Unholy alliance between Geelani, Mufti: Lone

NEW DELHI, Nov 16: Peoples Conference chairman Sajjad Lone has alleged that "there is a covert unholy alliance" between Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and Hurriyat (breakaway) chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani.

"Mr Geelani’s closest associates facilitated the victory of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed in the last year’s State Assembly elections. I am convinced that there is a covert unholy alliance between Mr Sayeed and Mr Geelani," Mr Lone told Pakistan’s The Friday Times in an interview.

"Mr Geelani is no sacred cow as depicted by the media in Pakistan. He is as dear to Kashmiris as Qazi Hussain Ahmed is to the Pakistanis," he added.

About Mr Geelani’s accusations that the Peoples Conference had fielded proxy candidates in the last year’s elections, Mr Lone said, "Mr Geelani’s accusations against me are an extension of the vicious politics he played with my father, Abdul Gani Lone. He created a vicious environment by issuing similar statements against my father, which culminated in his assassination. He is in the process of recreating the same environment."

The Peoples Conference leader said he is not against the concept of elections. "But there is a need to fight the Indian viewpoint that elections are a substitute for plebiscite. The truth is they are not. The elections are meant to elect people who will provide an administrative team to run the State," he added. He described Mr Geelani as a "party-less wonder" claiming to head a coalition of parties called the Hurriyat.

"Let Mr Geelani name the party he represents. He is a party-less wonder claiming to head a coalition of parties called Hurriyat. There is no doubt in my mind that Mr Abbas Ansari is the chairman of the Hurriyat Conference," Mr Lone said.

In the absence of a registering authority for parties, like the Election Commission in Pakistan or India, he said any person can claim to lead a party and asserted that the Hurriyat has not split. Mr Lone said the existence of the "so-called" two Hurriyat factions indicates vested interests within the Kashmiri leadership. "It is the battle between the self and the nation. Mr Geelani is perhaps the most explicit manifestation of the self. The Hurriyat led by Mr Ansari symbolises the nation," he said.

"I cannot possibly identify a traitor. However, I can identify the contours of a traitor or betrayal. Only the people of Kashmir can judge who is a traitor and what constitutes betrayal. People, media, establishments or politicians of India and Pakistan have no say in it," Mr Lone said when asked who is the traitor.

Asked who had masterminded the split in Hurriyat, he said, "there is no split. I repeat. A perception has been created. That perception suits covert agencies on both sides of the border. This could either be a joint venture between the covert agencies or a solo venture by one agency with the other facilitating the whole process. The truth is that this whole split thing could not have been brought about without the explicit or implicit or tacit cooperation of both the agencies."

In reply to a question, Mr Lone said, "there is no single leader of the Kashmiris. And this is nothing peculiar to Kashmir. This phenomenon has affected the whole of South Asia. The era of performers like the Bhutto family or the Nehru-Gandhis, or the Sheikh family is history. Increased literacy rates and exposure to the media has translated into increased awareness. This means that no single leader can emerge and take over. In Kashmir there is an added dimension. India and Pakistan use their resources to thrust leaders on the people. The ideal concept of a true leader is a myth."

He said the Hurriyat has played a very important role in portraying the political face of Kashmir. The Indian or Pakistani recognition of it is irrelevant. "What is important is that the Kashmiris and the world should recognise it."

The Peoples Conference is one of the main constituents of the Hurriyat Conference led by Mr Ansari. Thirty-six-year old Sajjad Lone was elected as its Chairman in the most tragic circumstances, after the assassination of his father.

At the time, Sajjad Lone accused Pakistan’s intelligence agencies of orchestrating his father’s murder. About the murder of his father, he said, "at the spur of the moment I did accuse the ISI. But I do not have any proof to substantiate my accusation.

However, neither the ISI nor RAW is sacred. I have stayed in Pakistan and have a lot of Pakistani friends. I have nothing but contempt for all the covert agencies, especially in South Asia. They have done the most to harm their own people who they claim to defend or represent.’’

About the role of the Lashkar-e-Toiba and the Jaish-e-Mohammad in the militancy, he said, "there is a section of people who feels that it is futile to use political means against a country like India. Although, we do not agree with their viewpoint, we possibly cannot deter them from taking up guns.

