KL Desk
SRINAGAR
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah who is in New Delhi Tuesday said situation in Jammu and Kashmir was not conducive for holding Assembly elections. The state witnessed devastating flood in the first week of September resulting in the unimaginable losses.
Omar held a meeting the Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi. While responding to queries after the meeting Omar said, “The state government has the capability to hold the elections but a distinction should be made whether it is the opportune time.”
He, however, made it clear that it was the Election Commission which would take a final call.
“National Conference has made it very clear that this is not the opportune time to hold the elections. We believe that at this point of time people are struggling to rebuild their life,” he said.
“The capital city anyway had less than optimum turnout in elections. Tomorrow when zero percentage turnout will happen in Srinagar, who will you blame for that. You certainly cannot blame me,” Omar said adding “Because I am not the one who is pushing for elections. You have to blame those people who are trying to hold elections.”
“We leave it to the Election Commission to decide. As far as the state government is concerned, as I am not talking here on behalf of the National Conference, the state government has made the distinction of whether we can hold the elections and whether we should hold the election,” he said.
“We are in a position to hold the elections in terms of our ability to hold the elections. We can hold that. We have to draw the distinction between the two. Whether it is the opportune time to hold the elections that is for the Election Commission to decide,” he said.
