Front Page   

Cabinet Committee firm on poll schedule

By Harish Khare

New Delhi Aug. 18. An informal meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security this evening decided that there would be no revision of the electoral timetable in Jammu and Kashmir.

The committee chose to reiterate the decision in the context of the impression being created by the Kashmir Committee headed by the former Law Minister, Ram Jethmalani, that postponement of the elections in Jammu and Kashmir was an open option. The sub-text of this decision is that for now no effort ought to be made to make the Chief Minister, Farooq Abdullah, resign to bring the State under Governor's rule. Various political parties, including some elements in the separatist camp, have been demanding that the elections take place under a dispensation other than that of Dr. Abdullah. This has been deemed to be the minimum requirement for the much promised "free and fair'' elections.

The Centre's unambiguous stand has been that while it would do its very best to ensure free and fair polls, it was not going to go out of its way to propitiate "separatist'' elements. The CCS meeting this evening felt there was no new development to rethink the stand.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page

News: Front Page | National | Southern States | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary |

Stories in this Section

• Centre to refer EC decision on Gujarat polls to President
• Kashmir Committee for deferring elections
• EC reviews poll arrangements
• BJP will get yet another rebuff, says Opposition
• Police under pressure to wrap up Shivani murder case?
• Cabinet Committee firm on poll schedule
• One killed in police firing
• Fernandes to head Samata
• Shekhawat swearing-in
• CPI(M) office attack: toll up

Copyright © 2002, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu