It’s unfortunate that the SC had to declare the J&K elections: Abdullah Omar

Omar Abdullah, a former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, called it “a matter of considerable shame” that the Supreme Court, not the Election Commission of India, was required to make an order on elections in Jammu and Kashmir.

The leader of the National Conference also said that it was incorrect to believe that Article 370 was the primary cause of all of Jammu and Kashmir’s issues and that terrorist attacks were now occurring in places that had previously been free of terrorism, particularly the hills of Jammu, Rajouri, and Poonch.

Speaking at ABP Network’s `Ideas of India’ Summit 3.0 here on Saturday, he said that under the current government’s term, more Kashmiri Pandits had been slain in targeted assaults in the Valley than in previous times.

Abdullah questioned, “What is the BJP and what is the Government of India going to do about the deadline the Supreme Court has set?” pointing out that the court had declared that Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections were to take place by the end of September 2024.

“It is a matter of considerable shame that elections in Jammu and Kashmir, rather than being announced by the Election Commission or encouraged by the Government of India, had to be announced by the Supreme Court,” Abdullah said.

The Supreme Court affirmed the Center’s decision in December of last year to repeal Article 370, which had granted the former state of Jammu and Kashmir a unique status, but it also ordered that statehood be restored “as soon as possible.”

It said that assembly elections have to take place before September 30, 2024.

Abdullah said that terror assaults against Pandits in Kashmir are commonplace in the Valley.

He said that even after Article 370 was repealed, there are still pockets of separatist support and that there is seldom more than a week or two between terrorist attacks.

He said that under the current (Union) government, more Kashmiri Pandits had been slain in targeted assaults than under prior administrations.

The former chief minister also said that the Pandits from Kashmir, who were relocated by his administration with government employment in the Valley, are now begging to be let to return to Jammu.

“Kashmiri Pandits still don’t feel secure under this regime.

Abdullah said, “More Kashmiri Pandits now want to leave Kashmir than (those who) wished to five or 10 years ago.