Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday cautioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah against postponing the Assembly elections owing to a spurt in militancy as “bowing” to the forces behind these attacks would be “very bad for the country”.

Omar’s remarks come at a time Jammu and Kashmir has been rocked by multiple attacks and encounters. Till Wednesday afternoon, security forces had no success in hunting down the militants involved in Monday’s deadly attack on soldiers in Kathua or Tuesday’s gunfight in Doda. Police sources said the gun battle with a group of militants in Doda was halted on Tuesday night because of rain and resumed early on Wednesday.

There is apprehension across Jammu and Kashmir that the Centre, which had reluctantly agreed to hold Assembly elections here, might use the attacks as a ruse to postpone the polls. During his visit to Kashmir in June, Modi had spoken about holding Assembly elections.

In an apparent effort to stymie the build-up of a poll-postponement narrative, Omar said he had no misgivings about the elections but warned that such a move would be disastrous.

“If our home minister and Prime Minister are not ready to bow before such forces, then there will be elections on time. If they vacillate, bow before such forces and postpone elections after such attacks, then it will be very bad for our country,” Omar told reporters in Srinagar.

“If such attacks are being made to postpone elections, then I hope we will not allow such forces to succeed,” he added.

Omar, the vice-president of the National Conference, claimed the situation was worsening by the day in Jammu and Kashmir but people at the helm were busy indulging in “luxuries”.

“The government is being careless. You cannot deny it. The situation is getting worse by the day. Who is responsible for that? When there was our government, we were held responsible. If we were to be blamed for those attacks, then who should be blamed for the attacks that are taking place now? It is obvious they are (responsible),” Omar said.

“Their role should be to improve the situation. They are not doing it. We hope people in senior posts at the Raj Bhavan or advisers will please leave their luxuries and work.”

The NC leader wondered how the scrapping of Article 370 provisions had brought peace, as claimed by the central government.

“For those who claimed all militancy was linked to Article 370 and removing it will restore peace, you should ask them (about their claims). We always said it had nothing to do with militancy and there would be no real impact on militancy. This is proven,” Omar said.

Asked about demands that India should strike militant camps in Pakistan, he said the Balakote strikes had not brought about an end to militancy.

“There was a strike even before. Did these attacks stop? You made big claims of strikes on Balakote. Despite that, militancy has not ended. If you can promise me after (another) strike Jammu and Kashmir will be fully free from militancy, then we are waiting to hear,” he said.