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Arma haul
in Surankote Excelsior Correspondent RAJOURI, Nov 8: In another successful operation, the Rashtriya Rifles of Romeo Force today eliminated five Lashkar-e-Toiba militants, hailing from Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) at village Dofali in Bafliaz and Battalwali area of Surankote tehsil in Poonch district. An army jawan was injured in the encounter. Defence sources said an information was gathered by Romeo Force jawans at about 1000 hours this morning that four foreign mercenaries were spotted in Dofali village near Bafliaz. Immediately thereafter, troops planned an operations and four separate groups of Rashtriya Rifles jawans fanned out in Dofali village. After more than an hour long search operation, troops succeeded in tracing the militants in a dhok. Sensing themselves trapped, all four militants resorted to heavy firing with their automatic weapons on approaching army columns and made a determined attempt to escape. However, the army jawans replied the firing and engaged militants in heavy exchange of firing that lasted 40 minutes. In the operation, all four militants were gunned down by the brave army personnel. A jawan suffered minor injuries in the exchange of firing and was hospitalised. Bodies of all four slain militants have been recovered from the scene of encounter and identified from identity cards found in their possession. They were Abu Khasa, Abu Hinshkin, Abu Khalid and Abu Darad, all residents of PoK and activists of international militant outfit of LeT. Sources said these could be code names of the militants and not their real names. From their possession, army recovered four AK-56 rifles, 11 magazines, 286 rounds, one wireless set, six rockets, one Rocket Projectile Gun (RPG), six hand grenades, 12 rifle grenades, a large quantity of RDX and personal belongings of the militants. Another militant was eliminated by army in Battalwali village this evening. He couldn't be identified. Local people of Bafliaz area have welcomed the timely operation carried out by Romeo Force which resulted into the killing of four dreaded militants. People feared that the militants had entered the village with intention of killing or kidnapping civilians and extort money from them. The killing of four foreign mercenaries came close on the heels of the elimination of six dreaded Pakistani militants gunned down by Poonch Brigade at Sathra Top in Mandi belt yesterday. Slain ultras were affiliated with Jaish-e-Mohammed outfit. Of six killed militants, two were today identified as Pakistanis, three Afghanis and one as their local guide. Delayed reports said that besides two police personnel, three army jawans were also injured in the encounter. They were hospitalised. |
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US Presidential battle hangs in balance WASHINGTON, Nov 8: After a heart-stopping reversal, the US Presidential race hung in balance tonight with only a few hundred votes to decide whether Democratic Al Gore or Republican George W Bush will become the next American President in cliff-hanger elections. On a day of sensational twists and turns, Bush had been declared a winner by American television networks which had the mortification of retracting the announcement later when it was found that only a few thousand votes separated the two hopefuls in the deciding State of Florida that has 25 electoral votes. Following this dramatic turnaround of fortunes, the world was now awaiting the recount of votes in Florida, where Bush was leading by less than 2000 votes. Some mailed-in absentee ballots were being counted and the result is expected only tomorrow. Vice President Gore had 260 votes to Bush’s 249 in the 539 vote electoral college in which votes are awarded State-by-State on a winner-take-all basis. A candidate needs 270 votes to make it to the White House. In the popular vote which does not matter at this stage, Gore had 4.81 crore electors supporting him against 4.79 crore for Texas Governor Bush. Like the outcome of the Florida vote, first awarded to Gore by the media and then to Bush, the vote also seesawed between the two candidates. Florida is the fourth-leading US State in electoral college votes, behind California (54), New York (33) and Texas (32). Before Tuesday’s election, Florida, with a large number of retirees among its 8.7 million inhabitants, was thought to be Gore territory, despite the fact that Bush’s brother Jeb is its Governor. Gore’s platform, focused heavily on health care for the elderly and social security appeared to guarantee the continuance of the federal Government retirement program so treasured by the elderly. Gore was also favoured among Florida’s black and Jewish minorities (12 and five percent of the population, respectively), who traditionally back Democrats. Not so certain was the outcome among the State’s Hispanic minority (12 percent), especially among the numerous Cuban-American community. Political observers predicted the politically active Cuban-Americans would use their votes to punish the administration of President Bill Clinton, and Gore along with it, for its