The Lashkar and the Jaish are the products of those countries that have glamorised violence by ignoring politics. If politics is respected, violence will have no role to play. But the onus of diluting, marginalising or eliminating the role of violent elements is on India. If they accept that there is a problem and engage the political elements, violence will be crowded out.’’ Asked about the possible solution to the Kashmir issue, Mr Lone said negotiations, dialogue, diplomatic awareness are the key factors in resolving the Kashmir issue. "Militancy has helped in the past in highlighting an issue that was almost forgotten. It has revived the issue of an unresolved Kashmir dispute. But continued use of militancy could prove counterproductive. Militancy is detested throughout the world. It is unwise to get excited by its gains at the local level and ignore the negative political impact it has around the world."

About India’s October 22 confidence building measures, Mr Lone said, "on the face of it the CBMs do look innocent and harmless. The petty and mean nature of the Indians in including a humanitarian issue like treatment of Pakistani children was also visible. It would be better if India leaves humanitarian issues to the people of India and Pakistan. CBMs are essential since one cannot possibly solve all the issues in one go. Building rapport among the people is of utmost importance. This will create a positive pressure on the respective establishments for resolution. Whatever the Indians’ motive, Pakistan should give a positive response."

On islamabad’s response, he said the Pakistani response was predictably guarded. "One has to be realistic. By mimicking the humanitarian issues they exhausted their quota of mean and petty behaviour. Both India and Pakistan should realise that there are no takers for their humanitarian efforts. For that they will have to be human to their own people first. Overall it seems that India has not been able to convince Pakistan that they mean business."

About the proposed Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service, the Peoples Conference leader said, "it is a good step. The service should not be held hostage to the primitive behaviour of the two nations."

Asked if India and Pakistan can sort out their problems on their own, Mr Lone said, "never. Third-party facilitation or supervision or participation or coercion is an imperative in trying to resolve the kashmir issue."

"The truth is that 55 years after independence both these countries have failed to behave in a civilised manner and have been unsuccessful in evolving political and acceptable methods of conflict resolution. Their behaviour is a matter of shame for every resident of South Asia. Irrespective of their public postures both the countries are averse to the idea of allowing Kashmiris to choose their own destiny."

About the role of Pakistan television, he said, "PTV’s role is negative. It has emerged as a biased mouthpiece out of sync with the times. Their newsroom is a hub of fiction. It is difficult to tell whether one is watching the famed PTV drama serials or watching PTV news. In both the element of fiction is total. The Pakistani media create stories. There is a yawning gap between the reality and what is reported in Pakistan."(UNI)

Feel pain of Kashmiris: Mufti to Pak

Excelsior Special Correspondent

LONDON, Nov 16: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed has asked Pakistan to seize a historic opportunity of taking Indian sub-continent towards lasting peace by ending unproductive, anti-people and agonizing phase of confrontation between two neighbours.

Speaking at a Iftar party at India House here, organized by the Indian High Commission in connection with the Chief Minister’s visit, Mufti Sayeed said that it is a high time Pakistan understands the pain of Kashmiris and respects the yearning of the people by responding positively to India’s peace initiative. He said not only the people of Jammu and Kashmir but even of Pakistan want to put back the phase of acrimony and conflict and move towards better Indo-Pak relations. He said that gun has failed to provide solution to any problem anywhere in the world and this reality must be accepted by everyone. He said it is in this backdrop that people voted multi-party coalition Government to power in Jammu and Kashmir against threats, intimidation and boycott calls because they want peace to dawn in the area which had bled for over a decade with no movement forward in any direction except destruction.

Showing optimism of a way forward in the present process of confidence building and dialogue between India and Pakistan, Mufti Sayeed said that more than anybody else, it is the people of Jammu and Kashmir who have a stake in the success of this dialogue. He said it is they who understand the meaning of conflict. Thousands of orphans and widows are the living testimony of the disastrous consequences of conflict in any area. He said our Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee has taken many bold peace initiatives in consonance with the yearning of the people of India especially the people of Jammu and Kashmir, bitter experiences of the past notwithstanding. He said Indian proposal to open Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road has put Pakistan on test for its sincerity towards the people of Jammu and Kashmir and hoped that they would not sit on the riders imposed on this emotive issue of allowing divided families to meet.

