On Terror And Elections In J&K, Poll Panel Chief's 'Chicken And Egg' Analogy

Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar was asked about elections being held in Jammu and Kashmir in the backdrop of an uptick in terror attacks and encounters.

In Jammu and Kashmir to take stock of preparations for elections, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar has said that no internal or external force can stop the Election Commission from conducting Assembly polls in the Union Territory. 

Addressing a press conference in Jammu on Friday, Mr Kumar said in Hindi, "The foundation laid by you (the people and the administration) is now awaiting the construction of a strong building. We have to achieve new heights and the time for that has come. If any internal or external force thinks that they can interfere and derail the Assembly elections, they are wrong. We are sure that the people of Jammu and Kashmir will give a befitting response to disruptive forces."

To a question on how the elections were being planned given that the Union Territory has seen an uptick in terror attacks and encounters in which many security personnel have also been killed, the Chief Election Commissioner used the chicken-and-egg analogy.