Mufti to take up with PM demand for legislators'
delegation to PoK
*Assembly passes resolution hailing peace initiative

Excelsior Special Correspondent

JAMMU Dec 11: Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today said that he would talk to the Prime Minister for sending a State legislators’ good-will delegation to Pakistan and PoK to strengthen the new atmosphere of peace and friendship generated in the region in the wake of a series of peace initiatives and confidence building measures.

Appreciating the urge of legislators for such a visit, the Chief Minister while winding up over six-hour debate in legislative assembly spread over two sittings on the resolution moved by him earlier in the day endorsing the PM’s peace initiatives on Kashmir, said that such visit would facilitate process of normalization between the two countries as they would carry people’s message of friendship for our brethren across the border.

‘I personally endorse such suggestion as the visits would provide an opportunity to understand each other better and remove misconceived perceptions’; he said and referred to his interaction with some people from PoK in London who believed that ‘Kashmiris in this part were captives of the security forces.’ "The fact remains that we are not captives but free people", he said, adding that when the people from Pakistan would start coming to Kashmir they would find no extra-ordinary deployment of army as many of people across the border wrongly perceive. He said when they will land at the Srinagar airport, where the security is as tight as in any airport, and move to Pahalgam without finding any troop deployment, their misconception would automatically vanish.

Fifty per cent hatred would go once the people of the two countries and two parts of Jammu and Kashmir would visit each other, the Chief Minister said.

Mufti Sayeed expressed optimism about the forward movement in the impending peace process between India and Pakistan and said that all issues including Kashmir should be discussed for lasting peace in the region. ‘The Centre must not be defensive on Kashmir’, the Chief Minister said.

The Chief Minister said that the House representing the sentiments of the people would have a definite and prominent role in the peace process. The dialogue manifests the desire of the members of the House for peaceful resolution of all the issues that can usher in lasting peace in the State. He said talks have been going on earlier also but nobody knew who was talking to whom. He said he talked to the Prime Minster, Deputy Prime Minister and Ms Sonia Gandhi and argued if the Centre could talk to Naga ultra why can’t it talk to the people of Kashmir, especially those who questioned the accession and wanted to talk at the highest level. He said he is happy that the dialogue process has been upgraded to Deputy Prime Minister’s level.

Mufti Sayeed did not agree with the observations of Mr Abdul Rahim Rather that appointment of Mr Vohra as the Centre’s interlocutor was in anyway to downgrade the talks after Mr K C Pant and Mr Arun Jaitley and said that Mr Vohra is a vital part of the team headed by the Deputy Prime Minister nominated for talks. ‘No demarcation line has been drawn for dialogue and the doors are open to all’, he said, adding that the talks would not remain exclusive to specific groups, as no demarcation line has been drawn, he added. He, however, made it clear that such historic occasions do not come again and again and anybody spurning it is bound to repent.

Strongly refuting the allegations made by Dr Farooq Abdullah and Mr Omar Abdullah that he had engineered division in APHC and said, asking was he such a force that could break the Hurriyat? Had it been possible, this would have been done long ago, he said. ‘We must welcome those who respond positively to the dialogue offer’, he said.

He disagreed with the observations about the Indo-Pak talks being held under the American pressure and said that this is because of the situation in the State yearning for peace not only in Jammu and Kashmir but also in India and Pakistan. ‘What sort of pressure US can exert on India which withstood it during the cold war when Pandit Nehru alongwith Marshal Titto and President Nasir formed NAM". He said the fact is that there is a widespread support for people to people contact and a greater realization that confrontation does not pay in both the nations. This itself is the main pressure. A situation has also emerged wherein the world has awakened to take on terrorism decisively. The post September 11 scenario has changed the mindset of US leadership who themselves had a bitter taste of terrorism. He attributed the changing atmosphere in Jammu and Kashmir to the deep yearning of the people for peace and said the strategy adopted by the coalition Government in this regard got countrywide acknowledgement. Addressing internal and external dimensions of the Kashmir problem, he said, got the top slot in common minimum programme of the coalition partners.

Advising the people not to take the present peace process lightly, Mufti Sayeed thundered: ‘Take it from me, one-day peace would become a reality and bus from Srinagar would definitely reach Muzzafarabad. Similarly, bus service would take off from Suchetgarh for Sialkote’.

Giving credit to Congress for starting the policy of reconciliation in the country, the Chief Minister said that it successfully experimented the process in Nagaland followed by other states like Assam, Mizoran and Punjab. He said dialogue is the only solution to problems, which has been accepted by one and all. He said even senior generals held the view that their gun is no solution. He said the people are the fountainhead of the power and it is they who have to solve problems. ‘Let us take the people along and solve the issues across the table’, he maintained.

