JK vote against disintegration of the State: Shah

SRINAGAR, Oct 16: Jammu and Kashmir Awami National Conference (ANC), which has favoured a tripartite solution to differences over Kashmir, today said that the people’s verdict in the recent Assembly elections was against the forces which wanted to disintegrate the state on communal lines and those who claimed that Kashmir was an integral part of India.

People have voted for the parties and individuals who believed that Kashmir was a disputed issue and needs to be resolved through peaceful means, ANC president Ghulam Mohammad Shah said while addressing Central Executive Committee members of his party here.

The people, he said, had voted in favour of the political parties or candidates who, in principle, have agreed that Kashmir is an issue which need to be resolved according to the wishes of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

Mr Shah, the brother-in-law of caretaker Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah, said voters had outrightly rejected those parties and the candidates who had for long been taking the people of the state for a ride for their personal benefit.

These very people were responsible for the bloodbath in Kashmir, Mr Shah, a former Chief Minister said.

Mr Shah called upon the Centre and political leaders of India to rise to the occasion to bring India, Pakistan and the Kashmiris to the negotiating table to prove their sincerity in bringing the people of the sub-continent out of the present situation.

He also questioned the voter turnout and alleged that the statistical results of the elections were highly exaggerated. (UNI)

Panthers take out massive rally in Jammu

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 16: The activists of National Panthers Party took out a massive rally in the winter capital city, demanding Chief Minister from Jammu region here today.

The Party workers led by state unit president Sardar Mushtaq Khan earlier assembled in the Party headquarters at Ambphalla and then in the shape of a procession moved towards the old city carrying banners and flags in their hands. They were shouting slogans, demanding Chief Minister from Jammu region.

The rally passed through Pacca Danga, Purani Mandi, City Chowk, Kanak Mandi, Rajinder Bazar, Lakhdata Bazar, Jain Bazar, Chowk Chabutra and finally culminated near Raj Bhawan at Panjtirthi. The workers staged dharna outside Raj Bhawan in support of their demand. The senior party leaders namely Mushtaq Khan held PDP chief Mufti Mohammed Syed responsible for the political crisis in the state.

Mr Khan appealed the parties from Jammu region and the legislators to stand by the demand of Panthers Party that Chief Minister should be from Jammu region irrespective of caste, colour or creed. He said Mufti Mohammed Syed is more concerned about the Chief Ministership and the power and not towards the problems of the people. His real face has come to light and it is also clear that Mufti while giving recent statements never though about the feelings of the people from Jammu and Ladakh regions. It has made the people of Jammu region to think that NC and PDP have similar anti-Jammu agenda and the separate Jammu will be the ultimate solution as discrimination is not going to be stopped even after change of regime. Mufti is only after chair and wants to implement his agenda of supporting militants.

The other leaders Mr B R Kundal and Amit Manhas expressed that Prof Bhim Singh is the only right candidate for the CM’s post under present circumstances to head the state and restore peace in Jammu and Kashmir. Only NPP can give corruption free, secular and responsive Government which can give heeling touch to the miseries of the people of all the communities.

Mr Kamal Goria, Amrik Singh, Anita Thakur, Rajinder Singh, Chaman Lal Prito Devi, Rakesh Gupta and Shanker Singh also spoke on the occasion.

Gupta cautions people against rise of
fundamentalists in Pak

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 16: Senior Bharatia Janata Party (BJP) leader and Union Minister of State for Defence, Prof. Chaman Lal Gupta has said the victory of fundamentalists in the manipulated elections in Pakistan will further add to the terrorism and subversive activities that were being engineered from across the border.

Addressing BJP workers during his tour of Jandi in the border belt of Kathua today he said under the prevailing circumstances the role of the nationalist forces has increased to meet any new challenge.

He said with the recent developments in Pakistan and J&K the responsibility of the nationalist forces have further increased notwithstanding the setback received by the BJP in recently held elections.

Commenting on the Assembly elections Prof Gupta pointed out that in J&K the Government of India tried its best to persuade even the Hurriyat Conference and others in the secessionists camp to join the poll process while in Pakistan many important leaders were debarred in taking part in elections. They include two former prime ministers, he added.

