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Nothing to worry on globalisation : Saxena
Advserse outcome of peace process will lead to disintegration : CM

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 30: Cautioning Centre against taking any hasty decision on Kashmir , Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah today warned that any adverse outcome of present peace initiative on the vexed issue would lead to disintegration of the country.

Addressing inaugural session of the 83rd Indian Economic Association Conference of the Millennium, he said the Kashmir issue was a very sensitive one which should be dealt cautiously. "Kashmir is symbol of our secular democracy and any adverse decision on this emotional issue would further aggravate the situation all over the country", he warned and cited example of Bosonia and some other countries where thousands of innocent people have been killed in ethnic conflicts.

Dr Abdullah reiterated his earlier stand that conversion of Line of Control (LoC) into International Border (IB) was the only viable solution to the Kashmir embroglio. "Let they keep what they are holding and let them allow us to live in peace", he added.

Visibly emotional Chief Minister assured the delegates, who had come from different parts of the country to attend the conference, that Kashmir was integral part of the India and will remain crown of India despite repeated stupid mis-adventures by Pakistan. "I do admit that there are some black-sheeps but over-whelming majority of Kashmiris want to live with secular India", he said and added that seperatist leaders like Syed Ali Shah Geelani will die one day and seeds of seperation will bury with them.

"There is need to be worried about the utterances of Geelani and other separatist leaders who have been advocating the merger of Kashmir with Muslim Pakistan since 1947", he stated and asserted that no power on earth can secede Kashmir from India.

"Since partition, Pakistan has been repeatedly making attempts to snatch Kashmir from India due to its Muslim majority ", he said. "Had Islam been the binding force for all Muslims, Bangladesh would not have emerged on the political map of the world". The Chief Minister appreciated vision of his father late Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah who had preferred to join Gandhi’s secular India rather than Muslim Pakistan of Jinnah.

Launching a scathing attack on Pakistan for spreading terrorism in the State, Dr Abdullah lamented "we ourselves are also responsible for the prevailing situation". He criticised successive Central Governments for ignoring emotions of the people of this State.

"I admit that I have committed some mistakes but Delhi is also responsible for militancy in the State", he said. He regretted that "some bureaucrats sitting in the Air-Conditioned rooms at Delhi have been deciding future of the states without taking into consideration the aspirations and desires of the masses".

He stressed the need of implementing true federal structure to protect integration of the nation. "If Centre continues to strangulate the State it is difficult rather impossible to keep the country united", he said.

Expressing his anguish over vicious campaign launched by some elements regarding rampant corruption in the State, he challenged the Centre authorities to constitute a commission to enquire all corruption charges. "In a deep rooted conspiracy some vested interests have launched prevaricating campaign against my Government but they have maintained a criminal silence over corruption in other parts of the country", he said.

He admitted that it was difficult to totally eradicate corruption from the society. "Corruption is deep rooted in the civil society and out State is also part of the society", he said and claimed that his Government has made sincere efforts to contain this menace.

"When we assumed office both law and order and economic situations in the State were worst", he recalled. The Chief Minister regretted that despite hostility and odd conditions being faced by State, Centre has not been giving adequate help at this crucial juncture.

"On the one hand we have been facing proxy war imposed by Pakistan while on the other hand we have been facing non-cooperative attitude of Delhi", he said. He regretted that State became sandwich between Delhi and Pakistan.

Coming down heavily on NDA Government for not giving adequate funds for development and upliftment of the masses of this trouble torn State, Dr Abdullah, however, lavished praises on the then United Front Government for realising hardship of the people of the State.

Recounting the eposide when he assumed charge of Chief Minister on October 1996, Chief Minister said that the then Prime Minister, Mr H D Devgowda had assured that entire nation was behind him. "Now I want backing of the entire nation to come out of the prevailing situation", he said. He declared that he want to wipe tears of all inhabitants of this violence plagued State.

Addressing the same function, Governor Garish Chander Sexena said that globalisation was an un-escapable and un-avoidable trend and there was no need to be worried over on-going globalisation and liberalisation.

Saxena said that instead of getting hostile towards globalisation we have to find ways to emerge winner in the prevailing economic scenario in the world. "Instead of getting afraid of facing world market we should have to effectively compete the world market", he said, adding, "we have proved our credentials in the Information Technology sector where India has been counted as top among the world".

The Governor said that though some people have some reservations about globalisation and liberalisation but we have to rise to the scene as this trend was unavoidable. "Instead of pointing negative aspects of globalisation we have to face challenge with determination and confidence", he exhorted the economists.