The Chief Minster referred to the new atmosphere between India and Pakistan and said that did any body ever think that two Pak boys strayed to our territory would go back within 48 hours with packs of sweets. He said Baby Noor Fatima established a new emotional cord between the two nations by getting successful treatment in a Bangalore hospital. ‘It doesn’t mean that Pakistan has not good hospitals where she could have been treated, but it is a great gesture, be this mere a symbolic one; it matters a lot’.

He said the biggest beneficiaries of recent CBMs like cease-fire are the inhabitants of border areas. ‘Ask those living along the border what were travails of miseries during eyeball to eyeball situation’, he asked, adding that they had to flee to safety leaving behind all their belongings when guns roared. He said the new atmosphere has been generated step by step and it is bound to move forward with greater speed in days to come.

Initiating the debate, CPM leader Mohd Yusuf Tarigami suggested that a delegation of the Legislature should visit Pakistan. Similarly, a delegation of Pakistan’s Kashmir can come here for exchange of talks, he said.

"These days, a number of delegations of both the countries are visiting India and Pakistan. The Pakistan delegations should be allowed to visit Jammu and Kashmir", Mr Tarigami said.

He favoured talks with all the groups. "Anyone who loves Kashmir can’t create hurdles in it", he said and added that "the very survival of the people of J&K would be in danger if the peace process didn’t move forward".

"The Prime Minister had announced the holding of an unconditional dialogue but later the Deputy PM put a rider to it saying the dialogue will be held on devolution of powers and within the Constitution purview", Dr Mehboob Beg, a senior NC leader and MLA Anantnag, said.

"The peace process, set in motion, is a golden opportunity, which shouldn’t go waste. Also, no riders should be attached to the process", he said.

Dr Beg said that as soon as the peace process was set in motion, the Hurriyat Conference was split. "People have doubts that you (the PDP) too has a backdoor role in the split", he added.

Appreciating the initiative taken by the Prime Minister, Education Minister, Harsh Dev Singh said it is an important resolution introduced in the House.

He said the restoration of peace in trouble-torn Jammu and Kashmir state is the first priority of the coalition Government and during the last one year has taken many steps in this regard.

"Our efforts were appreciated every where in India and Deputy Prime Minister has admitted in the Parliament that discernible change has taken place in J&K. The credit really goes to our Government, Mr Singh added.

Maintaining the gun is no solution and this has been realized by Pakistan now, Mr Singh asserted that the People of every region including Ladakh and Jammu will be involved in dialogue.

He said the Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammed Sayeed has laid down the road map and "we all endorse it".

Ali Mohd Sagar (NC) said the talks should be held with all the groups including those who are holding the gun. "The Hizbul Mujahideen, JKLF and Lashkar-e-Toiba should also be included in the talks", he asserted.

Saying that the Hurriyat Conference is not the lone representative of Jammu and Kashmir, he said both Hurriyat groups—headed by Abbas Ansari and Ali Shah Geelani should be invited for the talks.

Mehbooba Mufti (PDP) also welcomed the Prime minister’s initiative.

Babu Singh, MLA Kathua said Jammu and Kashmir should be converted into an autonomous State and governed jointly by India and Pakistan defence and finance affairs. Either, he added, it should be converted into a buffer State.

Babu Singh said that a ceasefire should also be declared within J&K. Dialogue should also be started on two sides-one at Indo-Pak level and second on the state level. Babu Singh maintained that the peace initiative should be taken to a logical conclusion. "Any communal solution to Kashmir would be counter productive", he averred.

The senior NC leader and former Minister A R Rather though supported the resolution expressed apprehensions on the Centre’s role.

He said Prime Minister has taken a good initiative for the people of State by appointing the Deputy Prime Minister, Lal Krishan Advani as Centre’s representative to hold dialogue with people of State. As a towering personality Mr Advani has a significance in country, he added.

But the statements made by him on the next day of his nomination were discouraging. "He gave conflicting signals by saying that talks will be held under the framework of Constitution and on devolution of powers", Rather added.

The NC leader said the GOI should make its stand clear and take the present initiative to its logical end. "We were also promised that elected representatives will be taken into confidence since 1996, but nothing was done, he added.

Sharief-ud-Din Shariq (NC) sought amnesty for the youths holding gun. He also stressed that a delegation of the people’s reporesentatives should be allowed to visit Pakistan. "We had been stressing for long for the opening of Srinagar-Rawalpindi and Suchetgarh-Sialkot road", he said.

Yogesh Sawhney (Congress) was quick to oppose amnesty to the militants. "The militants should first give up the gun before they can be given amnesty", he asserted. He also called for a people-to-people contact on both the sides.

Ashwani Sharma (Jammu State Morcha) said the PM’s initiative has given a ray of hope to the people of border areas, who were worst sufferers of the hostilities between the two countries. Jugal Kishore (BJP) also appreciated the Prime Minister’s initiative.

