NEWSLINKS US EDITION SOUTH ASIA COLUMNISTS DIARY SPECIALS INTERVIEWS CAPITAL BUZZ REDIFF POLL THE STATES ELECTIONS ARCHIVES SEARCH REDIFF
Responding favourably to Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's promise of free and fair polls in Jammu and Kashmir, the All-Party Hurriyat Conference on Wednesday said it was not averse to participating in elections, but asserted the "basic dispute" pertaining to accession must be settled first.
"We believe in the electoral process, as it will enable the people to elect their representatives. But the basic dispute pertaining to accession must be resolved first," APHC leader Abdul Ghani Lone said.
"Never in the past were the elections in J&K held in a free and fair manner," he said.
The Hurriyat leader was participating in a 'Meet the Press' programme organised by the Andhra Pradesh Union of Working Journalists.
Lone said elections were the best way to assess public opinion, but made it clear that the troubled valley was looking for a peaceful and negotiated settlement of the dispute in accordance with the wishes of its people.
The APHC, he said, had embarked on a nationwide tour to "explain" to the people about its "peaceful political movement" for persuading the Centre to "allow the people of the valley to exercise their right to self-determination".
PTI
Tell us what you think of this report
