RBI gives J&K industry special consideration

MUMBAI, Apr 21: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced a package of relaxation for the commercial banks operating in Jammu and Kashmir to ensure larger flow of credit to trade and industry in the State.

The comprehensive package, to be effective immediately, will be operative for a period of one year ending March 31, 2005.

Besides providing increased working capital facilities to the industry depending on the merits of each case, RBI has asked the banks to take a realistic approach for all borrowers and said the benefits of relaxed norms may be extended to desirable customers.

All borrowal accounts, irrespective of whether ad-hoc facilities were sanctioned in the past or not, would be subjected to review by the concerned banks within a period of three months and need-based increased working capital facilities may be sanctioned to borrowers without delay.

While finance against accepted hundies (usance bills) should be encouraged, concessions may be given in service tariffs for remittances. The same may also be extended to collection of outstation bills and cheques.

The banks may honour small fixed deposit receipts, say up to Rs 10,000 of the Kashmiri migrants at the designated branches without verifying details from the branch of origin against indemnity bond, where necessary.

For term credits, the banks may adopt a flexible and pragmatic approach as regards debt-equity ratio, especially for small projects. Rescheduling of the repayment programme may also be allowed in deserving cases.

The banks may review all irregular accounts within a time-frame of three months with a view to exploring the possibilities of regularising them through sanctioning additional working capital facilities.

Period of realisation of bills purchased and advance bills for collection may be extended up to one month by Branch Managers. Liberal acceptance credit and line of credit facilities may be extended to facilitate purchases on credit. The margin for bank guarantees and inland letters of credit should not exceed 15 per cent depending on merits of each case.

The facility for transfer of bank accounts or funds maintained with their branches in the Valley to some other designated and specified branches outside the valley, at the request of their customers, may be continued with necessary safeguards so that unauthorized withdrawals or transfers are not encouraged.

Similarly, banks may arrange to designate specific branches outside the Valley to receive instruments drawn on their branches in the Valley. RBI also suggested that banks may take special steps to educate and inform the managers and controllers of their branches in the State about the details of package on the one hand and corporate strategies for implementing these on the other.

Also, in each district of the State, the lead bank may convene banker-customer meet, to which top district level State Government officials could also be invited.

The banks in the State should make special efforts for avoiding delays in all matters of providing banking services. Clearance of instruments, both local and outstation, should be prompt.

A review of systems and procedure in vogue may also be undertaken for achieving the above objective. Necessary delegation of authorities may also be made expeditiously in this context.

The power of rejection of any concession should vest in an authority above the immediate controlling tier of the concerned branch.

It may be emphasised that additional fund requirements for implementing the package may be dovetailed into corporate fund deployment strategy of each bank so that higher flow of credit to the borrowers in the State could be effected within a reasonable period of time.

Submission of quarterly data by branches of banks on progress made in implementing the package of concessions may be an integral part of the corpus of control returns to facilitate effective monitoring.

Special cells for monitoring implementation of the package may be formed in all banks operating in the State at the zonal office level, if not already formed. The cells would also act as grievance redressal agency for the respective banks. The cells would convene quarterly meetings with credit users, which should be attended by a senior official from the corporate office.

At the state level, a committee comprising representatives of major banks, State Government, trade and industry would sort-out problems/ grievances against banks. The state-level committee would also review the progress made in implementing the package on the basis of quarterly data.

Convener, state level bankers’ committee, would provide secretarial support to this committee. Review reports of the state level committee may be forwarded to local office of Reserve Bank of India for follow-up action. (UNI)

Ultras chop off ears of two persons
3 militants among 6 killed
*Two HUJI activists surrender

Excelsior Special Correspondent

JAMMU, Apr 21: Three militants, two civilians and an Army soldier were killed while the militants chopped off ears of two persons including a Naib Sarpanch and two militants surrendered before security forces in separate incidents across the Jammu region since last evening.

Official sources said three foreign mercenaries were eliminated by the troops at Kalaban in Mendhar tehsil in Poonch district late this evening.

Slain militants belonged to Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) outfit, they said.

Three AK rifles and a large quantity of ammunition was recovered from the scene of encounter, they said, adding the operation was going on in the area following reports that two to three more militants were hiding in the area.

Sources said the slain militants had planned to kill NC MLA from Mendhar, Javed Rana.