Mian Altaf (NC) called for a ceaseifre by the militants and security forces in the State. He lamented that Jammu and Kashmir has been made a "ground of experiment".

Housing and Urban Development Minister Ghulam Hassan Mir said the situation was fast changing for a good as even Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani, who was known as a ‘pro-active man’ is now favouring talks to solve the Kashmir problem.

"Doors are open for all for the dialogue", he observed and recalled that the PDP had been favouring dialogue at the highest level when it was in the Opposition.

Health and Medical Education Minister Lal Singh said he was confident that both the countries will again unite one day.

Manjeet Singh (BSP) said that gun was no solution to Kashmir problem. "Those who are holding the guns must take a lesson from Punjab", he said.

Dr Manohar Lal Sharma (PDF) called for a result oriented dialogue while Raman Bhlla (Congress) said the peace initiative should be pursued and taken to the logical conclusion.

Rural Development Minister Peerzada Mohammed Sayeed said the J&K has become a victim of capitalist powers’ conspiracy since 1947 and four wars including Kargil were fought on Kashmir issue.

He said dialogue was held in the North Eastern states and Punjab which were facing turmoil hence there is no harm in holding the talks in J&K.

Minister of PHE, Irrigation, Qazi Mohammed Afzal while welcoming the resolution said the coalition Government is committed to restoration of peace in the State and it has the political will to do it.

Speaking in favour of resolution the Minister of Power, Mohammed Sharief Niaz said restoration of peace in the State is of paramount importance and it should be given priority by all.

Minister of Agriculture, Abdul Aziz Zargar, while hailing the initiative said the present crisis in the State is the result of some lapses of the previous governments.

Terming the peace initiative a golden opportunity for those who were of the opinion that no negotiations will be held with them, Usman Majid appealed all to give peace a chance.

He said since 1989 people of State suffered a lot and there is hardly any family which has not been victimized in the State.

NC’s Mubarak Gul said his Party always stood for Indo-Pak friendship and initiative was started by late Chief Minister and founder of the Party Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah way back in seventies.

Moulvi Abdul Rashid independent while supporting the resolution said India and Pakistan should bury the hatchet and work sincerely for restoration of peace.

Khem Lata Wakhloo, Congress, while supporting the resolution said the Kashmiri Pandits who are the worst sufferers of the terrorism be also included in dialogue process.

Peer Mohammed Yousf of PDP said the friendship between India and Pakistan is the only solution to the problem.

Among others who supported the resolution include Abdul Gani Malik NC, Girdari Lal Congress, G M Jan, Mohammed Aslam, Mohammed Abas NC and Dr Ramesh Chander, Congress.

Dillawar fires another salvo on NC, seeks inquiry into assets

Excelsior Special Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 11: A day after embarrassing his party with a ‘pro-Government’ speech, National Conference MLA Dillawar MLA today directly fired a salvo on the "top party leadership" demanding an inquiry into the property with crores amassed by them. He also charged them with "playing with the blood of Kashmiri people" for their vested interests.

Entire flock of the NC later staged a walk-out from the House protesting against the Speaker’s decision in allowing Mr Mir to speak in the House "in violation of the rules".

After question hour in the Assembly, Dillawar Mir said he wanted to reply to the alleged derogatory remarks made against him by NC president Omar Abdullah at a function last evening.

While the treasury benches shouted the slogans of ‘shame, shame’, all NC members were on their feet and tried to shout down Mr Mir. Abdul Rahim Rather, former Minister, said Mr Mir should know that a person (Omar Abdullah), who is not a member of the House, can’t be discussed.

"Where does the issue concerns the House. It’s against the rule. He (Dillawar Mir) can’t be allowed to raise the issue", Rather argued. Speaker Tara Chand, however, didn’t agree with the NC members suggestion and allowed Mr Mir to raise the issue. He said Mr Mir was also clarifying the allegations and not posing any query to Mr Abdullah.

Amidst protests from his party colleagues, Mr Mir said that Mr Abdullah has charged him with selling his ‘imaan’ (righteousness), intending to become a Minister in the Mufti Government and a hero. He also quoted Mr Abdullah as having declared that he won’t allow him to become a hero.

Moulvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari (NC) again intervened Dillawar Mir saying "had the allegations been levelled against him in the House, he had a right to make a statement but, in this case, the charges pertained to outside the House". He said the Chair was allowing NC image to be spoiled by allowing Mr Mir to speak. Mr Mir countered: "my image has been damaged with the allegations. I want to set the record straight".

Dillawar Mir said he has been charged with selling his ‘imaan’ in 1984 and now again. "Let this House know that I’m a true Muslim and I can never compromise with my righteousness", he declared in an agitated tone.

An agitated Mir, without naming the top NC leadership, asked "Croron, Arabon Rupaye Kahaan Se Laaye (from where they have amassed wealth worth crores of rupees)? " Let an independent Commission headed by a Supreme Court Judge inquire the allegations against me and them", he thundered.