handling of the Elian Gonzalez saga earlier this year. Gonzalez was a six-year-old shipwreck survivor who was caught in the middle of a custody battle between his father in Cuba and his uncle in Miami. The US Government supported a Judge’s decision to return Elian to Cuba earlier this year. In the 1996 US Presidential election, only one third of Florida’s Cuban-American community voted for Clinton, according to Hispanic Trends Polling Group. Initial exit polls taken yesterday gave South Florida, which includes Miami, to the Democrats, but the Cuban-Americans appear to have watered down that result. The State’s less urbanized northern and central region were expected to be largely in favour of the Republicans, according to a recent study by the Miami Herald Daily. (PTI) |
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Sikh militants’ new
tactics in British Columbia From B L Kak NEW DELHI, Nov 8: The Government of India has dashed off yet another message to Ottawa, urging the Government of Canada to make arrangements for the repatriation to India of the masterminds behind the bombing of Air India’s Kanishka in 1985. Need for the message was occasioned by reports, which said that the three persons, Ripudaman Singh Malik, Ajaib Singh Bagri and Hardial Singh, identified as the masterminds behind the bombing of the plane, had been released a few hours after the Canadian police swooped down on them a few days ago. Even as the Canadian authorities had informed India’s Foreign Office about the arrest of the three Sikh militants and subsequent measures taken to prevent their escape from Canada, New Delhi deemed it necessary to remind the Government of Canada of the understanding between the two sides on helping each other in matters relating to offenders and criminals belonging to the two countries. Launching of hectic diplomatic exercise by India with Canada also assumes significance in the context of unfettered reports about parts of Canada, particularly British Columbia, continuing to be "safe havens" to a few hundred Sikh separatists. The province of British Columbia is known to have more than 50 Sikh gurdwaras. Several Sikh temples have also sprung up in two other provinces of Canada, namely, Alberta and Manitoba. A number of hard-core Sikh militants, according to intelligence reports, have already entrenched themselves in these two provinces as well. These reports, while briefly discussing a "spectacular change" in gurdwara politics in parts of Canada, particularly British Columbia, after the triple arrests by the Canadian police, have revealed that two things continue in the region-first, Sikh militants are alive and kicking and, second, they have not abandoned their vow to carve out an ‘independent State of Khalistan in India’. Equally significant was the development after the Canadian police swooped down on Ripudaman Singh Malik, Ajaib Singh Bagri and Hardial Singh: Almost all gurdwaras in Vancouver witnessed a loaded event, namely, the appearance of posters of men brandishing Ak-47 assault rifles. The event, precisely, was meant to convey that the Sikh separatists continue to seethe in anger at Operation Bluestar (Amritsar) in 1984. Intelligence reports from Canada said that the core group among the Sikh militants had started to regroup and to manipulate the Sikh community to believe that the arrests should be treated as a sign of repression of the community. It was the same sentiment which had forced scores of Sikhs in Canada to endorse the politics of terror. How did the Canadian police succeed 15 years after the bombing of Air India’s Kanishka ? If the intelligence inputs are any guide, infighting among Sikh militants helped the Canadian authorities. After a large number of Sikhs got disenchanted and switched to supporting moderate politics, the group of hard-core militants failed to remain united. The group got divided into two factions after charges of financial bungling were levelled against each other. This phenomenon, Canadian Government’s intelligence sleuths have reportedly admitted, eventually culminated in the unexpected flow of "vital" information to the Canadian police about the masterminds behind the bombing of Air India’s plane. New Delhi has conveyed its appreciation of the performance of the Canadian police. But the Government of India has reasons to be concerned, considering the fact that militancy cannot be expected to disappear in Canada in view of the country’s lenient laws and the complete freedom of expression and speech. |
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5 arrested with costlier
