Kolkata: Information and Broadcasting Minister Sushma Swaraj on September 7 exuded confidence that the Assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir would usher in peace and normalcy in the troubled state and discounted the Pakistani allegation of possible 'bias' in the election process.

"Peace will return to the state after the elections. Jammu and Kashmir will be the fourth state after Mizoram, Assam and Punjab where peace will be restored through ballot process," she said addressing the political conference of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the Netaji Indoor stadium in Kolkata.

Criticising Pakistan government for casting doubts on the genuineness of the poll process, she said, "They are saying it will be a farce. But I say, it will not only be unbiased but also successful. A new chapter will be written in the history of Jammu and Kashmir after this polls."

Having a dig at the military regime in Pakistan, she said, "At least the former Prime Ministers are not hanged in India. Neither the former heads of the state are barred from entering the country."

In a bid to allay fears among the minorities before the polls, Swaraj said, "BJP is not an anti-Muslim or anti-minority party. But if somebody supports Pakistan in a cricket match played with India, that expresses his anti-national feelings."

Lambasting the Pakistan government for harbouring terrorist organisations, she said, "This was the biggest challenge faced by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government."

Referring to the September 11 terrorist strike in the US, she said, "About 6,000 people died in a day. But in India about 60,000 have lost lives due to such strikes sponsored by a neighbouring state."

PTI