Hurriyat’s demand for visiting Pak will be considered: Patil

Excelsior Special Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Nov 6 : Making it clear that the Centre was ready to hold unconditional talks with any separatist group, Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil today said that Hurriyat Conference’s demand for visiting Pakistan before holding parleys would be considered.

"We have put no condition for talks. If they (Hurriyat) have put a condition (to visit Pakistan) it is a different matter", Patil, who is on his maiden visit to Jammu and Kashmir to have a first hand assessment of the situation, told reporters here.

Patil said there was no restriction on people going to Pakistan or coming to India. "If they (Hurriyat) follow proper method we will look into it. There should not be any problem", he said responding to a question on Hurriyat’s demand for permission to its leaders to visit Pakistan before talks with the Centre.

Asked if the Centre would extend the offer of dialogue to all separatist groups in Jammu and Kashmir, the Minister said "the President, the Prime Minister and myself and other colleagues have been saying that we are ready for talks with anyone if it helps in reducing the level of violance. We have no problem".

On Chief Minister welcoming Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf’s latest proposal for resolution of the Kashmir issue, Patil said he would not like to make any comment on Mufti’s remarks.

"We have not studied the full proposal yet. We will make a comment only after going through it", Patil said.

Asked if a ceasefire was possible in Kashmir along the lines of the recent cessation of hostilities announced by the Government with insurgent groups, he said, "let the proposal come in a proper manner from them (Hurriyat), we will consider it."

The Home Minister stressed that, to move forward, peace was essential and talks and development had to go hand in hand.

Asked for his reaction on Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf’s recent proposal to resolve the Kashmir issue, he said it was for the leadership of the two countries and the External Affairs Ministry to comment.

Mr Patil appreciated the steps being taken by the Jammu and Kashmir Government for the return of the Kashmiri Pandits.

Mr Patil said he had listened to many deputations carefully and steps would be taken to redress their grievances once he returned to Delhi.

He assured that the Centre would support steps taken by the State Government for restoration of peace while saying there had been some improvement in the situation in Jammu and Kashmir.

He declined to give further details on the Government’s plans for development of the State, saying Dr Manmohan Singh would be visiting the State on November 17 and 18 and was likely to announce a package.

Patil, who is making the trip ahead of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to the State later this month, said that Pakistan’s promise not to allow its territory to be used for cross border terrorism and its assertion that it was not involved in acts of violence in Kashmir should be taken as "positive trends".

In reply to a question he said that the Centre would do everything to provide better security to former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah and his son and National Conference president Omar Abdullah in view of the recent attempts on their lives by militants.

Stressing on the need to bring about normalcy in the State so that development projects could be taken up, Patil said "if we have to move forward we need to restore peace".

The Home Minister said that the Prime Minister during his visit was expected to make announcements for the development of the State.

Diary carrying Indian telephone numbers, addresses recovered
Army foils infiltration bid, kills 5 militants

By Dinesh Manhotra

BALNOI (Line of Control), Nov 6: Security forces this morning foiled another infiltration attempt from across the border and killed five foreign terrorists, who had crossed the Line of Control (LoC) at Balnoi area of Krishna Ghati (KG) sector and were trying to sneak deep into this side.

This is the second successive infiltration attempt foiled by the troops in the Krishna Ghati area during the last 10 days.

Besides, large quantity of arms and ammunition, including Pakistani mines and remote controlled Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), a telephone diary has been recovered from the slain terrorists in which some addresses and telephones numbers of India have been penned down.

Talking to the visiting reporters, Brigadier Hemant Mahajan of Krishna Ghati Brigade said that troops manning the LoC observed some movement in the Balnoi area in Mendhar Nalli at about 7 pm on November 5. Troops challenged the terrorists, who had crossed the LoC and were sneaking into this side, and asked them to surrender. The infiltrators resorted to heavy firing with automatic weapons which was retaliated by the troops resulting into fierce encounter which lasted for more than one hour.

Terrorists, who were injured in the gun-battle, managed to give a slip from the encounter site. But the troops sealed the entire area and started search operation to prevent escape of the infiltrators.

Brigadier Mahajan further said the terrorists tried to take advantage of the pitch dark and thick foliage but the alert troops kept them trapped in the area throughout the night.

At about 1 am, terrorists again resorted to heavy firing on the troops which resulted into another fierce gun-battle. The troops used heavy weaponry to eliminate the terrorists. The encounter was completed at about 4.30 this morning and bodies of all the five infiltrators were recovered from the site.

As per the documents recovered from encounter site, the slain terrorists belonged to the Laskher-e-Toiba group and all of them were foreigners. Their identities have been established as Abu Hamza, Abu Umar, Abu Hamza alias Hilal, Abu Yonus and Mohammed Irfan.

To a question ,Brig Mahajan admitted that large number of terrorists have been waiting across the border to infiltrate into this side. "We have information that some terrorists have been sitting in the launching pad and were waiting for appropriate opportunity to sneak into side", he said but asserted that alert troops with the newly installed surveillance devices were all prepared to frustrate their designs.

Pointing towards recoveries made from the slain terrorists, the Brig of Krishana Gati said that first time Pakistani mines and remote controlled IEDs have been recovered from the infiltrators. "We have authentic information that ultras have been confronting with the shortage of arms and ammunition especially IEDs so this group was coming with IEDs and Pakistani mines", he admitted and did not rule out possibility that terrorists want to smuggle IEDs and mines to intensify violence in this area. "Recovery of IEDs is clear indication that terrorists are desperate to attack civilians as well as forces vehicles", he said.

When his attention was drawn towards recovery of a telephone diary in which some Indian addresses and telephone numbers have been written, Brigadier Mahajan said ‘We are trying to make contact on these telephone number and addresses’.

Five AK-47 rifles, 8 IEDs, 10 detonators, 20 magazines, 37 hand grenades and large quantity of ammunition have been recovered from the slain terrorists.

HM meets Governor, CM, various political leaders
Country supportive of Mufti Govt’s efforts: Patil

Excelsior Special Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Nov 6: It was a hectic day for Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil who arrived here today on a three day visit to the State. Apart from talking to media persons, Mr Patil on Day-One met leaders of different political parties and representatives of industries, besides Governor Lt Gen (Retd) SK Sinha, Chief Minister Mufti Mohd Sayeed and National Conference president Omar Abdullah to discuss the overall situation in Jammu and Kashmir.

Mr Patil, accompanied by Minister for Urban Development Ghulam Nabi Azad on his arrival here,drove straight to the Raj Bhavan where he met Governor Lt Gen S K Sinha. Ministers of State for Home, S Raghupathy and Sriprakash Jaiswal also accompanied Mr Patil. The meeting between the Governor and the Home Minister lasted for half an hour.

After the meeting, Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed called on the Home Minister and apprised him of the latest situation in the State.

Emerging after an hour-long meeting with the Home Minister, Mufti Sayeed told reporters that he had apprised Mr Patil of the security situation and the fast changing developments in the State.

He said the State was on way to normalcy and the people had stared feeling a sense of security, particularly after the dialogue process between India and Pakistan.

"The dialogue process helped to restore normalcy and the psyche of the people have changed," he said.

On today’s fidayeen attack at Sopore, the Chief Minister said that there was nothing unusual in the incident. " Such things can happen any where. But the main thing is that situation is fast returning to normal," he added.

Condemning the attack at Sopore, Deputy Chief Minister Mangat Ram Sharma said that such incidents will continue to occur as long as Pakistan supported terrorism.

Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and the people of the country were firm on that fact, he said, and added that the people wanted Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) to be included in India.

"Even an inch of Jammu and Kashmir should not go to Pakistan. That land (PoK)) should come back to us...But the Centre has its international obligations."

Regarding talks with the Hurriyat Conference, Mr Sharma said, "if they want to talk, they are most welcome."

The Hurriyat has already been invited for talks, he said, adding that there was no need to force them.

Mr Sharma said he had asked the Home Minister that the ban on recruitment in Central services and Central Paramilitary Forces be lifted so that the unemployed youth did not get lured to terrorism.

The Union Home Minister today also addressed the meeting of the coalition partners. The meeting was among others attended by Mr Azad, Mr Raghupathy, Mr Jaiswal, Minister for Rural Development Peerzada Mohd Sayeed, several State Ministers and Centre’s representative on J&K, NN Vohra.

