rediff.com
rediff.com
News
      HOME | NEWS | PTI | REPORT
Saturday
July 13, 2002
1649 IST

NEWSLINKS
US EDITION
SOUTH ASIA
COLUMNISTS
DIARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
DEAR REDIFF
THE STATES
ELECTIONS
ARCHIVES
SEARCH REDIFF








 Click for confirmed
 seats to India!



 Top ways to make
 girls want u!



 Spaced Out ?
 Click Here!



 Secrets every
 mother should
 know


 Search the Internet
         Tips

E-Mail this report to a friend
Print this page Best Printed on HP Laserjets


NC ready to contest assembly polls under central rule: Omar

In a change of stance, National Conference president Omar Abdullah on Saturday said his party has no problem in contesting the forthcoming assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir under governor's rule.

"We are not scared of contesting polls under governor's rule," he said at the Mazar-e-Shohda' (martyrs graveyard) in Srinagar.

"We have a mass support base, but there should be an amendment to the Constitution to this effect accordingly," he added.

The elections are due in October.

He pointed out that the last assembly election, which brought the NC to power, had also been held under governor's rule with polling staff from outside the state.

Omar said the NC would welcome the participation of maximum number of groups and individuals in the elections.

Let the Centre motivate separatist leaders, including Shabir Ahmad Shah, to take part in the elections, he said.

Omar said his party was also open to the idea of outside observers to oversee the elections.

Omar, who is also the Union minister of state for external affairs, asked the Centre to appoint a minister to discuss the issue of greater autonomy for Jammu and Kashmir.

"Autonomy is not a slogan but a right of the people of J&K," he said, adding "Why are they (Centre) shying away from dialogue as granting autonomy to J&K will enhance the credibility of the government."

Commenting on the RSS charge that Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah wanted to distance himself from India, he said his father was not acting like Jinnah, but the RSS, by raking up the demand for trifurcation of the state on communal lines, was toeing the line of Pakistan's founder.

RELATED REPORT
Electronic voting machines for migrant pandits

More reports on Jammu and Kashmir

Back to top
(c) Copyright 2002 PTI. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of PTI content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent.

Tell us what you think of this report

ADVERTISEMENT      
NEWS | MONEY | SPORTS | MOVIES | CHAT | CRICKET | SEARCH
ASTROLOGY | CONTESTS | E-CARDS | NEWSLINKS | ROMANCE | WOMEN
SHOPPING | BOOKS | MUSIC | PERSONAL HOMEPAGES | FREE EMAIL| MESSENGER | FEEDBACK