Jammu,14-Dec; In a sensational disclosure, Senior BJP leader Devender Singh Rana today said that the 1996 Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly elections were fixed in New Delhi that paved way for a particular political party in the sensitive state to form the government after nearly six years of gubernatorial rule. “The beneficiaries of the crucial 1996 elections know the fact that the number of seats to be won by the contesting political parties were fixed on a High table in New Delhi”, Rana said while interacting with media men on the side-lines of a function here this afternoon.Devender Rana took head on those pointing fingers on the Indian Army and said that the observations on the Army are regrettable, condemnable and shameful. He said the Indian Army is known for its professionalism and apolitical character the world over and the valiant officers and jawans have offered supreme sacrifices to defend the integrity and sovereignty of the nation. It is because of their valour and vigil that the compatriots feel a sense of security and pride, he added. Devender Rana said the BJP is credited with holding free and fair elections in Jammu and Kashmir in 1977 under the leadership of Morarji Desai, 2002 under the premiership of Atal Behari Vajpayee and 2014 under Narendra Modi. The people, therefore, must remain reassured about the fairness of the assembly elections that will empower them to choose their own government, he maintained.