Regarding the tussle going on between Congress and others about the formation of the new Government in Jammu and Kashmir , Prof Gupta said that the people have voted for a change but the manner in which the Congress and others are behaving is not unexpected.

He also made a strong dig at Congress saying its leaders were never sincere to the verdict of the people and for them it is a matter of "chair".

Keeping these developments in view he said any one can visualize that the new Assembly will not last long. He also asked the Party workers to be ever ready to serve the people and pay heed to their problems.

He said BJP has always fought for the national interests whether it has won or lost the elections.

Karan Singh visits Charar-i-Sharief

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Oct 16: Dr Karan Singh, former Sadr-i-Riyasat and ex-Union Minister, today visited and paid his homage at the holy shrine of Charar-i-Sharief. His last visit there was just after it had been burnt down in 1995, and he was happy to see that a beautiful new shrine has been constructed.

Asked about the purpose of his visit, Dr Karan Singh said that he had come to pay his respects to Alamdar-i-Kashmir, Sheikh Nooruddin Noorani, and to pay for the return of peace and harmony in the State.

Troops on borders fully alert, not sick: Gen Mehta

CHANDI MANDIR, Oct 16: Western Command General Officer Commanding-in-Chief S S Mehta today declared that jawans camping at the international borders (with Pakistan) were fully alert, strong and prepared to meet any eventually.

"Indian army will give a befitting reply to the enemy," said Lt Gen Mehta, while addressing a civil-military liaison conference at the Western Command headquarters here, near Chandigarh. The conference was addressed among others by Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala, senior army and State Government officers.

Gen Mehta refuted press reports that army jawans camping at the international borders were now sick of it. "The defence forces have patience and efficient to act in any situation. The problems if any are resolved promptly by the authorities and the State administration to boost their morale, he added.

He criticised Pakistan for escalating terrorists activities in India through its ISI. He said the scenario of security had changed considerably in the entire world after the September 11 attack on the World Trade Centres. Terrorists attack later on Indian Parliament, Jammu and Kashmir Asssembly, Amarnath pilgrims, Godara and Akshardham temple in Gujarat and most recently at Bali in Indonesia indicated that Pakistan was encouraging terrorists activities, he said. Gen Mehta emphatically said that nothwithstanding attempts by terrorists, the security forces had controlled the situation for holding peaceful elections in Jammu and Kashmir.

He was all praise for the number of facilities and incentives provided by Haryana to ex-servicemen. Haryana, he said, deserved all appreciation for its help to ex-servicemen and families of jawans and officers before and after the Kargil conflict. He said the constitutional provision to the effect that court cases of army personnel would be taken up during their vacations, should be implemented in letter and spirit. This was necessary so that their cases were not prolonged for long and they got the justice in time.

Chief Minister Chautala urged the Defence Ministry to set up an army cantonment in any of the southern districts of Haryana and constitute a special brigade to act swiftly in emergency situations like natural calamities.

He said that despite there being no cantonment, southern Haryana was sending large number of its youths to the armed forces. The setting up of a cantonment, he said, would not only satisfy the people but also change the entire social and economic scenario of the area, besides inspiring more youths to join the forces, he pointed out that northern parts of Haryana had three cantonments, including the one located here. The others were located in Ambala and Hisar.

He stressed at the setting up of a defence park at the tri-junction of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan, the idea of which was mooted by the Defence Minister.

Stressing at setting up special brigade, Mr Chautala said that the nation had faced many emergent situations because of the natural calamities like earthquake in Gujarat, cyclone in Orrisa and drought in Rajasthan. The special brigade, he said, should be trained and fully equipped to act swiftly in launching rescue and relief operations.

He assured GoC-in-C Mehta that shortfall of vacancies for ex-servicemen in Haryana police would be filled on priority basis.

Mr Chautala said that as desired by Gen Mehta, a pilot project to harness water would be taken up soon in Haryana.

