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Governor's rule
imposed in J&K Excelsior Team SRINAGAR Oct 17: In a sudden twist to the political crisis that has gripped Jammu and Kashmir since the recent elections resulted in a hung Assembly, the state was tonight placed under Governor’s rule after the failure of major political parties to come together to form a new Government. The refusal of caretaker Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah tonight to continue in office despite a plea by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee prompted the sudden decision to bring the State under Governor’s rule from midnight tonight. Saxena has informed leaders of major political parties of the decision. The Governor’s rule is expected to be for a short spell till major political parties such as Congress and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) are able to cobble a coalition Government with the help of independents and smaller parties. The deadline of October 21 set earlier by the Governor for political parties to convince him that they can form a stable Government now loses its relevance but imposition of Governor’s rule is expected to expedite the process of Government formation. Azad said he had spoken to 38 MLAs during the day today and intended to talk with PDP chief Mufti Mohd Sayeed tomorrow. Mr Azad tonight blamed Dr Farooq Abdullah for Constitutional crisis in the State leading to imposition of Governor’s rule and said the Congress (I) would continue to make efforts to form a popular Government in the State at the earliest. "When we were engaged in talks with our supporting parties to form a popular Government in the State, unfortunately, Dr Abdullah refused to continue as caretaker Chief Minister and preferred to resign leading to the Constitutional crisis", he told EXCELSIOR soon after the Governor’s rule was imposed. "The Governor rule can be for two days, 10 days, one month or even six months", Azad said. "It will be our endeavour to form a popular Government in the State as soon as possible. With Durbar move and winter round the corner, the people’s problems need to be attended to on priority basis especially the storage of food", he said. He said he had talked to the supporting parties today and was scheduled to have another round of talks with PDP president Mufti Sayed tomorrow. "But, unfortunately, a new development took place and the Governor’s rule had to be imposed", he regretted. Azad said the Governor told him that he had written to Farooq in the morning to continue as caretaker Chief Minister but he refused. He hoped that the Congress (I) will be able to cobble a necessary strength to form Government in the State shortly, which will lead to revocation of Governor’s rule. He said the talks with PDP will continue to resolve the dead-lock. Meanwhile, CPM MLA Mohd Yusuf Tarigami, who had been elected as their leader by six independent MLAs said late tonight that some ‘vested interests’ have succeeded in scuttling democratic process in the State. Without naming the vested interests, he said from Delhi to Srinagar, some forces worked behind the scene to thwart installation of a popular Government in the State. Saying that he was anticipating such a development in the morning, he said ‘in view of this, we had intensified our efforts to work out a solution but couldn’t succeed’. "It’s against the country and people of Jammu and Kashmir. It was a setback for the people", Tarigami said in his reaction to imposition of the Governor’s rule. Tarigami denied that he had given any ultimatum to Congress (I)-PDP to form a Government or else the independents will side with the National Conference. "I’m very clear on the issue. Mandate of the people is to form a non-NC and non-BJP Government in the State and our efforts are aimed at honouring the people’s verdict", he asserted. He said he held talks with Congress (I) and Panthers Party leaders today and was planning to talk to PDP leaders tomorrow ‘but the Governor’s rule had to be imposed hurriedly’. JKNPP president Bhim Singh also criticised the imposition of Governor's rule terming it as ‘massacre’ of the people's mandate. Earlier, a group of independents in the just-constituted Legislative Assembly triggered a good deal of sensation on Thursday by issuing an ultimatum to the Congress(I) and People’s Democratic Party to resolve their differences by Sunday. Jammu and Kashmir Panthers’ Party also criticised the imposition of Governor’s rule terming it as a "massacre" of the people’s mandate. The group just didn’t stop there. It threatened that in the event of the failure of the two parties to come together, it would add a new leaf to the history by seeking the support from the National Conference for Government formation. Dr Farooq Abdullah didn’t fight shy at all as he openly demonstrated interest in playing ball with the independents. The caretaker Chief Minister, Dr Farooq, reacted positively, saying that his party was not averse to such a possibility. One can call it a pressure tactics by the group of independents. But the seven MLAs belonging to the Democratic People’s Forum set a deadline for the Congress and Mufti Mohammed Sayeed’s party till October 21. All this after the group had claimed that he had support of seven more