A delegation of foreign diplomats from at least 15 countries, including the United States, Singapore, and South Korea, visited India's Jammu and Kashmir to witness the second phase of provincial polls on Wednesday (Sep&nbsp;25).

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The senior diplomats said they were happy to witness citizens exercising their democratic right to vote in the Indian federal territory and drew comparisons to their own countries' electoral systems.

Voting in the second phase is being held across 26 assembly constituencies, including Srinagar, and the voter turnout was 24.10 per cent as of 11:00 am (GMT 0530).

The Indian foreign ministry invited top diplomats from countries, including the United States, Singapore, South Korea, Mexico, Guyana, Somalia, Panama, Nigeria, Spain, South Africa, Norway, Tanzania, Rwanda, Algeria, and the Philippines.

Nearly 9 million people are registered to vote for the legislative assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir. The decision to hold regional elections for the first time in a decade comes after India's Supreme Court upheld a decision by the government to scrap the region's special status.

Jammu Kashmir National Conference leader Omar Abdullah expressed his views about foreign diplomats attending the voting. He slammed the Centre by saying, “We don’t need certificates from foreigners.” He was not in favour of this decision, and further said, "When foreign governments comment, the Government of India says this is an internal matter for India, now suddenly they want foreign observers to come and look at our elections."

He further added, "If diplomats can be brought here, why are foreign journalists not being permitted to come here and cover elections...Diplomats are being brought here as guided tourists. This is not good.”&nbsp;

Prime Minister Narendra Modi withdrew Jammu and Kashmir's special autonomy in 2019 and split the former state into two federal territories, aiming to tighten its grip on the Muslim-majority region.

The region has been marred by militant violence, having been at the centre of decades of animosity between India and Pakistan since independence from British colonial rule.

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

A delegation of foreign diplomats from at least 15 countries, including the United States, Singapore, and South Korea, visited India's Jammu and Kashmir to witness the second phase of provincial polls on Wednesday (Sep 25).

A delegation of foreign diplomats from at least 15 countries, including the United States, Singapore, and South Korea, visited India's Jammu and Kashmir to witness the second phase of provincial polls on Wednesday (Sep 25). The senior diplomats said they were happy to witness citizens exercising their democratic right to vote in the Indian federal territory and drew comparisons to their own countries' electoral systems. Voting in the second phase is being held across 26 assembly constituencies, including Srinagar, and the voter turnout was 24.10 per cent as of 11:00 am (GMT 0530). The Indian foreign ministry invited top diplomats from countries, including the United States, Singapore, South Korea, Mexico, Guyana, Somalia, Panama, Nigeria, Spain, South Africa, Norway, Tanzania, Rwanda, Algeria, and the Philippines. Nearly 9 million people are registered to vote for the legislative assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir. The decision to hold regional elections for the first time in a decade comes after India's Supreme Court upheld a decision by the government to scrap the region's special status. Jammu Kashmir National Conference leader Omar Abdullah expressed his views about foreign diplomats attending the voting. He slammed the Centre by saying, “We don’t need certificates from foreigners.” He was not in favour of this decision, and further said, "When foreign governments comment, the Government of India says this is an internal matter for India, now suddenly they want foreign observers to come and look at our elections." He further added, "If diplomats can be brought here, why are foreign journalists not being permitted to come here and cover elections...Diplomats are being brought here as guided tourists. This is not good.” Prime Minister Narendra Modi withdrew Jammu and Kashmir's special autonomy in 2019 and split the former state into two federal territories, aiming to tighten its grip on the Muslim-majority region. The region has been marred by militant violence, having been at the centre of decades of animosity between India and Pakistan since independence from British colonial rule. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Foreign diplomats witness polling in India’s Jammu and Kashmir during second phase election

Amid tight security arrangements, the polling for the first phase of the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections began on Wednesday (Sep 18).&nbsp;In other news, shocking details continue to emerge from the Lebanon pager explosions that neutralised nine alleged Hezbollah militants on Tuesday (Sep 17).&nbsp;

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As per the Election Commission of India, voting commenced at 7 am and will come to a close at 6 pm. In the first phase of elections, a total of 24 assembly constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir will go to polls. Of these, 16 seats are in the Kashmir region and 8 seats are in the Jammu region.

