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Talks with
ultras if they give up arms NEW DELHI, Oct 20: Home Minister L K Advani today categorically ruled out return of Jammu and Kashmir to its pre-1953 status saying that such a step would "severely harm" country’s interests. Addressing a meeting of his Ministry’s consultative committee, he, however, said the Centre is prepared for "greater devolution" of powers to states including J and K. He was responding to criticism by some opposition members that the autonomy resolution passed by J and K Assembly should not have been rejected outright. Advani said greater devolution of powers would lead to "efficiency in administration, speedier development and the Government has an open mind on the issue". The autonomy resolution, the Home Minister said, had recommended return to pre-1953 status "which is not acceptable to the Government as it would severely harm the interests of the people". On resumption of dialogue with militants in J and K, Advani said "we are prepared to talk with the militants in the Valley if they give up arms and come to the negotiating table". Advani further said India’s stand of not holding a dialogue with Pakistan till it stops cross-border terrorism has been "appreciated globally". "As a result of New Delhi’s efforts, some of the major countries like the US, Canada, Britain, France and Israel have agreed to set up Joint Working Groups (JWG) with India to tackle cross-border terrorism", he said. Advani, who is scheduled to visit Srinagar on Sunday along with Defence Minister George Fernandes for an on-the-spot assessment of the situation, said Government’s efforts coupled with better coordination among the intelligence agencies and security forces has "yielded notable results in containing terrorism" in J and K. The security forces neutralised over 1210 militants in the State till October 15, this year which is higher than the militants killed since 1996, he said, according to an official release. India, he said, has been successful in mobilising world opinion against Pakistan for its activities in aiding and abetting cross-border terrorism. Cutting across party lines, MPs hailed the Centre’s efforts in containing militancy in J and K but cautioned the Government against complacency in this regard. They suggested that the situation in J and K be tackled through economic development and social uplift of the people. Some members also suggested that the unemployed youth in the State be given jobs in public sector undertakings outside the State and demanded adequate protection to the minority community. A visual presentation was made on the various steps taken by the Government and the efforts made to check militancy in J and K. This also included pictorial presentation of the Chittisinghpora killings in March this year in which Pakistan’s clear involvement was established, the release said. (PTI) |
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Padmanabhan briefs Defence
Minister NEW DELHI, Oct 20: Defence Minister George Fernandes today asked the armed forces to keep a stricter watch on developments in the region and to specially focus on cross-border terrorism. Addressing top Army, Navy and Air Force commanders at the conclusion of the five-day annual conference of top brass of the defence services, Fernandes said security forces would have to be more focused on cross-border terrorism specially to foil increased attempts to infiltrate foreign mercernaries into Jammu and Kashmir. The remarks of the Defence Minister assumes importance in the context of his joint visit to Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday with Home Minister L K Advani. The two Ministers are scheduled to address the Unified Security Command to counter terrorism in the State. Besides addressing the Unified Command, the two will also review the security situation in the State and visit border areas of Gurez and Kupwara. The Defence Minister, who also addressed top army commanders on Thursday, was given a detailed briefing of the situation on the Line of Control (LoC) by the new Army Chief, Gen S Padmanabhan, who undertook a three day tour of the Valley soon after assuming charge. After his visit to the Valley, the Army Chief is leaving tomorrow for Jammu to tour forward areas of Poonch, Rajouri as well as review the security situation at the Northern Command headquarters at Udhampur. Highly placed sources said the deliberations at the conference include the yearly and long term perspective plans of the three services- Army, Navy and Air Force. Fernandes also reviewed the pace of induction of weapons systems, force multipliers and specialised monitoring equipment along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir. The induction of surviellance systems has been stepped up with large areas of the LoC prone to infiltration being covered. The Minister emphasised that while clearance for long pending weapons acquisition was being speeded up, simultaneously, the Commanders needed to keep watch that there was no delay in induction of weapons schedule or their optimal use. (PTI) |
