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Farooq resigns, blames vested interests for NC's debacle Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Oct 11: Outgoing Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah today blamed vested interests for the debacle of the National Conference (NC) in the Assembly elections. "I know the people who are responsible for the NC’s defeat in the Assembly elections...It is not the people of the State," Dr Abdullah told reporters shortly after submitting his ministry’s resignation to Governor G C Saxena. "The people with vested interests have sabotaged the NC’s electoral prospects...But I will disclose their names. Time will tell the truth," he said. Dr Abdullah also ruled out the NC, which emerged as the single largest party, staking claim to form the next Government in the State. "We will sit in the opposition and act as a responsible opposition...I am happy that burden of running the administration on me is over," he added. He said the party will go to the people and seek their support. "We will continue to work for the welfare of the people of the State." Referring to allegations that the NC was sustaining militancy in the State, Dr Abdullah said : "it is not true. The records speak for us. Several hundreds of my party leaders and activists have been killed during the more than decade-old militancy in the State...Mistakes are made by humans...We are no exception to that," he said. Dr Abdullah said terrorism will not come to an end with the change of guard. Earlier, Dr Abdullah submitted his resignation to Governor G C Saxena after the Cabinet met this morning at his residence here. A one line resolution that the State Government should resign was unanimously adopted at the Cabinet meeting. Soon after, the Chief Minister called on the Governor to submit his resignation to pave the way for formation of a new Government. Dr Abdullah wished the new Government a success saying it should tackle the menace of terrorism on top priority. The National Conference was often accused of promoting terrorism, Abdullah said, adding "now, I will like to see what the new Government will do." He said a Working Committee meeting of the party would be held shortly to review the causes of their defeat. However, he denied charges that misgovernance had brought about his party’s fall in the elections. "We were fighting a war in which we lost our leaders and workers," he said. "But I accept that we must have failed somewhere... The Working Committee will meet soon to discuss threadbare the causes of defeat.... We will take measures to overcome the shortcomings," he said. Dr Abdullah, who returned yesterday from abroad, hoped that the Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which held the NC responsible for failing to control terrorism in the State, would do "what we could not do in our six year term". He said the Assembly elections could not pave way for a resolution of the Kashmir problem. Participating in a TV debate last night, he said the Kashmir problem could be solved only through dialogue between India and Pakistan. "Elections will not solve the problem," he said, adding New Delhi and Islamabad would have to hold discussions to resolve the issue. |
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Azad to be Cong
candidate for CM: Reddy NEW DELHI, Oct 11: The formation of the next Government in Jammu and Kashmir and the likely candidate for Chief Ministership remained a suspense tonight with the Congress saying that the issue could be decided only after "proper understanding" among like-minded parties. "We are not in a position at this stage to state as to which party will form the Government and who will become Chief Minister. These are still details to be worked out," party spokesman S Jaipal Reddy told reporters after an hour-long Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting. The meeting, presided over by Congress president Sonia Gandhi, authorised her to take a decision on formation of the next Government. Reddy said Gandhi would be in touch with like-minded parties. He noted that the Congress and its like minded ally PDP did not account for 51 per cent of the members of the Assembly. Asked about the reported statement of PDP president Mufti Mohammad Sayeed that the next Chief Minister should be from the Kashmir valley, Reddy said he would not be able to answer the question. When told that party general secretary Ambika Soni had clearly hinted yesterday that PCC president Ghulam Nabi Azad would be the next Chief Minister, he said "at this stage I should not say anything which will come in the way of proper understanding among like-minded parties." After the meeting, Gandhi told waiting reporters the party was in the process of working out an arrangement to form a Government in the State and would be talking to all like-minded parties. Recalling that after a long gap of so many years, the Congress has got so many seats in the State, she said the party had to honour that mandate. Asked as to who would be the Chief Minister, Gandhi, who was accompanied by J & K PCC president Ghulam Nabi Azad and AICC general secretary