Talks under Indian Constitution not acceptable: Mirwaiz

NEW DELHI, Nov 30: Reiterating that talks with the centre under the Indian Constituion were not acceptable to separatists, former All Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC) Chairman Mirwaiz Omar Farooq has said the Government was not sincere in addressing the Kashmir issue.

"What has the Government done in the past to address this problem? the centre doesn’t even recognise it as a dispute. It has to show flexibility... It has to give us some concessions on the ground, so that people can really believe that the Government is sincere in addressing their problems," the Mirwaiz said in an interview to the BBC.

"They have said they are willing to talk under the Indian Constitution. Our problem cannot be resolved under the Indian Constitution. They have held elections in Kashmir since 1947 but the outcome has been absolutely zero. The problem remains where it was in 1947," he added.

He said the separatists amalgam was ready to work towards peace with militants provided the centre came to the negotiating table accepting, in principle, that Kashmir is a dispute.

"The Hurriyat has maintained that if the Government is ready to talk to us, we will talk to militants and convince them that they renounce violence for a certain time. But for that they have to alow us to go to Pakistan first."

"The Centre has to respond in a certain way to that and come up with a political process to address the issue."

The talks involve three parties — India, Pakistan and the people of Jammu and Kashmir — but, ultimately, it is the people of Kashmir who will decide their own future, the former APHC Chairman said.

"India and Pakistan can facilitate the process where both sides of Kashmiri people are able to sit together and then they will be able to maybe give some ideas like a buffer state to an independent state to the Dixon plan... People talk about a broader autonomous region of Jammu and Kashmir. We have this committee also in the us called the Kashmir Committee. The study group, they have also come up with some proposals. We are saying that we are willing to discuss all these options." Charging that the recently held polls, in which the 23-party separatist alliance did not participate, were not "free and fair", he claimed that only 20 per cent people took part in the democratic process.

"Elections under the Indian Constitution are not acceptable. We had said we were ready to participate provided international observers were there and if any neutral process was agreed upon... But we were not provided with an opening ... Elections are not going to address the key problem in Kashmir. It is not an electoral problem."

The Mirwaiz said elections could not be a substitute for self determination and the right of the people to decide their future had to be recognised.

"We did choose the elections. In 1987, the Hurriyat Conference was not in its proper shape as we are this year. We fought the elections, but what was the outcome? the elections were rigged," he added.

The modalities of the elections were not discussed, he added.

"The Hurriyat Conference’s point of view is very clear. We are for a political solution to the Kashmir problem through dialogue. We believe there are two ways to resolve the problem - either through the implementation of the UN resolution, or through tri-partite dialogue, involving India, Pakistan and people of Jammu and Kashmir," he said

Stating that the "human dimension" of the Kashmir issue was totally being ignored, he said peace should be restored so that people could live with honour and dignity.

"People are divided, families are divided. I mean more than half of my family is in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir. We want reunification of Kashmir and then the problem to be addressed. It has a human dimension too, which unfortunately is getting totally overlooked by the world community," he lamented.

On whether he would settle for something less than full reunification with PoK, the Mirwaiz said, "there is a possibility -if India and Pakistan reach an agreement and we are given access to people in Azad Kashmir, the borders are opened. It depends on what will be the ultimate form." (UNI)

Dy CM lays foundation stone of ARTO Complex at Lakhanpur

Exclsior Correspondent

Jammu, Nov 30: Deputy Chief Minister, Mr. Mangat Ram Saharma today laid the foundation stone of the Assistant Regional Transport Office (ARTO) Complex at Lakhanpur, the gateway of Jammu and Kashmir State.

The complex involving a cost of nearly Rs. 56 lakhs would be completed in two phases. The first phase would be completed in April next while the entire complex would be ready by next year

Addressing a large gathering present on the occasion, the Dy. Chief Minister said that ARTO would be upgraded to full-fledged RTO’s office in near future to meet the heavy rush of incoming and outgoing vehicles. He said every effort would be made to strengthen the motor vehicles department, which is one of the major revenue generating organizations of the state.

Mr. Sharma said that the coalition government is committed to give healing touch to the people of the state to win over their hearts as they have suffered immensely due to the decade long insurgency. However, he made it clear that militancy would be crushed with heavy hands and reiterated the government’s determination to restore permanent peace and tranquility in the State.

The Deputy Chief Minister said that Government is committed to implement the Wazir Commission recommendations and go in for delimitation of constituencies in the State. This, he said, would help to mitigate the grievances of the Jammu region. He said there is a feeling among the people that Kathua district known as the life line of Jammu and Kashmir, has been ignored in the past in the spheres of development and assured that all possible measures would be taken to develop it on sound lines.

