Former J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said that he was shocked to hear how officers who support early Assembly elections in the state are being browbeaten and threatened. He said these officers were being harassed by a lobby of senior officers who oppose early polls.
Election Commission of India has already ruled out holding of concurrent Lok Sabha and Assembly polls in the state. This, despite the fact, that all mainstream parties in the state except the BJP unanimously called for the Assembly elections to be held with the Parliament polls.
“One day we will talk about the cabal of officers in J&K who for their own selfish reasons have taken it upon themselves to scuttle democracy in the state.
“No honest officer should fear these threats. We must put the greater good ahead of our personal preferences and benefits. Those people making the threats will not remain in the state for very long.”
Omar said that these senior officers were forcing the the pro-Assembly elections officers to shut up by “using their performance appraisals against them to get them to toe the line”.