Again, Sagar and Ansari interrupted his speech. As the Speaker called for decorum in the House, Mr Ansari asked: "what decorum"? He again charged the Chair with taking directions from the treasury benches. He said he would expose the top political leadership of the ruling party. "Jo Bade Bade Libaas Pahankar Democracy Ka Daawa Karte Hein, Unki Poul Khol Doonga (I’ll expose those who today are claiming themselves as champions of democracy)", Ansari shouted.

Amidst protests, all NC MLAs walked-out of the House in protest against what they called the "violation of rules" in the House by allowing Dillawar Mir to speak.

Later, speaking to newsmen in the Assembly lobby, Mr Mir said the National Conference was not a private limited company or a personal property of any person. "Who have compromised with the blood of Kashmiri people. Who is playing with their sentiments for their vested interests"? he asked without naming anyone.

He said the peace process initiated by the Centre has frustrated some of the politicians.

Speaker agrees for debate on Marwah ration scam
NC disrupts question hour

Excelsior Special Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 11: The National Conference today disrupted the proceedings during entire question hour in the Legislative Assembly demanding that an adjournment motion moved by the party legislator from Kishtwar, Sajjad Kitchloo on the allegations levelled by Consumer Affairs Minister Taj Mohi-ud-Din on ration supply in Marwah, be admitted.

As soon as the House proceedings began in the Assembly, Mr Kitchloo, who was wearing a black coat and head cap with the writing ‘Taj Mohi-ud-Din Hai Hai’, ‘Mufti Sarkaar Hai Hai’, stood up and demanded that the House should be adjourned to discuss the issue saying Mr Taj had allegedly stopped ration supply to Marwah and other areas leading to food shortage.

Mr Kitchloo was joined by all other NC members. The Speaker declined to admit the adjournment motion but said he would allow Mr Kitchloo to speak on the subject after the question hour. This, however, didn’t satisfy the NC members and most of them trooped into well of the House. Senior NC members like A R Rather, Ali Mohd Sagar and Dr Mehboob Beg continued protests from their seats.

As the Speaker went ahead with the business, the NC members especially Mr Kitchloo and Mr Ajay Sadhotra started slogan shouting against the Mufti Government and Taj Mohi-ud-Din. ‘Yeh Kaisi Sarkaar Hai, Anaaj Se Inkaar Hai’, ‘Bhukhon Ko Rashan Do’ and ‘Food Minister Hai Hai’ rented the air, which were repeatedly countered by the Congress-PDP members with ‘Omar Abdullah Hai Hai, ‘National Conference Hai Hai’.

Mr Kitchloo and Mr Sadhotra were seen arguing with the Speaker to admit the motion but the Chair went ahead with the question hour, though most of the time, nothing was audible in the din. The NC members also didn’t ask the questions listed against their names.

The Speaker told the protesting NC members that the Minister (Taj Mohi-ud-Din) has agreed to make a statement on the subject tomorrow. But the Speaker’s announcement didn’t have any impact on the NC members.

Intervening, CPM MLA Mohd Yusuf Tarigami regretted that Assembly is being converted into a public rally especially when some important business had been listed for the day. .

After half an hour of the question hour, the Speaker agreed for half an hour debate and the NC MLAs took their seats. However, within a minute, NC member, Ali Mohd Sagar was again on his feet and asked the Speaker to officially announce that a debate would be held on the adjournment motion tomorrow.

Tara Chand clarified that he had agreed for a half an hour debate but not under the adjournment motion, which stood rejected. Again, all NC members rushed to well of the House and resumed their protest.

Moulvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari (NC) charged the Speaker with taking directions from the treasury benches. "You have changed your decision after getting a signal from the treasury benches", he said.

Deputy Chief Minister Mangat Ram Sharma stood up to say something but he was not allowed to speak by the Opposition.

As the question hour ended at 10.30 am amidst pandemonium, the Speaker said the issue raised by the NC MLA was not of that nature which required adjournment of the business. He then announced two hour debate on the subject after the question hour tomorrow which would be followed by the Minister’s reply.

The NC MLAs returned to their seats.

Ansari behaves like Pak representative: DyCM

Excelsior Special Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 11: Deputy Chief Minister and leader of the House, Mangat Ram Sharma, today charged his former party colleague and now a senior NC leader, Moulvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari with allegedly "behaving like a representative of Pakistan in the Assembly".

While speaking on a motion moved by Chief Minister Mufti Mohd Sayeed to extend thanks to the Prime Minister for his peace initiative in Jammu and Kashmir, Mr Ansari said Pervez Musharraf (Pakistan President) would not leave any area of Kashmir.

