India

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Government

"Who wins and who loses will be known in two to four days, but India has won this election and democracy had triumphed."

- L K Advani, Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, October 9, 2002.

"The conduct of peaceful elections (in Jammu and Kasshmir) was an acid test for Pakistan in which it miserably failed."

- Kanwal Sibal, Foreign Secretary, Copenhagen, October 9, 2002.

"Given the circumstances and considering the situation under which elections were held when militants constantly dissuaded the electorate from going to the polls, the overall voting percentage was satisfactory.''

- Sayan Chatterjee, Deputy Election Commissioner, New Delhi, October 8, 2002.

"The voter turnout so far has been commendable in the face of the most vicious campaign of threats, intimidation and violence orchestrated from across our borders and aimed at voters and candidates alike… People have expressed their opinion. They are not for Pakistan."

- Atal Behari Vajpayee, Prime Minister, London, October 7, 2002

"Our hope is that they will see reason, accept the results of these elections, cease cross-border terrorism and see whether way can be opened to a resumption of dialogue… "It [voting percentage] is truly an expression of the will of the people of Kashmir."

- Kanwal Sibal, Foreign Secretary, New Delhi, October 4, 2002.

"There were killings of candidates and political activists, intimidation of voters, calls for poll boycott. However, the people of Jammu and Kashmir braved all this once again to demonstrate that the bullet cannot defeat the ballot in a democracy."

- Atal Behari Vajpayee, Prime Minister, New Delhi, September 30, 2002

"… [Pakistan’s objective] is that the J and K elections are not allowed to be held in a smooth manner because it negates their demand for plebiscite… The kind of concern being shown by the Western nations proves the importance they are giving to these elections. If the J and K polls are conducted in a free and fair manner, then there won’t be any meaning left for holding of a plebiscite… my intention or that of other parties is not to win these elections, but conduct of the polls in a participatory, free and fair manner… the nation remembers that this democratic process in J and K is unfolding in the backdrop of a bold, sustained and successful campaign against cross-border terrorism carried out by our army and security forces."

- L K Advani, Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister, New Delhi, September 29, 2002.

"The world is surprised that the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections are being conducted in a fair manner."

- Atal Behari Vajpayee, Prime Minister, New Delhi, September 28, 2002.

"There [have] been some pockets where the poll percentage has been less, partially because of the boycott and mainly due to the threat perception. But that does not mean elections were not free and fair… "After the announcement of elections in the State, all the promises of Gen Musharraf have proved farce and cross border infiltration have risen to large extent. Even militant groups, who had otherwise strategically reduced their activities, have stepped up violence in the State."

- I D Swami, Union Minister of State for Home, Srinagar, September 26, 2002.

"By and large, the second phase passed off without any incident."

- Nirupama Rao, Spokesperson, Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi, September 26, 2002.

"Our problem with Pakistan is not the elections in Jammu and Kashmir alone."

- Yashwant Sinha, Minister for External Affairs, Kuala Lumpur, September 26, 2002.

"First Pakistan opposed elections in J and K. Then terrorists killed candidates and innocent people but voters still turned out in large numbers risking their lives. People of J and K have given terrorists and Pakistan a fitting reply and a hard slap on their face."

- Atal Behari Vajpayee, Prime Minister, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, September 25, 2002.

"There have been no independent elections held in Pakistan so far and so they cannot believe that independent elections can be held anywhere else… Nobody can digest the Pakistani propaganda now."

- Atal Behari Vajpayee, Prime Minister, Male, Maldives, September 24, 2002.

"I am very happy that the elections are finally happening here...The day has come to vote for the new Government. It is a slap on the face of Pakistan. All their plans have gone haywire… Pakistan has done everything it can to disrupt the polls... All their nefarious designs have been thwarted by the people of the State by participating in large numbers in these elections… They are trying to send warning signals to the people to stay away from the poll process but the people have given them a befitting reply."

-Farooq Abdullah, Chief Minister, Jammu and Kashmir, Srinagar, September 24, 2002.

"… [polling was] by and large incident free… If militant attacks immediately prior to the polls were not there, the voting percentage would have been a little bit higher this time."

- Sayan Chatterjee, Deputy Election Commissioner, New Delhi, September 24, 2002.

"We are satisfied with the peaceful conduct of polls."

- Pramod Jain, Chief Electoral Officer for Jammu and Kashmir, Srinagar, September 24, 2002.

"It [the first phase of polling] has been both positive and encouraging than we had expected. Even in the circumstances prevailing I should have thought that anything over 25 per cent [voter turn out] would be reasonably good, especially in the Valley because of the stepped-up violence from the other side. Also there were all the appeals for boycotting, accompanied by threats. They [the terrorists] tried to target candidates and political workers, and some of them unfortunately fell to it… They [the security forces] are under strict instruction not to pressurise anyone to vote. They are there to create a sense of confidence. Many people wanted to come out… they felt reassured… Many, who didn't want to come out, didn't."

- Girish Chandra Saxena, Governor, Jammu and Kashmir, Srinagar, September 24, 2002.

"Infiltration had decreased in May and June this year [2002] because the international community was focussing on Pakistan. But as the election campaign began, J & K started feeling the heat because the ISI felt that the smooth conduct of polls would be a feather in India's cap… I cannot guarantee 90 per cent polling in the J & K elections, which Gen. Musharraf can [in his country], but the first round of polling has been decent."

- L K Advani, Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister, New Delhi, September 23, 2002.

"The first phase has gone better than ever happened in this country since independence… They (voters) are not complaining of (coercion). They need an excuse if they are questioned by militants for voting."

