SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday expressed concern over the proposed Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the union territory, alleging that the exercise could be used to interfere with the electoral process, as happening in the rest of the country.
Interacting with the media in Srinagar, Omar said, “The way it (SIR) is being used to interfere in elections in the rest of the country, there is a possibility they will do it in J&K also”.
Alleging that the UT had already been a victim of such interference, Omar said, “We have not forgotten delimitation in J&K. Delimitation aimed to benefit BJP. The same will happen with SIR”.
The delimitation of Assembly constituencies was conducted in J&K before the Assembly polls, increasing the number of seats from 83 to 90. The Valley’s tally rose from 46 to 47, while Jammu region’s increased from 37 to 43.
Omar expressed hope that the ongoing proceedings in the Supreme Court, particularly those concerning Form 6, would make it difficult to exclude eligible voters from the electoral rolls in the UT.
Form 6 is used by eligible citizens to seek inclusion of their names in the electoral rolls.
On protests by Opposition parties against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, Omar said the demonstrations were part of a programme announced by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge following a recent meeting of INDIA bloc leaders in New Delhi.
On Prime Minister Narendra Modi completing 25 years in public life, Omar said he might have done something that people were voting for him again and again. “It was not easy to win elections continuously for 25 years, first as a chief minister and later as prime minister,” he said.
“I congratulate him on behalf of my colleagues,” Omar added.