The Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee has extended hearty congratulations to the people of Jammu & Kashmir for the courage and conviction with which they have participated in the two rounds of polling in the state. The following is the text of statement of the Prime Minister issued at Maldives today:-

~My dear compatriots in Jammu & Kashmir, accept my hearty congratulations for the courage and conviction with which you have participated in the first two rounds of polling in the elections to the Legislative Assembly of your State.

All the people in the rest of our country join me in saying, with admiration and thanks, ~Salaam~ to you.

We in India have seen many elections. But rarely has there been an election in which the voters have had to brave threats to their very lives just to exercise their fundamental right; in which the vote is not so much for this or that party, not for this or that candidate, but for democracy and national unity. Irrespective of who wins, it is clear to the whole world that, in Jammu & Kashmir, the ballot is winning a resounding victory over the bullet.

Since the elections were announced on August 22, there have been as many as 400 incidents of terrorist violence, in which 37 political activists, including two candidates, have been killed. Sixty security personnel also have lost their lives and over 100 others have been injured.

The successful anti-terrorist operation in Srinagar this morning was a yet another reminder of the lethal plans of anti-India and anti-democracy forces to sabotage the polls. I take this opportunity to express our appreciation and gratitude to all those security and administration personnel who worked for the smooth conduct of polling in the State.

By answering fear with fortitude, you have foiled the sinister designs of those indulging in terrorism, and their patrons across the border. They did everything to subvert the polls – kill candidates, intimidate voters and threaten polling personnel. Their description of the polling in Jammu & Kashmir so far a ~sham~ shows nothing but their growing frustration.

Before the start of the electoral process, we had pledged that the elections in Jammu & Kashmir would be free and fair. The first two round of polling are a proof that, with your cooperation, we have redeemed that pledge. I am confident that the remaining part of the election would further reinforce its positive message and open a new chapter of peace and development in the history of your State~.