Home Minister Rajnath Singh today said that incidents of violence in Jammu and Kashmir have gone down and asserted that security forces were fully prepared to get the urban local body (ULB) polls conducted in the state.
Elections to ULBs in Jammu and Kashmir will start from tomorrow and be held in four phases.
Talking to reporters on the sidelines of an event of the Central Reserve Police Force in Lucknow, Rajnath Singh said security forces have given a "befitting reply" to militants in the Kashmir valley.
"Incidents of violence have come down in the recent past", he said.
When asked about the overall security situation in the state, the minister said the forces were vigilant.
Rajnath Singh also said Pakistan was not mending its ways, indicating that the neighbouring country was fuelling infiltration and militancy activities in Kashmir.
The polls will see a direct contest between the BJP and the Congress, with major regional political parties - the National Conference (NC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) - boycotting the election over the legal challenge to Article 35A of the Constitution in the Supreme Court.
High Court Sets Aside Probe Agency Chargesheets Against Farooq Abdullah, Others Rajnath Singh Chairs Key Security Meet Over Rising Terror Attacks In J&K Army Captain Killed In J&K Encounter, 1 Terrorist Eliminated, 3 Remain Who Is Jasveen Sangha, "Ketamine Queen" Charged For Matthew Perry's Death Nurse Raped, Killed On Way Home, Body Found 9 Days Later In UP "Don't Expect Anything From Me": Kolkata Hospital's New Principal Loses Cool What Is The Dinosaur-Killing Asteroid's Origin? Scientists Have An Answer AP ICET Counselling 2024 Revised Schedule Out, Check Details Manipuri Girl's 'Jana Gana Mana' Rendition Goes Viral, Wins Praise Online Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.