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Army apprehends large-scale violence during Doda polls SRINAGAR, Oct 6: Apprehending large-scale militant violence during the elections in Doda district, the army has said the militants and their mentors across the border were frustrated over the successful completion of the first three phases of Jammu and Kashmir polls and will make all efforts to terrorise the electorate to stay away from polling. "The militants will try to do everything they can to create panic among the voters in the Doda district...Their mentors across the border are frustrated over the large voter turn out in the first three phases of the elections," General Officer in Commanding 15 Corps V G Patankar said here. The six constituencies of Doda district go to polls in the final and last phase of elections on October eight. The General admitted that there was a spurt of militant violence after the first phase of elections on September 16. "The militants stepped up their activities after the successful completion of the first phase of polling...The second and the third phases witnessed increased violence," he added. However, Gen Patankar expressed confidence that the army and the security forces will foil the militants plans and take all steps to ensure smooth conduct of polls in the militant-stronghold of Doda district. He commended the army and security force personnel for their role in the polls in the State. "We were assigned the job of creating a fearless environment for the polls and we have been successful in that...The large voter turn out speaks of our success." Gen Patankar said the level of infiltration from across the border has gone up considerably since the election process was set in motion in the State. "The level of infiltration has gone up considerably...There is no let up in that and it is going on in full swing," he added. The General said the neighbouring country was making all out efforts to send as many militants as it could to India for disruptive activities during the elections. Though there was some decrease in the incursion level in the month of June, it had picked up after that and peaked during the elections, he said. Talking to reporters after flagging off "Desh Sampark" tour of Kashmiri women to several parts of the country last evening, General Patankar said the infiltration from across the border was expected to go up as further militants would try to cross over to this side till the intrusion passes were open as winter sets in. However, he expressed confidence that security forces would be able to foil the evil designs of the militants to carry out subversive activities in the State. Asked if there was any tension on the borders following missile tests by India and Pakistan, Gen Patankar said, "there is no tension on our side...It could be on the enemy side." The General also rebuffed allegations of coercion during the first three phases of elections. "There is no basis for such allegations...These are not true," he said. (UNI) |
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Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Oct 6: In stepped-up violence on the eve of elections in Doda district, three terrorists were killed and an entire locality burnt while four police personnel including a Sub Inspector on election duty were injured and an independent candidate had a narrow escape in an attempt on his life. Terrorists also lobbed a grenade in Doda town but failed to cause any casualty. In twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch, two army jawans and two terrorists were killed and eight others including seven soldiers and a woman were injured in an ambush laid by the terrorists at village Pangai under Thanna Mandi police station’s jurisdiction in Rajouri district today. Terrorists gunned down a Nambardar in Mendhar. SP Doda Saji Mohan said the troops of 10 Rashtriya Rifles and Special Task Force (STF) killed three terrorists at village Akash Mandi in Ghai Dessa area of Doda district this evening. He said a hideout where the terrorists had taken shelter caught fire in the encounter. Most of the arms and ammunition of the terrorists were burnt in the fire and only one AK rifle could be recovered from the spot, he added. Reliable reports received here said that an entire locality was burnt during the exchange of firing. The houses were reportedly set on fire by the terrorists before they were eliminated by the security personnel. The house inmates, however, managed to come out before the structures were gutted. Police teams have rushed to the village. Bodies of the terrorists were recovered from the hideout but they were beyond recognition. The terrorists were reportedly devising a strategy to disrupt elections in Doda, scheduled to be held in fourth and final phase on October 8. Terrorists detonated an IED at Khari in Banihal tehsil of Doda district near a police party being deployed on election duty. Four police personnel including Sub Inspector Naveen Angral, two cops and one SPO were injured in the blast, official sources said. Injured were being brought to the sub district hospital in Banihal when the reports last came in. Meanwhile, a group of terrorists opened firing