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Home Minister briefed on
situation NEW DELHI, Oct 20: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah tonight welcomed the reported move by some Kashmiri militant groups including Hizbul Mujahideen about jointly floating a political party to contest the next Assembly elections in 2002. "I welcome the move and pray that good sense should prevail upon all militant groups so that ethos of Kashmir is restored," Abdullah said. The Chief Minister said these groups should also try to participate in the forthcoming Panchayat elections scheduled to be held in the State on January 5. About holding talks with the Hizbul Mujahideen, Abdullah said "they had made a good beginning but their mentors across the broder will not allow them." "India is always ready for talks as the very basis of the country is on non-violence...We do not close doors on anyone whosoever comes," Abdullah said. Earlier, Abdullah today met Union Home Minister L K Advani and discussed the security situation in the State. Abdullah, who arrived in the capital last evening, briefed the Home Minister about the continued firing by Pakistani troops across the LoC and asked him to expedite building of bunkers in the border villages, official sources said. He informed Advani about the problems faced by the State due to non-allotment of planned funds. During his 25-minute meeting with the Home Minister, Abdullah also briefed him about the State Government’s decision to hold Panchayat elections on January 5. Later, addressing a seminar, Abdullah stressed for the need for giving more autonomy to the State and hoped that he would be able to see a vibrant India before he devolves power. "Before devolving power I would like to see a federal structure within a federal structure and ensure that all the three regions of the State have all the powers," he said referring to forthcoming Panchayat elections in the State. Meanwhile, his meeting with the Planning Commission to finalise funds for the State remained inconclusive today and was expected to continue tomorrow after his return from Mumbai, where he will call on Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Meanwhile, in a veiled attack on RSS, the Chief Minister said the ideas floated by that organisation about Christans and Muslims of the country will only create disharmony and communal tension. Speaking on the sidelines of a seminar to reporters, Abdullah said "if such parties continue to play with the sentiments of the minorities then god help us from a tragedy." Without naming the RSS, Abdullah said the organisation, while asking Christans and Muslims to accept their Hindu roots and Indianise their religion had "forgotten that several thousand Muslims and Christians have sacrificed their lives for independence of the country." He said the so-called preachers of the religion apparently do not know that no religion in the world teaches disharmony and the theory of "hate thy neighbour." "These people have to be checked otherwise nobody knows which way they would lead the country," he said. However, when asked whether he was upset over the fact that Union Home Minister L K Advani had attended the RSS convocation at Agra, Abdullah said "I find Advaniji the most balanced man. He has his concepts clear." (Agencies) |
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Militants want Pak to suspend aid to Hurriyat From B L Kak NEW DELHI, Oct 20: Two strongly-worded communications have been dashed off to Islamabad, urging the military ruler, Gen Parvez Musharraf, to immediately intervene and order stoppage of the flow of monetary aid to the "highly corrupt" elements in Kashmir. These elements have been identified in the communications. They include, among others, some senior leaders of the All-Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC). If the contents of the communications are any indication, at least five functionaries of the APHC have, during the past eight years or so, manipulated to build for themselves "huge cash reserves, running into a few crores of rupees". Authors of the communications are two Kashmiri Muslims. One of them is associated with the Hizbul Mujahideen, while the other owes his allegiance to the Al-Barq. The two communications were not intercepted by Government sleuths, as one of the authors quietly handed over photo-copies of the communications to an Indian "visitor" in Srinagar early this week. The communications have lamented: "There is growing evidence to suggest that most of the money sent for the Kashmiri agitationists by various sources, individuals and agencies and organisations in recent years has either been misused or used by a particular category of the so-called leaders of our movement for their personal comforts and for buying properties in and outside Jammu and Kashmir". One of the communications had this piece of information for Gen