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By Sanjeev Pargal JAMMU, Dec 18: First Assembly session of Ghulam Nabi Azad led coalition Government, named special session beginning December 22, will not be a smooth sailing for the new Ministry with 26 member strong opposition, the National Conference, planning to grill the Government on both law and order and earthquake relief measures, the two important issues to be debated in week long session. The Opposition is also gearing up to confront the Government on proposed legislation on reducing strength of the Ministry to 25 per cent of the Lower House. The Opposition will insist that the Ministry’s strength be kept at 15 per cent of the Lower House at par with Centre and other States. Leader of Opposition Abdul Rahim Rather, who has already introduced a private member’s bill in the Assembly seeking reduction of Ministry to 10 per cent of the strength of both Lower and Upper Houses, said the NC will like strength of the Ministry to be kept at 15 per cent of the Lower House, which is almost at par with his legislation. "In principle, we stand for passing the legislation on reduction of Ministry’s strength as Parliament and all other States have done it. On percentage, we will consult our members in NC Legislature Party meeting on December 20", Mr Rather said. CPM leader Mohd Yusuf Tarigami, whose party presently extends outside support to Azad Government, asserted: "we support essence of the bill. It should be passed unitedly and smoothly". Mr Tarigami, who had also introduced a private member’s bill in the Assembly’s last budget session seeking reduction of Ministry’s strength to 15 per cent of the total MLAs, said if the Government comes out with such a bill, which now seems quite possible, the House must debate about the percentage. The Government would require two-third majority to get the legislation approved which comes out at 58 in a House of 87, which means it would require the support of National Conference to get the bill through. If the Ministry’s strength is kept at 25 per cent of the Lower House, the State could have nine more Ministers. Presently it has 13 including the Chief Minister. However, if the strength is kept at 15, no more legislator could find berth in the Ministry. Another firebrand NC leader Dr Mehboob Beg, who has recently been elected party’s provincial president for Kashmir, has favoured keeping strength of the Ministry at 15 per cent of the total strength of the Lower House. "When economy of the State is in deep trouble, the strength of the Ministry should be reduced and not increased. If the Government decides to raise Ministry’s strength to 25 per cent of the Assembly’s strength, it would leave a question mark on its credibility and drive against corruption and enforce work culture", Dr Beg, who represents Anantnag constituency in the Assembly, said. Claiming that two chairmen of Boards, who enjoy the status of Ministers, have recently been given extension in their terms, Dr Beg said all chairmen of Boards and Corporations should either be removed or debarred from Ministerial status. He observed that proposed Anti-Defection Law, which is also expected to come up during special session, would be a setback for freedom of expression as it bars even one-third MLAs of a party to form their group and split from the party. Reacting to the statement of NC patron Dr Farooq Abdullah to the NC leaders to co-operate with Azad Government, Mr Rather averred: "we would play the role of a constructive Opposition. We can’t extend unconditional support to the Government. We will definitely support the Government drive against corruption and enforce work culture but we will grill the Government on law and order scenario as a Minister (Dr Ghulam Nabi Lone) was killed last month while an attempt was made on two MLAs (M Y Tarigami and Usmaan Majeed)". Congress chief whip Prem Sagar Aziz said the coalition partners would counter the Opposition propaganda. "Situation has improved on law and order front. Also, relief and rehabilitation of earthquake victims is in full swing", he said, adding the Opposition has been left with no issue to raise. He said a whip would be issued to all Congress MLAs and associate members to support the Government legislation on anti-defection and Ministry reduction. Jammu State Morcha (JSM) MLA from Bishnah, Ashwani Sharma said he would like strength of the Ministry to be kept at 15 per cent. He said law and order situation was also bad in Doda, Poonch and Rajouri districts. However, he hailed the Government drive against corruption and enforcing work culture. Jaya announces probe CHENNAI, Dec 18: At least 42 people, including 23 women, were killed and 37 injured today in a stampede at a Corporation School in the city where hundreds had lined up in the wee hours to collect flood relief coupons. The incident occurred when a sudden downpour at 0500 hrs sent over 4,500 people, gathered in front of the school at M G R Nagar, scurrying for