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Azad to
stake claim today Excelsior Team SRINAGAR, Oct 15: With Congress and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) unrelenting on the issue of Chief Ministership of a coalition Government in the State, the newly elected independents and members of small parties holding the key to formation of a new Ministry, today stepped in to break the deadlock with a ‘compromise formula’. On a day of hectic political activities, People’s Democratic Party supremo Mufti Mohammed Sayeed had a 30-minute meeting with the Governor Mr Girish Chander Saxena while Peoples Democratic Front (PDF) consisting of six independents and two CPI-M MLAs suggested a formula to resolve the sharp differences between the potential coalition partners on the issue of Chief Ministership. Meanwhile, the sources said that CPI-M leader Mohammed Yusuf Tarigami, who heads the PDF, held talks with the State Congress chief Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad and was optimistic of a solution by tomorrow morning. Mr Azad, while sticking to the Party’s stand, said efforts were underway to convince the PDP and hoped a solution would be found by tomorrow. "We are trying to convince them (PDP)," he said. "We are still left with 24 hours and differences can be sorted out during this period," he said. The sources said that after meeting Mr Azad, Mr Tarigami had a meeting with PDP supremo Mufti Sayeed for over two hours in which other recently elected PDP Legislators were also present. It was given to understand that Mr Tarigami made a strong plea that PDP should have a Deputy Chief Minister with Home portfolio and for that a provision be made that Dy CM be given full powers so that an impression goes in the Valley that Dy CM too holds say in running the affairs of the State. The sources said that, however, Mufti Sayeed didn’t subscribe to the view that PDP should get Dy CM post in the Government formation. Instead, he continued with his demand that Chief Minister should be from PDP. This stance of Mr Mufti, the sources said, even annoyed some of the PDP leaders present in the meeting who wanted to end this dead-lock for the betterment of the people of the State. The sources said that such was the annoyance on part of the PDP leaders that even party's senior vice president Mr Muzaffar Beigh walked out of the meeting. According to the political observers, the possibility of a split in PDP is not ruled out, since some PDP members wanted to end the dead-lock and not to make CM post a prestige issue . Meanwhile, senior PDP leader Ghulam Hassan Mir also favored an early solution to this dead-lock in Government formation. "Kuch Woh Chale, Kuch Hum Chale Aur Carvan Ban Hi Jayega (some steps from there, some from our side will definitely make a carvan)", Mir, who defeated Farooq Abdullah’s brother Mustafa Kamaal from Gulmarg Assembly seat, said. While expressing optimism that something would come up by tomorrow morning, he said PDP, Congress and smaller groups and independents have to ensure that the mandate of the people is not frustrated. Asked if the deadlock would continue and the State would go into Governor’s rule, Mir said "please, I am here and I hope that something will happen later. Let us be optimistic." To a question about the stand taken by Mufti over the issue of Chief Ministership, he said if the mandate of the people has to be respected, then some flexibility has to be shown by everyone. The CPM leader Mr Tarigami was also of the opinion that there should be an attitude of flexibility and appealed to PDP and Congress to reduce their areas of disagreements as otherwise it would be leading to Governor’s rule," he said. He said if Governor’s rule was imposed in the State, it would help the National Conference to "manipulate things" in its favour. "Both Congress and PDP have to understand that if they fail to make a coalition, people will not spare us as their mandate will stand disrespected," Tarigami said. Meanwhile, according to Congress sources, if Mufti Sayeed sticks to his stand, then Mr Azad will meet Governor, Mr G C Saxena tomorrow morning to stake claim for Government formation with the support of breakway of PDP, PDF, other independents and Panthers Party MLAs. |
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Dussehra celebrated with religious fervour, gaiety Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Oct 15: Dussehra was celebrated with great enthusiasm and religious fervour amidst tight security arrangements in the winter capital city here today. The festival, which marks the victory of good over the evil, witnessed its celebrations at the Parade Ground and the Dussehra Ground, Gandhinagar where the tall effigies of the Ravana, Kumbhkarna and Meghnath were burnt this evening. The District Administration had made elaborate tight security arrangements for the smooth and peaceful conduct of the festival. Thousands of people including Hindu devotees after performing Puja at Raghunath Temple and Deman Mandir arrived at the Parade Ground in two separate religious processions. Three main organisations Sanatan Dharam Sabha, Dharamarth Trust Jammu and Dewan Mandir Natak Samaj organised the Dussehra celebrations in old Jammu city and Parade Ground where, Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji from Haridwar was the chief guest. Col Dev Raj, former president of the Sanatan Dharam Sabha presided over the function. Thousands of people including a large number of women and children attended the celebrations at Parade Ground despite high degree threat perception. All the entry routes to the Parade Ground had been sealed by the security agencies involved and the vehicular traffic diverted to the alternative routes to prevent any untoward incident. After thorough frisking the people were being allowed to move ahead towards the venue. Only three entry gates were kept open for the venue where metal detectors were installed along with advanced gadgets. Almost all the tall buildings surrounding the Parade Ground including Women College, Geeta Bhawan, Ranbir Higher Secondary school were covered by the securitymen. No car, scooter or any type of vehicle was allowed to move within 300 metres distance from the venue. Earlier, in the afternoon, a special team of dog squad conducted the combing operation in the Parade Ground and cleared the venue for conduct of festivity. Even the effigies were placed under security check with the help of dog squad. A Shobha Yatra was taken out from Raghunath temple in the traditional ‘Ram Rath’ by the Dharamarth Trust members and other devotees in general including those from S D Sabha. The Shobha Yatra after passing through various city markets finally culminated at Parade Ground. The other Yatra carrying tableaus of Lord Rama and Laxman and Hanuman on decorated trolley in the form of a ‘Rath’, was taken out by the Dewan Mandir Natak Samaj Management Committee members under the supervision of Mr Sandesh Vir. Secretary, Dharamarth Trust, Mr Hem Ram Sharma besides other prominent executive members was also present and supervising the arrangements. A large number of devotees including men and women and children (Hanuman sena), were following the ‘Rath’. It was a well organised affair and the entire stadium was fully packed. A large number of people could not enter the gates due to huge rush and after denial of entry by the security men at certain points. Amidst chanting of mantras by the learned Pandits, the effigies were put to flames by Lord Rama and Laxman while Lanka Nagri, constructed near the effigies was burnt by Hanuman. The thundering sound of crackers and other fire-works displayed an impressive and distinct scene at the Parade ground. At Gandhinagar Dussehra Ground, the festival was also celebrated in the same manner, under elaborate security arrangements. The effigies of the Ravana and two others were burnt around 5. 15 pm. Earlier, the Shobha Yatra was taken out from Luxmi Narayan temple where Ramlila is performed during Navratras. The management committee of the temple headed by Mr Gulchain Singh Charak with the support of Mr S P Arora, K L Gupta and others supervised the arrangements. The reports about celebrations were also received from Udhampur, Rajouri, Kathua, Poonch and other parts of the region. In Udhampur, the Shoba Yatra was taken out from Dabbar to Stadium where effigies of Ravana, Kumbhkarana and Meghnath were burnt. New MLA, Balwant Singh Mankotia was the chief guest. In Rajouri the festival was organised by SD Sabha members while in Kathua Ram Natak Sabha was the organiser of the event. Meanwhile, Amar Kashatriya (Rajput) Sabha organised a function at Rajtilak Bhawan, Purani Mandi. It was organised under the supervision of Lt Col K S Jamwal, Maj B R Dogra and Mr Narayan Singh. The festivities also included ‘Shastar Pooja’ and Hawan by Dr Yogendra Kumar Chouhan, a well known writer. |
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Cong should head Govt:
Azad Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Oct 15: Amidst continuing hectic political activity in connection with the crucial issue of Government formation in Jammu and Kashmir, Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, chief of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), on Tuesday injected a new element into the tug-of-war between his party and the Congress (I) over who should lead the proposed coalition. Prior to his meeting with the State Governor, Mr GC Saxena, Mufti Sayeed told a news conference that the PDP should lead the coalition with the Congress. Holding the Congress responsible for the stalemate over the Government formation, the Mufti made it plain that it was up to the Congress to break the impasse. Denying reports that the PDP could be held responsible for the stalemate, Mufti Sayeed stressed: "We are not responsible for the stalemate". While admitting that the Congress "is a national party", the Kashmir leader wanted the Congress party to rise above partisan interests and consider the wishes and aspirations of the people of Kashmir. The Mufti sought to highlight what he termed as the "verdict of the people of Kashmir in favour of the PDP" and insisted that as his party "is a force to reckon with now", it would be in fitness of things if his party was allowed to lead the proposed coalition Government with the Congress. Reiterating that the "mandate" of the people of Kashmir was in favour of the PDP, the Mufti urged the Congress to respect it. He also reiterated that he did not believe in "manipulative politics" and expressed hope that the Congress would not go against the pro-PDP mandate of the people of Kashmir. The PDP supremo also admitted that there were differences between his party and the Congress not only over Chief Ministership but also on the common minimum programme. He did emphasize in the same breath: "There are many grey areas of differences for which we will not compromise". He, however, assured: "We have not closed doors for talks. All options are still open. Matters can be resolved through mutual understanding". Drawing a clear line between the role of a regional party and a national party, the Mufti stoutly argued that a regional party, such as the PDP, would be able to deliver "more than the Congress because Congress, as a national party, has its constraints. "The ball is in Congress court", he said in reply to a question. Mufti Sayeed also argued: "Kashmir, not Jammu, is the major problem. And only the PDP is in a better position to solve it". Asked if parleys with the Congress party were closed, he said: "I am not closing any option...Congress has to rise above partisan interest. It will be through mutual understanding and not misunderstanding". Is the Congress banking on a "split" in the PDP ? Mufti Sayeed’s reply: "Let them do it. I am not bothered. PDP is a movement. Nobody can leave it". He, in fact, was of the firm opinion that PDP would not betray the people’s verdict. The PDP, he reiterated, was committed to giving a "healing touch" to the people of Kashmir. He said that his party got mandate on issues such as dialogue on Kashmir, restoration of peace and dignity, ending atrocities and human rights violations, repeal of POTA and withdrawal of Special Operation Group. Referring to his four rounds of discussions with senior Congress leaders, including the AICC president, Ms Sonia Gandhi, the Mufti said that the Congress had its own national concerns and there were some grey areas where there was difference of opinion. He regretted that the Congress was behaving as if its fight was against PDP. Reacting to the Mufti’s views, the PCC chief and new Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad, said: "We have not taken any extreme position....If PDP and Mufti saab could understand this, it would be a good thing". On the possibility of Congress sacrificing the Chief Ministership if PDP did not budge, Mr Azad said: "Let us see what the talks offer. All options are open". He was confident that a Government would be in place soon and there would be no Governor’s rule. The Government of India, he felt, would not adopt that approach. If the single largest party was not willing or able to form the Government , then the second largest party, he advocated, should be given the chance. Stating that efforts by Congress would continue till the last moment with PDP and independents, Mr Azad observed: "I don’t think the onus is on us. If we had been number three and wanted to form the Government, then maybe the onus would have come on us. So by no logic is the onus on us". Explaining why the Congress should head the Government, Mr Azad said that as a national party with presence all over the country, having Governments in largest number of States and being a recognised Opposition in both Houses of Parliament, if his party took any initiative for the peace process, then support from the entire country and Parliament was sure to come. "This", he emphasized, "can be done by Congress". He added: "It is impossible for the PDP". |
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Pak troops fire rockets in
Poonch town Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Oct 15: Six terrorists including a ‘deputy district commander’ of Al-Badar outfit and two army jawans were killed while two security personnel and two civilians were injured in separate militancy-related incidents across Jammu region today. A joint team of army and police stormed a hideout of the terrorists at Morha Dofali in Surankote tehsil of Poonch district in wee hours of this morning. Troops had a specific information of terrorists’ presence in the village. As army and police personnel were laying a cordon in the village, they were fired upon by the terrorists. Security forces retaliated. An exchange of firing between the two sides continued for about one and a half hours in which three terrorists were eliminated. Troops didn’t suffer any casualties. Three AK rifles, nine magazines, one wireless set and seven hand grenades were recovered from the terrorists, whose identity hadn’t been established so far. All of them were believed to be the foreign mercenaries. A terrorist and an army jawan were killed in another encounter near the Line of Control (LoC) in Khari Jattan in Khera area of Mendhar sector in Poonch district early today. A retired head constable of police Muzaffar Shah was injured in the encounter. The terrorist was part of a group of three to four terrorists, who had infiltrated into Indian territory from across the border. Army continued a hunt for the terrorists, who managed to escape during the encounter. Slain terrorist has been identified as Abdul Salam (code name Shahbaz Islami), an activist of Hizb-e-Islami outfit. Abdul Salam son of Mian Masood hailed from Budhal area of Rajouri district. One AK rifle with 30 rounds, two grenades and one pouch were recovered from the encounter site. Deceased army jawan has been identified as Jagdish Singh. Two terrorists including Al-Badar ‘deputy district commander’ Khalid Farooqi and his associate Abdul Madeen, both residents of Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) were killed in another operation with army and police in Behrot Kot area of Thanna Mandi in Rajouri district at 0800 hours today. Sources said an information regarding terrorists’ presence in Behrot Kot was developed by local police. While a search operation was launched by army and police last night, a contact with the terrorists was established at 0600 hours. Both the ultras were eliminated in next two hours encounter. One army jawan and a civilian Wali Mohd were injured in the operation. They have been hospitalised. Police party in the encounter was led by SHO Thanna Mandi Devinder Katoch. Recoveries made from the scene of encounter included two AK rifles, seven magazines, one wireless set and two grenades. Meanwhile, the terrorists ambushed an army patrol party at Kundal Khadi village in Banihal area of Doda district this morning. An army jawan Sepoy Joginder Singh was killed and Lance Naik Munish Kumar was injured in the encounter. The injured jawan was shifted to a Military Hospital. Enforcement of army was rushed to the village to carry out a search operation for the terrorists. However, they remained untraced till late this evening. Security forces arrested a harbourer of the terrorist identified as Abdul Rashid from village Gundana in Doda district and recovered 34 AK rounds and one Chinese grenade from his possession. Meanwhile, Pakistan army fired two rockets in Poonch town at 2230 hours last night. The rockets fell on outskirts of the town and exploded harmlessly. According to sources, the rockets were fired by a forward post of Pakistan army. Pak troops also continued mortar shelling in Makri, Sariya, Sair, Kudale and Bhawani villages in Nowshera sector for second straight day today. No casualties or damage was reported in the shelling. |
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Gopalaswami takes over as Home Secy NEW DELHI, Oct 15: Mr N Gopalaswami today took over as the new Union Home Secretary and said his priorities in the new office would be to implement the recommendations of the Justice Mallimath Committee on criminal justice system. "There are so many issues before the country, from East to West and from North to South, quite a few priorities. But if I am to choose one, it would be matters relating to the criminal justice system," Mr Gopalaswami told reporters after formally taking over from outgoing Home Secretary Kamal Pande who has been appointed the new Cabinet Secretary. He said the Justice Mallimath Committee report on reforming the criminal justice system was expected soon and he would focus his attention on implementing its recommendations as soon as possible. "Many problems arise due to the criminal justice system not being functional at present and the committee’s report is expected soon," he said. Mr Gopalaswami however made it clear that it would include the entire gamut of matters and not relating to police only. Another issue would be to see the implementation of the citizens identity card project. "It is a priority for the Government," he added. Asked about his stand on talks with Kashmiri militants, particularly in the context of the recent statement by Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani that there would be no talks with Kashmiri terrorist groups, Mr Gopalaswami quipped "I am hardly half-an-hour old in the new job. I will not be able to answer your question unless I study the whole issue." Earlier, after formally taking over from Mr Kamal Pande, Mr Gopalaswami had a 30-minute closed-door meeting with the outgoing Home Secretary. Mr Kamal Pande later left to take over as the new OSD in the Cabinet Secretariat. Mr Pande said he would remain as OSD for 15 days "to learn the new job." he would take over as the new Cabinet Secretary on November one from Mr T R Prasad who is retiring. Mr Pande had taken over as Union Home Secretary on May five, 1999. Mr Gopalaswami, a 1966 batch IAS officer, was Secretary in the Ministry of Culture till he took over his new assignment today. He has served for 25 years in Gujarat in various capacities. He also served in the Department of Electronics, Government of India, for three-and-a-half years from August 1992 to January 1996 and was incharge of software development and promotion before joining as advisor, education in the Planning Commission in 1996 where he stayed for two and a half years. He also worked as secretary general of the National Human Rights Commission in the rank of Secretary to the Government from September 1998 to July 2001. (UNI) |
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PoK village resents Pak settlement ISLAMABAD, Oct 15: Khark, a village in Mirpur in occupied Kashmir, is threatening to become the nucleus of a resistant movement against what they fear Pakistan intentions to reduce Kashmiris into refugees in their own state by settling Pakistanis here. Khark with its about 1,00,000 souls is to be dug up for the expansion of the Mangla dam. Mirpuris, who have already suffered massive displacement in 1967 when Gen Ayub Khan built the Mangla Dam, are in a defiant mood this time. They are threatening to lay down their lives if they were forced out of their hearth and home. The All-Party National Alliance (APNA) of nationalist parties of both parts of occupied Kashmir (ie, what Pakistan calls Northern areas and Azad Kashmir) has taken up the cudgels against the Government plan to expand the Mangla dam. These parties not only oppose the expansion of the Mangla dam but also challenge the very existence of Pakistani nationals in occupied Kashmir and demand Pakistan pay up all the royalty due from it in the past 37 years. The APNA alleges that the dam is proposed to be expanded for the benefit of Punjab and Punjabi Generals settled in occupied Kashmir, but the people of occupied Kashmir are denied even the royalty due to them from electricity that is produced by the dam for different parts of Pakistan, they say. But the most emotive issue that the APNA has been raising relates to the presence of non-Kashmiris in occupied Kashmir in violation of the state subject rules. These rules had been laid down by Maharaja Hari Singh in 1927 to safeguard Kashmir’s economic interests, property rights and their cultural and linguistic identity. Under these rules non-Kashmiris cannot own property in Kashmir. But APNA chairman Wajahat Hassan and secretary general Arif Shahid told newsmen here recently that these rules had been abolished by Pakistan in Northern areas in 1947 while in "Azad" Kashmir they were being flouted with the objective of reducing the local Kashmir population into minority. They claimed the Pakistan Government had allotted 20,000 acres of land to 200 Army Generals in Kashmir recently at throwaway price of Rs 360 per acre. This land will benefit from the expansion of Mangla Dam, they claimed. The APNA demands immediate expulsion of non-Kashmiris from the occupied state and warns against attempts to change the ethical complexion of Kashmir. The Pakistan Government has decided to raise the level of Mangla dam to increase water supply to Pakistan during lean seasons. (UNI) |
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News Analysis By B L Kak Even as the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) has become a thing of the past on the political horizon in Jammu region,if the Assembly poll outcome were any guide, the party’s central leadership—Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee and Mr LK Advani, in other words—seemed keen on trouble-free formation of the new Government in the troubled State. Mr Advani has, after the keenly-contested battle of the ballot across Jammu and Kashmir threw a hung Assembly, maintained close contact with the Governor, Mr Girish Chandra Saxena. The contact, obviously, is to enable the two top Kashmir-specific players in Delhi, namely, Mr Vajpayee and Mr Advani to be equipped with the data about the political activity of sorts in the run-up to the Government formation. At no stage since the final announcement of the poll results did any report or hint or indication come from the power corridors in Delhi or from Srinagar’s Raj Bhavan with regard to any move in favour of Governor’s rule in J&K. A move by unidentified elements to spread reports about the "possibility" of Governor’s rule in the State is a different matter. These reports, significantly, came