Srinagar, April 27 (UNI) National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah on Wednesday suggested that People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) should contest the Assembly polls jointly.
Omar’s suggestion comes at a time when the Delimitation Commission is on the verge of completing its exercise in Jammu & Kashmir. The Union government has been maintaining that assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir will be held once the delimitation exercise is over.
“I am not an office bearer of PAGD. If someone asks me, I would suggest PAGD should fight together in the polls,” Omar told reporters in Srinagar after a party meeting. “We should not allow BJP and it’s B and C teams to divide votes.”
Omar asserted that it was just his personal suggestion and the final decision about the polls lies with the PAGD itself.
The PAGD is headed by NC President Farooq Abdullah and the alliance has been seeking the reversal of the abrogation of J&K’s special status.
On Supreme Court agreeing to hear the pleas challenging the Centre’s decision to abrogate J&K special status after the summer holidays, Omar said it was a welcome decision and hoped the apex court would hear petitions on fast track basis.
“ ..It is better late than never. We understand that due to the Covid the courts working was affected and probably because of this the hearing on petitions against the revocation of Article 370 could not be taken up. We welcome that the Chief Justice of India announced that after the summer break the hearing on these petitions would be listed for hearing. We appeal to Chief Justice that the hearing should be conducted on a fast track basis,” he said
The NC Vice President said after August 5, 2019 many laws have been changed and if the judgment on the Article 370 is delayed it would be very difficult to reverse these changes.
“We seek the hearing of the petition should be taken up on fast track basis and the court announce its judgment,” he said
Omar said his party told the Delimitation Commission that its existence itself is illegal.
“We have challenged the reorganisation act, which means that the delimitation commission has also been challenged. That is why we want fast-tracked hearings and a judgment by the court,” he said.
On the worst electricity crisis in decades, Omar alleged electricity is being deliberately curtailed at Sehri and Iftar during the holy month to trouble the population during the holy month of Ramazan.
“Curtailment of electricity at Sehri & Iftar hours is being deliberately done to trouble us. Are you playing with our sentiments? If your intention is not to play with our sentiments, then give power during Sehri & Iftar hours and cut it at other hours of the day,” Omar said.
