SRINAGAR/SONAMARG: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed hope on Monday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will honour his commitment to restoring statehood to the region.
Speaking at a public gathering in Sonamarg, Abdullah referred to the Prime Ministerโs earlier statement on International Yoga Day about reducing both the โdistance from Delhi and the distance from the heartโ with Jammu and Kashmir. He commended Modiโs continuous engagement with the region through frequent visits and developmental initiatives.
โMy heart tells me that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who kept his promises during his last visit to Srinagar, including holding assembly elections, will also fulfil his pledge of restoring statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. The way he has worked to bridge โDilli ki dooriโ and โDil ki dooriโ with J&K gives me confidence that this promise will soon be kept,โ Abdullah remarked.
The Chief Minister highlighted the smooth conduct of the recent assembly elections, stating, โThe elections witnessed massive participation from the public, and there were no reports of rigging or misuse of authority. Not a single polling booth required a re-election. Credit for this goes to the Prime Minister, his administration, and the Election Commission of India (ECI).โ
Omar Abdullahโs praise for the fairness of the elections stands in sharp contrast to allegations made by the Congress, a key member of the opposition INDIA alliance.
The Congress has often accused the BJP of tampering with Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and has demanded a return to ballot paper voting. Abdullahโs remarks may strain the alliance between the National Conference (NC) and Congress, especially given their collaboration during the state elections.
ALSO READ: PM Modi inaugurates Z-Morh Tunnel in Central Kashmir โ THE NEW INDIAN
During his speech, Omar Abdullah also paid tribute to the seven workers who lost their lives in an attack near the Z-Morh Tunnel last year.
โFor the past 35 years, the people of J&K have made sacrifices for the progress of this nation. My party has also paid a heavy price in this journey,โ he said.
Concluding his address, Omar acknowledged the Prime Ministerโs presence and remarked, โPrime Minister, even the weather has been kind to you today. The skies are clear, and while it is cold outside, there is no lack of sunlight or warmth in our hearts.โ
Abdullahโs open endorsement of the Election Commission and the transparency of the electoral process contrasts with Congressโ claims of electoral malpractice. This divergence in stance could exacerbate existing tensions within the INDIA alliance, where disagreements over leadership and strategy are already testing the coalitionโs stability.