to be circulated soon after the emergence of differences of opinion, though not of a very serious nature, between the two principal contenders for power-sharing, namely, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the Congress (I). Curiously, arithmatic highlighting the "possibility" of Governor’s rule in the State was made available by unknown elements soon after two significant developments in Srinagar on Monday afternoon. First, in the absence of any warm flirtations between the Congress and the PDP, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad, the PCC chief and new leader of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP), took many by surprise with his assessment that the new Government will be in place before October 17. Second, none from the Congress discouraged the party’s vocal member, Mr Taj Mohiuddin,after his public pronouncement that the Congress can form the Government on its own and without the support of the PDP. If the PDP leaders, particularly the Mufti’s daughter, Ms Mehbooba Mufti, gnashed their teeth in anger after senior Congress functionaries, including one of the AICC observers, Mr Satyajit Gaekwad, claimed after the sundown on Monday in Srinagar that the Congress party had cobbled together "over 40" MLAs— well enough for the party to form the Government— Tuesday (Oct. 15) yielded a different view altogether. In plain language, if Ms Mehbooba was on the offensive for the most part of Monday, soft-spoken father (Mufti Sayeed) was on the defensive on Tuesday. The Mufti, obviously, had sensed the emerging trends on the political scene. The Mufti can be a tough fighter. But he avoided getting himself involved in a battle with the Congress leadership, perhaps in view of the inroads made by the Congress strategists into the pockets of a host of independents and smaller parties. Had his own secret moves to rope in many others borne fruit, things would have been different—in that situation, he would not have been on the defensive. At the same time, however, the Mufti left none in doubt about his capability to politicise issues of his liking. It was not without significance when he told a news conference in Srinagar: "Kashmir, and not Jammu, is the major problem. Only the PDP is in a better position to solve it". His message was loud and clear. The message was conveyed by the Mufti when the voice from Jammu had also become loud and clear: Chief Minister from Jammu region, as the capture of just 16 Assembly seats by the PDP did not justify the demand for Chief Minister from the Valley. The PDP sought to highlight, for obvious political and strategic reasons, the need for a Kashmiri-speaking person to be the next Chief Minister, a person who is known to all the three regions of the State. The PDP leadership was found caught in a tight spot, after the word was told that Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad, the Congress party’s Chief Ministerial candidate, is also Kashmiri-speaking and is known to the people in the three regions, Valley, Jammu and Ladakh. Mufti Sayeed has long political experience. He is a shrewd politician, to say the least. How come he has allowed himself and others in his party to assert day-in and day-out that Kashmir should continue to dictate to the two other regions, particularly Jammu even after the change in the political scenario of Jammu region with the impressive showing by the Congress? Why prevent Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad and his party to assume the role of ruling party when their numerical strength in the Assembly is more than that of the PDP? The claim of the Congress party that it enjoyed the support of more than 40 MLAs, including 20 of its own, cannot be dismissed without allowing the party, under established constitutional procedure, to prove its majority on the floor of the Legislative Assembly. This is what the Governor, Mr Saxena, would like to happen, if the Congress finally staked claim to form the Government. |
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An enormous number of devotees and disciples from all walks of life and distant places thronged the Chaitanya Ashram at Talab Tillo, Jammu on Tuesday Oct., 15th the concluding day of the weeks long well organized and impressive Navratra Puja solemnization in a usual manner. His Holiness Swami Visudha Chaitanya Brahmchari Ji Maharaj, who had been observing 40-days "Anushthan" fast since Sept. 9th in this regards, also broke off on this auspicious day. The special prayers with Puja, Bhajan Kirtan continued with devotional spirit in a disciplined manner for all these Navratra days. In addition to it, meditation sessions and satsang were held systematically and regularly in an extra ordinary and examplary manner in the tastefully decorated Puja Hall to invoke Goddess Durga for the return of lost global peace and bliss. All the devotees participated in the