Pressure mounting to sack Ansari
CM holding parleys on Cabinet reshuffle

Excelsior Special Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 12: Hectic consultations are underway within the top brass of ruling National Conference to come at a conclusion for revamping the entire State Cabinet in a bid to tide over recent corruption and scandal charges leveled against some Ministers, presently holding various portfolios in the Farooq Abdullah Ministry.

While the pressure is building up within the rank and file of the Party to sack Urban and Housing Minister Moulvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari, allegedly involved in the housing scam, Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah, this morning held a detailed meeting with his trusted general secretary Sheikh Nazir to discuss all possibilities of "picking and dropping" certain Ministers, besides inducting new faces.

According to the circles close to the Chief Minister, an indication has been given that Dr Farooq Abdullah may take few more days for the Cabinet reshuffle and by then,he will continue holding discussions before coming to the conclusion on the issue.

The sources said, that the earlier idea of giving representation to all the districts in the new Cabinet, has been shelved, as the Party was of the belief that such exercise may not work in checking nepotism, corruption and providing a"clean administration" to the people.

Since the time of Independence, factionalism has gripped every party and the National Conference was not an exception, the sources said that the idea of giving representation at the district level will not work out as the reasons attributed were that such Ministers may in one or the other way help their favourites and the particular faction to which they belong at tehsil, block and district levels.

The sources also pointed out that the earlier proposal of giving representation at the regional level, was also being rejected, as such exercise may also turn out to be a big flop in a party that is riddled with factionalism. It was asserted that if the team was selected on the basis of the regional level, then the Ministers associated with the particular region or community may watch their own interests and of those who belong to their sect or region.

Instead, the sources said that the Chief Minister was holding hectic parleys to find out such team of Ministers who are known for their integrity, honesty , merit and have in past remained as effective administrators.

The sources pointed out that during the recent parleys with the top brass, it was admitted that the National Conference didn’t apply its mind in depth in providing party tickets to the genuine candidates during the last Assembly elections ,with the result that corruption and nepotism continued at all fronts.

Elaborating, the sources said that some of the present Legislators including the MLCs were of the belief that since it was their last term and they might not be given the party tickets next time, it was a high time for them to make the hay while the sun shines. Such Legislators indulged into corrupt practices in order to mint the money and help their favourites while remaining in the power.

Referring to the fate of Moulvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari, the sources said that the Police have also suggested questioning Ansari’s relatives, a top official of Jammu Development Authority (JDA) and some officials of the Jammu and Kashmir Bank, who are also allegedly involved in Sidhra multi-crore housing colony scam.

Though Ansari has claimed that police investigations have been a one-sided affair, several NC leaders were of the opinion that he (Ansari) should come out clean before any responsibility was given to him in the State Cabinet,the sources said.

This is the first scam that has hit the Abdullah Ministry during his three stints as Chief Minister.

Though Dr Abdullah is maintaining a studied silence on the issue, party workers have opined that keeping Ansari in the Cabinet may cause a wave of dissension among the rank and file of the party, the sources said.

All Cabinet Ministers in the Abdullah Ministry had submitted resignations earlier this week, responding to the Chief Minister’s decision to prune his Ministry.

The Ministers submitted their resignation to the Chief Minister during a Cabinet meeting here on December 8 to discuss the housing scam issue, the sources said.

Dr Abdullah, who has been authorised by the Cabinet to take any decision in this regard,the sources said, has been maintaining that the matter had been handed over to Police and if Ansari is proved guilty in a court of law, he will be punished.

Ansari, however, has reportedly threatened to expose a section of bureaucracy and politicians who, according to him, were bent upon maligning him to ruin his political career.

This statement from Ansari has also invited wrath of National Conference leaders, who say that no one could hold the party to ransom, particularly an outsider. It may be recalled here that Ansari was elected from Pattan Assembly segment of north Kashmir on a Congress ticket. However, his close proximity with the Chief Minister earned him a berth in the Cabinet.

Meanwhile, the State Government has given a green signal to the R V Raju Commission, probing the scam, to go ahead with further investigations, the sources said.

The panel, whose report was made public by the State Government earlier this week, has indicted Ansari for accepting kickback worth Rs 60.25 lakh in the Sidhra land scam.

White Paper on ISI activities soon
Militancy will be defeated : Rao

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 12: Union Minister of State for Home, Mr Vidya Sagar Rao today said the Pakistan-sponsored militancy will be defeated in Jammu and Kashmir notwithstanding the recent spurt in militant activities in the Kashmir valley.

Addressing a press conference here this morning, Mr Rao observed that situation was ‘well within control’ in the sensitive border State of J&K though he admitted that there had been an increase in militants’ attack on security forces camps.

"The militants’ attacks smack of utter frustration", he said, adding the militants have failed to take on security forces face to face.

The MoS Home said the Home Ministry was working on a White Paper on Inter-Services intelligence (ISI) activities in Jammu and Kashmir and other Indian State. The White Paper will be released very soon, he added.

Referring to the plight of border migrants especially those of Chhamb sector, Mr Rao said the Centre was concerned about their problems and will treat them at par with Kargil migrants. He said the Government was also planning to give a one-time relief to border migrants for the period of six months.

"The Union Home Ministry was also working on return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits, who had migrated from the Kashmir valley in 1989", Mr Rao said, adding a final decision will be taken up in consultation with the migrants’ representatives and keeping in view the security considerations.

He disclosed that Centre has sanctioned Rs 274 crores for re-construction of damaged infrastructure in the Valley.

Lauding the role being played by the Village Defence Committees (VDCs) and Special Police Officers (SPOs), Mr Rao said the Government had decided to post three SPOs with every VDC as against the present one SPO with a VDC. The pending salary of VDCs will also be released shortly, he said.

Replying to a question, the MoS Home—a BJP leader from Andhra Pardesh—said there were no differences between BJP and NC, the two allies of National Democratic Alliance (NDA) as far as the grant of funds for the state was concerned. To a question on autonomy for J&K, Rao said the Centre has not studied the report so far.

BJP state president Mr Daya Krishan Kotwal, who was also sitting in the press conference, clarified that BJP was opposed to autonomy and instead wants Regional Councils for all three regions of the state.

To a question on conferring citizenship rights on refugees, he said he will take up the demand with Prime Minister and Home Minister. He said the Centre plans to encourage Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs).

Afghans settled close to LoC

NEW DELHI, Dec 12: Pakistan’s ISI has reportedly got hundreds of Afghan mercenaries settled close to Line of Control (LoC) in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir after the October 12 Army takeover, a move seen as an indicator towards the military regime’s plans to increase infiltration into Jammu and Kashmir for militant activities.

The way for the settlement of Afghans along one-km belt near the LoC has been paved by evacuating the local populace in Bagh tehsil, Kotli, Nikial and Balnoi areas of PoK, according to intelligence sources.

The belt is being used for launching militant groups into Jammu and Kashmir, the intelligence sources said, adding the services of Pakistan’s ex-servicemen were also used for these activities.

Stating that the process of settling the Afghans near the LoC started soon after the military takeover in Pakistan, they said it is evident from the action that the General Pervez Musharraf regime wants the proxy war to intensify.

The reports assume significance since two militant groups active in Jammu and Kashmir — Lashker-e-Toiba and Harkat-ul Mujahideen — have very recently announced their plans to increase their activities in the coming days and months. Lashker-e-Toiba last week asked its ‘Mujahideen’ in the state to further intensify their attacks on Army installations during the holy month of Ramzan which began on Friday last.

Lashker chief Hafiz Muhammad Sayeed, in a message to his group’s activists, had asked them to increase their activities since Ramzan was the month of Jehad (holy war).

Another militant group Harkat-ul-Mujahideen had announced earlier that it would repeat the Kargil episode by sending its activists across the LoC to capture strategic heights.

Second Kargil campaign would be undertaken immediately after snow melts there, Harkat chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman Khaleel had announced at a press conference in Hazira in PoK.

Lashker and Harkat are among the six militant groups active in J and K and mostly comprise foreign mercenaries. Other groups active in the state are Tehreek-ul Mujahideen, Al Badr, Hizbul Mujahideen and Islamic Front.

India has repeatedly asked Pakistan to stop abetting terrorism for any bilateral talks to begin.

The Afghans have been settled in increasing numbers opposite Rajouri, Poonch and Doda districts of Jammu and Kashmir, obviously with an intention to push them across through these areas at any opportunity for militant activities.

The settlement has, however, been resented by the local Kashmiris, who fear that it would cause problems for them, besides effecting a demographic change, the sources said.

There have been protests in several parts of PoK against the settlements, they said, adding in a recent demonstration in Nikial, a large group of local people demanded immediate vacation of their land by the Afghans.

The authorities have tried to pacify them by saying that the displacement was not permanent and that the settlers were ‘Mujahideen’ who had come to fight ‘Jehad’ in Kashmir.

The protests are said to have been spearheaded by J and K National Students Federation, National Liberation Front, and Al-Mujahid force.

Meanwhile, several groups in PoK have voiced their opposition to any move to convert LoC into permanent border, saying the Jammu and Kashmir could not be divided on the basis of religion or ethnicity.

The groups, at a convention held in Islamabad recently, have also demanded involvement of representatives of people of Jammu and Kashmir of both sides in any Indo-Pak talks, the sources said.

These groups include J and K Muslim Conference, J and K Muslim League, Azad Kashmir League and PoK Wing of Hurriyat Conference. (PTI)

Revamp in Cong (I) on cards
CWC accepts Antony recommendations

NEW DELHI, Dec 12: A major organisational revamp in the Congress is on the cards with its Working Committee today accepting most of the wideranging recommendations of the A K Antony Committee report on the worst electoral debacle even as the party stuck to a cautious stand on coalition politics and tie-ups with Dalit parties.

Senior party leader Pranab Mukhjerjee told reporters that the Antony Committee had held that confusion among the people over the pulling down of Vajpayee Government and subsequent failure to provide an alternative was one of the reasons for its poor showing. The introspection committee also found Kargil as an emotive issue.

Briefing the media on yesterday’s marathon CWC deliberations on the Antony report, he sidestepped questions on when the much-talked about organisational restructuring would take place.

Mukherjee said the Antony Committee had not concluded that any single or couple of factors had resulted in the party’s poor showing in recent Lok Sabha elections.

Sources said the discussions saw members making in light of the issue of coalitions saying that the Congress was a national party and therefore there were limitations in forging tie-ups.

Underlining the need for reaching out to the weaker sections like the SC, ST and OBC, the CWC struck a cautious note on alliances with Dalit parties. It said such alliances should be weighed very carefully as the emphasis should be on building the party’s Dalit leadership wherever possible.

Party sources said changes in Bihar and Orissa were expected soon with the party general secretaries concerned already deliberating on the matter.

The CWC decided to make the Seva Dal a "cadre-based vanguard" for combating forces of communalism and reaction.

On the question of alliances, the CWC noted that the Pachmarhi declaration provided "adequate flexibility" for the party to approach the issue of alliances and coalitions in a pragmatic manner, weighing advantages and disadvantages on a case-by-case basis.

Mukherjee said Congress had made it clear at Pachmarhi that it would consider coalitions only when absolutely necessary and on the basis of agreed programmes that would not weaken the organisation’s policies and programmes.

Another highlight was the CWC agreeing to drastic pruning of PCCs wherever they were of a "jumbo" size.

With the CWC deciding on the Antony Committee report, Gandhi is soon expected to effect changes at several levels in the organisation to make it stronger ahead of the crucial Assembly polls in Bihar, Orissa and Manipur early next year. She had herself given such an indication soon after receipt of the report on Nov 30.

Asked as to when the changes would take place, Mukherjee said Gandhi had twice been authorised by the AICC to restructure the party at all levels and therefore it was upto her to decide the issue.

The two suggestions of the Antony Committee which were "kept pending" by the CWC were turning the District Congress Committees and Block Congress Committees into Lok Sabha constituency committees and Assembly constituency committees.

Mukherjee said they have been kept pending as the CWC has no power to implement them before the AICC amends the party constitution on the issues.

Apparently taking a cue from British Prime Minister Tony Blair who transformed the Labour Party to take it to power after successive defeats, the CWC underlined the need to end the growing alienation of Congress from the educated urban middle class as also the need to woo the intelligensia in a big way. (PTI)

CISF opens firing in air
20 injured as Dul Hasti workers turn violent

Excelsior Correspondent

UDHAMPUR, Dec 12: The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) opened firing in air and resorted to lathicharge and teargassing for second straight day on Dul Hasti project workers in Kishtwar tehsil of Doda district resulting into injuries to more than 20 workers.

The district police and civil administration of Doda has refused to take any action into genuine demands of the workers despite violent protests. This was reportedly being done under pressure of JP Associates, engaged in the construction of Dul Hasti project.

