CAMPAIGNING PICKS UP IN KASHMIR DESPITE MILITANT ATTACK

30 April 2004, (ANI)

Doda, apr 29 (ANI): Kashmir's main opposition National Conference party on Thursday held a rally in Doda district a day after suspected Muslim rebels killed two people and wounded 55 in a huge explosion.



Militants have stepped up violence to enforce a poll boycott in the disputed region.



Wednesday's explosion took place when former minister Khalid Najib was about to address a rally in Doda, south of Srinagar. In the address, Najib blamed the federal government and also the state ruling People's Democratic Alliance for neglecting the region's development.



'There has been no impact and there is no feel good factor. Seventy percent areas do not have connectivity. This slogan is for urban area. We do not have internet facility nothing, so it will not affect at all non-rural areas,' said Najib.



The federal ruling BJP has been running a high profile campaign with a 'feel good factor' brought out by a resurgent economy.



Najib, a senior member of the National Conference party and a former state minister, is contesting the parliamentary election from Udhampur constituency, which is due to vote on May 10.



The level of violence in the troubled state has fallen since India and Pakistan began a peace process last year but there have been attacks in the run-up to the general election by anti-India militants who say polls in the region are a farce.



About a dozen rebel groups have been battling Indian rule in the Muslim-majority region since 1989. More than 40,000 people have been killed in the insurgency.



Militants and political separatists have called for a boycott of the poll in Kashmir saying elections cannot resolve the decades-old conflict over the Himalayan region that has led to two wars between India and Pakistan.



The guerrillas have attacked politicians, voting booths and party offices since campaigning started for the five-stage poll being held from April 20 to May 10.



Turnout was low in the two rounds of voting in Kashmir so far. (ANI)