Omar Abdullah slams govt for inviting foreign diplomats to polls

Srinagar: JKNC candidate Omar Abdullah criticised the government for inviting foreign delegations to witness the polling process, calling them guided tourists.

He told ANI, “When the same people comment on J&K, government of India issues a statement that Jammu & Kashmir is our internal matter and others should not interfere. If you do not want interference or their comments, why are they being brought here?”

He added, “If diplomats can be brought here, why are foreign journalists not being permitted to come here and cover elections…Diplomats are being brought here as guided tourists. This is not good.”

Notably, a group of diplomats from 16 foreign missions, including the United States, European Union, Russia and Australia, have  arrived in Srinagar today to observe the voting in the second phase of the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections. The 20-member delegation includes four representatives from the Ministry of External Affairs.