Saying that he has been encouraged by the good response he has received not only from Non-Resident Kashmiris but also from British parliamentarians cutting across party lines, Mufti Sayeed hoped that the newly set up private initiative group of some well meaning Kashmiris settled in UK to send their delegation to Kashmir next month and concretize their proposals for investment for building up institutions of excellence in service of the people of the State. He said situation in Jammu and Kashmir has taken turn for good because of the people themselves and with the revival of tourism that brought succour to many poor families this summer, the State is expecting a good tourist season next year. He invited Britishers to visit Kashmir this winter or next summer to see for themselves the conditions in the State.

Referring to his interaction with a cross section of society in London, Mufti Sayeed said that he found that there is a better appreciation of the situation in Jammu and Kashmir and interaction would clear misgivings if somebody had any. He said Jammu and Kashmir has taken a resolve to come out of the crisis and promotion of tourism would be a great investment in peace. He said we have nothing to hide on Kashmir, as it is the endeavour of the coalition Government to address people’s problems and work for their redressal alongwith creating better political and security environment. Visit of about 4 lakh tourists and Amarnath pilgrims and holding of 150 conferences are the indicators of things shaping up in the Valley. ‘We want to strengthen this atmosphere through our good governance, stepping up economic development and tackling unemployment problem’.

A large number of members of the Indian community belonging to all faiths participated in the Iftar party. A good number of Kashmiri settlers in UK were present.

Earlier, acting High Commissioner Satyabrata Pal welcomed the guests and apprised the Chief Minister of the strong bonds of Indianness that are nurtured even in London.

Tourism Minister Ghulam Hassan Mir, members of the Jammu and Kashmir delegation to WTM and senior officers of the High Commission were also present.

Pak hunt for Masood Azhar
*Khudamul-e-Islam replaces Jaish

ISLAMABAD, Nov 16: Shortly after Pakistan Government banned three militant outfits that resurfaced with new names, police have arrested a Shiite leader who headed one of the proscribed groups and launched a manhunt for Maulana Masood Azhar, the chief of Khudamul-e-Islam that replaced Jaish-e-Muhammad.

Police last night raided the homes of Azhar and the headquarters of Khudamul-e-Islam (KI) in his hometown Bahawalpur in Punjab province last night, but drew a blank, Pakistani TV channel GEO reported today.

Police also raided several KI offices in Lahore, Karachi, Hyderabad and other places in Pakistan, and sealed them. The whereabouts of Azhar were still not known.

Azhar, who formed Jaish after his release from an Indian prison following the hijacking of an Indian Airlines plane from Kathmandu to Kandahar in 1998, founded KI after last year’s ban on Jaish by President Pervez Musharraf.

While cracking down on KI, Pakistan Police also arrested Allama Sajid Naqvi Islami, the leader of Shia politico-religious party Tehriki-i-Islami Pakistan (TP), banned last night along with KI and Sunni outfit Millat-e-Islamiya.

Naqvi, who formed TP after his main outfit Tehrik-i-Jafria Pakistan was banned by Musharraf last year, was arrested in Rawalpindi and was recently charged with the assassination of Sunni extremist leader Mulana Tariq Azam who founded Millat-e-Islamiya party to replace the banned Sepha-e-Sehba.

Besides being a prominent leader of Pakistan’s minority Shia community, Naqvi was a member of the influential six party Muthahida Majlis-e Amal (MMA).

Azam, who won last year’s elections and later became an ally of the Jamali Government, was gunned down last month while he was on his way to attend the national assembly.

Media reports also said that police have sealed some of the Jamat-ud-Dawa offices. They said police also launched a manhunt to apprehend Azam’s associate, Maulana Ludhianvi.

The raids on Azhar’s homes and offices, and Naqvi’s arrest came late last night shortly after a law and order meeting attended by Musharraf and Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali put Jamat-ud-Dawa, the parent outfit of Lashkar-e-Toiba on "watch list" and proscribed KI, TP and Millat-e-Islamiya.

Addressing the meeting, Musharraf said the action was being taken against the groups in Pakistan’s own interest and not under pressure from anyone. Such steps were needed to improve invest ment climate in the country, he said.

