6,000 Kashmiri men join Indian Army

[XEROX]

6,000 Kashmiri men join Indian Army

IANS[ TUESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2004 07:35:08 PM ]

JAMMU: Nearly 6,000 men from Jammu and Kashmir have been inducted into the Indian Army's counter-insurgency units deployed in the state, officials here said.

The men, recruited to six battalions of the Territorial Army – a civilian force of volunteers – from across Kashmir, have now returned to the state after training for deployment in operations.

"They are being attached to the Rashtriya Rifles to fight insurgents in Kashmir," a top official in the army's Northern Command told IANS.

The men – drawn from Doda, Poonch, Rajouri, Kupwara and Baramullah districts – were recruited into the Territorial Army as part of a special employment package framed by the Indian government for youth in the insurgency-hit state.

The army official said two objectives guided this recruitment. "We plan to use the local men actively in anti-insurgency operations and also keep them away from the influence of militants," he said.

The induction of these men is also expected to give "new teeth" to counter-insurgency operations in Kashmir, where over 3,000 militants are believed to be active, army officials said.

The Indian Army has been criticised by Pakistan for having deployed a large number of troops in Jammu and Kashmir. Islamabad has been persistently charging New Delhi with using the troops to "quell the Kashmiris' indigenous movement for freedom".

India accuses Pakistan of training, arming and supporting guerrillas in Kashmir, a charge denied by Islamabad.


http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/826092.cms

[srirangan]

It shows how well jammu & Kashmir has integrated into the Indian Union. The people of the state are getting the benefits too, greater standard f living, economic security and civil rights and freedom.

[Mr. Happyman]

The people of the state are getting the benefits too, greater standard f living, economic security and civil rights and freedom.

Let us hope so...

A plebescite would be infinitely more desireable but i guess that aint gonna happen for a while...

[P.A.F]

just have a look at were the source has come from. it's well and truely proparganda.

[srirangan]

>> A plebescite would be infinitely more desireable but i guess that
>> aint gonna happen for a while...

The plebescite requires the Pak Army to withdraw from the region, that hasn't happened has it?

[insas556]

just have a look at were the source has come from. it's well and truely proparganda.

Wish things were so simple and straight forward as Pakistan wants them to be.
lets not forget J&K is a big place and there is a lot of it beyond the valley. The state has Nine languages Dogri, Kashmiri, Ladaakhi, Pothwari, Balti, Gojri, Dardi, Punjabi and Urdu.It has nine major social ethnic groups are Kashmiri, Dogra, Gujjar, Bakerwal, Dard (immigrated long ago from Dardistan, CentralAsia), Balti, Gaddi, Pothwari (both Muslim and non-Muslim) and Chibalis.Not every supports the terrorists.
Several ethnic groups such as Gujjar, Bakerwal,have been targetted by terrorists as they are viewed as informers for the forces.Often hardline pakistani sunni militants target shias in barramulla and other areas. communities like dogras,ladakhis,and the shias of Ladakh region in any case support india .Jammu in any case is a ''hindu''area.
There is a lot to J&K then a few hardcore militants, not everyone speaks urdu or is a sunni hardliner.
These communities have lived there for generations and they will atay there.Joining the army is not only a matter of community pride esp for dogras , but often also the means top a good job, considering the employment sitiuation in J&K.

[Roger Smith]

Great news for the Indian army. Now the Kashmiri can maintain their own law and order. :smokingc:

[Mr. Happyman]

>> A plebescite would be infinitely more desireable but i guess that
>> aint gonna happen for a while...

The plebescite requires the Pak Army to withdraw from the region, that hasn't happened has it?

Correct me if i'm wrong but that would also apply to the Indian army as well.

[srirangan]

No it doesn't. Since the kingdom of Kashmir had signed an accession to India, the Indian army was to stay and take control of the entire kingdom, maintain law and order and then there was to be a plebescite in the state.