Speaking on the occasion , Mr Patil while expressing satisfaction over the performance of Mufti Sayeed led coalition Government, said that the entire country was supportive of its efforts for improving the situation in the State.

The Union Home Minister said that although there were inherent difficulties in running the coalition, yet he was happy to see complete coordination among the ruling parties in the State.

Mr Patil said that Jammu and Kashmir has vast resources that could be utilized for the development of the State. He called for concerted efforts to make the optimum use of this wealth for ushering the State into a new phase of progress and development.

The Chief Minister on the occasion said that coalition Government in the State has been a very good experience. He said that the coalition works in a democratic manner and there was no hegemony of a single party. He said that the Government has successfully reconciled the urges and aspirations of various regions of the State.

National Conference president Omar Abdullah, who had an hour-long meeting with Home Minister at the Raj Bhavan here, later told reporters that the stalled internal peace process on Kashmir should be started again. He said that he urged Mr Patil to permit Hurriyat Conference to visit Pakistan, but at the same time asked Hurriyat not to put a pre-condition for talks.

"I appeal to them (Hurriyat) to come and talk to the Home Minister and if they have any condition they can convey those to him directly. But there should not be any pre-condition for coming to talks," he added.

Stressing on the continuation of the India-Pakistan composite dialogue process, Omar said the success of the process was a precursor to peace in the Valley.

The confidence-building measures on Jammu and Kashmir should be implemented and there should be visa-free travel between the two countries. The Uri-Muzaffarabad Road should also be opened, Mr Abdullah added.

When asked what he discussed with the Home Minister, the NC president said he discussed Jammu and Kashmir and apprised him of the security situation in the State.

Regarding terrorist attacks in the State, Mr Abdullah said, "we feel terrorist attacks have come down, but there is continued movement of terrorists. They can still wage attacks."

Referring to the statement that talks would be held under the constitutional framework, but unconditionally, he urged the Centre to restrain from giving any such statements that would unnecessarily create misunderstanding and affect peace process.

A delegation of National Conference headed by party’s provincial president Dr Mehboob Beg also called on Mr Patil during 45 minutes Iftaar this evening and apprised him of the party’s view point on the situation.

Dr Beg said the NC demanded that like talks and Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) on Indo-Pak front, the dialogue on domestic front should also be initiated.

"Nagaland like steps, where unilateral cease-fire was announced by the Centre, should be initiated in Jammu and Kashmir", Dr Beg stressed. "While the foreign mercenaries should be handled firmly, the locals should be brought to the negotiating table", he said.

Asserting that visit of the Union Home Minister was a historic opportunity, Dr Beg said the visit should be utilized to make a headway in solving Kashmir problem and not as the previous visits.

Dr Beg said the Home Minister assured them that some of their suggestions were very fruitful and assured to consider them.

Another delegation of Jammu Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP) led by Balwant Singh Mankotia, MLA Udhampur met the Union Home Minister and demanded immediate implementation of Wazir Commission report and setting up of Delimitation Commission.

Mr Mankotia regretted that Mr Patil has spared just a few hours for Jammu region out of his three days visit to the State.

He also pleaded the cause of West Pakistan and PoK refugees besides the demands of Poonch, Rajouri and Doda migrants including providing relief to them.

A delegation of Federation of Commerce and Industries Kashmir also met Mr Patil and raised the issue of units under the occupation of security forces in the Valley.

The Chamber delegation which was led by its president Syed Shakeel Ahmed Qalandar informed the Home Minister that about 100 units were under the occupation of security forces for the last 15 years, out of which only 40 have sofar been vacated. The delegation requested the Union Minister to order shifting of security forces from the industrial units to some alternate accommodation so that these units can re-start their production. Mr Patil assured the delegation that he will look into the matter.

Apart from demanding industrial package for the State, the delegation requested that power projects of Uri and Salal be declared as State’s property.

A delegation of Islamic scholars, led by Mufti Bashiruddin also called on Mr Patil.

RSS asks BJP to return to Hindutva
*VHP ends boycott

HARDWAR, Nov 6: The RSS today asked the BJP to pursue the Hindutva and temple construction issues vigorously while the VHP, ending its "boycott" of the meeting, urged the BJP national executive to pass resolutions on these matters.

