 |
Govt to
vigorously pursue case for compensation By Sanjeev Pargal JAMMU, Mar 12: Chief Minister Mufti Mohd Sayeed today said the demand for scrapping Indus Water Treaty was not feasible and instead the Government would plead for compensation to the State on account of losses suffered in view of the treaty. Replying to a debate in the Legislative Assembly on a resolution moved by Congress (I) City East MLA, Yogesh Sawhney for scrapping of the treaty, Mufti said that India is a responsible nation and due to ‘international commitment’ it may not be possible for it to ask for scrap of the treaty. He, however, added that he was in agreement with the resolution moved by Sawhney. He assured the House that the Government was planning to depute an all party delegation from the State to meet the Central leaders to seek compensation for the losses being suffered by the State on account of the treaty. "We don’t want to increase tension between India and Pakistan in view of already strained relations of the two neighbours. The State would make a strong plea with the Centre to ask Islamabad to allow the State to construct Tulbul Navigational Lock project at Wullar for water storage", the Chief Minister said, adding "this barrage will in no way cause any damage to Pakistan but would rather regulate water storage system in its Mangla dam besides helping J&K to revive navigational transport system and increase storage capacity to the benefit of the people in Kashmir". It may be recalled that the Upper House of the State had recently passed a resolution urging the Centre to immediately scrap the Indus Water Treaty. However, Congress (I) MLA Yogesh Sawhney did not press the resolution after getting a satisfactory reply from the Chief Minister. Earlier, Sawhney had threatened to press his resolution after the reply of PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Minister Qazi Afzal saying he was not satisfied with the Minister’s reply. Earlier, participating in debate on the resolution, NC leader and Anantnag MLA Dr Mehboob Beg charged the Centre with being tentative on all issues pertaining to Jammu and Kashmir—be it the United Nations resolutions, Indus Water Treaty or Railway link. "We are sure that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India but it seems they (the Centre) doubt whether it is. This was the reason that the Government of India was afraid of the UN resolutions calling for plebiscite on Kashmir knowing very well that it was Pakistan which, under the resolutions, had to vacate its territory which it had gifted to China", Dr Beg said. He said the Assembly can give a ‘unanimous concern’ to the Centre on feelings of the legislators on Indus Water Treaty. A clear message on the Treaty should also go to the entire country and Pakistan, he added. "Pakistan is sending hundreds of crores of rupees underground to sustain militancy in the State. Rather, it should send the same money overground and legally as compensation for the treaty", Dr Beg asserted. He regretted that the Government didn’t mention a single word about the treaty in two Governor addresses. "The treaty should be scrapped but if it was not possible, the State should be compensated for it", he said. Congress (I) MLA Raman Bhalla said while India allows the water of its three major rivers to flow into Pakistan under the Treaty but, in turn, Pakistan flows its militants into Jammu and Kashmir. He said the treaty should be scrapped and a unanimous resolution to this effect should be adopted by the House. Mohd Yusuf Tarigami (PDF) called upon the Government of India to take up with Pakistan the issue of accommodating interests of Jammu and Kashmir for the losses suffered by the State in view of the treaty. "We should be given benefits of a ‘participatory State’ like Himachal Pardesh and Punjab", he said. Ali Mohd Sagar (NC) pointed out that earlier also such resolutions had been adopted by the Government. "We too had taken up the issue with the Government of India", he said, adding the State should be compensated for the economic losses suffered by it on account of the treaty. Abdul Rahim Rather (NC) said the Government should also consider ‘legal remedies’ to get compensation for the treaty if the Centre didn’t agree to pay for the losses. The issue should be pursued vigorously with the Government of India, he asserted. Saifullah Mir (NC) also called for scrapping the treaty in which, he observed, interests of the State have been sacrificed. NC Legislature Party leader Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din Shah said under Article 3 of the treaty, the Government of India has a right to use water of the rivers for irrigation, power harness and other purposes. Dr Manohar Lal (PDF) also supported the resolution and called for scrapping of the treaty. |
|