on Abdul Hafiz Wani, an independent candidate from Bhaderwah Assembly segment in Doda district at village Passa Pani in Kassar area when he was taking out a motor-cycle rally this morning. The candidate and his supporters escaped unhurt in the attack. Firing was replied by the PSOs of Wani. Security forces also reached the spot and engaged the terrorists in an encounter. However, the ultras managed to escape towards an adjoining forest area. The terrorists also lobbed a grenade in Doda town at 1045 hours today. The grenade, aimed at a group of civilians shopping in the town, missed the target, fell in a drain and exploded. No one was killed or injured in the grenade blast, which occurred deep inside the drain. Two shops owned by Banarsi Dass and Syed Ahmed sustained minor damage in the explosion. Police and para-military personnel, who were patrolling the town, sealed the area and started a search for the terrorists. However, they remained untraced. According to eye-witnesses, the grenade was thrown from a distance of about 50 meters in a by-lane. Meanwhile, a terrorist Ishtiyaq Ahmed Kanth alias Munjamal son of Abdul Rehman Kanth R/o Hullar, Kishtwar surrendered before police in Kishtwar last night. He handed over one AK-47, rifle four magazines, 100 rounds and one hand grenade to police. He was affiliated with Harkat-ul-Jehad Islami (HUJI) outfit. Another terrorist Riaz Ahmed was arrested by security forces in Kishtwar alongwith four hand grenades and one detonator. Security forces also defused two IEDs at Chambalwas in Banihal and Behnan in Marmat areas of Doda. Sources said a group of army personnel in two vehicles were ambushed by the terrorists at Pangai when they were returning to their camp in Thanna Mandi after paying obeisance at Shahdara Sharief shrine at 1530 hours today. The terrorists resorted to heavy firing on the army vehicles. Army jawans retaliated. In brief exchange of firing, two army soldiers and two terrorists were killed and eight others were injured. Two other terrorists managed to escape. Enforcement of army rushed to Pangai from Thanna Mandi and started a search operation for the absconding terrorists. Eight injured including seven army jawans and a woman were shifted to hospital in serious condition. Injured jawans were later airlifted to Command Hospital in Udhampur. Deceased jawans have been identified as Balwan Singh and Vijay Kumar. Injured woman has been identified as Sajda Begum wife of Mohd Akbar R/o Pangai, Thanna Mandi. Identity of killed terrorists has not been established. Two rifles were recovered from them. In another incident, the terrorists gunned down a Nambardar Mohd Razak Khan son of Alla Ditta in his house at Naika Majari in Mendhar tehsil of Poonch district last mid-night. Sources said two terrorists entered into Razak Khan’s house. One of them straightway fired two bullet on him from a pistol from a very close range resulting into his instant death. Both the terrorists fled away after the killing. The Nambardar had actively participated in the recently concluded Assembly elections in Mendhar. A police party rushed to the Nambardar’s residence this morning. His body was sent to hospital for post-mortem. Police have started a search operation for the terrorists involved in the killing. Both of them were stated to be locals. |
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'NC deliberately neglected
Doda district' Excelsior Correspondent KAHAAL JUGAASAR (DODA), Oct 6: Pradesh Congress (I) Committee president Ghulam Nabi Azad today charged Farooq Abdullah Government with totally ignoring the backward Doda district during their 27 years of Government in the State and declared that the Congress, if voted to power, will make it a developed district. Addressing an election rally in this last village of Doda district falling under Bhaderwah Assembly segment, bordering Himachal Pradesh, Azad said the construction work started by the Congress (I) Government on over 60 road projects in Doda district in 1975 was abandoned as soon as Sheikh Abdullah took over the reign of affairs in Jammu and Kashmir. "During last 27 years of the National Conference rule, the construction work didn’t resume on any of the projects including prestigious Bhaderwah-Chamba road", he said, adding ‘these projects would have generated a lot of employment besides resulting into development of the district’. He declared that within few days after forming Government in the State, which was now a certainty, the Congress will resume all abandoned road projects. Besides Kahaal Jugaasar, the PCC (I) president today also addressed election rallies in remote villages of Changa, Kharangal, Chili, Halaran and Sewa, falling in Bhaderwah constituency, Pancshai and Shiva in Doda segment. He also attacked Sheikh Abdullah for scrapping subsidy on rice, wheat and sugar in 1975. "When we handed over the Government to Sheikh Abdullah in 1975, the first Cabinet decision he took was scrapping of subsidy on rice", he said and pointed out that the Congress Government in Karnataka was still giving subsidy on some items. "Doda was only district in the country where people had been deprived of compensation for damage caused to the crops due to drought, rains