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.