Referring to the problems of border and kandi areas, Mr. Sharma said that the government has decided to provide shelter sheds to the people living on the zero line to minimize the causalities caused as a result of frequent shelling from across the border. He said the government has also decided to provide Rs. 500 as financial assistance to those rendered disabled as a result of firing. He said the next of the kin of those killed in firing from across the border would be provided jobs under SRO 43. Similarly, the government is also providing relief to the farmers whose crops were damaged due to drought.

Mr. Sharma said that panchayats are being empowered shortly to make them fully functional. He said elections to the remaining panchayat halqas would be conducted as early as possible. The basic aim to strengthen the panchayats is to involve the people ate grass roots level in development and plan formulation, Mr Sharma added.

The Deputy Chief Minister listed the measures taken during the last 20 days by the government to streamline the administration. He said the government wants to provide a clean, transparent and honest administration to the people that would help to overcome the problems confronting the people of the state. While the honest and dedicated officers would be rewarded, those indulging dereliction of duty would be severely punished.

Mr. Girdhari Lal and Mr. Babu Singh, MLAs. Principal Secretary Transport, Mr. A. S. Sidhu, Transport Commissioner, Mr. A. C. Chaturvedi, Joint Transport Commissioner, S. Inderjeet Singh, Director Garages, Mr. Shashi Kahjuria, Deputy Commissioner, Kathua, Mr. B. D. Sharma were among others present on the occasion.

Earlier, the Deputy Chief Minister on his maiden visit to Kathua after induction into the cabinet, was accorded warm reception at dozen of places enroute. Addressing the way side meetings, Mr. Sharma assured the people that their legitimate demands like provision of drinking water facilities, up-gradation of schools and health centres would receive due consideration. He said the government would examine the possibility for upgradation of middle school Jatwal to high school in the next financial year.

Mr. Sharma called upon the big business houses of the country to come forward in a big way and invest in the state to help it overcome burgeoning unemployment problem. This, he said will help check alienation among the youth which is imperative for restoration of durable peace in the state. He said that besides attractive incentives available to the industrialists under central economic package, the state government has also earmarked several incentives for the industrialists in its new industrial policy.

The Deputy Chief Minister also inaugurated body building and fabrication’s unit at Sudan set up in the private sector. He also garlanded the statue of Pt. Girdhari Lal Dogra, a veteran freedom fighter, at Hira Nagar Chowk.

Referring to the problems of the brick kiln owners of Kathua district, the Deputy Chief Minister assured that their genuine demands would be thoroughly discussed in a meeting of the concerned officers during next week and every effort would be made to mitigate their grievances. He also addressed the panches and sarpanches of Kathua district who felicitated Mr. Sharma on his induction in the, cabinet as Deputy Chief Minister.

PKM committee holds meet

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 30: Committee on political affairs of Panun Kashmir Movement (PKM) which met here under the chairmanship of Mr B L Koul and addressed among others by PKM president Mr Ashwani Kumar Chrungoo, took stock of the present socio-political scenario today.

Describing the recent statement of Chief Minister Mufti Mohd Sayeed as significant that Kashmiri Pandits are a natural part of J&K State and that there is need to create "conducive atmosphere" in Kashmir valley before Pandits are asked to return and live in Valley.

The PKM meeting stated that there was never a conducive atmosphere for Pandits in the Valley right from 1947 as the community continued to be put in miserable conditions and various upheavals in the past over fifty years is a testimony to this ground reality.

About the "healing touch" policy of the State Government, the PKM leaders held that Kashmiri Pandit community stands first in the line to need a `healing touch’.

"In order to live a full life in the valley, the Kashmiri Pandits need compact living as a single unit in Kashmir with the necessary constitutional and political dispensation. Moreover KPs have territorial, political and cultural concerns in the Valley. It is a wholesome territorial, constitutional and political solution that can create actual `conducive atmosphere’ for the Pandits in the Valley. Therefore PKM reiterates demand for establishment of homeland for Kashmiri Pandits in the Valley by creating a Union Territory on the east and north of river Jehlum in Kashmir. It has not only a promise to establish the `conducive atmosphere’ forever in the Valley for Kashmiri Pandits but has also a promise to retain them permanently in the Valley", said the statement of PKM issued in the meeting.

The PKM has also decided to launch a public awareness drive in the month of December and January. In this connection programmes shall be held at Delhi, Jammu, Chandigarh and other places in these months. This campaign shall continue upto 10th annual general meeting of PKM which is to be held in April, 2003 at Jammu.

