JAMMU: If Raj Bhavan sources Ware to be believed the Governor, Gen K.V. Krishna Rao has disowned, without making any noise his Statement saying that the assembly elections will be held within three months.
Though there is no clear rejoinder from Raj Bhavan to the news agency story based on interview With the Governor, the sources said that the Governor had conveyed to Delhi that he was “misquoted” Possibly realization dawned on General Rao after political circles in Jammu and Kashmir and Delhi were taken by surprise by the Governor’s perception of the situation in Kashmir.
Separatists in the valley have already pooh-poohed the Governor’s plan of holding the assembly poll within the next three months, Besides; Jamait-e-Islami has come in the open against any elections plan saying that an armed struggle had been launched not for ensuring a free and fair poll. Nothing short of self-determination is acceptable to the separatists who have rejected feelers for many quarters for participation in the elections which could be treated as are ferendum.
Why the separatists are shy of taking part in the battle of the ballot. “The separatist could have accepted the offer but they are scared of two factors. First when they file their nomination papers they have to accept the Constitution of India and of the state. They can contest the ¢lections only after they declare that they are the citizens of India Secondly they are not sure of the people’s mood. People in Kashmir support the militants, partly out of conviction and partly out of fear.
Earlier, the Jamait-e–Islami and the Muslim United Front had contested the elections. The candidates of these two parties had filed their nomination papers as citizens of India and had pledged loyalty to the Constitutions of India. They had done this even while pronouncing their anti-India feelings.
Article extracted from this publication >> August 5, 1994