Meanwhile, sources said a civilian Ali Mohd was kidnapped by the militants from his house at village Thuroo in Mahore tehsil in Udhampur district last night. His body with bullet marks was recovered by the police this morning.

Another civilian Abdul Lateef son of Abdul Ghani, a resident of village Udhyanpur in Doda was gunned down by the militants in his house late last night. The militants, numbering two, escaped after the killing.

No reasons have been ascertained so far behind the two killings, the sources said.

An encounter took place between the troops of 10 Rashtriya Rifles and a group of militants at village Dessa in Doda this morning. An Army jawan Santosh Sharma was killed in the firing while the militants escaped.

Security forces continued searches for the militants, who were suspected to be the foreign mercenaries of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) outfit, the sources said.

Another encounter between security forces and the militants took place at village Magota in Marmat area of Doda. A woman Maluta Begum wife of Abdul Aziz was trapped in the cross-firing and got seriously injured. She has been admitted in the hospital.

Meanwhile, a group of ultras last night struck at village Morha Kalwa in Mahore tehsil of Reasi police district. They beat-up Misri Din, Naib Sarpanch of Halqa Mallas, Haji Sulla Mohd, Nambardar of Kalwa and Mohd Amkala, a Village Level Worker.

Before fleeing, the militants partially shopped off left ears of Mohd Amkala and Misri Din for taking part in the ongoing election process. Mahore falls in Udhampur-Doda Parliamentary constituency, which will go to polls on May 9 in last and final phase of polling.

Injured persons have been hospitalised. Their condition was, however, stated to be stable.

Another civilian Ghulam Hassan Gujjar, who had been kidnapped by the militants from village Dessa in Gool area, escaped from the captivity in Lapri area of Mahore yesterday. He reached his house safely last night.

Meanwhile, two militants including a Harkat-ul-Jehad Islami (HUJI) ‘area commander’ Jamal-ud-Din surrendered before security forces in Banihal area of Ramban police district today, the sources said, adding they handed over one rifle and ammunition at the time of surrender.

Our Kathua correspondent adds: Security forces, during a search operation in Billawar, today recovered two 303 rifles, two magazines, 14 rounds, one UBGL and two UBGL grenades.

Peace process with Pak will go on: PM

NEW DELHI, Apr 21: Asserting that the recent incidents of violence in Jammu and Kashmir would not break down the ongoing peace negotiations between India and Pakistan, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today said the leaderships of the two countries understood that there was no alternative to moving forward on the road to peace.

"There is no other way. The people of both countries want peace and economic development. Some issues which threaten to hamper the process. But all issues will have to be solved through dialogue," the Prime Minister said in an interview with the All India Radio (AIR).

He said that when Pakistan had assured that it would not allow its territory to be used for anti-India activities, New Delhi had taken a decision that "talks could be held."

"Some violence is there, but not to the extent that talks will break down," he said.

The Prime Minister said that talks would go ahead and problems would be solved. But it had become evident that people of both countries wanted peace and both countries should sit down and talk.

Meanwhile, Pakistan has welcomed India’s decision to agree to its proposal for expert-level talks on nuclear confidence-building measures on May 25 and 26.

These are very important talks and Pakistan looks forward to Indian participation, foreign office spokesman Masood Khan was quoted by the Radio Pakistan as saying.

"We are happy that India accepted our proposals for dates and we are looking forward for fruitful talks," Khan said.

Carrying forward the peace initiative, New Delhi today agreed to hold the expert-level talks. It also conveyed its readiness to Islamabad to have a meeting of the committee on drug trafficking and smuggling on June 15 and 16.

Dates for both the meetings were proposed by Pakistan in pursuance to the meeting of Foreign Secretaries of the two countries in Islamabad on February 18.

"We have today conveyed our acceptance of these dates," Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesman said. (PTI)

Suicide bombers kill 68 in Iraq

BASRA, IRAQ, Apr 21 : Suicide bombers killed 68 people, some of them children, in strikes on Iraqi police stations in British-patrolled Basra today, shattering months of relative calm in the mainly Shi’ite city.

Basra Mayor Wael Abdul-Hafeez accused Osama bin Laden’s Al Qaeda network of being behind the morning rush-hour blasts.

