Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah, voiced his skepticism regarding the BJPs claims of development and peace in the region. During a visit to Mumbai, he highlighted the irony of the Supreme Court announcing elections for Jammu and Kashmir instead of the Election Commission.Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Challenging BJPs narrativeSpeaking at the Ideas of India Summit, Abdullah expressed doubts about the BJPs governance in the erstwhile state. He emphasized the need for assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir by September, in accordance with the Supreme Courts directives.It is a matter of shame that elections were announced by the Supreme Court of India and not by the Election Commission, remarked Abdullah during a session on Truth and Reconciliation: Giving Kashmir a Chance.He underscored the urgency of conducting elections, stating, If five years after 2019, you cant hold elections then it is a shame. If you could have elections in 1996, then you should have no excuse in conducting elections in 2024.Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Condemns Modi governmentAbdullah did not mince words in criticizing the Modi government, labeling it as disconnected from the ground realities faced by ordinary citizens. He questioned the absence of assembly elections in the region since 2014, despite claims of peace and stability post the events of August 5, 2019.The government is not reaching out to the ordinary people. We havent had assembly elections since 2014. If everything is so peaceful and people are thrilled with what happened on 5th August 2019, then why are they not having elections” queried the National Conference leader.Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Addressing Kashmiri Pandit concernsAbdullah also addressed the challenges confronting Kashmiri Pandits, stressing that despite apparent calm, issues such as militancy, terror attacks, and assaults on minorities persist.To believe Article 370 is the root cause of the problems in Jammu and Kashmir is not right. The country was told separatism, terrorism, and lack of development are because of Article 370. But we will be reaching the 5th anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370 this year, and separatists and terror on the ground continue to exist, Abdullah asserted.He emphasized the need to facilitate the return of Kashmiri Pandits, attributing their exodus to a lack of security rather than Article 370. Abdullah criticized the government for failing to restore a sense of security to the community and highlighted increasing incidents targeting Kashmiri Pandits.