Hawan-cum-Puja ceremony with great religious enthusiasm and devotion specially performed in an atmosphere full of spiritual spirit and divine consciousness on this holy day specifically for everlasting peace, enhancement of human value and all round prosperity of mankind in the entire universe. Swami Jee Maharaj was even kind enough to grace all and sundry with blessings by their turn after they had their Parshad in the Ashram premises. In connection with this function, a grand Bhandara was organized and served nicely to one and all. This sacred day was also marked by the holy immersion of Mata Durga with great fervors and gaiety. On eve of this auspicious occasion some basic and significant exhortations of Swami Jee were highlighted and emphasized to pull them in actual practice in an attempt to turn over a new leaf in our life which is as under:-
3) A noble person maintained silence when he was being criticized. When his friend wanted him to react, he replied, the same Atma is present in me as well as in person who is criticizing, so why I should be annoyed, when he is criticizing himself. When you love or hate others, you love or hate your own self. In fact there are no others. You consider yourself different from others because of body attachment. Once you give up body attachment you will realize that there are no others and all are one. That is true vision of the Atma. The Atma does not have a specific form. |
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NEW DELHI, Oct 15 : Outgoing Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah today met Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani and is understood to have discussed the prevailing situation in the State after the recent Assembly elections. The meeting comes a day after NC president Omar Abdullah quit the Vajpayee Government hinting that somebody else from the Party would replace him in the Union Council of Ministers and that a decision in this regard would be taken by his Party. Farooq left for Srinagar after the meeting. National Conference, an ally of the NDA, was voted out of power but emerged as the single-largest party with 28 MLAs in the 87-member State Assembly, 16 short of a majority to form the next Government. (PTI) |
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Swami for looking into PDP manifesto KARNAL, HARYANA, Oct 15: The Centre would consider removal of the state task force from the Kashmir valley and release of all persons booked under terrorist activities — the two controversial points of the People’s Democratic Party manifesto — after the formation of the Jammu and Kashmir Government, provided the PDP becomes part of it, Union Minister of State for Home I D Swami said here today. Talking to newspersons at a function here, Mr Swami ruled out any fallout of the Kashmir elections on Gujarat. He cited "the people’s mood to dethrone the Farooq Abdullah Government in the State" as the reason for the Bharatiya Janata Party’s debacle. Mr Swami said it was just the beginning of the BJP in Jammu and Kashmir where it gained a voting percentage by one per cent. He said that people from all over the world had hailed the Kashmir elections as free, fair and transparent. (UNI) |
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KC arriving for another round of talks with separatists SRINAGAR, Oct 15: As political uncertainty loomed large in Jammu and Kashmir over Government formation, the Kashmir Committee headed by former Union Law Minister Ram Jethmalani is arriving here this week for another round of talks with the Hurriyat Conference and other separatist groups. "We will be holding the third round of talks with the Kashmir Committee when it arrives here by the end of this week," Hurriyat sources told UNI here. Hurriyat chairman Prof Abdul Gani Bhat had lauded the role of the Committee for its efforts to resolve the Kashmir issue. "The Jethmalani Committee was an unofficial one and had made a good beginning so far. Their efforts had created a better environment and New Delhi should also learn a lesson from them," he had said. The Kashmir Committee members will also be going to Pakistan after their visit to the Valley. "May be the bridges of communication between the two countries are built as a consequence of the visits," Prof Bhat said. The Hurriyat chairman also rebuffed Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Sallahuddin for his statement that the Kashmir Committee was a creation of India. "We are in politics and politics consists of reconciliation, balancing and interpreting various opinions. We will consider Syed Sallahuddin’s opinion but it is not imperative that we go by his opinion. We have our own independent stand in this regard," he said. The Hizbul Mujahideen chief had recently said that it did not think the Kashmir Committees, set up in India and Pakistan, would achieve any breakthrough on the Kashmir issue and asked the Hurriyat Conference not to beg for talks with New Delhi. He said the Committee headed by Jethmalani was a private one with secret support of Indian intelligence agencies and that headed by Sardar Abdul Qayyum in Pakistan was "Sarkari" (by Government). (UNI) |