Near-simultaneous vehicle explosions hit three police stations in Basra and a police academy in Zubair, a mainly Sunni town 25 km to the South.

"All four attacks seem to have been carried out by suicide bombers," said a British Defence Ministry spokeswoman in Basra.

The Mayor told a news conference 68 people, not counting the bombers, were killed and 99 wounded. Among the dead were school children incinerated in a minibus caught by one blast.

A wounded Iraqi, Amin Dinar, said he had heard a huge explosion as he stood at the door of his house.

"I looked around and saw my leg bleeding and my neighbour lying dead on the floor, torn apart," he said from his hospital bed. "I saw a minibus full of children on fire."

British Prime Minister Tony Blair said he had no plans to send more troops to Basra after the blasts and Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said suicide attacks would not derail plans to hand sovereignty to Iraqis on June 30.

"My message to the terrorists is clear — we will not allow you to derail the process of transition to a sovereign and democratic Iraq," Straw said in London.

The US-led occupation is due to end on June 30 with the handover of power to an interim Iraqi Government, but preparations for the transition have been eclipsed by this month’s bloodletting and hostage-taking in Iraq. Denmark said a Danish businessman reported missing on April 11 in Iraq had been found dead the next day. Danish media had identified him as Henrik Frandsen, 35, and said he was kidnapped on a highway North of Baghdad.

The Danish Foreign Ministry said US-led authorities in Iraq had told it yesterday the body had been found.

An Italian hostage was killed this month by kidnappers demanding that Italian troops leave Iraq.

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said the expected freeing of three other Italian hostages had been delayed but said he was aware of no obstacle to their release.

Canada said yesterday one of its citizens had been abducted in Iraq — the latest in a series of kidnappings that has snared civilians from more than a dozen countries.

The explosions sowed panic across Basra, which has remained relatively peaceful during the US-led occupation and largely escaped this month’s surge of violence elsewhere in Iraq.

Basra’s Mayor said police had recovered the remains of one bearded bomber. "I accuse Al Qaeda," he said.

US officials have blamed bin Laden’s network and its affiliates for some of the violence sweeping Iraq.

Witnesses at hospitals said 200 civilians and police had been wounded. Reuters counted 55 bodies at one hospital. A morgue attendant said 39 bodies had been identified and at least 16 others were burnt beyond recognition.

A British military spokesman said three vehicles had exploded at Basra Police Stations at about 7:15 a.m. (0315 gmt). British officials said the Zubair blast killed three Iraqis and wounded four British soldiers, two seriously. In Falluja, West of Baghdad, fighting violated a fragile truce hours after US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld suggested the ceasefire in the Sunni city would not last.

Six civilians were killed and 10 wounded in clashes between marines and rebels, residents said.

US snipers, concealed on rooftops, pumped round after round into buildings, film shot by US journalists with the marines showed. Missile-firing black Hawk helicopters blasted unseen targets with machinegun and cannon fire.

An F-16 jet flew overhead and a huge dust cloud rose in the air, possibly the result of a heavy bomb.

"Thugs and assassins and former Saddam henchmen will not be allowed to carve out portions of that city and to oppose peace and freedom," Rumsfeld said yesterday.

Dozens of families who had fled earlier fighting queued on the edge of Falluja today waiting to be allowed home. The truce deal stipulated that 50 families may return each day.

Marines at a roadblock initially turned people back, but let some through as the fighting died down.

Muthanna Harith Al-Dari, a mediator from the Muslim Clerics Association, said Falluja talks would go on despite the latest fighting. He said some insurgents had begun to hand in heavy weapons in line with a US truce condition. But a senior official in the US-led administration said the response to the weapons demand had been ‘’very limited’’.

North of Baghdad, US-backed Iraqi soldiers killed four insurgents and seized three explosive-laden cars in a raid overnight, said Iraqi Major-General Anwar Amin in Kirkuk.

US President George W. Bush, seeking re-election in November, said US-led forces remained strong despite the decisions of Spain, Honduras and the Dominican Republic to pull their troops out of the country.

Berlusconi said Italian troops would stay in Iraq after June 30, but Poland, another strong US ally in Iraq, said it was considering options for eventually withdrawing its troops. (REUTERS)

BJP candidate escapes bid on life

Excelsior Special Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Apr 21: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from Anantnag and his family escaped a militant attack last night, while elsewhere in the State 16 persons were injured today in different incidents.