Musharraf: "Shocking, indeed, is the plight of thousands of relatives of the Kashmiris killed in the struggle for freedom, while several senior militant and pro-plebiscite leaders continue to build illegal, unauthorised cash reserves for themselves and their families". Why have the communications been addressed to Gen Parvez Musharraf only when the clandestine flow of money into Kashmir from some other sources has also been reported from time to time in the past? The answer given to the Indian "visitor" by the two Kashmiri authors: "Even an ordinary person knows that the bulk of money for Kashmiri fighters has, all these years, been made available via Pakistan. Naturally, therefore, the appropriate person to be approached for ensuring honest use of the funds is none other than the present ruler of Pakistan, Gen Musharraf". Why two separate communications to the same person when the grievances and allegations against a set of Kashmiri militant and secessionist elements and leaders are identical? The Indian "visitor" was told by the Hizbul Mujahideen "informer": "Some men belonging to two other organisations, namely, Lashkar-e-Toiba and Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, too, have lodged protest with their seniors in Pakistan against the highly provocative misuse of funds that were and are meant specifically for the Mujahideen, 'martyrs' and their families. Since misuse of the funds received from outside has been established by more than one organisation, protest from more than one party and individual at the same time is justified and necessary, too". The communications, the Indian "visitor" has noted, is full of untold stories vis-à-vis the movable and immovable properties built by a set of "highly corrupt" militant and separatist leaders as well as pro-plebiscite politicians not only in Jammu and Kashmir but also in some places in India. One of the communications, in fact, has made a pointed reference to a leader of the pro-Pakistan Jamaat-e-Islami and divulged: "This particular leader was virtually a pauper with next to nothing financial resources when Mir Qasim became Kashmir's Chief Minister after the death of Ghulam Mohammed Sadiq in 1971. Mir Qasim helped the Jamaat leader, albeit secretly. And this Jamaat leader reaped a bumper harvest during the decade that was-1990 to 2000". According to the communication, the Jamaat leader, under reference, operates five separate bank accounts-two in Srinagar and the remaining three outside Jammu and Kashmir. The communication has identified two Srinagar-based newspaper owners, who have been given Rs 1 lakh each by the Jamaat leader for ensuring that the two publications do not entertain any complaint against him. Second sensational example cited in the communications: A pro-plebiscite leader, belonging to Srinagar, who has developed various and variegated contacts not only in Pakistan and Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) but also in the United States, UK and at least four Muslim countries, in addition to Pakistan, has received more than Rs 60 lakhs after 1992 for the revitalization of his party. Most of the 'booty' has been deposited in his 'secret vaults'. Equally sensational is the instance of the "height of self-financing" by a third senior leader of the All-Party Hurriyat Conference. "This leader", according to the communications, "can easily fall in the category of millionaires". And he has, the communications have alleged, managed to operate bank accounts in two foreign countries with the help of his two close relatives. The communications have pronounced: "At least 99 per cent of the money appropriated by this man has come from outside Kashmir". The two communications also contain names of several other secessionist and pro-Government militant leaders who have also managed to build "substantial cash reserves" for themselves during the past some years "even as the money they have obtained through unfair means was meant "only for the freedom movement" in J&K. If the communications are to be believed, two Kashmiri Hindu migrants have become "business partners" of one of the pro-Government militant leaders. |
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Top ultra Shakeel Sindhi among 3 killed in Gool Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Oct 20: The 161 battalion of Border Security Force (BSF) achieved a major success when they killed three top militants of Hizbul Mujahideen after a 48 hour long search operation in village Hella near Sangaldan in Gool area of Udhampur district late last night. One of the slain militant was Shakeel Sindhi, a resident of Baluchistan in Pakistan and an ‘area commander’ of Hizbul Mujahideen’s Pir Panjal Regiment (HMPPR) for Sangaldan area. He was instrumental in a series of subversive activities in Gool tehsil. According to BSF sources, jawans of 161 battalion got a report about the movement of militants in Hella village and launched a search operation on October 17 night. The militants were intercepted by