MANESAR: The Home Minister, S.B. Chavan, last week said the government had formally approached the Election Commission to hold polls in Jammu and Kashmir and the final decision to conduct the elections lay ‘with the commission.
The Union Home Ministry had already submitted its report to the Election Commission regarding its preparedness to hold polls in the state, Chavan told reporters at an informal chat after attending the NSG Raising Day celebrations at the elite force training center near Gurgaon in Haryana.
“Elections in the Jammu and Kashmir will be held provided the Chief Election Commission and the Election Commission agreed. They will see the situation and assess,” he said.
While he did not indicate a possible time for the polls, Chavan categorically stated that the polls would be held in the whole of the state.
Asked if the All Party Hurriyat Conference would take part in the polls, he said it was their choice and if the Hurriyat did not participate their position could be like the Akali parties in Punjab who later regretted their decision to boycott Assembly.
Article extracted from this publication >> September 29, 1995
