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| Centre willing to talk to
those in J-K who want dialogue: PM NEW DELHI, Feb. 24 : Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today declared that the Centre is willing to talk to all those in Jammu and Kashmir, who are wanting to enter into a dialogue, and said that the question of allowing a Hurriyat Conference delegation to visit Pakistan "is under consideration". "Jo Baat Karna Chahenge, Un Sabse Baat Karenge (we will talk to anyone who is willing to talk)", Vajpayee told reporters here after releasing a new three-volume edition of the memoirs of late D P Mishra, father of Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary Brajesh Mishra. Vajpayee, however, parried a question when asked to elaborate with whom the Government was willing to enter into a dialogue in J and K. While announcing the decision to extend the J and K ceasefire by another three months in Parliament on Thursday last, Vajpayee had voiced Centre’s readiness to initiate talks with various militant groups which abjure violence. To a question on Government’s stand on allowing a Hurriyat delegation to visit Pakistan, the Prime Minister said "Ye Prashna Vicharadhin Hai (the question is under consideration)." Describing D P Mishra, who was a Congress Chief Minister in Madhya Pradesh, as a "Chanakya" of modern time, Vajpayee recalled Mishra having written that Jawaharlal Nehru’s "monocracy" had brought about in 1962 India’s humiliation at the hands of the Chinese. "Indira Gandhi’s absolutism produced the excess of 1975-76 and culminated in her own defeat in 1977. What is more, she left nothing undone to destroy the Indian National Congress, an institution built up by the sacrifices of countless Indian partiots and led by stalwarts as Lokmanya Tilak and Mahatma Gandhi," he said quoting Mishra, who had developed difference with Nehru and Gandhi on policies. Observing that Mishra’s works were relevent even today, Vajpayee further quoted him to say "this Jawahar-Indira drama, with Sanjay as the final element has all the elements of a Greek tragedy." Mishra had emphasised that a proper appreciation of the Nehru epoch in the history of independent India is the key to the understanding of the political events which occurred after his death in 1964. The Prime Minister said fresh light needs to be thrown on why Mishra’s recommendation for dissolution of the Madhya Pradesh assembly when Congress was faced with defections was not accepted by the party’s high command. The Prime Minister, who had read Mishra’s earlier editions, said he was not only a politician with an impeccable foresight but also a great historian, writer and poet.(PTI) |
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3-pronged strategy to
restore peace KOHIMA, Feb 24: Union Home Minister L K Advani said today the Centre has succeeded in creating world opinion against cross-border terrorism and an atmosphere of peace in Jammu and Kashmir. By launching a peace offensive, Government succeeded in generating opinion all over the world against cross-border terrorism by the ‘enemy’ on the one hand, and creating an atmosphere of peace in Jammu and Kashmir on the other hand, he told a public meeting here. Advani arrived here today from Arunachal Pradesh on a two-day visit to Nagaland. Earlier inaugurating the "spring festival’ and the Governor’s Secretariat at Raj Bhavan premises , the minister pointed out "whether it is Jammu and Kashmir or other strife-torn areas, the Government broadly adopted three-pronged strategies to bring peace and normalcy. He said under these strategies, the Government wants that development must continue and it should be persuaded vigorously. Secondly, a climate should be created where the people realise the futility of violence and everyone believes in peace. Thirdly, there must be a good governance which takes care of backward and weaker sections with a compassionate attitude, Advani added. The Home Minister later reviewed the latest political situation in Nagaland with Governor Om Prakash Sharma, Jamir’s Cabinet, senior Government and Army officials. In Arunachal Pradesh the Union Home Minister said today that the Disturbed Areas Act, promulgated in Tirap and Changlang districts following growth of insurgency, would be extended by another six months. "I have assured the Arunachal Chief Minister that the Act would be further extended for six months, after its expiry in March," he said after inaugurating the Brahmaputra Darshan festival on the banks of Dibang, a tributary of Brahmaputra, here. Reports of extortion and other activities by insurgents had come in from the two districts in recent times. Referring to various regulations imposed against free movement of people in areas of the North-East, Advani said he would take up the issue like inner-line permits for Indian citizens with appropriate authorities. Regarding north-eastern
