rediff.com: Shabir Shah makes a U-turn; now says no to polls


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August 30, 2002
1457 IST

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Shabir Shah makes a U-turn; now says no to polls

Shortly after announcing that his Democratic Freedom Party would participate in the coming assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir if his seven conditions were met, Shabir Shah later on Friday made a volte face and ruled out his party's participation in the polls.

"Let me make it clear that we are not participating in the forthcoming assembly elections," Shah told reporters after meeting Congress president Sonia Gandhi in Delhi.

His remarks came shortly after a joint declaration issued after a marathon meeting between him and the Kashmir Committee, headed by former Union law minister Ram Jethmalani, said "...the DFP led by Shabir Shah has in principle agreed to participate in the elections."

"We don't shy away from the democratic exercise but it seems that the coming elections are aimed only at giving an extension to the Farooq Abdullah regime," Shah said outside Sonia's residence.

Jammu and Kashmir Elections 2002: The complete coverage

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