goods Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Nov 8: Trikuta Nagar police have arrested five women and smashed a gang run by fair sex in committing thefts in Narwal, Channi Himmat and adjoining localities. The female gangsters were operating in the area for the last few months. Meanwhile, the same police today apprehended two persons and seized over 800 litres of kerosene oil from them, which they were smuggling from a kerosene oil depot for sale in the private market at exhorbitant rates. Police sources said two women gangsters were apprehended red-handed yesterday while committing a theft in the house of Rasheed Mohammed son of Peeran Ditta at Malik Market in Narwal area by a police patrol party. The women were whisked away to Narwal police post where they disclosed the identity of their three other associates. Police carried out raids and arrested all the three women late last night. They have been identified as Uma Devi wife of Ram Singh, Hinsa Devi wife of Ram Dahi, Dumia wife of Suresh Kumar, Toshi wife of Bikram Kumar and Kaloo Devi wife of Veer Ji, all residents of Rajeev Nagar in Narwal locality. From their possession, police recovered two electronic transformers, two electric water pump motors, one black and white television set, costly clothes and a variety of domestic items, which they had stolen from different houses. A series of thefts were likely to be worked out during the questioning of arrested gangsters, police said, adding a case against them has been registered under Section 454 and 380 RPC for further investigations. This was the second gang of women thieves to be busted by Trikuta Nagar police. A couple of months back, a similar gang had been smashed by the same police. Meanwhile, a police party intercepted two auto load carriers bearing Nos 5973 JK02H and 4297 JK02F at Narwal and recovered over 800 litres of kerosene oil, filled in cans. The kerosene oil was being carried in 20 cans of 40 litres each and had been illegally procured by a karyana shop owner Dharam Pal of Narwal Chowk from a depot, located at Shastri Nagar. The kerosene oil was to be sold in black-market by Dharam Pal. Dharam Pal and kerosene oil depot owner were absconding, police said, adding raids were being conducted by police parties to apprehend them. Two persons have, however, been arrested by police in connection with the black-marketing of kerosene oil. They have been identified as Ashok Kumar son of Rajinder Kumar and Kaka Hussain son of Mustafa, both residents of Narwal. They have been booked under the provisions of Essential Commodities Act. Arrests of women thieves and kerosene oil black-marketeers were made by police parties led by SHO Trikuta Nagar police station Shahid Pervez and Narwal police party Incharge Rajesh Sharma. |
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Abdullah envisions
conflict-free Asia Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Nov 8: Envisioning emergence of a strong, prosperous and conflict-free Asia with India playing a major role, the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah today called upon Asian nations to forge unity by sinking differences. "If European countries could put in backburner their differences for the sake of mutual interests why can’t we follow the suit in spirit of give and take and forgiveness", Dr Abdullah said while addressing the fifth conference of Indian Congress of Asian and Pacific Studies. The conference was organised by the Political Science department of University of Jammu in the campus here this morning. "Let us realise the common dream of removing poverty, ignorance and economic deprivations, and step into a better tomorrow", Dr Abdullah said while making a fervent appeal for eschewing violence, misunderstanding and hatred. He recalled the objective of SAARC and said its champion, Late Mrs Indira Gandhi could not see the movement fructifying during her life-time. He exhorted the younger generation to strive for attaining best future, not for India only but for the whole Asia. ‘We have to catch up with the world which has moved much ahead.’ He dwelt elaborately on coming closer by Britain, Germany and France despite internal differences and said they forged unity to meet the challenge forced by USA in industrial arena. The Chief Minister also touched various issues relating to India’s relations with neighbouring countries. He specially focussed on water dispute with Bangladesh, that has been sorted out, sympathies of certain sections of people of Tamil Nadu with their ethnic brethren in Sri Lanka, support to militants operating in North East and challenge of cross border terrorism from Pakistan. He said a section in Bangladesh is thriving on India bashing for their domestic political compulsions and referred to dubbing Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as Indian agent by her political rivals. He hoped that neighbouring countries would not allow a base to ultras on their soil as terrorism can’t succeed without the active support of some quarters. Expressing satisfaction over India’s developing relations with China despite border dispute, he said industrial and cultural exchange between the two countries is a good omen for the region. He, however, cautioned against the challenge put forth by Chinese industry by reaching more world markets with the products India is producing. He said good quality and reasonable prices of Chinese products flooding the international market could pose a grave threat to Indian industry. He called for governmental support to industry in the country as is being done by Chinese Government to enable it to compete the world marketing trends. Dr Abdullah also cautioned against the challenges of extremist religious