Task before CM

Sir,

There is no doubt in the fact that the recent conducted elections to the State Legislative Assembly in J&K were free and fair for the first time, since fifty five years of state politics. These elections though being fair have resulted in a hung Assembly. The National Conference which was ruling the State with absolute majority was routed out to some extent. BJP was also defeated very badly in the Jammu Region. The big guns of both the parties i.e NC and BJP had to accept defeat. Even the NC Chief, Omar Abdullah had to bow before the verdict of the people from the constituency which elected late Sheikh Mohd Abdullah twice and Dr Farooq Abdullah three times. The BJP Chief lost his Bhaderwah seat which was so far known as the strong hold of BJP. The credit goes to the Election Commission who conducted the elections smoothly and fairly despite the threat from the militants and boycott call by APHC. In the urban areas the voters turn out was less but in rural areas the turn out was very high. These elections have shown that people have preferred ballot than bullet. The people of J&K have reposed faith in democracy and peace.

Now the people have elected representatives and Mufti Mohammad Sayeed has become the leader of the House supported by Congress, CPM, Panthers Party and some independents as well as PDP. Though we cannot question Mr Sayeed as he has a vast experience of politics & has varied experience of 43 years of working as State Congress chief who faced the well known leader of Kashmir i.e Late Sheikh Mohd. Abdullah and Mr Sayeed has also worked in the Central Cabinet in different capacities, so no body can challenge his leadership and I am sure that he will take this militancy ridden state towards peace as he has seen bloodshed of innocent people both at the hands of militants as well as security forces and choas during last thirteen years of terror. If he is successful in restoring peace in the state it will give a boost to tourism industry which has suffered a lot during the last decade. Mufti Sahib has also a burning issue of Kashmiri migrants before him who had to leave their homes and property in order to save their lives and honour. Though being the citizens of Jammu and Kashmir these pandits have been given migrant status for the fault that they left Kashmir and temporarily settled in Jammu region and other places of India.

B L Dhar
Jammu.

Poor internet service in Jammu

Sir,

BSNL has issued a large number of internet connections in the State and it is their duty to cater to the needs of its customers. Most of the internet users have become dependant on this very mode of communication for contacting their distant nears and dears.

But the BSNL authorities suspend this service at their sweet will for most of the day and sometimes for 24 hrs. at a stretch and don't even care to respond properly to the customers' calls.

Most of the time the reply is that the service has been suspended from Delhi leaving the customers just to repent on having invested large amounts to buy computers and other devices to avail the service.

We request the BSNL authorities through your paper that if they can't run the service properly they should close it for ever and let some private ISP run the show.

Yours etc.....
Surjeet Singh
On e-mail