SRINAGAR: The surge in violence in Jammu and Kashmir has cast shadows of uncertainty on the Assembly elections, which are to be held at the end of September.
The sudden spike in violence, especially in Jammu region has cast shadows of uncertainty over the upcoming Assembly elections which are to be held during end of September 2024, as per the order of the Supreme Court.
After the recent terror attack at Kathua district of Jammu, which borders Punjab, the Union Home Ministry is closely monitoring the situation.
There have been series of high security meetings held not only within Jammu and Kashmir but also with Punjab.
On the instructions of the Union Home Ministry, a high level security meeting was held with top police and BSF officers, in which DGP Punjab police and DGP of J&K participated.
They stressed on joint strategy for addressing cross-border infiltration along the Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab stretch of the International Border (IB), and countering terrorist activities in the Jammu region, bordering Punjab
National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah on Thursday said that Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir should be held in time to prove the supremacy of security forces over terrorists, who have carried out a spate of attacks in Jammu recently.
“There is no normalcy. But, is the situation worse than 1996? If yes, then let them not conduct the elections. If they want to bow down before these powers who are attacking, then don’t conduct the election. If you have to prove the supremacy of the militancy, rather than proving the supremacy of our armed forces and police, then don’t conduct the elections,” he said.
“If you don’t have the courage, and are afraid, then don’t. But, if you have to show the supremacy of our police and forces, if our rulers have some courage, then why should they bow down before these powers. Then elections should be conducted on time, and the people of Jammu & Kashmir should choose their own government,” he added.
Former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti expressed shock and sorrow over the attack.
“Condemn the terror attack in Kathua that claimed the lives of four soldiers. Tragic and equally shocking that they are losing their lives in the line of duty in places where one found little to no trace of militancy before 2019. Tells you all there is to know about the current security situation in J&K. Deepest condolences to their families”, she wrote on social media platform X.
Congress on Wednesday slammed the Narendra Modi government over the terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir in the past three days.
“Narendra Modi is busy responding to congratulatory messages and cannot even hear the cries of the families of the devotees who were brutally killed in Jammu and Kashmir. There have been three separate terror incidents in the last three days in Reasi, Kathua and Doda in Jammu and Kashmir but the Prime Minister is still busy celebrating,” Rahul Gandhi said in a post on X.
The terror attack in Kathua and the recent encounters in Kulgam district of South Kashmir have certainly cast shadows of uncertainty over the Assembly elections which are to be held after the conclusion of Amarnath Yatra.