cover, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa told reporters here. The crowd broke police cordon and rushed into the building leading to the crush, the Chief Minister, who visited the injured in Government General Hospital, said. The State Government announced an inquiry, to be conduced by a retired High Court Judge, into the stampede, the second incident of its kind in the city in less than two months. Six people were killed and 20 injured in a stampede near a relief camp in North Chennai on November six. Locals said people began flocking to the relief camp since 0300 hrs today following announcements through the public address system that coupons for relief material would be distributed from 0900 hrs onwards. The Chief Minister said coupons were scheduled to be distributed through ration shops but the programme was changed as these were located in narrow lanes. Jayalalithaa, was seen consoling those who had lost their dear ones and wishing speedy recovery to the injured at the hospital, announced a relief of Rs one lakh to each bereaved family and Rs 15,000 to each injured. She said some mischief mongers with an intention to tarnish the image of the State Government had spread word that only 1000 families would be provided coupons today. This led to people assembling in a large number outside the school, Jayalalithaa said. Yesterday, 3452 families were issued coupons and it was announced that over 4,500 families would be given coupons today, she said. Nine counters were set up in the school for the purpose, Jayalalithaa said adding 4.02 lakh families in the city had received coupons so far. President A P J Abdul Kalam, now in Kerala, expressed shock over the tragedy. He wished speedy recovery to the injured. To a question, the Chief Minister said after the November six stampede, she had convened a high-level review meeting of State officials and directed them not to allow people to gather in large numbers outside fair price shops. She said she had made it clear that each counter, issuing flood relief coupons, should cater to not more than 500 people. Even the President and the Prime Minister had appreciated the efficient manner in which the Government had distributed flood relief, Jayalalithaa said. A large humber of people were seen waiting outside the ward where the injured were hospitalised even as a few hundred gathered outside the hospital mortuary. (PTI) |
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Lashkar militant among 3 killed Excelsior Special Correspondent Srinagar, Dec 18: Three militants, including a divisional commander of Lashkar-e-Toiba militant outfit, were killed in a fierce and prolonged encounter at Wuyan, Pampore in south Kashmir while as elsewhere in the Valley, militants hurled a grenade at Public Service Commission office near Municipal Park today without causing any damage. According to sources, a joint party of SOG Pampore and 50 RR today afternoon, after receiving a tip-off, cordoned off a village Wuyan in Pampore. Sources said that the militants who were hiding in a residential house owned by one Mushtaq Ahmed Ganie, opened fire on the troopers ensuing in a fierce gun battle, which ended late this evening. SSP Pampore, while giving the details of the encounter, said that three militants owing allegiance to Lashkar-e-Toiba were gunned down before the operation ended. He claimed that the operation was clean and no damages were caused to forces’ side, while adding that the house in which the militants were hiding got damaged. He said that the three militants killed included a divisional commander of Lashkar. The divisional commander was identified as Janbaz Mawya, a foreign national. Another deceased militant was identified as Javed Ahmad, resident of Khrew while as the identity of the third slain militant is yet to be ascertained. Police claimed to have recovered 3 AK-47 rifles besides some ammunition from the encounter site. Suspected militants hurled a grenade towards a CRPF picket at Public Service Commission office, today when the area was overcrowded with people busy in shopping during weekly Sunday market. No damage was caused. People, who were busy in shopping, ran for cover and the otherwise busy marketplace turned into a ghosted area. A powerful IED planted near Dhobiwan Tangmarg went off today causing no damages, while as troopers recovered another IED in the same area later, sources said. |
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Ammunition, grenades,