legislators. The Congress and the People’s Democratic Party were accused of having adopted a rigid stand on the issue of Chief Ministership. Mr Ghulam Mohiuddin Sofi, a rebel Hurriyat leader, who successfully contested from Handwara Assembly constituency as an independent, said: "We have given both the parties a deadline till October 20 to sort out their differences". He made it plain: "We will ask for outside support from NC for Government formation, if Congress and PDP failed to iron out their differences". The National Conference, Dr Farooq said, was willing to consider supporting any group of independents interested in forming new Government. The caretaker Chief Minister may not have been able to set the river Jhelum on fire, but he has succeeded in setting off alarm bells ringing, with his sudden, dramatic move in the all-important capital city of Srinagar on Thursday. The move virtually triggered commotion in the political class. It set in motion not only the Governor, Mr Girish Chandra Saxena, but also the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, and the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr LK Advani. It all started soon after Dr Farooq called on the Governor and conveyed to him that he would sit home as he had no moral right to continue as Chief Minister after midnight on October 17. Dr Farooq did not openly challenge Mr Saxena’s decision culminating in the extension of the deadline for Government formation until October 21. Mr Saxena was, nonetheless, set thinking anew when Dr Farooq talked of a constitutional crisis in the event of the expiry of the latter’s term as Chief Minister before the beginning of October 18. What next, was the repeated query from waiting mediapersons at the end of his unscheduled meeting with Governor. "I am awaiting Governor’s response", pat came the reply from Dr Farooq. The Governor, significantly, did not take long to announce his line of treatment. The line of treatment became quite clear soon after the Prime Minister’s unusual, unexpected move—that is, the message urging Dr Farooq to continue as caretaker Chief Minister till formation of the new Government in Srinagar. The message became loud and clear when Mr Vajpayee had telephonic conversation with Dr Farooq. Mr Saxena sought to convince Dr Farooq that the latter’s continuance as caretaker Chief Minister until October 21 would not trigger any constitutional problems or hassles. A communique from Raj Bhavan, in categorical terms, justified the existing arrangement, namely, continuance of Dr Farooq in office till October 21, the deadline set by him for the political parties to form the Government. The Governor’s move, or line of treatment, was seen as his "honest" endeavor to avoid any constitutional breakdown in Jammu and Kashmir. Mr Saxena knew—and there was no need to remind him—that the term of the ninth Legislative Assembly would end midnight on October 17. Yet, Dr Farooq Abdullah sought, for obvious political reasons, to inject a new element into the mercurial world of Kashmir politics by creating a good deal of sensation among political parties, particularly the main contenders for the post of Chief Minister, the Congress and Mufti Mohammed Sayeed’s People’s Democratic Party (PDP). Of course, Dr Farooq urged the Governor to relieve him of his duties. But he (Dr Farooq) chose, at the same time, to adopt stand against Governor’s rule in J&K. Dr Farooq placed himself on record by saying: "I want that an elected Government should assume office in the State as soon as possible...I cannot do any work, nor am I in a position to take any decision in the interests of the people". He posed: "How long can I continue to be the caretaker Chief Minister?" As the caretaker Chief Minister allowed the rumour mill to run unhindered as a result of which most of the elected MLAs and their respective leaders appeared literally in a state of bewilderment, the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr LK Advani, too, was prompted to get into touch with Dr Farooq on telephone, only to persuade him to continue in the office till the formation of new Government. As things moved rapidly, Dr Farooq also seemed to be in a hurry, quite unwilling to retire to his bedroom after the Governor formally asked him to continue in the office till October 21. For most of the time during the day (Thursday) he became the main subject matter in political, official and media circles. The flamboyant leader seemed enjoy his each move. One of the moves, before the sundown, was aimed at continuing the atmosphere of uncertainty and suspense. His sudden announcement of his decision to convene an "emergency" meeting of his senior colleagues and former Ministerial colleagues for consultations on the advice from the Governor and pleadings from the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister for his continuance in the office till new Government was formed. Asked as to what was his response to Mr Vajpayee’s message, Dr Farooq avoided offering a direct reply. Nonetheless, he, according to sources close to him, had told the Prime Minister that he (Dr Farooq) had acted as per his moral conscience. Dr Farooq informed Mr Vajpayee that he would act in the interests of the people and the country as he had been doing in the past. This was enough to suggest Dr Farooq’s willingness to continue in office till October 21. Dr Farooq, it may be recalled, submitted his resignation to the Governor on October 12, when he was asked to continue as caretaker Chief Minister till the new Government was formed or till October 17, whichever was earlier. |
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‘NC will return with
a thumping majority, one day’ Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Oct 17: Dr Farooq Abdullah today met the Governor, Girish Chander Saxena, and told him that beyond this midnight he had no moral right to continue as the Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir. He requested the Governor to accept his resignation, relieve him of the state responsibility and take the next constitutional step to keep the Government running. While addressing a crowded news conference—first after the National Conference (NC) debacle in the assembly elections—Dr Abdullah maintained that he had no moral right to stay as the Chief Minister after midnight today. He said that, earlier today, he had met the Governor and made it clear to him that he had neither a moral right nor an intention to stay in power as the care-taker CM. Did that mean NC, still the largest single party in the assembly, was not going to stake its claim for the Government formation? "That you should ask the National Conference president (Omar Abdullah)", Dr Abdullah retorted. He sought to clarify that he had met the Governor as the outgoing Chief Minister, not as the NC leader. Dr Abdullah added that he had put his request before the Governor and the latter was yet to take a decision. Asked what kind of dispensation would be desirable in his opinion, Dr Abdullah asserted that it for the Governor alone to take the next step as per the Constitutional provisions. He clarified that a CM was in position to advise the Governor on Constitutional matters. Dr Abdullah was again asked why the NC would not come forward to form the new Government, as it was the largest single party in the assembly. "Why should we only receive the boot from you and rest of the people?" he asserted. "We are ready for sitting in the Opposition", he said while explaining that his party had not sought any political party’s support for the Government formation. He said that he had not even met the Congress president Sonia Gandhi while in New Delhi the other day. According to him, he was in the Union capital only to express his gratitude to the NDA Government for the support it gave to the NC Government during the last three years. The outgoing CM refused to admit that the assembly elections were a vote against his party. He asserted that no other party had bagged as many seats as the NC. He described it as the state’s tragedy that those claiming to be the repositories of the peoples’ mandate were still quarreling over the trivial issues like who should be the CM. "We are already in for a Constitutional crisis. It’s just aya ram, gaya ram. Clearly a situation of horse-trading", he remarked. Dr Abdullah said he was hopeful that one day his party would return to power with thumping majority. Asked about his statements of taking retirement from the active politics, Dr Abdullah quipped: "I would have liked to retire, but not under these developments". He indicated that he would continue to lead the NC in the disaster that had befallen the party in the elections. He remarked that Pakistan must be happy that NC had been removed from its way of occupying Kashmir. While making repeated digs on the Congress-PDP tussle over occupying the Chief Minister’s post, Dr Abdullah wished the two parties forge an alliance and make the Government. "They must make the Government sooner than later and keep their promises with the people. It’s very difficult to survive here. I wonder how I did. Many of them may not survive for long", Dr Abdullah said of the Congress-PDP leaders. When reporters desired to know what had transpired between him and the PDP vice president Muzaffar Hussain Beig when the latter called on him last week, Dr Abdullah described it as a courtesy call. "I feel very proud of the man who has initiated a new political culture", he said of Mr Beig. Dr Abdullah said that it was greatness of a Kashmiri politician who had made it a point to call on the arch rival after he himself won the elections. He nevertheless revealed that he discussed with Mr Beig the tragedies of Kashmiri people and politics. "I prepared him for the forthcoming challenges. I am very much thankful to him. I wish him best of luck". While Dr Abdullah was speaking to the media, the NC president Omar Abdullah arrived in. He, however, did not join the acting Chief Minister in the press conference. |
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Infiltration bid foiled in
Poonch Excelsior Correspondent POONCH/UDHAMPUR, Oct 17: Six terrorists and an army Havildar were killed while five persons including three army soldiers and two civilians were injured in separate encounters in Udhampur and Poonch districts today. Four civilians were injured in fresh round of shelling by Pakistan army in Sabjian sector on the Line of Control (LoC) this evening. Defence sources said an infiltration attempt by the terrorists was foiled late this evening by the security personnel in forward area of Angan Pathri in Poonch sector. Five infiltrators were killed in the operation. They said a joint patrol party of army, police and Special Operations Group (SOG) observed movement of a group of terrorists about half a kilometer inside the LoC this evening and challenged them. An exchange of firing started between the two sides as the terrorists made a desperate attempt to sneak inside the Indian territory. In an hour long exchange of firing, five infiltrators were gunned down by the security personnel. No loss of life was reported on security forces side, the sources said. Five AK-47 rifles, seven magazines, 340 rounds, eight hand grenades and two wireless sets were recovered from the scene of encounter, they added. Sources didn’t rule out the possibility of one or two terrorists having managed to slip away during the encounter. Entire area has been sealed by army jawans and a search operation was on till the reports came in late this evening. Identity of the slain terrorists hasn’t been established so far but all of them were believed to be Pakistanis. Meanwhile, the sources said, another encounter took place between the troops of 4 Grenadiers and a group of four terrorists in the upper reaches of village Malan in Mahore tehsil of Udhampur district this morning. The terrorists, who had taken shelter in a dhok, resorted to heavy firing on approaching columns of the army personnel and fled inside a surrounding forest area. Army soldiers retaliated. In about hour long fierce fighting, one terrorist and an army Havildar were killed. Three other terrorists disappeared in the dense forests. Enforcement of army have been dispatched to the forests to track down the fleeing terrorists. Slain ultra, whose body has been recovered from the encounter site, has been identified as Abu Farkan, a resident of Pakistan and an activist of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) outfit. One AK rifle, one grenade and a wireless set and some ammunition were recovered from the terrorist. Deceased army jawan was identified as Havildar Zahoor Khan of 4 Grenadiers. Three army jawans including a driver and two children were injured when the terrorists detonated a powerful Improvised Explosive Device (IED) under an army vehicle at village Bonikhet in Bafliaz area of Surankote tehsil in Poonch this afternoon. The army vehicle was blown up under impact of the explosion, official sources said, adding all three army jawans including driver, who were travelling in the vehicle, and two children, who were standing near the site of explosion, were injured. Army and police personnel rushed to the site of blast and shifted the injured to hospital. Condition of two jawans and two children was stated to be serious. Army jawans also cordoned off the area and launched a search operation for the terrorists, who had triggered the IED. No arrest had, however, been made so far, the sources said. Pakistan army again resorted to heavy shelling in Gagrian village of Sabjian sector in Poonch late this evening. Three mortar shells were reported to have landed in Gagrian village causing serious injuries to four civilians. Security forces evacuated the injured to the district hospital in Poonch. Shelling was replied by the Indian side. For last four days, Pakistan troops had been resorting to shelling in different villages of Poonch and Nowshera sectors. Poonch town was also targeted during the shelling yesterday. |
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No end to political
stalemate SRINAGAR, Oct 17: There seems to be no immediate end to the political stalemate in Jammu and Kashmir as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is in no mood to compromise saying it would sit in the opposition in case no agreement was reached with Congress on the formation of a coalition Government in the State. What is the fun of joining a Government when you cannot fulfil the promises made to the people, PDP vice president Mehbooba Mufti told UNI. "We have decided not to join the coalition Government with Congress until the promises made by us to people during elections were not included in the Common Minimum Programme (CMP),"she said. "We will prefer to sit in the opposition instead of joining the Congress Government without the Common Minimum Programme", she said. "The elected members of the party took a decision that we should not compromise our commitments for power," she said. "Until our agenda is included in the CMP we will not join the coalition Government in the State even if it means imposition of Governor’s rule," she said. The PDP vice president said Chief Ministership was not an issue. "But we have made promises to people," she said adding that "we cannot go back on our promises now." She said, "National Conference is out of race in the Government formation in the State because it was our party which wrested 16 seats from NC’s stronghold the Kashmir valley, otherwise they (NC) would have formed the Government. Ms Mehbooba Mufti, only the second women to make it to the 10th Assembly from Pahalgam constituency, said "we too are in favour of an early solution to the crisis. But we cannot cheat the people who trusted us and voted for us despite all odds." Ms Mehbooba Mufti said the Governor has given the time till Monday. "Let us hope for the best," she said. However, she said there was no communication between them and the Congress after the last meeting between Congress president Ghulam Nabi Azad and PDP chief Mufti Mohammad Sayed yesterday. When asked if the alliance with Congress was still possible, she said "the option is not closed." The PDP, among other things, has promised to disband the Special Operation Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir Police, initiate talks with separatists, repeal POTA and release political prisoners. It has also promised to hold talks with the separatists in order to find a peaceful solution to the Kashmir issue. Informed sources said that the Congress was ready to accept Mehbooba Mufti as Deputy Chief Minister. Ms Mehbooba was also offered the Home Ministry in the Congress-led coalition Government, sources said adding that the offer was turned down by the PDP. In the hung Assembly verdict, the PDP had won 16 seats (all from the Kashmir valley) while the National Conference emerged as the largest single party with 28 members (19 in Valley and 9 in Jammu). The Congress got 20 seats (five in Valley and 15 in Jammu). The Congress had claimed the support of 19 more elected candidates —seven members of the Democratic Peoples Forum led by Communist Party of India (M) state secretary Mohammad Yousuf Targami, six independents from Jammu and two Ladakh Union Territory Front members and four members of Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party— still short of the magic number of 44 seats, by five members. This is for the first time in the history of Jammu and Kashmir that no single party could get a majority to form the Government in the State. Late Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah was the first who led the Congress-supported Government in the state after the Indira-Sheikh accord in 1975. In 1984, Ghulam Mohammad Shah became Chief Minister with the support of the Congress after he toppled the Government of his brother-in-law Dr Farooq Abdullah. (UNI) |
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Talks with representatives of J&K Govt first: Jaitley NEW DELHI, Oct 17: The uncertainty in formation of the Government in Jammu and Kashmir is delaying the holding of talks between the Union Government and the State Government representatives on the issue of autonomy and devolution of power, Centre’s interlocutor Arun Jaitley said today. "Obviously, I will be first speaking to the State Government and thereafter to all relevant political groups," he told PTI while indicating that the delay in formation of the Government at the State would delay the working out of the modalities and actual holding of talks. The Congress yesterday sought more time from Governor Girish C Saxena to continue its discussions with PDP to work out a coalition Government in the State. Asked whether he could initiate talks with the elected representatives as promised by the Centre even before formation of a Government, Jaitley said "these (talks) are not to be done as a knee jerk activity". The former Law Minister and BJP general secretary said "let a Government be formed and let the democratic activity take place. And thereafter we will initiate discussion first with authorised persons on behalf of the State Government". He said he had two rounds of talks with the State Government representative G M Shah earlier and the talks were deferred due to elections to the State Assembly. Jaitley said now that the polls were over and the people have elected their representatives, "we have to await the outcome of the process for Government formation". Jaitley had been appointed to hold talks on the constitutional issues of Centre-State relations and the need for devolution of powers, if any. The third round of talks between Jaitley and Shah, which was scheduled in August-end, was deferred as the latter was busy with elections. Meanwhile, the Kashmir Committee, headed by former Law Minister Ram Jethmalani, has postponed its visit to Srinagar due to delay in the formation of the Government. While, Jaitley refused to comment on the efforts of Kashmir Committee to find a "durable solution to the vexed issue of militancy", Jethmalani, who had several rounds of talks with senior separatist leader Shabir Shah, had criticised the Government for lack of initiative to undertake a dialogue process with elements playing an important role in the State. (PTI) |
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Kotwal, others blame party