Ambika Soni, she just turned and left. Noting that these are "early days" and a couple of days were needed to work out the arrangement, Reddy said formation of the next Government was not an internal matter of the party. Azad told CWC that despite the National Conference’s initial statement that it was not willing to form the Government, it started the exercise of winning over independents after the return of outgoing Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah from his foreign tour. "However, response to the NC overtures was literally zero", Reddy quoted Azad as telling the CWC. In a resolution, the CWC noted that the people of Jammu and Kashmir have rejected the National Conference and the BJP’s "politics of creating a communal divide". Azad said that in Jammu six independents have already pledged their support to Congress and have decided to be its associate members. Similar response was there from independents in the Kashmir valley, he said. Replying to a question, Reddy said that PDP, CPI-M, Panthers Party and independents were like minded parties of the Congress. "Leaders of the Congress and the PDP are in continuous contact and are absolutely confident that very soon a stable Government will be formed in Jammu and Kashmir", he said. Asked as to who would be the Chief Minister if Congress decides to form the Government, he said it would naturally be PCC president Ghulam Nabi Azad. In her opening remarks at the CWC, which was an extended affair with some party Chief Ministers attending the meet, Gandhi complimented Azad for his "untiring work" and also had a word of praise for Ambika Soni for taking "special interest and hard work" done in campaigning in Jammu and Kashmir. Gandhi also thanked the people for displaying extraordinary courage by participating in the polls in spite of overwhelming odds, especially the violence unleashed by Pak-backed terrorists. Stating that the poll verdict showed that Congress was ‘being favoured by people all over the country’, she said that the outcome has also testified the strength and health of Indian democracy. The meeting also condoled the death of former AICC general secretary Ram Ratan Ram. A resolution adopted by the CWC said: "By totally decimating the Bharatiya Janata Party, the people of Jammu and Kashmir lent their support to the Congress for providing good governance, development, peace and democracy. They have also reposed full confidence in the leadership of Mrs Sonia Gandhi". Congratulating Mrs Gandhi for the "grand electoral success," the resolution said she was the only national leader who visited Srinagar and Jammu in the face of terrorist threats during the campaign. The people of the State have defied the militants and came out to vote to ensure the successful completion of the election. "They could now look forward towards a better future for their State. The Congress as always is for them and with them," the resolution said. (AGENCIES) |
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Six independents support
Congress (I) Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Oct 11: PCC (I) president Ghulam Nabi Azad today claimed the support of six independent candidates and said by tomorrow the figure of independent candidates and smaller parties supporting the Congress will rise to 16. Addressing a crowded press conference here this afternoon, his first after sweeping Congress to an impressive performance, Azad declined to comment on the name of next Chief Minister of the State. He said all modalities of the Government formation including election of the Chief Minister will be a smooth affair. There will be no confrontation between Congress and PDP, he added. Azad produced two independents Moulvi Abdul Rashid and Aijaz Ali, who had won the election from Banihal and Gool-Arnas Assembly segments. "Both of them have extended full support to the Congress. Even they were ready to join the party", he said, adding ‘the party was studying Anti-Defection Law of the State that whether there was any problem in the MLAs joining the Congress’. Another independent candidate Thakur Puran Singh, who has been elected from Darhal, has extended support to the Congress but couldn’t make it to the press conference due to delay in reaching here from Darhal, he said. He said two more independents including Abdul Majeed Wani and Babu Singh, who won the election from Doda and Kathua seats respectively, have also given the letters of support to Congress. Sixth independent candidate, according to him, was Haji Nissar Ali, who has been elected from Kargil with the Congress support. Ali was son of Congress divisional president, he added. With the support of these six independents, the tally of Congress has gone upto 26, the PCC (I) president said and claimed that by tomorrow morning, six more independents, who won the Assembly election from Kashmir valley and four MLAs of a smaller party in Jammu (without naming Panthers Party) would extend their support to Congress (I). This will take the tally of Congress and its supporting MLAs to 36, he said. Azad said the strength of Congress and PDP will jointly come around 58. He, however, parried