Stating that the Government was compelled to ban these outfits, Pakistan’s Interior Minister Faisel Saleh Hayat said that after last year’s ban on the groups like Jaish and Lashkar, Government gave time for them to wind up.

Instead the leaders of these outfits propped up new outfits, which forced his Government to crack down on them, he said. (PTI)

2 civilians among 8 killed in Valley
MI’s Maj, soldier, two militants killed in Shopian

Excelsior Special Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Nov 16: Even as militants have killed two Army personnel, including a Major of the Military Intelligence in Shopian area of south Kashmir, security forces have killed two militants responsible for the offensive. Two more militants and two civilians have died in other militancy-related incidents across Kashmir valley since last evening.

Informed sources in south Kashmir told EXCELSIOR that militants ambushed the white-colour Gypsy, JK03-2336, of Maj Jatesh Bhutani of Army’s 13 Corps Intelligence unit at Gole Chakri, in the heart of Shopian town, when he was on way to his camp of Chowdhary Gund at 1830 hours last evening. They lobbed a grenade and opened indiscriminate gunfire on the targeted vehicle. Maj Bhutani died on spot while as driver and PSO, namely G S Rathore and Rajinder Singh, sustained critical injuries. Police and security forces rushed towards the spot and foiled an attempt of the militants to kill the injured soldiers and take away their weapons.

Reports said that two pedestrians also sustained injuries and they were rushed to hospital. According to these reports, Maj Bhutani was returning from a company headquarters of Rashtriya Rifles 44 Bn at Chogam and he was on way to his residence when militants ambushed him in the middle of Shopian town. He used to operate from a formation of the troops of 13-Punjab, situated at Chowdhary Gund.

Immediately after the shootout, in which all the militants escaped unharmed, troops of RR 44 Bn laid siege to several interior localities of the main town as well as its peripheral villages of Habdipora, Largam and Memendar. They launched a major search operation after learning that the militants responsible for the Army officer’s killing were hiding in Bongam locality of Shopian town.

In the morning today, troops zeroed in on the house of one Abdul Gani Ahangar S/o Ghulam Ahmed Ahangar at Bongam in Shopian town and found some of the militants hiding in it. In a fierce gunbattle, that lasted several hours, troops destroyed the house, killing two militants. They were identified as Nisar Ahmed Tantray S/o Ghulam Hassan Tantray R/o Ramnagri (Shopian) and Showkat Ahmed Thokar S/o Ghulam Mohammad Thokar R/o Hind Sitapur (Shopian). Official sources said that both of them were local cadres of Hizbul Mujahideen. Tantray, according to these sources, had been missing and wanted as a militant since 1998.

Sepoy Sumit G Prakash of RR 44 Bn got killed and another soldier, Srikant, sustained injuries in the gunbattle. While as no militant outfit had claimed responsibility for killing the Army intelligence officer till late this evening, Shopian area has been a stronghold of Hizbul Mujahideen, Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad. These outfits have reportedly established fresh units and hideouts in Shopian-Kulgam belt of south Kashmir in the last seven months.

General Officer Commanding Victor Force, Maj Gen H S Lidder, and other senior officers of Police and security forces visited the site of encounter and asked troops to continue search for other militants of the group who are still believed hiding in the town or adjacent villages.

Sources said that during last night, militants appeared at Kanipora in Kokernag area of Anantnag district and kidnapped a civilian, Peer Siraj-ud-din son-in-law of Mohammad Yusuf Magray. He was shot dead at a deserted place in the same locality. Residents believe that militants suspected him as an informer of security forces.

Militants also appeared at Gonipora, in Kunzar area of Tangmarg, late last evening and kidnapped a counter-insurgent, namely Lala Ganai alias Lala Ikhwani, from his home. He was untraced till late tonight. Officials said that there were very bleak chances of his returning alive.

Sources in north Kashmir said that Army eliminated a Pakistani militant, identified as Shakeel Ahmed alias Abu Haris of Faisalabad, in an encounter near Sogam village of Lolab valley in Kupwara district. Another Pakistani militant of Lashkar-e-Toiba, Abu Obaidah, was reportedly killed by troops in an encounter at Pumina in Vilgam-Chowkibal area of Kupwara district late last night.

