Congress ready for mid-term polls: Niaz

Jammu, Mar 19 (UNI) Blaming the People's Democratic Party for playing ''vote-politics'' in Jammu and Kashmir, senior Congress leader and newly-elected member of the Legislative Council (MLC) Mohammad Sharief Niaz today said the Congress ''is ready to face the mid-term poll in the state but it would not be in the interests of the people of the state''.

Addressing a press conference here, Mr Niaz, brother of Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, told mediapersons: ''At this moment when the peace process between India and Pakistan to solve the Kashmir issue is under process, the move by the PDP to boycott the Cabinet meetings is not in the interest of the people in the state''.

He accused the coalition partner of trying to derail the peace process and said the people of Jammu and Kashmir ''are aware about realities of the PDP''.

''The Congress is taking stern action against the Army and police officers who have violated the law. Senior Police Officers, who have been found involved in the custodial deaths, are being arrested and prosecuted under law and instructions with regard to custodial deaths if any since 1990 have been issued for investigations,'' Mr Niaz said.

UNI