New Delhi, September 26
Virtually nobody in Kashmir, even in Srinagar or Anantnag, wants the valley to go to
Pakistan, says an opinion poll conducted in Jammu and Kashmir last week, which also feels the National Conference has a lead over other parties in the current Assembly elections.
The poll conducted by AC Nielson said in
Srinagar, Anantnag and Udhampur zero per cent were in favour and interestingly only in Jammu did one per cent say they wanted the valley to go to Pakistan.
A total of 574 persons were interviewed between September 12 and16 in four towns in the state—Srinagar, Anantnag, Jammu and Udhampur. Rural areas were not covered.
Significantly, 49 per cent across the state said the Kashmir valley should remain with India. In Srinagar it was 21per cent, in Anantnag five, Jammu 79 and Udhampur 81.
Fortyeight per cent in Srinagar and 59 per cent in Anantnag said that independence was the solution to the Kashmir
problem. As many as 26 per cent in Srinagar and 27 per cent in Anantnag said that Kashmir should stay with India but with greater autonomy for the state.
The poll found that a very clear majority—91 per cent across the state—felt that the use of violence by militants would not help in solving the Kashmir problem. In Srinagar, 16 per cent and in
Anantnag 22 per cent felt otherwise.
If the Hurriyat and Shabir Shah’s PDF had contested,28 per cent in Srinagar would have backed the Hurriyat and 14 per cent the PDF.
Sixty per cent across the state said they had faith in the Prime Minister’s assurance that the elections would be free and fair. In Srinagar this was only 50 per cent.
The proposal to trifurcate the state — into Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh— was rejected by 87 per cent across the state.
As many
as 79 per cent across the state said they believed Pakistan did not want genuine peace with India. In Srinagar, however, this rate was less and 33 per cent felt Pakistan did want peace. In Jammu and Udhampur, more than 90 per cent had no faith in Pakistan’s desire for peace.
PTI
