10-01-2023 : Omar Abdullah, vice president of the National Conference, remarked on Tuesday that while voting is a constitutional right, Kashmiris will not beg the government of India to hold elections in Jammu and Kashmir. “So be it if elections are not held this year! None of us are begging. I’ve repeated it numerous times: Kashmiris are not baggers. We have the right to vote, but we won’t beg for it in front of them. They want to bring back our elections, which is wonderful. But if they choose not to, it is their prerogative, said Omar addressing reporters in the Anantnag district.

When questioned about the removal of residents from homes and public areas, Omar stated that it was one of the reasons why elections in Jammu and Kashmir were not being held. “That’s why they are not holding elections. They want to ‘harass’ the people. Instead of applying balm to the wounds of people, they seem to have a penchant to aggravate the hurt,” he said.

The former chief minister said the BJP government knows that an elected government will try to heal the wounds of the people while they only allegedly rub salt and chilli into them.

Asked about the government’s decision to arm the village defence guards following the Rajouri attack, Omar said this was an admission by the government that its claims to the nation at the time of abrogation of Article 370 in 2019 had fallen flat.

“On 5 August 2019, the nation was told that the gun in Kashmir is because of Article 370 and with repealing of Article 370, the gun culture will start to subside. However, as is clear, that is not the case on ground. The kind of attack we saw in Rajouri and the situation in Kashmir, the numbers of security forces personnel are being increased all this points to the fact that the situation is not under control. The government is now compelled to take these steps,” he added.