Voters stand in a queue to cast votes at a polling station during the second phase of Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, in Srinagar
Credit: PTI Photo
Srinagar: Amid the Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, a delegation of foreign diplomats arrived in Srinagar on Wednesday to observe the electoral process.
Accompanied by six representatives from the Ministry of External Affairs, the delegation led by US Deputy Chief of Mission Jorgan Andrews landed in Srinagar at 10 am. Over the next two days, they will meet various sections of society.
The delegation includes representatives from the USA, Mexico, Guyana, South Korea, Somalia, Panama, Singapore, Nigeria, Spain, South Africa, Norway, Tanzania, Rwanda, Algeria, and the Philippines.
After their arrival, the members of the delegation visited several polling stations in Srinagar and neighbouring Budgam district. A female delegate -- Alice Chain -- from Singapore said they were here on the invitation of MEA’s public outreach program.
“Our purpose is to observe polling and to see how democracy is working on the ground,” she told reporters. “It’s a lot more festive here than the polling in Singapore.”
A male member of the delegation said that they were surprised to see the Pink Polling station. “This is the first time I have seen something called a Pink Polling station. Maybe this would be to attract more people to vote.” he said. “I am very happy to be here and to be part of the observations as to how democracy is working.”
Pink polling booths are electoral booths managed entirely by women. A senior official said after interacting with people the delegation seems to be satisfied with the arrangements made by the Election Commission of India to encourage polling.
“Initially, the MeA had invited 20 diplomats from select embassies in New Delhi, but only 15 accepted. A few more diplomats will visit for the third phase on October 1, when north Kashmir votes,” he said.
Sources said that the visit aims to demonstrate the peaceful conduct of the electoral process and the significant public participation following the abrogation of Article 370, which granted special status to the erstwhile state and was revoked in August 2019.
The visit marks a significant shift in New Delhi's approach to Kashmir, with increased diplomatic engagement. Previously, such delegations were discouraged, but now they visit frequently.
Reactions to the diplomats' visit have been mixed among political parties. National Conference (NC) leader and former chief minister Omar Abdullah Omar Abdullah referred to the delegation as “guided tourists.”
After casting his ballot, he asked, “Why are you (the Central government) inviting them (the delegation) here then? What is the rationale behind bringing diplomats to Kashmir for tours while foreign journalists are barred from visiting? Foreign journalists have also sought permission to cover the elections here, but they were denied. Why?”
People’s Democratic Party (PDP) leader Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra criticised the government's “contradictory approach” of seeking international attention while claiming to reject outside interference.
However, BJP’s J&K chief spokesperson Sunil Sethi welcomed the visit, emphasizing that showcasing the electoral process is a celebration of democracy. He reiterated that the government opposes external interference in India’s internal matters.
Last month, a delegation from the US mission in India had also visited Kashmir and met National Conference leader and former chief minister Omar Abdullah and J&K Peoples Conference chief Sajad Lone.
In January 2020, Delhi-based foreign diplomats visited Kashmir which at that time was described by opposition leaders as a “guided tour” designed by New Delhi to show normalcy in the region. The visit had come just five months after the abrogation of Article 370.
Again in February 2021, a group of 24 foreign envoys conducted a two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir under a government initiative to showcase efforts to restore normalcy and boost development in the UT.
In May 2023, the Central government successfully completed the third G20 Tourism Working Group meeting in Srinagar.
Assembly Elections 2024 | In the first assembly polls since the Lok Sabha elections, Narendra Modi and the BJP face a rejuvenated and vindicated Opposition in the Haryana assembly polls. Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir is voting after almost a decade and it remains to be seen how the abrogation of Article 370 has impacted the political landscape of the Valley. Track the latest coverage, live news, in-depth opinions, and analyses only on Deccan Herald.