"We have asked the BJP functionaries to again take up the Hindutva and temple issue and they have given us the assurance that they will," RSS general secretary Mohan Bhagwat, who chaired the two-day RSS national executive, told a press conference here on the concluding day of the Akhil Bharatiya Karyakarini Mandal, the apex executive body of the Rashtriya Swayam Sevak Sangh.

"How they plan to return to the Sangh ideology, it’s upto them. We don’t give directions to any organisation. We will wait and watch," Mr Bhagwat added. He did not specify a timeframe.

He said the RSS definition of Hindutva included cow protection and construction of the Ram Temple among other things.

"Ram Ka Mudda To Sangh Mein Hain Hi (the Ram temple issue has always figured on Sangh’s agenda)," he said.

On the differences between the VHP and the BJP, he denied that the Sangh Parivar was a house divided. "There are some differences, but these will be sorted out," he said.

He said the VHP had taken permission to abstain from the meeting because of some work. "I met Mr Praveen Togadia (VHP general secretary) before the meeting and he sought some time. When his work got over, he attended the conclave," he added.

Mr Togadia attended the final session of the conclave but only after former BJP president M Venkaiah Naidu left for Delhi. Meanwhile, Mr Bhagwat dismissed the claim of the Leftists that the RSS was communal saying Hindutva "does not preach communalism and anybody who believes in its ideology cannot be communal".

"The Left is playing politics on the issue for its selfish gains for years, while they also know that Hindutva does not preach communalism," he added.

"The Sangh has always steered clear of such politics. We have nothing to fear," he said.

On the Ram temple issue, he asserted that the Ram Temple will be built in accordance with the wishes of the people under the leadership of VHP.

"Yeh Janata Ki Ichcha Se Banega. Jo Jo Prayas Karne Hain, Woh Kiye Jayenge (the temple will be built as per the wishes of the people and we will make every endeavour towards this end)," he said.

"The VHP will spearhead the movement for the same," he added, making the role of the organisation very clear.

"If there is any political party that has to play a role in this, the BJP will do it," Mr Bhagwat said. (UNI)

Fidayeen attack on BSF camp in Sopore
3 jawans among 10 killed

Excelsior Special Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Nov 6: Two Army personnel and a BSF jawan were killed and six injured as militants carried out attacks on the forces today coinciding with the maiden visit of Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil to Jammu and Kashmir.

As the Home Minister held talks with top Government functionaries here, militants lobbed grenade at the Army soldiers shopping at Lal Mandi area this evening killing two of them and injuring two others including a civilian.

No militant outfit has claimed responsibility for the blast which took place around 4.10 pm.

Hours before his arrival on a three-day visit to the State, at least two militants carried out a suicide attack on a BSF camp in Sopore township, 55 km from here, in Baramulla district triggering heavy exchange of fire that left one jawan and a militant killed. Another militant managed to escape.

While the BSF suspected the involvement of Lashkar-e-Toiba militants in the attack, pro-Pakistan Jamiat-ul-Mujahideen outfit claimed the responsibility for it.

BSF sources said as militants approached the headquarters of the 13th battalion of the forces and lobbed grenade followed by firing on its sentry post around 4.30 am, the jawans fired retaliatory rounds and in the gunbattle BSF jawan Makhen Singh and a militant were killed and four personnel including two Sub-Inspectors were injured.

They said a search operation was carried out in the area but there was no clue about the escaped militant.

An AK assault rifle and 60 rounds of ammunition were recovered from the unidentified deceased militant.

Elsewhere in the State, security forces killed five more militants and foiled an infiltration bid.

Army troops foiled an infiltration bid when they eliminated three Pakistani militants in Uri sector of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district early in the day, the spokesman said.

He said troops guarding Dilanga post along the LoC on Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road observed a group of heavily-armed militants trying to sneak into the Valley from across the border.

He said the militants were challenged immediately and asked to surrender. However, they opened fire and in the ensuing gunbattle, they got killed.

The search operation in the area was still continuing and further details are awaited, the spokesman said.

He said two unidentified militants were killed in an encounter with Army troops in Bandipora area of Baramulla today.

The encounter broke out when Army troops launched a search operation on a specific information at Minimargi village near Chuntimul to flush out hiding militants, the spokesman said.

