Daily Excelsior....News Page

Sonia convenes meet to discuss proposals
Cong (I) to decide on Govt formation with PDP today
*Manmohan, Azad in Delhi after talks with Mufti

NEW DELHI, Oct 21: In a fresh bid to break the deadlock on Government formation in Jammu and Kashmir, Sonia Gandhi has convened a meeting of senior leaders here tomorrow to discuss proposals that have emerged during talks between Congress and PDP in Srinagar.

"Hopefully", said Gandhi’s emissary Manmohan Singh when asked whether a decision would be taken on forming a coalition Government with PDP tomorrow.

Singh, who met PDP chief Mufti Mohammad Sayeed yesterday and today, after briefing the Congress chief on Srinagar discussions, parried all questions on whether the Congress was still sticking to its demand for chief ministership.

"All these issues will be taken up for discussions tomorrow," he told reporters.

The apparent forward movement in the negotiations comes in the midst of reports that various proposals including rotation of Chief Ministership, offer of Deputy Chief Ministership and Home portfolio by either parties were floated during the discussions in Srinagar. The two parties have also virtually agreed upon a Common Minimum Programme (CMP) to guide the coalition Government.

Immediately on his return to Delhi, Singh said there were "some problems". In Srinagar, PDP vice president Mehbooba Mufti said her party was sticking to its demand that it should be a PDP-led coalition.

The Congress meeting is likely to be held in the evening after Gandhi’s short trip to Moradabad during the day.

About his talks in Srinagar, Singh said "we made certain suggestions. Mufti Saheb made some counter suggestions. These will be taken up tomorrow." He declined to go into the specifics of the suggestions but admitted one of them related to Chief Ministership.

Singh said the two parties were sincerely trying to see that a responsive Government was formed "at the earliest" to realise the aspirations of the people in the State.

State CLP leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, who accompanied Singh, and senior party leader Ambika Soni were also present during discussion with Gandhi.

Emerging from a luncheon meeting with Sayeed, Singh told reporters in Srinagar that both sides put forward their points on almost all the issues and now the talks will be held within that framework.

Some points were put forward by Sayeed and some by Congress. Now let us see what happens, Singh said and added that he was leaving for New Delhi along with Azad to brief the Congress high command.

Singh refused to divulge the details of what had transpired between the two sides and said "we have discussed everything and that is all I can say."

Asked whether there was any hope of an alliance Government with the PDP, Singh said one should never lose hope. Later PDP vice president Muzzafar Beig told reporters that the talks were held in a congenial atmosphere and there was a tremendous progress made on the issue of Common Minimum Programme.

He said PDP did not regionalise the issue of Chief Minister’s post.

Beig, while refusing to spell out the details of today’s meeting, said it was a courtesy call and a platform where the leaders of the two parties could understand each other.

He attempted to throw the ball in the court of Congress saying that now everything depended on them to shape up the alliance.

Earlier, Singh met Governor G C Saxena and briefed him about his discussions with political parties and the stand of Congress vis-a-vis the continued deadlock over the Government formation.

Singh also met CPI(M) leader Mohammed Yusuf Tarigami, who heads a group of independents this morning.

Tarigami said that both Congress and PDP should show some responsibility in resolving the crisis and help the people of the State come out of the political uncertainty.

Singh, before wrapping up his mission, also met Panthers’ Party chief Bhim Singh, who pledged his support to Congress, in case the Chief Minister would be from Congress.

Asked whether he was hopeful of a coalition between Congress and PDP, Beig said "formation of any coalition Government takes time, especially in Jammu and Kashmir it is very difficult."

Terming the meeting between Congress leaders and PDP as ‘courtesy call’, he said "we invited them for a lunch and certain things were discussed."

Asked what formula they discussed during the meeting, Beig said "it is not proper for me to give details."

Answering a question whether he was hopeful of a breakthrough, Beig said "there was never a deadlock and there was never a conclusion...In the talks. We are in a process. Talks cannot break so easily. Negotiations are continuing."

About reports that PDP would be split if Government formation prolonged, Beig said "I see no reason for a division in PDP. PDP speak in one voice."

"Certain suggestions were put forth by our party during the meeting with Congress leaders which will be presented before the Congress high command. Let us wait," he added.

When a reporter asked will PDP and Congress wait for next six months, Beig said "you can make sarcastic remarks but a Government will be in place shortly."

Asked whether it was the final round of talks between his party and Congress, he said "I don’t see it as a final round of talks." (PTI)

Major, 2 jawans, 4 hardcore terrorists killed in Poonch

Excelsior Correspondent

POONCH/RAJOURI, Oct 21: Three army personnel including a Major and four terrorists were killed in three separate encounters in Surankote and Mendhar tehsils of Poonch district today. All four slain terrorists were foreign mercenaries.

Major Vinod Kumar Rana of the Rashtriya Rifles was killed while fighting bravely with the terrorists, who ambushed an army patrol party at village Naika Majari in Mendhar tehsil late last night, official sources said.

Major Rana was leading a night patrol party of the army, which was heavily fired upon by the terrorists from atop a hill at Naika Majari. Rana and his team retaliated effectively. In the exchange of firing, Rana sustained two bullet injuries and died before he could be evacuated to the hospital.

Other army jawans escaped unhurt. Immediately after the attack, enforcement of army was rushed to Naika Majari to trace the terrorists. However, they remained untraced. According to sources, number of the terrorists was stated to be between six to eight.

Body of Rana was today sent to his native town with full military honours.

Another encounter took place between a group of terrorists and the army personnel at village Snehi in Surankote tehsil early this morning. A hideout of the terrorists was stormed by the troops and in about hour long encounter, three foreign mercenaries were eliminated. Two other mercenaries managed to escape.

In this operation, army didn’t suffer any casualties.

Slain terrorists have been identified as Abu Billal, Abu Ibran and Abu Sharan, all Pakistanis. They were activists of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) outfit. Bodies of the terrorists were recovered from the hideout this morning. Hideout of the terrorists was also destroyed in the operation, the sources said.

Recoveries made from possession of the slain terrorists included three AK-47 rifles, five magazines, two wireless sets, eight hand grenades and three pouches. A letter head of LeT outfit was also recovered from pocket of Abu Billal.

Meanwhile, an infiltration attempt was foiled by army in the forward village of Mankot in Mendhar sector late this evening. A group of five to seven terrorists were spotted by army in Mankot when they were infiltrating towards this side of the Line of Control (LoC) alongwith a huge quantity of arms, ammunition and explosives, the sources said.

In the exchange of firing that continued till late tonight, one infiltrator and two army jawans including a Havildar were killed. Encounter was going on and some more casualties on the terrorists’ side were expected, the sources said, adding the terrorists, who fled towards a forest area, after the initial exchange of firing, have been encircled by the troops.

Slain terrorist was suspected to be a foreign mercenary but his identity hadn’t been established so far.