Violence has come down: Lt Gen Nanavaty
Army for early installation of sensors on LoC in J&K

NEW DELHI, Oct 23: Army has proposed the stepping up of the pace of acquisition installation of sensors and other detection equipment along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir as top commanders today deliberated upon fresh plans for a crackdown on militants in the state.

The commanders meeting under the chairmanship of the Army Chief Gen S Padmanabhan spent the third day of their bi-annual conference focusing on fresh measures to check militancy in the trouble-torn State, with the Northern Army Commander Lt Gen R K Nanavaty commenting that the level of violence had come down.

India has recently acquired a large number of electronic sensors and high-altitude searcher Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) from Israel and these are to be installed before the onset of winter. New Delhi is also in advanced negotiations for purchase of more advanced sensors from Washington.

Army Commanders of five operational Army Commands, Army Training Command and Principal Staff Officers at the Army Headquarters meeting here favoured continuation of measures to exert pressure along the LoC as troops are pulled back from the International Border.

The Commanders have also finalised the schedule of withdrawal of troops from the International Border with Pakistan and in the first phase troops would be withdrawn from the Rajasthan and Gujarat border, followed by pullback from Punjab sector and in the last phase from Jammu border.

"Top priority would be given to pulling back of the three strike corp who are equipped with lethal armaments and electronic measures", highly placed army sources said.

The complicated de-mining operations also figured in the deliberations. As part of operation Parakaram, Army has mined large border areas in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab as well as Rajasthan.

With the putting off till Saturday of the Prime Minister A B Vajpayee’s security review, the Commanders dwelt on other major issues like finalising new advanced majors to preserve hi-tech weapons and ammunition and relocation of the Army Training Command from Shimla to the outskirts of the capital.

The Commanders gave the go ahead to rename the Army’s prestigious College of Combat as Army War College and setting up of a Defence University.

Another major issue which figured in the deliberations was the Army chief’s proposal to prepare a team for Olympics.

At the Saturday meeting, the Prime Minister as well as the Defence Minister would address all top commanders from the three services after they have given their detailed presentation on the security and strategic environment.

The Commanders would later have an interaction, for the first time, with the Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani as well as the External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha and the Finance Minister Jaswant Singh. (PTI)

DPF to support non-NC, non-BJP Govt: Tarigami

SRINAGAR, Oct 23: The seven-member Democratic People’s Forum (DPF) today decided to support any non National Conference (NC) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alliance to form a new Government in Jammu and Kashmir.

"We are ready to extend support to any party or alliance other than the NC and the BJP to form the Government in Jammu and Kashmir," Communist Party of India (M) state secretary Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, who also heads the DPF, told UNI.

Asked if the group would support the Congress in case it stakes claim to Government formation without the DPF support, Mr Tarigami said the issue had not been discussed by it so far.

"We want to rule the state together... We will meet again and take a collective decision in the best interest of our people," he said.

Mr Tarigami said he had met Governor Girish Chandra Saxena today and discussed with him the latest political situation in the State.

"We exchanged views on the latest political uncertainty in the State," he said.

Governor’s rule had been imposed on October 17 midnight after Dr Farooq Abdullah refused to continue as caretaker Chief Minister of the State after the term of the 9th Assembly had ended. Mr Tarigami said his group had been trying to get the Congress and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to resolve their differences and form a stable Government.

"The Congress, the PDP, and others working towards Government formation must unite with a stronger sense of urgency," he added.

"I talked to both the parties about the issues that could figure in a common minimum programme and there were no major hitches in arriving at that. But it finally boiled down to the Chief Ministerial post," he added.

Mr Tarigami said he had suggested that the Chief Minister could be from one group and the other group would get important ministries in the cabinet.

"The current political developments should be an eye-opener for all those working for an alternative. If the uncertainty continues, those against a change of Government will get a chance to discredit peoples’ mandate to non NC Government in the State," he added.

The CPI (M) leader said people had voted for a change and it was the duty of all non-NC and non-BJP elected members to honour their verdict and form an alliance Government in the State as soon as possible.

About forming the DPF, Mr Tarigami said the alliance had been set up because an agreement could be reached on certain important issues like broadening the political process improving the human rights situation in Kashmir, providing a responsible administration and talking to people still outside the democratic process.

"We have told the Governor that we will extend support to any party of coalition, other than the NC and BJP, to form the Government in the State," he added.