[Mr. Happyman]

In all honesty i don't believe India would hold a plebescite. History has taught us that in past disputes like this if one side falters the other will take advantage whether it be Pakistan or India. It's absurd to think this stand off can be resolved bilaterally and especially unilaterally. A third party must be called in to help resolve this just like the Cyprus situation, which is looking notably better after EU involvement. Who is this third party? I don't know that and maybe noone does but i'm pretty sure it isn't the US, who can use the dispute to their advantage but that's another topic entirely. Maybe there won't be a third party since its not really within anyone's interests to go sort this thing out.

The point is that unless both sides stop bitching and trying as hard as they can to "prove" that Kashmir is "theirs" instead of putting their hands up and admitting their faults, the Kashmiri people will continue to suffer whilst two great goliaths continue their no-win skirmish.

[srirangan]

Tell me when a kingdom legally accedes to you, would any country hold a plebiscite? Still when the time is right, a democratic India wouldn't mind a plebiscite. Just a couple of years ago, there was a fair and transparent election process in the state of Jammu and Kashmir.

[mysterious]

Legally?? Is that why India has to this day NOT shown the document of accession signed by the J & K maharaja to anyone? Fair and transparent elections? I guess you should ask the Indian election commissioner himself who acknowledged that the elections were highly rigged and that most of the people never voted. :cop

[iddm]

Where are your sources?? I thought that in this forum you don't discuss anything without sources. Or is it that you have one set of rules for select people here and another set of rules for a different group. Instead of shooting off your mouth plz produce your sources. Any fool could shoot off his mouth. Produce your sources where the election commissioner said so. :mad :mad

[P.A.F]

Hello iddm. welcome to defencetalk. very agressive for your first post. anyway the source for this post is at the start and based on that source members of defencetalk discuss there thoughts & opinions. we all have one set of rules. ;)

[iddm]

Hello iddm. welcome to defencetalk. very agressive for your first post. anyway the source for this post is at the start and based on that source members of defencetalk discuss there thoughts & opinions. we all have one set of rules. ;)

Thanks PAF, glad to know that the same set of rules applies to everyone who posts here. Sorry for the anger, but I was specifically referring to Mysteroius's post where he said that the Indian election commisioner said that the elections of J&K were rigged. He did not provide any source for such a serious accusation. Peace

[srirangan]

What crap myst you don't know history do you? Lord Mountbatten was handed over the letter of accession in October 1948, but Pak didn't acknowledge it saying "it was from a non-muslim king hence it's invalid".

And the 2002 elections in Kashmir are widely acknowledged to be free and fair and transparent. There were international monitors in each polling booth, and there was no comment by the then election commissioner JM Lyngdyoh.

Also all seperatists were allowed to participate in those elections and even terrorist factions were invited to participated provided they shunned violence.

[The Watcher]

And the 2002 elections in Kashmir are widely acknowledged to be free and fair and transparent.


Transparent as the black paper. Who are you trying to fool and joke here? You think you are the only smart one that can use fancy wordings and fool the world into believing your fantasy land indian side of the story? I think not. How free were the elections, we all know. Thats why the person who was elected keeps getting attacked all the time and thats why people of the kashmir on election day held strikes and black-day observations, even on this recent Indian indpendence day, kashmiries observed a black day!

Farce of Elections in Kashmir

Parliament elections in every free, sovereign and democratic country symbolize freedom and fraternity of a nation. They bring change and pride to every civil society, and protect their unfettered liberties with reasonable duties and responsibilities.

But, unfortunately from day one, when the Sub Continent become independent, Kashmir elections continue to be controversial, and disputed like the political dispute of Kashmir. India’s Independence or her Republican declaration could never give even an iota of credibility to any election process or any such Assembly in J&K during the last 50 years.

Read the rest here:
SOURCE (http://www.kashmiris.org/articles/articles-english/farce_of_%20elections_in_%20Kashmir.htm)

Remember what great indian army did in 1987 election?


