Diplomats in J&K: Showcase time for Modi, red rag for Oppn
The issue of diplomats from 16 countries visiting Jammu and Kashmir to witness ongoing elections to the Assembly of the UT took a political shape on Wednesday with the Opposition leaders questioning the move, even as the ruling BJP hailed it as a sign of strength of Indian democracy.
National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah, who is contesting from Ganderbal and Budgam, both polling in the second phase of J&K elections today, was the first to question the development — a departure from the policy practised by past governments who discouraged diplomatic level visits to J&K.
“I don’t know why foreigners should be asked to check elections here. When foreign governments comment, then the Government of India says ‘this is an internal matter’ and now suddenly they want foreign observers to come and look at our elections. Elections in J&K are an internal matter for us and we do not need their certificate. Also this participation is not because of the Government of India, it is in spite of everything that the Centre did. They have humiliated people, they have used all government government to detain and harass people,” the former Chief Minister said.
He said inspite of everything people were coming and participating in the elections.
“So, this is not something the Government of India should be highlighting. But, anyway, that’s the way they are,” he said.
For Prime Minister Narendra Modi, successful conduct of peaceful elections in J&K is a showcase moment.
The timing of the delegation’s visit to J&K is equally significant.
Diplomats from Delhi-based missions of the US, Mexico, Guyana, South Korea, Somalia, Panama, Singapore, Nigeria, Spain, South Africa, Norway, Tanzania, Rwanda, Algeria and the Philippines arrived in J&K on Wednesday morning close after Modi returned home from his three-day US visit.
The BJP sources said high voter turnout in the J&K elections, despite attempts at sabotage in the form of terror attacks in Jammu, was a signal of India’s commitment to democracy.
This is the first time that diplomats have been invited to J&K to witness elections.
Under the Modi-led NDA dispensation, the government has invited ambassadors from several countries and members of the European Parliament to visit the Valley and assess law and order in 2020 following the bifurcation of the erstwhile state into UTs of J&K and Ladakh. Later, diplomats were invited to Srinagar for the G-20 event.
But this is the first time that they are in J&K to see elections first-hand.
The first phase of J&K elections on September 19 saw 61 per cent voter turnout which was the highest in 35 years.
In the second phase today, J&K’s capital Srinagar and key segments of Ganderbal (a known Abdullah family stronghold) and Budgam are going to polls.
In the third phase, North Kashmir’s Sopore, Kupwara, Handwara and Bandipora will vote.
The visiting delegation today visited polling stations in Ompora in Budgam and Amira Kadal and SP College, Chinar Bagh, within the Lal Chowk constituency in Srinagar.
The MEA sources said they had sent invites to 20 embassies and 16 responded.
Earlier in May, five Lok Sabha segments of J&K had recorded 58.46 per cent voting, the highest in the last 35 years.
Rise in voter participation in J&K has been hailed by PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah as a sign of J&K electorate’s growing aspirations to choose ballots over boycotts which were a norm in the pre-August 5, 2019, era when the Article 370 applied to the state.
