Agencies
New Delhi, January 4:
His statement came after a two-hour debate in Rajya Sabha — it was on a resolution to approve the December 19 proclamation imposing President’s rule — which saw Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad and Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley crossing swords, each accusing the other’s party of “alienating” the people of the state.
Nearly a month and half after Governor Satya Pal Malik dissolved the Jammu and Kashmir assembly and a fortnight after President’s rule was imposed in the state, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh told Parliament Thursday that the central government will have no objection if the Election Commission wants to hold assembly polls in J&K along with Lok Sabha elections. He said the Centre was ready to provide security forces whenever the Election Commission holds elections.
His statement came after a two-hour debate in Rajya Sabha — it was on a resolution to approve the December 19 proclamation imposing President’s rule — which saw Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad and Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley crossing swords, each accusing the other’s party of “alienating” the people of the state. Opposition parties panned the Governor’s November 21 action of dissolving the assembly and asked the government to spell out when it plans to hold elections in the state.
“It is the Election Commission’s job to hold elections. But I want to assure the House that we will not come in the way (of holding elections). We are willing to provide whatever security forces the Election Commission wants,” Singh said.
When Azad asked whether the government was willing to hold assembly elections along with Lok Sabha polls, he said “yadi Election Commission chahta hai toh hamari sarkar ko koi aapati nahin hogi (If the Election Commission desires, our government will have no objection).