Official reports reaching here said the agitated workers of Dul Hasti project continued their protest demonstration for second day today in support of their demands for increase in their wages and other allowances and facilities.

The workers held a massive demonstration at the project site and outside the office of JP Associates shouting slogans against owners of the company. The workers turned violent as no official of the Company or district administration came to listen to their problems.

They resorted to stone pelting, which was retaliated by the CISF personnel with lathicharge and teargassing. As lathicharge failed to have any impact on the rampaging workers, the CISF personnel fired several shots in air to disperse the mob.

Reports said despite firing in air, the workers continued their demonstrations. They were later forcibly dispersed by the CISF jawans. The workers have threatened to continue their agitation till their demands were considered by the Government.

Atleast 20 workers were injured in today’s lathicharge and teargassing by the CISF jawans. Yesterday 16 workers and eight CISF jawans were injured in stone pelting and lathicharge. The agitated workers alleged that district administration of Doda was working in-league with the Company and has also turned a nelson’s eye towards their problems.

BSF kills 2 militants in Romeo sector

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 12: The Border Security Force (BSF) gunned down two militants during two separate encounters in Romeo sector since last evening. A large quantity of arms and ammunition were recovered from the possession of slain militants.

BSF sources said the jawans of 181 battalion of BSF launched a ‘seek and destroy’ operation in Chorusira area of Siyankot in Budhal tehsil of Rajouri district last evening. On seeing the BSF jawans approaching towards them, the militants opened firing and tried to escape taking cover of darkness and forest area.

Militants fired indiscriminately towards the security forces with automatic weapons. Security forces returned the firing and chased the militants deep in the forest area. A heavy exchange of firing took place between both the sides.

During searches carried out in the morning, the BSF jawans recovered dead body of one unidentified militant. A wireless set recovered from the possession of slain militant indicates that he was an area commander of his outfit. One AK-47 rifle, two magazines, one hand grenade and 17 rounds were also recovered from the encounter site.

Efforts to nab the other militants were going on, sources said.

Another militant was shot dead by the BSF personnel at Thandasu in the Romeo sector this morning. The militant was killed after an encounter with security forces, which lasted about two hours.

Identity of the killed militant was established as Salim Ahmed son of Noor Jamwal, a resident of village Hasot. His associate was injured in the encounter but he managed to give a slip to security forces. The injured militant was being hunted by the BSF men.

From the site of encounter, BSF jawans recovered one AK-47 rifle, three magazines, 17 rounds, two hand grenades, one radio set and one calculator.

Musharraf’s top priority to Kashmir
Pak-aided Islamic Commandos sneak into Jammu Kashmir

From B L Kak

NEW DELHI, Dec 12: The Home and Defence Ministries have just been informed by intelligence sleuths about the arrival in Jammu and Kashmir of a new crop of attackers, each one of them trained across the border. And the attackers – their exact number is not known – are Islamic commandos, who, before their entry into Kupwara and Ganderbal sectors of Kashmir valley and Poonch and Rajouri districts of Jammu region, received training in Pakistan in terrorism, subversion, sabotage and abduction.

The sensational report with regard to the existence in J&K of an unspecified number of Islamic commandos belonging to Pakistan, Afghanistan and Sudan came at a time when the Government had been informed that Pakistan had infiltrated more than 1,500 mercenaries into Kashmir valley and Doda region, taking their number up to over 3,000.

The report also came at a time when the Home Minister, Mr LK Advani, had informed both Houses of Parliament that there were continued efforts on the part of Pakistani ISI and pro-Pak militant outfits to induct more mercenaries into Jammu and Kashmir from across the border. And their job, Mr Advani said, was to escalate terrorist violence in the State.

Indeed, the talk of "fresh arrivals" from across the border was heard not only in Delhi’s South Block and North Block but also in the chambers of higher-ups of the Intelligence Bureau (IB), the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) and the Army and the Border Security Force (BSF). And that too at a time when Pakistan’s military ruler, Gen Parvez Musharraf, publicly termed Kashmir as one of the priorities of his establishment. Gen Musharraf’s assertion that he accorded top priority to Kashmir was followed by his pronouncement: "Talks with India without Kashmir will amount to a deceit".

According to intelligence inputs, one of the tasks assigned to the new crop of Pakistan-aided commandos is to organise deadly attacks against the existence of village defence committees in Jammu province. Pakistani ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence) as well as a section of Muslims in J&K continue to be opposed to the existence of light arms in the hands of members of village defence committees.