The Chief Minister sounded a note of caution against encroachment of army camps. He said these camps were located at 51 locations since long. To frustrate encorachers, the army should take larger chunks of land in lieu of these small pieces and put these to more viable use. (UNI)

From gunfire to fire: Kashmiri women now
face dowry problems

SRINAGAR, Oct 16: Women of Kashmir, the worst-hit by militancy, are now grappling with problems of dowry which has emerged as a new phenomenon even bringing to the fore cases of bride burning. "After militancy which left them scathed the new-found affluence in the Valley has led to surfacing of dowry problems which are now rampant", according to Dr Girija Dhar, chairperson of the Jammu and Kashmir Women’s Commission here. Expressing concern over the increase in dowry problems, Dr Dhar told a visiting UNI correspondent that presently it was more of an urban phenomenon but was slowly bringing into its fold the middle classes and the rural areas."It is for the first time that we are getting cases of bride burning also,"Dr Dhar, a gynaecologist, said.

Attributing it to increasing affluence and consumerism, she said, the "vulgar consumerist displays" were on the rise affecting the psyche of people desiring more and seeking to gain it through dowry. This further led to behavioral aberrations.

Women in Kashmir , she said, had suffered the most during the long years of militancy. Apart from constantly enduring hardships when their husbands joined the ranks of militants, they were forever under pressure and forced to play different roles when from the same family some joined the ranks of militants and some were in the security forces. Such women had to undergo tremendous pressure having to bear the brunt both from the militants and from the security forces.

When the men failed in their missions they took it out on the women, leading to rise in the cases of rape and harassment. Besides, during the long years of militancy, their education was totally disrupted. Under the militants diktat schools were burnt, girls were confined indoors and fear loomed large. Citing instances of resilience, Dr Dhar said when the girls schools were burnt down by militants their education suffered but they refused to give up. Soon after, private schools in Mohallas came up through which they continued their education. Those schools have now burgeoned into major private institutions providing neighbourhood education. A common sight all over Kashmir nowadays is of smartly clad school and college girls with heads covered moving fearlessly.

But there was also a time when these girls living under the shadow of gun resisted acid attacks and all other forms of harassment.

Compared to those times, women’s condition now has definitely improved, said Dr Dhar. Stating that they have progressed, Dr Dhar regretted that they had still not got their due share."In many spheres they have reached the top jobs but still they have a long road ahead."

Dr Dhar, who heads the first state women’s commission set up just two years ago, felt that women as a group were disadvantaged in the state as most were bound by the Muslim personal law. The law as such was not bad but its interpretation by conservatives is what made it regressive.

She said in such a situation the commission, set up in March 2000, had managed to "make a dent."The complaints that they generally receive are those of desertion, harassment and of maintenance.

As glaring inequalities existed at all levels between men and women, the commission has recommended reservation of at least 30-40 per cent positions for executive jobs, judiciary and police till the time woman’s equity is restored and she learns skills and expertise to compete with men as equal as otherwise competition between unequal was gross injustice, Dr Dhar, former Dean of medical college, said.

She said presently they were concentrating on raising awareness about rights and issues through contact programmes and networking with Non Government Organisations, an important component of the commissions functioning in the large spread-out State. (UNI)

JJSF begin fast at Shahidi Sthal
Student martyrs paid homage

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 16: To commemorate the death anniversary of four students, who sacrificed their lives while fighting for the cause of Jammu region in 1966, various student organisations and teachers from colleges today paid homage to the martyrs.

Students from different colleges with their teachers and staff members converged at Shahidi Sthal in GGM Science College Jammu and paid rich tributes to the martyrs who sacrificed their lives while protesting against the State Government’s decision to shift Agriculture College from R S Pura in Jammu to Sopore in Kashmir.

Meanwhile, three activists of Jammu Joint Students Federation, including Gulshan Singh Sani, Vinod Sharma and Digvijay Singh, began traditional three day fast at the Shahidi Sthal in honour of the student martyrs.

Today in the morning, a large number of JJSF activists converged at the Shahidi Sthal and paid rich tributes to the martyrs. After offering prayer and observing two minute silence, they remembered the great sacrifice made by the martyr students.

While addressing the gathering, JJSF chief Mr Rajinder Jamwal recalled the sacrifices of the student martyrs and exhorted youth to follow their footprints to end decades old discrimination with Jammu region.