Constituents of Hurriyat, e.g. Jamaat, had in fact participated in 1987 elections, but they faced worst repression at the hands of security forces. Gradually the situation worsened and ultimately with the appointment of Jagmohan, militancy picked up. In the subsequent years, Kashmir was virtually turned into an 'occupied territory' and sentiment in favour of 'azadi' rose high, militant leaders gained popularity; Yaseen Malik ranking first, Shabbir Shah second, and then Geelani and Lone. Farooq's graph, on the other hand, nose-dived. But their apprehension that state assembly elections would be conducted in the manner in which parliamentary polls were conducted in Kashmir is by and large not unfounded. 'Forces will come and coerce people to polling booths', they say. And true to their apprehensions, extra troops have already started pouring in from different parts of the country for it. However, it will simply be a failure on the part of the government if Hurriyat remains out of the fray.
Link (http://www.cpiml.org/liberation/year_1996/august/commentary2.htm)

Here are your "widely acknowledged" elections in the eyes of international community and media:

The Indian Election farce in Kashmir



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

India decided to hold elections for 6 Lok Sabha seats in Indian-held Kashmir in three phases soon after the general elections in India. The first round of voting was held in Ladakh and Jammu on 7th May 1996, in Baramula and Anantnag on 23rd May 1996 and in Srinagar and Udhampur on 30th May 1996.

It is reported that during the election campaign, 5 to 6 people died and many were injured in demonstrations and violence in the valley.

India demonstrated her ill motives by holding elections against the wishes of the people of Jammu & Kashmir who are protesting at the illegal occupation of their homeland by India. The exercise showed the extremes to which India went to hold fraudulent elections. It was common to see election candidates campaigning amongst people who were forced to listen with bayonets pointed at them. During the election the people were herded to polling stations to cast their votes at gunpoint.

The news media has reported extensively on this election sham

Soldiers herd Kashmiris to polls May 23, 1996
BARAMULA, India (CNN) -- Soldiers roused many villagers and townspeople from their homes soon after dawn Thursday to vote in the first elections in seven years in the predominantly Muslim Jammu-Kashmir state.
===========================

From: Khalid Sofi, 23 May 96
No voting has been reported in most of the Baramulla and Anantnag districts going for polls today.

Indian forces have forced men and women out in Pulwama and Sopore towns early in the morning to cast their votes. They were threatened with death, if they do not come out, every house in these areas was than occupied by a Indian troop. Any young person between the age of 18-28 has been taken to unidentified place in these areas.
=========================

By ARTHUR MAX Associated Press Writer, 23 May 1996
BARAMULA, India (AP) -- With a dawn knock on doors, armed Indian troops herded Kashmiris to polling stations Thursday for an election intended to bring democracy back to the rebellious territory after seven years.
==========================

Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
The "Democratic Voting" in Indian Kashmir was a farce. By Erhard Haubold
Srinagar, 23 May. The soldiers came at five in the morning, fetched the people out of their houses, kicked in doors and announced over the loudspeakers of the mosques, that there are "free elections today, but he who doesn't attend will have to bear the consequences". Consequences? The ink stain on the index finger, which only washes off after one week, is unmistakable evidence. He who cannot produce this at a traffic check or at one of the many house searches, is threatened with a thrashing, with torture or something even worse. Even before the election day, the soldiers threatened, "We'll chop off their hands, or their heads as well". It was also said,"if you don't vote, we'll burn your house down".

=========================

The Washington Times,May 24
"Kashmiris forcibly taken to polls in India. Soldiers act to thwart separatist boycott" by Arthur Max.

"Armed troops herded Kashmiris to the polls yesterday (May23) for the rebellious state's first elections in seven years. Combating a boycott called by separatist leaders, soldiers roused villagers and towns people from their homes soon after dawn and escorted them to polling stations to elect members to the Parliament in New Delhi".

=========================

The Washington Post, May 24
"Troops Force Kashmiris to vote" by Kenneth J. Cooper.
"Besides providing valuable intelligence to security forces, the former insurgents have continued violent activities here with impunity because of government sponsorship". "The central government has a long history of manipulating elections and hand-picking leaders in Kashmir, where democracy has been the least realized in India. Journalists who observed today's voting in the two Kashmir Valley districts saw widespread evidence of security officers forcing residents to the polls and, in some cases, pressing them to vote for former Muslim militants. Some villagers said security forces began making threats more than a weak ago".