security forces and engaged in an encounter by security personnel. However, all the militants managed to escape taking cover of darkness and took shelter in an adjoining forest area. BSF jawans, joined with re-enforcement, continued to follow the militants. After over 48 hour long searches, the jawans finally succeeded in locating the ultras, who had taken shelter in a natural cave on the outskirts of Hella. Again a fierce exchange of gun-fight took place with both sides using heavy fire arms and grenade launchers. In the encounter that followed, the BSF jawans gunned down three militants inside the cave while a couple of other ultras managed to escape deep into the forest area and disappeared. There was no casualty on BSF side in the encounter, the sources said, adding securitymen recovered two AK-47 rifles with six magazines, one grenade and a large quantity of ammunition and explosives from the possession of slain militants. Bodies of all three militants have been recovered from the encounter site and were identified with the help of identity cards seized from their possession. They include Shakeel Sindhi of Baluchistan, an ‘area commander’ of HMPPR, Pazeer Wani alias Toofan son of Abdullah Wani, a resident of Gool and Azadullah son of Samdullah, a resident of village Dagnari in Sangaldan. Sources said all three slain militants especially Shakeel Sindhi were dreaded activists of HMPPR and were operating in Gool for the last more than a year. They were involved in a number of subversive activities across Gool tehsil including killings, kidnappings and explosions and were on the hit list of security forces. While Shakeel Sindhi was a Pakistan and Afghanistan trained ultra, his two associated Azadullah and Pazeer Wani were locally trained by the foreign mercenaries. Their killing has dealt a severe blow to HMPPR, the sources said. Meanwhile, BSF jawans have intensified searches in the forest areas surrounding Hella to track down the militants, who managed to give a slip to security forces during the operation. |
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Pak causing problems for Indian Muslims: Imam NEW DELHI, Oct 20: The new Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid Syed Ahmed Bukhari today said Pakistan military Junta’s anti-Indian polices were causing problems for the 150 million Indian Muslims. "I am ready to meet Gen Pervez Musharraf on behalf of the Indian Muslims and tell him that Muslims have to face multi-dimensional problems due to his anti-Indian steps," he said at a Friday congregation. He said Muslims have nothing to do with the ISI. "I find no logic in blaming Masjids and Madrassas as ISI hideouts, these places are seats of worship." Syed Ahmed Bukhari said that Muslims are being harassed and dubbed as ISI agents. On Kashmir, he said that violence should immediately stop and criticised violation of human rights there. He flayed the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) for asking religious minorities to go for "Bharatiya Karan" of their religion, stating religious freedom is guaranteed by the constitution to all citizens’ "no political or religious group can force us to Indianise the religion," he said. He said that secularism and constitution will prevail in the country and the communal forces will never be successful in their nefarious schemes. "The Muslims do not beg for any privilege, but want equal participation in the nation building," he said. Syed Bukhari, who was installed Shahi Imam on Saturday at a grand ceremony, said the minorities are facing injustice and oppression. He also flayed the secular forces for exploiting the minorities to achieve their political objectives. "The secular forces have been getting votes on the pretex of protection and justice, but ignore the "Muslims after coming to power." He also referred to the BJP’s attempts to woo Muslims, adding the party at the Centre was talking about friendship with Muslims while on the other hand is reluctant to take action against communal elements. (UNI) |
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‘Women to get 33
% share in PCC’ Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Oct 20: The ducks are being cleared for the much delayed elections for the posts of various office bearers of Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) in a crucial meet being held at Party Headquarters here tomorrow. The election is being held under the supervision of a team of Central observers headed by senior Congress leader and former Member Parliament Mr Shamsher Singh Surjewalla. The other two members are-Prof S P Malik from Delhi University and former J&K minister, Mr Lal Mohammed Sabir. The meeting is scheduled to commence at 10 AM on Saturday (Oct 21). The election observer, Mr Surjewalla who is also chairman of the committee disclosed that all the present and former PCC office bearers, Lok Sabha and State Assembly members, unsuccessful contestants for the posts of MPs and MLAs, District Committees heads of the region and all the heads of Frontal organizations like—Mahila wing, Congress Seva Dal, Youth Congress, NSUI and others are invited to participate in the election meeting. Mr Surjewalla disclosed that as per the direction from the Party High Command, 33 % women members, 20 % Scheduled Tribes, 10 % SC, BCs, members from minorities and Freedom fighters would be given due representation in the new Pradesh Congress set up. He, however, regretted that due to shortage of time and existing problems of communication all the members could not be informed/ contacted for this important meeting. The Party membership forms will be accepted up to 12 noon on Saturday for those who have failed to submit to the committee, he maintained. |
