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Onkar Singh in Jammu
Ved Bhasin, the editor-in-chief of the Kashmir Times and member of the People's Commission set up by the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, feels the voters of Jammu and Kashmir might throw up a mixed verdict.
Speaking to rediff.com at his office in Residency Road in the heart of Jammu, Bhasin said that the voters of the state have become disillusioned with the false promises of the politicians from all parties.
"I do not think that much is going to come out of the assembly election in the state. The elections in the present circumstances are not at all relevant keeping in mind the situation in the state today," he said.
He felt that if the people of Jammu and Kashmir vote in large numbers then the ruling National Conference would be decimated.
He said the polling percentage in the first round was higher because of the heavy voting in the 'army-controlled areas.
"Once Kargil and Gurej register heavy turnout, then the overall percentage is bound to go up. But even then I consider that people have voted in large numbers to express their anger against the government," he said.
When pointed out that even the Americans have appreciated the first round of voting and said that it was fair and free, Bhasin said they [Americans] have 'their own geo-political interests in Kashmir' and hence we should not go by what they say.
"America has already entered Afghanistan and Pakistan and now they would like to come into Kashmir as well. So we must watch out," he said.
He felt that the Centre should send in a seasoned politician or bureaucrat as governor of the state. "I would say people like Muchkund Dubey, Salman Haider and Ved Marwah are ideal for governorship. Someone who comes with an open mind would be better for the state. By appointing army officers and people from intelligence agencies, an impression has gone down that the Centre wants to deal with people of the state with iron hand. This should not happen," he said.
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