However, he was hopeful that something would emerge from the meeting between the Congress and PDP in New Delhi on Friday.

He said there were serious problems in the Jammu region with the "sinister efforts" of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh to trifurcate the State on communal basis.

"I congratulate the people of the region who defeated their nefarious designs. We have to strengthen that sentiment. Polarisation on regional lines would only help divisive forces like the RSS and the VHP, Mr Tarigami added. (UNI)

JKNPP to review decision to support coalition Govt

SRINAGAR, Oct 23: Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP) legislators are meeting tomorrow to review its decision to support a coalition Government in the State.

"In the changed situation, my party legislators are meeting tomorrow and we will review our earlier decision to support a coalition Government in the State," JKNPP president Bhim Singh told UNI.

"How long will this drama between the Congress and the PDP continue.. Now there should be an end to this political uncertainty," he said.

He said that the party has given in writing to the Congress president that it will extend its support only to a coalition Government headed by the Congress.

"We will oppose any move to install a coalition Government which will be headed by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP)," he said.

There will be absolutely no change in the stand of the party that the next Chief Minister of the State should be from the Jammu region, said Prof Bhim Singh.

The JKNPP will sit in the opposition in case the Congress succumbs to pressure and allows the PDP to lead the Government, Prof Singh said. The JKNPP, he said, has extended its support to the Congress on the condition that the Chief Minister will be from Jammu region. Meanwhile, Mr Singh in a letter to Governor Girish Chandra Saxena today, said the suspension of the Legislative Assembly was an assault on the mandate of the 8 million people of the State.

People had participated in the elections despite militant threats and all odds and gave their verdict for a coalition Government in the State to eradicate terrorism and corruption, Mr Singh said in the letter.

Imposition of Governor’s rule has defeated the aspirations of the people who defied the guns and threats. More than 1000 lives were lost in the defence of the electoral process.

Free and fair polls ended with Governor’s rule denying the elected representatives the right to provide justice and equity to the people, he said.

The letter further said Governor’s rule should have been avoided by inviting the larger group led by the Congress party to form the Government before October 17. That has been the convention supported by the Supreme Court judgement in the Bommai case.

He said alternatively, Section 33 of the State Constitution could have been invoked by declaring a state of contingency under which the President of India had the power to vest special powers in the Governor to run the administration. This could have been done without invoking the Section 92 of the State Constitution. Assembly could have remained intact without suspended animation.

Mr Singh said the newly elected MLAs have been subjected to harassment and neglect because of the suspension of the State Assembly.

The elected members, who have not yet taken oath, are not entitled to any benefit as MLA, he said.

The newly-elected mlas need to be administered oath without delay to ensure justice to the mandate of the people, Mr Singh said in the letter. (UNI)

Bloeria elevated to Secy rank
Srivastava appointed 12th Finance Commission Secy

NEW DELGI, Oct 23: In a bureaucratic reshuffle involving over a dozen senior IAS officials, G C Srivastava, Chairman Tariff Commission, has been appointed as Secretary of the Twelfth Finance Commission with effect from the date of Constitution of the Commission.

His tenure would be co-terminus with that of the Commission and the terms and conditions of his re-appointment after he retires on June 30, 2003 would be decided by the Administrative Ministry in consultation with the Department of Personnel and Training, an official release said today.

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet also approved appointment of A V Singh, Secretary in the Department of Revenue as Secretary in the Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources.

D C Gupta, Secretary (Banking and Insurance), has been appointed as Secretary, Department of Expenditure in place of C S Rao who has been appointed as Secretary in the Department of Revenue in place of Ajai Vikram Singh.

K C Mishra, presently Special Secretary in the Ministry of Environment and Forests, has been appointed as Secretary in the ministry in place of P V Jayakrishnan who retires on October 31.

Vinita Rai, Special Secretary in the Department of Urban Development, replaces D C Gupta as Secretary (Banking and Insurance).

V K Agnihotri, Officer on Special Duty in Twelfth Finance Commission replaces G C Srivastava as Chairman Tariff Commission in the rank and pay of Secretary.

S P Arya, Adviser Planning Commission has been appointed in the rank and pay of Secretary in place of P K Mohanty, on his repatriation to Orissa cadre.

V K Duggal, Director General Tourism, replaces K C Mishra as Special Secretary in the Ministry of Environment and Forests.