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Two militants killed, 7 houses gutted in Banihal Excelsior Correspondent RAMBAN, Oct 20: Troops of Rashtriya Rifles and police gunned down two militants in an encounter at village Kaskoot, about three kms from Banihal in Doda district this afternoon. Seven houses caught fire in the encounter and were gutted. Official reports reaching here said that two militants forced their entry into the house of Abdullah Bhat at Kaskoot village at about 1345 hours today and asked for food. While Abdullah Bhat and his family started preparing food for the militants, the neighbours approached a nearby picket of 12 Rashtriya Rifles and informed them about militants’ presence in the village. As troops of 12 RR and police laid cordon of Kaskoot village, they were fired upon by the militants from inside the house. Initially, troops didn’t retaliate sensing the presence of civilians inside the house. However, after about 10 minutes, Abdullah Bhat and his family managed to come out of the house. Troops them opened firing killing both militants inside the house. The house of Abdullah Bhat and six other adjoining houses caught fire during the encounter and were reduced to ashes. However, there was no civilian casualty as all inmates of the houses had managed to come out. Their goods were damaged and house-holds burnt in the fire which continued for more than one and a half hour till the Fire Brigades reached the spot and put off the flames. Bodies of both the militants were badly mutilated inside the house and couldn’t be identified. Two AK-47 rifles in burnt condition alongwith six AK magazines, two grenades and one pouch were recovered from the scene of encounter. Slain ultras were believed to be the activists of Lashkar-e-Toiba outfit. |
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Hideout busted in
Surankote Excelsior Correspondent POONCH, Oct 20: Police gunned down an Al-Jehad militant at village Sathra in Mandi sector today and smashed a hideout of 313 Brigade of Harkat-ul-Jehad Islami (HUJI) outfit in Dandi Dhara area of Surankote in two separate operations across this border district today. DIG Rajouri-Poonch range Ram Lubaya said Mandi police led by SHO B P Singh was on the look out for militants after smashing their hideouts in Sathra village the other day. After night long searches, police personnel noticed one of the militant moving towards a forest area. On seeing the police party surrounding him, the militant lobbed three grenades toward cops. However, all grenades missed the target and exploded in fields. While the ultra was in the process of throwing fourth grenades toward the police party, the cops opened firing killing him on the spot. No casualty was reported on police side in the grenade explosions. Body of slain ultra was recovered from the scene of encounter but couldn’t be identified. He was believed to be a Pakistani and an activist of Al-Jehad outfit. One pistol with two magazines and 56 rounds were recovered from the possession of slain ultra. The operation was supervised by SSP Poonch Pankaj Saxena. Reports said that two or three more militants were still hiding in the forest areas surrounding Sathra. Police and security forces were carrying out searches in the forests to eliminate the militants. In another search operation, police and Special Operations Group (SOG) Surankote smashed a hideout of HUJI’s 313 Brigade at Dandi Dhara village in Surankote tehsil of this district. From the hideout, police recovered 750 rounds of AK-47 rifle and 250 rounds of Pika gun. No arrest was made from the hideout. |
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Young IAS officers for J&K