===========================

Dogens Nyheter , Swedish newspaper of 24 May reports
"Last Thursday (May 23) people went to the polling booths in Kashmir, but the election to the Indian parliament was followed by protests and there were also accusations that Indian soldiers had forced reluctant people from Kashmir to vote. In several towns in Kashmir, where the Muslim insurrection has been going on for the last seven years, Indian soldiers were, according to the police, using truncheons, tear gas and warning shots to end all the protests against the election".

=============================

The Guardian- Soldiers force Kashmir to polls
Beaten and herded like cattle, Kashmiris were driven from their homes at daybreak yesterday to cast their votes for the first time in seven years, in an exercise stripped of any pretence of choice or freedom. In village after village in Anantnag and Baramula, where voting for two of four parliamentary seats took place yesterday, the Indian army made little attempt to conceal its coercive campaign to ensure a high turnout.

================================

The Times of India of 24 May, Sabina Indeijit
People came on their own and voted, and in large numbers, was the State Government's statement, while the refrain among -the -Kashmiris was "we were threatened, taken out of our homes and forced by the army to vote". The write-up further states, "the day began with an overcast sky and a light drizzle. At 7 a.m. no person in civilian clothes could be seen on the street of the State capital. The first halt was a check point where

================================

The Statesman of 24 May , Aunohita Mojumdar's
"In a poll process that was neither free nor fair, but a successfully completed electoral exercise by the government, the Kashmir Valley underwent the first phase of elections after seven years. People were herded out of villages throughout the Valley., to ensure a voter turnout of 43% in Anantnag and 35% in Baramulla.

"However, though the Government achieved its goal of holding elections in the Valley, the voters, claiming they had been brought to the polling booths forcibly, remained alienated from the democratic process".

==================================

By JOHN F. BURNS New York Times.May 24, 1996
Indian Troops Used in Kashmir, to Force Muslims to Vote
BARAMULLA, Kashmir -- Indian troops moved into villages and urban neighborhoods across the Vale of Kashmir at dawn on Thursday, rousing Muslims from their beds to vote in the first election to be held in the only Indian state with a Muslim majority since a Muslim separatist rebellion began in 1989. By holding voting for the six seats in Parliament allotted to Kashmir, the Indian government aimed to show that a large fighting force has beaten back the insurgency.

======================================

THE LIST GOES ON AND ON.... you can continue to brag but truth and reality speak otherwise. International community is much much smarter than your (admin - unnecessary and inapppropriate comment edited out) like tactics to say a lie and then keep repeating in hopes that people will believe. In this day and age, lies have their way of coming out and liars will be shamed, only if you admit it. ;)

FULL LIST OF FAILED elections in kashmir reports can be looked at here:

http://www.ummah.org.uk/kashmir/reports/election.htm

ADD this to the list as well:
http://www.kashmiri-cc.ca/quarterly/kq2-3/SHAMELEC.htm

[mysterious]

I'm just waiting for an Indian to say, "oh that source is crap and/or biased"! I think thats the easiest escape routes one can find nowadays! ;)

[The Watcher]

They can't say that myst because the sources are spread all across the board. From UK, from USA, from other countries in Europe, middle east, russia. AFP/AP, its all there. International community does not believe in fanatasy land stories that india would like all of us to believe in order to hide its state terrorism in Occupied Kashmir.

[iddm]

And the 2002 elections in Kashmir are widely acknowledged to be free and fair and transparent.


Transparent as the black paper. Who are you trying to fool and joke here? You think you are the only smart one that can use fancy wordings and fool the world into believing your fantasy land indian side of the story? I think not. How free were the elections, we all know. Thats why the person who was elected keeps getting attacked all the time and thats why people of the kashmir on election day held strikes and black-day observations, even on this recent Indian indpendence day, kashmiries observed a black day!

Farce of Elections in Kashmir

Parliament elections in every free, sovereign and democratic country symbolize freedom and fraternity of a nation. They bring change and pride to every civil society, and protect their unfettered liberties with reasonable duties and responsibilities.

But, unfortunately from day one, when the Sub Continent become independent, Kashmir elections continue to be controversial, and disputed like the political dispute of Kashmir. India’s Independence or her Republican declaration could never give even an iota of credibility to any election process or any such Assembly in J&K during the last 50 years.