parts of the country, Advani said of the total eight
states including Sikkim, four were comparatively peaceful
which included Arunachal barring Tirap and Changlang
districts of the Later in Kohima, Advani said the Centre was very much concerned over the North-East situation from the very outset and its priority was to restore peace and normalcy in the region. Addressing a public meeting, he said, "it is the endeavour of the Vajpayee Government that peace, harmony and understanding become a reality in all parts of the country, particularly in the strife-torn North-East." He said, "it is the Government’s duty that the three attributes (peace, harmony and understanding) are promoted to the fullest." In Roing, the minister said Arunachal being ‘storehouse’ of hydel power, the Centre has recently decided to earmark Rs 3,000 crore for the proposed Subansiri hydel project to give a boost to Arunachal’s power situation. Defence Minister George Fernandes said the entire region would turn into a desert if the Brahmaputra dried up. (PTI) |
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India charges Pak with
continuing cross-border From B L Kak NEW DELHI, Feb 24: Pakistan continues sponsorship of cross-border terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir and other parts of India. Indeed, cross-border terrorism "stepped up" following Pakistan’s military defeat in Kargil in 1999, according to the Minister for External Affairs, Mr Jaswant Singh. Official inputs available with Mr Jaswant Singh confirm that Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee did not take the initiative to get into touch with Pakistan’s military ruler, Gen Parvez Musharraf, on February 2 this year. Mr Jaswant Singh has now made public that Gen Musharraf called Prime Minister, Mr Vajpayee, on telephone (Feb 2) to convey his sympathy at the great loss of life and property caused by the earthquake in Gujarat. Mr Vajpayee thanked Gen Musharraf . Without divulging other details of the telephonic conversation between the two, Mr Jaswant Singh chose to issue a one-sentence statement in this connection: "Prime Minister also assured the Chief Executive (Gen Musharraf) of India’s continuing desire to build good neighbourly relations with Pakistan". India, Mr Singh says, has time and again reiterated its commitment to resume the composite dialogue, which was put in place at India’s initiative. Mr Singh has, once again, insisted that an appropriate environment "is an obvious requirement" for a meaningful dialogue. The Minister for External Affairs lamented that Pakistan’s continued sponsorship of cross-border terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir and other parts of India, "stepped up" following its military defeat in Kargil, "has not permitted the creation of such an environment". Mr Jaswant Singh sought to highlight New Delhi’s standpoint vis-à-vis talks with Islamabad: The Shimla Agreement and Lahore Declaration remain as the cornerstones of Indo-Pakistan bilateral relations. The Ministry of External Affairs, EXCELSIOR was officially told, had taken due cognizance of media reports in relation to the training being imparted in Pakistan to hundreds of British Muslims for taking part in the jihad in Kashmir. Dangers posed by such recruitment for the ostensible purpose of waging a jihad in Kashmir, sources in the Ministry revealed, had been discussed with the British Government. Possibilities of cooperation in combating international terrorism under provisions of the UK’s Terrorism Act 2000 were also discussed. According to these sources, some highly ominous inputs vis-à-vis the increase in the number of jihadis in the Chinese province of Xinjiang (formerly known as Sinkiang) were passed on to China’s Assistant Foreign Minister, Mr Wang Yi, who visited Delhi in the beginning of this month for the second round of the Sino-Indian security dialogue. Mr Wang, who had discussions with Foreign Secretary, Mr lalit Mansingh, and Additional Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, Mr TCA Rangachari, was told how and why it had become important to combat Islamic terrorism jointly. Beijing cannot be expected to be tension-free, considering the fact that Xinjiang shares borders with Pakistan’s North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) and Taliban-dominated Afghanistan. Xinjiang’s Muslim population has already been exposed to the radical neo-Wahabi brand of Islam actively propagated in Afghanistan. According to reports, most of the Muslims in Xinjiang perceive Chinese to be against the spread of Islam. China’s Assistant Foreign Minister, and earlier senior Chinese leader and NPC chairman, Mr Li Peng, were left in doubt about the Government of India’s commitment to the improvement and development of friendly relations with China on the basis of ‘Panchsheel’ and the principle of mutual sensitivity to each other’s concerns, according to Mr Jaswant Singh. Mr Singh has stated that while the India-China Joint Working Group on the boundary question has met 12 times, India and China seek "a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable settlement of the boundary question through peaceful consultations". |