leaders for defeat By Dinesh Manhotra JAMMU, Oct 17: Candidly admitting that people of Jammu have ‘taught a lesson’ to the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) for ‘unholy’ nexus with National Conference, national general secretary and Parbhari (incharge) Jammu and Kashmir, Prof Om Parkash Kohli today said that relation of ‘arch- rival’ NC was main reason for the party’s worst ever debacle. Talking to EXCELSIOR after attending review meeting of the party, he said that one of the main reason for the BJP’s defeat which emerged in the meeting was its alliance with NC. "There was a confusion among people about the BJP’s relationship with the National Conference. In the State we were fighting against NC while in the Centre, NC’s president was minister in the BJP led Government", he admitted, adding, "relation with NC was one of the main reason of the party’s defeat". Prabhari of the state BJP admitted that groupism and internal bickering had also contributed in defeat of the party. "BJP has miserably failed to protect its ‘party with a difference’ image due to infighting and groupism", he said and admitted that image of the party was tarnished due to internal bickering. He further stated that delay in the seat-adjustment with Jammu State Morcha was also another reason for defeat of the party. Prof Kohli admitted that some defeated candidates have leveled allegations on senior leaders and charged them with hatching conspiracy to ensure their defeat. "These types of charges are obvious in the review meetings", he clarified and parried all queries regarding heated-exchanges with senior leaders over shifting responsibilities for the debacle of the party. Earlier allegations, counter-allegations and heated-exchanges marred the day long marathon close door meeting of the Pradesh Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) which was held today to ascertain the ‘real causes’ behind the ‘worst ever debacle’ of the party in the just concluded Assembly elections in the State. Union Minister of State for Defence Prof Chaman Lal Gupta and chairman of the Election Management Committee had tough time in the meeting as some of the defeated candidates including Pradesh president Mr Daya Krishan Kotwal levelled serious allegations against him. Party sources said that Prof Gupta and other senior leaders of the party including State president were grilled in the presence of Prof O P Kohli, Prabhari of Jammu and Kashmir, who had come here from New Delhi this morning to attend the meeting. Indirectly blaming Prof Gupta for his defeat from Bhaderwah seat, Kotwal regretted that rebel BJP candidate Dalip Parihar was openly campaigning that he had the support of Prof Gupta. "Neither his (Dalip’s) malicious campaign was countered effectively nor any attempt was made to get him retired from the contest", a visibly angered Kotwal shouted in the meeting. He charged that some ‘invisible hands’ were supporting and patronising Dalip Parihar, who was contesting against him. It is worthwhile to mention here that rebel BJP candidate Dalip Parihar had secured 3415 votes while another candidate Vinod Kumar Bhagat, allegedly supported by a group of the BJP, had polled 2374 votes from Bhaderwah constituency from where Mr Kotwal was contesting. Sources further said Kotwal also wanted to know that why the chopper of BJP leaders couldn’t land in Bhaderwah while on the other hand PCC chief Ghulam Nabi Azad visited every nook and corner of Bhaderwah constituency on his chopper. He also smelt a conspiracy in this episode. Though a group in the party made an abortive attempt to shift all blame on Jammu State Morcha (JSM) for virtual rout of the party but another group refused to accept this argument. Some members pointed towards Kathua, Udhampur and Doda district where tickets were distributed properly on the wishes of a senior leader but not even a single candidate could make it to the Assembly. "Except for one seat, there was no Morcha candidate against official BJP candidates in these three districts but the result on all 17 Assembly seats of these three district was zero", said a leader and stoutly countered the excuse that Morcha was responsible for the cause of worst ever defeat of the party. "It was a senior BJP leaders and not the Morcha leadership, which was responsible for our defeat", alleged a defeated candidate. Issue of giving party mandate to the defectors also figured in the stormy meeting. "As party preferred defectors over deserving and dedicated BJP workers, our image was badly tarnished in the public and people by and large rejected all the defecators ‘, said a leader while expressing his anguish over neglecting dedicated BJP workers and fielding former Congressmen Lal Chand Sharma and Jagdish Sapolia from Kathua and Basohli seats and a former Janata Dal leader Lal Chand in Bani. A senior BJP leader on the condition of anonymity said that almost all defeated candidates shifted blames on one group or another for their defeat. A couple of BJP leaders also attributed the party’s defeat to ‘NC agents in the BJP’. They alleged that a couple of MLAs worked like NC’s puppets bringing a bad name to the party. Not only these MLAs fared badly, they also contributed to the defeat of other candidates, they asserted. This stormy meeting was attended by Union Minister of State for Defence, Prof Chaman Lal Gupta, incharge organisation Mr Manohar Lal, State president D K Kotwal, State general secretary, Dr Nirmal Singh, all district presidents and all candidates. Interestingly defeated candidates from Kashmir valley were not allowed to attend the meeting. When BJP defeated candidates Abdul Khaliq Bhat, Hira Lal Chatha, Lalit Kumar Moza, Prof G K Muju and H N Koul reached the venue to attend the meeting, they were not allowed to get in. |