Read the rest here:
SOURCE (http://www.kashmiris.org/articles/articles-english/farce_of_%20elections_in_%20Kashmir.htm)

Remember what great indian army did in 1987 election?


Constituents of Hurriyat, e.g. Jamaat, had in fact participated in 1987 elections, but they faced worst repression at the hands of security forces. Gradually the situation worsened and ultimately with the appointment of Jagmohan, militancy picked up. In the subsequent years, Kashmir was virtually turned into an 'occupied territory' and sentiment in favour of 'azadi' rose high, militant leaders gained popularity; Yaseen Malik ranking first, Shabbir Shah second, and then Geelani and Lone. Farooq's graph, on the other hand, nose-dived. But their apprehension that state assembly elections would be conducted in the manner in which parliamentary polls were conducted in Kashmir is by and large not unfounded. 'Forces will come and coerce people to polling booths', they say. And true to their apprehensions, extra troops have already started pouring in from different parts of the country for it. However, it will simply be a failure on the part of the government if Hurriyat remains out of the fray.
Link (http://www.cpiml.org/liberation/year_1996/august/commentary2.htm)

Here are your "widely acknowledged" elections in the eyes of international community and media:

The Indian Election farce in Kashmir



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

India decided to hold elections for 6 Lok Sabha seats in Indian-held Kashmir in three phases soon after the general elections in India. The first round of voting was held in Ladakh and Jammu on 7th May 1996, in Baramula and Anantnag on 23rd May 1996 and in Srinagar and Udhampur on 30th May 1996.

It is reported that during the election campaign, 5 to 6 people died and many were injured in demonstrations and violence in the valley.

India demonstrated her ill motives by holding elections against the wishes of the people of Jammu & Kashmir who are protesting at the illegal occupation of their homeland by India. The exercise showed the extremes to which India went to hold fraudulent elections. It was common to see election candidates campaigning amongst people who were forced to listen with bayonets pointed at them. During the election the people were herded to polling stations to cast their votes at gunpoint.

The news media has reported extensively on this election sham

Soldiers herd Kashmiris to polls May 23, 1996
BARAMULA, India (CNN) -- Soldiers roused many villagers and townspeople from their homes soon after dawn Thursday to vote in the first elections in seven years in the predominantly Muslim Jammu-Kashmir state.
===========================

From: Khalid Sofi, 23 May 96
No voting has been reported in most of the Baramulla and Anantnag districts going for polls today.

Indian forces have forced men and women out in Pulwama and Sopore towns early in the morning to cast their votes. They were threatened with death, if they do not come out, every house in these areas was than occupied by a Indian troop. Any young person between the age of 18-28 has been taken to unidentified place in these areas.
=========================

By ARTHUR MAX Associated Press Writer, 23 May 1996
BARAMULA, India (AP) -- With a dawn knock on doors, armed Indian troops herded Kashmiris to polling stations Thursday for an election intended to bring democracy back to the rebellious territory after seven years.
==========================

Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
The "Democratic Voting" in Indian Kashmir was a farce. By Erhard Haubold
Srinagar, 23 May. The soldiers came at five in the morning, fetched the people out of their houses, kicked in doors and announced over the loudspeakers of the mosques, that there are "free elections today, but he who doesn't attend will have to bear the consequences". Consequences? The ink stain on the index finger, which only washes off after one week, is unmistakable evidence. He who cannot produce this at a traffic check or at one of the many house searches, is threatened with a thrashing, with torture or something even worse. Even before the election day, the soldiers threatened, "We'll chop off their hands, or their heads as well". It was also said,"if you don't vote, we'll burn your house down".

=========================

The Washington Times,May 24
"Kashmiris forcibly taken to polls in India. Soldiers act to thwart separatist boycott" by Arthur Max.

"Armed troops herded Kashmiris to the polls yesterday (May23) for the rebellious state's first elections in seven years. Combating a boycott called by separatist leaders, soldiers roused villagers and towns people from their homes soon after dawn and escorted them to polling stations to elect members to the Parliament in New Delhi".