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Poonch encounter toll 9 Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Feb 24: Pakistan-sponsored militants gunned down a Gujjar couple in their house at Dool Sarthal in Kishtwar tehsil of Doda district last night while troops of Grenadiers under Krishna Ghati Brigade gunned down another militant in Khanetar Top in Poonch this afternoon taking death toll in the encounter to nine. Official reports reaching here said that unidentified militants entered into a dhok of a Gujjar Natha at Dool Sarthal in Kishtwar tehsil late last night and asked Gujjar’s wife Lalli to prepare food for them. Militants forcibly took food in the house and then fired a volley of shots on the couple killing them on the spot. Numbering between three to five, the ultras escaped from the village after killing the couple. No reason could be ascertained immediately for the killings, reports said, adding that a police party from the local police station proceeded for the village this morning and was expected to reach there by late this evening. A number of incidents of the killings of Gujjars and Bakerwal community had been reported during the past some time in Rajouri, Poonch, Udhampur and Doda district. While 15 members of three Bakerwal families were killed recently at Kot Chadwal, three others were killed prior to that in Dharamshal area of Rajouri. Another Gujjar was shot dead by militants in the upper reaches of Reasi the other day. Our Poonch correspondent adds: Defence sources said that troops of Grenadiers were on the look out for four militants, who had escaped in an encounter with them at Khanetar Top three days back. Eight militants and an army jawan were killed in the encounter that day. Jawans of Krishna Ghati Brigade spotted two militants in a forest area of Khanetar Top this afternoon and asked them to surrender. However, both the militants, who were equipped with assault rifles, opened firing on army personnel and tried to escape. Troops returned the firing and during about half an hour long gun-fight eliminated one of the militant while his associate fled deep into the forests. Troops didn’t suffer any casualty in the operation and continued searches to nab the absconding ultra. Slain militant’s body has been recovered from the spot but not identified so far. One AK-47 rifle with magazines, ammunition and a wireless set was recovered from the possession of slain ultra, whom troops suspect to be a Pakistani and an activist of Al Badar outfit. |
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Foil designs of secular leaders: Geelani SRINAGAR, Feb 24: The rift within the Hurriyat Conference came to the fore with the former chairman of the Conference, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, asking the people to foil designs of so-called "secular leaders bent upon harming the freedom struggle in Jammu and Kashmir". "A conspiracy is going on in the Hurriyat Conference and it is you who have to distinguish and choose between the so-called secular leaders and those toeing the Islamic line," Geelani told a Friday congregation in Baramulla district yesterday. Lashing out at People’s Conference chairman and senior executive member of Hurriyat Conference, Abdul Gani Lone, the fireband pro-Pakistan Jamaat-e-Islami leader said there was no room for secular politics in Kashmir and urged the people to reject secular politicians. "Time has come when people of Kashmir have to decide whether to support secular politics or politics based on Islamic principles," Geelani said and asked people to extend their full support to the politics supported by religious tenets. He said the on-going movement drew inspiration from Islam and he did not believe in "La-Deen" (anti-Islamic) politics. Geelani also said if India accepted Kashmir as a disputed territory, there would be no need for separatist leadership to go to Pakistan to rein in militants. Denouncing the unilateral ceasefire as a "mere gimmick", he asked the Centre to read the writing on the wall and accept Kashmir as a disputed territory. Geelani alleged India had been using delaying tactics for the past 53 years and was misleading the world community all the way. "Parliament