The Hindu : RSS not against Governor's rule in Jammu & Kashmir

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Aug 20, 2002

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National

RSS not against Governor's rule in Jammu & Kashmir

By Our Special Correspondent

MUMBAI Aug. 19. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh is ``not opposed'' to Governor's rule in Jammu and Kashmir if that gives scope for free and fair Assembly elections scheduled from September 16. Neither would it be averse to postponing of the polls if participation is likely to be higher.

The RSS spokesman, M.G. Vaidya, said at a press conference that the move to go ahead with the election in Jammu and Kashmir and putting it off in Gujarat, ``where all is normal,'' was a ``decision prompted by the partiality of the Election Commission''. If ballot boxes could be placed in the camps of Kashmiri Pandits, a similar arrangement could be made in Ahmedabad's relief camps also.

The RSS, however, was ``not taking a pro-active stand or steps'' because such demands had already been made by other political parties.

Mr. Vaidya said ``some RSS people in J&K are themselves demanding Governor's rule.'' Postponement, as a means of ensuring greater participation, ``was not yet discussed by the RSS, but it is my personal view.''

The Kashmir Committee convener, Ram Jethmalani's efforts, Mr. Vaidya said, ``seem to have failed'' and he too had sought postponement so that it could help more people to be persuaded to participate.

He dealt with the trifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir, elections there and in Gujarat. If things were not normal, how come Shankersingh Waghela was already running his Congress campaign? The ``polarisation was BJP vs Congress, not Hindus vs Muslims'' as some feared.

The Gujarat violence, especially in Ahmedabad, after the Godhra incident, ``was spontaneous,'' but ``not a Hindu-like'' reaction. But the issue was overplayed by the ``powerful English print and electronic media.'' The ``objective situation was different than was manifested in the English media.''

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