or delay snowfall", Azad said and assured people of the district that the Congress will provide compensation in Doda like rest parts of the country. "Doda district was deliberately kept backward by the successive National Conference Governments to exploit sentiments of the people to maintain its vote bank. But, the people of Doda have now realised the mischief of the NC and decided to reject it", he said. Saying that Congress (I) was set to form its Government in the State in next few days, Azad claimed that a Congress wave was sweeping entire country. During four years of NDA Government rule, the BJP and its allies have lost 12 seats while the Congress has risen from three States to 14. This clearly indicated a wave against the BJP and in favour of the Congress, he claimed. He said the Congress was sure to sweep all three regions in the State as there was strong resentment among people against ‘non-performance, non-seriousness and rampant corruption’ of the National Conference Government. While the NC had an alliance with the BJP at Centre, its leaders were fooling people in the State by speaking against the BJP leadership, he added. Azad reiterated his assessment that the NC wouldn’t get a single seat in Ladakh region while being reduced to 15 seats in the Kashmir valley and two-three seats in Jammu region. "Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah had seen writing on the wall and fled not only the State and the country but also the sub continent to enjoy life in Johnnesburg", he said adding that this was for first time in the history of a State that a Chief Minister left the country during the Assembly elections. |
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NC rule threat to people's dignity: Mufti Excelsior Correspondent DODA, Oct. 6: The war of attrition between the National Conference (NC) and the J&K People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has led Mufti Mohammed Sayeed to caution the electorate in the terrorist-infested district of Doda against showing any sympathy for the NC candidates. By the time the poll campaign came to an end on Sunday, Mufti Sayeed’s woes against the NC rule found a forceful expression with his message to the voters: "Kick out National Conference only to ensure restoration of peace in the State". Winding up his party, PDP’s election campaign by addressing a series of public rallies in Doda, Ramban and Banihal constituencies, the Mufti reiterated his anti-NC comment: "National Conference is mother of all evils".Portraying a rosy picture about the future of his party, Mufti Sayeed reiterated that PDP would obtain "majority" at the hustings in Doda district. Charging the Farooq Abdullah Government with total failure to deliver goods and accelarate the pace of economic progress in the State, the Mufti wanted the people to reject the National Conference.The PDP, if voted to power, will, he asserted, take "sincere and serious" efforts for the overall development and betterment of the State. Highlighting the need for a change in the political order of Jammu and Kashmir, Mufti Sayeed claimed: "There is widespread feeling among the masses that PDP is the only alternative. People of the entire State have made up their mind to bring about a change in the State. Only PDP can ensure this change". The Mufti also highlighted the NC’s non-performance in the past six years and said that the Farooq regime, during the period, did nothing for the betterment of the residents of the violence-plagued State. Mufti Sayeed’s daughter and vice president of the PDP, Ms Mehbooba Mufti, was more aggressive than her father in her utterances against the National Conference. Her diagnosis: "Removal of the autocratic rule of Abdullahs is a must for protection of dignity and honour of the people of Jammu and Kashmir". Ms Mehbooba’s pathological hatred for the National Conference rule was borne out by her pronouncement: "Dignity of people of Jammu and Kashmir is not safe under National Conference regime". All the more reason for her to strongly urge the electorate to teach a lesson to the NC leaders during the fourth and last phase of elections, slated for Oct. 8. |
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Sensing split verdict, Cong swings into action in J&K SRINAGAR, Oct 6: The Congress high command has swung into action to enlist the support of various political groups in Jammu and Kashmir to make a bid for forming a coalition Government in the State as it expects a split verdict in the ongoing Assembly elections. Congress president Sonia Gandhi and senior leader Manmohan Singh held talks with a number of leaders, including senior party leader Prof S D Soz, to ascertain their views on the post-election scenario, party sources told UNI. The Congress is expected to emerge as the second largest party in the 87-member Assembly elections, in which no group is expected to get an absolute majority. It is confident of doing extremely well in the Jammu region, party sources said. Party leaders are also in constant touch with Pradesh Congress (I) chief Ghulam Nabi Azad, who is presently campaigning in the Doda district, which happens to be his home town. Another leader Ashok Bhan, who is also the convenor