Statistics available with the Home Ministry have put the number of village defence committees in Jammu and Kashmir at 1,700, majority of them operating in the districts of Poonch, Rajouri, Doda and Udhampur. Village defence committee members are ‘volunteers’, who, according to sources in the Home Ministry, are given training and supplied with arms and ammunition by the J&K Government.

The Government of India, these sources divulged, was prompted to dash off fresh instructions urging the Indian security forces in Jammu and Kashmir to intensify their campaign against the militants and mercenaries, only after Gen Musharraf’s reiteration of Islamabad’s commitment to continue to support the Kashmiri ‘freedom struggle’.

Mr Advani, who himself is closely monitoring the Kashmir situation, is of the view that the composite dialogue process between India and Paskistan cannot bear fruit as long as Islamabad allowed and encouraged cross-border terrorism. Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, too, has sent out the message: Whoever rules Pakistan will have to take steps to stop cross-border terrorism which has played havoc in Jammu and Kashmir.

A senior Ministerial source told EXCELSIOR that at a time when Gen Parvez Musharraf had highlighted his right to talk of Pakistani support to Kashmiris, India had the right to highlight the ‘firm’ pre-condition for resuming the dialogue with Islamabad. The Government of India, he asserted, wanted Pakistan to stop cross-border terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir and elsewhere in India before talks with Islamabad can be resumed.

Pakistan, the Ministerial source argued, would have to create the right environment for facilitating the task of New Delhi to develop friendly relations with that country to be based on mutual trust and confidence. When asked to comment on Gen Musharraf’s latest statement, asserting that Pakistan would raise the Kashmir issue at all international fora to find out solution to the issue in accordance with the UN resolutions, the Ministerial source remarked: "Nothing can be done if the Pak military ruler wants to store water in a basket.

SPO killed in Kupwara blast
Master Ahsan Dar’s brother killed

Excelsior Special Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Dec 12: Unidentified gunmen have shot dead the brother of the former Hizbul Mujahideen chief Master Ahsan Dar in Pattan area of Baramulla district while as a Special Police Official (SPO) has been eliminated in a major blast at his house in Kupwara district during last night.

Meanwhile, police have recovered the computers and a Maruti van which had earlier been stolen in Bandipore as four persons allegedly involved in the crime have been also been arrested.

Official sources told EXCELSIOR that late last night some unidentified gunmen intruded into the house of Mohammad Yusuf Dar S/o Mohammad Subhan Dar at Chak-e-Sari near Pattan, in Baramulla district, and fired upon him several shots. With critical injuries he was rushed to Bone and Joint Hospital, Barzulla, where he breathed his last. Dar, according to sources, was a Pakistan-trained militant of Muslim Mujahideen who had surrendered before security forces in 1994.

Mohammad Yusuf Dar was also the brother of the former "chief commander operations" of Hizbul Mujahideen, Master Ahsan Dar , who had been arrested by BSF from the officially-allotted flat of Mushtaq Ahmed Lone -- now Minister of State Home -- at Jawahar Nagar in 1993. Once Jammu and Kashmir’s most-wanted militant, Ahsan Dar had founded Muslim Mujahideen alongwith Mushtaq Lone’s brother, Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din Lone, and both of them were arrested by BSF from Lone’s flat. Ahsan Dar, as per the common knowledge, is lodged in a CIK Jail for the last several years but official sources today disclosed that he had been released on "special instructions" of MoS Home in September last.

Sources said that at 0100 hours during last night, unidentified militants caused a powerful blast with two IEDs at the house of a militant-turned-counterinsurgent Abdul Hameed Ganai alias Heera S/o Ghulam Ahmed Ganai at Cherkote, Kupwara, just 50 yards from the brigade headquarters of 8-Sector Rashtriya Rifles. The house was reduced to rubble as Abdul Hameed Ganai got killed and his 3-year-old son injured. Miraculously, his wife escaped unhurt. The injured child was rushed to Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Soura.

Official sources said that the former militant, Heera had worked with Army for some time and later he had been engaged as an SPO by Special Operations Group (SOG) Kupwara. He had helped SOG in conducting several counter-insurgency operations in Lolab valley of Kupwara district.

