Friday, Aug 09, 2002
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By Amit Baruah
Speaking to this correspondent today, Mr. Abdullah said the international interest in the elections was an indicator of the "intensive diplomatic activity" that had been going on from South Block to inform the international community about the relevance of India's position on the polls. Downplaying the international angle, he said that at the end of the day no matter what the international community may or may not say, these were internal Indian elections. ``They might have important international implications, but they still are our domestic elections. We have to handle them that way." Asked about the outside presence during the polls, he said: "I expect to have a much higher presence of media... given the kind of statements that have emerged from London, Washington and other capitals.'' Mr. Abdullah said these "observers" were free to come on tourist visas, have a look at the election and draw their own conclusions. There will, he said, be a presence of most of the major embassies in Kashmir during the polls. On the issue of Governor's rule being imposed before the elections, the National Conference chief said that if the Hurriyat announced that it was ready to contest the polls under Governor's rule then he had "no problem" and would take the matter to his party. Asked whether he would be moving to Srinagar after the polls, Mr. Abdullah said his name had been circulating as a candidate but no decision had been taken so far. Later, addressing a meet-the-press function organised by the Indian Women's Press Corps, he said the Jethmalani initiative to discuss the Kashmir issue was a "little late'' in coming. He said international pressure was being brought to bear on the Hurriyat not to issue a poll boycott call while the Pakistan-based United Jehad Council was being told not to scuttle the poll process. The State Government, he said, wanted the deployment of more forces, but did not want the Army to be moved in from the Line of Control as this would send a wrong message to Pakistan about meeting India's core concerns about ending cross-border terrorism. He said the next round of talks between the National Conference and the BJP leader, Mr. Arun Jaitley, would be held shortly. Mr. Jaitley, he said, would visit Srinagar. About the National Conference Government, he said it was not a "perfect one", but there was a sea change in the law and order situation. Asked about his not being "in touch" with Kashmir, Mr. Abdullah shot back that the coming elections would demonstrate whether he was "in touch" or not. Stating that he was not prone to making false promises or tall claims, Mr. Abdullah pointed to his security restrictions as far as going to the people was concerned. It was, he said, a stark choice between staying alive and staying among the people.
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