‘Ram Mandir is not monopoly of BJP’
Singhal seeks weapons for Hindu youths

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Sept 10: Expressing grave concern over repeated massacres of Hindus in the State, international working president of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), Mr Ashok Singhal today demanded that Hindu youth should be provided weapons to frustrate nefarious designs of Jehadis.

"Though a sense of insecurity has gripped Hindus due to the repeated selective killings but Hindu youth are all prepared to take on terrorists or other anti-national forces", Mr Singhal asserted while addressing media-persons here this morning. He demanded that Defence Committees of Hindu youth should be constituted at every place in the State to utilise energy of nationalist forces. He was of the view that these Defence Committees should be under the control of Central Government. "We have no faith on Farooq Government so Centre should control these Defence Committees", he demanded and added that these Committees should be equipped with sophisticated weapons.

Pointing towards the Village Defence Committees (VDCs) already existing in the State, Mr Singhal said that instead of giving them old big weapons these committees should also be equipped with modern sophisticated weapons.

Replying to a question, Mr Singhal disclosed that VHP has decided to recruit and train about 30 lakhs youth in Bajrang Dal to frustrate evil designs of Jehadis. "We have been trying to utilise energy of the patriotic youth to give a befitting reply to the anti-national forces", he said but stoutly denied the reports that VHP has been arming Bajrang Dal with weapons. "No need to arm Bajrang Dal as our forces are sufficient enough to wipe out these terrorists", he said but asserted that Bajrang Dal activists will take on anti-national forces on streets.

Replying to a question regarding statement of Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee in which he stated that Ram Mandir will not be an issue in forthcoming Assembly elections of Uttar Pardesh, Mr Singhal said that temple construction was not a political issue. "It is neither a political issue nor will we allow this religious issue to be politicised ", he declared and said that only Saints will decide the issue. He further declared that no power on the earth can stop construction of Ram Temple.

"Construction of Ram Temple is not monopoly of BJP. In this religious issue we never sought support from BJP", he said and added that it was BJP which itself offered cooperation on this issue.

When his attention was drawn towards statement of Prime Minister regarding solution of this issue before March 12 2002, Mr Singhal said that they too are hoping that Centre and UP Government will remove all obstacles before Maha Shivratri. He, however, declared that there was no question of postponing construction of Ram Temple after March 12, 2002.

Reacting to reports that dialogue has been going between religious leaders to solve this problem, he disclosed that VHP was not a party to any dialogue. "Neither Prime Minister has invited us nor we are interested in holding more talks on this issue", he said and added that there was no need to hold dialogue with Muslim leaders on this issue, what he called relating to the emotions and faith of 100 crores Hindus all over the world.

Dubbing secular forces as anti-national and anti-Hindu, Mr Singhal expressed surprise that all secular forces have raised hue and cry over killings of Grahm Strains but they have maintained a criminal silence over the grue-some killings of two Sadhus at Surankote-Poonch.

"Those who are claiming themselves as secularists have not uttered even single word over the killings of two Hindu saints", he said and added that their silence over these killings have exposed their real face.

Terming Madarasas as training centres for Jehadis, who are hell bent to dis-integrate the nation, Mr Singhal expressed his reservation over the statement of Prime Minister in which he had given clean chit to Madarasas. "I think Prime Minister donot have correct information about the functioning of Madarasas where youth are being trained in arms and ammunition to start anti-national activities. he said.

VHP firebrand leader regretted that training centres for Jehadis have been patronised and aided by the successive Central and State Governments. He asked the Centre to enact a law to keep a check on, what he called, menace of Madarasas and Churches.

VHP leader was of the view that not only Madarasas but Churches were also becoming training centres for anti-national and terrorists groups. "Under the pretext of service and social works churches are also becoming hide-outs for anti-national forces", he said.

Reiterating his demand of sacking Farooq Abdullah Government, Mr Singhal regretted that State Government has failed to protect lives of Hindus in the State.

Warning National Conference Government against, what he alleged, propagating anti-Hindu policies, Mr Singhal again said that VHP will not allow any restriction on the number of Amarnath Yatries.

Army jawan goes berserk; kills 4, commits suicide

Excelsior Correspondent

UDHAMPUR, Sept 10: An army jawan of 2nd Dogra Regiment went berserk inside the Northern Command headquarters here last night killing his four colleagues, critically wounding two others and then committing suicide by shooting himself dead with his official weapon.

