Srinagar, Aug 11: Jammu and Kashmir minister of state for home Khalid Najeeb Suharwardy has said that the state government was making every effort to ensure free and fair assembly polls despite attempts by "vested interests" to scuttle the election process. Talking to a visiting delegation of the European Union, who called on him here yesterday, Suharwardy said "some vested interests" were bent upon prolonging the disturbance in Jammu and Kashmir even though the people wanted peace and believed in democracy, which was evident from their enthusiastic participation in elections to the parliament, the state assembly and the panchayats held in the past.
The minister however, asserted that these elements had no public footing which was the reason for their hesitating from taking part in the elections.
Suhrawardy also informed the delegation that due care was being taken to avoid any human rights violation while dealing with anti-national elements, though whenever a complaint was made in this regard, the state government has never failed to take proper action. Bureau Report