Jaitley plays tape, displays Rs 45 lakh before media
Jogi offered bribe to BJP MLAs to defect
*Cong announces Jogi’s suspension

RAIPUR/NEW DELHI, Dec 6: In a sensational tit-for-tat game, the BJP tonight alleged that outgoing Chhattisgarh Chief Minister offered bribes to its mlas to prevent formation of the party government tomorrow.

Acting quickly on reports that Jogi used Sonia Gandhi’s name in the episode, Congress suspended him from party and barred him from attending the working committee meeting convened in New Delhi tomorrow to discuss the rout in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh.

Union Law Minister Arun Jaitley alleged that the outgoing Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Ajit Jogi today offered bribe to newly-elected BJP MLAs to defect and form a breakaway group whom the Congress would extend support in Government formation.

At a late night press conference here, Jaitley, a senior BJP leader, played a tape purportedly containing the conversation between Jogi and a BJP MLA whom the money was allegedly offered.

Demanding a CBI inquiry into the entire episode, Jaitley played the tape and displayed currency notes to the tune of Rs 45 lakhs having been allegedly given to BJP MLAs Virendra Pandey and Kashyap.

Jaitley said they had "water-tight" documentary material and taped evidence against Jogi, his son and Congress MP Kunte for allegedly trying to bribe BJP MLAs to effect a split in BJP’s Legislature Party and prevent formation of a BJP Government in the State.

Jaitley said both Jogi and Kunte were public servants and a case of corruption for defection had been clearly made out by the available evidence.

He said the tape recording was clear and the person trying to offer money to the MLAs was "unabashedly" offering the bribe.

There was also a hand written letter by Jogi, he claimed.

Jaitley said they had handed over a copy of the tape to the Governor of Chattisgarh.

Since the outgoing Government was still in office till tomorrow morning, the party would hand over the original documents, the tape and other evidence to police for investigation after the new dispensation takes over.

Jaitley said this was a clear case of attempt to break a political party and prevent formation of a Government.

He also demanded the arrest of Jogi and Kunte.

Jaitley alleged the entire conspiracy had been hatched at the instance of Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

"Her own role is there and her name is being used," he said.

"The conspirator should be arrested," Jaitley demanded.

A stash of notes said to be Rs 45 lakhs offered by Jogi to engineer the defection and form a breakaway group was displayed at the press conference.

Jaitley said the new Government will ask the CBI to investigate the matter and the original tape of the conversation will be handed over to the investigating agency.

The money will be handed over tomorrow to the police, he said.

Congress tonight suspended outgoing Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Ajit Jogi following sensational allegation by BJP that he had attempted to bribe BJP MLAs to split the party and prevent its Government from taking office tomorrow.

"Jogi has been suspended from the party pending an inquiry into the allegation," Ahmed Patel, political secretrary to Congress president Sonia Gandhi said.

The matter would be probed thoroughly and the guilty punished, he said.

Asked if Jogi would attend tomorrow’s Congress Working Committee meeting, Patel said "when he (Jogi) has been suspended from the party, how can he attend it?"

Congress general secreatry Ambika Soni said the party had taken a serious view of the allegation.

She, however, condemned the use of Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s name by BJP leaders in connection with the allegation and demanded that law should equally apply on former Union Minister Dilip Singh Judeo.

BJP president Venkaiah Naidu demanded that Congress president Sonia Gandhi should take action against Chhattisgarh caretaker Chief Minister Ajit Jogi for his alleged offer of bribe to BJP MLAs to defect and form a breakaway group, describing it as the "most undemocratic practice" even after the party had lost in the elections.

He said, "this is the most undemocratic move made by Jogi who, despite losing the people’s mandate is attempting to seek power from the backdoor."

"The Congress president should take the most stringent action against Jogi for this kind of underhand methods being adopted by Jogi," he said.

Meanwhile, outgoing Chief Minister Ajit Jogi tonight said the tape purportedly containing his voice alleged by BJP for bribing its MLAs is ‘concocted’ and ‘forged’ and offered to face any probe in this connection.

