Onlykashmir.in News Desk
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday called for corrective action by the Election Commission and the Government of India following a media investigation into reported internal differences within the poll panel, warning that any erosion of public trust in elections could ultimately affect participation in the democratic process. Speaking to reporters in Srinagar, Abdullah said the investigation had raised serious questions about the Commission’s functioning and linked the issue to longstanding concerns raised in Jammu and Kashmir over the delimitation exercise.
The Chief Minister said complaints regarding the Election Commission’s functioning had surfaced well before the Special Intensive Revision became a national talking point, and alleged that the delimitation process carried out in Jammu and Kashmir had itself been opaque and flawed. Referring to the reported rift among Election Commission members, Abdullah said the developments warranted close examination and corrective measures from the Commission and the Union Government. “If people’s trust in elections is lost, then what is left in a democracy? The foundation of a democracy is elections,” he said, adding that the matter needed to be taken up seriously at the highest levels.
Abdullah also raised the issue of individuals whose names had been removed from electoral rolls allegedly being denied passports as a consequence, questioning the basis for such action and saying the government would need to examine what corrective steps could be taken. On the functioning of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly amid ongoing disruptions, the Chief Minister said legislative business was continuing uninterrupted, with questions being raised and answered in the House, including participation from BJP members in discussions such as the one on teacher training and the Teacher Eligibility Test initiated by Education Minister Sakeena Itoo, with further resolutions expected to come before the Assembly.
Asked about the withdrawal of thousands of books from educational institutions and the broader question of book bans in a democracy, Abdullah said the issue touched on a wider debate about the scope of such restrictions. “I have my own views on whether books should be banned or not,” he said, while noting that the elected government did not currently have the authority to decide such matters and would need to wait for the situation to change before revisiting the issue. The Jammu and Kashmir government had informed the Assembly earlier in the week that 4,249 books had been withdrawn from circulation after more than 21.8 lakh books and publications were examined, with 1,752 books referred for further review.