The rare incident of its kind in the Northern Command has baffled security forces, who had already lost 16 jawans including two officers in Improvised Explosive Device (IED) explosions in Udhampur and Doda districts during last four days.

Defence sources were tight-lipped over the incident, which incidentally took place on back side of the office of Defence Public Relation Officer (PRO) at about 1915 hours last night. A handout issued by army authorities merely said that one army jawan fired upon his colleagues killing two of them and then ending his life. The four line handout gave no details of fatalities or injuries and any reason for the same.

Reliable sources, however, said that Sepoy Sanjeev Kumar, a resident of Hoshiarpur in Punjab, went to STD PCO near Chinar theatre at about 1900 hours yesterday and reportedly made a telephone call at his residence. He returned inside the Command at 1910 hours and got his official weapon—an Insas rifle—issued for joining guard duty.

Instead of proceeding towards his guard duty venue, Sepoy Sanjeev Kumar turned towards his guard room where two jawans were standing. He opened firing with rifle killing both of them on the spot. Frenzied army soldier then entered inside the barrack where he shot at and seriously injured four more jawans before shooting himself to death with the same weapon.

Of four injured jawans, two succumbed to their wounds in Military Hospital Udhampur early today where they were admitted after the shoot-out. Condition of two others was also stated to be serious.

Deceased army jawans have been identified as Sepoy Kura Ram, Sepoy Balbir Singh, Lance Naik Vijay Kumar and Sepoy Ajmer Singh besides the killer Sepoy Sanjeev Kumar. Two critically wounded army jawans included Sepoy Devinder Singh and Sepoy Rakesh Kumar.

No exact reason could be ascertained behind the shoot-out as Sanjeev Kumar had died before he could give any statement to army officers, who reached the scene of shoot-out within few seconds, the sources said but opined that army jawan might have been facing a problem at home as he went on rampage soon after talking to his family members on telephone. A tiff with his colleagues as the reason for the shoot-out was also not ruled out.

Sources said that young Sanjeev Kumar was married only a year before. He reportedly wanted to go to his house on leave.

According to sources, one of the deceased army jawan Vijay Kumar was also related to Sanjeev Kumar.

Bodies of jawans were kept in the hospital for post-mortem and completion of other legal formalities and were expected to be dispatched to their native towns tonight.

Army officers camped at the spot throughout the last night for investigations. However, they couldn’t give any exact reason for the incident. An in-house inquiry was being carried out by army to establish the reasons.

This was the rare incident of its kind inside Northern Command wherein five jawans were killed and two injured. The incident sent shock waves among army authorities, who were devising a strategy to counter militants’ booby traps that killed 16 jawans including two officers during last just four days.

A BSF officer Commandant S S Dahiya and five soldiers were killed in Dharamkund, Gool while a Subedar and five jawans were killed at Angrala, Mahore yesterday. Prior to Gool explosion, four army jawans were killed and 15 others were injured in an IED explosion at Banihal on Jammu-Srinagar national highway.

4 militants killed, army vehicle damaged
Two students kidnapped in Doda

Excelsior Correspondent

UDHAMPUR, Sept 10: Special Task Force (STF) Doda killed two militants in Sikri Gali area of Marmat in Doda district this evening while two other ultras were eliminated by army in general area of Mahore. Militants kidnapped two school students and detonated an IED near an army vehicle in Doda district.

SSP Doda Ashkoor Wani told EXCELSIOR that STF Doda with the assistance of 8 Rashtriya Rifles launched a search operation in Sikri Gali area of Marmat this evening after being tipped off by local people about movement of three militants. Security forces cordoned off the area and carried out searches for the ultras.

The militants deserted the hideout, where they had taken shelter and fled into an adjoining forest area. Security personnel chased them in the forests and killed one of them within 10 minutes of search operation.

Two other militants continued to fight with security jawans for one and a half hour after which one of them was gunned down. Two AK rifles, four magazines and three hand grenades were recovered from them. Identity of slain militants couldn’t be established immediately.