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Governor seeks opinion of constitutional experts SRINAGAR, Oct 15: As the political imbroglio in Jammu and Kashmir continued, Governor Girish Chander Saxena has sought opinion of constitutional experts, including the Advocate General on the options before him if no party staked claim to form the Government before October 17 when the tenure of the previous Assembly expires. Saxena met Advocate General Ishtiaq Qadri who briefed him about the provisions in the Jammu and Kashmir constitution and held two rounds of discussions with Supreme Court lawyer Ashok Bhan last night and today. Confirming the meetings, Bhan told PTI that the Governor also sought his opinion on independents joining political parties. As per the Seventh schedule of the Jammu and Kashmir constitution, an independent MLA would be disqualified if he joined a political party after the elections, Bhan said. Constitutionally independent MLAs have only two options—supporting the Government from outside or joining it as an independent, he said. On the October 17 deadline, Bhan said he told the Governor that no Government formed by the previous assembly could continue after its expiry. In case no political party staked claim to form a new Government by then, the Governor can keep the newly constituted Assembly in suspended animation and as per section 92 of the Jammu and Kashmir constitution, vest all powers in himself to enable the day-to-day functioning of the administration, Bhan said. (PTI) |
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Elections a victory of democracy: Kalam TEZPUR, ASSAM, Oct 15: President Dr A P J Abdul Kalam today described the recent Jammu and Kashmir Assembly election as the victory of democracy. In a question -answer session held at the Tezpur University here, when a student asked what was his message to the world about the victory of democracy, Dr Kalam replied that the entire world already knows about the victory of democracy in Jammu and Kashmir. Replying to another query, Dr Kalam said missiles were prepared for defence but it could also be used for the welfare of human beings and cited an example that brackish water could be converted into potable water only with the help of missile technology. (UNI) |
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SRINAGAR, Oct 15 : A militant was killed and a girl seriously injured by militants in Kashmir during the past 24 hours. Security forces gunned down a militant in an encounter at Karewa Shopian in south Kashmir last night. One AK rifle, three magazines, 43 rounds and three grenades were recovered from the slain militant. In another incident, militants shot at and wounded one Zubida, daughter of one Ghulam Ahmad Mir, at Kokernag last night. She was hospitalised. Militants hurled a hand grenade towards security forces at Bagunder Wangam in south Kashmir this morning. The grenade missed the intended target and exploded on the roadside without causing any damage. (UNI) |
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PM seeks courage from Lord Rama NEW DELHI, Oct 15 : With terrorism posing a major problem to the country, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today sought "power, courage and wisdom" from Lord Rama to help meet the challenges and destroy "demons". "When trouble increases and vice rises, Lord Rama assumes an incarnation and with the cooperation of everyone including monkeys defeats injustice," Vajpayee said addressing a huge gathering before destruction of the effigies of the 10-headed Ravana, his brother Kumbakaran and son Meghnath on the occasion of Dussehra festival here. "I pray that Lord Rama give us power, courage and wisdom to help us face the challenges in future and destroy demons," he said to the applause of the crowd in the presence of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and Minister in Prime Minister’s Office Vijay Goel. Describing ‘Vijay Dashmi’ as the "national festival", Vajpayee noted that it is a symbol of victory of good over evil. Goel termed terrorism as Ravana and said the Government was committed to defeat it. Earlier, Vajpayee applied vermillion on the forehead of three children portraying the characters of Lord Rama, Lakshman and Hanuman before they could destroy the effigies of Meghnath, Kumbakaran and Ravana in that series. Vajpayee and Gandhi both freed a dove, symbolising peace. The Prime Minister also had a try at firing an arrow from a bow. Although he failed in the first attempt, evoking a laughter from Gandhi, he improved in the second try. (PTI) |
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