Omar puts onus on Modi to hold polls, says some at high positions engineering delay

Srinagar, Dec 20 Alleging that vested interests, including some occupying positions of authority in J&K, are trying to engineer a delay in Assembly elections, National Conference (NC) vice-president Omar Abdullah urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to commit his government to holding polls in the state.

”Your government’s handling of J&K will be judged by whether Assembly elections are on time or not sir,” Mr Abdullah, who is the former chief minister of the state, said.

Mr Abdullah was responding to PM Modi’s comment that the high voter turnout in the polls clearly displays immense faith that people of J&K have put in grassroot democratic institutions of the country.
“Essence of democracy lies in empowerment of the common citizen, to which our government is totally committed,” the Prime Minister tweeted on his interaction with 48 newly-elected Sarpanches of Panchayats from the state who called on him in New Delhi on Wednesday.

Taking to micro-blogging site twitter to respond to the PM, Mr Abdullah said, “Sir, please also commit your government to Assembly elections in J&K.