Two more militants—a local and a foreign mercenary—were killed by army in general area of Mahore this afternoon. One of the militant was identified as Mohd Shafi, a resident of Dubri, Udhampur while identity of his associate couldn’t be ascertained. He was stated to be a foreign mercenary.

Two AK rifles, four magazines and three hand grenades were recovered from the militants.

Meanwhile, a group of unidentified militants kidnapped two teen-aged boys from village Janakpur in Dachchan area of Kishtwar in Doda district last night. Boys had gone for grazing cattle in the upper reaches from where they were held hostage and whisked away to an unidentified location.

Kidnapped boys have been identified as Asif Hussain son of Saidullah, a resident of Subeed and Wasim Raja son of Ghulam Ali, a resident of village Raji in Dachchan area. Both the boys were middle class student of a local government school.

Kishtwar police have registered a case in the kidnappings and started investigations.

An IED explosion damaged an army vehicle at Bhalla on Doda-Bhaderwah road this morning. However, all army jawans travelling in the vehicle escaped unhurt.

The IED missed the target narrowly. A major tragedy was averted due to delay in explosion, the sources said. Only wind screens of army vehicle were damaged, they added.

Army jawans later carried out a search operation in the area. However, militants involved in the blast remained untraced.

Dukhtaraan, Jamiat support Purdah campaign
Women being asked to quit jobs, education

From Ahmed Ali Fayaz

SRINAGAR, Sept 10: Radical militant outfit, Jamiat-ul-Mujahideen, which had earlier described the acid-throwers as "Indian agents", has now extended support to the so-called Lashkar-e-Jabbar’s campaign of imposing the Islamic dress codes in the Valley. The Jamiat volte face has come a day after its sister concern, Dukhtaraan-e-Millat, did not only approve of the drive but also indicated plans of greater Talibanisation.

In a statement, issued from its Muzzafarabad headquarters today, the Jamiat spokesman Jamil Ahmed urged the Kashmiri women to strictly adhere to the Islamic dress codes. "Any voice against indecency has to be taken as legitimate. We must support it wholeheartedly", the spokesman clarified. He, however, remarked that throwing acid on the countenance of women was "not right".

Jamiat has changed its heart a month after it denounced the campaign and claimed that Lashkar-e-Jabbar was no bona fide militant outfit. Almost similar was the opinion of two formidable organisations — Hizb-ul-Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Toiba — which have not, till date, endorsed the Purdah campaign. Senior Jamaat-e-Islami functionary and Hurriyat leader, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, was the first separatist politician who lent his approval to the imposition of dress code. He, however, did not endorse use of Un-Islamic methods in its implementation.

In a newspaper interview on Sunday, Dukhtaraan-e-Millat chairperson, Asiya Andrabi, extended her unequivocal support to the campaign. She went a step further and asked the Kashmiri women to stay away from Government jobs. She described earning of livelihood as the exclusive liability of the man and asserted that the current campaign was "beginning of a comprehensive social reform movement based on true Islamic thought".

With the Dukhtaraan chief’s open support to the Purdah campaign, observers here believe that the stress on Burqa was just the beginning of a greater plan of Talibanisation. They even claim that the whole campaign was being sponsored by the Dukhtaraan and Lashkar-e-Jabbar was neither any militant outfit nor a front name.

After Islamic revolution, Iran and Afghanistan have implemented dress codes and imposed ban on "mixing of men and women". Asiya’s statement is clearly suggestive that all these diktats are being sought to be implemented in Kashmir. Since there is co-education in all professional colleges and universities in Kashmir, Lashkar-e-Jabbar’s "ban" on mixing of two sexes is now expected any moment.

Lashkar-e-Jabbar has already pronounced two more edicts: There should be separate seats for women in passenger buses and non-Muslim females must put on yellow colour outfits. Since the first diktat has evoked some response in the capital city and three major towns of Anantnag, Baramulla and Sopore, the group is visibly emboldened to issue more edicts.

Women working in private and Government offices seem to have succumbed to the Lashkar diktat as about 30% of them (compared to just 5% before) are now seen wearing either an Abaya or a Burqa. However, there has been little impact among the girl students of schools, colleges and Universities as less than 10% of them make movement in Purdah. Over 90% of the women in countryside have remained indifferent to the campaign, be that the one launched by Dukhtaraan in 1989-90 or the current one unleashed last month with sprinkling of diluted acid on two lady teachers.