Addressing a press conference here past midnight, Jogi maintained the voice in the tape was not his.

He, however, admitted that he had written a letter to Governor offering party’s support to rebel BJP MLAs to form a Government headed by a tribal Chief Minister. (Agencies)

Ambika admits dissensions among coalition partners

By Dinesh Manhotra

JAMMU, Dec 6: Candidly admitting that some groups of coalition partners were not happy with the Government, general secretary of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) Ambika Soni today said the "dissensions and dis-satisfactions" were part of any coalition regime.

In an informal chat with the media persons, Mrs Soni, while admitting the dissensions among a section of coalition partners, asserted that the differences would be sorted out. "The matter is not so serious that it will put any threat to the coalition regime", she said.

"Despite dissensions, there was absolutely no threat to the coalition Government and it will work for the betterment and upliftment of the people of Jammu and Kashmir", she asserted.

Mrs Soni, who along with Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Ghulam Nabi Azad visited Jammu on a short trip to attend reception ceremony of Congress MLA Suman Bhagat’s son, owned responsibility of party’s worst ever debacle in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan Assembly elections.

Replying to a question, she said, "I was incharge of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan so I owned responsibility of party’s defeat in the Assembly elections". She added: "our party president has given me full charge of these two states so I should own responsibility of the defeat.

Mrs Soni said she has sent her resignation to AICC president Sonia Gandhi. "After defeat in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh I want to be relieved from my responsibilities", she added.

When asked about reasons of the party’s worst ever debacle in three States which were considered as Congress citadels, Ambika Soni said that it was very early to say any thing. "We will thoroughly review every reason", she said.

It may be mentioned here that Mrs Soni was incharge of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan where Congress suffered worst ever debacle in the just concluding assembly elections.

PCC president Ghulam Nabi Azad, on the other hand, ruled out any dissensions among the coalition partners in the State.

Mr Azad, while talking with the media-persons asserted that the coalition Government will last full six years in office. He said the State Government headed by Mufti Mohammed Sayeed has been working sincerely for the upliftment and betterment of the people of this State.

The coalition Government was committed to implement the Common Minimum Programme (CMP) of the coalition partners.

Later AICC general secretary Ambika Soni and PCC chief Ghulam Nabi Azad met various Congress leaders and party workers. Party MLAs from Gandhi Nagar, Raman Bhalla and MLA from Jammu East, Yogesh Sawhney besides MLA Billawar and People’s Democratic Front’s (PDF) Legislature Party’s secretary Dr Manohar Lal, Rural Development Minister, Peerzada Sayeed and Minister of State for Urban Development, Abdul Majid Wani called on the two visiting Congress leaders and discussed latest political situation in the State.

Cheat posing as Omar finally trapped in City
*Bid to decamp with another car foiled

Excelsior Special Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 6: In a rare operation co-ordinated by the police, NC president Omar Abdullah’s personal security and Jamkash Vehicleades Managing Director Devinder Rana from Brisbane, Australia, the police this afternoon succeeded in apprehending a notorious cheat, who had recently decamped with a luxury Corolla car on the name of Omar.

The cheat, identified as Mujeed Siddiqui of Srinagar, was arrested by the City police as soon as he arrived at Jewel Chowk to take a newly launched Maruti Zen car from two employees of Jamkash, the distributors of Maruti.

Devinder Rana told the Excelsior on telephone from Brisbane this evening that a caller claiming himself as Omar Abdullah rang up Jamkash this morning and sought immediate delivery of a Maruti Zen car for himself. Since the car dealers here were already on an alert after a Corolla car was taken away by the cheat using the name of Omar, Jamkash’s Sales Manager Shalini Bhatia became doubtful and advised the caller to get in touch with Mr Rana in Brisbane on his mobile telephone.

Police said the caller rang up Mr Rana and introducing himself as Omar Abdullah sought delivery of a Zen car and promised to make the payment in dollars by the evening. Since Mr Rana regularly speaks to Omar as he happened to be the PRO of the National Conference, he could easily recognise that the caller was a cheat.

To ensure that the cheat didn’t manage to escape this time, Mr Rana spoke to Omar Abdullah, who was in Jammu, on telephone and narrated him the incident. M P Singh, who is in security wing of Abdullah family, immediately got in touch with the police. In close co-ordination with Omar’s security and Mr Rana, the City police finally laid a trap for the cheat.

As the cheat again rang up Jamkash, the staff, under the police strategy, agreed to provide him the Zen car. The cheat said his sister, Heena would receive the car at Jewel Chowk saying he was busy in a meeting.

Jamkash’s Group Salesman Sunit Singh was made driver of the car and Shalini Singh accompanied him with Sale Letter and other documents of the car to ensure that the cheat didn’t become doubtful.

According to police, as soon as the Zen car reached Jewel Chowk, the accused turned up and asked for keys. In a bid to engage him till arrival of the police party, Shalini Singh kept the cheat engaged. She asked him that she would deliver the car to Heena as asked by "Omar Abdullah".

Within minutes, a police party, which had taken position near Jewel theatre, swooped on the cheat and apprehended him. He was immediately whisked away to a police station.

Few days back, the cheat had taken a Toyota Corola from a dealer in Chandigarh. Earlier, he had decamped with a Ford Ikon. Sometime back, he had impersonated as a grandson of President Dr Abdul Kalam and took golden ornaments from a jeweller promising to make the payments later.

Police said the cheat is being interrogated to ascertain where he had kept the earlier cars taken by him. Police was confident of working out some important cases with the arrest.

6 cops injured in Anantnag attacks
Traders' shut up to Geelani's shutdown

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Dec 6: Hardline separatist and leader of the pro-Pakistan faction of the Hurriyat Conference, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, suffered a major setback today when his call for a total shutdown in Kashmir valley failed to generate the desired impact. Even as Geelani’s call had considerable effect in Lalchowk area of Srinagar and a few major towns in south Kashmir, most of the shops in the Valley remained open and the passenger transport services operated smoothly.

Hero of the pro-Pakistan sections of the separatist camp, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, had called for a "complete shutdown" to establish that the people of Jammu & Kashmir were not supportive of the proposed talks between the Hurriyat’s Abbas Ansari faction and the Government of India team to be headed by the Union Home Minister L K Advani. Geelani’s call was the direct and immediate consequence of the authorities’ refusal to grant permission to the public rally which he wanted to address at Polo Ground on December 6th.

Geelani has alleged that the administration used "delaying tactics" for a month and finally invoked "lame excuses like security reasons" to justify what he called "ban on our rally". On the other hand, officials insist that they had simply proposed change of date and change of venue. According to IGP Kashmir, K Rajendra Kumar, holding a public rally on occasion of the anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolition would have created "law and order problems" in the capital city. As for the suggestion of change of venue, he asserted that the State Government had since decided to allow all political rallies of Srinagar city at the well-protected Sher-e-Kashmir International Cricket Stadium, Sonwar, only. Geelani, according to him, did not agree.

Geelani’s rival faction of the Hurriyat, led by Maulvi Abbas Ansari, had also condemned the call for today’s shutdown. The most influential leader of the faction, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, had dismissed the bandh call as "frustration of some self-styled leaders" at his Friday prayers address, at Jamia Masjid yesterday. Without directly mentioning Geelani’s name, Mirwaiz had alleged that "some self-styled leaders want the Muslims of Kashmir to continuously die in an unending era of mayhem and bloodshed".

As both the Hurriyat factions had built their prestige on the success and failure of today’s shutdown and the State machinery was on its toes to enforce normality, people woke up to a routine winter morning. Most of the shops remained closed between Magarmal Bagh and Residency Road in the capital city. In the forenoon, shopkeepers opened their business at Forest Lane and Sheikh Bagh. Minor incidents of stone pelting by a small group of one dozen boys forced closure of shops at some places in the Civil Lines.