Before Mr Ansari could complete his sentence, he was interrupted by Mr Sharma who wondered that whether Mr Ansari was a representative of Pakistan. "Aap Pakistan Ki Numaindagi Mat Kariye Yahaan (don’t represent Pakistan in the House), an agitated leader of the House said and wanted to know that why Ansari was giving Pakistan’s view point in the Assembly.

Ansari also tried to interrupt Mr Sharma and described him as ‘Jansanghi’. "I need no certificate from the Pandit or anybody else. I’m an Indian and will die as an Indian", Ansari said.

Again, while participating in debate on the motion, Mr Sharma observed that every member in the House must talk like an Indian. He regretted that some member(s) speak the language of another country.

Taking another dig at the National Conference, the veteran Congress leader wondered that why the NC was worried about a division in the Hurriyat Conference.

"If they (the Hurriyat people) are divided, it’s good for India. It is Pakistan which has divided the Hurriyat. Why the NC is shedding tears for them. You are Indians, why are you worried about the Hurriyat", the Deputy Chief Minister asked pointing towards the Opposition benches.

His remarks, however, triggered spontaneous protests from NC MLAs—Ali Mohd Sagar and Sharief-ud-Din Shariq, who denied having spoken any word against India.

Mr Sharma said the Hurriyat Conference has no base and that is why they didn’t contest the Assembly elections.

"We have to strengthen India and the Parliament", the Deputy Chief Minister said and added that, for this, the State of Jammu and Kashmir has to be kept united.

As Mr Sharma concluded his speech, Mr Sagar stood up and said: "our stand is crystal clear on the militants and Hurriyat Conference as well as on a solution to Kashmir for which we are demanding autonomy".

He asked the Deputy Chief Minister that what is the stand of your alliance partner vis-a-vis the militants. "Have they ever condemned the militants or Pakistan"? he asked referring to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) leadership.

3 militants, couple killed
*College employee held in Poonch attack

Excelsior Special Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 11: Three militants and a couple were killed in separate incidents in the region overnight while a militant, who had managed to escape during an attack in Poonch town yesterday afternoon, remained untraced.

Official sources said the security forces in Poonch intercepted a message last mid-night in which the absconding militant was conveying to his commanders that he was safe in a hideout and will report back to the camp after curfew and cordon is lifted. Army and police continued searches in the entire town and its outskirts throughout the last night but couldn’t get the militant.

DIG Rajouri-Poonch range S M Sahai also reached Poonch town this morning to supervise the operation.

Sources said a dog squad pressed in service to trace the militant walked upto the hut of a degree college chowkidar Farooq Ahmed R/o Thanna Mandi, Rajouri. Ahmed was immediately taken into custody by the police and is being subjected to questioning.

"It is suspected that the militant might have thrown his clothes in a fire pot outside the Chowkidar’s hut and escaped in another dress", they said pointing out that the degree college building was adjacent to SBI branch where the two militants had first struck.

Curfew in Poonch town was lifted at 10 am today.

It may be recalled that an ASI and a civilian were killed and 19 others were injured in the militant attack in Poonch town yesterday afternoon. A militant was also gunned down by the security personnel while his associate had escaped.

Meanwhile, the militants last night gunned down a couple in their house at Kallar Mohra under the jurisdiction of Gursai police station in Mendhar tehsil. They have been identified as Mohd Akhan and his wife Manzoora Begum.

Security forces eliminated two militants at village Seela Dhok in Sailan area of Surankote this morning. Sources said a massive cordon and search operation has been launched in Sailan following reports that the militants had constructed Hill Kaka type bunkers there.

Atleast a dozen militants were hiding there, the sources said. Two AK rifles and some ammunition were recovered from the slain militants, who were foreign mercenaries, they added.

Another militant Shakeel Ahmed son of Abdul Rehman R/o Zaradi was killed in an encounter with the Army at Neel Zaradi in Banihal this morning. He was an activist of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) outfit. One AK rifle was recovered from him.

Security forces today busted a hideout at Paras dhok in Darhal and recovered two RPG rockets, one HE rocket, one UBGL grenade, nine hand grenades, three hand grenades, four remote control devices and 53 AK rounds.

Cong rules out change; Amarinder gets reprieve

NEW DELHI, Dec 11: Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh today got a reprieve with the party ruling out any change in leadership and all nine Congress MPs coming out openly in his support even as the dissident group, claiming majority in the Congress Legislature Party, declared a "war on the Chief Minister."

Convenor of Punjab Congress in Lok Sabha, Jagmeet Singh Brar told reporters here that "all the nine MPs had informed the three-member AICC committee and the party leadership that Congress in Punjab was fighting a crucial battle against corruption and any change in leadership would prove counter-productive."

Brar said all the nine MPs would meet the AICC committee and also the party president tomorrow to convey their feelings.

Congress spokesman, meanwhile, ruled out any change of leadership in Punjab now and said grievances of party members could be sorted out amicably.