is in session these days. Let the Prime Minister show his sincerity on the floor of the House by repealing the 1994 resolution passed by it which describes Jammu and Kashmir as an integral part of India and replacing it by another resolution declaring Kashmir to be disputed and expressing its commitment to resolve the issue according to United Nations resolutions," he said. Geelani, considered a hardliner, said the moment Parliament repeals its 1994 resolution and replaces it by the new one, there would be no need for Hurriyat leaders to go to Pakistan. "We will urge militants to stop operations against security forces from Srinagar’s Lal Chowk or even from Baramulla on the plea that India had accepted our basic right and wants to solve the dispute in keeping with people’s aspirations," he said. Referring to the ceasefire, Geelani said "it is only to hoodwink the international community, to make them believe that India wants peace in Jammu and Kashmir." "The ceasefire is holding good only on paper," he said and charged security forces with continuing their operations against militants in the State. Geelani alleged Government agencies were behind the recent killing of Sikhs in the Valley and said such incidents were aimed at inciting communal passions. (PTI) |
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BJP leader involved in grabbing KPs property By Avtar Bhat JAMMU, Feb 24: Despite the enactment of Distress Sale of Migrant Property Act by the Jammu and Kashmir Government during the year 1997, the sale and forcible occupation of the immovable property of the displaced people goes on unabated in the Kashmir valley. The Act was aimed at protecting the immovable property of the Kashmiri minorities who have fled from the Valley and took refuge in Jammu and other parts of the country for the security of their lives after the onset of militancy in 1990. And notwithstanding the assurances of the Revenue Minister, Mr Abdul Qayoom in the State Legislature from time to time that concerned Deputy Commissioners are fully empowered to protect the immovable migrant property in the Valley the facts are altogether different. This Act has not been totally violated by Pak trained militants and influential persons but intriguingly some national mainstream politicians whose Party has been championing the cause for the return of displaced community to the Valley right from 1990 have also shown a scant respect to it. Many Kashmiri Pandit families have approached the concerned authorities for restoration of their properties forcibly occupied by the people in the Valley but to no avail. In some cases the officers not bothering to look into the complaints have filed the applications which has been a cause of concern among the members of the displaced community. In such a glaring case, a palatial house of one B K Kotru situated in posh Bagat-e- Barzula on New Airport Road Srinagar has been forcibly occupied by Mr Abdul Rashid Kabli vice president state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over a year back. Despite repeated pleas of the owner Mr Kabli is unwilling to vacate the house. The Owner of the building who is presently putting up at Pune also approached the authorities in Kashmir and urged them that his house be got vacated from the illegal occupation of Mr Kabli who so far have failed to initiate action against this mainstream politician. Intrestingly, when police approached Mr Kabli he refused to vacate the building on the pretext that the same has been used as Party office after seeking approval from its owners. Mr Kabli in his letter to police has outrightly said that the Party leadership at national level is fully ceased of the situation and it is intending either to purchase the building or retain it on rent. But Mr Kotru on the other hand has totally turned down such offers and wants the restoration of his house. The act of BJP leader has also been seriously viewed by KP community who said by exploiting the name of his Party, Mr Kabli has found the easiest way of grabbing the migrant property worth several lakhs of rupees. This is not the only case of illegal occupation but hundreds of houses belonging to the community have been forcibly occupied by the people. Besides hundreds of kanals of horticulture and agriculture land have been grabbed by the members of majority community at different places of Kashmir valley. In Vasvhal village of Shopian Tehsil of Pulwama district 14 kanals of the migrant land belonging to one Dina Nath Dhar with orchards has been grabbed by some influential local people soon after the family migrated to Jammu in 1990. Though Mr Dhar had approached District Development Commissioner Pulwama number of times seeking his intervention in the matter but to no avail. According to