S S Bloeria, Director of Enforcement in the pay of Additional Secretary will now get the pay of Secretary in his present post.

The committee has also approved the appointments of Prasanna K Hota, Vice Chairman DDA, as Additional Secretary, Department of Urban Development in place of Vineeta Rai.

Priyadarshi Thakur, Managing Director NAFED, has been appointed as Additional Secretary and Financial Adviser in the Ministry of External Affairs in place of M M K Sardana. Baleshwar Rai has been appointed as Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Labour replacing Uma Pillai.

Subhash C Sharma has been appointed as Vice Chairman DDA in the rank and pay of Additional Secretary replacing Hota.

Satwant Reddy has been appointed as Additional Secretary Department of Consumer Affairs replacing S Nautiyal.

Gauri Chatterjee has been appointed as Managing Director of NAFED replacing Thakur in the rank of Additional Secretary, the release said.

Sudhir Mankad has been appointed as Joint Secretary and Financial Adviser in the Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways, and Ministry of Shipping replacing K R Bhati by temporarily downgrading the post of Additional Secretary and Financial Adviser to the level of Joint Secretary. (PTI)

News Analysis
Mehbooba-Sonia-Mufti route
Will PDP eventually relent in favour of Azad?

By B L Kak

The post-poll scenario in Jammu and Kashmir witnessed a new twist, a new turn on Wednesday, when Mehbooba-Sonia-Mufti route dramatically came to be carved out. The route, in plain language, seems meant to facilitate the formation of a coalition Government in the troubled State sooner than later.

Compulsions of sorts appear to have led to hectic activity in New Delhi and Srinagar, almost simultaneously, culminating in the emergence on the scene of three important characters, namely, Ms Sonia Gandhi, AICC president, Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, supremo of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), and Ms Mehbooba Mufti, assertive vice-president of the PDP.

And as telephone lines between the two capital cities witnessed Ms Mehbooba, Ms Sonia and Mufti Sayeed sending and receiving words of political significance, a new channel—labelled by some political observers as Mehbooba-Sonia-Mufti route—opened up. If Ms Mehbooba Mufti looked defiant, totally unwiling to accept the Congress line on Government formation during and after Dr Manmohan Singh’s parleys in Srinagar, she was a different politician on Wednesday.

At a time when the Congress(I) and the PDP had appeared to have become almost two parts of a puzzle, Ms Mehbooba sprang a mine when she took the initiative for resumption of negotiations by telephoning Ms Sonia Gandhi. Clearly, the development set the ‘Rajmata’ of Congress and her think-tank thinking anew.

Fresh and further discussions by the Congress High Command became inescapable after Ms Mehbooba’s reported plea that the PDP was willing to consider proposals that had been put forward by Ms Sonia Gandhi’s emissary, Dr Manmohan Singh,in Srinagar during his talks with the PDP leaders.

These proposals—Deputy Chief Minister’s post for Ms Mehbooba Mufti, post of chairman of coordination committee of the ruling coalition to Mufti Sayeed and holding of Chief Minister’s post by rotation for a period of 3 years—had been rejected outright by the PDP. Why the change of strategy by the PDP leadership?

A definite answer is not possible in view of the secrecy-for-the-sake-of-secrecy policy adopted by all the stalwarts of the two parties. However, it is not difficult to harzard fair guesses in this regard. Two important developments seem to have contributed to carving out Mehbooba-Sonia-Mufti route for facilitating working relationship between the Congress and the PDP.

First, the Congress Working Committee (CWC), after its prolonged ‘strategy’ session on Tuesday, left none in doubt about the party’s intention to go ahead without begging for the PDP’s support. In other words, the message was conveyed to the PDP leadership in Srinagar that the Congress could form the Government in J&K without PDP’s support.

Second, efforts of the Congress and its Chief Ministerial candidate, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad, got a boost after the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr LK Advani, let it be known—significantly, without any reservation or inhibition—that a minority-led Government could be formed in Jammu and Kashmir "soon".

Having come as it did from Mr Advani himself, the message couldn’t go unnoticed by the Srinagar-based PDP leadership. Mr Advani’s reference was clearly to the Congress party when he placed himself on record by arguing: "In a hung Assembly, when no one has got a majority, anyone coming reasonably near majority can be called to form Government".

