Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has said that the Election Commission of India (ECI) should clarify its position on allegations of foreign interference in Indian elections.
Speaking to reporters after attending an event at the University of Jammu, Abdullah responded to recent remarks by US President Donald Trump.
Trump claimed that the previous US administration allocated a $ 21 million USAID grant to boost voter turnout in India and suggested that the funding was intended to influence election outcomes.
#WATCH | Delhi: J&K CM Omar Abdullah says, "...Jammu is the city of temples, if you want beauty then there are places in Kashmir, if you want to have a darshan then visit Mata Vaishno Devi and Amarnath, if you want just sit leisurely then sit by a lake, we have everything - you… pic.twitter.com/MNWM2Gsugn
— ANI (@ANI) February 19, 2025
Abdullah said the elections in India have always been considered free and fair.
He said if there are concerns about foreign interference, the ECI must issue a clear statement.
“There is no evidence of foreign interference in our elections. But if such claims have been made, the Election Commission should clarify the situation,” he said.
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When asked about Trump’s suggestion that the funds were meant to support a particular candidate in India, Abdullah said this is America’s decision. “It is their money, and they have the right to decide where to send it. India has no role in this matter,” he said
After the Lok Sabha elections, Abdullah reaffirmed his faith in electronic voting machines (EVMs) and said that Congress only criticises them when the results are unfavourable.
“They are the same EVMs when you win over 100 parliamentary seats and celebrate the victory,” he said. “You can’t turn around a few months later and reject them just because the election results were different.”
His remarks were used by the BJP and its allies to target Congress over its stance on EVMs. The statement also did not go down well with Congress leaders in Jammu and Kashmir, who are part of the ruling alliance in the Union Territory.
When asked about the brutal ragging of a Kashmiri MBBS student in a Karnataka college, Abdullah said he had spoken to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah regarding the incident.