Meanwhile, the boy who had died in an IED blast at his home at Kanthpora (B) in Lolab last evening, has been identified as Mohammad Ashraf Bhat S/o Ghulam Mohammad Bhat. His mother, Taja, who had sustained critical injuries and was rushed to a Srinagar hospital, has also breathed her last. As already reported in this newspaper, the IED blast had occurred accidentally at Bhat’s house last evening.

An unidentified civilian got killed when he was knocked down by a speeding vehicle of Army Service Corps at Khumriyal in Kupwara district today.

CRPF to takeover from BSF in Srinagar today

SRINAGAR, Nov 16: The Border Security Force (BSF) is all set to take the challenge of sealing the International Border and Line of Control (LoC) after handing over the counter-insurgency charge of Srinagar city to the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) tomorrow.

Meanwhile, security all along the 300-Km-long Srinagar-Jammu National Highway has been beefed up following intelligence inputs that militants will try to strike during the movement of troops.

The process of the CRPF taking over has already started and the first BSF battalion, probably from Zakoora in downtown area of the city, will be out and in its position north of Jhelum river by tomorrow, official sources told UNI.

The sources said a number of CRPF battalions have already reached here to replace the BSF.

However, there will be no sudden and one time change of forces, but the change will take place in a phased manner because of security reasons, the sources added.

Sources further said that in the process of handing over any area the BSF will provide the CRPF all information on upper ground workers, pro-Pakistani elements and militant sympathisers in each area, to help the CRPF fully understand their area of responsibility.

All the informers will also be handed over to the new forces to use them in the counter-insurgency operations, they said.

Sources said five battlions of the BSF are moving out and the number may increase in future. The BSF will now be stationed at the borders to plug all infiltration routes.

Meanwhile, security forces have intercepted a number of messages directing militants to attack the security forces.

"We have information that they will try to target CRPF and BSF vehicles on the highway by planting improvised explosive devices (IED)," sources said adding Army, ITBP and police personnel guarding the highway have been informed about the possible attack by militants in the coming days.

"Give the final salute to BSF and welcome the CRPF by targeting them on the highway," one of the messages intercepted said. (UNI)

Cabinet meeting postponed

Excelsior Special Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 16: The State Cabinet meeting, earlier fixed for November 19, has been postponed. Next date for the meeting has not been fixed as yet.

Authoritative sources told Excelsior that the Cabinet is to take a decision regarding the appointment of Chairman Public Service Commission (PSC) in place of Mohd Shaffi Pandit, who has recently been appointed as Chief Executive of Wakaf Board.

The names under consideration for the post of PSC Chairman among others included K B Pillai and Jalil Ahmed Khan.

Meanwhile, Mr Pandit will handover the charge of Finance to Principal Secretary Planning Vijay Bakaya. There is a feeling that the charge of Finance and Planning should be held by one bureaucrat for better coordination and quick disposal. Accordingly, Bakaya is likely to hold charges of both the departments.

Saddam tape aired by TV

BAGHDAD, Nov 16: An audio tape purportedly made by Saddam Hussein told Iraqis today that the United States and its allies misjudged the difficulty of occupying Iraq and that Iraqis will rebel against their "evil intentions."

The speaker called on Iraqis to escalate their resistance against the US-led coalition, saying the "road of jihad (holy war) and resistance is the best way and the only one that would make the armies of the unjust occupation leave our country."

He also criticized Iraqis cooperating with coalition forces, saying "they don’t have the minimum political weight or effect on the great people of Iraq" and "none of them can even walk in the streets of Baghdad."

"We tell them that Iraq has a special `chemical mix’ that can only be deciphered by the believers among the sons of Iraq," he said.

The tape was broadcast on the Arabic language television station Al-Arabiya which is widely seen in Iraq and throughout the middle east.

The voice sounded like Saddam but was huskier than usual. He greeted the Iraqi people on the occasion of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan and said the "evil ones will not be able to occupy and colonize Iraq."

"They thought and made others also think that they were going on a picnic to occupy Iraq and destroy their weapons of mass destruction," the voice said, denying that Iraq had any such arms.

