SRINAGAR — Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday alleged that the proposed Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls could be used to interfere with elections in the Union Territory, drawing a parallel with the delimitation exercise that he said had benefited the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Speaking to reporters in Srinagar, Omar said there was a possibility that the SIR could be used in J&K in a manner similar to the earlier delimitation exercise.
“There is a possibility that the SIR could be used in J&K in a manner similar to what had happened during the delimitation exercise. We have already been victims of this game. We have not forgotten the delimitation,” he said.
The Chief Minister said the purpose of the delimitation exercise was to “benefit” the BJP and expressed apprehension that a similar situation could arise during the electoral-roll revision.
He also referred to the proceedings underway in the Supreme Court, particularly those concerning Form 6, and said he hoped they would make it more difficult to exclude eligible voters from electoral rolls.
“I hope it will be difficult for them to get people out of the voter list,” he said.
INDIA bloc protests
On the ongoing protests concerning Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the detention of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Omar questioned why defamation proceedings had not been initiated against The Indian Express if its reports on the Election Commission were fabricated.
“If this is all fabrication, then why don’t you take action against them? I have not seen any defamation against them,” he said.
Omar described the protests as part of the programme announced by INDIA bloc leaders following their recent meeting in Delhi.
“This is the result of the INDIA bloc meeting that took place in Delhi the other day. And the calendar of the whole month was presented to the media. We are taking that forward,” he said.
His comments came amid continuing opposition protests over the functioning of the Election Commission, while the poll panel has maintained that decisions relating to electoral-roll revision are taken through the prescribed process.
GMC recruitment rules nearing notification
On the pending recruitment rules for Government Medical Colleges, Omar said the process was nearing completion.
“There were some contradictions in the rules that were made and proposed. Those contradictions are being removed,” he said.
He said the government did not want to rush the process and that the contradictions and conflicts were being resolved.
“I think it will be notified soon,” he said.
₹30.35-crore sports infrastructure inaugurated
Earlier, Omar inaugurated a ₹30.35-crore sports infrastructure package at the Sher-i-Kashmir Multi Sports Activity Centre (SKMSAC) in Gindun Rajbagh, including an Olympic-sized swimming pool, an all-weather training and toddler pool and an indoor gymnastics hall.
The main swimming pool, constructed at a cost of ₹19.96 crore, measures 50 metres by 25 metres and has 10 competition lanes. It includes diving platforms at one, three and five metres, filtration and disinfection systems, changing rooms, lockers and seating for 300 spectators.
A ₹5.35-crore training and toddler swimming pool has also been developed with heating arrangements and facilities for year-round use.
The ₹5.04-crore indoor gymnastics hall measures 36 metres by 21 metres with a height of 10 metres and has been equipped with modern gymnastics equipment.
Omar said the facilities would allow young people to take up sports beyond traditional disciplines and train throughout the year.
“For example, there is an Olympic-sized swimming pool in Kashmir for the first time. Now, there is an arrangement for heating, which will be done through solar energy so that children can practice and train here for 12 months a year,” he said.
He also said there was considerable interest among children in Kashmir in gymnastics but that a lack of dedicated infrastructure had limited opportunities.
The Chief Minister witnessed swimming and gymnastics demonstrations by sportspersons and trainees at the newly developed facilities.
Minister for Youth Services and Sports Satish Sharma, Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, several MLAs and senior civil and sports department officials were present at the inauguration.
Omar congratulates Modi on 25 years in public life
Asked about Prime Minister Narendra Modi completing 25 years in public life, Omar congratulated him and said sustained electoral success over such a long period was not easy.
“He has been standing here for 25 years. People must have voted again and again. It is not easy to win elections for 25 years in the government and then to come at the central level,” he said.
“I would like to congratulate him on behalf of myself and my colleagues,” he added.
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