forces and indicated that these were spreading tentacles in some erstwhile communist countries. Back home , he said, the religion should not be mixed with politics as India can flourish as an abode of multi religious groups. Vote politics will not help the country any way and peoples’ co-existence as equals is very essential, he said hoping that no attempt would be made to divide people by putting against one another. Referring to human rights charter, the Chief Minister wondered whether this was binding on security forces and Governments alone and the ultras were exempted from it and said no word was being uttered against militants killing innocent civilians and raping women. Even the institutions like United Nations were feeling helpless in it, he said, wondering over any realstic action against terrorism when a member country openly abetting and promoting trans-border terrorism. Regretting that even a powerful nation like US has failed to declare Pakistan a terrorist State, Dr Farooq Abdullah favoured dialogue on various tracks with Islamabad for bringing peace in the sub-continent and putting end to terrorism. "Pakistan will realise importance of good neighbourly relations with India and come forward to bridge gap with us as has been done by several European countries", he added. The 3-day conference will have several sessions, which would be addressed by prominent speakers from the country and abroad. The theme of the conference is ‘Asia into 21st century: Challenges of Peace and Transformation’. Prof Manoranjan Mohanty also spoke on the occasion. In his address, the Vice Chancellor of University of Jammu, Prof R R Sharma opined that security concerns in South and Central Asian context should embrace a wider agenda than the conventional defence oriented issues. Spelling out challenges before South Asian countries, Mr. Sharma said issues pertaining to internal conflicts in the process of nation building and national integration were largely ethnic and cultural in nature. Besides, social instability, political violence, domestic and cross border conflicts were yet another challenges. Referring to religious extremism, the Vice Chancellor said that Russia, Central Asian Republics and China were exceedingly concerned about growing possibility of Taliban activities in their territories. ‘The religious and political militancy of the Taliban, and their overall medieval world-view have gone against them on a global scale", he added. He also referred to US concern about possible Talibanisation of Pakistan and said that the US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia considers Afghanistan as a major centre of terrorists’ training and stated that those being trained are making their way into the Central Asia, India, Pakistan and Russia. ‘Central Asia is indeed a vital strategic region for India, he added. Analyzing the realities of complex situation is Asia, he stressed the need for settlement of regional conflicts. "This could be done on the basis of balance of interests of all concerned states in Asia", Prof Sharma said. Prof Rekha Choudhary, Head, Department of Political Science, JU, in her welcome address underlined the importance of the subject of the 3-day conference in which high level participation is there. Asia is emerging as important area and needs to be studied in depth. This is fifth such seminar being organised by the Political Science Department of the University of Jammu, she added. Prof Kulwant Kaur presented vote of thanks. Two working sessions were held to discuss the subject.First session was chaired by Prof Suryanarayan and presentations were made by Dr Brig Tankha, Dr Mohan Lal Sharma, Dr Jigar Mohammad and Prof M Mohantry. In the second session chaired by Prof Devender Kaushik with Dr Patrricia Oberoi, co-chairperson at which Prof Kamal Sheel, Prof B Ray, Dr Shyam Narain and Minister in Russian Embassy in New Delhi made their presentation on different aspects of the subject. The Minister for Law, Mr. P L Handoo, Minister for Education, Mr. Mohammed Shafi, senior officers, delegates from various parts of the country, students and faculty of the University were present on the occasion. |
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Militants fire on vehicle Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Nov 8: National Conference leader and vice chairman Gujjar and Bakerwal Board Haji Buland Khan, MLC had a narrow escape in an attack on his vehicle by the militants at village Thuroo in Dharmari area of Udhampur district last night. Haji’s driver was injured in the attack. Official reports reaching here today said that militants had laid an ambush at village Thuroo last night for the ruling party leader when he was travelling from Dharmari to Jammu in his vehicle. Militants opened indiscriminate firing on Haji’s vehicle causing serious injuries to the driver. However, despite being in an injured condition, the driver Mohd Sultan son of Nizam Din of Thardak, Thuroo, managed to drive the vehicle to safety. The Personal Security Officers (PSOs) of Haji retaliated the firing forcing the militants to flee. A local police party and security forces from a nearby