Rest of the capital city was defiant to the bandh call. In all 80 to 90% shops were seen open and doing brisk business in other parts of the city. The call had insignificant impact in the Mirwaiz-controlled localities of Rajveri Kadal and Nowhatta as also in other localities of Srinagar downtown, which, for years, were the bastions of Sheikh Abdullah’s National Conference. Passenger transport services operated as usual in entire Srinagar city. Government and private offices, educational institutions and banks also functioned with thick attendance of employees. A major setback for Mr Geelani was that members of J&K High Court Bar Association, which was a constituent of the undivided Hurriyat and has now taken Geelani’s side, were at work at all Courts in Srinagar. Bar had not supported Geelani’s call.

Reports from other district headquarters said that passenger services, business establishments and Government offices operated as usual in the countryside. The only visible impact of the shutdown was at Kulgam, Shopian, Pulwama and Tral towns in south Kashmir, where traders observed a partial bandh. Shops and other services functioned smoothly at all other major townships and district headquarters. Reports said that Geelani’s call evoked just 10% of the impact at Baramulla. Most of the shops were seen closed at Geelani’s hometown of Sopore by 1200 hours. However in the afternoon, over 80% shops and business establishments resumed normal work.

No incidents of violence, stone-pelting or pro-Azadi slogans were reported from anywhere. IGP Kashmir admitted that Geelani had been put for the day’s confinement at his Hyderpora residence. He claimed that no other separatist leader was arrested or detained anywhere in the Valley as nobody made any attempt to create law and order problems.

6 cops injured in

Anantnag

Meanwhile, militants this evening fired upon the Police post at Sherbagh in Anantnag town and also lobbed a couple of grenades. DIG south Kashmir, Rajinder Kotwal, told EXCELSIOR that five Police personnel sustained injuries. While as three of them were treated at the District Hospital, two more were referred to SKIMS, Soura.

At around the same time, suspected militants fired upon a small contingent of SOG at Bijbehara this evening. One constable sustained gunshot wounds in his leg. His colleagues chased the militant but failed to capture him. Both these attacks on the Police came at a time when SSP Anantnag, Abdul Qayoom Manhas, was being relieved by the new incumbent, Mohammad Ashkoor Wani. Earlier this week, Manhas had sustained injuries among 19 Police personnel when militants tossed a hand grenade on the premises of the District Police Office at Anantnag.

In another grenade attack by militants, three civilians have sustained injuries at Seelu in Kulgam area today.

Reports from Kupwara said that one recycled militant got killed in an encounter with troops of 8 Assam Rifles at Kanthpora in Lolab. He has been identified as Riyaz Ahmed Sheikh S/o Abdul Gani Sheikh. In the afternoon today, a bomb blast occurred at the restaurant of Azizullah Qureishi in close vicinity of the District and Sessions Judge’s court at Kupwara. The restaurant suffered extensive damage. However, there was no loss of life.

A Hizbul Mujahideen militant was late tonight gunned down by the BSF 138 bn at Batkund, Tral. He has been identified as Showkat Ahmed Mir R/o Amirabad, Tral.

CB books Director Economics for forgery

Excelsior Special Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 6: The Crime Branch, Srinagar today registered a case of forgery against Director Economics and Statistics, Mohd Ashraf Kakru. The accused officer, who had forged his date of birth certificate to extend his period of superannuation by two years, is likely to be arrested.

SSP Crime Branch Srinagar, Dr Abdul Aziz Khan said a case has been registered against Mr Kakru under Sections 420, 467, 468 and 471 RPC under FIR No. 78/2003. The FIR was lodged after a Preliminary Enquiry (PE) carried out by the Crime Branch confirmed the charges of forgery levelled against the Director.

Punishment under the charges could be life imprisonment (maximum) or a minimum of 10 years jail.

Dr Khan said a complaint was received by the Crime Branch from gazetted and non-gazetted employees of statistical cadre through a Statistical Assistant alleging that Mr Kakru has tampered with his original date of birth certificate to remain in the Government service for two more year.

