Examiner Bureau | Srinagar:
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of covertly aiding the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) during the Rajya Sabha elections, alleging that the party is now using the Urdu language issue to divert public attention.
Speaking to reporters, Abdullah claimed that the PDP’s stance on Urdu is a calculated distraction from its alleged role in supporting the BJP in the Upper House.
“That is why they are repeatedly raising the Urdu issue. They are showing something with one hand and doing something else with the other. They helped the BJP in the Rajya Sabha and do not want people to focus on it,” he said, referring to recent disclosures about the elections through a Right to Information (RTI) application.
Rejecting PDP’s claims regarding the status of Urdu, the Chief Minister said no decision has been taken to remove the language from any official framework. “There is a clear difference between inviting public feedback and making a final decision. The file is still under consideration and has not been approved,” he stated, challenging critics to produce any official order suggesting otherwise.
On the broader political landscape, Abdullah expressed scepticism over the reliability of exit polls, citing past elections. “In West Bengal, most exit polls predicted a BJP victory, but the results proved otherwise. We will know the truth soon enough,” he said, adding that at least one polling agency chose not to release its projections as they did not align with expectations.
Addressing electoral concerns, the Chief Minister said that while he does not believe in pre-poll manipulation through Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), the real threat lies in alleged tampering with voter lists. “Deletion of voters from electoral rolls is a serious issue and poses a challenge to democratic processes,” he warned.
Touching upon the economic situation, Abdullah highlighted the impact of rising fuel prices on everyday life. “An increase in oil prices has a cascading effect on all sectors, particularly transport. People were already paying higher fares informally, and now fare revisions have become inevitable,” he said, attributing the surge in prices partly to ongoing global conflicts.
The Chief Minister’s remarks come amid heightened political tensions in the Union Territory, with parties trading allegations ahead of crucial electoral developments.