Fernandes to NEW DELHI, Oct 20: Defence Minister George Fernandes today said he would discuss with the Jammu and Kashmir Government, when he visits Srinagar on Sunday, the proposal to post Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers straight out of probation to the State in a bid to give fresh direction to the administration there. The Defence Minister said there had been suggestions to appoint young IAS officers just out of the academy in the Valley for a year or two and the trainees themselves had expressed such a desire. Mr Fernandes said he would take up this proposal with Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah. "Young IAS officers will not be burdened with having to prove themselves and hence will perform well", Mr Fernandes told newspersons after the defence investiture ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan this morning. The Defence Minister and Home Minister L K Advani, during a high-level meeting of the Unified Command at Srinagar on Sunday, will review the situation and see how the momentum in tackling militancy can be kept up. Mr Fernandes said the last three months had seen some very ‘rewarding’ achievements in dealing with terrorists and measures would have to be taken to build on these successes. The Union Ministers will also be meeting State legislators. Mr Fernandes said it would be also an opportunity to discuss administrative matters. He described as a very good development the state’s decision to have panchayat elections in January. Mr Fernandes will leave tomorrow for visits to the northern most posts in Himachal Pradesh and spend the night at Thoise which, at 10,500 feet, is the base camp for the Siachen Glacier. The Defence Minister will go to posts in the Siachen Glacier on Sunday before reaching Srinagar. A buyer-seller meet will be held in Srinagar on Monday to see what local purchases can be made by the Army. (UNI) |
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NEW DELHI, Oct 20: As part of efforts to counter the growing opposition attack on the party’s links with RSS, the BJP today fielded national secretary Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi to defend its stand on the issue. The minority leader said today that "BJP and RSS are two separate entities and each have their own points of view on issues". Adopting the line taken by party president Bangaru Laxman, he said the two organisations had the right to have their own point of view. Laxman had said yesterday that BJP and RSS were two separate organisations and that they had their own point of view on minorities. Naqvi said what had worried BJP’s opponents was that since the Nagpur message of Laxman, more and more Muslims were coming into the party fold and the "opposition which had been playing the minority card has been exposed". (PTI) |
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Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Oct 20: In a minor reshuffle at police station level, three Station House Officers (SHOs) have been transferred and posted in Border Police. Inspector S S Samyal, SHO RS Pura police station, under orders of transfer as SHO Satwari now has been transferred and posted as SHO Samba police station in place of Inspector Hardit Singh Gill. Mr Gill has been posted as SHO Satwari police station. Inspector Ved Parkash Samyal, who was recently transferred from Rajouri-Poonch range to Jammu, has been posted as SHO RS Pura vice Inspector Samyal. Inspector Gian Chand Sharma, who was earlier ordered to be posted as SHO RS Pura, wasn’t relieved by the Special Operations Group (SOG). |
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‘Rs 1100 cr rural
development proposal on anvil’ Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Oct 20: The panchayat elections in the State will be held in four phases from January 5 next year. These are being held after 22 years. The first notification for these elections shall be issued in November. Elections are required to be held within 45 days from the date of issuance of notification. Disclosing this at the Meet the Press programme organised by the State Information Department here today, the Agriculture Minister, Choudhry Mohammad Ramzan said that the whole exercise involving about 2600 panchayats will be completed in a month barring few pockets where, if necessary, it can be held in April. The number of such panchayats would be around 100, he added. Expressing optimism about completing the election process for the grass root institutions, he said that the election in phases was necessitated by the law and order situation in the State where the security forces would be required to move from one district to another for holding elections. Replying questions, Choudhry Ramzan said that the Government does not anticipate any major problem on account of elections to panchayats. First of all these are being held on non-party basis and the involvement would be localised. Secondly, since these are being held in winter, participation of the people would be greater. He said the Government wanted elections to be held in December but since it would clash with the process of revision of electoral rolls, already set in, these are being held from the first week of January. The Financial Commissioner, Agriculture, Mr I S Malhi, who was present at the Press Meet said Rs 15 crore are likely to be spent on conduct of elections besides Rs 15 to Rs 18 crore on security arrangements. The former amount would be borne by the State Government out of plan allocations and the later by the Centre, he said. The Minister said women will have 33 per