Mr Dhar eight kanals of land have been grabbed by one Khalil Rather of Imam Sahib Shopian while six kanals are under the forcible occupation of Hassan Bhat of Baskuchan Shopian. Besides the orchards of three more migrant families in this village have been grabbed by some influential people of surrounding villages. According to one Omkar Nath Bhan of Sagam ten kanals of his agriculture land have also been encroached by some local people in the village after the mass migration of the Kashmiri Pandit community from the Valley. Even few days back the militants set ablaze a house which was jointly owned by Omkar Nath and his brother Nanak Chand Bhan. In village Hangalgund which is also adjacent to Sagam the agriculture land of some migrant families has been forcibly occupied by some people of adjoining villages. Taking the advantage of the present turmoil some goons in village Mahend of Bijebehara Tehsil in Anantnag district have cut the non fruit bearing trees of migrants worth lakhs of rupees over these years. Though the migrant families have brought the matter in the notice of the Deputy Commissioner, Anantnag over a year back but no action has been taken against the guilty till date. Besides some touts in open violation of the Migrant Properties Distress Sale Act have made the registries of the immovable property of the displaced people on throw away prices after taking the advantage of various flaws of this Act which has now been reduced to mere sheet of paper. Taking the advantage of flaws in this Act, sale of migrant property increased many fold after its enactment and not a single sale deed has been declared as nul and void by the Deputy Commissioners. |
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Water to cost more, liquor cheaper SHIMLA, Feb 24: Drinking water in Himachal Pradesh will cost more, both in urban and rural areas with hike in rates per kiloliter, application charges, security and connection charges enhanced drastically. This decision was taken at a State Cabinet meeting here today. The Cabinet, however, reduced excise duty, both on IMFL and country liquor besides abandoning licence fee on sale of beer. It also decided to de-attach all vehicles from the present authorised officers of State headquarters except DGP and Chief Secretary as a measure of austerity. In urban areas, the drinking water charges for domestic users have been raised to Rs two per kiloliter, application charges for requiring new connection to Rs ten, security and connection charges to Rs 150 each. For commercial use, water would now cost Rs 50 per kiloliter, security Rs 300 and connection charges Rs 150. The cabinet left to the Shimla Municipal Corporation to decide charges over and above raised for both domestic and commercial users. Briefing newsmen after the cabinet meeting Chief Secretary A K Goswami said that despite increase in charges, water in Himachal Pradesh was still cheaper than neighbouring states. He said distribution of water cost to the state exchequer is Rs 130 crore annually, while increase would accrue only Rs 3.5 crore. The cabinet approved the excise policy for the 2001-2002 fiscal. Its salient features included rationalisation of excise duty on indian made foreign spirit and graded structure of excise duty instead of present flat rate of Rs 27 per proof litre. The regular and cheap brands upto Rs 500 per case of ex-factory price, excluding duties and levies, Rs 24 per proof litre, premium and superior brands, (Rs 501 to Rs 1000), Rs 32 per proof litre and deluxe and higher brands (Rs 1001 upwards) Rs 60 per proof litre. In view of availability of much cheaper country liquor in the neighbouring State, excise duty on country liquor has been reduced from Rs ten to Rs eight per proof litre, to help curb smuggling from outside the State and result in higher realisation of excise duty and other levies. The ex-factory issue price of country liquor would be got reduced by atleast Rs 20 per case for all manufacturers including GIC. Country liquor quota had been fixed at 100 lakh proof litres. The discretionary quota available with the etc has been reduced from 15 per cent to five per cent, which would be released only in last quarter of the year. To induce better competition and elimination of monopolies, the cabinet decided to authorise the department to make smaller units for auction. Moreover, a decision on a particular unit would be taken after resorting to a system of sale of vends by auction as well as by tender. Permit fee on country liquor has been raised from Rs two to Rs 2.50 per proof litre. To curb inter-state and intra-state smuggling of liquor, use of pouches of 200 ml and all smaller capacities has been banned for sale of country liquor. To wean away people from hard drinks to soft liquor, the cabinet decided to liberalise sale of beer in the urban areas, particularly in places of tourist importance. Easy availability of drought beer would also be facilitated. There would be no limit on number of licenses for this purpose, which can be had at a nominal fee of Rs 15,000 per annum by any departmental store. Besides an assessed fee of Rs eight per bottle, fee and location structure of l-3,l-4, l-5 (bar licenses) too had been rationalised. These steps were likely to increase state’s excise revenue by Rs 220 crores. (UNI) |