- J M Lyngdoh, Chief Election Commissioner, Srinagar, September 20, 2002.

"The final turnout after opening the diaries of the presiding officers of all the 23 segments that went to polls on Monday is 47.28 per cent."

- Pramod Jain, chief electoral officer of Jammu and Kashmir, Srinagar, September 18, 2002.

"Hamari Ashayon Ke Anuroop Huya Hai (the first-phase turnout has met our expectations). It testified to the fact that the people of Jammu and Kashmir are desirous of living in harmony for the bright future of the region."

- Atal Behari Vajpayee, Prime Minister, New Delhi, September 17, 2002.

- Sushma Swaraj, Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Nagrota/Marh, J&K, September 17, 2002.

"In a situation of this kind, polling itself becomes the touchstone… I cannot guarantee 90 per cent polling as (President Pervez) Musharraf can do… Conducting successful polling is in itself a befitting reply. I think the international community would regard this as successful election… From all accounts, today's polling was free and fair and there were no allegations of rigging in any constituency or any report of coercion by anyone."

- L K Advani, Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister, New Delhi, September 16, 2002.

"It was free and fair with a reasonably good turnout."

- Atal Behari Vajpayee, Prime Minister, Zurich, September 16, 2002.

"None of you who does not wish to vote will be forced to do so… For the many who wish to vote, in spite of the bloodshed and turbulence, I assure you that the security forces are there in great numbers to protect you and enthusiastic polling personnel from Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and from within your own state are ready to serve you at the polling booth… Sixteen diplomats would be visiting Kupwara and Baramulla in the first phase and two would go to Rajouri and Poonch… They are free to do wherever they want. We do not think we need to be observed."

- J M Lyngdoh, Chief Election Commissioner, New Delhi, September 16, 2002.

"Despite stepped up terrorist attacks in Jammu and Kashmir as part of Pakistan's attempt to disrupt polls, people are taking part with great enthusiasm as they feel violence should stop and for this impartial election is needed… They think increasing participation in the poll process would play a significant role in stamping out terrorism."

- L K Advani, Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister, New Delhi, September 15, 2002.

"Those who had to `adjust' voting and counting procedures to win a referendum and achieved constitutional authority by the simple expedient of writing their own constitution are ill-placed to lecture others on freedom and democracy."

- Atal Behari Vajpayee, Prime Minister, Address to the United Nations General Assembly, New York, September 13, 2002.

"The ensuing election in Pakistan is a joke. For a military dictator, to comment on elections in another country, is a bigger joke."

- Yashwant Sinha, External Affairs Minister, New York, September 13, 2002.

"Pakistan is worried that the election results in Jammu and Kashmir would create a decisive situation before the world community... That would go against its design of proxy war against India."

- L K Advani, Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister, Jaipur, September 12, 2002.

"It (Pakistan) is a country which has abandoned democracy for dictatorship and makes these empty noises… Pakistan needs to turn the searchlight on itself… All this is a ploy to disrupt the (poll) process in Jammu and Kashmir."

- Nirupama Rao, Spokesperson, Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi, September 12, 2002.

"These incidents of violence (in J and K) are in the same category as the attack on Indian Parliament on December 13 (2001). They are an attack on democracy and are intended to subvert the will of the people who would like to exercise their right to elect an Assembly."

- L K Advani, Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister, New Delhi, September 11, 2002.

Political Parties

"The elections are being held in difficult conditions and their success has given a fitting reply to the forces which tried to sabotage the polls."

- Karan Singh, Congress Member of Parliament, New Delhi, October 4, 2002.

"It is for the first time that the Delhi Darbar ensured rigging-free polls in the State and has given people free choice to elect their Chief Minister. This had not happened so far in the State, where almost all elections were rigged."

- Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, President, People's Democratic Party (PDP), Srinagar, September 29, 2002

."The high turn-out in [the] first two phases of elections was a clear indication that pro-Pakistan elements in Jammu and Kashmir, especially in the Kashmir Valley, have been badly isolated. The people have given a befitting reply to the anti-national elements."

- Arun Jaitley, General Secretary, Ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, Basohli, J&K, September 28, 2002.

"I think the elections are going to fair if the first phase is an indicator.''

- Mehbooba Mufti, People's Democratic Party (PDP) vice-president, Budgam, September 18, 2002.

"The elections has exposed the mischievous activities and propaganda of Pakistan and the world has now begun to take a tough stance on that country's role in Jammu and Kashmir."

- Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Spokesperson, Bharatiya Janata Party, New Delhi, September 18, 2002.

"The overwhelming enthusiasm among people about the polls will definitely remove doubts of international community about the fairness of the elections in this troublesome State… The enthusiasm among people about the election and participation by people in large number in first phase of elections indicates to our neighbour, which is trying to disrupt polls, that people have full faith on Indian democratic system."

- H D Deve Gowda, Former Prime Minister and National President, Janata Dal (Secular), Jammu, September 17, 2002.

"This is a heinous crime perpetrated by Pakistan-backed terrorists. The killers of security (force) personnel and civilians shouldn't go scot free."

- Ghulam Nabi Azad, Indian National Congress, Jammu and Kashmir State President, Surankote, September 11, 2002.

"The overwhelming enthusiasm among people about the polls will definitely remove doubts of international community about the fairness of the elections in this troublesome State… The enthusiasm among people about the election and participation by people in large number in first phase of elections indicates to our neighbour, which is trying to disrupt polls, that people have full faith on Indian democratic system."

- H D Deve Gowda, Former Prime Minister and National President, Janata Dal (Secular), Jammu, September 17, 2002