Omar Abdullah mocks BJP award suggestion for election chief

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has mocked a suggestion that Election Commission chief Gyanesh Kumar should receive a Padma award, saying he should instead be given the Bharat Ratna. Speaking to reporters in Srinagar, Abdullah sarcastically accused Kumar of having “gifted West Bengal to the BJP”. He also suggested that the Chief Election Commissioner could be made President, saying the proposed Padma award would be an inadequate reward in comparison.

Abdullah said the Election Commission of India should undertake a process of self-examination. He argued that criticism of the poll panel had not come only from political parties, saying evidence had emerged through a newspaper investigation. The chief minister said the commission should improve its functioning and ensure that similar allegations and actions did not recur, rather than attempting to cover them up.

Abdullah was also asked about elections in Jammu and Kashmir scheduled for 2029. He said that date was far away and that attention should first turn to the intervening years. On India’s relations with China, Abdullah said External Affairs Minister S.

Jaishankar was not wrong to describe them as improved. He contrasted the current situation, in which the countries were meeting and holding what he called decent dialogue, with the period after the Galwan clash. Abdullah said his party had consistently supported better relations with neighbouring countries and others because such ties were beneficial to India.

He also referred to Bangladesh and other unnamed countries as examples where relations were not as good. His comments on the Election Commission were directed at the BJP and the poll body, but the supplied material contains no response from either.