picket rushed to Thuroo immediately after getting a report and launched a search operation in the area to track down the militants involved in attack on NC leader. However, the ultras had managed to disappear in an adjoining forest area and remained untraced. The National Conference leader escaped unhurt in the attack. This was third attempt by the militants to assassinate Haji Buland Khan which he managed to survive. In another incident, unidentified militants kidnapped a civilian Javid Khan son of Allah Din Bakerwal from his house at village Kharak in Dharam area of Rajouri district last night. Whereabouts of 18-year old Javed remained uncertain since then. Local police have registered a case in the kidnapping and started searches to trace him. However, he remained untraced. |
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7 militants, soldier,
civilian killed Excelsior Special Correspondent SRINAGAR, Nov 8: While as security forces and Special Operations Group of J&K Police today eliminated at least seven militants in two separate encounters in Chadoura and Kulgam, reports from north Kashmir said that one soldier had got killed and three others injured in a mine blast in Rajwar forest area. Dead body of a civilian has been recovered from Rafee-abad area. After receiving intelligence inputs that a freshly-inducted group of Jaish-e-Mohammad militants were planning to strike on Srinagar Airport with anti-aircraft missiles from Chadoura side, Army and SOG launched a cordon-and-search operation at Wadipora village this afternoon. Troops of 4-Kumaon, SOG Srinagar, SOG Budgam and CRPF 47 Bn maintained a tight cordon and engaged a small group of militants in 3-hour-long gun-battle. All the three holed up militants, hiding themselves at the house of one Ghulam Mohammad Dar, got killed. Hailing from Gujranwala district of Pakistan, they were identified as Qari Mohammad Jalil of Kamonki, Mohammad Akmal S/o Sheikh Mohammad of Jabki and Mohammad Kaleem S/o Shafi Mohammad of Kamonki. Three AK-56 rifles, one wireless set and a compass were recovered from the site of encounter. The militants killed in the encounter were confirmed as the members of Jaish-e-Mohammad. Officials claimed that Qari had been lately inducted as the organisation’s "district commander" for Budgam while as Mohammad Akmal’s identity card described him as a "camp incharge". Documents seized at the spot indicated that all the three were experts in fabricating IEDs. Official sources told EXCELSIOR that the three Pakistani militants were part of a thick group of Maulana Masood Azhar’s Jaish-e-Mohammad which had recently infiltrated into the Valley from Poonch-Tosamaidan belt of west Kashmir. Six members of the same group were eliminated at Wathoura and Bon-Kuthipora villages of Chadoura by security forces and Police in a 3-day-long operation early last week. Documents revealed that the militants killed in today’s operation had infiltrated on October 6 last. According to reliable field inputs, the fresh group of heavily-armed militants were planning to strike on aeroplanes and Srinagar Airport with anti-aircraft missiles. However, no missiles or missile-launchers have been recovered in the series of operation in Chadoura-Kralpora area since last week. One compass was recovered today but it could not be ascertained whether the same could be used for launching missiles or rockets. Reports available from south Kashmir said that on a specific information, troops of 16 Mechanised Infantry, Rashtriya Rifles 9th Bn and SOG Kulgam launched a cordon-and-search operation at Khandaypora village in Kulgam. During the operation, a fierce encounter took place between the militants and security forces in which one civilian, namely Farooq Ahmed Dar S/o Abdur Razaq Dar, sustained injuries while as two residential houses were destroyed. Four unidentified militants of Hizbul Mujahideen — believed to be local cadres — got killed. Four AK-56 rifles were recovered from the site of encounter. Sources said that no civilian, military, paramilitary or Police casualty occurred in today’s operations of Victor Force at Chadoura and Kulgam, though two goats got killed in the first one. Earlier this morning, unidentified militants snatched away the AK-47 rifle of a counter-insurgent, namely Abdur Rehman Magray alias Nika Bab S/o Abdur Razaq Magray of Watoo Kulgam, at the main market of Kulgam. They fired upon the target and left him critically injured. He was quickly rushed to hospital for treatment. Reports from north Kashmir said that Police recovered the dead body of a civilian, namely Abdul Ahad Mir, from Panzla Rafee-abad. He had been kidnapped on gunpoint by unidentified gunmen, wearing Army uniform, early this week. Delayed reports from Kupwara said that Lance Naik Hans Raj of 15-Mehar got killed while as Major Gopal Panthera and three soldiers sustained injuries on Sunday last when a mine blast occurred inside a militant hideout which had been raided by security forces in Rajwar forest area. Reports also said that some human organs were spotted hanging against a tree at a culvert near Ahgam village in Rajwar forest area. |