The original date of birth of Mr Kakru was June 26, 1946. However, he had tampered with the document and made it June 26, 1948.

Official sources said the Crime Branch wrote to the concerned Commissioner/Secretary in Civil Secretariat seeking service book of the Director. However, the investigating agency didn’t receive any response as the Director had reportedly refused to give his service book.

Later, according to sources, the Crime Branch got in touch with Board of School Education (BOSE) seeking the original date of birth of Mr Kakru. The BOSE, which was called as Jammu University in the sixties, managed to search the documents pertaining to Mr Kakru’s date of birth from its archives and confidentially provided them to the Crime Branch, they said.

The documents mentioned Mr Kakru’s date of birth as June 26, 1946, clearly indicating that he had tampered with his date of birth certificate with "criminal intentions of continuing in the service for two more years", the sources added.

Accordingly, the Crime Branch has booked Mr Kakru. Necessary formalities are being completed by the agency before taking the Director into custody, the sources said.

Peace process to be taken to logical conclusion: CM

Excelsior Special Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 6: Jammu would be developed as an independent tourist-cum-pilgrim destination in view of its historical and religious importance and location.

This was stated by Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed while addressing a gathering after laying the foundation stone of a new building complex for City Police Station at Doctors’ Lane near Civil Secretariat here. The Chief Minister said that so far Jammu has been a transit centre for millions of Vaishno Devi pilgrims.

As Katra, base camp of the Vaishno pilgrimage, is being linked through train, Jammu city needs to be developed as an independent destination. Apart from the winter capital of the State, it is known all over as City of Temples. The city’s location resembles with European towns. Its beauty and scenic splendour, being situated on a hillock on the banks of river Tawi, is unmatched and unparallel and as such is an ideal destination for tourists and pilgrims.

He said that there is a greater need to upgrade civic amenities and utility services. He said one of the deficiencies in the city was of parking lots. The Government is creating parking lots that would remove congestion on the main arteries. Parks are also being developed. He specifically referred to the new park being developed by Jammu and Kashmir Bank at Rajinder Park with children’s corner and at Digiana. He said that Bagh-i-Bahu is also being improved and upgraded.

The Chief Minister announced that the Government has formulated a mega water supply project to meet drinking water requirements of rapidly expanding Jammu city. The project would be funded by the World Bank. It is likely to cost Rs. 500 crore.

Asserting that a new climate has been generated between India and Pakistan, the Chief Minister said that people of Pakistan too are keen to have friendship with India. He said several confidence building measures taken by India and good response to these by Pakistan including cease-fire have created a new enthusiasm among the people along the border. He referred to a recent event along the river Neelam where people from both sides came in a large number, greeted each other and hurled hand written messages across the river for each other. This clearly shows the yearning of people for peace and friendship. The process has to be carried forward, he said.

Minister for Housing and Urban Development Ghulam Hassan Mir said that keeping in view unprecedented increase in the number of vehicles and vast expansion of Jammu city, several projects have been taken in hand for creating parking lots and remove congestion. He said a parking lot for 300 cars has already come up at Super Bazar while a similar facility has been made available near Jewel Chowk. He said the parking lot at Doctors’ Lane would be developed on international standards with space for 500 cars. He said adequate parking places have been planned to remove congestion at Raghunath Bazar, Kanak Mandi and Residency Road, which are hubs of activity in the city.

Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development Abdul Majid Wani called for greater involvement of the people in development effort of the government to maximize benefits of schemes. He said Mufti Sayeed during his extensive visits to Jammu city had ordered several projects to upgrade civic amenities and all these are being executed expeditiously.

Vice Chairman Jammu Development Authority Navin Choudhary in his welcome address gave a resume of the project for developing Doctors’ Lane spreading over 16 kanals.

The police station complex spreading over 3.5 kanals would be constructed by April next at a cost of Rs. 74 lakh. It would also house SDPO office. Nearly 1.5 kanals of land has been made available for PDD installations while parking space is being developed on the remaining 11 kanals.