More importantly, Mr Advani injected a new element into the situation by saying that place of proving majority is not Raj Bhavan but the State Assembly. His comments were, indeed, significant as they came a day after the Congress High Command gave clear indications vis-a-vis its preparations to approach the J&K Governor, Mr Girish Chandra Saxena, in connection with Government formation.

No wonder, Ms Mehbooba Mufti was found acting differently on Wednesday, when she rang up Ms Sonia Gandhi. This was followed by Ms Sonia’s message to Mufti Sayeed inviting him to New Delhi for further talks on Government formation.

Come Friday (October 25), Mufti Sayeed will be interacting with Ms Sonia Gandhi to sort out the differences between the two sides on who should and who shouldn’t lead a coalition and on who should and who shouldn’t put on the mantle of Chief Ministership.

Woman killed in Bandipore, house and mosque burnt
NC activist, 3 militants among 6 killed

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Oct 23: Even as security forces have eliminated three militants in two different gunbattles in Kashmir valley since last evening, unidentified gunmen have shot dead a National Conference (NC) activist and a woman. One more dead body has been recovered in Budgam.

Informed sources told EXCELSIOR that, on the basis of a tip-off, troops of Rashtriya Rifles 44 Bn raided the house of one Mohammad Akbar Wani S/o Abdul Majeed Wani at Arihal village, in Pulwama district, during last night. According to the specific information, a group of militants was present at Wani’s house. During the operation, the holed up militants engaged the troops in a fierce encounter and made unsuccessful attempts to escape. In retaliation, troops destroyed the target house, killing two militants on spot. One of them was identified as Mohammad Yaseen Tantray S/o Abdul Gaffar Tantray R/o Kilora, Shopian.

Sources said that on another tip off, troops of RR 36th Bn and ITBP 10th Bn swooped on the house of one Lateef Chopan at Hangipora, Dooru, in Anantnag district. Two holed up militants opened gunfire and, in retaliation, troops destroyed the target house. One Pakistani militant got killed. He was identified as Abu Usama. One militant is believed to have escaped.

One Muzaffar Ahmed Bhat alias Bulbul S/o Mohammad Khalil Bhat R/o New Theed, Harwan, was ambushed by unidentified gunmen when he was returning to his home after attending a marriage ceremony, last evening. Gunmen fired upon him several shots, killing him on spot. Officials described him as an NC activist.

Sources said that an unidentified human body was recovered by Police from Kachwari village, in Khansaheb area of Budgam district. Sources said that gunmen intruded into the house of one Nazir Ahmed Pathan S/o Hassan Ali Pathan R/o Basant Wudar, Khansaheb, during last night, and fired upon the house-owner. He sustained critical injuries. As the gunmen fled away, he was rushed to hospital.

During last night again, unidentified gunmen barged into the residential house of one Imtiyaz Ahmed at Guzarbal, Bandipore, and shot dead his wife Fatima. Gunmen also set his house on fire which gutted completely and flames engulfed the adjacent mosque. Reports said that the mosque too gutted partially. The gunmen are believed to be militants who suspected the woman as an informer of security forces.

Reports from south Kashmir said that this afternoon militants lobbed a hand grenade towards the camp of CRPF 9th Bn at Hotel Goodview, on KP Road, in Anantnag town. It missed the intended target and exploded on road. Six civilians and a Police constable, Ghulam Rasool, were left wounded. They were rushed to hospital.

JKLF distances from remarks of Mirwaiz

SRINAGAR, Oct 23: Taking strong exception to former Hurriyat chairman, Mirwaiz Umer Farooq’s remarks that the Kashmir Committee headed by Ram Jethmalani send a delegation to Pakistan for talks in the event Hurriyat leaders were denied permission to do so, Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) today said the remarks were Mirwaiz’s personal view and not the stand of the 23 party conglomerate.

"Kashmir Committee or any country or individual has no right to represent Kashmiris. Hurriyat had made its stand clear in 1998 when it outrightly rejected the statement of the then Pakistan Foreign Secretary Shamshad Ahmad that Pakistan was representing Kashmiris," JKLF said in a hard hitting statement here.

Mirwaiz had said in a seminar in Delhi yesterday that the Kashmir Committee should send its delegation to Islamabad for talks with Pak Government as well as leaders of Pak-occupied Kashmir in the event Hurriyat leaders were not given permission to visit Pakistan.