Jaish militant killed NEW DELHI, Mar 12: A plan of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorist outfit to carry out a strike in Delhi or Mumbai similar to the Parliament attack was foiled today with the killing of a top Pakistani terrorist of the outfit in Noida adjoining the national capital. His unidentified accomplice, however, managed to escape during the encounter between the two terrorists and a joint team of Special Task Force (STF) of Uttar Pradesh and Noida Police. Manzoor Dar alias Sirajudin Khan, JeM area commander of Baramulla district in Jammu and Kashmir hailing from Sakkar in Pakistan’s Sindh province, was killed at around 2:30 am in Sector 24 of Noida in an exchange of fire, STF senior Superintendent of Police Rajiv Ranjan Verma told PTI. The encounter took place when the terrorists fired at the police party which was chasing them, Verma said, adding at least 37 rounds were fired by the terrorists. The two, riding a motorcycle, were intercepted following information that they would be proceeding to a specific spot to meet a contact, said Verma, who headed the operation. When signalled to stop, they tried to run away but after a brief chase the cops cornered them following which the gun-battle erupted. An AK-47 rifle, its two magazines, two hand grenades and a large quantity of ammunition were recovered from him, Verma said. The encounter comes barely two days after two jem terrorists Ejaz Hussain and Mehraj were arrested in Muzaffarnagar. Dar, along with Ejaz and Mehraj had come to Delhi in September last year and carried out recce of Parliament house, India Gate and some other crowded places, Verma said. Later, Dar travelled to Mumbai where he conducted a survey of Mumbai Stock Exchange and other crowded places with an intention of carrying out an attack, he added. A hunt has been launched for at least three other associates of Dar, including the one who escaped. At least three teams have been despatched to Muzaffarnagar for the purpose. The terrorists are believed to have been despatched by JeM so-called commander-in-chief in India Ghazi Baba. Police sources said it was this plan of JeM that had heightened the threat perception to India Gate prompting the authorities to close the memorial, a big tourist attraction and also a popular place for locals, to public for about two weeks from February 21. It was, however, reopened to public recently. (PTI) |
|
Four top militants
eliminated Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 12: Security forces today killed four militants in three separate encounters while death toll in last night’s explosion in Rajouri town today rose to two with one more victim succumbing to his injuries in the Medical College hospital. Official sources said a blast victim Bodh Raj son of Gian Chand succumbed to his injuries in the hospital in early hours of this morning. He was critically injured in the explosion and was shifted to the Medical College. His body was handed over to his family this afternoon after post-mortem. A sweets shop owner Ashwani Khajuria was killed on spot and nine others were injured in a transistor IED blast last night. A complete bandh was observed in Rajouri town today in protest against the blast. All shops and business establishments remained closed in response to the bandh call. Over 8,000 people from all walks of life joined cremation of Khajuria. Deputy Commissioner Manoj Kumar Dwivedi and SSP Prithvi Raj Manhas assured the people that the authorities would provide all possible help to the families of the blast victims. Meanwhile, security forces today eliminated two militants of Harkat-ul-Mujahideen outfit in an encounter in Kishtwar tehsil in Doda district this morning. Slain militants have been identified as Farooq Ahmed Shaikh alias Junid son of Ghulam Hussain Shaikh R/o Chhaba and Shada Mir son of Lassa Mir R/o Bitola. Both of them were activists of HUM outfit. Two AK rifles, two magazines and 37 rounds were recovered from the scene of encounter, the sources said, adding a search operation in the area was going on in view of the reports that some more militants were present in the area. Another militant was shot dead in a joint encounter by army and police at village Dara Sangla in Surankote tehsil in Poonch district early today. He has been identified as Khalid Zubair, a Pakistani belonging to 313 Brigade of Harkat-ul-Jehad Islami (HUJI) outfit. Two associates of Khalid Zubair escaped during the encounter and were being chased by the security personnel. One AK rifle and three hand grenades were recovered from the slain ultra. Another militant was killed by the security forces at Morha Kalar in Dudasan area of Thanna Mandi. He was identified as Ahmed Abid Ayaz of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) outfit. One AK-56 rifle, four magazines, two hand grenades, 117 rounds and one pouch were recovered from the possession of Ayaz. In all three operations, security forces didn’t suffer any casualties. A woman harbourer of the militants, Hanifa Begum R/o Chandri was arrested