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‘India did not act under pressure to pull back troops’ NEW DELHI, Oct 17: India today asserted that it had not acted under any pressure to pull back troops from Indo-Pak border and gave a guarded response to Pakistan’s announcement to take a similar step, saying Islamabad must take "credible" measures to stop cross-border terrorism. "India doesn’t act under pressure. The decision was taken keeping in view our national considerations and what we needed to do at this stage of time," new External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Navtej Sarna told reporters. "To even suggest that India is acting under pressure would be really going very far away from the truth," he said. Asked how India viewed Pakistan’s announcement to withdraw its troops from the border to peace time locations, he said "our decision was not taken with the expectation of what Pakistan is going to do. We took our own decisions. It is upto Pakistan to do what they have to do on the other side." "The only credible response that would make a real difference is the fulfilment by Pakistan of its commitments to the international community that it will wipe out the camps of terrorists, stop their sustenance and put an end to cross-border terrorism," he said. "There has been no movement on this front" from Pakistan, the spokesperson said. Asked whether any diplomatic initiatives were on the cards following the decision to pull back the troops, he said "that will be speculative at this stage". Reinforcing India’s position on resumption of talks, he said "what is needed to start any dialogue with Pakistan is complete and visible end of their sponsorship of cross- border terrorism. We have seen no change in that". (PTI) |
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Omar cautions against unstable Govt NEW DELHI, Oct 17: National Conference president Omar Abdullah has cautioned that an "unstable Government" in Jammu and Kashmir would be disastrous for the people even as the Peoples’ Democratic Party regretted that the issue of Chief Ministership was assuming centrestage at the cost of other pressing concerns. It would be disastrous for the people of J and K if they got an unstable Government which would devote all energies on survival and not give any attention to terrorism and other key issues including economic development, Abdullah said on Karan Thapar’s channel Newsasia programme ‘The India Debate’ to be broadcast tomorrow night. Intensifying efforts to break the impasse over Government formation in J and K, Congress has advocated that PDP agree to a Common Minimum Programme. "We need to talk about a Common Minimum Programme," Congress Working Committee member Salman Khurshid said when asked about differences over the leadership issue with PDP. PDP vice president Muzaffar Beig said it was unfortunate that the question of who will become the Chief Minister has become the centrestage and not other pressing issues facing the State. "There are some mysterious elements who don’t want a stable Government in J and K," he said emphasising that both sides needs to show wisdom and sagacity. Abdullah said he should be rewarded for the conduct of free and fair elections and that his losing in Ganderbal was clear proof of the fairness of the elections. Amid persisting political stalemate in the State, J and K Governor G C Saxena yesterday fixed a deadline of October 21 to the three main political parties, NC, Congress and PDP, to prove that they were in a position to form a stable Government. Abdullah, who resigned as Minister of State for External Affairs, said the National Conference has paid a price for "something or the other" which were reflected in the election results but denied that it was a verdict against the Abdullah family. "We will bounce back sooner rather than later," he said. Beig contended that the verdict was for the incumbent Farooq Abdullah Government to go but admitted that there was no mandate for any one party. Asked whether Congress which has won only five of the 46 seats in the Valley should stake its claim when the top slot has always gone to a nominee from the Valley, Khurshid said "this election is important for us as it is a major attempt for the revival of the party in the State". Abdullah made it clear that these elections could in no way be construed as providing a solution to the vexed Kashmir problem. A resolution for this protracted issue has to be found by New Delhi and Islamabad, he stressed. Abdullah said nearly 80 per cent of the terrorists operating in J and K were "non-Kashmiris" and hailing from Pakistan, Afghanistan and other places and were least bothered about who came to power. Beig assured the National Conference that despite the PDP manifesto commitment to appoint an accountability committee to probe into allegations of corruption against the NC, this would happen only after the PDP and the new Government established themselves. He said there would be no witch hunt or vendetta against the NC. "There will be no vindictiveness", he said. The PDP leader reiterated his party’s pledge of holding talks with the militants once they agree to stop violence. "how can you talk with a gun pointed at your head ? he asked. Khurshid stressed that a degree of statesmanship was the need of the hour to take advantage of the "window of opportunity". On NC’s role in coming months, Abdullah said it will discharge the duties of a "responsible opposition" and support the Government for constructive programmes. "The NC has accepted the verdict," he said adding "there is no question of fishing in troubled waters" when asked about its decision to welcome back those who had quit the party and won as independents. "This is not poaching," he said. Khurshid made it clear that the Centre could no longer ignore the Congress on Kashmir issue and has to ensure that it was part of the process.(PTI) |