He said militants hiding in the area opened fire in their vain bid to escape the troops’ dragnet and were killed in the retaliatory action. Two AK assault rifles and some ammunition were recovered from the deceased militants.

In another incident, official sources said militants shot dead a counter-insurgent working with Rashtriya Rifles, Mushtaq Ahmad Wani, near his house at Inderbug in Kupwara district of north Kashmir today, official sources said.

Four car bombs, attacks kill 37 in Iraq

SAMARRA, IRAQ, Nov 6: Insurgents detonated four car bombs and attacked police stations in the Iraqi city of Samarra today, killing at least 37 people and wounding 62, police and health officials said.

The fourth blast occurred at (1230 hours local time) when a suicide bomber rammed a car into a police station, killing 10 Iraqi police officers and wounding five, police said.

A health official said 23 people, including nine policemen, were killed and 40 wounded, among them 17 policemen, in the first three bomb explosions in the Sunni Muslim city.

The attacks in Samarra came as US forces prepared for a full-scale offensive against the rebel strongholds of Falluja and Ramadi, in Iraq’s central Sunni heartland.

The local commander of the Iraqi rapid reaction force, Brigadier Abdul-Razzak-al-Jarmin, was among the dead in the first two blasts near the Town Hall and a nearby checkpoint. Samarra’s Mayor, Major General Tariq Oweid, was wounded.

"I saw a car trying to reach the Town Hall," said bookshop owner Mohammed Ahmed. "When police stopped it, it exploded."

A US spokesman, Captain Bill Coppernoll of the 1st infantry division based in Tikrit, said a joint US-Iraqi national guard patrol had spotted a vehicle bomb near Samarra at (0930 hours local time) and destroyed it.

"The soldiers identified, engaged and destroyed the (vehicle bomb). One soldier and four civilians were wounded in the blast. The vehicle appears to have been an Iraqi police truck stolen earlier from the Baiji police station," he said.

Police said insurgents also carried out simultaneous attacks on three police stations in Samarra, 100 km north of Baghdad, killing four policemen, wounding 17 and capturing 10.

Coppernoll said three Iraqi police were killed and six wounded when three mortar rounds landed near one Samarra police station at about (0930 hours local time) small arms fire was also reported.

A third car bomb exploded later, targeting a US convoy that was trying to reach the scene of the first two bombings, police said. They had no word on casualties in that attack.

Coppernoll said four Iraqi servicemen were wounded in that explosion, which he said went off near a joint patrol with US forces in Samarra at 1000 hours local time there were no US casualties.

"I saw a dead national guard burning on the ground," said one witness after the first bombings. "I saw people carrying away another corpse."

Witnesses said US troops opened fire amid chaotic scenes in the City Centre, hitting some cars. Rescue services could not immediately reach them to evacuate any casualties.

Residents said the US military had declared a curfew due to start at 0900 gmt.

US and Iraqi forces stormed Samarra early last month to drive insurgents off the streets of the city, but guerrillas have remained active.

Rebels often attack state buildings and fledgling security forces to undermine Iraq’s US-backed interim Government.

The bodies of two Iraqi contractors working for US forces were found in Samarra yesterday, police said. They had been beaten and shot several times in the head and chest.

The body of an Iraqi driver who had been transporting construction material for a US base near Balad, north of Baghdad, was also found on a roadside the same day, they said. (AGENCIES)

Centre to grant visa to Imran to visit Kashmir

NEW DELHI, Nov 6: The Centre today said that it would grant visa to Pakistani cricket legend Imran Khan to visit Jammu and Kashmir as soon as he applies for it and will grant him permission to stay in the State as long as he wishes.

"We would grant Imran visa to visit Kashmir the moment he applies for it. He can stay as long as he wishes to and can visit any place of his choice. There will be no restriction on his movement," External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh said, while addressing the two-day "Hindustan Times Leadership Initiative" meet, here this afternoon.

The cricket legend was earlier denied visit to the Valley.

Imran had yesterday said that he would soon visit Kashmir as India has agreed to grant him permission to tour the Valley.

"I am extremely grateful to External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh. He has assured me and agreed that the Indian Government will grant me permission to visit Kashmir," Mr Khan told reporters here.

