Don’t force polls, it will add insult to injury, says Omar Abdullah

NEW DELHI: J&K CM Omar Abdullah took on the Centre on Tuesday, saying it will only add "insult to injury" by forcing elections on the state at a time when it is ravaged by floods, and questioned why flag meetings hadn’t been called so far to defuse tensions on the J&K border.

The Modi government has refused to call any flag meeting with Pakistan despite continuous firing on the border. The Centre also wishes for polls as scheduled in J&K this December though the EC is yet to take a final call. EC’s last date for summary revision of electoral rolls in J&K is October 15. A combative Abdullah challenged the Centre on both issues after meeting Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday. Warning of a prospect of a "zero per cent turnout" in Srinagar, Abdullah said he will not take responsibility if that happens since he isn’t pushing for elections. "You will have to blame those people who are heaping insult to injury by adding more misery to people and calling for elections at this time," he said.

Abdullah said flag meetings were the "right way" to defuse tensions. "Flag meetings are important, they are required. We want ceasefire to remain intact."