earlier, Abdullah urged resilience in facing these forces but criticised the current administration’s approach. “We have to face these forces bravely but this is not expected under their rule,” he said.
He pointed out that the situation in Jammu and Kashmir has deteriorated since the current administration took over in January 2015. “When they took over from us in January 2015, the situation was altogether different as we had cleared all areas of Jammu region of the scourge of terrorism. Despite their claims post (August) 2019 (when J&K’s special status was revoked and the erstwhile state was bifurcated into two Union Territories), there is no place which is not facing the looming threat of terror attacks,” he said, as quoted by PTI.
Abdullah concluded by criticising the administration for failing to ensure the development and security of Jammu and Kashmir. “Not only did they fail to ensure the development of J&K, but our security has also been compromised, which is evident from the attacks, resulting in loss of precious lives of our brave personnel. They are least bothered about all these,” he said.