Official sources said the militants hurled a hand grenade at the residence of BJP candidate Sofi Yousuf at Lazabal in Anantnag in south Kashmir last night. Sofi escaped unhurt in a grenade attack on his heavily-guarded house. The grenade missed the intended target and exploded outside the boundary wall of his residence causing no harm, the sources said adding militants also fired several pistol shots before fleeing in the face of retaliation by police guards.

Twelve civilians were injured, three of them seriously, when militants lobbed a grenade on the poll campaign vehicle of an independent candidate from Anantnag parliamentary constituency Ghulam Mohiuddin Dar at Pulwama district township of south Kashmir today, the sources said.

Militants hurled the grenade on the vehicle but it missed the intended target and explosed on the roadside injuring 12 pedestrians.

The sources said the candidate was not in the vehicle and none of his campaigners were among the injured. Four of the critically wounded people were admitted to a hospital here while the others were given first aid at a local hospital.

At least two police personnel were injured when militants opened fire on a patrol party around 1530 hrs at Mattan bus stand in Anantnag district. The injured were hospitalised, he said, adding the militants later managed to escape. The security forces averted a major incident when they detected and defused two powerful Improvised Explosive Device (IED) at Sonabugh in Lasjan area this morning. Security personnel also seized a bag containing three rifle grenades, 109 rounds, five kg of explosives and three detonators at Rangmullah in Pulwama last night. Militants also set off an IED fitted on a bicycle on Old Airport Road even as police foiled their attempt to explode two more IEDs here, they said.

Police foiled two more attempts by militants to explode IEDs when the cops recovered two of them at Sumarbug in Lasjan area on the outskirts of the city this morning, the sources said.

The IEDs, fitted in iron pipes, were kept in a hut near a brick klin by militants which was noticed by some people who informed the police. Later the devices were defused by the experts of bomb disposal squad, the sources said.

Meanwhile, they said security forces recovered a bag containing three rifle grenades, 90 rounds of AK assault rifle, 19 Pika rounds, five kgs of explosives and three detonators from a heap of grass at Rangmullah in Pulwama district.

Pak troops intensify defence work on IB amidst ceasefire

From Gopal Sharma

SUCHETGARH IB, Apr 21: A massive defence activity including construction of bunds and concrete bunkers is going on towards Pak-side all along the International Border in Jammu sector amidst ceasefire agreement between the Indo-Pak troops.

Strengthening of defence work which the Pakistani Rangers could not do for the past several decades in view of violent borders and the intermittent cross-firing is now being carried on uninterrupted. Thanks to the peace-agreement proposal which came from the Pakistani General Pervez Musharraf and reciprocated by the Indian Prime Minister Atal Bahari Vajpayee.

One may witness the new construction work of bunds across the zeroline while moving from Octroi border post towards western side up to Suchetgarh town on-foot for about a distance of one kilometer.

A milestone erected at the extreme end on Indian side closer to gate along old Jammu-Sialkot road shows: Sialkot 11 kms and Lahore 141 kms. From this end Jammu is just 27 kms. From Suchetgarh town which is hardly 100 metres from IB, the activity is clearly visible while viewing from a tower or a roof top of any house. The Pak troops are engaged in erecting pucca bunkers closer to the zeroline.

A BSF official without being quoted disclosed that Pak Rangers are making hay while the sun shines (ceasefire). They are taking full advantage of this ceasefire and are now engaged in strengthening defence work in their own side that too, closer to border. For so many years they could not do it because of constant threat of firing. Now it is peacetime and they are carrying the task round the clock. Responding to a question he said, at certain points they are carrying work at advantage position and it could be problematic for them if the ceasefire agreement fails in future. But it is not here only, they are carrying on such work all along this sector. "We are also taking full advantage of ceasefire and carrying on fencing work smoothly and swiftly," he maintained.

Along calm borders, the BSF pickets which were once full of marks of bullets are now repaired and well painted giving aesthetic look. Unlike our past visit to the 2-3 border posts of Suchetgarh, BSF men now move freely like their Pakistani counterparts in their respective territories. The farmers on the either side work freely closer to borders without any fear of guns. Engaged in the harvesting activity the Pak farmers too were watching poll process from their fields towards this side on Tuesday.

