‘Democratic space being denied to people’

Srinagar/Jammu: Political parties in Kashmir are disappointed that Assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir are not being held simultaneously with the Lok Sabha election. They have said a crucial democratic space is being "denied" to the people of the Union Territory by keeping the polls in a "deep freeze".
However, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has defended the move of the Election Commission (EC), citing security reasons.
The EC on Saturday said the Assembly election in Jammu and Kashmir will be held after the Lok Sabha polls as organising both simultaneously is not viable from the security point of view. National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah said there is "something fishy" in not holding the Assembly election along with the Lok Sabha polls.
"If there are conducive conditions for the parliamentary election, how is it not alright for the state election? There is something fishy," the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister. PTI