As the State administrative machinery has maintained its total helplessness in the campaign of coercion and the Police and intelligence officials are still groping in the dark, experts in social sciences believe that the Valley was clearly in for a social transformation. "It has begun with the Burqa and it will end up with an order that no shopkeeper should sell merchandise to the women customers not wearing a veil", says a scholar at the Department of Sociology at University of Kashmir.

However, a many experts believe that obeying diktats on wearing an Abaya was different from quiting the Government jobs and educational institutions. "Come what may, it’ll fail", they assert with the argument that taking home salaries and getting education was a "stronger compulsion" of all Kashmiris.

Meanwhile, there was not any significant impact among the women here as the final deadline of Lashkar-e-Jabbar expired today. Official sources disclosed that the Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah had taken a serious note of the Lashkar-e-Jabbar threats and had categorically warned Police officials that they would be liable to "furious action" in case any incident of acid-throwing occurred in their jurisdiction. Officials are said to be thinking on the pros and cons of a massive crackdown on Dukhtaraan-e-Millat.

Pak hesitates to rein-in J&K bound jihadis

From B L Kak

NEW DELHI, Sept 10: The Government of India has taken strong exception to Islamabad’s unwillingness to come down heavily on anti-India jihadi outfits openly operating on the soil of Pakistan and Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK).

What has perturbed New Delhi is relatively "mild effort" by Islamabad to rein in Kashmir-bound jihadis. As against this, the crack down on the sectarian groups across Pakistan has been quite severe.

True, Pakistan-based fundamentalists see no room for a compromise on Kashmir. But New Delhi wants Pak President and military ruler, Gen. Parvez Musharraf, to move forward and ensure that stringent measures were taken to rein in jihadis ,particularly the ones trained so far for participating in anti-India activities in Jammu and Kashmir.

Gen. Musharraf’s emissaries have, in recent days, sought to apprise the Government of India of Islamabad’s move, proscribing the jihadi outfits from collecting funds. But the most significant aspect of the move is that the ban on collection of funds, as of now, is limited to the Sindh province.

There is considerable ambiguity about Islamabad’s seriousness. Pakistan’s Interior Minister, Lt. Gen. Moinuddin Haider, has, according to classified intelligence inputs, informed the leadership of the Lashkar-e-Toiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, Harkat-ul-Mujahideen and Hizbul Mujahideen that there was no intention to ban the activities of these jihadi organisations.

Intelligence inputs reveal that while almost all jihadi groups are in a defiant mood following the ban on their fund raising and other related activities, Islamabad has a tough job on its hands enforcing the restriction and keeping religious fanaticism and militancy under control.

The United Jehad Council’s senior member, Abdullah Shah Mazhar, has placed himself on record as asserting: "Our fund raising boxes are kept in public places. People have refused to return them despite the Government order, which shows their level of commitment to the Kashmir cause". And Harkat-ul-Mujahideen leader, Hafiz Mohammed Idrees, has been quoted as saying: "Can they stop the people from joining the jihad or donating funds evens if they remove the signboards and boxes? We have not started the jihad on the orders of the Government, and similarly no ruler can ask us to stop it".

Some media reports from Lahore and Karachi have confirmed that the religious extremists have, following the ban placed on two sectarian militant organisations, the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi and Sipah-e-Mohammad, regarded the ban on collection of funds as a crackdown on religious and sectarian militancy generally. Significance requires to be attached to the statement of the Corps Commander of Sindh, Lt. Gen. Tariq Waseem Ghazi, categorically denying the intention of a general crackdown.

The ISI Public Relations Department head has also contended that there is no jihadi activity in Pakistan. He maintains that certain individuals have placed fund collection boxes at various places and were misusing the funds collected in the name of jihad. The Pak authorities, he has stated, have had these boxes removed.

A number of organisations, based in Pakistan and PoK, working in support of jihadi forces in Kashmir have been angered by Islamabad’s action. According to Pakistan’s influential English daily, Dawn, an alliance of several Mujahideen groups based in PoK has declared the ban on collection of funds as "harmful" to the "liberation movement" in Kashmir. They believe that the action has been taken under powerful external pressure, such as from America, which has led to Islamabad’s move to prohibit fund collection.

