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No place for 'international observers': Lyngdoh

Chief Election Commissioner J M Lyngdoh, who announced the assembly poll schedule for Jammu & Kashmir at a crowded press conference in New Delhi on Friday, snubbed a foreign correspondent who wanted to know why the government was 'allergic' to inviting international observers.

"We have a problem with the term 'international observers'," Lyngdoh told him. The time has gone, the CEC said, when "the white man could come and tell you what you are doing is right or wrong. The era of headmasters is over."

Lyngdoh asserted that the Election Commission of India was one of the best and most respected institutions of its kind in the world.

"I have had talks with the election commissions of the UK, Canada, and Australia," he said. "They have expressed their desire to come and see elections in Kashmir."

They could visit the state in their individual capacity, he said, not as representatives of their respective commissions.

But what is wrong, another foreign correspondent asked, if someone comes and monitors your elections. "You monitor your cattle," the CEC shot back.

"If the foreign media wants to come and see the elections," he continued, "we have no objections. We will allow them full access to the polling booths as well. There will be no discrimination between the Indian and the foreign media."

Foreign missions in India can send representatives to Jammu & Kashmir and see the election, he added, but no one would be allowed to give his or her opinion [on how to conduct the exercise].

The CEC told the press conference that the Election Commission had already selected men of integrity and independence to act as observers during the election and they would be reporting to the commission on a regular basis.

"Normally the observers are sent after the poll notification, but since elections in Jammu & Kashmir are special, therefore they have been sent much in advance and are on the job right now," he added.

He did not, however, specify the number of observers sent to the state.

Jammu and Kashmir Elections 2002: The complete coverage

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