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3 militants killed in
Kreeri Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Oct 17: While as militants have massacred three relatives of a counter-insurgent in Bandipore, security forces have eliminated three militants in an encounter, in Kreeri area of Baramulla district. Informed sources told EXCELSIOR that militants had kidnapped SPO Abdul Hameed Chichi S/o Ghulam Rasool Chichi of Lawaypora, Bandipore, on Monday. He was reportedly working as a counter-insurgent helper with security forces. During the course of physical torture, he managed to escape from the clutches of militants. A day after, militants swooped on his house but learned that he had been rushed to a hospital. Militants showered AK-47 gunfire on his family members, killing three persons on spot. They were identified as the SPO’s brother, Ghulam Hassan, his uncle Abdullah and sister-in-law Parveena D/o Ghulam Hassan Chichi R/o Boinaz, Onagam. While leaving the ill-fated Gujjar family, militants fired volleys of gunfire to spread panic in the village. This morning, a chance encounter took place between troops of RR 14 Bn and a group of militants near Chak-e-Arsalan Khan. Reinforcements rushed to the spot and the gunbattle lasted for several hours. Officials maintained that one SPO, Khursheed, was "missing". They said that no casualty was reported. However, unofficial reports insisted that two soldiers sustained injuries. Sources said that, on a specific information, troops of RR 29 Bn launched a cordon-and-search operation at Teetran village, in Kreeri belt of Baramulla district. During the operation, fierce gunbattle took place in which three militants got killed. They were identified as Shabir Ahmed Lone R/o Thindam, Farooq Ahmed Dar alias Yameen of Kalantra and Maajid Jehadi of Islamabad. This morning, troops gunned down a civilian, Mohammad Amin Mir S/o Ghulam Mohammad Mir R/o Amlar, Tral, as he was reportedly mistaken as a militant. Residents put up a demonstration while alleging that the civilian was killed in cold blood. |
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Omar wants Govt to reward him for fair poll NEW DELHI, Oct 17: Claiming that his defeat proved the fairness of Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, National Conference president Omar Abdullah has said Government should "reward" him for this. "I think the Government of India needs to reward me," he told Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee during a meeting with him. Abdullah made the remarks while participating in Karan Thapar’s channel Newsasia programme ‘The India Debate’ to be telecast tomorrow night. When asked whether the defeat of his ruling NC was the ultimate proof of free and fair conduct of polls, he said "I will go one step further...I think the proof of the freeness and fairness of this election was my loss in Ganderbal. If we had to rig a single seat, then it had to be this one". (PTI) |
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‘Nuke power plants have capacity to withstand attack RAWATBHATE, Oct 17: Atomic Energy Commision Chairman Dr Anil Kakodkar today said all nuclear power plants in the country were safe as they have inherent design capacity to withstand any terrorist attacks. The International Atomic Energy Agency has a co-operation programme with its member countries on nuclear material safety to prevent all possible acts by terrorists, Kakodkar said in reply to a query during a press conference here. "There is a tradition of having in-depth defensive mechanism in the nuclear industry with their inherent design capacity. However, continuous upgradation is always carried out for safety and security," he added. However, "in view of the global terrorism we should not be complacent and must take extra security and protective measure at all the existing 14 atomic power stations in the country," Kakodkar said. Denying reports that Pokharan-II was causing health problems for humans and livestocks, he said the health hazards due to nutritional problems should not be related to the nuclear explosions. The radiation level at the Pokharan site was being constantly monitored and there had been no indication of release of radiation there after the underground nuclear explosions, Kakodkar said. He condemned the misinformation campaign based on rumours in the media regarding it. Kakodkar said a Gama Lab would be developed at Guru Shikha in Mount Abu for study of cosmic rays. (PTI) |
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Battacharya new CS of Himachal SHIMLA, Oct 17: The Himachal Pradesh Government today appointed Additional Chief Secretary-cum-Secretary (Home and Vigilance) Rajinder Kumari Bhattacharya, as State’s Chief Secretary with effect from November one next. An official spokesman said that she would succeed Mr Harsh Gupta, who retires on October 31. (UNI) |
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