Meanwhile, Bandipore police and SOG have arrested all the four persons allegedly responsible for a major burglary. Sources said that the detainees had broken into the building of Government Higher Secondary School, Kaloosa, during the night intervening March 29 and 30 last and stolen 3 computers, alongwith printers, and also a type-writer. Besides, they had stolen Maruti van No: JK04-3122 on November 27 last which had been used as Taxi by its driver who had dropped some passengers at Bandipore. Within minutes, his brand new Omni had disappeared at Bandipore.

Police and SOG swung into action on special instructions of SSP Baramulla Abdul Qayoom Manhas and recovered the stolen computers as well as the van. Four persons, allegedly responsible for the crime, were identified as Ghulam Hassan Wani S/o Mohammad Sultan Wani of Madar, Manzoor Ahmed Mir S/o Mohammad Ramzan Mir of Chak-e-Arsala Khan, Bilal Ahmed Bhat S/o Mohammad Jabbar Bhat of Papa Chhan and Mushtaq Ahmed Mir S/o Ghulam Mohammad Mir of Ward No: 5 Bandipore. All of them have confessed their involvement in custodial interrogation after which the stolen computers and the van were recovered by police.

CBI to re-open Mattoo case if asked by HC

NEW DELHI, Dec 12: CBI Director R K Raghavan tonight said agency would re-investigate the Priyadarshani Mattoo murder case if the High Court directs it to do so.

We have appealed to the higher court and are confident of getting a conviction. But if the court gives us a directive to re-investigate, we will do so, he told Star News here.

He said the agency would not spare any official if we do find that there were any lapses on the part of any officer.

He said the Delhi court remarks about CBI in Priyadarshani Mattoo case was a blessing in disguise for the agency as the judgement delivered would help it to review its investigation style.

I think its a warning to the CBI and our officers... We must always be conscious of our responsibilities. In that sense, it is a landmark judgement, a watershed that will force us to take a hard look at ourselves, Raghavan said.

Denying any political interference in the working of agency, he said I do not agree with the perception that the CBI is politicised. We have considerable autonomy and are trying to do our best of what is not always an easy job.

The CBI is a organisation which works in a professional manner. We do not go by personalities, but by the facts of the case, Raghavan said turning down the perception that influential people got away without being convicted.

He assured the family members of deceased that CBI would do its best to ensure that justice was done.

Mattoo was raped and later killed on January 23, 1996, at her uncle’s residence in Vasant Kunj area. (PTI)

2,000 bunkers to be built in Kargil

NEW DELHI, Dec 12: To protect civilian population from frequent heavy shelling by Pakistan, about 2,000 underground bunkers would be constructed in Kargil town and nearby border villages by this month-end, official sources said today.

While 100 community bunkers would be constructed in Kargil town itself, about 1000 would be built in border villages and over 20 for Government institutions, the sources said.

The Planning Commission had in June this year approved the release of Rs 4 crore as special central assistance under the Border Area Development programme for construction of bunkers during the 1999-2000 fiscal.

About Rs 20,000 would be spent for building each family bunker, of which Rs 15,000 was being given to the families and the remaining amount in form of corrogated sheets.

The bunkers are part of a relief package for victims of border shelling in Jammu division and Kargil and Leh areas, which was approved by the Union Home Ministry and is currently being implemented.

The package also includes free ration of nine kgs of foodgrains per month per person of families displaced due to shelling, a cash assistance of Rs 200 per month, free kerosene, fodder and medical treatment.

The Centre till November had provided the Jammu and Kashmir Government an advance of Rs 17 crore, including Rs 15 crore from National Defence Fund. Following the meeting of Kargil NGOs Coordination Committee with Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee last month, Prime Minister’s Office released another Rs 7.8 crore from the fund last week. (PTI)

No talks with Pak : PM

SAINJ VALLEY (HP), Dec 12: Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today ruled out the possibility of holding talks with the military regime in Pakistan.

There is no such possibility, Vajpayee told reporters when asked whether New Delhi would have dialogue with the Pervez Musharraf Government in Islamabad.

The Prime Minister said India wanted normal relations with Pakistan and also resumption of talks in the spirit of Lahore Declaration.

He described the Kargil conflict as a breach of trust by Pakistan.

Asked if Gen Musharraf was to be blamed for the conflict, he said I blame Pakistan and he (Musharraf) was the Army Chief.

Vajpayee was responding to reporters’ queries after laying the foundation of the 800 mw Parbati hydel project (stage-II) here. (PTI)

 

 

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