all questions of the newsmen pertaining to the election of next Chief Minister of the State. "Incidentally both of us (Azad and Mufti) had served as PCC (I) presidents. Both of us know the culture of not naming the CMs on our own", he asserted but assured that ‘all modalities of the Government formation will be worked out in a very smooth manner’. There will be no confrontation on the issue of Chief Minister between Congress and PDP, he maintained. "It will not be fair on the part of Congress or PDP to comment on the issue of having a Deputy Chief Minister in the State. We will work it out", the PCC (I) president said. "Had the Congress got full majority, it would have been in a position to name the Chief Minister or the Deputy Chief Minister. But, now we are dependent on other parties", he said. "The Chief Ministership is not an issue. The issue before us was to pack-up the National Conference from the Government and we have effectively done that", he averred. He said it will take a week’s time in formation of a new Government in the State and added that ‘all decisions (pertaining to Government formation) will be unanimous—be it this way or that way. "Any dispute on the issue of Chief Ministership wouldn’t be liked by the people, who want peace and good governance and not new controversies", he asserted. "For Congress, Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh is a one single entity. We are beyond regional controversies", he remarked when asked that from which region, the new CM will belong. Azad, who left for New Delhi this afternoon to attend a meeting of Congress Working Committee (CWC) , ruled out a split in the National Conference saying ‘there were a lot of other MLAs at the disposal of Congress (I)’. Pressed further that will the Congress accept the NC MLAs if they defect, he quipped :"let them come first". He said the CWC will review post-poll scenario in Jammu and Kashmir and performance of the party in just concluded election process. "Full six years", was the stark reply of Azad to a question that how many years the Cong-PDP coalition will last. The Congress (I) leader said the National Conference would have been reduced to just 10 seats had the Assembly elections been held under Governor’s rule, which was demand of several political parties before the start of election process. The Congress, he observed, lost about a dozen seats with a small margin. "This small margin was mainly tilted in favour of ruling party by the administration", he said. He opined that NC would have been eclipsed had the Congress-PDP formed a pre-poll alliance in the State. Replying to a question on Congress election plank that the party, if voted to power, will order a Punjab like inquiry into allegations of corruption in the State, Azad said ‘the Government wouldn’t follow the approach of vindictiveness’. However, he added, if any case of irregularities comes to the notice of the Government, "we will take cognisance of that". |
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NC, BJP, BSP big losers in Jammu polls By Sanjeev Pargal JAMMU, Oct 11: Ruling National Conference, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) have turned out to be the ‘biggest losers’ in term of seats in Jammu region in the Assembly elections. The beneficiaries of these three parties virtual ‘debacle’ were the Congress (I) and the Panthers Party, which emerged a new regional force in the region. The BJP had leads in 30 and 29 Assembly segments out of a total of 37 constituencies in 1998 and 1999 Parliamentary elections when it had won both Lok Sabha seats from Jammu region for two consecutive terms. However, just three years later, the party could barely managed to open its account winning just Nagrota seat and that too with a slender margin of 67 votes. Crippled with dissensions and emergence of RSS-backed Jammu State Morcha (JSM), the BJP fared badly in its traditional stronghold of Jammu City where it lost all three seats to the Congress candidates. Official figures released by the Election Department revealed that BJP candidate Charanjit Singh Khalsa even forfeited his deposit securing just 3694 votes from Gandhi Nagar segment, a seat the BJP had won with a comfortable margin in 1996 poll. Similarly, the BJP also lost Jammu East seat, which it had won even during a strong Congress wave in 1987, to the Congress youngster Yogesh Sawhney. Sitting BJP MLA from Jammu West Hans Raj Dogra, who was in the fray as an independent, too lost his deposit polling just 1232 votes. Of 29 Assembly segments—where the BJP had led in 1999 poll—15 fell in Jammu-Poonch, then represented by late Vaid Vishnu Dutt and 14 in Udhampur-Doda Lok Sabha seats, presently held by Minister of State for Defence Prof Chaman Lal Gupta. While in Jammu-Poonch Parliamentary seat, the BJP managed to take one seat, it drew a blank in Gupta’s Udhampur-Doda segment. Such was strong wave against the BJP that its strongman Lala Shiv Charan Gupta’s son Pawan Gupta too had to taste a humiliating defeat with about 10,000 votes. In 1996 Assembly election, the BJP had won eight seats—its highest ever in the history of State.