Lucknow, June 28: Declaring that Assembly Elections in Jammu and Kashmir would be free and fair, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today said, “The Centre would even consider imposing President's rule, if necesssary, during the polls.” There is a proposal to hold Assembly Elections in J&K under central rule, Vajpayee said at a news conference. Asked whether the Centre would hold talks with the all party Hurriyat Conference, he said, “The government was always ready to hold parleys with them provided it was unconditional.” He, however, pointed out that the Hurriyat had refused to speak to the Centre's interlocuter K C Pant.
Reacting to the charges by the new National Conference President Omar Abdullah that the Centre betrayed his father Farooq Abdullah by ignoring his vice-presidential aspirations, Vajpayee said there was a proposal to make Farroq Abdullah the Vice-President but it "had to be changed later."

"Dr Abdullah knows about it", he said adding "he had met me recently and was consulted on the selection of the presidential candidate".

Abdullah has assured of his party's continued support to the NDA of which NC was a partner, the prime minister said.

Bureau Report