by security forces today. From her possession, one radio set, two AK magazines and three hand grenades were recovered. Meanwhile, police reported that three teen-aged boys were missing from their houses at village Pangai in Thanna Mandi for last few days. They have been identified as Ghulam Abbas, 10, son of Ghulam Qadir, Altaf Hussain, 11, son of Barkat Hussain and Mohd Altaf, 12, son of Gulzar Hussain. Police was investigating the case. Possibility of the boys having been kidnapped by the militants was not ruled out. Three more shops were allegedly looted by the militants at Hujan, Darhal in Rajouri last night. Earlier, seven shops were looted by the ultras in Nerojal. Besides this, the militants also took away eatables from the shop. |
|
Govt to constitute Home &
Hearth Force Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 12: Reiterating his Government’s commitment to eradicate corruption from the administration, Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed today warned that Government will take strict action in response to any complaint. Intervening in the supplementaries of Manjeet Singh and Ashwani Sharma, Chief Minister said, "Hum To Complaints Kay Intezar Main Baithay Hain (We are waiting for complaints"). He assured the members that Government will not hide any thing. Chief Minister announced in the House that the Defence Ministry has approved raising of seven battalions of Home and Hearth Force for border areas of Jammu and Kashmir. "Out of these seven battalions, three will be created in Kashmir and four in Jammu- which will absorb 8000 youth in the border districts", he said. This force, besides providing employment to the border youth, will also cater to the security needs of the areas. Mufti Sayeed said, "I feel pleasure in making this announcement in the House that the Prime Minister and the Defence Minister have acceded to our request to create more jobs for our youth". On alleged bungling in relief and misrepresentation of the facts, Chief Minister maintained that the Government would view seriously the specific complaints brought to its notice and assured action against erring officials. Regarding special recruitment drive for affected border youth and the rehabilitation of the people living within 5 kms of border belt, the Chief Minister said that a proposal has already been mooted to provide 4-5 marlas of land at identified locations for safe shelter of the affected populace. "This will be done expeditiously", he declared. Members cutting cross party lines, highlighted this issue which generated heat in the House. Mr Manjeet Singh of BSP, who has raised this question, staged a walkout on this issue to lodge protest against wrong reply of the Minister. Earlier replying to the main question of Manjeet Singh, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, Mr Abdul Rehman Veeri admitted that it was a fact that due to indiscriminate and unprovoked firing on the International Border (IB), the inhabitants of border villages left their houses for safer places. Minister stated that displaced people were accommodated in the Government buildings/tented accommodation alongwith all civic amenities. He made it clear that no family was rendered nomadic in Jammu region. "Since the displacement was for shorter duration and some members of the families continued to look after the live-stock in their villages, so no persons were rendered without work due to abandonment of the live-stock in Jammu region", he said. Regarding commitment of the coalition Government to start special recruitment drive and allotment of plots to the border inhabitants, Minister said, "the matter regarding special recruitment drive and job reservation is being examined. As regards allotment of plots, matter is under consideration of the Government". As soon as the Minister completed his reply, Manjeet Singh stood up and shouted that reply was not based on fact. He narrated names of some villages of his constituency located on Zero Line and said that inhabitants of these villages were not in a position to look after their live-stock. He staged a walkout in protest. Ashwani Sharma of JSM while participating in the discussion alleged that officials have been charging commission from the cash relief being distributed to the farmers whose lands have been mined. Dr Mehboob Beg, G M Jan, Ajay Sadhotra, Dr Ramesh Chander and Javed Raina also highlighted problems of the border people. |
|
