October 11, 2002	Friday	Sha'aban 4, 1423

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MUZAFFARABAD, Oct 10: Muttahida Jihad Council, an alliance of Kashmiri Mujahideen groups, said on Thursday that the results of the so-called polls in occupied Kashmir had already been manipulated by New Delhi to bring new set of puppets in power.

“The Indian government and its agencies had already prepared election results to carry on their agenda in held Kashmir. They have been using political puppets for that agenda turn by turn,” MJC Chairman Syed Salahuddin said at an alliance meeting.

Salahuddin recalled that the people of Kashmir had not only rejected the election drama but also made the whole world believe through successful strikes and curfew-like situations that they abhorred India and wanted early freedom from its yoke.

The “heat and strength” of the Kashmiris’ verdict was not only felt by the independent international media but also by the Indian press, he said.

Occupied Kashmir’s ruling National Conference party conceded on Thursday that it had lost its majority after the state assembly elections.

Its chief Omar Abdullah, who is also India’s junior foreign minister, told a television network that the party’s “closeness to New Delhi” was a reason for the defeat.

The MJC chief remarked that India had “thrown the father (Farooq Abdullah) and son in dustbin after using them like tissue papers.”

He warned that those who would play the similar role should not have any vain imagination, as their fate would not be different from that of Farooq Abdullah and his cronies.

The people of Kashmir, Salahuddin asserted, had no interest in such dramas and their characters.

“They (Kashmiris) are in the field of action with one slogan: Freedom or martyrdom.”

He said the change of government would not affect the basic issue and the struggle (for freedom) would continue at all levels.

“As far as the militancy is concerned, we will not only continue but also intensify our target-oriented actions against the Indian forces and their installations,” he vowed.

The MJC meeting also discussed Indian home minister L.K. Advani’s talk offer to Mujahideen, and made it clear that the Mujahideen leadership was never against the talks.

“Let it be on record that we are not against talks. Neither we were so in the past nor today. But at the same time we reiterate that talks could only be held when India will accept the disputed status of (the whole of) Kashmir and show its willingness for the participation of all the three parties concerned in them in accordance with the United Nations resolutions,” Salahuddin said.

However, he rejected Advani’s demand that the freedom fighters should lay down their weapons.

“We will not put down guns till the eviction of the last Indian soldier from Kashmir.”

He assured the meeting that the blood of 80,000 martyrs would bring fruit and Kashmir would soon become free of Indian subjugation.