NEW DELHI: National Conference (NC) leader Omar Abdullah on Wednesday hit out at the central government for inviting foreign delegates to observe the ongoing Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections, which Abdullah himself is contesting.
Abdullah said the government dismisses comments (on Kashmir) by foreign governments as India's "internal matter" but on the contrary has invited them as observers to J&K elections.
"I don't know why foreigners should be asked to check elections here. When foreign governments comment, then the government of India says 'this is an internal matter for India' and now suddenly they want foreign observers to come and look at our elections," Abdullah told news agency PTI.
Abdullah said the assembly elections in J&K "are an internal matter for us", and "we do not need their certificate".
"Also, this participation (of people in polls) is not because of the government of India, it is inspite of everything that the government of India did. They have humiliated people, they have used all the machinery of the government to detain and harass people," Abdullah said.
"Inspite of that, people are coming and participating in the elections. So, this is not something the government of India should be highlighting. But, anyway, that's the way they are," he added.
For the first time, the central government has allowed 16 foreign diplomats to visit J&K as election observers.
These diplomats will represent countries from ASEAN embassies, including the United States, France, Germany, Singapore, the Philippines, and Malaysia.
This delegation marks the third visit by foreign envoys since the revocation of Article 370 in August 2019.
The assembly polls in J&K are being conducted after 10 years, and are the first after the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019. Currently, polling for the second phase of J&K election is under way.
The NC vice president said the people of J&K have been waiting for 10 years for the polls and after the first phase went well "expect a good turnout from the second phase also".
"Regardless of which party, enthusiasm in political rallies has been heartening. Now, we hope that enthusiasm translates into voter turnout also," he added.
The first phase of J&K elections recorded a voter turnout of 59 per cent across 24 constituencies, covering seven districts in south Kashmir and Jammu division on either side of the Pir Panjal range.
Abdullah said the government dismisses comments (on Kashmir) by foreign governments as India's "internal matter" but on the contrary has invited them as observers to J&K elections.
"I don't know why foreigners should be asked to check elections here. When foreign governments comment, then the government of India says 'this is an internal matter for India' and now suddenly they want foreign observers to come and look at our elections," Abdullah told news agency PTI.
Abdullah said the assembly elections in J&K "are an internal matter for us", and "we do not need their certificate".
"Also, this participation (of people in polls) is not because of the government of India, it is inspite of everything that the government of India did. They have humiliated people, they have used all the machinery of the government to detain and harass people," Abdullah said.
"Inspite of that, people are coming and participating in the elections. So, this is not something the government of India should be highlighting. But, anyway, that's the way they are," he added.
For the first time, the central government has allowed 16 foreign diplomats to visit J&K as election observers.
These diplomats will represent countries from ASEAN embassies, including the United States, France, Germany, Singapore, the Philippines, and Malaysia.
This delegation marks the third visit by foreign envoys since the revocation of Article 370 in August 2019.
The assembly polls in J&K are being conducted after 10 years, and are the first after the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019. Currently, polling for the second phase of J&K election is under way.
The NC vice president said the people of J&K have been waiting for 10 years for the polls and after the first phase went well "expect a good turnout from the second phase also".
"Regardless of which party, enthusiasm in political rallies has been heartening. Now, we hope that enthusiasm translates into voter turnout also," he added.
The first phase of J&K elections recorded a voter turnout of 59 per cent across 24 constituencies, covering seven districts in south Kashmir and Jammu division on either side of the Pir Panjal range.
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