Omar Abdullah skeptical about ‘defeat of separatists’

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday cautioned against projecting the huge voter turn-out recorded in the first phase of the Assembly polls as a defeat of separatists who had called for boycotting the exercise.

This, he said, could create problems in the remaining phases.

Mr. Abdullah said that no doubt call for poll boycott was issued initially but the same was later withdrawn it.

“One doesn’t know what would have been the response but it is heartening the people got an opportunity to cast their votes at free will,” he said after filing his nomination papers for Srinagar’s Sonawar seat.

He attributed the huge turnout to the “turnaround” brought in the situation by his government.