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US team asks Pak to check growth of militants ISLAMABAD, Feb 23: A visiting US Congressional delegation has asked Pakistan’s military ruler General Pervez Musharraf to respond positively to India’s ceasefire extension in Jammu and Kashmir and to check growth of Islamic militant groups, a matter of concern for the international community. The delegation, which arrived here from New Delhi after holding talks with Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, also discussed India’s concern over cross-border terrorism and urged Musharraf to contain it, US officials said. Musharraf on his part told the three-member US delegation that he faced constraints domestically in dealing with the militant outfits, the sources said, adding the Pakistani ruler sought necessary elbow room from India and the international community in addressing their concern. In this regard Musharraf stressed that India should allow a Hurriyat delegation to visit Pakistan to facilitate the peace process, they said. The delegation comrising of Jim McDermott, Joseph R Pitts and David Bonior today visited Line of Control (LoC) and some refugee camps in Muzaffarabad. The US officials said the need for Pakistan to check the growth of Islamic militant groups, whose activities were causing grave concern to the international community, remained the focus of the delegation’s discussions here. Musharraf for his part briefed the team about attempts by his Interior Minister Moinudeen Haider to ban the fund raising activities of the militant groups propagating Jihad (holy war) in Kashmir. Pakistan’s official APP news agency, in a report from Muzaffarabad, quoted the Congressional delegation members asking India to issue travel documents to Hurriyat leaders to enable them to visit Pakistan. According to APP, the Congressmen had urged Vajpayee during their recent meeting with him in New Delhi to permit the Hurriyat leaders to visit Islamabad. On the delegation’s visit to the subcontinent, Pitts said: "I am encouraged by listening both Pakistan and India that the progress towards talk is possible." (PTI) |
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RDX-filled bicycle seat bomb recovered in Arnia Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Feb 24: BSF and police today recovered a powerful four kg RDX filled Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in the shape of a bicycle seat from forward area of Kot Kuba under the jurisdiction of Arnia police station while Pakistani troops resumed firing on the International Border in Kanachak sector. According to official sources, a joint team of BSF and police cordoned off Kot Kuba village at 0700 hours today after getting a tip off from local people that a mysterious device was lying in a field. A Bomb Disposal Squad was also requisitioned to the spot, which detected the IED in the shape of a bicycle seat and neutralised it successfully. Sources said about four kg deadly RDX had been filled in the bicycle seat which was kept by Pakistani saboteurs in a field. The bomb had to be picked up by the militants for planting it either at a crowded place or on the railway track to trigger civilian casualties. A major tragedy has been averted with timely detection of the RDX bomb, they said and added that searches were carried out in the area but the saboteurs couldn’t be traced. Reports said that IED was part of a consignment smuggled by militants from across the border. Security forces were also trying to search the remaining part of consignment. Only yesterday, security forces had recovered two Khan dresses from a forward area of RS Pura sector, which indicated that militants had changed their dress after infiltrating into Indian territory and managed to reach their hideouts. Meanwhile, Pakistani troops have resumed indiscriminate and unprovoked firing on the International Border. Firing was reported from both Old and New Kanachak border sector over night. However, no loss of life or other damage was reported in the firing, the sources said. |