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A bill that sought to enshrine the right for American couples to avail of IVF treatments was blocked by Republicans in the US Senate on Tuesday (Sep 17). This comes just days after Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump surprised voters by voicing his support for the procedure.

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Amid tight security arrangements, the polling for the first phase of the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections began on Wednesday (Sep 18). In other news, shocking details continue to emerge from the Lebanon pager explosions that neutralised nine alleged Hezbollah militants on Tuesday (Sep 17).

Amid tight security arrangements, the polling for the first phase of the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections began on Wednesday (Sep 18). In other news, shocking details continue to emerge from the Lebanon pager explosions that neutralised nine alleged Hezbollah militants on Tuesday (Sep 17). Click on headlines to read more: LIVE | Jammu and Kashmir Elections Phase 1: Congress urges voters to remember 'travesty' of downgrade to UT As per the Election Commission of India, voting commenced at 7 am and will come to a close at 6 pm. In the first phase of elections, a total of 24 assembly constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir will go to polls. Of these, 16 seats are in the Kashmir region and 8 seats are in the Jammu region. Republicans in US Senate block passage of bill that would've guaranteed access to IVF A bill that sought to enshrine the right for American couples to avail of IVF treatments was blocked by Republicans in the US Senate on Tuesday (Sep 17). This comes just days after Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump surprised voters by voicing his support for the procedure. Taiwanese company whose pagers exploded in Lebanon denies manufacturing them Gold Apollo, the Taiwanese company whose pagers reportedly exploded in Lebanon, killing nine alleged Hezbollah fighters while injuring over 3,000, has claimed that it didn't make the devices, albeit had only licensed its name. 'Only consequential presidents get shot at,' boasts Trump after second assassination attempt The former US president who is vying for a second term in the White House while campaigning on Tuesday (Sep 17) boasted that "only consequential presidents get shot at". Watch | Israel's pager blasts: Hezbollah vows to punish Israel after blasts ×

Morning news brief: Jammu & Kashmir assembly polls; Lebanon pager explosions, and more

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday assured the people of Jammu and Kashmir that elections would soon be held in the state for the assembly in a transparent manner, two days after government's decision to end special status for the state and split it into two union territories.

In a televised address to the nation, Modi said a large parts of Jammu and Kashmir was bereft of democratic practices and electoral culture which exists elsewhere in the country, he said.&nbsp;

''You will be shocked, in J&amp;K for decades, lakhs and thousands of perople had right to vote in Lok Sabha polls but neither they could vote nor contest in assembly/local polls. These are those who came to India after partition in 1947. Should injustice have continued with them?'' he said.

Terming the changes in Jammu and Kashmir the beginning of "new era", he said that people across the country now have the same rights.&nbsp;

Modi said that he wanted the local young leaders of the region to enter politics and participate in the polls.

The Prime Minister urged the J&amp;K Governor to complete at the earliest formation of the block development councils, pending for the last two-three decades.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday assured the people of Jammu and Kashmir that elections would soon be held in the state for the assembly in a transparent manner, two days after government's decision to end special status for the state and split it into two union territories.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday assured the people of Jammu and Kashmir that elections would soon be held in the state for the assembly in a transparent manner, two days after government's decision to end special status for the state and split it into two union territories. In a televised address to the nation, Modi said a large parts of Jammu and Kashmir was bereft of democratic practices and electoral culture which exists elsewhere in the country, he said. ''You will be shocked, in J&K for decades, lakhs and thousands of perople had right to vote in Lok Sabha polls but neither they could vote nor contest in assembly/local polls. These are those who came to India after partition in 1947. Should injustice have continued with them?'' he said. Terming the changes in Jammu and Kashmir the beginning of "new era", he said that people across the country now have the same rights. Modi said that he wanted the local young leaders of the region to enter politics and participate in the polls. The Prime Minister urged the J&K Governor to complete at the earliest formation of the block development councils, pending for the last two-three decades.

Assembly elections in Jammu & Kashmir will be held soon in transparent manner: PM Modi

The Election Commission on&nbsp;Tuesday said it will announce the schedule for Jammu and Kashmir assembly polls after the Amarnath Yatra, which begins next month, making it clear that the electoral exercise could be held sometime later this year.