of the Kashmir committee, met Ms Sonia Gandhi and Mr Manmohan Singh. Mr Bhan confirmed that he was in touch with the emissaries of the proxy candidates of the Peoples Conference, a constituent of the Hurriyat Conference. The leaders are also in touch with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders to seek their opinion on the possibility of formation of a coalition Government in the State. The party mobilised all senior leaders for the election campaign, particularly in the Jammu region. Congress president Sonia Gandhi addressed elections rallies in Srinagar and Jammu. Talking to UNI, Mr Bhan expressed confidence that some independents, who are expected to win the elections, will lend their support to the Congress in case it gets a good number of seats, to enable it to stake claim for the formation of next Government in the State. Meanwhile, Prof Soz is currently in Delhi to hold consultations with party leaders. (UNI) |
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India to import man-portable radars from Israel NEW DELHI, Oct 6: In a major initiative to step up surveillance on the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, India has signed a deal with Israel for importing man-portable radars, which can detect movement across the border. Under the deal worth about 70 million US dollars (Rs 350 crore), India has started receiving the first delivery of these 1,022 radars, which are capable of locating human targets ten km away, defence sources said here today. Though India has already inducted these radars in parts of the LoC, the decision to go in for bulk purchase was taken after the army reported a big spurt in detection in infiltration following the use of these instruments. The sources said the deal with Israel company El-Op was for both shorter range 3000 to 4000 metre man-portable radars as well as long range observance and reconnaissance systems, after bids made by french electronic giant Thales and Sagem were rejected. The sources said negotiations were still on with the United States and some other countries for other close range sensor detectors. The Bush administration has been keen to sell ground sensors to India. The first indication to this effect was given by US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld during his visit to New Delhi in June when the Indo-Pak tension was on a high. "We are evaluating the US offer made directly by Pentagon," the sources said, adding India might opt for American systems as well. The sources said the deal with Israel also covered acquisition of 600 Elbit thermal-imaging-stand-alone systems to equip Indian army’s 300 T-72 main battle tanks and 300 Russian BMP II armoured personnel carriers. Along with the man-portable radars, India has also signed an agreement to acquire eight more Israeli Searcher-II Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAVs) for deployment in Jammu and Kashmir mountainous region to monitor cross border activity. The army has recently achieved a fair amount of success in foiling infiltration bids across the LoC with as many as 40 attempts foiled this year, leading to the slaying of over 450 militants, mostly Pakistani mercenaries, and capture of a huge quantity of arms and ammunition. The sources said while the shorter range man portable radars would be deployed with forward border patrols, the ten km range sensors would be installed in built-up defence to observe attempts to infiltrate from a distance and chalk out an effective response. The major bid to shore up detection systems on the LoC, officials said, indicated Government’s determination to deal sternly with cross-border activity, not withstanding the repeated assurance being held out by Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf to rein in infiltration from Pakistan. The sources said most of these man-portable radars would be delivered by this month end as security forces gear up for a major anti-militancy drive after the completion of the election process in the State. Along with the infusion of man portable and short range sensors for deployment on the LoC, the sources said India had recently concluded a 140 million dollar contract with French companies Thales and Sagem for acquisition of larger air defence radars. In fact, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal S Krishnaswamy had recently stated that new sophisticated radars were being inducted in significantly large numbers to beef up the country’s air-defence network. He said networking the air defence surveillance system was a must for the country, apparently hinting that there were some loopholes in the country’s present radar coverage set up. However, the Air Chief said though India was going in for import of major systems, the country also had a big indigenous radar development potential. "We have a large in-house talent for both hardware and software radar system , he said, making it clear that imports would be done only where indigenous know-how was not available. (UNI) |
