Omar, 12 NC ministers among losers

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 10 : More than dozen ministers of the ruling Farooq Abdullah Government, besides Assembly Speaker Abdul Ahad Vakil and presidents of the ruling National Conference, the BJP and the BSP, were defeated in the crucial Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections that gave a split verdict today.

Only a handful of ministers managed to scrap through in nail-biting finish that saw the NC losing as many as 29 seats in the 87-member Assembly.

Among the losers were NC president Omar Abdullah, BJP state unit chief Daya Kishen Kotwal, BSP state unit chief Sheikh Abdul Rehman, Lok Jana Shakti Party leader Abdul Hamid and former state Congress chief Ch Mohammed Aslam.

The NC’s biggest loss was the defeat of Dr Mustafa Kamaal, brother of Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah, Mohammed Shafi Uri, Ghulam Mohammed Shah and Ajat Shatru, son of former Maharaja Dr Karan Singh.

Mohammed Sharif Niaz, cousin of Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, defeated both BJP and BSP presidents from Bhaderwah constituency in Doda district.

The lone woman Minister in the Farooq Abdullah Government, Sakina Itoo, who survived four assassination attempts, also lost to a PDP candidate. The Ministers who won were Abdul Rahim Rather, Ali Mohammed Sagar, Iftikhar Hussein Ansari, Mian Altaf and Ajay Sadhotra.

National Conference (NC) president and Minister of State for External Affairs Omar Abdullah heads the list of prominent losers in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections.

Mr Abdullah lost to People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Qazi Mohammed Afzal by more than 2000 votes in his home constituency of Ganderbal in Srinagar district, a traditional stronghold of the Abdullah family.

Among the NC stalwarts who had to bite the dust are Assembly Speaker Abdul Ahad Vakil, a close associate of Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah, Education Minister Mohd Shafi Uri, Power Minister Surjit Singh Slathia, Sports and Labour Minister Harbans Singh, Forest Minister -Pirzada Ghulam Ahmed Shah, MoS Qamar Ali Akhoon, Agriculture Minister Ch Mohd Ramzan, MoS Works Govind Ram Sharma. MoS Home Khalid Najeeb Suhrawardy and Information and Tourism Minister Ajat Shatru Singh, son of Dr Karan Singh. Assembly Speaker Abdul Ahad Vakil and Deputy Speaker—Ghulam Hyder Malik are also among the losers.

Dr Mustafa Kamaal, younger brother of Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah, lost to PDP stalwart Ghulam Hassan Mir from Gulmarg constituency.

Among the winners are PDP vice presidents Mehbooba Mufti, daughter of former Union Home Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, prominent lawyer Muzaffar Hussein Beg and former Minister Mangat Ram Sharma.

From the ruling NC, Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather, Shia leader and Social Welfare Minister Iftikhar Hussein Ansari, Minister of State for Rural Development Ajay Sadhotra and Minister for Health Mian Altaf, also retained their seats.

Other prominent winners include CPI leader Mohd Yousuf Tarigami former Minister Hakim Mohammed Yaseen, former Deputy Speaker Moulvi Abdul Rashid, BSP leader Manjit Singh from Vijaypur, Harsh Dev Singh JKNPP from Ramnagar, former Minister and Congress leader Mula Ram and Mr Ashwini Kumar of the RSS-backed Jammu State Morcha. Former Minister and NC candidate from Reasi Jagjivan Lal also lost to Congress candidate, Jugal Sharma who hails from Katra.

National Conference also suffered defeat from its stronghold Darhal constituency which was earlier represented by veteran NC leader and former Minister for Revenue late Mohd Hussain. For the first time a Hindu independent candidate—Puran Singh from Budhal area bagged this seat and defeated NC candidate with a narrow margin of 117 votes. Late Mohd Hussain’ son, Zulfikar (Ind) retained third position and bagged 7870 votes. Puran got 11,832 while NC candidate Ch Liaqat Ali 11,615 votes.

National Conference also faced set back from Nowshera constituency from where its candidate R S Sharma lost to Congress candidate Romesh Chander with a margin of 4474 votes. Congress bagged 20,511 while NC 16,037 votes. Independent candidate Vishwender secured third position and bagged 9424 votes. The NC, howevere, managed to retained Kalakot and Rajouri assembly constituency seats.

A prominent feature of the 87-member Assembly is that it will have a significant number of independent MLAs.