India, Pak must resolve issues: Farooq

SRINAGAR, Dec 6: Welcoming the improvement in ties between India and Pakistan, opposition National Conference today said the two neighbours should resolve all bilateral issues between them and create conditions conducive for peaceful living.

The two neighbouring countries should resolve all outstanding bilateral issues and provide an opportunity to the people of Jammu and Kashmir to live in peace, National Conference patron and former Chief Minister, Dr. Farooq Abdullah said at a rally at Dooru-Shahabad, 90 km from here in Anantnag district of south Kashmir.

He said people of the State suffered all along because of the confrontation between the two countries.

Abdullah accused United States of dividing India and Pakistan in order to establish its supremacy in the sub-continent.

"God alone knows what way U S is pulling the two neighbouring countries to establish its supermacy in the sub-continent," Abdullah said.

Without identifying anybody, Abdullah also cautioned the people against those elements bent upon dividing the people of the State into small groups for their own interests.

He charged the Mufti Government in the State with failure on all fronts and claimed that it had failed to live upto the expectations of the people.

Bihar police chief removed

PATNA, Dec 6: Controversial Bihar Director General of police D P Ojha, who had angered the Government with his repeated attacks on politicians, was today unceremoniously removed from his post barely two months before his retirement after which he announced his resignation.

Ojha, a 1967 batch IPS officer whose removal had been demanded by ministers and some of his own subordinates in the police force, said the Government action was a fallout of his sustained campaign to break the alleged nexus between politicians, bureaucrats and criminals in the State and he would place all facts before the Supreme Court and the nation.

W H Khan, who was DGP (Civil Defence), has been appointed as the new DGP, swapping posts with Ojha.

Accusing the Government of being "biased and non co-operative in dealing with the law and order situation" in the State, Ojha announced his resignation saying, "Government has the right to remove me...I have the right not to work under this Government. I will not work under this Government even for a second".

Commenting on Ojha’s removal, RJD chief Laloo Prasad Yadav said "we have tolerated him for very long". The DGP had violated the service code by his remarks against the politicians and never paid heed to Chief Minister Rabri Devi’s advice not to do so.

Asked whether he was removed because the Bihar Government wanted to "shield" jailed RJD MP Mohammed Shahabuddin, Ojha said "I do not know about that but it is one of the principal reasons."

Ojha said he had submitted a report on the "criminal and anti-national" activities of Shahabuddin yesterday and "that was the last straw on the camel’s back".(PTI)

Miss Ireland wins, Vashi finishes 5th

SANYA, Dec 6: Miss Ireland, 19-year-old Rosanna Davison, won the Miss World competition held today in this Southern Chinese beach resort.

Miss India Ami Vashi could not make it to the three finalists, but she was among the top five.

Second place went to Miss Canada, Nazanin Afshin-Jam, while the host country’s Miss China, Guan Qi, took third.

Given 30 seconds to describe herself, Davison said she was a "warm, fun-loving person" who values honesty and integrity. She has taken a break from college to represent Ireland.

Her father, the singer Chris De Burgh -best known for the hit "lady in red" said backstage: "I’m absolutely thrilled, I’m seriously proud of her." (AP)

No instant solution to Kashmir: Gujral

JALANDHAR, Dec 6: Former Prime Minister I K Gujral today ruled out any instant resolution of outstanding issues including Kashmir between India and Pakistan given the differing priorities of both the countries and called for strengthening initiatives to foster people to people contacts.

Delivering a talk at the Kanya Mahavidyalaya here, Mr Gujral said an instant resolution of "burning" issues between the neighbours was not possible as priorities and ideologies differed.

"Our concern is cross-border terrorism, while the neighbouring country accords top priority to the Kashmir issue. In such a situation an instant result is difficult," he said.

Later, talking to reporters, Mr Gujral called for expansion of the bus services between India and Pakistan to newer destinations like Srinagar and Amritsar.

He said that the bus service between Srinagar and Muzzafarabad (PoK) and between Lahore and Amritsar would be very useful.

