Powell146;s poll remark tests India-positive

In fact, judging from the statement issued by Hurriyat chairman Abdul Ghani Bhat, the Government8217;s initative seems to be back on track. The conglomerate came out with its most positive comment on the forthcoming elections yet by indicating that it would contest if indeed the polls were the first step towards resolving the Kashmir problem.

The Government is still unsure whether top Hurriyat leaders like Bhat and Mirwaiz Omar Farooq will take the plunge ultimately, but it is keeping its fingers crossed that they will not issue a call to boycott the elections like they did in 1996.

Official circles feel this tacit support from the leading separatist outfit in the Valley would serve to encourage at least Hurriyat8217;s second rung leadership to contest, ensure a larger voter turnout and give the polls credibility.

8216;8216;If I were the Prime Minister, I would welcome Powell8217;s statements. He is being helpful to us by telling Pakistan not to interefere in the election process and encouraging moderate elements in the Valley to contest,8217;8217; said former Prime Minister I K Gujral.

Gujral pointed out that much of what Powell said was actually an endorsement of the Indian position. 8216;8216;After all, what is our purpose in holding elections in Jammu and Kashmir? It8217;s not just because we are a democracy but because we want to tell the world that this is what the people of Kashmir want. This is what he said too,8217;8217; the former PM emphasised.

Former Foreign Secretary J N Dixit agreed. 8216;8216;What did he say that the Government of India has not said? He talked of free and fair elections. That8217;s our agenda as well. He said Pakistan should not interfere. That8217;s our position too,8217;8217; Dixit pointed out.

Powell8217;s statements are actually Washington8217;s strongest endorsement of the forthcoming assembly elections and the Government is hopeful that the process of co-opting separatist leaders will gain momentum in the coming weeks, leading to Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee8217;s long-awaited visit to the Valley.

While the question of allowing international observers to oversee the polls remains a touchy subject, Gujral felt that a group of impartial observers would lend credibility to the electoral exercise. 8216;8216;If terrorists try to disturb the polls and the observers say this, wouldn8217;t it help us?8217;8217; he asked.

Gujral, in fact, is one of the 24 signatories to a letter to the Election Commission asking for its views on this question. He stressed that observers are never 8216;8216;invited8217;8217; by a government or the EC. They are invited by non-governmental organisations and the EC8217;s role is merely to facilitate their mission.

The Government today drew the fine distinction between the institutionalised set up of 8216;8216;election observers8217;8217; and those who want to visit the Valley to see the poll process for themselves. Minister of State for External Affairs Digvijay Singh told Parliament today that the Government had always allowed the foreign media to cover elections in India and it would do so for the Kashmir polls as well. The only condition was that they would have to enter India on a tourist visa and would not be given special facilities to oversee the polls process.