He stressed that people of Jammu should remain prepared for any sacrifice to get the Jammu liberated from the clutches of Kashmir rulers.

Mr Pushvinder Singh, JJSF general secretary, in his address, appealed Jammu students and youth to make true the dreams of the martyrs who had visualised and anticipated Jammu free from Kashmiri dominance.

Mr Pawan Sodi, Sonu Sharma, Sheetal Singh, Rohit Sharma, Ravinder Bhardwaj, Sanjay Singh and Pradeep Kumar also addressed on the occasion.

State unit of National Student Union of India (NSUI) also paid homage to the student martyrs and remembered the extreme sacrifice of Brij Mohan, Gurcharan Singh, Subash Chander and Gulshan Handa.

The NSUI State unit president Mr Rajiv Saraf alongwith several members of the organisation visited the Shahidi Sthal and offered rich tributes to the martyrs. They also observed a two minute silence in honour of the departed souls.

While addressing the students, Mr Saraf appealed the NSUI activists to work honestly for the cause of students and hoped that genuine demands of the community would get solved after the installation of Ghulam Nabi Azad led Government in the State.

Activists of Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad also paid tributes to the student martyrs during a homage function organised at ITI here.

The ABVP workers assembled in the Institute premises and recalled the students’ sacrifice who became martyrs while fighting against the anti-Jammu policies of Kashmiri rulers.

ABVP leader Adarsh Kumar, Vikas Sharma and Vikas Khajuria addressed the gathering and insisted that separate Statehood to Jammu was only solution to permanently end the dominance of Kashmir over Jammu.

PDP’s stand vindicate statehood demand
Trifurcate J&K, make Mufti CM of Kashmir only: JMM

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 16: Office bearers of Jammu Mukti Morcha (JMM), Messrs H B Khajuria, Vikram Gour, Col V P Sharma, Rajeshwar Singh, Dr Shiv Dutt and Mahesh Sharma in a joint statement condemned the Kashmiri leadership, particularly that of PDP for its stand that only a person from Kashmir Valley can head the Government in J&K State and become its Chief Minister.

"The plea of PDP which merely got 16 seats out of 46 in Kashmir Valley, that it is the sole representative of the wishes of the people of Kashmir and aspirations of the people of Jammu region do not need any consideration reflects the parochial and communal mind set Kashmiri leadership which treats Jammu as a colony of Kashmir and subjects Jammuites to worst kind of discrimination that they suffered in the last 55 years", JMM stated, adding, " this stand of Kashmiri leadership strengthens and confirms the perception of JMM that Jammu has no future so long it remains as a part of J&K state. Its cultural and geographical identify in insecure in the present set up".

JMM asked the Centre leaders of various political parties to realise the aspirations of the people of Jammu region and do away with their policy of imposing the Kashmiri leadership on Jammu region and stop considering Kashmir as whole of Jammu and Kashmir State.

JMM reiterated its demand that in the present political scenario re-organisation and trifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir into Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh states was the only solution. "It will satisfy all the regions of the State and particularly the Kashmiri leadership who want to retain Chief Ministership without caring the interests of other regions. Let Mufti becomes the Chief Minister of Kashmir and Ghulam Nabi Azad that of Jammu region and Ladakh be given union territory status", they said.

People voted against mis-governance of NC: Rehman

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 16: Sheikh Abdul Rehman, state president of the BSP while commenting on the fractured verdict in the recent held Assembly elections, said that it was wrath of the public against mis-governance, corruption and nepotism perpetrated by the three decade rule of the National Conference.

In a statement issued here today, Mr Rehman appealed to the Governor to fulfill his constitutional obligations and ensure that people’s Government is formed after ascertaining full numbers so that no room was left for horse trading and uncertainty.

Referring to his defeat in the recent held elections from Bhaderwah segment, he attributed the same to the venomous propaganda of casteism, communalism, regionalism, rural-urban and money bags too the voters.

Regarding his resignation from the party presidentship, Mr Rehman said that it has been done due to losing of his own seat from his home constituency and not because of the poor performance of the party in the state as a whole.

Forecasting fresh elections in the State within next two years, Mr Rehman said that people should remain prepared to face the same.