(a)
whether the Government have noticed the findings of the survey conducted in Kashmir by Mori International, one of the largest media organisations in the United Kingdom;
(b)
if so, the main findings of the survey: and
(c)
the Government`s reaction in this regard?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS(SHRI DIGVIJAY SINGH)
(a)& (b)
Following are some of the salient features of an opinion poll conducted by an UK based MORI International on Jammu and Kashmir :
61% of the residents of Jammu and Kashmir say that they prefer to stay with India. 2/3 rd of the population feels that Pakistan`s involvement in the region is bad. A vast majority feels that war is not a solution to the problems in Jammu and Kashmir. 65% of the population feels that the presence of foreign militants is damaging.
(c)
The outcome of the poll only confirms the reality. In any case, the people of India, including those living in the Indian State of J&K, are not dependent on surveys conducted by media organisations to express their opinions. India`s democratic framework provides ample opportunity for public opinion to express itself. The people of the Indian state of J&K have freely and on several occasions exercised their democratic rights through numerous representative elections.