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JAC announces indefinite bandh again from Tuesday Excelsior Correspondent UDHAMPUR, Feb 24: Fifty-one member Joint Action Committee, which has been spearheading the agitation against kidnapping of a teen-aged girl Meenakshi, today gave a call for indefinite bandh in Udhampur from Tuesday next if the girl wasn’t traced by then. A meeting of the Action Committee was held here this evening at a local Gurdwara in which the issue of Meenakshi’s kidnapping was thoroughly debated. All Committee members were highly critical of Udhampur police failure in recovering the girl even after 15 days of her abduction. The Committee unanimously decided to resume indefinite bandh in Udhampur from Tuesday next if police failed to recover Meenakshi by that time. It may be recalled that Action Committee had on Monday suspended the indefinite strike for a period of one week and gave an ultimatum to police to recover the girl or face intensified agitation from next Tuesday. The Committee viewed very seriously a statement, full of lies, given by acting Chief Minister Mohi-ud-Din Shah in the Legislative Assembly yesterday in which he had stated that the abducted girl had again contacted her family. This statement was also denied by Meenakshi’s family yesterday said there was no fresh telephonic contact with the girl. Committee members shouted slogans of ‘shame, shame’ when a reference was made to Shah’s statement. The meeting among others was attended by Brij Mohan Sharma, Balwant Singh, Ramanand Baria, Vijay Kumar, Narinder Singh and Dwarka Parashar. All the members through one voice condemned police failure in tracing out the abducted girl. Meanwhile, about 150 students of Happy Model School today visited the residence of Meenakshi and then submitted a memorandum to Deputy Commissioner M S Khan demanding immediate recovery of the hostage. The district administration has, meanwhile, decided to request the committee to defer, the indefinite bandh and give time to it to effect recovery of the girl. |
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60 to 75 per cent polling in Panchayat elections Excelsior Correspondent Jammu, February 24 - Sixty to seventy-five per cent of votes were polled in seven blocks of Udhampur, Baramulla and Kupwara districts which went to the poll today. According to the Chief Electoral Officer, Mr Pramod Jain, who is also the Election Authority for panchayat elections, 70 per cent polling was recorded in three blocks each of Udhampur and Baramulla districts and 60 per cent in Trehgam block of Kupwara district. Highest, 76 per cent polling was recorded in Dudu block followed by 75 per cent in Boniyar and 73 per cent in Baramulla block of Baramulla district. In Uri block of Baramulla district, 65 per cent votes were polled. In Udhampur district, Chenani registered 70 per cent polling and Gool 68. In all, today’s polling will decide the fate of 1464 candidates in 92 panchayats with 563 panch constituencies. Four hundred seventy-nine panchs and 32 sarpanchs have already been declared elected unopposed in these blocks, maximum 349 in Udhampur district. |
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Two security camps attacked in Valley SRINAGAR, Feb 24 : Militants attacked two security force camps and averted a possible tragedy with the timely detection of an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in Kashmir valley since last evening. An official spokesman said that militants fired five rifle grenades towards a BSF camp at Saidpora in downtown Srinagar last night injuring a constable. While four grenades exploded inside the camp, another remained unexploded and was defused by experts. He said militants also hurled two grenades at a Security camp at Pothkah in Sopore area of Baramulla district in north Kashmir last night, but none was hurt in the explosions. Meanwhile, the Special Operations Group of local police recovered two rockets from Nagpathri Baba village in Baramulla district last evening. Militants also set off a grenade near a shrine at Delina in the same district today, he said. Security forces averted a possible tragedy with timely detection of powerful explosive device planted by militants with the intention of triggering explosions in Kashmir, the official said. Police detected an IED containing over 10 Kg of deadly RDX, and fitted with two detonators in Wakhoo village in Pulwama district of south Kashmir last evening. It was defused by experts, the spokesman added. (PTI) |