Bargotra hails voters of Nagrota

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 10: Mr Dhanraj Bargotra, president Janta Dal (S) Jammu and Kashmir State has congratulated voters of Nagrota Assembly constituency for defeating Minister of Information and Transport Ajat Shatru Singh.

In a statement issued here today, Mr Bargotra has said that Ajat Shatru was working against the interest of Jammu on the instants of Kashmiri rulers on the directions of Dr Farooq Abdullah.

He congratulated the people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh regions for defeating the ruling National Conference.

J&K results victory of secularism over communalism: Paswan

NEW DELHI, Oct 10: Former minister and Lok Janshakti Party president Ram Vilas Paswan today said the results of Jammu and Kashmir were a befitting reply of secularism to the communal forces.

Talking to UNI, he complimented the people of Kashmir and said it was they who could be termed the real winner. Displaying exemplary courage, the Kashmir people proved that they were totally against the communal and anti-national elements, he said. (UNI)

Basic problems main agenda of all new legislatures
Jubilation marks memorable day for winners

By Mohinder Verma & Gopal Sharma

JAMMU, Oct 10: While it was a day of celebrations, festivity and joy for many candidates contesting J&K assembly elections, the others including the big guns in the losing parties were seen cursing their luck and consoling the defeat.

The historic MAM College premises witnessed the several happy and festive moments as profusely garlanded winning candidates were seen coming out of the premises with the crowd of their supporters, raising slogans in favour of their respective new MLAs. Dancing on the tune of drums, the supporters of the successful candidates were seen celebrating the occasion at full rhythm on the University road and also at the houses of the winning candidates.

Former MP and Congress stalwart, Pt Mangat Ram Sharma who won from Jammu West assembly constituency with a margin of about 8000 votes from JSM candidate Prof Virender Gupta, gave the entire credit of the success of the Party in J&K to the AICC president, Ms Sonia Gandhi and the hardwork of the PCC chief Ghulam Nabi Azad. He said the impact of performance of Congress in Punjab has also been in J&K.

The festivities were witnessed at Pt Mangat Ram Sharma’s house even when he was leading the JSM Morcha candidate, in the final round of the counting.

The PCC(I) headquarters at Shahidi Chowk Jammu wore a festive look with a large number of Congress workers dancing to the beats of the drums and distributing sweets with greeting each other for the resounding victory of their party.

After Om Chopra, it is his son-in-law Mr Yogesh Sawhney, who hoisted the Congress flag in the strong-hold of BJP, after 17 years of BJP domination in Jammu-East constituency. Earlier it was Om Chopra, who had broken the jinx of BJP when he had won the seat about 17 years back and now after nearly two decades it was again Congress and same family which drubbed BJP to again hoist Congress-I flag in the area.

Mr Yogesh Sawhney of Congress was the first candidate who was declared winner by Media Cell of Returning Officer (RO), Jammu out of 13 Assembly segments of Jammu district. A large number of supporters of Congress and Mr Sawhney started raising slogans like "Congress Zindabad", "Ghulam Nabi Azad Zindabad" and "Yogesh Sawhney Zindabad" soon after getting information that Congress candidate from Jammu East has drubbed BJP’s sitting MLA Mr Ashok Khajuria.

The elected MLA of Congress was profusely garlanded by his supporters when he came out of the counting hall. While some supporters were clapping the others were dancing to celebrate the victory of Congress party from Jammu East.

Talking to EXCELSIOR after winning election, Mr Sawhney, who is also Pradesh Youth Congress president, said that voters of Jammu East constituency have shifted their attention from BJP to Congress because they have observed that during all these year BJP did nothing for them and made them to live without even basic amenities.

Underlining his priorities, he said his main priority will be to provide all basic amenities of life to people and make available job avenues for the educated unemployed youths.

Mr Raman Bhalla’s supporters totally stole the show with regard to victory procession and enthusiasm among them was very high. They continuously shouted slogans in the praise of Mr Bhalla and said that people have chosen right person, who has capacity and the will to take the people to the path of development and prosperity.

Sharing his views with EXCELSIOR, he said "I am allowed to serve my constituency and I will leave no stone unturned to come upto the expectations of the people". Down to earth Mr Bhalla attributed his success to the voters, who have reposed faith on him and assigned him task to lead them on the path of development.

After coming out of the MAM College, where the counting centre was established, he straightway in a procession went to temple to seek the blessings of the God. "I always pray God to give me enough strength so that all those persons who come for my help may not go empty handed", he said.

