Zurich: Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee on September 16 voiced satisfaction over
the peaceful conduct of first phase of Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir,
saying it was free and fair with a reasonably good turnout.
"It was free and fair with a reasonably good turnout," he said.
Vajpayee, who arrived in Zurich after a five-day visit to New York, spoke to J&K
Governor G K Saxena and inquired about the elections in the state, official sources
said.
Saxena informed the Prime Minister that the first phase was peaceful and the turnout
was good.
He told Vajpayee that the poll percentage in the Valley was 40, in Jammu 48 and
Ladakh 67.
There was no rigging and the first phase passed off peacefully despite the recent
killings, infiltration of militants and threats by Pakistan-sponsored terrorists,
Saxena told the Prime Minister, the sources said.
Vajpayee will be leaving for home on September 17.
Meanwhile, Defence Minister George Fernandes expressed happiness over the "free and
fair" and peaceful Assembly polls held in the first phase in Jammu and Kashmir.
Addressing a rally of coffee growers, he said he was happy that more than 40 per
cent polling had been reported.
Once the Democratically elected government was in place, it would inspire confidence
in the people, he said.
Fernandes said had the advice of late Generals Cariappa and Thimmaiah, who hailed
from Kodagu district, been heeded by the then government (led by Jawharlal Nehru),
the Kashmir problem would not have existed at all on September 16.
PTI