(The BJP had drawn a blank in 1983 election and bagged two seats in 1987). However, the BJP failed to retain even a single out of eight sears it won in 1996. Eight seats represented by it in the outgoing Assembly were three seats of City, Suchetgarh, Hiranagar, Udhampur, Chenani and Ramban. Sitting BJP MLA from Chenani Prithvi Chand was polled just 1710 votes and even failed to save his deposit. BJP president Daya Krishan Kotwal also finished third in his home constituency of Bhaderwah. The National Conference, an ally of the BJP at national level was the worst sufferer in terms of seats in six districts of Jammu region though it managed to retain its tally of five seats in twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri districts. The NC had won 14 seats in Jammu region in 1996 but subsequently increased its tally to 22. Three MLAs of Janata Dal—Abdul Gani Malik (Gulabgarh), Jagjivan Lal (Reasi) and Sat Pal Lakhotra (Raipur-Domana), an independent Farooq Mir (Banihal), two BJP MLAs Piara Singh (Gandhi Nagar) and Prem Lal (Hiranagar) and a Congress MLA R S Sharma (Nowshera) had joined the NC. A BSP legislator from R S Pura Ram Chand Bhagat had also sided with the NC. And from 22, the tally of the National Conference was reduced to just nine in this election. It retained all three seats in Poonch district. In Rajouri district, it maintained its supremacy in Rajouri segment but lost Darhal to a rebel Puran Singh. However, the NC managed to wrest Kalakote seat from the Congress where its candidate Rashpal Singh defeated sitting MLA Ashok Sharma, though with a narrow margin of about 1200 votes. The ruling party lost three seats in Jammu district, which were represented by its Ministers including Surjit Singh Slathia (Vijaypur), Ajatshatru Singh (Nagrota) and Govind Ram (Akhnoor). Another Cabinet Minister Harbans Singh, who was member of the Upper House) too lost in Gandhi Nagar while Ajay Sadhotra, a Minister of State, managed to scrap through from Marh with just 900 votes. Minister of State for Home Khalid Najeeb Suhrawardhy lost to an independent and a forest lessee Abdul Majeed Wani in Doda while Deputy Speaker Ghulam Haider Malik suffered defeat in Bani segment of Kathua district. The only seat it managed to wrest was Ramban where a Jammu University scholar Dr Chaman Lal emerged victorious defeating Congress candidate Master Ashok Kumar and sitting BJP MLA Bali Bhagat. In Udhampur-Doda, the NC could retain only Kishtwar and Gulabgarh seats where Sajjad Kitchloo and Abdul Gani Malik won. The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), which had a ‘strategic alliance’ with the NC in 1996 election was also reduced to one seat from its previous tally of four. All three sitting BSP MLAs including its State president Sheikh Abdul Rehman, who contested the election, lost at the hustings. While Rehman finished fourth in Bhaderwah, a seat he had won in 1996 with NC support and lost his security deposit, another sitting BSP MLA Som Nath finished third in Samba. Like BJP, the BSP also opened its account with a new comer Manjit Singh outclassing mighty Power Minister Surjit Singh Slathia in Vijaypur constituency. Manjit had lost to Slathia in 1996 with 216 votes. This time, his victory margin was about 5200 votes. The major beneficiary of ‘anti-NC and anti-BJP’ wave in Jammu region was, of course, the Congress (I), which increased its tally from four seats to 15. However, it had increased its tally to 6 with Congress (Tiwari) MLA Lal Singh from Basohli and Janata Dal MLA from Bishnah Jagdish Dubey joining the Congress. Jammu district gave the Congress bulk of seats (eight out of a total of 13). In 1996, the Congress had managed to win a lone seat from Chhamb. In addition to three City seats, the Congress wrested Suchetgarh from BJP, Akhnoor and Raipur Domana from NC and RS Pura from BSP. In Kathua district, the Congress emerged a lone political party winning three out of five seats while two other seats went to the independents. It held on to Basohli seat and annexed Hiranagar from BJP and Bani from NC. From a virtual zero, the Congress emerged a dominant force in Doda district, clearly indicating the shift of minority votes, which used to be traditional vote bank of the BJP, to it. Congress won Inderwal seat with record margin of over 18,800 votes in the State and Bhaderwah seat with about 6,000 votes. It lost Kishtwar seat with just 1600 votes. In 1996 election, the Congress candidates had managed just 1000 to 2200 votes on all seats of Doda. In fact, the forest lessee Abdul Majeed Wani, who won Doda seat as an independent, had also been extended ‘tacit support’ by the Congress to defeat NC candidate. It was due to this fact Congress candidate Mukand Lal was polled just 456 votes in Doda. However, the Congress failed to maintain its ground in Rajouri and Poonch districts where it could win a lone seat of Nowshera. In outgoing Assembly, the Congress represented two seats of Kalakote and Nowshera. The Panthers Party, guided by its fire brand leader Harshdev Singh, who was declared as best legislator by the Government in last budget session of the Assembly, emerged a new force in political map of