Kashmiris want elections, says Deve Gowda
Kashmiris want elections, says Deve Gowda
SRINAGAR, India (Reuter): Indian Prime Minister H.D. Deve
Gowda said on Saturday the situation in strife-torn Kashmir had
improved and all political groups wanted early local elections.
After touring the Kashmir valley, scene of a six-year
insurgency by separatist guerrillas, Deve Gowda said the region's
autonomy could be discussed with Kashmir's elected office
holders.
"Situation in Kashmir has shown very much improvement and
people here are anxious to participate in democratic process,"
Deve Gowda, the first Indian premier to visit the area in nearly
a decade, told a news conference held under tight security.
"All political parties today unanimously requested the central
government for holding early assembly elections in the state," he
said after he met local politicians, including former state chief
minister Farooq Abdullah.
Journalists were searched several times before attending the
news conference in Srinagar. Shops and offices in the city, the
summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir state, were closed in protest
at Deve Gowda's visit, residents said.
The strike was called by the Jamiat-ul-Mujahideen militant
group fighting for the merger of Kashmir, the only Moslem-
majority state in predominantly Hindu India, with Pakistan.
"We appeal to the people of Kashmir to observe a complete
strike on the arrival of Indian Prime Minister," a statement by
the group said.
Dozens of separatist groups, either fighting for independence
or merger with Pakistan, have opposed elections in the state.
Deve Gowda's visit comes two days before an all-party leaders'
meeting the prime minister has called in New Delhi to discuss
assembly elections in the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
It also follows an exchange of letters between the prime
ministers of India and Pakistan to resume stalled talks over
their claims on the Himalayan region, the cause of two of their
three wars since independence from Britain in 1947.
"I met all political parties and all of them demanded early
elections. This is their collective demand," Deve Gowda said,
adding he wanted to finalize the dates for the state's assembly
elections at Monday's all-party leaders' meeting.
On the question of Kashmir's autonomy, he said: "All those
things will be discussed with the elected assembly of the state.
When elected government will take charge all issues will be
discussed with representatives of the state government."
Local officials said the prime minister was briefed about the
year-long ordeal of four Western tourists kidnapped by Moslem
militants and security in the region.
Little is known of the whereabouts of two Britons, a German
and an American taken hostage by Kashmir's Al Faran group in July
last year.
Kashmir governor General K.V. Krishna Rao told Reuters on
Monday the government had no idea if they were still alive. "We
have no way of knowing. I hope they are alive," he said.
Police and hospitals say more than 20,000 people have been
killed during a six-year-old revolt in the region.
Deve Gowda is the first Indian premier to visit the region
since the late Rajiv Gandhi went there in December, 1986.