He was here to deliver a lecture as part of the Hindustan Times Initiative.

"I am so happy and enthusiastic about the visit...It is my childhood dream. My parents used to visit Kashmir before partition. My mother used to tell me a lot about the place," he said.

The former Pakistan cricket captain said he has been invited several times by Kashmir University and other friends to visit the Valley.

"But there have been many hurdles...Now, as the Indian Government has given the clearance, I will speak to them and then plan the visit," he added.

Mr Khan said his visit will definitely send positive signals to the people of Pakistan and called for more such exchanges.

"It is better if people like me visit Jammu and Kashmir rather than the cricket team," he said when asked if the Pakistani cricket team could play a match there. (UNI)

Pak visit will push forward peace process: Hurriyat

SRINAGAR, Nov 6: Welcoming Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil’s statement today that the Government would consider allowing Hurriyat leaders to visit Pakistan, the moderate faction of the amalgam said this would push forward the peace process in Jammu and Kashmir.

"It is a welcome change as the future talks would be more meaningful and purposeful... If the Centre allows us to visit Pakistan ahead of the third round of talks, it will be a good move as it will push the peace process in Jammu and Kashmir forward", Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said.

Mirwaiz had on Sunday said that the Hurriyat would like to visit Pakistan before entering into any further talks with the Centre.

Farooq, however, ruled out meeting Patil during his visit saying "there was no chance".

Another senior separatist leader Shabir Ahmad Shah said he too was not planning to meet the Union Minister "as past experience has shown that it is a futile exercise".

Shah, who has been advocating trilateral talks between India, Pakistan and people of Jammu and Kashmir for resolving the Kashmir issue, said "I think that is the only way of finding a long-lasting and durable solution to the problem. Bilateralism will not help in this regard". (PTI)

Convert LoC into IB: MQM chief

NEW DELHI, Nov 6: Favouring coversion of Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir into International Border, Muttahida Quami Movement chief Altaf Hussain today said India and Pakistan should engage in a dialogue on others issues related to development and uplift of people.

"LoC can well be used as the basis to begin negotiations by virtue of being a ground reality, which has existed for the past three decades. I am saying, use this as a basis or option to begin talks until such a time that a practical alternative is found," he said in his speech at the Hindustan Times Leadership Initiative Conference.

"What is wrong with it? if both the countries resolve that crossing this line would be considered as aggression, doesn’t it in layman’s terms amount to International Border," Hussain said and added that if this was not the option, then the other alternative left was "having another war".

Hussain said his plea was to allow people prosper and the two countries should divert critically required funds from defence to social and economic sections. "Let us arm our children with education, health and hygiene and not with nuclear bombs and missiles."

He lauded Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf for making a "courageous" statement to discard plebiscite as an option. "For the past 57 years, the leaders of Pakistan had not only misled the nation but also failed it by depriving Pakistani people of basic amenities under the rubric of Kashmir."

The MQM leader said restriction on bilateral trade have forced both India and Pakistan to import goods from third countries while "Indo-Pak trade will ensure cheaper raw material and low transportation resulting in potential for quality products at competitive prices for consumers in both countries and larger markets for manufacturers."

Hussain also highlighted the plight of Muhajirs (refugees who went to Pakistan during partition) and said India should work to expedite opening of Munnabao-Khokrapar railway link so that the refugees could come back.

Later at a press conference, he defended his decision to extend support to Musharraf saying this would ensure that the country does not slip into the hands of fundamentalists.

"On one hand, we have Musharraf and on the other we have several religious, fanatic forces who are capable of turning Pakistan into yet another Tora Bora," Hussain said.

He defended Musharraf’s decision to continue as the Chief of Pakistani Army saying "sometimes you have no other option."

Asked why he was not being allowed to visit Pakistan though he is so appreciative of Musharraf, Hussain said "well, the President himself has survived two assassination bids. I only wonder what will happen to me."

He said extra-judicial killings in Sindh had come down drastically.

Later Hussan had a one-to-one meeting with External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh. (PTI)

Israeli troops kill 4 Palestinians

GAZA, Nov 6: Israeli forces killed four Palestinians, including a schoolboy, during clashes in the Gaza Strip and West Bank today, the Army and witnesses said.

