New Delhi, April 25
People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chief and former Union Home Minister
Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today demanded imposition of Governor’s rule in
Jammu and Kashmir before the coming Assembly elections.
Addressing a news conference at his residence in East Delhi, Mr Sayeed
said such a move was necessary to restore people’s confidence in the
electoral process and might enable some separatist groups as well to
participate in the elections.
In this context, he pointed out that Hurriyat Conference leader Abdul
Gani Lone could be game for contesting the elections. The Hurriyat
Conference had never participated in the poll process in the state.
Mr Sayeed asked Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah to step down as early as
possible to prove that the National Conference was committed to conduct
fair elections in the state.
Referring to the economic package for the state announced by the
Centre, he said it was not going to help the state as none would be
interested in setting up industrial units in the state in view of the
far-from-normal security situation.
Asked whether his party would participate in the elections if held
under the National Conference regime, he said the PDP believed in
electoral politics. ‘’We fear the elections may not be free and fair
if conducted under the present set up,’’ he said.
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