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Imploring him to keep his other promise of restoring statehood to J&K, CM Omar Abdullah said Kashmiris are increasingly putting their trust in PM Narendra Modi
PM Narendra Modi and J&K CM Omar Abdullah during a public meeting, at Sonamarg in Ganderbal district on January 13. (Image: PMO via PTI)
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for keeping his word about holding elections in the union territory. He also thanked him and the Election Commission for conducting free and fair polls.
“The Prime Minister fulfilled his word and conducted elections in J&K within four months of him saying so…people of J&K were given an opportunity to cast their vote amidst high turnout and without any rigging or repoll being conducted in any booth. I thank the Prime Minister and the Election Commission of India for this…and a result of this is that I am standing before you as the CM,” he said.
Abdullah, however, implored Modi to fulfil another promise, which is to restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, saying Kashmiris are increasingly putting their trust in the Prime Minister.
His statement may come as a snub to the Congress, which is an ally of the National Conference (NC), and other INDIA bloc parties, who have been crying foul over the election results in Haryana and Maharashtra while also raising questions against the use of electronic voting machines (EVM).
The Election Commission of India (ECI), while announcing poll dates for Delhi, had to counter allegations of EVM tampering in great detail. It pointed to the recent results in J&K and Jharkhand, where the opposition parties registered big wins.
Apart from talks of the growing closeness between the BJP and NC when it comes to J&K, political observers said if the Centre soon fulfils the promise of statehood, it could solidify Abdullah’s position as he can take credit for bringing it about.
Modi’s response to Abdullah’s statement has also increased speculation over their newfound bonhomie. “I live up to my promises. I will fulfil every promise, everything has time and it’ll be fulfilled,” he said.
The Sonamarg tunnel function was also a classic example of federalism as the two praised each other for working for the benefit of J&K and fast-tracking projects like this tunnel.
The crowd, during the inauguration of the Z-Morh tunnel, also featured many national flags as Modi and Abdullah shared the stage alongside Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha. Earlier, Abdullah and Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh shared a chopper ride to the venue.
A spokesperson for the BJP, Shehzad Poonawalla said Abdullah had shown the mirror to those raising allegations against the EC. “Earlier too, the CM had said EVMs cannot be blamed for election losses. He also praised the PM for peaceful and free and fair elections in J&K and the people trusted these elections. Democracy was the winner in these elections. But Congress has been raising questions over the EVMs after the losses in Maharashtra and Haryana,” he said.
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Srinagar, India