JAKFED begins cleansing drive against erring employees Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 12: The management of Jammu and Kashmir Cooperative Supply and Marketing Federation Limited (JAKFED), acting on various inquiry reports and after ascertaining facts, has started cleansing process in the Federation by removing officials who had been involved in embezzlements and other irregular practices. The Federation sources revealed that after receipt of various complaints regarding irregularities in District Poonch unit, a fact finding inquiry committee headed by Mr B K Bakshi, Manager Incharge Gas, Head Office, was deputed to Poonch to make on the spot assessment of the situation and submit its report. The fact finding team visited Poonch on January 21, 2003 and observed that cash book had been maintained upto November 11, 2002 only, stock position indicated 492 cylinders in the stock/ extension counters whereas it should have been 682 which indicated a variation of 198 cylinders. The fact finding team also observed that a stock of 150 cylinders and 100 pressure regulators released during June 2002 by Messrs Hindustan Petroleum Corporation were not accounted for in the books of Gas Company. It also came to the fore that sales proceeds of LPG refills was not deposited in the bank on regular basis and that there was every possibility of retention of profit margin. M/s Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited raised debit amounting to Rs 43447 from April 1, 2001 to March 31, 2002 against Gas Service Poonch on account of spurious cylinders, late submission of security deposit and penal transportation charges due to negligence of the staff. Other irregularities detected pertained to non-maintenance of adequate stock of filled cylinders at Poonch, Surankot and Mendhar, non-issuance of cash memos, complaints about over-charging etc. While as Mr S K Bhagat, Manager District Poonch unit has been transferred to Srinagar on October 13, 2001, but he obtained stay order from the High Court and thereafter intimated telegraphically that he was proceeding on leave. Mr Chaman Lal Gupta was temporarily posted as incharge LPG Poonch, who reported in his inquiry report that there were no proper maintenance of accounts for the past 10 months as a result of which the gas supply in the Poonch district has been badly affected. Mr Chaman Lal Gupta stated further that Messrs Naresh Bali, Kulwant Raj, Jeet Chowdhary, Devinder Kumar, Abdul Khaliq and Sanjeev Kumar were found involved on various charges of embezzlements in the district. The management of JAKFED Poonch had referred the matter to the State Vigilance Commission for further appropriate action and in the meantime terminated the services of the erring consolidated wage employees of the Federation found involved in the embezzlements. The Federation is also going to initiate legal action against mis-conduct of such erring employees. |
|
Hurriyat trying to build
consensus on lines NEW DELHI, Mar 12: In what could be seen as a new approach of Hurriyat Conference, it is attempting to drum up diplomatic support for a consensus on a peace process similar to that of Northern Ireland in resolving the Kashmir dispute. Hurriyat Conference sources said that its delegation comprising Mirwaiz Umer Farooq and JKLF chief Yaseen Malik during its stay here was seeking to garner support from diplomatic missions for this purpose. In this regard, the Hurriyat team met the Irish ambassador here and discussed the modalities and the procedure adopted by the Ireland Government in resolving the vexed issue. The team has so far met the diplomatic officials from the US, Canada and French embassies besides holding talks with the officials of the British High Commission. Both the Hurriyat leaders were tight-lipped about their mission to the capital, but the sources said that today’s meeting with the Irish ambassador would help the Hurriyat Conference to chalk out their future strategy. The sources said that Hurriyat would also form a team which would hold talks with the people instrumental in bringing peace to the Northern Ireland which would include former US President Bill Clinton and members of the Sinn Fein Party of the Northern Ireland. On the Hurriyat leaders not having passports for travel abroad, the sources said that the Government could be pressurised to issue the travel documents or in the worst case it would ask Kashmiri expatriates to hold talks with the people instrumental in formulating Irish peace process. The sources did not rule out the possibility of roping in the services of Kashmir Committee headed by former Law Minister Ram Jethmalani. The broad outline of the Irish peace process was that the Irish Republican Army would stop its militants activities while its political outfit, Sinn Fein, would hold talks with the British Government. In due course, the IRA would be disarmed and the Northern Ireland would be given a considerable amount of autonomy. However, what remains to be seen is that whether Hurriyat leaders have a control over the gun-wielding militants in the State like the Sinn Fein Party which could help in disarming the IRA and announce a ceasefire on their behalf. The decision to give the Irish peace process a serious try was taken earlier this month in Srinagar during a meeting which was attended by Hurriyat chairman Abdul Gani Bhat, Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, Yaseen Malik, Maulana Abbas Ansari, Sheikh Ali Mohammed, Hafizullah Maqdoomi and Khalil Mohammed Khalil. (PTI) |
