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Kashmir Committee for deferring elections

By Shujaat Bukhari

SRINAGAR AUG. 18. T he Kashmir Committee (KC), which wrapped up its three-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir today, has suggested the deferment of Assembly elections in the State — a demand made by several quarters.

The KC convener, Ram Jethmalani, termed as "very constructive and tremendous advancement'' the talks the panel had held with various political parties and groups in the State on participation in the coming Assembly polls.

The KC met senior separatist leader, Shabir Ahmed Shah, for the second time today and continued discussions.

M.J. Akbar, a member of the Committee, read out a statement to mediapersons before leaving for New Delhi which said that Mr. Shah had welcomed the commencement and progress of the dialogue to seek a peaceful and permanent settlement of the Kashmir problem.

"This process will continue with a meeting with the Prime Minister or the Deputy Prime Minister and the KC will facilitate this meeting at the earliest. Mr. Shah reiterated to the committee that he is not averse to taking part in the elections as a means to identifying the representatives of the people of Jammu and Kashmir for a permanent solution to J&K problem through future negotiations'', the statement said.

When asked whether Mr. Shah was willing to take part in the elections aimed at governance, Mr. Jethmalani shot back, "Postpone this question for two days. Very soon, he will be in Delhi and you will hear from the horse's mouth''.

`No change in stand'

However, Mr. Shah ruled out participation in the elections saying, "Our stand is very much clear and we stand by whatever we said on Friday.''

"I have made it clear that if the negotiations between the parties to the dispute lead to elections, we are ready to accept it,'' he said.

"If there is an assurance from the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister that the elections will be to test the representative character which could lead to future negotiations for finding a permanent solution to the Kashmir problem, we are ready but not for elections for forming a Government.''

Amid a mixture of achievements and disappointments, the KC struck a positive note, saying that leaders of several groups had assured them of participating in the elections. The groups included the to-be-formed J&K Resolution Front comprising 13 parties. (This was earlier referred to as the Third Front).

Mr. Jethmalani said a major condition which had come from almost all the parties and groups, except the National Conference, was that the elections should be postponed for some time.

"Unfortunately, this is a matter in which the Election Commission can take a final decision and I hope the Commission will take note of it during the current visit to the State'' he said, adding "it is a widespread demand which we believe is not unreasonable and participation in elections should not be frustrated at this small point''.

However, he seemed to be elated at the response of the Chief Minister, Farooq Abdullah, and congratulated him for offering to step down and recommend Governor's rule if the All-party Hurriyat Conference decided to participate in the polls.

Hopeful of breakthrough

On the KC's talks with the Hurriyat, Mr. Jethmalani said there was a bit of a disappointment as the "committee has not yet secured the participation of the APHC in the elections, but it is heartening that the talks will continue in New Delhi and we hope to achieve a breakthrough''.

He said the process of their initiative could not be dissociated from the coming elections, but `that does not mean the process will not continue''. In response to a question, he said, "I believe most of the separatists whom we met realise the futility of separation and separatist politics''.

Earlier, the KC members met the former Union Home Minister and the People's Democratic Party (PDP) chief, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, at his residence and discussed the issues relating to elections. "I told them that the meeting with the Hurriyat and others was a good opening but there has to be a movement forward and this should not be the end of it,'' Mr. Sayeed told The Hindu.

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