=========================

The Washington Post, May 24
"Troops Force Kashmiris to vote" by Kenneth J. Cooper.
"Besides providing valuable intelligence to security forces, the former insurgents have continued violent activities here with impunity because of government sponsorship". "The central government has a long history of manipulating elections and hand-picking leaders in Kashmir, where democracy has been the least realized in India. Journalists who observed today's voting in the two Kashmir Valley districts saw widespread evidence of security officers forcing residents to the polls and, in some cases, pressing them to vote for former Muslim militants. Some villagers said security forces began making threats more than a weak ago".

===========================

Dogens Nyheter , Swedish newspaper of 24 May reports
"Last Thursday (May 23) people went to the polling booths in Kashmir, but the election to the Indian parliament was followed by protests and there were also accusations that Indian soldiers had forced reluctant people from Kashmir to vote. In several towns in Kashmir, where the Muslim insurrection has been going on for the last seven years, Indian soldiers were, according to the police, using truncheons, tear gas and warning shots to end all the protests against the election".

=============================

The Guardian- Soldiers force Kashmir to polls
Beaten and herded like cattle, Kashmiris were driven from their homes at daybreak yesterday to cast their votes for the first time in seven years, in an exercise stripped of any pretence of choice or freedom. In village after village in Anantnag and Baramula, where voting for two of four parliamentary seats took place yesterday, the Indian army made little attempt to conceal its coercive campaign to ensure a high turnout.

================================

The Times of India of 24 May, Sabina Indeijit
People came on their own and voted, and in large numbers, was the State Government's statement, while the refrain among -the -Kashmiris was "we were threatened, taken out of our homes and forced by the army to vote". The write-up further states, "the day began with an overcast sky and a light drizzle. At 7 a.m. no person in civilian clothes could be seen on the street of the State capital. The first halt was a check point where

================================

The Statesman of 24 May , Aunohita Mojumdar's
"In a poll process that was neither free nor fair, but a successfully completed electoral exercise by the government, the Kashmir Valley underwent the first phase of elections after seven years. People were herded out of villages throughout the Valley., to ensure a voter turnout of 43% in Anantnag and 35% in Baramulla.

"However, though the Government achieved its goal of holding elections in the Valley, the voters, claiming they had been brought to the polling booths forcibly, remained alienated from the democratic process".

==================================

By JOHN F. BURNS New York Times.May 24, 1996
Indian Troops Used in Kashmir, to Force Muslims to Vote
BARAMULLA, Kashmir -- Indian troops moved into villages and urban neighborhoods across the Vale of Kashmir at dawn on Thursday, rousing Muslims from their beds to vote in the first election to be held in the only Indian state with a Muslim majority since a Muslim separatist rebellion began in 1989. By holding voting for the six seats in Parliament allotted to Kashmir, the Indian government aimed to show that a large fighting force has beaten back the insurgency.

======================================

THE LIST GOES ON AND ON.... you can continue to brag but truth and reality speak otherwise. International community is much much smarter than your (admin - unnecessary and inapppropriate comment edited out) like tactics to say a lie and then keep repeating in hopes that people will believe. In this day and age, lies have their way of coming out and liars will be shamed, only if you admit it. ;)

FULL LIST OF FAILED elections in kashmir reports can be looked at here:

http://www.ummah.org.uk/kashmir/reports/election.htm

ADD this to the list as well:
http://www.kashmiri-cc.ca/quarterly/kq2-3/SHAMELEC.htm


If you would have carefully read Sri's POST YOU WOULD HAVE SEEN THAT HE SPECIFICALLY MENTIONS 2002-2003 elections. Giving us sources quoting farcial elections to Lok Sabha IN 1996 is not going to change the fact that the assembly elections in 2002-2003 in J&K was without doubt free and fair. Well I am still waiting for a ceRTAIN PERSON TO GIVE ME SOURCES where the election commissioner said that the elections were rigged. Wow certain people here tend to shoot off their mouths and then give sources unrelated to the topic.

