Situation conducive for JK Assembly polls: Jaitley

Jammu Sep 7: Advocating that the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections be held in October-November, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national general secretary Arun Jaitley today said the present situation is conducive for elections as normalcy has been restored in the state after a two-month-long agitation over the Amarnath land controversy.

''The time is ripe for the assembly polls and I feel that political activities will help to bring back an absolute normalcy on track in Jammu Kashmir,'' Mr Jaitley asserted while addressing a press conference here this afternoon.

Reiterating the BJP's support to end the political and economic discrimination with Jammu and Ladakh, Mr Jaitley said, ''We want elections and delimitation on time to put an end the decades-old discrimination with the people of Jammu but simultaneously, we don't want delimitation be the reason to delay the assembly polls.'' The BJP wants due assembly polls at the scheduled time and the party would take up the matter of holding due polls and delimitation in Jammu and Kashmir during All Party Meeting on September 10 to be held at national capital.

Slamming the Congress government for being so wary of 'hurting' the sentiments of Valley separatists, he alleged that it had failed to understand the separatist false propaganda, first on the 'canard' that the land for pilgrims was a plot to set up 'Hindu colonies', and then on a non-existent 'economic blockade,' and thereafter was left with no option but to address legitimate demands of Jammu people.

''The Congress always succumbed to various pressures. The policies of Congress at present are so weak that it can't even counter the pro-SIMI stand of its allies namely Samajwadi Party, RJD and Lok Janshakti Party,'' alleged the senior BJP leader.

Mr Jaitley, referring to the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) said, ''It is certain that the Indian government has given up hopes of testing nuclear devices in the future.'' Commenting on Barack Obama's remark for Pakistan's role in mothering terrorism, he said after 9/11 the global situation has witnessed a drastic change and India's stand has been vindicated.

UNI