"Iraq will rebel against their evil intentions to colonize it and to wield influence in it," he said. "The evil ones now find themselves in a crisis and this is god’s will for them."

He said "the aggressors have no choice but to leave our nation." He called on "mujahedeen," or holy warriors, to strike coalition forces "even harder."

"The path of resistance is the path of choice to god and the people," he said.

In an apparent reference to the US plan to speed the transfer of political power to Iraqis, the voice said attacking "agents brought by foreign armies" takes precedence over attacking those armies. That appeared to be a call for his followers to target Iraqis working for the coalition.

Referring to coalition forces, the voice said they would "only reap disappointment with more and more American lives lost." (AP)

SHRC blames army for custodial killing

SRINAGAR, Nov 16: Holding Army responsible for custodial killing of a youth, State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has directed Jammu and Kashmir Government to pay Rs two lakh to the affected family.

If the defenders of people act in the way as revealed by the police investigation, then the system is sure to collapse one day under its own burden, the full bench of the SHRC comprising Chairperson Justice A M Mir, Gazi Muzaffer-ud-Din and S Mohinder Singh observed in the judgement issued yesterday.

Asking security forces to behave like forces of a civilized nation, the Commission remarked this form is the watch dog of civil liberties and human rights and would like the armed forces to behave in the same way in which forces of civilized nations act.

While objecting to the Army’s reported non-cooperation in the investigation of such cases, the Commission said the modus-operandi of the Army of not subjecting itself to the authority of investigating agency was again a tragic phenomenon.

Two years ago, Abdul Ahmad Wani, a resident of Giripora-Handwara in frontier district of Kupwara approached the Commission stating that his son Shamasudin Wani was picked up by the personnel of six Rashtriya Rifles from his shop on May 25,2001 and later blown up with an improvised explosive device.

Confirming the arrest of the youth, Army stated that Wani was killed when they were taking him for recovery.

However, the police investigation corroborated the statement of father of the victim.

Meanwhile, the Commission recommended ex-gratia relief of Rs One lakh and a compassionate appointment to the nearest of kins of Mir Ghulam Hyder, a teacher by profession and resident of Amrohi-Karnah in frontier district of Kupwara.

As per the petition filed by the family of the victim, Hyder was picked up by Army (Greander II) on November 12,2003 and allegedly killed in custody.

Army in its report to SHRC said it had laid an ambush and had taken the victim and the numberdar of the village to lead them in the operation. Both were killed when militants opened fire on them, it added. (PTI)

Pak willing to discuss bus service

ISLAMABAD, Nov 16: Shedding its reservations over recent Indian proposal to re-open border point between Sindh and Rajasthan to run a bus service, Pakistan has asked India to "come to the negotiation table" to discuss the issue.

"The border may be re-opened through a dialogue for which India should come to the negotiation table," Foreign Minister Khursheed Mehmood Kasuri told reporters in Lahore yesterday.

Kasuri’s comments came as a surprise as Pakistan, while reacting to recent Indian proposal to run a bus service between the two countries said it has to wait till the two countries begin a composite dialogue to settle differences on Kashmir and other issues.

Besides proposing a bus service between Khokharapar (Sind) and Minabao (Rajasthan), India also suggested a bus service between Srinagar and Muzafarabad, the capital of Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) and a ferry service between Mumbai and Karachi.

Kasuri said the forthcoming SAARC summit to be held in Islamabad in January next would be of great significance and hoped that Indian Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee would attend the summit.

"If India has any reservation to attend the SAARC conference it should inform Pakistan accordingly" he said adding India should attend summit conference un-conditionally.

Pakistan also appreciated people-to-people-contact between India and Pakistan and agreed frequent exchange of delegations could help better ties between the two countries, Kasuri said.

Later addressing a seminar organised by Pakistan’s Kashmir Action Committee (KAC) in Lahore, he denied Islamabad had any role in the recent split of the all party Hurriyat Conference in Jammu and Kashmir.

"Tactics to split organisations would neither serve Pakistan nor the Kashmir movement", he said.

Kasuri said that Pakistan was making all out efforts through diplomatic channels to help resolve the Kashmir issue through peaceful means and added war was no option to resolve issues.