|
Dy CM, Veeri caught on
wrong foot Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 12: A chaotic situation prevailed in the treasury benches in the Legislative Assembly today for more than five minutes with the Ministers, unaware of the business going on after Zero Hour, shifting the files to others. It started when Congress (I) MLA Raman Bhalla raised a Call Attention Notice regarding the problems faced by the border migrants. Minister of State Abdul Rehman Veeri was supposed to give a reply to the Notice but since he was not present in the House, Deputy Chief Minister Mangat Ram was asked by Speaker Tara Chand to give the reply. However, Sharma started answering a query, earlier raised by Congress MLA Yogesh Sawhney regarding MLAs status while their trips to New Delhi. Amidst a peel of laughters in the House, Sharma was told by the Chair that he had to answer the Call Attention Notice, raised by Bhalla. However, a totally confused Deputy Chief Minister, who is also leader of the House, told the Speaker that this issue (the Call Attention Notice) has to be debated by the House first. This created further confusion in the Assembly as there was no provision for a debate on the Call Attention Notice and the Ministers only had to read the reply and then answer the member’s one supplementary. This prompted NC MLAs Ali Mohd Sagar and Mubarak Gul to have a dig at the Government. "This shows how serious the Government is"? they asked. In the meantime, the Speaker was seen asking his staff "Kaya Kar Rahe Ho? Veeri Ki File Deputy CM Ko De Do (what are you doing. Give Veeri’s file to the Deputy CM)". At this stage, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Muzaffar Hussain Beig came to the House. As Beig replied the Call Attention Notice, Veeri also entered the House. Beig handed over the file to Veeri for replying the supplementary of Raman Bhalla but the latter was not aware of the business. When he stood up, he asked the Speaker, which question is being asked by the MLA? Again Veeri took his seat and the issue was left to the Law Minister to handle. "Thodi Khalbali Hai. Aaj Donon Taraf Sawaal The (some disturbance has taken place as there were questions in both the House today)", Beig, who was not feeling well, said. |
|
Roshni scheme being
reviewed By Avtar Bhat JAMMU, Mar 12: Finding no reason in mistrusting the Central Government, the Minister of Finance, Law and Parliamentary Affairs, Mr Muzafar Hussain Beig today said that it will be not proper for State Government not to believe Centre so far as the promises made by the latter were concerned.. Replying to a debate on Vote on Account (VOA) in State Legislative Council today, the Minister said Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee had assured Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammed Syeed that State will not face any problem so far as financial assistance was concerned and we have to trust him. He said the Centre has been so far very positive towards the J&K State and the promises made during the August 15 last year that free and fair elections will be held in the State were fulfilled. Though this was not favorable to some of us, he added. He said Mr Vajpayee has assured a new approach towards the Jammu and Kashmir state without repeating the past mistakes. "And I assure you that the promises have already started translating into reality", he added. Justifying the Vote on Account the Minister said he could have presented the regular budget also and in fact it was ready for presentation, "but recently some developments took place forcing us to defer its presentation" and these developments included some positive indications from the Reserve Bank of India, regarding the waiver of Rs 1000 crore overdraft of the J&K Bank, he added. The Minister said, the Government has also started consultations with the Centre both at political and bureaucratic level regarding working out a reliable financial mechanism for the State. The talks have been going on smoothly and the next round is scheduled for March 19. Citing other reasons for presentation of VOA , the Minister said that the Government wants to make the budgetary process more participating for which inputs would be taken from all walks of life. "Even we have time and again called for active participation of opposition in the budget formation" he said. Another reason for the postponement of regular budget , he said was introduction of VAT system. This would affect the whole revenue generation mechanism and all the details have to be worked out before the introduction of VAT. Terming the state of economy worse, he described the situation like a drowning man who still raises one finger demanding political autonomy. He said we should be able to take hard decisions to put the state of economy back on rails and