The Hindu : National : Voter turnout satisfying: Mufti

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, May 10, 2004

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National

Voter turnout satisfying: Mufti

By Our Special Correspondent

PATNITOP (J&K), MAY 9. The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, and the State Congress chief, Ghulam Nabi Azad, have expressed satisfaction with the voter turnout in the State, particularly in the Kashmir Valley.

The two leaders, camping in this famous tourist town, told The Hindu today that in spite of the odds the Kashmiri voter had displayed courage to come out and vote. "This gives us satisfaction. This time, whosoever wanted to vote came out and exercised his franchise and in Charar-e-Sharief we had a record turnout of 60 per cent. You cannot ignore it," said Mr. Sayeed.

However, the situation in Srinagar, Baramulla and Anantnag was not very encouraging as the "threat from militants in South Kashmir was intense."

Both the leaders said they had learnt "to work hard" after ruling the State for 18 months. "The work done during our rule has surely had an impact. Even people in remote areas acknowledge this," said Mr. Sayeed, who arrived here after campaigning in Gandoh, which borders Himachal Pradesh.

Disagreeing with the view that only "politics" was the issue in the elections, and that everything from the peace process to the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road was discussed, Mr. Sayeed said, "no, we talked a lot about governance too."

"The BJP unleashed a propaganda against us but the people decided on merit," said Mr Azad. "They tried to take undue credit for initiating peace with Pakistan but the fact is that it is our baby."

On the Deputy Chief Minister, Mangat Ram Sharma's statement indicating action against the Panthers Party for fighting elections from Udhampur, the two leaders simply said: "Let us wait until the results are out."

Later, Mr. Sayeed left for Srinagar while Mr. Azad went to Hyderabad. The J&K Congress chief is the party's observer for Andhra Pradesh.

A few metres away from where the two leaders were camping, the Panther's Party chief, Bhim Singh, was complaining against the election observers.

"They are working as agents of the Congress. If Delhi allows this to go on the elections will be a big fraud," he said. On the reported Congress threat to throw out his party from the coalition, he said, "I will get them on the road first."

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