Expressing satisfaction at the ongoing "Track II" efforts to facilitate people to people contacts between the two countries, Mr Gujral said these should be strengthened further.

He said resumption of communication and transport links could be considered. He said that issues like visa relaxation and additional bus services should also be considered seriously.

Mr Gujral asked the people to read and recite the ‘Gurbani’ to eradicate literacy in the state. He said he had sought the help of Mr Parkash Singh Badal and Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra in this regard when he was Prime Minister.

Former MP and Editor of Punjabi daily Nawan Zamana Jagjit Singh Anand and several other dignitaries were present. (UNI)

Bhutto wants to meet Vajpayee

ISLAMABAD, Dec 6: Former Pakistan Premier Benazir Bhutto today urged President Pervez Musharraf to permit her to return to the country to meet Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee during the SAARC summit, amid reports that the country’s beleaguered opposition planned to step up agitation against Musharraf during next month’s meet.

"The Indian Prime Minister had said that he was willing to talk to `everybody’ during his visit to Islamabad. This was widely interpreted to mean that he would have meetings with both General Musharaf, who actually wields all power, and Jamali who is the ceremonial figure in the attempt to give ‘democratic’ facade to General Musharaf’s rule," Bhutto, now living in self-imposed exile in London and Dubai, said in a statement issued here.

Hoping that the meetings to be held on the sidelines of the January summit would have a positive bearing on stability in South Asia, Bhutto said she along with exiled former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif should be permitted to return to meet Vajpayee in the wider interest of Pakistan.

Sharif was exiled to Saudi Arabia after Musharraf assumed power in 1999 in a bloodless coup.

Bhutto said she and Sharif has taken part in many initiatives concerning Indo-Pak relations and therefore it was "logical" that they too meet Vajpayee in Islamabad.

Her statement follows speculation that the 15-party opposition Alliance for Restoration of Democracy (ARD), along with the Islamist alliance Muthahida Majlis Amal (MMA), planned to step up its agitation during the SAARC summit to be held from January 4 to 6 here. (PTI)

4 cops injured in Anantnag attack

SRINAGAR, Dec. 6: Four police personnel were injured when militants attacked a police post in Anantnag district of south Kashmir this evening, official sources said.

Militants tossed a grenade on Sherbagh police post in the district township 55 km from here around 6 p m and followed it by firing from automatic weapons, the sources said.

They said that the four policemen who had been manning the post were injured in the grenade blast and were hospitalised.

Three of them were referred to Srinagar for specialised treatment, the sources said adding that no militant outfit has so far claimed responsibility for the attack.

The sources said that police personnel also fired in retaliation but the ultras managed to escape.

A hunt has been launched to nab the militants involved in the attack, they said.(PTI)

Rail link talks on December 18

CHENNAI, Dec 6: Union Minister of State for External Affairs Digvijay Singh said today that talks for revival of rail links between India and Pakistan would be held in New Delhi on December 18.

‘India has invited Pakistani officials to the country to finalise the modalities for re-establishing rail links between both the countries. Discussions will be held at New Delhi on December 18,’ he told reporters at Chennai airport.

Expressing satisfaction over several confidence building measures announced by both countries, Singh said he was happy over the progress in the ‘normalisation of relationship between both the countries’.

The air links between India and Pakistan would be restored from January 1, he added.

"If Pakistan is really interested in the complete normalisation of relationship between both the countries, it should demolish all militant camps in that country, which will effectively put down cross border terrorism," Singh said.

Asked what action the Government had taken in protecting the rights of Indian fishermen, who were quite often taken into custody by Sri Lankan navy, he said his ministry was looking into the matter.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa had recently made a representation to the Centre on the issue, he said, adding a delegation of fishermen from Tamil Nadu had called on him.

‘A lasting solution will be found to this’, he said.

The Centre was committed to extradition of LTTE chief V Prabhakaran to India for facing trial in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, he added. (PTI)

 
 
 
 

 

 

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