Jammu: Terming the peaceful conduct of the first phase of Jammu and Kashmir polls as an achievement for the Centre, Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting Sushma Swaraj on September 18 said the elections were milestone towards resolution of Kashmir issue.

"These elections are important, rather a milestone towards resolution of Kashmir issue as we have been saying that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and the world would believe it with the participation of people through election process," Swaraj, who arrived in Jammu on September 17 for election campaign, told reporters.

"The peaceful conducting of elections is a big challenge for the Centre as all eyes of the world are on it," the minister said adding, that the first phase proved the polls were conducted in free and fair manner despite being held in border areas.

"Besides some diplomats, there were 600 journalists who have come from outside the country to see whether elections were going to be free and fair in the state," Swaraj said while lauding the people of the state who came out to vote despite threats from militants.

Replying a question on BJP's tie-up with Jammu State Morcha (JSM), which has demanded separate statehood for Jammu, Swaraj said the Morcha's demand was neither separatist, nor communal nor anti-national.

"BJP has already stated in its manifesto that Jammu has been affected in last several years and that is why our party was in favour of setting up of regional councils with full political, administrative and financial powers," Swaraj said, adding "JSM believes in trifurcation and thus has a separate view than that of our party."

PTI