"There is no such possibility immediately. I cannot see any such possibility," party spokesman Satyavrat Chaturvedi told reporters here. However, he said if there were any grievances from the partymen in Punjab, it could be sorted out amicably through mutual consultation.

Bhattal, meanwhile "declared a war against the Chief Minister" and again claimed majority in the CLP but stopped short of coming out with the signed list of MLAs as she had promised to do.

"We are not coming out with the list of MLAs at this juncture because they could be easily pressurised by the people in power. But we will certainly show the list when the party president invites us," Bhattal said.

Openly voicing her demand for removal of Singh, Bhattal said she would go back to the State only after Singh was removed from the post by the party high command.

Bhattal group sources claimed they had already received the signatures of 32 MLAs and were expecting three more today.

But political advisor to the Chief Minister, Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi, dismissed the claim. "Governments are not run by I-cards and signatures. The party high command decides the way Government would be run in the State," he said.

Denying the allegation that they had paraded the MLAs yesterday, Sodhi said "we have just given the list of 40 MLAs who met the AICC committee from our side. We did not parade them."

"We are now waiting for the decision of the high command and would do whatever they want us to do," he said.

The dissident group, however, appeared to be in no mood for compromise with Bhattal openly saying "what does he think, the Government will run according to his style... We will remove him and only then go from here."

"The Chief Minister has been telling total lies just to save his chair. Raids are being conducted at the offices of innocent people... Have all of us gone corrupt?

"The Chief Minister should explain his actions. His palace is being renovated using Rajasthani patterns when in the last so many years it was not even whitewashed," Bhattal said.

"The economic condition is very bad in Punjab. Still the Chief Minister brought his loyal MLAs by air yesterday to parade before the AICC committee and put them in a five-star hotel here", she said after a breakfast meeting with her supporters at the Punjab Bhawan here.

Our sole aim now is to "remove Amarinder and save Congress." (PTI)

Terminations eye wash: NC

Excelsior Special Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 11: The National Conference today described the "forced retirement" given to 15 Government officers as an "eyewash" saying the "big bulls" have been allowed to go scot free.

Raising the issue in the Assembly, Saifullah Mir (NC) said only Class-IV employee have been terminated while the big bulls have been spared.

Deputy Speaker Mohd Akbar Lone, who was in the chair, said if there were allegations of corruption against any official, he should be hanged and not only terminated. "Choron Ki Wakalat Naheen Ki Jaati Hai Yahaan (the thieves are not protected here)", Mr Lone said.

NC leader Ali Mohd Sagar also intervened saying it was an important issue as it formed part of the Common Minimum Programme (CMP) of the coalition Government. "As per the Parliamentary proceedings, the Chief Minister should have disclosed names of the terminated officers on floor of the House when the Assembly was in session. We too would have cheered him", he said.

Mr Sagar said the coalition partners had been raising a hue and cry that crores had been looted by the officers and asked "why the big bulls have been spared"?

As Saifullah Mir continued to speak, PDP MLA Ghulam Hassan Khan remarked: "Yeh Choron Ki Himayat Kar Raha Hai (he is advocating the cause of thieves)".

20 Munsiff Magistrates transferred

Excelsior Special Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 11: Twenty Munsiff Magistrates have been transferred in the second re-shuffle of the Subordinate Judiciary during the past two days. This has been done in response to the full court meeting held on December 5 under the chairmanship of Acting Chief Justice VK Jhanji.

According to the order issued by Register General today, Mr Sobha Ram Gandhi, Sub-Registrar Jammu has been transferred and posted as Munsiff District Mobile Magistrate (Traffic), Rajouri in place of Mr Rajeev Gupta who has been posted as Sub Registrar Jammu.

Ms Rupali Ratta, Munsiff Jammu has been transferred and posted as Additional Munsiff Samba in place of Mr Chain Singh Bavoria, who has been posted as Munsiff Majalta vice Ms Kusum Lata Pandita, who will be now new Munsiff Jammu. Similarly, Ms Masarat Shaheen, Munsiff Char-e-Sharief and Ms Masarat Roohi, Third Additional Munsiff Srinagar will swap their place of postings.

Mr Mohd Anwar Alnasir, Sub Registrar Srinagar has been transferred and posted as Munsiff Buniyar vice Mr MA Chaudhary, who has been posted as Munsiff Nowshera.

Mr Sandeep Gandotra, Munsiff Nowshera has been posted as Munsiff Bani in place of Mr Om Prakash-I, who has been posted as Munsiff Bishnah. Munsiff Bishnah, Kamlesh Pandita has been transferred and posted as Sub Registrar Srinagar.

