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EC will face `real test' in 2nd phase: Mufti

By Shujaat Bukhari

SRINAGAR SEPT. 21. The People's Democratic Party (PDP) president, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, said here today that the first phase of elections to the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly were "transparent, free and fair" but claimed that the Election Commission would face the "real test" in the second phase. He challenged the poll panel to hold fair elections in the prestigious Ganderbal constituency traditionally held by the Chief Minister, Farooq Abdullah, and now being contested by his son and Minister of State for External Affairs, Omar Abdullah.

The Mufti alleged that the National Conference Government was ``a government of corruption, inaction and nepotism'' and that it was misusing the official machinery and using more vehicles than allowed by the Commission for campaigning.

The party was poised for a "big jolt" in the Kashmir valley and a number of its bigwigs would not win. He also felt that the high turnout of voters in the first phase was the result of alienation because of NC's `misrule'. The former Union Home Minister, however, appreciated the role of the Election Commission in conducting "free and fair elections" in the first phase.

It was highly reassuring that wherever the electronic voting machines failed due to technical snags, they were replaced within minutes.

This had "built confidence" among the voters.

He said that if his party came to power, it would persuade New Delhi to open a dialogue with the Kashmiri leadership without which the Kashmir problem could not be resolved. ``When you can have a dialogue with Laldenga in Mizoram, why not here'', he asked.

He also made it known that his party's priorities would be to disband the Special Operations Group of the State police and revoke the controversial POTA.

"We would not go against the people by holding these laws."

Later, Mr. Sayeed addressed a gathering in Ganderbal and asked the people to follow in the footsteps of the people in North Kashmir who, according to him, had given a verdict against the NC.

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Stories in this Section

• Omar springs a surprise
• EC will face `real test' in 2nd phase: Mufti
• Jammu set to witness interesting contests
• Parties intensify campaigning in border areas

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