Omar Abdullah slams govt for foreign diplomat tour of J&K polls

National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah on Wednesday criticised the Centre for inviting foreign diplomats to observe the ongoing Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, calling it a "guided tour" and an unnecessary intrusion into India's internal affairs. "We do not need their certificate," he said. A 15-member delegation from countries including the US, Singapore, and South Korea visited polling booths in Budgam and Srinagar at the invitation of the Ministry of External Affairs.

The US diplomat Jorgen Andrews said the visit was "a rare opportunity to see democracy in action" and praised the smooth and professional process. The Singaporean diplomat Alice Cheng said the purpose was to observe polling and see how democracy works on the ground. The diplomats also expressed interest in the special pink polling booths for female voters. Apni Party chief Altaf Bukhari welcomed the move, saying it shows peaceful elections.

Abdullah questioned why foreign journalists were not permitted to cover the elections while diplomats were given a tour. He said the credit for voter turnout belongs to the people, not the government. Voting is taking place on 26 seats in the second phase of the first Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019.