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VP, Shekhar to lead marches to Parliament NEW DELHI, Feb 24 : Former Prime Ministers V P Singh and Chandrashekhar would lead separate marches to Parliament on February 27 protesting the "anti-poor" policies of the BJP led Government. While Singh would lead a demonstration of ‘Jan Chetna Manch’, an umbrella group of various parties including city units of CPI, CPIM, Rashtriya Janata Dal and Janata Dal (Secular), demanding a National Slum Policy among other things, Chandrashekar’s budget-eve protest is against the government’s economic liberalisation policies. Former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, CPIM general secretary H K S Surjeet and CPI general secretary A B Bardhan are among the top leaders expected to participate in Singh’s programme. "We are trying to coordinate with Chandrashekhar," Singh told reporters when asked about the two rallies on the same day. Singh demanded provision of multi-storeyed flats to slum dwellers at the sites they were currently staying or within two kilometres of their present dwelling, provision of all civic facilities in slum clusters, changes in the capital’s master plan to prevent closure of over 1.5 lakh units and issuance of licence to all hawkers, roadside vendors and cycle rickshaw pullers.(PTI) |
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Hurriyat visit to facilitate three-way dialogue: Musharraf ISLAMABAD, Feb 24 : Pakistani Military ruler Gen Pervez Musharraf has said the purpose of Hurriyat leaders’ proposed visit to the country is to facilitate commencement of three-way dialogue between New Delhi, Islamabad and Kashmiris for a peaceful solution to the Kashmir issue. "The purpose of the delegation’s visit is to hold consultations on the commencement of the tripartite process of negotiations for a peaceful settlement of the Kashmir issue in accordance with the wishes of Kashmiri people," Musharraf told Egyptian Middle East News Agency (MENA) in an interview. He said Pakistan had already accepted Hurriyat leaders’ demand for three-way talks as they were representatives of Kashmiris. Musharraf said the settlement of the Kashmir issue depended on whether India was ready to review its "rigid" stance. "We have seen some statements by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee suggesting he might be prepared to reconsider India’s rigid stance on the issue of Kashmir. These words have not been followed by deeds so far," he said. Pakistani press published excerpts of the interview but did not mention whether the interview was held before or after the February 22 announcement by India extending the ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir by three months.(PTI) |
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Muslim Forum for ban on VHP, Bajrang Dal LUCKNOW, Feb 24 : The All India Muslim Forum (AIMF) today demanded an immediate ban on Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) for issuing provocative statements against minorities. The forum has also appealed to all the Muslim political parties to forge an alliance and form a Steering Committee to effectively counter the mispropaganda launched by the fascist forces in the country. At a day-long "Muslim political awakening convention" held here, the members of the forum unanimously passed resolutions for banning the VHP and Bajrang Dal "which had taken law in their own hands by announcing the date for construction of the Ram temple at Ayodhya even when the matter was sub-judice". They also underlined the need for unity among all the Muslim parties to deal with the situation. Inaugurating the convention, AIMF president Nihaluddin called upon all the Muslim political parties, who were engaged in stray efforts for consolidating Muslim votes under independent banners, to forge a lasting alliance and inculcate a sense of confidence in the community about their sincerity. He emphasised that the rule of law must be equally applicable to all the parties, otherwise Muslims too cannot be expected to demonstrate their usual restraint if the protagonists of temple take law in their hands. Chief guest of the convention Maulana Lalbe Jawwad highlighted the need for unity among Muslims at every level whether religious or political. President and vice-president of the All India Momin Conference Naimullah Ansari and Mohammad Ismaeel made an appeal to all the Muslim parties to forget their individual egos and come together with an open heart to unite the Muslim community. Representatives of the All India Muslim Majlis were also present at the convention.(UNI) |
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Top JKLF leader released after 11 years SRINAGAR, Feb 24 : A senior leader of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) Mohammad Iqbal Gandroo, facing several charges including an attack on Air Force officials here in 1990, was released on bail today after remaining in jail for nearly eleven years, official sources said. Arrested in March 1990, when he was "military adviser" to JKLF, Gandroo was lodged in different jails in and outside the State, the sources said. (PTI) |
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