Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah demanded that the ECI should convene a meeting of all political parties to address their concerns about the Special Intensive Revision (SIR).
On the sidelines of the passing out parade of the army JAKLI regiment, Omar said, “There are genuine concerns and apprehensions, and it will be better if the Election Commission convenes a meeting to explain to us what the SIR is really all about.
“We know you didn’t steal the elections through machines, EVMs, but there are guaranteed manipulations,” he said.
The Chief Minister alleged that the 2023 delimitation carried out in Jammu and Kashmir was also aimed at manipulating the elections.
“You created seven seats for politics that led to benefiting a single party or its friends in the UT. The elections are surely manipulated this way. So apprehensions are right about you allowing or manipulating elections through SIR,” he added.
The chief minister congratulated 713 cadets for passing out and entering JAKLI, which he said has a close relationship with J&K since it guards the country’s borders.
When asked if the birth anniversary of the National Conference founder, Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, on Friday, will mark a holiday, Omar said his government does not have the power to declare holidays.
"I wish! In the division of powers, the elected government has not been given the power to declare holidays. It is with the Centre. That is why we seek restoration of statehood so that we can take big or small decisions ourselves," he said.
He went on to say that there was no need to celebrate a holiday to remember Sher-e-Kashmir: "You saw the best cadet was awarded a sword, which is known by the name of 'Sher-e-Kashmir'.
Marking the day as a holiday doesn’t add to anything or lessen his contribution in the context of Jammu and Kashmir’s political history; he will be remembered for his contributions forever, he added.
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