Sharma expresses grief over tragic bus accident

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 30: Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Mangat Ram Sharma has expressed grief over the tragic bus accident in Khalleni area of Doda district today in which several lives have been lost.

Mr Sharma in a message conveyed his heart-felt condolences to the bereaved families and expressed sympathies with the injured. He has asked the administration to provide all possible medicare to the injured.

DGP visits Arnas, Mahore and Rajouri

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 30: Director General of Police, Mr. A. K. Suri accompanied by Inspector General of Police, Jammu Zone, Mr. P. L. Gupta visited Arnas, Mahore and Rajouri today and held Darbars with officers and jawans of Police there.

Addressing Darbars, the DGP exhorted the men and officers to work with dedication, sincerity and an element of responsibility so that state ushers in an era of peace and normalcy.

Commending the role of Police in its fight against militants, the DGP emphasized that basic police work should be attended to and monitored closely so that the guilty are punished. Noting with concern a tendency to ignore some finer aspects of investigation, Mr. Suri called upon all supervisory officers to visit remote police units and monitor their working so that a sense of satisfaction amongst public could be generated.

J&K NEWS LETTER
Sending right signals on J&K isn’t difficult

By B L Kak

Problems become difficult only when they are handled either half-heartedly or in the absence of proper direction, proper perception. There is no denying that problems in the troubled State of Jammu and Kashmir have, over the years, become complicated particularly on the law and order front. But what has triggered suspicion on the one hand and, on the other hand,given rise to the number of critics of ‘Kashmir managers’ is, it can be said without any fear of contradiction, the flow of wrong signals from the authorities from time to time.

These ‘Kashmir managers’ are from the Government and defence and paramilitary organisations. There has been—and even now there is—the pressing need for coordination among all security and intelligence agencies across Jammu and Kashmir. Unity of action and of purpose, practically speaking, leaves little room for contradictory and conflicting signals, whether in relation to the infiltration from across the border or handling of militancy and insurgency.

After recent terrorist strikes, particularly the one on the Raghunath temple in the heart of the Jammu city, one had anticipated a change among the ‘Kashmir managers’—in other words, new realization in support of the need for right kind of messages and signals in respect of Jammu and Kashmir. Alas, there was no such change, until writing of this column.

The Defence Minister, Mr George Fernandes, cannot expect men in uniform under his command to prevent him from making claims of sorts vis-a-vis the situation along the Indo-Pakistan border, particularly the Line of Control (LoC). The Army authorities and Mr George Fernandes seemed united while making public, though not on the same day, the "finding" that the cross-border infiltration in Jammu and Kashmir had declined.

This claim, interestingly, couldn’t be digested by the Border Security Force (BSF) higher-ups. Mr Harshavardhan Raju, acting Inspector-General of BSF in Kashmir,for example, didn’t take long to come out with a different story, clearly refuting the Army’s claim (it was the Defence Minister’s claim as well) that the cross-border infiltraion had declined. Obviously, Mr Raju had been mandated by his bosses in the CGO Complex in New Delhi to make public on November 29 that the "intensity" of the recent militant attacks in Jammu and Srinagar hinted that ultras had sneaked into the interiors.

And the BSF’s Director-General, Mr Ajai Raj Sharma, went a step further (the same day). He was reported to have stated in a media interview that indications were by no means uncertain that infiltration from across the border in J&K would increase in the coming months. The BSF chief seemed speaking the language of the ruling BJP that releasing militants could result in a spurt in militancy in Kashmir.

At a time when the power corridors in Delhi and J&K seem unaware of the dangers inherent in wrong or contradictory signals vis-a-vis Jammu and Kashmir, a right signal has poured in from across the border. It relates to the Lashkar-e-Toiba’s proposed line of action in ‘Indian occupied Kashmir’. The Lashkar mouthpiece ‘Jihad Times’ has revealed: "Our cadres have procured latest Chinese-made guns which can be used against fighter aircraft and to destroy bridges and buildings".

The jihadi outfit, in fact, has claimed to have acquired Chinese anti-aircraft guns and 60mm heavy mortars for use in J&K. These sophisticated arms, ‘Jihad Times’ disclosed, had been pushed into J&K. The paper also said that the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and other jihadi groups had already begun using mobile phones for communication with commanders based in Pakistan.

Kashmir-watchers weren’t surprised when the Srinagar-based Deputy Inspector General of BSF, Mr JP Sinha, displayed a captured satellite telephone, made in Switzerland, on November 29, after busting a communication centre of the LeT. Not long ago, in some operations, Indian security forces had captured a few sophisticated mobile phone sets manufactured by the American company, Ericsson, linked to mobile phone companies operating in border towns in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Intelligence specialists have confirmed that the LeT and Jamait-ul-Mujahideen (JuM) are under orders to continue "massive" attacks on Indian forces and their camps and convoys in J&K. If latest radio intercepts were any guide, coming days and weeks may witness more incidents of terrorist violence .

