Srinagar, Sep 25 (UNI) US diplomat Jorgan Edges, who is among the group of foreign diplomats visiting Kashmir on Wednesday to see the election process, said that his visit to Kashmir is to see the election process and to learn more about how Indian democracy works.
“We, as diplomats, were pleased to visit India to see the election process and to learn more about how the Indian democracy works,” Edges told the media here.
“It is a rare opportunity to come to Kashmir and see the electoral process in action to see democracy and another part of India’s big year of elections,” he said.
Asked about the first impression, the US diplomat observed, “it looks very smooth, very professional and everything is well set up and looks like a very exciting exercise.”
Asked what rating he would like to give this process, Edges said, “we are not giving ratings as democracy is unique in every country.”
Asked whether he sees any challenges here, he replied he did not and necessarily not to see any challenges here.
He said that it looks like everything has been organised in a very typical fashion.
“I have not encountered anything which suggests any challenge,” he remarked.
“It a good chance to see a sub-national-level election and obviously with Kashmir’s history. It is exciting to see elections here after 10 years or more,” Edges added.
A high-level delegation of senior diplomats from several countries, including the United States of America, arrived in Kashmir to witness the ongoing Assembly election, officials said.
Soon after their arrival, the delegates straight away visited several polling stations in central Kashmir’s
Badgam district to see the polling process and other arrangements. They also talked to the voters at many places.
The delegation later left for Srinagar to see the voting process. The delegation is likely to visit Jammu also.
The delegates from US, Mexico, Guyana, South Korea, Somalia, Panama, Singapore, Nigeria, Spain, South Africa, Norway, Tanzania, Rwanda, Algeria, Philippines are visiting Kashmir on Wednesday to witness the ongoing election process in Jammu and Kashmir.
Polling is currently underway in 26 assembly constituencies spread over six districts of Jammu and Kashmir. These are the first elections in J&K in a decade and after the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019.
They said most of the embassies are represented by their CdA/ DCM (Chargé d’Affaires ad interim and Deputy Chief of Mission) and others are represented by Political officers at Minister-Counsellor/ Counsellor ranks.
Meanwhile, former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and National Conference vice-president, Omar Abdullah, questioned the visit of foreign delegation in Srinagar and said “I do not know why foreigners should ask to check the elections.”
He said when foreign governments made their comments on Kashmir, India said that “this is our internal matter. Now, suddenly the foreign observers are coming to Kashmir to look at our elections. These are the internal matter for us. We do not need their certificate.”
“This participation is not because of the Government of India, but due to what the Union government did… they humiliated people, they have used all the machinery to detain and harass the people and despite that the people are coming and participating in the elections,” Omar told media persons today.
“This is not something that the government of India should be highlighting,” he added.
J&K Pradesh Congress Committee president Tariq Hameed Karra said that the foreign diplomats’ visit to Kashmir is to “sell” the “deceptive” work of the Government of India.
“There are two aspects of their visit. One of them is that Jammu and Kashmir has already been a centre point and next thing may be by their visit, clarity will emerge about what the people want from these elections,” Karra told media persons in Srinagar.
He said the foreign delegations were often visiting Kashmir and “it can be possible that the Government of India is willing to show them the good atmosphere and participation of people to sell their “deceptive” work around the world.”