heroin recovered Excelsior special Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 18: Seven persons including a constable of Special Operations Group (SOG), Rajouri and three SPOs, have been arrested by Rajouri police along with explosives, ammunition and one kg heroin worth Rs one crore. SSP Rajouri J P Singh said the arrested were made during two days raids in different areas of Jammu and Rajouri. Rs 27,000 cash has also been recovered from the accused. While three SPOs have been dismissed from the services, the arrested constable has been recommended for suspension. Accused have been identified as Mohd Nissar Khan son of Mohd Aslam Khan R/o Balakote, Poonch, a police constable posted in SOG Rajouri, Imran Khan son of Mohd Raj R/o Manjakote, Rajouri, a SPO with SOG Rajouri, Khalil Ahmed son of Mohd Shafi R/o Muthi, Jammu, SPO with Rajouri Police, Amit Sadhotra son of Satpal Sadhotra R/o Janipur, Jammu, SPO with District Special Branch (DSB), Jammu, Gurmeet Singh son of Baldev Singh R/o Thandi Kassi, Rajouri, Akhter Rasool son of Mait-ul-Rasool R/o Batote and Zaheer Ahmed son of Hussain Mohd R/o Shahdara Sharief, Rajouri. Two persons, who were absconding, are Tariq Ahmed, ex-SPO, a resident of Bela Colony, Rajouri and Fazal Hussain R/o Manjakote, Rajouri. Arrests were made by the police parties led by DySP Headquarters, Rajouri, K S Jasrotia and DySP Operations T R Katoch. Recoveries made from their possession included two heroin packets, each weighing one kg, valuing Rs one crore in the international market, 100 AK-47 rounds, two grenades of Under Barrel Grenade Launcher (UBGL), one wireless set and one RPG booster. More recoveries were expected during further questioning of the accused and arrest of two absconders. Police have launched a massive search operation to arrest the absconders. Police said a raid was carried out in the house of Zaheer Ahmed at Shahdara Sharief on a specific information that a deal was being stuck there by three persons including Amit Sadhotra, Gurmeet Singh and Akhter Rasool for sale and purchase of heroin. While Fazal Hussain, who was also present in the house, slipped away, four accused were arrested from Zaheer’s house. Three other accused were arrested from Jammu on their disclosure. A narcotics smuggler code named Peer Baba used to provide narcotics to the accused, who had connections in New Delhi as well. Rajouri police have sounded their counterparts in Kashmir for the arrest of Peer Baba. Police said the ammunition and grenades had reportedly been stolen by absconder Tariq Ahmed, ex-SPO. Possibility of the accused selling ammunition and grenades to the militants is not ruled out, they added. Further investigations are in progress, A case against the accused has been registered at Rajouri police station under Explosives Act and Narcotics Act. Meanwhile, Army today busted a hideout of the militants in a natural cave at Ichhan, about seven kms from Argi in Nowshera sector of Rajouri district. Recoveries made from the hide-out include three RPG rounds, one hand grenade, 14 detonators, four tubes with explosives and one shawl. NEW DELHI, Dec 18 : Union Power Minister P M Sayeed, who has been suffering from enlargement of lever, died of heart attack in Seoul today, his office sources here said. He was 65. Sayeed, who was the seniormost Parliamentarian and a member of Rajya Sabha, was in the South Korean capital for medical treatment, the sources said. They said his lever had developed symptoms of malignancy. This was his third visit to Seoul in the last two months for treatment which had to follow a particular course. He had been elected to Lok Sabha from Lakshadweep a record number of nine times beginning in 1971. He had been its member in 1977, 1980, 1984, 1989, 1991, 1996, 1998 and 1999 before his winning streak was halted by young MP Muthu Koya in May 2004 general elections. He became the Deputy Speaker of the 13th Lok Sabha in 1999 and remained in that post till dissolution of the House in 2004 when he was appointed the Power Minister on Congress’ return to power. Sayeed was the youngest member of the Lok Sabha when he was elected to it for the first time. Various leaders, including Congress president Mrs Sonia Gandhi has condoled the demise of Mr Sayeed. ( AGENCIES) |
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Important documents
seized Excelsior Special Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 18: The State Vigilance Organisation (SVO) today raided the residences of former RTO Lakhanpur, Bhumesh Sharma’s private Manager at Ragunathpura and the house an SRTC official, who had been posted as Sharma’s private attendant for last several years, at Channi Himmat. Some important documents concerning Bhumesh Sharma’s investments and official papers were recovered during the raids which were supervised by SSP Vigilance Nissar Ahmed, official sources said. Raids in the houses of two trusted lieutenants of Bhumesh Sharma, RTO Lakhanpur, presently attached with the office of Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, started simultaneously this morning and continued till late this evening. Sources said Vijay Sharma son of D D Sharma, a resident of Ragunathpura, Jammu, was working as a Manager in Indian Institute of Driving and Maintenance and Pollution Check Centre, both concerns of Bhumesh Sharma, at Transport Nagar, Narwal. He was looking after these two centres for past quite sometime. From his house, the SVO sleuths recovered some important documents pertaining to investments of Bhumesh