Jammu region winning four seats. In 1996, Harshdev Singh was lone legislator of the Panthers Party. Of four, three Panthers Party seats came from Udhampur district including Ramnagar, Udhampur and Chenani while the fourth seat came from Samba. Chenani and Samba are reserve seats for SCs. Significant was the margin of two Panthers Party candidates—Harshdev Singh, who won Ramnagar seat for second time with over 18,000 votes and Balwant Singh Mankotia, who thrashed BJP leader Lala Shiv Charan Gupta’s son Pawan Gupta with 10,000 votes. After Congress and NC, the Panthers Party has become third largest party in Jammu region with four seats. The keenly contested election saw Congress losing four seats with a narrow margin. Similarly, the BJP lost two seats and NC one with a slender margin. Congress candidate Swaran Lata lost Samba seat with 700-odd votes while Ashok Sharma lost Kalakote seat with 1200 votes. Congress candidate in Kishtwar Ghulam Haider Sheikh was defeated with 1600 votes and its nominee Yashpal Sharma lost in Poonch with 1100-odd votes. Similarly, Transport Minister and NC leader Ajatshatru Singh lost Nagrota seat with 67 votes, the lowest margin of defeat in Jammu while BJP’s R S Chib was defeated in Suchetgarh with 137 votes. Another BJP candidate Choudhary Sukhnandan lost Marh seat with 913 votes. Sukhnandan has lost the same seat in 1996 with 800 votes. |
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PDP makes deep inroads in NC bastion SRINAGAR, Oct 11: The just concluded Assembly election has changed the political landscape in this militancy-torn State with newly formed PDP making serious inroads in the National Conference bastion in the Valley to end the 27-year reign of the Abdullah family. While NC failed to muster majority this time, it still remained the largest party in the State, bagging 28 seats, whereas Congress made a come back after many years with 20 seats. However, the party which reaped the maximum benefit in this Assembly election is People’s Democratic Party (PDP) led by former Home Minister Mufti Mohd Sayeed by bagging 16 seats, all from the Kashmir valley. The four-phased elections in 2002 saw 45 per cent turnout as against 54 per cent in the last Assembly election. The 2002 Assembly election also saw a sharp contrast in comparison to 1996 polls when the party which contested 81 seats had got 57 as against 28 seats this time when it fielded 85 candidates. The major upsets NC faced were in its Chief Ministerial candidate Omar Abdullah’s constituency Gandarbal, where 35.24 percent voting took place as compared to 1996 when more than 50 per cent voters turned up to cast their ballots and Gulmarg constituency represented by another member of the family, Mustafa Kamaal, brother of out-going Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah. About 50 per cent persons turned out to exercise their franchise in Gulmarg this time as against 67.04 per cent in 1996. Congress had failed badly on both the seats in 1996. However, PDP, formed by the dissident members of Congress in 1998, had managed to wrest both the seats in the 2002 elections. Other setbacks for NC include Jammu constituency Nagrota, which witnessed 64.04 per cent voting this time as against 85. 48 per cent in 1996, where party candidate Ajat Shatru Singh lost his seat to BJP’s Jugal Kishore by a mere 22 votes. Uri, another important constituency for NC, saw unseating of party minister Mohd Shafi who lost his seat to Congress candidate Taj Mohuddin with 86.68 voters turn out this time as against 70.71 in 1996 Assembly elections. The NC had 40 seats in Kashmir valley in 1996 as against 18 seats this time whereas 17 seats in Jammu and Ladakh as compared to 10 seats this time. The Congress, which in 1996 Assembly elections was able to get only seven seats, improved its poll performance manifold and bagged 20 seats in the 2002 polls. It had only one seat of Pattan in Kashmir valley and six seats in Jammu in 1996. While Congress has been able to create a strong base in Jammu, PDP has shown its strong network in Kashmir valley in 2002 Assembly elections. The just concluded elections also witnessed some new trend such as CPI (M) geting two seats, Panthers Party, which had earlier never crossed the two seat mark in the last eight elections in the State, has been able to bag four seats, virtually routing BJP, BSP and Janata Dal. Another significant development witnessed in this election was emergence of independent candidates who increase their kitty from mere three in 1996 to 13 this year and will lay crucial role in the formation of Government in the State. (PTI) |