[insas556]

For a lot a people in India, the very fact that the National Conferece, who were then a close ally of the then ruling BJP govt,did not win the elections inthe state , was proof enough that the state elections of J&K in 02-03 were fair as compared to the previous ones.

posted by iddm IN 1996 is not going to change the fact that the assembly elections in 2002-2003 in J&K was without doubt free and fair. Well I am still waiting for a ceRTAIN PERSON TO GIVE ME SOURCES where the election commissioner said that the elections were rigged. Wow certain people here tend to shoot off their mouths and then give sources unrelated to the topic.
yeah, on occassion i have also been told by certain members,lets talk 2004 not the past(and that was when i was refering to certain issues of 2003-03) 1996 is ancient.

for the uninitiated and societies under non-democratic systems/administartions/dispensations ,democratic elections are something that democracies do after a cetain fixed term or under constituitinal provisions by an independent commission, to elect public representatives.One a new election say of 02-03 has been completed, the earlier one is consigned to the pages of history.
They if i may add are not Referendums ,as held by a certain neighbour for a certain distinguished Presidential?Army chief. A La a certain Saddam hussain who also used to get 100% results.
Democratic elections are not exactly the forte' or claim to fame of that neighbour too :)

[mysterious]

For 'those' who think I have 'useless' time to sit and search for the news article in which the election commissioner himself reveals that the elections were farce, you must be kidding me! I'm not gona dig up some news report I read 3 months back to rub my (Admin Edit: Mind your language!) against yours in a silly arguement. I know what I read and am standing by it. :smokingc:

[iddm]

For 'those' who think I have 'useless' time to sit and search for the news article in which the election commissioner himself reveals that the elections were farce, you must be kidding me! I'm not gona dig up some news report I read 3 months back to rub my (Admin Edit: Mind your language!) against yours in a silly arguement. I know what I read and am standing by it. :smokingc:

If you don't have the time to to dig up reports , then you have no right to make unsubstantiated accusations. This is an international forum, not someplace where you shoot your mouth off. Provide sources before you post, otherwise don't. I think that is the rule here. I am very surprised that the mods here let you off.

[The Watcher]

iddm - you may want to read my long long reply again. The election of 87 were farce and unfair, the election of 1996 were farce and unfair and keeping the tradition alive India did it again in 2002 with farce and unfair elections. You may not want to admit because indians have trouble admitting a lot of truthful things than just this election issue.


http://hir.harvard.edu/articles/?id=1085

http://www.ipcs.org/ipcs/kashmirLevel2.jsp?action=showView&kValue=97&subCat ID=1017&mod=a

Main parties representing kashmiri people never participated in the election.

http://www.ummah.org.uk/kashmir/index.htm

Since previous elections were unfair and farce, there is no doubt that 2002 election were also following the same tradition.

[iddm]

iddm - you may want to read my long long reply again. The election of 87 were farce and unfair, the election of 1996 were farce and unfair and keeping the tradition alive India did it again in 2002 with farce and unfair elections. You may not want to admit because indians have trouble admitting a lot of truthful things than just this election issue.


http://hir.harvard.edu/articles/?id=1085

http://www.ipcs.org/ipcs/kashmirLevel2.jsp?action=showView&kValue=97&subCatID=1017&mod=a

Main parties representing kashmiri people never participated in the election.

http://www.ummah.org.uk/kashmir/index.htm

Since previous elections were unfair and farce, there is no doubt that 2002 election were also following the same tradition.

Watcher, I went through the first source you provided, and it only reiterates the view that elections in 2002 was free and fair. The voter turnout was also 47% which is a quantum leap over the previous elections held there. The parties which boycotted the elections were the parties which support terrorism. Despite the violence perpetrated by these scum, the turnout showed that the people were not going to be cowed down by the threats of these organisations. It maybe hard for the Pakistanis to believe this, I don't blame them, that's what your government and media want you to believe. Sri's earlier post gives you an account of the international observers present during the polls. If the polls were rigged NC and BJP would be ruling the state now. But that's not the case, we have PDP ruling there, whose 'healing touch' policy seems to be working to some extent.

[WebMaster]

Both sides were given enough slack to have their say, now get back to the topic:

6,000 Kashmiri men join Indian Army