Omar Abdullah

The government imposed restrictions under Section 144 CrPC in Srinagar district with effect from midnight

The passage of the bill is being read as a huge victory for the Narendra Modi-led government, as it was able to pass the bill in Rajya Sabha despite not being in majority.

Former J&K Chief Minister and PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti has demanded that the accused should be “stoned to death”.

"There is anger and resentment among the people and that is the reason that there was no voting in some areas," he told reporters at Kulgam in south Kashmir.

Former chief ministers of Jammu and Kashmir Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti indulged in a war of words on social media platform over their affiliation to the BJP or the NDA

"Every vital sector of the country is narrating the grim tale of failure. The self-anointed chowkidar has failed on economic front (as) his much touted note ban wasn't able to yield the anticipated results. His undertaking on getting back the black money also turned out to be a damp squib," said the NC vice president.

Commissioned by Sheikh Abdullah, the NC has always taken a precariously balanced stand between J&K being an integral part of India and advocating for the state’s autonomy

Addressing an election campaign rally at Rafiabadin in north Kashmir's Baramulla district, Abdullah said closing the highway was a glaring admission of failure by the government in managing the state's internal security and a direct consequence of the PDP's tie-up with the BJP.

"Why are @AmitShah & the PDP lying to people about AFSPA? PDP has no intention of doing anything with AFSPA & BJP didn't break the coalition because of AFSPA. This is from Ms Mufti's Assembly speech as CM in February 2018," Abdullah said in a tweet.

Until 1965, J&K had a president and a prime minister separately.

"If the Congress has mentioned this in their manifesto, I welcome it. It is better late than never. If they had done this before 2014 (polls), we would have worked to lift the Armed Forces (Special Power) Act from certain parts of the state," said Omar Abdullah.

Earlier in the day, Abdullah said his party, National Conference (NC), would not allow any attacks on Jammu and Kashmir's special status and would seek restoration of terms of accession of the state, including the provision for 'Sadr-e-Riyasat' (president) and Wazir-e-Azam (prime minister). Abdullah is the Vice President of the National Conference (NC).

PM Modi asked the Congress as to how “their ally could have said such a thing”.

Omar Abdullah said after 70 years, forces as are inimical to the state's special status, were trying to backtrack from the conditions.

The state, which has a total of six parliamentary constituencies, goes to polls in five phases on April 11, 18, 23, 29 and May 6.

"Dear @narendramodi Sahib, it is good to see you appealing to famous people to increase voter turnout however at the same time your government has consciously disenfranchised people in J&K by not holding Assembly elections on time," Abdullah posted on Twitter.

The prime minister on Thursday had direct dialogue with BJP workers and volunteers as part of the party's mera booth 'Mera Booth Sabse Mazboot' programme through, what the party claims, the "world's largest video conference".

"Will the Modi government bow before those forces of separatism & terror that have always sought to disrupt/delay polls in J&K or will polls take place on schedule? The moment of truth for PM Modi's handling of Kashmir over the last 5 years," Abdullah wrote on his Twitter handle.

Incidents of violence against Kashmiris have been reported from parts of the country after the Pulwama terror attack that claimed the lives of 40 CRPF personnel.

At least 37 CRPF personnel were killed and five injured on Thursday in one of the deadliest terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir when a Jaish suicide bomber rammed a vehicle carrying over 100 kg of explosives into their bus in Pulwama district.