NEW DELHI: Home Secretary K. Padmanabhaiah has clarified that the Government was not willing to postpone Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir even if the four leaders ‘Of militant outfits in the State were Unwilling to participate in them.
The Home Secretary added, “it may ‘be noted that various political parties and groups have expressed various shades of opinion about the timing of the Assembly elections. The Government has taken note of these various shades of opinion. If the four militant leaders who decided to talk to the Government have any particular point Of view on this, their views also would be taken note of.” Responding to a report last week, Mr. Pad Maal denied that he had made the remark “if they (for the four militants) want we could postpone elections by six months beyond March” as reported in these columns.
He said that while welcoming the recent statement of the militant leaders, he had mentioned that as a further sequel to their stand these leaders should consider participating in the proposed Assembly elections. He further clarified that in reply to a question that these leaders may not wish and may not be ready to participate in early elections; he had replied that from their point of view they might have reasons to make such a request.
He said, “I made no statement that the government is willing to consider such a request nor that elections would be deferred for this purpose.”
Article extracted from this publication >> February 14, 1996