Mr Mehraj-ud-Din Sofi, Munsiff Mobile Magistrate Traffic Sopore has been transferred and posted as Munsiff Tangmarg in place of Mr Javed Ahmad Jeelani, who has been posted as Munsiff Baramulla. Mr Abdul Majid Dar, Munsiff Baramulla has been shifted and posted as Mobile Magistrate Traffic Sopore.

Mr Naushad Ahmad, Fifth Additional Munsiff Srinagar has been transferred and posted as Additional Mobile Magistrate Traffic Jammu vice Mr Balbir Lal, who has been posted as Munsiff Kotranka.

Munsiff Kotranka, Manoj Parihar has been posted as Munsiff Kathua in place of Ms Rajani Sharma, who will be Munsiff Leave Reserve High Court wing Jammu against the vacant post. Munsiff Pattan, Abdul Nasir has been transferred and posted as Fifth Additional Munsiff Srinagar.

In the meanwhile,it has been learnt that the State High Court has recommended two senior Sub-Judges, Mr Ashok Sharma, presently posted as Sub- Judge Bhaderwah and Mr Mohd Shaffi Khan, presently Chief Judicial Magistrate Srinagar for promotions as District and Sessions Judges and that Advocate Sanjay Gupta has also been selected as Direct Recruit for the post of District and Sessions Judge from the direct quota.

2 militants killed in Bijbehara gunbattle

Excelsior Special Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Dec 11: While as militants attacked a camp of SOG Baramulla at Kreeri during last night, security forces today killed two militants of Hizbul Mujahideen in a fierce gunbattle with them in Bijbehara area of Anantnag district.

Informed sources in south Kashmir told the EXCELSIOR that, over a specific information, troops of Rashtriya Rifles 03 Bn and Police launched a search operation at Darigund village in Bijbehara-Sirigufwara belt of Anantnag district today. Two local cadres of Hizbul Mujahideen were killed in the encounter that lasted over three hours. They were identified as Ghulam Mohi-ud-din Rather alias Qasim Khan S/o Wali Mohammad Rather R/o Mahend and Bashir Ahmed Mir alias Bilal R/o Mirhama, Bijbehara. Two AK-56 rifles, one hand grenade and one wireless set were recovered from the site of encounter.

In another incident, troops of Rashtriya Rifles 7th Bn intercepted a Tata passenger bus No: JK01E-4202, at a spot between Chhatergul and Achhabal for routine checking. Some militants travelling in the bus came down alongwith other passengers and opened fire. While the troops ducked for taking the position, militants escaped under the cover of the civilian commuters. Troops observed restraint and avoided retaliation, as the same would have certainly caused harm to the life of the civilians.

However, after some time, some soldiers fired volleys of gunfire on the seized vehicle. There were no casualties as all the passengers had alighted.

Reports from Baramulla said that late last night, militants fired bursts of gunfire and rockets in the direction of SOG’s camp at Kreeri. Guards retaliated and the militants escaped. There was no damage.

Meanwhile, troops of RR 34 Bn have withdrawn the cordon-and-search operation at Rathsun village in Beerwah area of Budgam district. Credible reports received by official said that district Budgam’s most wanted militants——Bilal Habshi of Al-Badar and Mohammad Yusuf of Hizbul Mujahideen—managed to escape alongwith eight of their associates. One of the two militants, who had been killed in the initial round of firing on Wednesday, has been identified as Hilal Ahmed Mir alias Abdullah S/o Mohammad Sultan Mir R/o Chak Wazir Shiperpora, Rathsun. Officials described him as a militant of Hizbul Mujahideen.

On the basis of reports available from the village, official sources admitted that both the most wanted militants of Budgam district, Bilal Habshi and Yusuf, managed to hide or escape as they had got holed up in the operation. If these reports were to be believed, Bilal and Yusuf have managed to escape alongwith with eight of their armed associates. Troops of RR 34 Bn conducted the operation, which was supervised by Commander of Sector 12, Commanding Officer of RR 34 Bn and SP Budgam for the last two days.

Bill on defection in winter session

NEW DELHI, Dec 11: In a major push to electoral reforms, Government will bring in a Constitution amendement to disallow defectors from holding office of profit till they win the next elections and peg the strength of the Council of Ministers to 15 per cent of the total number of members in Lok Sabha and State Legislatures.

The 97th Constitution (amendment) bill incorporating the recommendations of the Parliamentary standing committee, which got the Cabinet nod yesterday, will be introduced in the winter session, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj told reporters here today.

"We will try and pass this bill in this session itself," she said.

"It is a major milestone in electoral reforms," Swaraj said adding Government has accepted the recommendation of the committee to fix the size of the Council of Ministers to 15 per cent of the lower House instead of 10 per cent of the strength of both the Houses.

Swaraj said this modification has been made from the earlier recommendation as not all states have bicameral legislature.

The strength of the Council of Ministers in small states would be 12 instead of seven as suggested in the original bill, she said.