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One Lakh attend Mehdi’s Fatiha Excelsior Correspondent BUDGAM, Nov 8: Over 100,000 people from both, the minority Shia community as well as the majority Sunni community of Muslims, participated in the Fatiha ceremony of the slain Shia leader Aga Syed Mehdi here today. The 44-year-old mainstream political leader had been eliminated in a landmine blast alongwith five others on Srinagar-Gulmarg road at Mazhama, on November 3 last. Amid traditional mourning, which included Marsiya, the Fatiha Khwani was performed here at the historic Imambara where thousands of mourners paid homage to late Aga Mehdi. The main ritual was performed at the Agas’ ancestral graveyard over the Budgam hillock. In addition to a thick congregation at Imambara, thousands of women participated in the ceremony at the Aga’s residence. The entire district headquarters remained packed to its capacity for the whole day. About 45 volunteers of Aga Sahib’s Anjuman-e-Sharie Shiyaan, who included youths from Sunni community, helped Police in frisking over one Lakh people. All the incoming routes had been sealed at seven points and nobody was allowed in without checking of belongings and physical frisking. Prominant Shia political and religious leader Maulvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari, BJP leader and Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Chaman Lal Gupta and Union Minister of State Home attended the Fatiha ceremony at Budgam, called on the bereaved family and paid homage to the slain leader while laying stress on maintaining the traditional communal harmony. All shops, business establishments, passenger services and Government offices have been closed here since November 3 last in protest against the Shia leader’s assassination whose brother happens to be a leader in the separatist Hurriyat Conference. Interestingly, none of the Hurriyat leaders participated in today’s Fatiha ceremony, though some of them had visited this town on November 4 and condoled the former Congress leader’s death. |
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MIAMI, Nov 8: The recounting of votes in Florida that will decide the US Presidential election is to begin today and continue tomorrow, state election officials said in Tallahassee, the state capital. It is expected that the recount will be completed by the close of businesss tomorrow, November 9, 2000, Election official said in a statement. (AFP) |
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Mishra says he has no differences with Jaswant Singh NEW DELHI, Nov 8: Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary Brajesh Mishra has dismissed reports of his having differences with External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh saying there is no rivalry...There is no friction. Mishra made the remark on Star Talk TV programme when his views were sought on reports that there was friction between the two on foreign policy issues. Stoutly defending Vajpayee Government’s nuclear policy, he said you cannot in today’s world be counted for something without going nuclear, according to a TV channel press release. On his being described as Chanakya of modern time, Mishra said in my view, a Chanakya means that he looks at the interest of the nation....Regardless of his own personal interest...If that is what is meant, then yes. Asked about his decision not to contest elections, he said I was not ready to fight elections....At the age of 62, it is a new thing and I was really never interested in that. I was much more interested in foreign office, national security.... Mishra, a retired IFS officer, said he had joined the BJP because I consider it to be a nationalist party. He further said most of the BJP members are... regardless of publicity...not anti-Muslim or anti-Christian but proud Hindus....I am a proud Hindu. (PTI) |
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BJP undecided on Jharkhand CM issue NEW DELHI, Nov 8: With barely a week to go before formation of Jharkhand, BJP grappled with the issue of Chief Ministership of the new State while JMM-S today announced its bid to form the first Government in the tribal region. JMM-S chief Sibu Soren, who pulled out of NDA on denial of Chief Ministership to him, said in Patna he was confident of getting the support of 41 MLAs and would form the first Government in Jharkhand with the help of RJD, Congress and Left parties. BJP, which, alongwith allies Samata Party and JD(U) has support of 40 MLAs, also claimed support of at least two independents for a majority in the 81-member House but has a difficult task on hand in choosing between two senior leaders from the region, Babulal Marandi and Karia Munda, to head the Government. Marandi resigned from the Union Ministry on November six apparently to head the NDA Government, but, Munda refused to join the Vajpayee Government yesterday unhappy over the choice. Party spokesman Jana Krishna-murthy today told reporters the issue of Jharkhand Chief Ministership is still wide open while party leader J P Mathur ruled out Munda leaving the party at any cost. Munda himself told reporters here that he felt offended at being ignored by the party on issue of Jharkhand Chief Ministership and accused it of acting at someone’s behest. He, however, said the question of resigning from BJP does not arise at all. (PTI) |
