Timely Elections Test For PM Modi, Says Omar  

SRINAGAR — Former chief minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday said holding Lok Sabha and Assembly elections simultaneously in Jammu and Kashmir was a test for Prime Minister Modi.

Talking to reporters in Shangus area of Anantnag, Omar said that the scheduled visit of Election Commission of India (ECI) officials to the state was deferred due to upcoming visit of PM Modi.

 “They (ECI) were forced to postpone their visit to the state due to PM Modi’s visit,” he said.

Omar said that his party favoured early elections in the state as per Supreme Court guidelines.

“Elections shouldn’t be postponed. They should be held within six months as per Supreme Court guidelines. I think it is a test for Modi Sahab. Have they (Centre) deteriorated the situation in Jammu and Kashmir to an extent that elections can’t be held? Modi sahab has to be decide this,” said Omar.

He also said that if the situation is so bad and elections couldn’t be held, then his party will have to decide their plans accordingly. “We have heard that both PDP and BJP leaders are seeking deferment of the assembly elections. We have made it clear that Modi sahib has to take the decision that could the elections in J&K be held on time or not and if elections are not held on time, then it means Modi sahib has worsened the situation in Kashmir.’’

According to plans, the EC team headed by chief election commissioner, Sunil Arora was scheduled to visit the state on January 27 and 28 to meet the officials and make an on the spot assessment of the ground situation whether the assembly and Lok Sabha polls could be held in the state simultaneously. However, the visit was postponed at the last moment. In the political circles, there are now rumours that the assembly and Lok Sabha elections could be held separately due to the prevailing situation.

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