In a statement, the poll panel said it has unanimously decided that "holding of assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir shall be considered later in this year".

Jammu and Kashmir do not have an elected dispensation since the PDP-BJP coalition government fell apart in June 2018.

The state was placed under Governor's Rule, as provided by the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir, on June 19, 2018, after the BJP withdrew from its coalition with the PDP.&nbsp;

As mandated by the Constitution, the state was brought under President's Rule on December 19, 2018. The term of the central rule ends on June 19 which is set to be extended.&nbsp;

"The Commission will keep on regularly, and on real-time basis, monitoring the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, taking inputs from all necessary quarters and after the conclusion of Amarnath Yatra will announce the election schedule for the conduct of assembly election in Jammu and Kashmir," the statement said.

The 46-day-long Amarnath yatra will begin on July 1, the day of Masik Shivratri, and would conclude on August 15, the day of Shravan Purnima.&nbsp;

In April, when representatives of the Jammu and Kashmir government had met the EC here, they had indicated their reluctance of holding polls to the state legislative assembly in the near future in view of the ongoing tourist season and the forthcoming Amarnath Yatra in the Valley, which will begin on July 1.

The EC, during the meeting, rejected had the assertion of the officials from Jammu and Kashmir that the situation in the state needs to be assessed before conducting the assembly polls.

The Commission was of the view that if the Lok Sabha polls could be held, there should be no issue in holding the elections to the state assembly.

The April meeting between J&amp;K officials and EC top brass had taken place days after the three special observers appointed by the EC submitted their report on the possibility of holding assembly polls in the state after the Lok Sabha polls.

When the dates for the Lok Sabha polls were announced on March 10, the poll panel had decided against holding parliamentary and assembly polls simultaneously in the state.

It had said that the situation in J&amp;K was not conducive for holding assembly polls. The Lok Sabha polls were held by and large peacefully in the state though the turnout of voters was low.&nbsp;

The Election Commission on Tuesday said it will announce the schedule for Jammu and Kashmir assembly polls after the Amarnath Yatra, which begins next month, making it clear that the electoral exercise could be held sometime later this year.

The Election Commission on Tuesday said it will announce the schedule for Jammu and Kashmir assembly polls after the Amarnath Yatra, which begins next month, making it clear that the electoral exercise could be held sometime later this year. In a statement, the poll panel said it has unanimously decided that "holding of assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir shall be considered later in this year". Jammu and Kashmir do not have an elected dispensation since the PDP-BJP coalition government fell apart in June 2018. The state was placed under Governor's Rule, as provided by the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir, on June 19, 2018, after the BJP withdrew from its coalition with the PDP. As mandated by the Constitution, the state was brought under President's Rule on December 19, 2018. The term of the central rule ends on June 19 which is set to be extended. "The Commission will keep on regularly, and on real-time basis, monitoring the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, taking inputs from all necessary quarters and after the conclusion of Amarnath Yatra will announce the election schedule for the conduct of assembly election in Jammu and Kashmir," the statement said. The 46-day-long Amarnath yatra will begin on July 1, the day of Masik Shivratri, and would conclude on August 15, the day of Shravan Purnima. In April, when representatives of the Jammu and Kashmir government had met the EC here, they had indicated their reluctance of holding polls to the state legislative assembly in the near future in view of the ongoing tourist season and the forthcoming Amarnath Yatra in the Valley, which will begin on July 1. The EC, during the meeting, rejected had the assertion of the officials from Jammu and Kashmir that the situation in the state needs to be assessed before conducting the assembly polls. The Commission was of the view that if the Lok Sabha polls could be held, there should be no issue in holding the elections to the state assembly. The April meeting between J&K officials and EC top brass had taken place days after the three special observers appointed by the EC submitted their report on the possibility of holding assembly polls in the state after the Lok Sabha polls. When the dates for the Lok Sabha polls were announced on March 10, the poll panel had decided against holding parliamentary and assembly polls simultaneously in the state. It had said that the situation in J&K was not conducive for holding assembly polls. The Lok Sabha polls were held by and large peacefully in the state though the turnout of voters was low.