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Tara Shankar Sahay in New Delhi
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah on Saturday described the Election Commission decision to allow diplomats to see the polls in the state as a 'very good thing'.
Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, he said the envoys would see first hand 'what we are facing' and added that 'it was no picnic with the Pakistan-inspired militants wreaking havoc among the people'.
He said, "We will go through the democratic process even if there is a low voter turnout."
He said Pakistan will do its utmost to disrupt the election through 'more violence and bloodshed', adding, 'we are equally determined to take them on'.
Criticizing Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, he said, "I don't know how the mother of terrorism is fighting [the global war against] terrorism."
Asked to differentiate between this year's J&K election and the one in 1996, he said, "This time the Pakistan president is directly involved in disrupting the elections with full thrust. But inshallah (god willing), he will not succeed."
He denied that there was any anti-incumbency factor against his National Conference government saying, "It is all a creation [of the media]."
About former All-Parties Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Omar Farooq's recent statement that Kashmir had an option, the chief minister said, "There is no option. We are a part of India."
"Maulvi Farooq is welcome to walk over to Pakistan," he said, pointing out that he was not in favour of an independent Kashmir.
He also denied reports that there was friction between him and his son Omar Abdullah [minister of state for external affairs and National Conference president] saying his son would be the next chief minister if his party retained power.
Jammu and Kashmir Elections 2002: The complete coverage
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