The LeT and JuM have their powerful bases across the LoC. The volume of ‘hard evidence’ showing the involvement of Pakistan in training and arming these outfits is substantive enough. Significant development: LeT has developed working relationship with the Tanzeemul Ikhwan, an Islamic movement with hundreds of thousands of followers.

The entire top leadership of Tanzeemul Ikhwan is drawn from retired senior Army officers, and hundreds of current officers and soldiers attend its ideological training sessions.

Rally to create awareness about computer literacy

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 30: NIIT students today organised a motor-bike/car rally to bring awareness among the masses about the computer literacy.

The rally was flagged off by the District Development Commissioner Mr Rohit Kansal. The rally after passing through New Plots, Janipur, Muthi, Canal Road, Trikuta Nagar and Nanak Nagar culminated at Gole Market, infront of NIIT Jammu centre.

Mr Rohit Kansal appreciated NIIT initiative to bridge the digital divide and appealed the masses to become the computer literate as people without knowing computers will not be able to stand anywhere in this competitive world. He said that computers open up new avenues of knowledge, information, work, entertainment and communication. They provide the tools to every individual to radically better quality of life.

NIIT has been responsible for the diffusion of IT learning throughout India. Thanks to NIIT’s efforts over the past two decades, young Indians can now aspire to a better life through a career in IT.

There are millions of Indians, especially those in the smaller towns and villages and in the lower socio-economic sections of society who have been left out of the IT revolution sweeping this country. This has resulted in the creation of a digital divide within our country, with a small proportion of haves, who know computers and a huge section of have-nots who are not equipped with even basic computer literacy skills.

World Computer Literacy Day is being celebrated on December 2.

Completion of work on community hall demanded

Excelsior Correspondent

AKHNOOR, Nov 30: A deputation of Gram Vikas Sangh, an NGO from border area Khour met the Deputy Commissioner Jammu Mr Rohit Kansal and demanded early completion of work of a community hall at Marchangi.

The NGO members led by O P Gupta apprised Mr Kansal of their problems in border area of Khour and drew Administration’s attention towards it. It was brought to his notice that Executive Engineer Local Bodies Jammu undertook the work of the construction of community hall under NAC Khour in 1999. But it is unfortunate that till date it has not been completed due to the reason best known to the authorities concerned.

They sought the intervention of Deputy Commissioner in this regard. Mr Gupta also apprised the DC about the activities of his NGO and sought cooperation from the Administration. The members namely, Karan Singh, Ravi Singh , Mohan Singh and Sanatan Sharma stressed that special measures should be taken for the speedy development of such areas as lie at the Indo-Pak border.

Army provides water to border villagers

Excelsior Correspondent

POONCH, Nov 30: As a part of its Civic Action Programme, the army has provided water to some villages in Poonch sector of Jammu region.

A defence spokesman said that Army unit Saujjian under Poonch Brigade is relentlessly striving to provide basic amenities to forward and remote villages. The unit has also constructed water tanks at some places. A functional Water supply Scheme is now available with the Saujian villagers. It plans to cover villages like—Barari, Chhol, Maidan and Chapriyan. The new project would cost around Rs 12.75 lakhs. The J&K PHE authorities are also assisting the Army.

JKTF delegation meets DyCM, Education Minister

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 30: The members of Jammu Kashmir Teachers Forum met the Deputy Chief Minister and the Minister for Education in the form of a delegation and discussed their problems with them the other day.

According to a release, the delegation led by its chairman Abdul Qayoom Wani met the DyCM, Pt Mangat Ram Sharma and Minister for Education Mr Harsh Dev Singh. They also submitted a memorandum to them. The delegation held a detailed discussion with the ministers regarding problems of the teachers. They apprised that the standard of the education won’t improve unless problems of the teachers are improved.

The Deputy Chief Minister asked the Education Minister to submit the file of teachers to the cabinet for early disposal. In a separate meeting, the Education Minister, Harsh Dev Singh reminded the leaders of the Forum that he has always pleaded the cause of teachers while in opposition and has stressed the Government to solve their problems. Now he has taken over the department in his own hands and as such priority would be given to the issues of teachers.

The Minister assured the delegation that issues would be settled within a month as these are genuine and legitimate and have always been put aside. Besides many MLAs, the delegation also called on Minister for Revenue, Housing & Urban Development department Mr Ghulam Hassan Mir.