in different business centres, the sources said. The house of Rohit Gupta, a junior employee of State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC), was also raided at Bhalla Enclave in Channi Himmat, Jammu, as he was closely associated with Bhumesh Sharma. Gupta was posted as attendant of Sharma wherever the latter was posted. Gupta was posted with Sharma at Jammu, Udhampur and now at Lakhanpur. Despite being a Government servant, Gupta was looking after Saraswati College of Education at Jakh, another concern of Bhumesh Sharma, which was being run in the name of Rajesh Sharma, brother of Bhumesh. From the house of Rohit Gupta also, the Vigilance Organisation seized some important documents, which also pertained to Bhumesh’s investments. Some official papers were also found in his house. However, none of the two persons, whose houses were raided today, were arrested. They were questioned during the searches and would be called for questioning again, when required. According to sources, a separate case is being made out against Bhumesh Sharma for running a driving institute and a pollution check centre which were directly related to the Department he was working in. He is being charged with misuse of official position. It may be recalled that the SVO had raided 20 premises of six Government officers—three in Jammu and three in Kashmir valley on December 7 and detected huge properties, investments, FDRs, cash, gold and other costlier items in possession of the officers. |
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Pak should lift ban on Indian films: Yash DUBAI, Dec 18: Pakistan is making a mistake by not allowing Indian films to be screened there, said ace filmmaker Yash Chopra. Talking to The Gulf today on the last day of Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) 2005, he said that screening of Indian films would benefit the Pakistan Government, film distributors as well as filmmakers from both countries. "It is a known fact that each and every Pakistani loves to watch Indian films. Since they are not allowed to be screened in theatres, they opt for pirated version of DVDs and VCDs of Indian films," he said. Chopra pointed out, various studies have revealed that the Government and film fraternity across the border were losing millions of rupees every year due to the ban on Indian film screenings in theatres. This, the veteran filmmaker said, had created a market for pirated DVDs and VCDs of Bollywood blockbusters."If the Government removes the ban, it will fetch them millions of rupees and also benefit film distributors in Pakistan along with Indian filmmakers," he noted. He said, the apprehension that the import of Indian films would mar the prospects of Pakistani cinema, was baseless. "It is wrong. In fact, they will improve if they face competition. The opening up will provide them with the much-needed exposure," he opined. Chopra pointed out that Pakistan has good writers, good actors, actresses and musicians too. "Yet they are not doing well because they lack ideas and exposure," he stressed. According to Chopra, the opening up of the film market will ensure exchange of ideas, talents and expertise, especially "since we share the same language and culture. This will also ensure success of Pakistani films abroad." Yash Chopra said, "If Indian films can do brisk business in the US, UK and west Asia, why can’t Pakistani films achieve the same status ?" (UNI) By Mohinder Verma JAMMU, Dec 18: As the power tariff of various Government departments is running in several hundred crores and recovery scenario continued to be grim, Minister for Power Nawang Rigzin Jora has pinned all hopes on Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad to devise a mechanism of speedy recovery so that Power Development Department (PDD) could be brought out of the ‘debt-trap’. As per the data prepared by the Power Development Department, almost all the Government departments are its defaulters and have to pay more than Rs 350 crore to PDD as tariff. The Public Health Engineering (PHE) and Irrigation and Flood Control Departments are at the top of the list of such Government Departments. "It’s a matter of serious concern that Government departments are owing more than Rs 350 crore to the Power Department Department and driving it towards piquant situation at the time when Department has to pay crores of rupees for purchasing power from outside the State", Minister for Power Nawang Rigzin Jora told the EXCELSIOR. Government departments, too, are the consumers of the PDD like private parties and they cannot be ignored as far as recovery of tariff is concerned, he made it clear and said that the tariff which is due from them, will be charged at any cost. The Power Minister further said that the burgeoning power tariff of the Government departments is also sending a wrong signal among the people, who are being appealed by the Department to pay power tariff well in time to avoid snapping of power supply. He added that the