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NC on its way to form new Govt: Omar Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Oct. 6: National Conference’s Chief Ministerial candidate, Mr Omar Abdullah, is not prepared to accept widely-expressed feeling about the emergence of a hung Assembly in Jammu and Kashmir after the fourth and final phase of polling is over on Oct.8. His party, he is sure, will bag "at least 50 seats" at the hustings. Talking to mediapersons here on Sunday, Mr Omar Abdullah said: "I am confident that the people of the State will overwhelmingly support the National Conference, which is not just a political party but a movement of the people". That he did not anticipate opposition to form new Government in the State became amply clear with his unmistakable calculation: "National Conference will get a comfortable majority to form the Government". Responding to a question, Mr Omar Abdullah emphasized: "All the forces within and outside the country have joined hands to root out our Government but they will bite the dust on Oct. 10, when the NC will return with an absolute majority". He also emphasized: "People of this State are not gullible. They understand the dynamics of the State’s politics. They realize that only National Conference is committed to mitigating their problems". On the Government which, to quote him, he will form at the end of the elections, Mr Omar Abdullah assured that it will "work for the welfare of the people and will provide a transparent, clean, honest and people-friendly governance". He also assured that his emphasis will be on "equitable development of all regions of the State. These areas, he pointed out, could be developed and their tourism potential will be harnessed by creating a good communication network, including roads and telecommunication. Mr Abdullah’s yet another assurance: After taking over reins of Government he will deal with the unemployment problem through a multi-pronged strategy. Other points on his agenda, he let it be known, relate to the recruitment policy, small-scale, agro-based, cottage and village industries and information technology. He, in fact, stressed that he would bring in a foolproof and honest recruitment policy and also ensure that each family in the State "has one Government servant each". Mr Abdullah also made it plain that small-scale, agro-based, cottage and village industries would receive a boost to open direct and indirect employment. He will want each block in the State to get connected through e-mail to the Civil Secretariat for better communication and also to reduce red-tapism. He said that video-conferencing facility will be made available at all district headquarters. This apart, land records will also be computerised to bring about transparency in the Revenue Department. He also said that after forming his Government he would focus on the education sector by ensuring that each village has an English medium primary school with at least three local teachers. Computer training will be provided to students in higher secondary schools. Mr Abdullah stated that his Government would ensure a "special package" for the welfare and healthcare of women and children. He insisted: "The women need to be given a special place in the economic development of the State. And the children are the future of the State". Reacting to the statements of the Congress chief, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad, Mr Abdullah remarked: "He (Mr Azad) is frustrated and is giving vent to his frustration by mudslinging". When asked to comment on Mr Azad’s assertion about his role in convincing the then Prime Minister, Mr PV Narasimha Rao to give the Chief Ministership to Dr Farooq Abdullah in 1996, Mr Omar Abdullah said: "Mr Azad needs to check his facts because when Dr Farooq was elected the Chief Minister of J&K in 1996, Mr HD Deve Gowda was the Prime Minister and not Mr Narasimha Rao". Mr Abdullah also brushed aside Mr Azad’s statement in which he had said that the NC president was a political non-entity in the State. |
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Cong(I) withdraws Lolab candidate Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Oct 6: In a bid to avoid a split in opposition votes, Congress today withdrew its candidate in favour of an independent in Lolab constituency just two days before it goes to polls in the last phase of polling in Jammu and Kashmir on October 8. Senior vice-president of Pradesh Congress Committee Pirzada Mohammad Syed said that its nominee Ghulam Mohiuddin Dar has withdrawn from contest in favour of independent candidate Abdul Haq Khan. He said the move was aimed at avoiding a split in opposition votes. Polling in Lolab was originally scheduled in the first phase on September 16 but was put off following killing of Law Minister and NC candidate from the constituency Mushtaq Ahmed Lone. |
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Militants kill 2, blast BDO office SRINAGAR, Oct 6: Militants gunned down two persons and triggered an Improvised Explosive Device damaging a Government building in Kashmir valley. A police spokesman said ultras raided a village in Baramulla district of north Kashmir and gunned two persons and wounded another suspecting them to be police informers. Ultras detonated an IED inside a Block Development Office at Sogam near Lolab in frontier district of Kupwara in the wee hours extensively damaging the building, the spokesman said. No one was injured in the explosion, he said. (UNI) |
