National Conference (NC) vice president Omar Abdullah on Wednesday criticised the centre for inviting foreign delegates to observe the ongoing Assembly polls taking place in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K).
Polling was India’s “internal matter,” and there was no need to bring foreigners to observe the process, he said.
"I don't understand why we should request foreign observers to oversee our elections," Omar said to reporters. 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,” Omar told reporters.
He said the Assembly elections in J-K “are an internal matter for us” and “we do not need their certificate.”
Omar said, “The participation is not because of the government of India but because of what they have done in the last ten years, the government has humiliated the people of Jammu and Kashmir, and they are seeking relief through their representatives.”
There is no need to take credit for harassing and detaining people, which is what they have done so far here,” he said.
The Ministry of External Affairs invited a 16-member foreign delegation to observe the polling process in the UT.
The assembly polls in J&K are being conducted after 10 years and are the first after the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019.
Omar 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.”
The former chief minister of the erstwhile state of J&K said “Ummeed pe duniya qaayam hai’ (hope is what keeps the world moving).
“I am quietly hopeful. The rest is first in the hands of the Almighty and then in the hands of voters. So, let’s see,” he added.
Voting began at 7 am in the morning and will end at 6 pm. Vote counting will take place on October 8.
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