In a separate incident, three Palestinian militants were killed in a car explosion in the West Bank that their faction blamed on an Israeli booby-trap. Israeli military sources denied involvement.

In the Gaza Strip, troops backed by a helicopter gunship killed two gunmen who were spotted planting a bomb outside Gush Katif, the main Jewish Settlement Bloc. The militant group Islamic Jihad identified the two dead men as its fighters.

Near the Gaza-Israel boundary, Israeli troops opened fire on two Palestinians who entered a no-go area and were suspected of being armed, military sources said. Palestinian medics said one of the Palestinians was killed. His identity was not known.

In the West Bank, Israeli troops shot dead a 14-year-old stone-thrower, witnesses said. Military sources said the youth killed in the city of Jenin, a bastion of Palestinian militants waging a 4-year-old uprising, was holding a o,lotov cocktail.

Palestinian militants have stepped up attacks in Gaza since Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon announced a plan to withdraw troops and settlers from the coastal strip next year.

Israel has vowed to crush the Gaza militants, fearing they could embolden gunmen in the West Bank, another territory that Palestinians want as part of a state. (AGENCIES)

Khurshid new UPCC president

NEW DELHI, Nov 6: Signalling its intention to take on the ruling Samajwadi Party, Congress today appointed Salman Khurshid, a bete noire of Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav as the party president in Uttar Pradesh replacing Jagdambika Pal.

51-year old Khurshid, at the moment a general secretary in the AICC, had held the post of UPCC president some four years ago and is a known opponent of the UP Chief Minister. He had been a champion of Congress-BSP tie-up in the key State which has 80 Lok Sabha seats.

The appointment, announced by the AICC general secretary Satyavrat Chaturvedi, came a day after Congress president Sonia Gandhi had given broad hints that a change of leadership in Uttar Pradesh was on the cards.

Gandhi’s remarks yesterday at a conference here that "something is happening tomorrow or day after or even this evening" in the context of change of leadership in UPCC set the ball rolling and the announcement today was only seen as a formality. She had said that Uttar Pradesh is vital to the Congress party.

Khurshid, who is in West Bengal with Gandhi today, said he was "absolutely speechless" over the "great honour". "It is a make or break opportunity. I will try to do the best. I am conscious of the challenges as well as the opportunity and we will devise the best possible strategy", Khurshid told PTI on phone, commenting on his appointment.

Asked about the reason for change of leadership, Chaturvedi said "this is a continuing process and it goes on. We have to provide opportunities to all friends to work." It was long awaited and "we felt the need to revitalise the party which is likely to face many challenges ahead," he said, adding "that is why the change in the leadership of PCC has come."

Pal’s sacking comes in the wake of Congress’s reverses in recent by-elections to the State Assembly. The party lost majority of the seats contested by it.(PTI)

Public anger will uproot RJD Govt: Advani

SIWAN, Nov 6: BJP president L K Advani today said "collective anger" of the people of Bihar against the RJD Government, particularly on the law and order front, would bring down the "non-performing" regime.

"Indira Gandhi once appeared invincible but after she clamped emergency in 1977, there was a collective anger of the people against her. They (the people) performed a miracle and toppled her. I hope the people of Bihar would repeat that miracle," he said addressing a party rally in one of the strongest of RJD citadels represented by party strongman Mohammed Shahabuddin in the Lok Sabha.

Advani, on his first visit to Bihar after taking over the reins of the party rattled by electoral reverses, said "my partymen told me about the reign of terror in Siwan and promised to arrange a rally somewhere else in the State but I decided on holding the rally here as I want the miracle to take place soon".

Stating that according to figures made available to him by party vice-president and MP Sushil Kumar Modi, who was earlier the leader of the opposition in the State Assembly, around two lakh people had been killed and 50 lakh labourers and entrepreneurs had left Bihar during the nearly 15-year of "Lalu-Rabri misrule characterised by anarchy and lawlessness". "Currently BJP has a dominance in the urban local bodies but since the polls are being held for the first time in the State, the party does not want to leave any stone unturned’" he said.

Advani will also be the chief guest at the closing ceremony of the week-long fourth foundation day celebration of the State, which was inaugurated by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on November one, the minister said.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Babulal Gaur will preside over the function. (PTI)
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

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