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All efforts to end Pak-backed terrorism in J&K: Denmark COPENHAGEN, Oct 11: A day after the European Union refused to address India’s concern on Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, Denmark today assured all efforts would be made to end the menace so that a positive climate is created for resumption of dialogue between the two neighbours. "We welcome conclusion of elections in Jammu and Kashmir. We hope these elections would be a starting point for forward looking dialogue with the people of Jammu and Kashmir," Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen said at a joint press conference with Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee here. Vajpayee said "we have been repeatedly told that pressure is being put on Pakistan to end cross border terrorism that will create a way for a dialogue. "We want Denmark and EU to add some more pressure to bring around leaders of Pakistan in this regard." Rasmussen, who held wide-ranging discussions with Vajpayee, said "we have put pressure on Pakistan and will continue to do so." "An end to cross-border terrorism and cross-border infiltration is of vital importance for creation of a positive dialogue" between India and Pakistan, Rasmussen, who is holding the rotating presidency of 15-member EU, said adding he had conveyed this to Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf. India-EU summit here yesterday came under a cloud following sharp differences over inclusion of Kashmir situation. "We certainly recognise that India is a victim of terrorism. So we have again and again condemned terrorist acts and most recently in connection with elections in Jammu and Kashmir, the Danish Premier said. "We have made every effort to persuade leaders of Pakistan to do its utmost to put an end to cross-border terrorism and we will continue to do so," he said. Rasmussen said it was "totally unacceptable" that a positive dialogue can be started without stoppage of cross-border terrorism and infiltration. Voicing concern over Indo-Pak tensions, he said these must be lowered and process initiated for de-escalation. Asked what he meant by a dialogue with people of Jammu and Kashmir since democratic elections were just concluded there, the Danish Premier said this would include all state holders who feel committed to democracy and human rights values. (PTI) |
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US asks Pakistan to stop infiltration, lauds J&K polls WASHINGTON, Oct 11: The United States has asked Pakistan to follow through its commitment to stop infiltration in Jammu and Kashmir "in a concerted and pro-active manner" and said the successful completion of elections in the State is the first step in bringing peace to the region. "We welcome the successful conclusion of elections in Kashmir today," Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Christina Rocca said yesterday. Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s "personal commitment in making them transparent and open" was a critical factor in taking the democratic process forward, Rocca said in a speech at the American Enterprise Institute. "We condemn the violence that occured during these elections aimed at disrupting the democratic process," she said. Making a similar statement, State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said Washington hoped the conclusion of the polls would be the first step in bringing peace to the region. "We applaud the efforts of the Indian Election Commission, and commend the courage of the candidates and the voters who chose to participate despite violence and intimidation," Boucher said. "We call on both India and Pakistan to make strenuous efforts towards an early resumption of diplomatic dialogue on all outstanding issues, including Kashmir." Boucher and Rocca both stressed that a lasting settlement to the Kashmir issue is only possible through dialogue. Rocca said Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has repeatedly committed to ending permanently support for infiltration from his country. "Pakistan needs to hold to this pledge in order to begin resolving the immediate crisis and to remove more fundamental differences with India," she said, adding "we look to Islamabad to follow through on this commitment in a concerted and pro-active manner." The most difficult task US faces in South Asia was that of defusing Indo-Pakistan tensions "which pose the greatest obstacle to overall progress in the region", Rocca, who returned earlier this week from her tour of South Asia, said. India and Pakistan, will not be able to reap the benefits of regional economic development and cooperation unless they build a more stable relationship, she said. "Ongoing conflict between India and Pakistan not only risks dangerous escalation, but also limits the ability of both countries to seize opportunities to better the lives of their own people," she said. Asserting that the US and India had a common interest in eliminating terrorism, Rocca said cooperation between the two countries to counter the scourge was "maturing rapidlly". "We have a common interest," she said, "in tracking down and eliminating terrorist groups that view the entire world as their area of operation, and our cooperation is growing daily." "Counter-terrorism cooperation is maturing rapidly, including intelligence sharing, training, finance and anti-money laundering cooperation, improving border security, fighting cyber-terrorism and increasing mutual legal assistance," Rocca said. (PTI) |