Festive mood gripped the entire Gandhi Nagar locality soon after people came to know that their real leader has won the elections. A number of supporters of Congress and Mr Bhalla started gathering outside the house of winner to welcome him and greet his family.

BSP candidate from Vijaypur Manjeet Singh, who won the election by defeating sitting NC MLA and Power Minister Mr Surjit Singh Slathia, was enthusiastic not only on winning the seat but also on getting chance to serve the people of his constituency.

Slogans like "Manjit Singh Zindabad, BSP Zindabad" and "Hamara Neta Kaisa Ho Manjit Singh Jaise Ho" continuously rented the air when BSP candidate’s victory was officially announced. He, in conversation with media-persons, said he is indebted to people, who have given him chance to serve them.

"I will raise the issues confronting people of my constituency in the Assembly and will try my level best to mitigate the sufferings of the people", he showed his mind and said "basically in my constituency there was fight between a common man like me and a rich person like Mr Surjit Singh Slathia but I, with the active support of people, have proven that rich people cannot dominate poor for a long period".

Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party’s winner from Samba too took out victory procession and his supporters were continuously shouting slogans "Aa Gaya Panther Wala Aa Gaya" and "Prof Bhim Singh Zindabad".

Sharing his views, he said he will always remain accessible to the people, unlike those who after winning elections shrugged their shoulders from responsibilities which they should have fulfilled at any cost.

BJP’s candidate Mr Jugal, who won the Nagrota seat by a meagre 67 votes by defeating NC MLA and Transport and Information Minister Mr Ajat Shatru Singh, Congress bigwig and elected MLA from Jammu West Constituency Pt Mangat Ram Sharma, NC’s lone winning candidate in Jammu District Mr Ajay Sadhotra, Congress winner from Raipur Domana constituency Mr Mula Ram, Mrs Suman Bhagat, Congress winner from R S Pura and Ch Garu Ram, Congress’ victorious candidate from Suchetgarh were not present in the MAM College when their result was declared.

Though they have not celebrated their victory in the counting centre yet they have taken out victory processions in their respective areas. They were greeted by people from wherever their victory procession passed through in their respective constituencies.

When contacted, Mr Madan Lal Sharma, who too defeated NC’s Minister Pt Govind Ram Sharma said that his main priorities will be development of the area which remained neglected during NC’s rule. "First of all people require basic facilities like education and healthcare etc and I will see no one in my constituency will lack all these facilities", he showed his mind.

"The long pending and basic need of the people is second bridge on Chenab river and I will get the same constructed for the people of my constituency", he said.

Another Congress winner Mr Mula Ram’s main priorities will be development and providing job avenues to the educated people of Raipur Domana constituency. "Apart from this I will re-start all irrigation projects which had not received due attention from the NC Government", he said.

Mrs Suman Bhagat, who won seat for Congress from R S Pura, said one of her main priorities would be to mitigate the sufferings of border people, who day in and day out are suffering due to firing from across the border.

"I cannot force Pakistan to bring an end to cross border firing but I can chalk out a programme to provide alternative accommodation to these hapless people", she said and added that employment, development and bringing radical change in irrigational facilities would also receive due attention from her.

Manohar Lal, an independent candidate from Billawar who defeated sitting Congress MLA Balbir Singh, told Excelsior that he is the public servant (Lok Sevak) and it was people’s tremendous support and love which is responsible for his land sliding victory. He said to mitigate the basic problems of the people of Billawar constituency will be his top priority besides fighting for regular power and water supply besides improving road conditions.

Prem Sagar of Congress who won Bani seat in Kathua termed his victory as victory of the people who supported him. He expressed that he remained associated with the people of the area for more than six years and being a gross root worker, he walked with the locals and shared their grief and sorrows besides certain happier events. He said to mitigate the basic problems of the people will in in his top agenda.

Mr Girdhari Lal, the winner from Reserved Hiranagar seat said that Congress has done a lot particularly for the people of border areas and most of the border area seats have gone to Congress. Since people have given him the mandate his top priority will be to resolve the issues of border migrants and provide them rehabilitation at safer places on Punjab pattern. The power and water problems will also be in his agenda besides striving for providing employment opportunities.