In his keynote address, the chairman of the 11th finance commission, Prof A M Khusroo said he finds no argument in withholding sovereign guarantee for foreign investments. ‘I have spoken to the Prime Minister on this issue’, he added.

Prof Khusroo said that during his visits to the Valley alongwith several delegations, youngsters would always remind them about New Delhi’s ‘sky is the limit’ assertion on autonomy. He said the credibility of the nation is at stake if the promised autonomy is not granted.

Mr Khusroo gave a brief account of the themes to be discussed during the conference that include WTO and India, second generation of economic reforms, economics of child labour and crime, corruption and development. Second generation reforms, he said is a well-conceived conception compared to first generation reforms as far as poverty alleviation is concerned.

Referring to 11th finance commission recommendations, he said more weightage has been given on poverty alleviation. In absolute terms, each and every State has received more in comparison to previous commissions but in percentage terms, poor states have got more. He said the final recommendations of the commission would envisage more for the performing states.

In his address Vice-Chancellor of Jammu University, Prof R R Sharma said "ours is a time of fundamental change. Changes in our economy and policies, revolutionary manifestations and new technology and a whole host of contemporary forces, are shattering our old assumptions about our society".

"Liberalisation of market and economy restructuring which were initiated almost a decade ago, must be accompanied by well considered policies for poverty alleviation, improved nutrition, literacy and education, basic health, social security, gender equality, land rights, social democracy etc. The economic restructuring will have to be based on an integrated view of the process of economic expansion", he stated.

Prof Sharma regretted that inspite of many achievements, we have been lagging far behind in variety of critical areas. " Indian’s infra-structure is in disarray. Apparently, we have no financial resources to build more roads, railways, power stations, canals, bridges, air ports etc", he said and added that most of the Indian roads present a dim picture of decay for want of proper infrastructure. He further regretted that more than a half million villages which constitute the rural India have remained more or less unchanged and they lack the basic means to provide basic amenities.

Taking a cue from the thought provoking Republic Day address of the President, Mr K R Narayanan, Prof Sharma said that issues raised by the President merit serious attention by all including the economists. "The President of India reminded us that India harbours largest number of illiterates, poor people and children suffering from mal-nutrition and that more than half of the population of the country has no access to the drinking water", Prof Sharma said.

Prof G S Bhalla, Professor Emeritus, Jawahar Lal Nehru University presided over the inaugural function.

Prof. A M Khusro conferred presitigious Financial Express Award in favour of Dr I G Patel. This award comprising of a citiation and a cash award of Rs 50,000.

Infiltration attempt foiled
Two militants killed in Rajouri; haul of IEDs

Excelsior Correspondent

RAJOURI, Dec 30: Army foiled an infiltration attempt on the Line of Control (LoC) in forward area of Nareli in Keri sector early today killing two militants and effecting recovery of a huge quantity of explosives and ammunition.

This was the first major infiltration bid made by Pakistan-sponsored militants through Keri sector after the announcement of cease-fire by Government and ‘maximum restraint’ call of Pakistan.

Official sources said troops deployed on forward post of Nareli observed movement of a group of militants infiltrating into Indian territory through the LoC at 0415 hours today. All forward army posts became alert and allowed the infiltrators to come within the firing range.

Militants opened firing on Nareli army post from where the army soldiers retaliated. An exchange of firing between the two sides continued for about two hours in which two militants were killed and two others were believed to be injured.

No casualty was reported on army side in the gun-battle, the sources said, adding in the morning troops carried out searches at the encounter site and recovered dead bodies of two slain militants. Two injured ultras had managed to escape back to Pakistan alongwith their other fleeing associates.

Identity of the killed militants couldn’t be established immediately but both were suspected to be Pakistanis and activists of Lashkar-e-Toiba outfit. Recovery made from their possession included 14 Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), 14 ammunition boxes, 19 Under Barrel Grenade Launchers (UBGL), 24 hand grenades, one solar rocket, two 60 mm mortar bombs, 17 detonators fitted with wire, 14 switches, five kg RDX and Rs 1870 in Indian currency.

Sources said this was for the first time during last over one month of cease-fire that Pakistan army pushed a big group of infiltrators into Indian territory through Keri sector. Firing in Keri sector has also come down considerably after the cease-fire.

Official reports received from both the border districts of Poonch and Rajouri revealed that infiltration attempts have come down in the last one month. However, in some areas on the LoC, the militants continued to make bids to intrude though majority of such attempts have been foiled by army.