The 44-member standing committee on Home Affairs, headed by Pranab Mukherjee (Congress), in its report has observed that the bill in its present form suffered from an infirmity to the extent that a loser in any election to Parliament or a state legislature becomes eligible to be appointed as a minister or to a remunerative political post even though the stigma of defection has not been condoned by the electorate.

The proposed legislation aims to do away with a split in a political party from the 10th schedule of the Constitution to check its misuse.

Endorsing Government attempt in this regard, the committee said split in a party for a cause other than ideological, such as situational and motivational, will be stopped resulting in check of proliferation of political parties.

The committee was of the view that size of a council of ministers including the Chief Minister in a State should be 15 per cent of the total number of members of the legislative assembly and the minimum number of ministers in the smaller states should be 12 instead of seven as provided in the bill.

On the question of whip issued to check instability in the Government, it said the Government may not be physically destabilised but instability would follow when the Government fails to ensure safe passage of its legislative business in the House.

Thus, it felt that legislators may have freedom of speech in the House on a legislation but it would not be desirable to give freedom of vote on the floor of the House to ensure stability of the Government.

The committee said that status quo on the issue of whip may be maintained.

It clarified that the existing practice of including Ministers in the Government from both the Houses of Parliament may continue but for the purpose of limiting the size of the ministry, the strength of lower House would be reckoned. (PTI)

Missing Sikh found dead in Lal Ded sewer

Excelsior Special Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Dec 11: Laboratory Assistant of G B Pant Hospital, Devinder Singh S/o Samir Singh R/o Khampora Sarai, Chadoura, was found dead in a deep sewer at Lal Ded Hospital today. Recovery of his dead body has reduced tension in the minority Sikh community which had turned restive over the mysterious disappearance of the para-medical official last week.

Devinder Singh had disappeared in mysterious circumstances in the evening of December 4th when he had been spotted in the company of a Laboratory Assistant of Lal Ded Hospital, namely Mushtaq Ahmed Bhat of Rainawari.

In the wake of protest demonstrations by Sikh community, Srinagar District Police had constituted a special investigation team, comprising men from Raj Bagh, Saddar, Sher Garhi and Shaheed Gunj Police stations. Its functioning was constantly supervised by SP South and SDPO Saddar.

Family members of the missing para-medical employee had lodged a missing report with Police Station Ram Munshi Bagh on December 5th when Devinder Singh did not return to his residential quarter at G B Pant Hospital. Later, Police Station Raj Bagh registered case FIR No. 150 of 2003 under section 365 RPC and the SIT lifted some suspects for questioning.

According to Police sources, Mushtaq Ahmed revealed during sustained interrogation that he had killed his friend Devinder Singh with whom he had an association of 22 years. He revealed that on the fateful evening, Devinder had visited him at LD Hospital. Later both of them arranged a huge quantity of liquor from the nearby Aloochi Bagh locality and consumed the same inside the premises of LD Hospital. It appeared that Devinder Singh had been pushed in a manhole and later he died inside the deep sewer. His car was recovered from the same locality.

Sources said that Devinder Singh seemed to have been killed between 2200 and 2230 hours. Post mortem was conducted today before the body was dispatched for Sarai Khampora through Police Station Chadoura.

One lakh US dollar case
HC stays proceedings before POTA court

Excelsior Special Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 11: In a much publicised one lakh US dollar case in which Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) supremo Yasin Malik is facing trial alongwith two others, Justice YP Nargotra of the State High Court, in a Revision Petition filed by Crime and Railways Police today stayed the proceedings in the court of POTA Jammu.

After hearing Additional Advocate General KS Johal and Irfan Noor appearing for Yasin Malik, the Court issued bailable warrants against accused Shamima alias Shazia who was earlier granted bail by POTA Court, as her counsel Yogesh Bakshi was not present in the court, nor the accused appeared when the case was taken up by the High Court today.

The Crime and Railways Police had filed the Revision Petition in the High Court, challenging the statements recorded by Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Jammu on April 19 and April 24, 2002 of the accused Mushtaq Ahmad Dar, who is presently in Jammu and Shamima alias Shazia, who was on bail.

In the statements before CJM Jammu, the duo had contradicted their earlier statements which they had made before SSP Crime and Railways Jammu. In that statement before SSP, these two accused had confessed that one lakh US dollars, which they had brought from Kathmandu, were meant for JKLF chief Yasin Malik.

It was based on their statements before Kud Police that Malik was arrested.

In the Revision Petition, it has been submitted that in view of the confessional statement made by the accused and recorded by Police Officer in terms of Section 32 of POTA, was made voluntarily and without any threat. The accused when produced before CJM Jammu contradicted their statements. The Crime Branch, accordingly sought the quashment of their statements before CJM. The High Court has summoned the record of CJM Jammu vide its order dated November 1, 2003.
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

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