Masses oppose dynastic rule
Poll outcome ushers in a new era

By B L Kak

JAMMU, Oct. 10: A new era in the troubled State of Jammu and Kashmir is round the corner. Main focus, as the situation develops following the announcement of poll results, will be on the Jammu region, which, over the years, nursed a feeling against the Kashmiri domination. Far-from-satisfactory performance of the National Conference Government is,obviously, the main factor attributed to the rise of individuals and groups—all for drastic change in the political and administrative structure the region was given from time to time since 1947-48.

The outcome of the keenly-fought battle of the battle this time has, for the first time during the last over 25 years, not been kind to the State’s dominant political organisation, National Conference (NC). The mandate from the electorate, by and large, has gone against the continuance of the National Conference Government.

History of the State is replete with instances—yes, a host of them— of how the people, particularly majority of Muslim population, opposed national parties, such as the Congress (I) and the BJP,only to project Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah’s "pampered baby" (National Conference) as the voice of the Kashmiri masses any time and every time even after his death in September 1982. The history is also replete with examples to illustrate the "fact" that majority of Muslims regarded the Sheikh as a symbol of resistance against India.

Sheikh Abdullah, who assumed power, in February 1975, with the support of the majority Congress Leislature Party in J&K, became anti-Congress after the fall of Mrs Indira Gandhi’s Government paved the way for the formation of non-Congress Government at Delhi with Mr Morarji Desai as the Prime Minister. The Congress Legislature Party in J&K Assembly, which was the mainstay of the Abdullah Government, lost faith in its honesty and capability.

After the Congress withdrew support to his Government, the Sheikh advised his Governor, Mr LK Jha, to dissolve the State Asseembly and order fresh elections. Mufti Mohammed Sayeed’s demand for grant of permission to his Congress party to form a new Ministry was not conceded. Governor, Mr Jha, took shelter under Section 92 of the J&K Constitution and ordered the dissolution of the Assembly and imposed Governor’s rule on the State for six months.

Before the electorate went to the poll on June 30 and July 3,1977,top Central leaders, including Mr Morarji Desai, Mr Jagjivan Ram and Mr Charan Singh, visited Kashmir in a bid to build support for the State Janata Party. Their utterances against Sheikh Abdullah and his National Conference party did not prove helpful for the Janata Party. Muslim supporters of the Sheikh aborted every move by "outsiders". The NC launched religious propaganda to rouse passions of the semi-literate and ignorant people to catch votes.

Another important factor which suited the NC was Mr Morarji Desai’s clear directive to the State administration to ensure free and fair elections. The Sheikh’s triumph in the elections resulted in the sudden disappearance of strength and influence of Janata Party on the one hand and, on the other, emergence of strong muscle-men in favour of the NC.

The death of the Sheikh did not result in the end of the dynastic rule. Dr Farooq Abdullah was installed as his father’s successor. As months rolled by, the bitter power struggle had ripped apart much-talked-of family which, until the death of Sheikh Abdullah, dominated the political scene in Kashmir for nearly 5 decades —and that too following the commencement of the campaign against the Dogra rule in 1931. Indeed, the controversial family stood almost evenly divided with the Sheikh’s eldest daughter, Khalida, leading the tough battle to dethrone her brother, Dr Farooq.

The beginning of June 1984 was inauspicious for Dr Farooq and his Government. The storm in Kashmir was turbulent. And it was worth watching more for the characters it involved than for the set of causes culminating in the unexpected commotion. Mr GM Shah, the Sheikh’s son-in-law, was, for 30 years, considered to be successor to the Sheikh. Mr Shah was outwitted in 1982 when he lost the battle to Dr Farooq. And he did not forgive the youngman for his impertinence.

Things had changed, especially after the elections in J&K in June 1983. Mr Shah was acceptable to New Delhi. Dr Farooq’s Government was booted out on July 2, 1984. Mr GM Shah was installed as the next Chief Minister. Mr Shah, too, was bundled out after the large-scale violence in Kashmir in 1986.

The family rule could not end even after Mr Shah was shown the door. The then Prime Minister, Mr Rajiv Gandhi, played key role in rehabilitating Dr Farooq as the Chief Minister once again. Dr Farooq had to quit the office when Mr Jagmohan arrived on the scene, once again, as Governor in January 1990.

Between 1990 and 1996, Dr Farooq had to hibernate in wilderness. This notwithstanding, the National Conference continued to be a force to reckon with. The controversial battle of the ballot in 1996 saw the re-emergenc of Dr Farooq as the tallest among the Kashmiri politicians as as the esprit de corps of the NC.