tell the people that we will provide them electricity only after they pay the fee. Denying the opposition charges that by bringing the Vote on Account the Government will lose the working season which would bring the development to a grinding halt, he said, the Rs 3,000 crore provision has been kept in VOA only with this intention that we can start the development activities from April so that no working season is lost. He said the main intention of bringing the Vote on Account was that the Government wanted to have a complete report and map of the state of economy so that we can prepare the budget as per the availability of funds. The Government Mr Beig said is preparing a comprehensive report on the state of economy of Jammu and Kashmir which would be shortly made public, to make people aware about the exact financial position of the State. " We can not afford to carry on with adhocism in sensitive matters like finances and have to decide once for all how we are going to change our state of economy which is heading towards a disaster", he said, adding that the Government may be forced to take some hard decisions to retrieve the State from the imminent economic collapse. Mr Beig said the financial health of the State is in a very bad shape and if immediate remedial measures were not taken it could reach an irretrievable position. The State Government is under a Central debt liability of around Rs 10,000 crore, besides Rs 2000 crore power liability and 1200 crore J&K Bank over draft. The Government, he said has to pay Rs 1,600 crore as annual interest on Central loans with the core deficit of the State accumulating to around Rs 300 crore. Besides he said there are budget liabilities which have not been reflected anywhere. The Government he said is not also aware of the guarantees given to various financial institutions as there was no consolidated data available with the Finance Department. The PSUs, Mr Beig said were in a terribly bad shape as they were dependent on budgetary support even for their salaries. The financial crunch has reached a state where the Government sometimes finds it difficult to pay the salaries of its employees even. "How long can we go like this. By resorting to fiction we are not only deceiving ourselves but our people as well", he added. The Minister declared that Government would review the Roshni Scheme framed by NC Government during its rule which is aimed at conferring property rights over Government land on market prices. The Minister said the Government would take an overall review of the scheme before its implementation to see how it was going to benefit the State financially. He said the State has properties worth millions of rupees occupied illegally both within and outside the State. "I have come to know that 22 prime assets outside the State, valuing crores of rupees, were under illegal occupation and the Government is working out details of all these assets and it would take due course of action to get these restored to the State. |
|
Militant killed, telephone exchanges attacked Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Mar 12: One militant was killed and another arrested while as militants carried out grenade attacks on security personnel guarding telephone exchanges at two places across the Kashmir valley since last night, official sources said today. A grenade was hurled by militants towards the CRPF personnel standing guard at the main exchange building in the heart of Srinagar this afternoon, but no harm was caused as the device missed the intended target, the sources said. They said militants also targeted police personnel deployed at Zainapora telephone exchange building in south Kashmir late last night. The police guards fired in retaliation but the militants escaped. None was hurt in the incident, the sources said. A Lashker-e-Toiba militant, Abdul Qayoom Wani was killed by the security forces in a shootout at village Teligam in Baramulla district yesterday, the sources said, adding a residential house was also damaged in the incident. They said Army apprehended a militant from village Chunjimulla in Kupwara district and handed him over to police for action under law. Security forces also recovered two AK magazines, 33 rounds, two pistol magazines, nine grenades, four time pencils, two anti-personnel mines and an ied slab from a hideout in the forest area of Dhoban in Bandipora area of Baramulla district, the sources said. |
|
