SRINAGAR : On September 8th, amid the controversy surrounding the use of ‘Bharat-India’ nomenclature, National Conference leader Omar Abdullah issued a challenge to the Central government, daring them to modify the Constitution if they have the courage to do so.
Speaking to reporters in Srinagar, Omar Abdullah stated that changing the country’s name is not a simple task, as it would necessitate amending the Constitution. He emphasized that if the government is determined to undertake such a change, they should go ahead, and the reaction from the public and political parties would reveal the level of support for such a move.
Speculation had arisen that the Central government might consider renaming the country from India to Bharat after invitations for a G20 dinner on September 9 were sent out by Rashtrapati Bhawan on behalf of the ‘President of Bharat.’ Opposition parties accused the government of engaging in theatrics due to the formation of their INDIA bloc, while BJP leaders strongly endorsed the government’s decision.
National Conference patriarch Farooq Abdullah also weighed in on the matter, urging people to read the Constitution, which states that Bharat and India are one and the same. He criticized the media for creating controversy over the issue.
In a separate development, the Ladakh administration announced a revised schedule for the fifth Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) elections in the Kargil region, following a Supreme Court directive. Omar Abdullah expressed his party’s anticipation of gaining support from the region’s people after the court’s ruling.
Omar Abdullah expressed regret that they had to fight for their rightful allocation of the election symbol as a political party. He noted that the election guidelines clearly define symbol allocation, and the Supreme Court’s imposition of a Rs 1 lakh fine on the Ladakh administration indicates how seriously the court viewed the administration’s conduct.
According to the new notification, elections for 26 out of 30 LAHDC seats will be held on October 4. Previously, the Union Territory of Ladakh had scheduled elections for September 10, with counting set for September 14. The new schedule outlines nomination filing between September 9 and September 16, with withdrawal of nominations allowed until September 20. Vote counting will occur on October 8, and the entire election process must conclude by October 11.
The Supreme Court had recently set aside the August 2 notification issued by the Ladakh administration for LAHDC elections, instructing them to issue a fresh notification within seven days. The court also imposed a Rs 1 lakh fine on the Ladakh administration and dismissed their appeal against a Jammu and Kashmir High Court order upholding the allocation of the ‘Plough’ poll symbol to the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC).