Meanwhile, Pakistan foreign office has said the increase in the number of officials in the High Commissions of Pakistan and India was insufficient to cope with the issuing of visas and suggested the two sides to restore the diplomatic strength to 110.

Foreign office spokesman Masood Khan said Pakistan had no objection over the opening of visa camps as suggested by India recently but for that purpose both countries would have to restore their diplomatic missions to the strength that existed before December 2002.

India trimmed its diplomatic staff from 110 to 47 following an attack on its Parliament in December 13, 2002.

Recently the two countries agreed to increase their staff strength to 55.

Probe on into charges against Judeo: PM

NEW DELHI, Nov 16: Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee tonight said a probe was underway into the alleged acceptance of bribe by Union Minister Dilip Singh Judeo and action would be taken if he was found guilty.

"It is a policy of my Government to carry out open probe into all charges of corruption and an inquiry is already being conducted," he told reporters here on return from a three-nation tour when asked about allegations of bribery against Judeo.

Vajpayee said facts were being collected and action would be taken if Judeo was found guilty. "If found guilty, he has to go," he added.

The Prime Minister, however, remained non-committal on a probe by CBI.

To a question whether Judeo should step down as former BJP president Bangaru Laxman had done the same after the Tehelka expose, he said such a step would be contemplated only after the inquiry was over.

"The media should not pre-judge the issue", he said, adding that he did not agree that the minister should step down even before the probe was over.

Asked whether the alleged bribery scam would affect the result of forthcoming Assembly elections in Chhattisgarh, Vajpayee said "we will know about it later".

He said BJP president M Venkaiah Naidu was already looking into the issue and it would be examined from all angles.

To a question whether he would meet Judeo, Vajpayee said he would do so if the need arose.

The Prime Minister was received at the IGI airport by Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani, several Union Ministers, the three Service chiefs and top officials. (PTI)

Cong seeks Judeo’s resignation

NEW DELHI, Nov 16: Even as the Congress today sought dismissal and arrest of Union Minister of State for Environment and Forests Dilip Singh Judeo, the BJP said there was no question of the senior leader from Chhattisgarh resigning because the tape itself was doctored and its authenticity was under question.

Terming the compact disk fabricated, manipulated and fake, the BJP said it smacks of political conspiracy.

The allegations against the senior leader of BJP, just ahead of Assembly elections in four states, has caused embarrassment for the party, which was hoping to sweep the December one elections.

The party has asked the Election Commission to intervene and order a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into the circulation of the fake CD to defame Mr Judev.

Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, who is returning from three nations official tour late tonight, is likely to discuss and formulate a strategy to counter the allegations tomorrow with his senior cabinet collegues including Deputy Prime Minister.

The Delhi Pradesh Congress has decided to stage a massive dharna tomorrow, demanding the resignation of Mr Judeo from the Council of Ministers.

BJP spokesperson Mukhar Abbas Naqvi, however, said the party had information from senior Congress leaders themselves about a possible conspiracy to defame the BJP Chief Ministerial candidates and contenders in the run-up to the elections. Describing the report that printed video photographs of the minister allegedly accepting cash as another addition to the series of scams under the present Government, the Congress demanded that all "evidences of the offence" be secured against any tampering and the BJP-led NDA Government to come clean by taking appropriate steps.

It is incumbent on the Prime Minister and his Government to take congnizance of the act by one of the Ministers. To live up to the people’s exectations, the Government must register a case immediately, sack the minister and have him arrested, AICC general secretary Ambika Soni said.

She, however, said it was upto the Government to decide what sort of probe it would order, and the Congress did not have any specific demand on it so far.

Refuting the BJP allegation that the charges that the minister had been framed as a result of Congress handiwork led by Chattisgarh Chief Minister Ajit Jogi, Ms Soni said it was a tactic of the ruling coalition leader to divert the people’s attention from the crime.

It is a figment of imagination to link up the Congress in conspiracy. The BJP has always adopted this diversionary tactics whenever a grave charge is levelled against it, she said.

Meanwhile, the newspaper, which have published the news story, quoted as saying at a private news channel that the daily takes all the responsibility for authenticity of the news.

Earlier Mr Naqvi alleged the Congress was indulging in such "low tactics" using computer techniques to defame top BJP leaders during the campaign for the Assembly elections. (UNI)

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