Excavation begins amid tight security AYODHYA, Mar 12: Brushing aside murmurs of protest, the excavation began at the disputed site here today amidst tight security to ascertain whether a temple existed beneath the demolished structure Faizabad district administration sources said. The digging began at 1335 hrs ten feet away from the make-shift temple after a three-hour survey by a team of the Archaelogical Survey of India and consultations among the parties to the dispute as per fresh guidelines issued by Allahabad High Court. Nearly 25 labourers dug three to four inches deep at four separate places along the 4x4m trenches and touched the floor of the demolished Babri mosque, the sources said. The excavation, videographed by ASI, started in the presence of counsels and nominees of the contesting parties in the title suit pending before the Lucknow bench of Allahabad High Court. The place was cleaned and grass cut before labourers began digging under the supervision of the ASI team led by Superintending Archeologist B R Mani. Though Mohammad Hasim Ansari of the Sunni Central WAQF board and one of the original plaintiff boycotted the exercise, the board was represented by Zafrayab Geelani, who was accompanied by two Archaeologists R C Takran and Mohammad Abid. (PTI) |
|
|
NEW DELHI, Mar 12: Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Harkat-ul-Ansar (HuA), who are active militant organisations in Jammu and Kashmir, have renamed themselves as Khaddamul Islam and Jamiatul Ansar respectively. According to reports in the Pakistani Urdu daily "Khaberen", both the organisations have presumed preaching and organisational work for restoring all the former provincial and district units. The report said that at the central level, Maulana Farooq Kashmiri and Fazlur Rehman Khalil would continue to remain as chief and secretary general of Jamiat-ul-Ansar. However, it reported that Maulana Masood Azhar has been kept away from Khaddamul Islam and his role would be confined only to consultations. Maulana Abdullah Shah Mazhar, a Karachi-based cleric, will be the chief of new JeM outfit while Maulana Abdul Raof, younger brother of Maulana Masood Azhar, would be assisting him, the newspaper reported. (PTI) |
|
BJP’s show cause notice to Shanta NEW DELHI, Mar 12: In the first action against indiscipline in the wake of electoral drubbing in Himachal Pradesh, BJP today issued a show cause notice to Rural Development Minister Shanta Kumar for remarks made against the party Government that lost in the polls. The notice given by party general secretary Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi came a day after Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani talked tough at a meeting of the parliamentary party yesterday on the need to maintain discipline. Party president M Venkaiah Naidu was also authorised to take action against those who do not maintain discipline. Shortly after receiving the notice, Kumar met Vajpayee and Advani. Later he met Naidu, who asked him to give in writing as to why he had made the remarks that the election results were a result of people’s anger against corruption of the Prem Kumar Dhumal Government. At yesterday’s meeting Vajpayee and Advani asked partymen to strengthen the organisation and to refrain from airing their views publicly. "Development alone does not work and there is need to strengthen the organisation as was seen in the Assembly elections in Himachal Pradesh", Vajpayee had said. Advani told the meeting that the party president had been authorised to take appropriate action against any party member who adopts the agitational path. "There should be no public criticism of the party. This damages the image of the party which has always prided itself with being a party with a difference," Advani said. (PTI) |
|
Laden sets up female suicide squads DUBAI, Mar 12: The Al-Qaeda network has set up squads of female suicide bombers who take orders from the world’s most wanted terrorist Osama bin Laden and will target the United States, a newspaper reported today. The Saudi-owned Asharq Al-Awsat published an e-mail interview with a woman calling herself "Um Osama", or the mother of Osama, and "leader of the women Mujahedeen of Al-Qaeda". She told the daily her instructions came from the suspected Saudi terrorist mastermind and "brothers in Al-Qaeda and the Taliban" via Mullah "Seif Edin". "We communicate mainly via internet," she added. The women bombers include Afghans, Arabs, Chechens and others nationalities "who are present in all the countries of the world. "We are preparing for the new strike announced by our leaders and I declare that it will make America forget ... The September 11 attacks in 2001," Um Osama said. "The idea of women Kamikazes came from the success of martyr operations carried out by young Palestinian women in the occupied territories. "Our organisation is open to all Muslim women wanting to serve the (Islamic) nation ... Particularly in this very critical phase," as the United States moves towards an invasion of Iraq. "Our female fighters are training to use weapons such as the Kalashnikov, grenades and assault rifles," she said. "Besides martyr operations, our mission is to provide logistical support to the Mujahedeen and intelligence on the hypocrites wanted by the Mujahedeen", she explained. (AFP) |
|
|
|
| home | state | national | business| editorial | advertisement | sports | |