With fast returning of peace on borders, most of the shops which once had emptied and shut down due to Pakistani firing in this sensitive border town, have again filled with the items of day today consumption and buzzing with the lively activity. Not only the repair of the damaged ones but the new construction has also begun in the town. The people are happy with the peace mantra of Vajpayee and especially the women had all praise for the Prime Minister in these border villages.

Prem Lata and Leelo Devi expressed that for so many years they had not gone to their roof tops due to the fear of Pak bullets. Even they could not carry any construction or repair work on the roofs. "We are happy that now our men and children can sleep on the roof top in these hot summer nights when there is no power supply. We could not send our cattle to the farms as we have already lost many cattle in Pak firing. It was very difficult to get fodder for them from the fields which were open and exposed to the Pak firing. Even most of our villagers were not performing marriage functions here and used to go to R S Pura for the same fearing casualties in border firing. We wish a permanent peace along the border so that we all can also lead a peaceful and stable life," they maintained.

LS elections will attain historical importance: CM

Excelsior Special Correspondent

KHAG, Apr 21: Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today expressed his confidence that the present Lok Sabha elections will attain historical importance as people of the State are determined to defeat the nefarious designs of those forces, who are against the peace and bent to exploit the sentiments of the people . He further said that people are analyzing the inefficiency of previous NC Govt, which resulted in all round unemployment and poverty as compared to working of the present coalition Govt, which has opened golden chapter of development and prosperity in the State.

The Chief Minister today addressed several impressive public rallies in various places of Budgam district including Khag and Magam in favour of Advocate G.N.Lone, who is PDP candidate for Srinagar parliamentary constituency. The Minister for Tourism, G.H.Mir, the senior PDF leader Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen (Revenue Minister) and general secretary PDP, Bilal Lodhi were accompanying the Chief Minister and also spoke on the occasion.

Mr Sayeed said that his Govt has played vital role in tapping hydle resources of the State, which was not the priority of the previous Govt. All endeavours were made to ensure the regular power supply to the extent of 16 hours daily, which he assured to the people, would be further improved.

The Chief Minister said that his Govt was determined to eradicate the menace of the un-employment and for this purpose 40000 un-employed youth were provided the jobs in various Government departments during last sixteen months. He revealed that he had given strict instructions to make the selection purely on the basis of merit and efficiency, which was accordingly implemented and no complaint from any quarter was received so far on this account.

The Chief Minister said that God has bestowed the Valley Kashmir with divine beauty, which unfortunately received no attention during last 27 years of NC rule in the State. He said that his Govt during last sixteen months developed Pahalgam and Gulmarg as an ideal tourist destinations and the Govt is also working for development of other tourist destinations.

In squeal to this policy of development, places like Sonmarg, Yusmarg, Bungus Valley, Gogjipatri, Dodpatri and other numerous areas would be developed on the same pattern. The results of these developmental policies in tourist sector are evident as every one is witness to present huge rush of tourists towards Kashmir. This year it is expected that the number of tourists domestic as well as foreign will break all previous records. The improvement in the over all situation in the State and infrastructure created in Tourist sector has helped a lot in attracting the tourists to the Valley.

India accepts dates for expert level talks with Pak

NEW DELHI, Apr 21: Carrying forward the peace initiative, India today agreed to Pakistan’s proposal for expert-level talks on nuclear confidence-building measures on May 25 and 26.

New Delhi also conveyed to Islamabad its readiness to have a meeting of the committee on drug trafficking and smuggling on June 15 and 16.

Dates for both the meetings were proposed by Pakistan in pursuance to the meeting of Foreign Secretaries of the two countries in Islamabad on February 18.

"We have today conveyed our acceptance of these dates," External Affairs Ministry spokesman said.

At the Islamabad meeting, Foreign Secretary Shashank and his Pakistani counterpart Riaz Khokhar had issued a joint statement charting out a road map for the composite dialogue on all bilateral issues, including Jammu and Kashmir.

It was then agreed that expert-level talks on nuclear CBMs would be held in the latter half of May and that the committee on drug trafficking and smuggling would meet in June.

The two sides had then agreed that the Foreign Secretaries would meet in May/June this year for talks on peace and security including CBMs and J and K. There is no official word on the dates for these meetings.

