Srinagar, May 22 : National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah on Wednesday said that the central government should not take any credit for high voter turnout in Kashmir.

Omar was reacting to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s post on X regarding high voter turnout in Baramulla Lok Sabha Constituency which went to polls on May 20.

“People showed courage and came out and exercised their right to vote in huge number”, the NC Vice President told reporters here.

He said the central government should not take any credit for the high voter turnout in Kashmir.

“If the Centre wants to link it with Article 370 then they should also tell that the elections that were held before 1990 the turnout was better than today”, Omar asked.

Asked if it could be the resentment among the people against the abrogation of Article 370 they came out in huge numbers and voted, Omar said “yes, that is one reason. The people are not being heard anywhere”.

The former JK Chief Minister alleged that the present dispensation in Jammu and Kashmir is sitting here like “uncrowned kings”.

“Nobody has dared to enter any government office in Jammu and Kashmir. And if anybody manages to enter for the redressal of his grievance..nobody listens to them”, he alleged.

“All decisions are being declared like royal decree in Jammu and Kashmir”, Omar said and added “the people are concerned and there are certain reasons for them and came out and voted”.

He said the good thing is that in democracy, voting is the only power to raise one’s voice.

UNI