However, with every passing day, the situation, which had been complicated by the insurgency and militancy, could not get remedied in accordance with the wishes of the average citizen of the State. As the number of the NC adversaries had registered a phenomenal increase, the entire blame, in this regard, was laid on Dr Farooq. His Government became not only controversial but also unpopular, as months and years rolled by. The brute majority the National Conference obtained during the 1996 polls, obviously, made the Farooq regime so arrogant that it even did not fight shy while taking the party rank and file for a ride all these years.

Non-serious—sometimes it was foolish—functioning of Dr Farooq himself, corruption in administration and public life, highly imbalanced economic development in the State’s three regions, namely, Kashmir Valley, Jammu and Ladakh, unsystematic utilisation of crores of rupees, indifference to the rising discontent among different sections of the populace and regional irritations and imbalances seem to have been some of the factors that contributed this time, after more than 25 years of the supremacy the NC enjoyed over others, to the major electoral reverses for Dr Farooq and his party.

Karan Singh, Digvijay favour Azad as next CM

NEW DELHI, Oct 10: Senior Congress leader Karan Singh today favoured Jammu and Kashmir PCC president Ghulam Nabi Azad as the next Chief Minister of the State and PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti as the Deputy Chief Minister.

"In my personal opinion, Azad should be made the Chief Minister as he has the requisite qualification. Though he hails from Jammu, he has a good rapport with the Kashmir Valley", the former Union Minister said.

He, however, hastened to add that a decision on the next Chief Minister has to be taken by the Congress leadership and Sonia Gandhi.

In reply to another question, Singh said Mehbooba Mufti should be Deputy Chief Minister.

Recalling that PDP president Mufti Mohd Sayeed was State Congress president for as many as 10 years, he felt both Congress and PDP could provide a stable Government.

Meanwhile, expressing hope that Congress, with the help of some parties, would form the next Government in Jammu and Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijay Singh today said senior party leader Ghulam Nabi Azad would in all likelihood be the new Chief Minister of that State.

He was speaking after a foundation stone laying ceremony of a tourist centre building here.

About the reason for the improved Congress performance in the strategic border state, he said "people were frustrated over the poor performance of the National Conference Government" and wanted a change.

To a query about how Congress would fare in the forthcoming Assembly election in Gujarat, the Chief Minister said "the party will definitely win in that State".

He said the Gujaratis were entrepreneurs and the riots had badly affected the trade and commerce in the state. Therefore they would also want a change of guard, he added.

Asked if the ‘Gaurav Yatra’ being taken out by Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi would have any impact on the Assembly elections there, he said "Modi can take out ten more such yatras if he likes but he cannot prevent BJP from being defeated in the Assembly polls". (AGENCIES)

Kidney patient’s appeal for blood donation

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 10: Mr Chaman Lal Koul, an employee of Power Development Department, who is currently undergoing dialysis due to acute kidney problem, is in dire need of blood.

Mr Koul, who has already underwent seven dialysis at Government Medical College Hospital Jammu, requires " B Positive" Blood group. Any body, having blood group ‘B+’ and who wants to save this precious life by donating blood, may kindly approach M. S Raju, 3/169, Vikas Nagar, Behind G-Block, Government Quarters, (Toph Sherkhania), Jammu.

4 killed, 25 injured in mishap

Excelsior Correspondent

RAJOURI, Oct 10: Four persons were killed and 25 others injured when a bus in which they were travelling skidded off the road and rolled down at near Manjakote.

According to police, the ill-fated vehicle bearing registration number JK11-1141 was on its way from Rajouri to Manjakote when it met with accident. All the injured passengers were rushed to hospital where doctors pronounced four of them as brought dead.

The condition of five of the injured was stated to be critical when reports last came in.

The deceased have been identified Sajjad Ahmed, son of Mohd Azam, Mohd Azam, son of Abdul Hamid, Munsi Hussain and Mohd Mushtaq, son of Mohd Latif, all the residents of Manjakote.

Hide-out busted

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 10: Security forces today detected an IED in Banihal area and busted a hide-out of terrorists.

Reports said that security forces detected an IED during search operation in the Banihal area. The IED was later destroyed.

In the same area, the security forces also busted a hide-out and recovered large quanity of arms and ammunition from there.

The recovery included three hand grenades, two rifle grenades, two IEDs weighing five kg each, three AK magazines and 95 rounds of AK rifle.