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PoK Group seeks UN intervention about Taliban presence NEW DELHI, Oct 6: Balwaristan National Front (BNF), an organisation based in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK), has accused the Pakistani regime of sheltering Taliban and Al-Qaeda activists in Gilgit and Baltistan areas. In a memorandum submitted to the United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan listing details of presence of Al-Qaeda activists in Gilgit and Baltistan area, chairman of BNF Abdul Hamid Khan claimed that he had confirmed information that 30 Taliban activists had entered the Dahrkoot valley of Yasen district in PoK and were being provided all facilities by a Pakistan Government official. He said Taliban forces were shifting from one district to another in the region in the garb of preachers of Islam and were being provided complete hospitality by the administration run by Pakistan, according to the memorandum, a copy of which was available here. He accused the Pakistani army and ISI of murdering foreign nationals visiting Balwaristan in PoK area and later targeting the local population for the murder. It urged the world community to exert pressure on Pakistan and bring the culprits to book, who were none other than trained terrorists and army personnel. Khan, in his memorandum, said that fanatics trained by Pakistan were involved in the killing of foreign nationals so that "no correct report" about the presence of Taliban and Al-Qaeda could be brought to light by them. Appealing to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan for immediate action against Pakistan, Khan said the people of the regime were living under threat because of the presence of these elements and the militant training camps run by ISI. (PTI) |
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Hiranagar, Bus Stand SHOs transferred Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Oct 6: Police Department today ordered transfers of SHO Hiranagar Inspector Jagbir Singh Sumbria and SHO Bus Stand police station Sub Inspector Gurmeet Singh. While SHO Hiranagar was transferred for a terrorist attack on Hiranagar Morh on October 1, the day of polling in Kathua district, in which nine persons were killed and nine others were injured, SHO Bus Stand was transferred for a blast in a Katra bound bus at Manda the next day. The bus had left the Bus Stand about 10 minutes before the blast in which two Vaishnodevi pilgrims were killed and 22 others were injured, police sources said. Sub Inspector Rajesh Sharma, Lines Officer in the District Police Lines (DPL) has been posted as new SHO Bus Stand. In Hiranagar police station, Sub Inspector Shivdev Singh Jamwal has been asked to hold the charge of SHO till alternative arrangements are made. Both Sumbria and Gurmeet Singh have been shifted to concerned Police Lines. |
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One held for rape, murder of minors SRINAGAR, Oct 6: A youth has been arrested in connection with rape and murder of minor sisters in Budgam district which had led to violent protests in the area, police said today. Kamaljeet Singh, a bus conductor living in the neighbourhood of the victims, was arrested last evening following interrogation of his brother Narinderjeet Singh after the bodies were found in a migrant house earlier in the day, they said. The youth confessed to having raped and then strangled the two sisters aged six and three under the influence of alcohol, police said. He told police that after commiting the crime he confessed to his mother and wanted to flee to Jammu but she stopped him saying this could make the neighbours suspicious. The girls went missing while returning home from school on October three. Police said the girls had tried to escape from his clutches after biting his thumb. (PTI) |
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Excelsior Correspondent Srinagar, Oct 6: Minister of Social Welfare, Moulvi Iftikar Hussain Ansari today denied claim of Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chief Ghulam Nabi Azad that he (Ansari) was present at the conversations which were held between Azad and then Prime Minister, Mr P V Narsimharao to install Dr Farooq Abdullah as Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir. In a statement issued here today, Mr Ansari stated, "I am shocked to know that PCC president Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad has kept me witness in some conversation between Mr Azad and then Prime Minister Mr P V Narsimharao about Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir". He denied the claim and said that he does not know anything of that sought, as no discussion took place in his presence. "It does not look nice for a person of Mr Azad’s stature to trigger the gun on someone else’s shoulder. I am of the firm opinion that the National Conference is the only party in J&K which can strengthen the relations between State and Centre and not any other party which represents the Delhi hegemony", he asserted. |
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