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Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Oct 11: While as BSF today claimed to have eliminated the top-wanted "supreme commander" of Harkat-ul-Jehad-e-Islami in Kokernag, unidentified gunmen have shot dead a released militant in Kreeri area of Baramulla district. Official sources told EXCELSIOR that troops of BSF 77 Bn eliminated Azad Hussain Zargar alias Bilal Sidiqee of Paddar, Kishtwar, in an encounter in Gadole forest area of Kokernag during last night. According to the BSF spokesman, Zargar was the self-styled supreme commander of HUJI, who had carried out scores of attacks on Police, security forces and civilians in Doda and Anantnag districts. Operating as a militant since 1992, Zargar had snatched away the weapons of seven VDC members in Doda and also killed two security forces personnel in Kokernag area. Reports from north Kashmir said that unidentified gunmen appeared at Shirpora, Kreeri, late last night and shot dead one Mohammad Akbar Lone S/o Abdur Rehman Lone. He was a released militant. Meanwhile, Mohammad Sultan Ganai S/o Habibullah Ganai R/o Pattan has succumbed to injuries at a hospital. He had sustained critical injuries in a grenade blast at Pattan on Wednesday last. During last night, militants attacked the residence of one Ghulam Nabi Mir son-in-law of Ghulam HassanMir at Frestbal, Pampore. The house suffered minor damage. Meanwhile, a suspected mercenary was killed and a girl injured in a gunbattle between militants and security forces in Baramulla district of North Kashmir today, official sources said. The gunfight broke out when Rashtriya Rifles troops raided Khawaja Sahib locality in old Baramulla town following information about presence of Lashker-e-Toiba militants, the sources said. On noticing the troops, militants opened fire and tried to escape from the thickly populated area, the sources said adding, the troops retaliated and in the ensuing gunbattle one militant was killed. A girl, identified as Shabnam, was injured in the shootout and was hospitalised, the sources said. The operation in the area was still continuing when last reports were received, they added. |
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Two cops, woman hurt in Basohli Excelsior Correspondent KATHUA, Oct 11: Two police personnel were injured when a big group of people attacked Basohli police station late tonight in protest against an alleged incident of shoot-out. Police sources said Lal Singh’s brother Rajinder Singh alias Bhabi allegedly fired a shot on Mushtaq Ahmed at 2200 hours tonight in Basohli town where some people had hosted a reception for Lal Singh, who was re-elected from Basohli Assembly seat yesterday. Mushtaq didn’t suffer injuries. Later, Mushtaq alongwith over 100 people went to Basohli police station to lodge a FIR. As police refused to register the complaint, the mob subjected police station to heavy stone pelting causing injuries to two police jawans including a IRP head constable Mohd Iqbal. Police fired several shots in air to disperse the mob. Situation remained tense in Basohli till the last reports came in. Police and para-military have intensified patrolling in the town. A woman Asha was reportedly injured in police firing but this was not confirmed by police. |
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One killed, 9 hurtin Pak shelling Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Oct 11: Pakistani troops resorted to artillery, mortar and small arms fire in various sectors along the Line of Control and International Border in the State killing one person and injuring nine, including a BSF jawan, since last night, official sources said today. One civilian was killed and eight others were injured in Karnah sector of Kupwara district in the artillery and mortar shelling from across the LoC last night, they said, adding about 12 houses were damaged in Karnah town. People rushed to safer places, especially in Hardul and Pingla villages, which remained worst affected by the Pakistan shelling. The injured were shifted to hospitals in Kupwara and Srinagar. A BSF jawan was injured in the firing by Pakistani troops at Chorgali in Kathua district last night, they said. Artillery duels between two sides took place in Mushkoh, Drass, Uri and Khajabehak areas last night without any loss from Indian side. Heavy machine gun fire from across the border was reported in Siachen Glacier and Kargil sectors last night forcing Indian troops to retaliate effectively, they said. Intermittent small arms firing exchange between Indian and Pakistani troops along the IB was reported from Kanachak, Beli Azmat, Gole Pattan, Dera Napu, Panjore, Dub Sudan, Lalyal Camp, Chinore Farm, Garkhal, Pargwal, Palanwalla, Regal, Chechwal and Challarian areas in Kathua and Jammu districts since yesterday, the sources said. |