The United States and some other Western Governments have held Pakistan responsible for encouraging religious militancy in the country. Because of the rapid spread of religious extremism in Pakistan, they have often expressed the apprehension that Pakistan might be going the way of the Afghan Taliban.

The Pakistani publication has observed: "It is important for Pakistanis generally, and the jihadi outfits particularly, to realise that any attempt at seeing or presenting the Kashmiri people’s struggle for self-determination in a purely religious and communal light is bound to prove counter-productive; it will lead to a hardening of attitude on the part of the authorities in New Delhi who would perceive it as a challenge to their professions of secularism".

3 IED blasts in Baramulla, Kupwara
JCO, militants, 3 civilians killed in Valley

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Sept 10: While as militants caused three IED blasts in Baramulla and Kupwara districts, one JCO of Army, one militant and three civilians have been reported killed in different militancy-related incidents in Kashmir valley since last evening.

Official sources told EXCELSIOR that militants caused an IED blast outside a camp of Rashtriya Rifles 18 Bn at Rednag, in Lalpora area of Kupwara district. One JCO got killed while as seven more soldiers sustained injuries. They were rushed to a hospital. Sources said that two soldiers were critical. Jamiat-ul-Mujahideen has claimed to have killed five soldiers in the strike which occurred early this morning. Officials confirmed death of only one soldier.

Late last night, an encounter took place between militants and troops of RR 32 Bn at Sogam, in Kupwara district. One militant, namely Farooq Ahmed Kalas S/o Saif-ud-din Kalas of Gujjarpati, Sogam, got killed.

Late last evening, militants kidnapped a surrendered militant, Bashir Ahmed Malik S/o Rehman Malik R/o Payarpora from the house of his brother Ghulam Ahmed Malik. As they disappeared into woods, gunshots were heard. Residents searched the area but there was neither any dead body nor any blood stains.

A civilian shot dead by militants at Ootligam, Beerwah, last evening has been identified as Mohammad Shaban Gujri S/o Abdul Aziz Gujri R/o Suchen Banet, Beerwah.

Sources said that dead body of a civilian, Mohammad Akbar Sheikh S/o Subhan Sheikh R/o Binripora Bandipore was recovered today from the same village. He had been kidnapped by unidentified gunmen late last evening from his home and later slaughtered to death.

Late last evening, an IED exploded at main Chowk Bandipore. Delight Watch House, Hotel Shan, buildings of State Bank of India and Kamraz Rural Bank, besides nine other shops suffered extensive damage.

Militants targetted a Police Gypsy at Wusan Morh, on Srinagar-Tangmarg road with an IED blast. The vehicle suffered minor damage and head constable Nazir Ahmed sustained minor injuries. The Gypsy was reportedly escorting an executive of Tata Group, B Chander Shekhar and his family, to Gulmarg. However, they are all unharmed.

Reports from Kulgam said that, during last night, militants hurled three hand grenades on the residence of Minister of State Tourism, Ms Sakina Itoo, at Damhal Hanjipora. However, there was no damage.

Late this evening, militants launched an attack on a formation of RR 29 Bn at Watirgam, Baramulla. Troops retaliated and there was no damage from either side.

Repeal AFSPA: Shabir Shah

NEW DELHI, Sept 10: Supporting the peace initiative of Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, senior Kashmiri separatist leader Shabir Shah today demanded repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and punitive measures against officials involved in custodial killings.

"Innocent killings should be stopped immediately. Let the security forces fight the militants and stop targeting civilians," Shah told reporters after an 80-minute meeting with the Centre’s interlocutor, K C Pant, here.

Shah said that implementation of the AFSPA in disturbed areas virtually gave a "license to security forces" to kill anyone.

Stressing that the fight against militancy should be limited to terrorists only, Shah said "the Centre should make sincere attempts to show that it was interested in resolving the Kashmir issue."

Stating that his party, Jammu and Kashmir People’s Democratic Freedom Party, would never shy away from the centre’s unconditional offer of talks, Shah said "as a confidence building measure, the Centre should repeal all draconian laws, put an immediate end to custodial killings and set free all persons held in illegal detention."

The Kashmiri separatist leader said that bilateralism on Kashmir issue had failed and "I hope that some headway is achieved in the meeting between Vajpayee and Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf at New York."