It was decided in February that talks on Siachen, Tulbul Navigation Project, Sir Creek, terrorism and drug trafficking, economic and promotion of friendly exchanges in various fields would be held at agreed levels in July.

Foreign Ministers of the two countries would meet in August to review overall progress. This would be preceded by a one day meeting of the Foreign Secretaries.

New Delhi’s announcement comes close on the heels of Pakistan Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali stating he would visit India in August as the chairman of SAARC to discuss progress on the decisions taken during the SAARC summit in Islamabad. India would be the first destination among SAARC nations on Jamali’s itinerary. (PTI)

Farooq for Indo-Pak friendship

Excelsior Special Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Apr 21: National Conference patron and former Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah today said Indo-Pak friendship will be the first step towards peace in Jammu and Kashmir.

Addressing a rally at Kangan in Srinagar-Badgam Parliamentary seat, Dr Abdullah said peace can be restored in Kashmir only if aspiration of the people of the State are taken into consideration and they are made a party to the solution.

"No solution to Kashmir imbroglio is possible without active participation of the people of Kashmir. The Kashmiris have suffered due to turmoil and have a right to be heard", he said, adding India and Pakistan can’t and should not take a decision about the future of Kashmir people without their participation.

Dr Abdullah urged the leadership of both the countries to act with statesmanship and take a broader view of the things keeping in view the wishes of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

"The present Government of self seekers has ignored the basic issues and problems of the State and so they need to be removed", he said and predicted fall of PDP-led coalition Government after the Parliamentary elections due to its internal contradictions and bickerings.

Dr Abdullah said the NC is committed to welfare of the people. The NC is wedded to the ideals of secularism and brotherhood, he added.

NC leader and former Minister Mian Altaf, MLA Kangan, also addressed the rally and appealed to the people to vote for Omar Abdullah.

Omar for lasting solution to Kashmir

Excelsior Special Correspondent

JAMMU, Apr 21: National Conference president and party candidate from Srinagar-Badgam Lok Sabha seat, Omar Abdullah, today said the NC had been and will continue to work for congenial relations between India and Pakistan to find a lasting solution to Kashmir.

Addressing roadside gathering at Sonawar, Mr Abdullah said it was only the NC leadership which has the will and political ability to prevail upon the leadership of both the countries to facilitate a meaningful dialogue, which will result in a solution to Kashmir issue.

"Had Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru, the then Prime Minister, not died in 1964, the Kashmir issue would have been solved by Sher-i-Kashmir Sheikh Mohd Abdullah", he said, adding, "Sheikh Abdullah had prevailed upon Field Marshal Ayub Khan and Pandit Nehru to agree to a solution in accordance with wishes of people of the State".

The NC president, who is pitted against PDP MLA Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura, MLC, among others, said the people must elect such representatives in Parliament, who have stature and ability to carry forward the message of the people across the world in a convincing manner.

"It was due to my efforts as Minister of State for External Affairs that the world community has recognised need to resolve the Kashmir problem as per the aspirations of the people of the States", he asserted.

Omar said the PDP- led coalition Government is a Government propped up by the powers to be with the sole objective of furthering Delhi’s agenda. He added that Mufti Sayeed has always tried to crush the sentiments of the people of the State with the use of brute authority. "The people of the State have not forgotten Mufti’s "bullet for bullet" policy during his stint as the Home Minister of India when he became instrumental in the killings of hundreds of innocent Kashmiris," he alleged.

Mr Abdullah said the PDP- led Government has failed on all fronts and the people’s misery has increased manifold. The inefficiency, unemployment and corruption has touched new heights and the Government is totally unconcerned about the sentiments of the people of the State, he alleged. Omar’s rallies were addressed by senior National Conference leaders Mohammad Yasin Shah, Aga Syed Roohullah and other senior National Conference leaders.

NDA will again form Govt: Gujral

JALANDHAR, Apr 21: Former Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral today claimed that the National Democratic Alliance(NDA) would again form the Government at the Centre after the election.

"I feel that the NDA will be able to make it again," the former Premier told reporters here today.

However, he declined to comment over the results of the exit poll surveys conducted by different TV news channels yesterday during the first phase of the polling in the 140 Parliamentary constituencies in the country.

He also declined to comment over the possibility of improvement in the Congress strength in the new House and said he could not help the Congress in improvement.