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Hurriyat leaders meet Pak officials NEW DELHI, Nov 8: Five executive members of Hurriyat Conference today met officials of the Pakistan High Commission here following certain recent criticism of Islamabad’s strategy towards the so-called issue of Kashmir. Hurriyat team, which flew in here yesterday, had a four-hour long meeting with the Pakistan High Commission officials. The team comprised Hurriyat chairman Abdul Gani Bhat, Sheikh Abdul Aziz, Abdul Gani Lone, Mirwaiz Umer Farooq and Yaseen Malik. However, Hurriyat spokesman was not available for his comments but amalgam’s insiders said that the meeting was to seek an explanation from the leaders about recent criticism of Pakistan at the session of Hurriyat Conference. Significantly, pro-Pakistan and senior Jamaat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, who had spoken in favour of Pakistan at the session, did not come to Delhi to meet the officials. (PTI) |
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Match-fixing has to be weeded out of game: Uma NEW DELHI, Nov 8: The new Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Uma Bharti today expressed her deep concern over the match-fixing scandal and said this was like corruption which has to be weeded out of the game of cricket. Match-fixing is like corruption in any place and has to be weeded out of the game, Bharti, who succeeded Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, said soon after taking charge of the ministry. Beyond this I will not make any comment on the issue, which has been making headlines across the world, she said adding she has to talk to officials in her ministry to get a better picture of the steps that were being taken in the process of formulation. To a question whether the match-fixing was a result of slack administration on the part of various authorities involved in the sports field, she said administration depends on the minister. He has to see how the sports is being administered. She said she will hold extensive talks with Dhindsa to know about the present arrrangements for administration of various disciplines of sports in the country. Asked about her priorities as a Sports Minister, she said the first priority was to actively pursue the national reconstruction policy through which the talent of the rural youth can be harnessed for national good. I will take this policy to villages across India not like a minister but like a social worker with a view to bring in a revolution, Bharti, who was accompanied by Union Minister Shahnawaz Hussein and BJP youth wing president Shivraj Chauhan, said. She also expressed concern over the poor performance of India in international events and Olympics but exuded confidence that with preparations beginning in right earnest India will definitely win more medals in the Olympics four years later. Referring to the Afro-Asian Games, to be held in Delhi in 2001, the Sports Minister said we will be a good host and India will show a much better performance. On youth affairs, she said her ministry would give priority for extending support to the youth from the tribal areas and north-eastern states as past experience has shown that they have excelled in various fields of sports with little support from the Government. However, politically my priority would be to see the passage of Women’s Reservation Bill in Parliament. I will not think twice even if I had to take the fight to the streets in this regard and the ministerial post will not come in between, Bharti, for whom this is her second stint in Sports Ministry, said. (PTI) |
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NHRC has no occasion to consider Lone’s complaint NEW DELHI, Nov 8: National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) today said it has no occasion to consider all-party Hurriyat Conference leader Abdul Ghani Lone’s complaint that the Centre was refusing to issue a passport to him. After the full commission meeting here, where Lone’s complaint was considered, NHRC Chairman J S Verma told PTI it is a hypothetical situation. The complaint assumes that people who are supposed to do their job will not do it. The centre is considering his application and has not rejected it, he said. Lone, whose son Sajjid is getting married to Pakistan-based Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front leader Amanullah Khan’s daughter Asma in Pakistan on November 20, moved NHRC saying that the Centre was refusing to issue him a passport. The process of issuing of a passport takes time and it is wrong to assume that the Government is doing it because they don’t want to issue it to Lone, Verma said. Asked if Lone was finally refused the passport, will NHRC intervene into the matter, the Chairman said again that is a hypothetical situation we are assuming. But we will see on what ground the Government might refuse him a passport. (PTI) |
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