First statehood, then Assembly polls: NC on Centre's JK timeline

Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah said that the National Conference demands restoration of statehood after the delimitation process followed by the assembly elections.

Srinagar:The National Conference (NC) on Saturday said that the timeline given by the Central government on Jammu and Kashmir was not acceptable to them and the party was of the view that first the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir should be restored and then Assembly elections should be held. Speaking to reporters, NC vice president and former chief minister Omar Abdullah said, "First statehood should be restored and then elections to be conducted. We will accept this arrangement."

"Centre's timeline of delimitation, elections and restoration of statehood is not acceptable to us," he added. Omar and Farooq Abdullah returned to Srinagar a day after participating in the all-party meeting presided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. NC President Farooq Abdullah said that the Central government should take political steps to restore the distrust of the people in Jammu and Kashmir.

He said that the National Conference would be waiting for the positive steps to be taken by the Centre after this meeting. Asked why PAGD members spoke about their party agenda and not on the alliance agenda about the restoration of the special status of J-K, Omar replied that although the participants put forward their views as parties' representatives it revolved around the PAGD agenda.

Omar further said that the National Conference does not want to deceive the people about the restoration of Article 370 and the party would not betray the people of Jammu and Kashmir. He further said that the National Conference would not "back down from its mission". Regarding the Assembly elections, Omar Abdullah said that the people of Jammu and Kashmir are facing difficulties in the present administrative system and if the people get relief from this administration, it is necessary to participate in the elections.

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Talking about NC being a part of the delimitation commission, Omar said, "As far as the delimitation process is concerned, the party has made it very clear by authorising NC president Dr Farooq Abdullah to take a decision on being a part of the commission. So far, the party has not approached the de-limitation commission."

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