Hurriyat stand is clear that Kashmiris have the right to represent themselves and question does not arise of granting this right to Kashmir Committee. Even India and Pakistan have no right to represent Kashmiris, not to speak of Kashmir Committee, the JKLF statement said.

JKLF maintained that the Hurriyat stand was clear and transparent that the resolution of Kashmir issue lies in tripartite talks.

"India and Pakistan have to involve Hurriyat Conference, as true representatives of the people of Kashmir, in the talks sooner or latter," it said.

The Hurriyat delegation should be allowed to visit Islamabad to talk to Pakistan Government, Government of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, other leaders and leaders of militants there.

"We consider only and only Hurriyat Conference can talk to the leaders of Pakistan and leaders of militant organisations," the statement said. (PTI)

Advani indicates Cong led Govt in J&K

ON BOARD INDIAN AIRFORCE AIRCRAFT, Oct 23: In an indication that a minority Congress-led Government could be formed in Jammu and Kashmir soon, Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani today said that a party "reasonably near majority" could be invited to form the next Government in the State.

"In a hung Assembly, when no one has got a majority, anyone coming reasonably near majority, can be called", he told reporters on board an Indian Airforce aircraft on the way to Ahmedabad from Delhi.

He, however made it clear that the Governor has to decide the issue. "It all depends on the judgement of the Governor," he said.

Advani said in such situations, the place of proving majority is not Raj Bhawan but the State Assembly.

His comments assume significance as it came a day after Congress gave clear hints of taking claim to power in J and K without the support of PDP which has taken a strong stand on Chief Ministership for itself.

The 20-member Congress in a House of 87 also claims support of majority of about 15 independents and 6 other MLAs belonging to Panthers Party and CPM.

Replying to a question, Advani said, it was not an easy task to provide a stable Government in the State in view of the "fragmented Assembly".

He said, since an election has taken place, a Government should also be in place.

The current spell of Governor’s rule has been "forced" on the Governor, he said.

He said, whoever forms the new Government, there would not be any hitch in tackling the problem of terrorism as it would be dealt jointly by the State and the Centre. (PTI)

Polls for 4 RS seats in J&K on Nov 18

NEW DELHI, Oct 23: Biennial elections for 15 Rajya Sabha seats in three states, including four in Jammu and Kashmir, will be held on November 18, the Election Commission announced tonight.

Besides J and K, polls would be held for ten seats in Uttar Pradesh and one in Uttaranchal, the EC said. (UNI)

VB unearths Garcha’s fake education society

JALANDHAR Oct 23: The Vigilance Bureau today revealed that it had found documentary evidence about a fake society headed by Kehar Singh, father of the former minister Jagdish Singh Garcha, which was having about Rs one crore in its bank account.

The Vigilance Bureau has also decided to summon 95 ad-hoc employees of the Punjab Technical University (PTU), who were alleged to be appointed at the behest of the former minister flouting all the prescribed norms, to join ongoing investigation in recruitment scam, Vigilance sources said.

On the other hand, the VB has recovered some documentary evidence about ‘Kehar Educational Society’ allegedly headed by the father of the former minister. According to sources, the society was comprising of 11 members including Jagdish Singh Garcha, his three brothers and their wives, wife of the PTU Director A S Grewal and wife of former PTU Vice Chancellor Dr H S Gurm.

The sources further revealed that they had recovered an fixed deposit receipt of Rs 75 lakh in the name of the society. The accused, according to VB sources, had forcibily collected a sum of Rs 25 lakh, while one of former Minister’s brother had donated a sum of Rs 50 lakh to the society.

Meanwhile, the Vigilance Bureau sleths had failed to nab the remaining two accused son of the former minister Parminder Singh Garcha and the PTU VC Dr H S Gurm even as VB teams had conducted raids at some of the hideouts in Delhi, Himachal Pardesh and Chandigarh.

The VB had sounded all the international airport authorities about the identity of the remaining accused to stop them from fleeing the country. (PTI)

Heroin worth Rs 2 cr seized, one arrested

NEW DELHI, Oct 23: In a major haul, Delhi Police Narcotics Branch today claimed to have seized heroin worth Rs two crore in the international market and arrested one person in this connection.

Acting on a tip off, police arrested one Ajay Yadav and seized two kgs of heroin wrapped in two polythene bags from his possession, a police release said here.

On further interrogation, the accused disclosed that he was getting the supply of heroin from Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh, the statement said, adding investigation was on to locate the entire network. (PTI)

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