"Kashmir issue has always remained a bone of contention between the two countries and now both the leaders should make attempts to resolve it and bring down the level of tension in the sub-continent," Shah said.

Taking a dig at some "vested interests", he said "certain groups in Kashmir, New Delhi and Pakistan had made Kashmir issue a business. One day these elements will have to be exposed."

About elections, Shah said that "if the polls were going to be held to determine the representative character of any party, my party would contest it."

"We are not against elections. But elections to choose Government have failed in settling the Kashmir issue," Shah said, adding "let the intellectuals from India monitor it and after such an exercise talks could be held with only such representatives."

He also demanded that such an exercise should also be held in the areas under occupation of Pakistan.

Earlier, Pant said that during the meeting with Shah, the present situation in the State was discussed.

"Shah mainly laid emphasis on his restricted movement and alleged custodial killings, for which I have also made necessary inquiries," he said.

Pant had held talks with Shah during his visit to Jammu and Kashmir in May to hold talks with various groups there. (PTI)

Security beefed up
Deadline for burqa end

SRINAGAR, Sept 10: Security was beefed up today in and around busy business areas and women’s institutions in Kashmir valley as the deadline set by Lashker-e-Jabbar (LeJ) for women to wear burqa (veil) ended.

Additional policemen, most of them in plainclothes, have been deployed at various places particularly outside women’s institutions and busy business areas in the city with a directive to keep a close watch on youth suspected to be involved in the burqa drive, official sources said.

LeJ, a lesser known militant outfit which made its mark in Kashmir only last month when it launched the burqa drive by carrying acid attack on two unveiled women in downtown Srinagar, had set September one as the deadline for women to wear burqa, but later extended it by 10 days conceding to the request of radical women’s organisation, Dukhtaran-e-Milat.

But the outfit has not made it clear whether the deadline ends in the morning or in the evening, as a result of which majority of the women in the Valley preferred to remain indoors. Those who ventured out without wearing burqa returned home early, fearing trouble at the hands of LeJ activists who have threatened to go to any extent short of death penalty.

Escalation in militant attacks on the security forces throughout the State has aggravated the fears of the women. Meanwhile, pro-Pakistan Jamiat-ul-Mujahideen today supported the burqa drive, but said acid attacks and other such actions should be avoided.

However, Hizbul Mujahideen and Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, in separate statements, criticised the sponsors of the burqa drive saying "it is unislamic to force anybody to wear a particular dress."

"Co-ordinated efforts are needed to unveil the elements behind the burqa drive, which is understood to be a ploy to divide the people of the Valley," a Hizbul spokesman said.

Harkat-ul-Mujahideen spokesman Amir-ud-Din said the burqa drive could be "a ploy hatched by Indian agencies to create a wedge between locals and militants. It is the duty of religious organisations, social welfare groups and Imams to convince people to adhere to the Islamic teachings."

Ignoring the widespread criticism of its moves, the LeJ continued with its diktats. The unknown group recently asked non-Muslim women living in Kashmir to apply ‘Bindi’ on their foreheads and don saffron-coloured Duppatas for identification and exempted them from wearing burqa.

It also directed the transporters to reserve 50 per cent seats in their vehicles for women to discourage travelling of men and women together in one seat. (PTI)

J&K CJ appointed

NEW DELHI, Sept 10: Mr Justice Hotoi Kheteho Sema has been appointed Chief Justice of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court.

The appointment of Mr Justice Sema at present a judge of the same High Court, will commence from the date he assumes charge of his new office.

According to a press communique, the appointment has been made by the President under the powers conferred by Section 95 of the Constitution of J and K. (UNI)

Pant to meet Farooq

NEW DELHI, Sept 10: Mr K C Pant, the Centre’s mediator in Kashmir, said today that he would meet Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah to discuss the issue of granting special powers to the State.

"I had a brief exchange of views with the Chief Minister on this issue. He (Dr Abdullah) told me that he will get in touch with me soon," he told newsmen here.

Mr Pant was referring to a recent statement by Home Minister L K Advani who expressed the Centre’s willingness to grant special powers to the State but rejected the autonomy proposal submitted by the National Conference. (UNI)

| home | state | national | business| editorial | advertisement | sports |
| international | weather | mailbag | suggestions | search | subscribe | send mail |