cent reservations in panchayats and where they don’t get adequately elected, nominations would be made to ensure at least two females in a panchayat. Panchayat elections, he said, would be a major stride towards decentralisation of power at the grass roots level and the democratic institutions at village level would be empowered to take decisions and fix priorities of development. Mr Ramzan said elections to primary, secondary and apex level of co-operatives would be held in six months. These too are being held after 22 years. With election to co-operatives, the Government interference in the administration of these bodies would come to an end. Meanwhile, a massive development programme for rural roads connectivity is on the anvil with the State Government having formulated for central assistance projects worth Rs. 1100 crore. Chowdhary Ramzan said the money would be available under a new central scheme for connectivity in rural areas. He said projects involving Rs. 600 crores would be taken up in the Jammu division and of Rs 500 crore in the Kashmir division. He said the thrust of the programme would be on construction, black-topping and macadamizing of roads in villages. Another Rs. 1000 crore rural development works are in the pipe line, he added. The Minister said the State would touch an all time high of 20 per cent increase in food production this year against the 2 per cent increase at the national level. This year’s food production was expected to be 19 lakh metric tons. He said the phenomenal increase was possible due to various incentives given to farmers including supply of improved varieties of seeds and chemical fertilizers. He said against an annual increase of 1 lakh metric tons in food production, this year the food production would go up by 6 lakh metric tons. He said the Government is covering more area under agriculture to reduce import of food grains. Presently, 4 to 5 lakh metric ton food grains are imported by the State, he said. Mr Ramzan said the present crop insurance scheme would be replaced this year by National Agriculture Insurance Scheme covering all risks to crops grown in the State. He said the premium on insurance would be low at 1.5 per cent to 3 per cent which would be subsidized by 50 per cent. He said farmers who suffered above 50 per cent crop loss during last kharief were provided Rs 18 crore subsidy on fertilizers and Rs 2 crore on seeds. In addition, he said, Rs 15 crore were spent on labour oriented schemes in drought hit areas. He said Rs 3 crore were extended as loan to 1873 farmers for purchase of agriculture inputs under the Kisan Credit Card scheme introduced in the State last year. Another 6000 farmers would be covered in next two months in Kashmir province, he said. About the horticulture sector, the Minister said a Rs 500 crore project under Technology Mission for integrated development of horticulture has been formulated for central funding. He said a Dutch company has been approached for post-harvest management of fruit. He said the horticulture sector being very significant for the State economy, new technologies are being transferred to farmers to improve production and quality of fruit. He said the Government is also bringing Horticulture Act for quality control. A new independent Enforcement Directorate was also being created for pre-testing pesticides, fungicides and insecticides before their entry in the State. He said 55 samples of pesticides and fungicides were found substandard during last two years and cases were registered against suppliers. The Minister said the State is facing tough competition in fruit marketing, particularly in view of the GAT Agreement. He said it is imperative that we send only A grade fruit to outside markets to remain in the competition. A team of growers and officers, he said, would be sent to different countries to tap market for fruit and study the new technology for horticulture development. Besides, orientation programmes would be held in all districts of Kashmir to acquaint farmers with latest technology. He said due to the efforts of the Government the Redmite disease had been by and large brought under control. This year, 90 per cent fruit was without the disease, he added. The Minister said the State earns a revenue of Rs. 800 crore and foreign exchange of Rs. 90 crore annually from fresh and dry fruit. The production increased by 28.04 per cent during the last 4 years, going up by 11.05 lakh metric tons last year. He said 18 fruit mandies were being set up in the State involving a cost of Rs. 23 crore, for providing market facilities to fruit growers. He said Rs. 14 crore Sopore Fruit Mandi was also coming up and would have 700 shop sites. All districts, he said, would have their shop site at the Mandi. In the rural development sector, the Minister said 8226 roads with a total length of 4463 kilometers had been completed in the State. He said other works completed include construction of 728 anganwari centres, 1688 school buildings, 3057 