Mr Gujral also expressed satisfaction over the response of the people to his son Naresh Gujral, who is contesting the Jalandhar Lok Sabha seat on a Shiromani Akali Dal(SAD) ticket. He said he was grateful to the people of Jalandhar for the warm response being accorded by them to Naresh and expressed confidence his son would be able to win the seat which had earlier held by him twice.

He also thanked the SAD and BJP for their valuable support to his son.

Mr Gujral arrived here on Monday to campaign for his son. Yesterday, he visited the Golden Temple in Amritsar.

He would stay back in Jalandhar till the polling on May 10 and would campaign for the son.

To a question whether he would tour other constituencies to campaign for SAD-BJP candidates, he said he was here to campaign only for his son. (UNI)

NC degrading Kashmiriyat: Mehbooba

Excelsior Special Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Apr 21: People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president Ms Mehbooba Mufti has said though Kashmir does not face some basic problems which need an amicable and peaceful resolution, the misrule of National Conference for nearly three decades contributed to the worsening of the situation.

Addressing public meetings at Doonipawa, Bulbul Nowgam, Thajiwara, Khandoora, Nowgam, Pahloo and Ranipora of Shangus constituency in Anantnag district, Ms Mehbooba, accompanied by Shangus MLA Peerzada Mohammad Hussain, said for a permanent solution to issues facing the State, the leadership of NC needs to be checked by the voters in the current Lok Sabha elections.

She said NC leadership considered Kashmir as their Jageer and instead of building institutions and providing a developmental superstructure, which could lead to self reliant economy, NC tried to exploit the emotions of people for the sole purpose of keeping power in one family.

She said Kashmir is blessed with abundant national resources but instead of using these resources for building an independent economy NC promoted a begging bowl culture and created an image of Kashmiri as beggars who can survive only on Khairaat from Delhi. She added that funds devolved from the Centre as part of the constitutional scheme of the country were projected as favour and even these were mis-utilized to the extent that when coalition Government took over, the devolution had been restricted.

Ms Mufti said NC MPs had never opened their mouth in the Parliament about the problems of Kashmir. "Have you ever heard Ali Mohammed Naik speaking in Parliament or visiting your constituency" asked Ms Mehbooba to the audience who responded with a big no.

Similarly, she said Omar Abdullah in Srinagar would appear on TV panels in Delhi and in the world capitals to defame Kashmiri but has he ever visited a Mohalla or a gulli in Srinagar. Does he know the language of the place, has a friend in Srinagar, a classmate, a political colleague or a relative, she said and affirmed that no body can be superimposed on Kashmir’s political scene simply because of the accident of birth, she added.

Pak grants 3rd deadline to tribes hunting Al-Qaeda

WANA, PAKISTAN, Apr 21 : Pakistan today gave a further 10-day deadline to a Tribal Armed Force for the surrender of Al-Qaeda fighters and rebel tribesmen who have been harbouring them near the border with Afghanistan.

An official statement said North West Frontier Province Governor Iftikhar Hussain Shah had granted a new deadline — the third this month — at the request of Tribal leaders from the border districts.

"The Governor extended the deadline (until April 30) on the insistence of a group of 52 Tribal elders who met him in the Northwest Pakistani City of Peshawar," the statement said.

Authorities have threatened to launch a military operation like last month’s disaster-fraught campaign in South Waziristan if the deadline is not met.

An earlier deadline, already revised from April 10 to April 20, passed without the threatened military action because tribesmen from the Zalikhel clan, a Pashtun Waziri sub-tribe, took the hunt into their own hands.

An administration official in the main South Waziristan town of Wana, some 230 kilometres Southwest of Peshawar, said tribesmen had suspended the hunt in order to negotiate a surrender with a rebel leader.

"The tribal force has suspended demolishing houses of wanted militants for three days," local administration official Rehmatullah Wazir told reporters.

The local force, made up of some 2,000 armed tribesmen from Zalikhel clan, launched a crackdown on villages in Azam Warsak area near Wana Sunday which have been accused of harbouring Al-Qaeda fighters and their local supporters. (AFP)

 
 
 
 

 

 

| home | state | national | business| editorial | advertisement | sports |
| international | weather | mailbag | suggestions | search | subscribe | send mail |