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BJP lost but India, democracy won: Advani NEW DELHI, Oct 11: Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani today said the Bharatiya Janata Party may have lost in Jammu and Kashmir but he was satisfied that his Government could ensure fair and free polls there. "BJP lost but India and its democracy emerged as winners in Jammu and Kashmir,"he said while addressing the function to commemorate the birth centenary of Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan here. This was the one election where more than the fate of the political parties, the manner and volume of the polling was discussed, Mr Advani said. "I am satisfied that my Government could ensure impartial polls in Jammu and Kashmir,"he said while reminding the gathering of the committment of National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Government to ensure impartial election in J and K.. The Dy PM said that there was clearly the victory of democracy there and the people of J and K. Lauding the steely resolve of JP in upholding the values of democracy, Mr Advani said he was happy to be part of the Janta Party Government in 1977 which was formed after efforts of the former. The one thing was common in 1977 and the present Government that both had faith in democracy and always strived hard to ensure impartial election process in the country. He said the great country had proved many wrong by establishing a flourishing democracy. People had already expressed their doubts if India with large population of illiterates could follow the principles of democracy, he added. Making an oblique remark on the emergency period from 1975 to 1977, Mr Advani said at that time democracy had looked under clouds but the efforts of the likes of JP managed to restore the democratic norms. He said it was the greatness of Lok Nayak that despite having formed the Government , he never held any post. (UNI) |
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Cong authorises Bush to invade Iraq with or without UN WASHINGTON, Oct 11 : Ignoring fierce international opposition, the US Congress authorised George W Bush to take a unilateral decision to invade iraq, with an upbeat President saying Saddam Hussein must be confronted "fully and finally". The House of Representatives and the Senate adopted a resolution authorizing bush to launch what could become the world’s first preemptive war against iraq — a war not in response to something Baghdad has done lately but due to apprehensions that he may use weapons of mass destruction against America and its allies. The vote in the House of Representatives was 296 to 133 and in the senate 77 to 23. Reacting to the Congress decision bush said: "the gathering threat of Iraq must be confronted fully and finally. The days of iraq acting as an outlaw state are coming to an end." The vote "also sends a clear message to the iraqi regime. It must disarm and comply with all existing un resolutions or it will be forced to comply. There are no other options for the Iraqi regime," he said yesterday after the house of representatives vote. The vote authorises bush to use force "in a manner necessary and appropriate" to defend the national security of the US against all continuing threat posed by Iraq. It also asks the government to enforce all relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions regarding Iraq. The mood in the Congress reflected the inevitability of the war, analysts said adding the only question is how long bush is prepared to wait for a resolution from the un security council that he would consider satisfactory. "Giving peace a chance only gives Saddam Hussein Nmore time to prepare for war on his terms, at a time of his choosing," Republican Senator John Mccain said warning against any delay in the war. The majority in Congress ignored voices of dissent. Among those cautioning against war was former US central command commander-in-chief (Retd) Marine General Anthony Zinni, whose jurisdiction during his service had included the middle east. (PTI) |
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Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Oct 11: Brig D S Adhikari, Deputy Director General, NCC Directorate, Jammu and Kashmir visited NCC camp at Nagrota today. The camp is being attended by over 500 cadets from Budgam, Srinagar, Pulwama and Anantnag districts. The camp, which commenced on October 3, will terminate on October 14. On his arrival, Brig Adhikari inspected the Quarter Guard of the camp. He was then briefed on the training and administrative aspects of the camp by Camp Commandant Lt Col R K Singh, who said that the aim of this camp is to prepare the cadets for Certificate Examination, give advance training and to short-list cadets for Republic Day Parade. Brig Adhikari witnessed an exciting Judu and Karate demonstration by the cadets which they learnt during the training. He also visited drill and weapon training area and asked the cadets to be active, alert and disciplined while learning military craft. He exhorted the cadets to be inquisitive all the time and try to learn more from the camp which will make them responsible and disciplined citizens of the country. He said they must earn the name of Jammu and Kashmir by providing their worth in all walks of life. Col KRS Lalotra, Group Commander, NCC Group Srinagar was present during the visit of Deputy Director General NCC. He said some of the cadets have come out of the valley for the first time. |
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