bridges, culverts and crossings, 613 passenger sheds and 30,000 housing units. Besides, 6609 irrigation works and 2616 irrigation wells were completed. He said against 1,29,762 works taken up in the rural development sector, 1, 02, 820 works were completed generating 446.30 lakh mandays. Under IRDP and SGSY, 45,546 income generating units were established in the State during last 4 years. The Minister said the mutton production in the State has gone up to 274 lakh kgs, registering an increase of 4.96 per cent increase in 4 years. The egg production has increased by 3.4 per cent in two years, he said adding the total egg production had reached to 43 crore eggs. Similarly, he said, milk production has shown an increase of 62, 000 tons during 1997-2000. He said against 1953-54, the per capita/per day availability of 37 ml milk had gone up to 270 ml now, despite population growth. The present shortfall of 25000 MTs of milk would be overcome in three years, he added. He said the cocoon production has increased from 7.31 lakh kgs to 8.90 lakh kgs in four years. The income to the rearers has gone up Rs. 2 crores. The per ounce cocoon yield in Kashmir, he said, registered 100 per cent increase since 1996. |
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3 pro-Pak outfits join
hands with anti-Lone Al-Barq From Ahmed Ali Fayaz SRINAGAR, Oct 20: While the Al-Barq chief’s statement — that a ‘huge arms dump’ was in possession of the separatist Peoples Conference chairman Abdul Gani Lone’s son, Sajjad Lone — has caused ripples equally in the Government as well as militant circles, radical militant outfit Jamiat-ul-Mujahideen today asked the senior Lone to return ‘arms dumps’ to the militants fighting the Indian security forces in Jammu & Kashmir. In a statement circulated here this evening, the Jamiat-ul-Mujahideen spokesman Jameel Ahmed asked the senior Hurriyat leader and chairman of Peoples Conference, Mr Abdul Gani Lone, to hand over the "arms dumps" back to militants. He described it "highly dangerous" that someone had reserved arms dumps for capturing power "after the end of Indian occupation" in Kashmir. According to the lead story carried by a local English language daily, earlier this week, the Al-Barq supremo Malik Bilal Rahi has terminated Lone’s patronage over the militant outfit while alleging that he had not only swindled ex-gratia worth Crores (which was supposed to be given to the families of "martyrs") but his son, Sajjad Lone, had also usurped a "huge arms dump" of the organisation. The Jamiat spokesman said that the alliance of Jamiat-ul-Mujahideen, Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen and Harkat-ul-Mujahideen was united on the matter of recovering the "arms dumps" from the Lones. He said that all the three outfits had urged the Al-Barq chief to proceed and identify the hide-outs where the arms had been concealed. Sajjad Lone has earlier this month reached Pakistan where he will be tying nuptial knot to the JKLF chairman Amanullah Khan’s daughter. The marriage ceremony, apparantly not be attended by the senior Lone, has been fixed on November 19. After his previous visit to the United States of America, where the Pakistani authorities did reportedly attach little importance to the Peoples Conference chief, Abdul Gani Lone has apparantly turned lukewarm and his "weighing of India and Pakistan in one balance", at a well-attended public rally here last fortnight, has caused consternation in all pro-Pakistan circles in the Valley. Radical Dukhtaran-e-Millat’s chief, Asiya Andrabi, lost no moment in lambasting Mr Lone in a hard-hitting Press statement. Asiya, inter alia, had asserted that not only Kashmiris were getting killed in the "Islamic struggle" but every day Pakistani mothers were sacrificing their sons on Kashmir’s soil. Lone has been laying fullsome of his stress on "70,000 Kashmiri martyrs". However, well-informed sources in the separatist umbrella insist that polarisation of the Hurriyat executive — in pro-Pakistan and pro-Azadi groups — at the recent election of the new Hurriyat chairman has been more instrumental behind Mr Lone’s change of tack. As per a routine, the Dukhtaran chief’s statement was followed today by one from Jamiat-ul-Mujahideen — though not in extremely harsh tone which has been the Jamiat’s mark of identification in media circles. The State and Central Governments have avoided to react to the Al-Barq chief’s statement faxed to a local newspaper from Pakistan. BJP MLA Ashok Khajuria waved the Srinagar newspaper in the State Assembly on Thursday asking the Government to register a case against Mr Lone and proceed in the matter. However, Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah maintained that mere statements of the organisations or newspaper reports were not sufficient for the Government action. He said that the Central intelligence agencies were watching the developments minutely and investigating the allegations confidentially. |
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