Government departments are paying just Rs 10 as against tariff of Rs 100 and this practice has been going on for the past several years. Mr Jora said that in a review meeting of the PDD, which will be held in near future, a list of such departments will be given to Chief Minister for his intervention to get the power tariff realized from the departments. "I will also request Mr Azad to devise a formula so that pending dues of the Government departments are cleared at the earliest", he added. To prevent such a piquant situation from erupting again, there should be clear directions to all the Departments to pay the power tariff on monthly basis which would not only help the Power Development Department but also the defaulting Government departments, the Minister said. Pointing towards the snapping of power connections of all the huts of the Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Development Corporation (JKTDC) to get the power dues cleared in the past, Mr Jora advocated the same strategy to deal with the present situation and said that this move can be an effective tool to force the Government departments to pay power dues in time. |
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CHANDIGARH, Dec 18: Intense coldwave conditions continued in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh today even as the most parts of the region were engulfed under a blanket of fog that reduced visibility and affected movement of road and rail traffic. The minimum temperature hovered between two to four degrees below normal in most parts of the region, the MET office said here. The coldwave conditions had so far claimed three lives - two in Punjab and one in Haryana - in the region. With a temperature of four degrees below normal Srinagar continued to be coldest in the hills with a low of minus 5.6 degrees celsius whereas Jalandhar with a low of 0.4 degree celsius was coldest in the plains. Chandigarh settled at a low of 3.8 degree celsius, three degrees below normal. Several areas including Phagwara, Amritsar, Adampur, Sirsa, Bathinda and Ambala were engulfed with fog in the morning which reduced visibility and the motorists had to move with headlights on on the roads. At least five vehicles collided on the Phagwara-Banga road in Phagwara due to dense fog this morning, police said however, adding that no casualty was reported in the pile up. Some north-bound long distance trains running on Delhi-Amritsar and Delhi-Jammu routes ran behind schedule due to poor visibility. Amritsar shivered at a low of 1.0 degree celsius, four degrees below normal. Ludhiana touched a low of 2.5 degrees celsius, three degrees below normal. Ambala reeled under a low of 4.8 degrees celsius, two degrees below normal, Karnal recorded 5.0 degrees celsius, three degrees below normal and Hisar settled at 5.9 degrees celsius. Bhuntar and Sundernagar in Himachal Pradesh recorded a minimum of minus 0.7 and 0.2 degree celsius respectively. However, the capital town Shimla recorded a low of 7.2 degrees celsius which was three degrees above normal. The MET office predicted fog in morning and ground frost at nights in most parts of Punjab and Haryana in the next 24 hours. (PTI) |
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Probe in MPs’ bribery case completed NEW DELHI, Dec 18: The Ethics Committee of the Rajya Sabha and the P K Bansal Committee of the Lok Sabha today completed their investigations into the cash-for-questions scam involving 11 Members of Parliament by holding the final round of questioning of the concerned MPs and the executives of the TV channel which telecast the sting operation. Both the committees will now hold their meetings to take a final view of their respective findings. They will submit their reports on December 21. The special Lok Sabha committee, headed by Congress MP P.K Bansal, held a marathon session during the day in the Parliament House annexe and questioned the MPs and grilled Mr Anirudh Behl of Cobrapost.Com that executed the sting operation, and also senior executives of the television channel that telecast it. Ten MPs of the Lower House were caught on camera accepting money for fielding questions in Parliament. The ethics committee of Rajya Sabha, headed by Dr Karan Singh held its probing session in the evening and questioned Dr Chattarpal Singh Lodha, the lone BJP MP from Upper House. Talking to mediapersons, Mr Anirudh Behl who was questioned for about 100 minutes by 11 members of the Ethics Committee, refused to say anything on what he was asked but said he stood by the sting oppration he had conducted. (UNI) Mir introduces Lone’s son in politics SRINAGAR, Dec 18: With an eye on the forthcoming bypoll, former Jammu and Kashmir Minister and estranged Peoples Democratic Party leader Ghulam Hassan Mir today introduced son of assassinated Education Minister Ghulam Nabi Lone, Shoaib Lone to the people of Sangrama, 50 kms from here in Baramulla district. Bypoll in Sangrama Assembly constituency which fell vacant following assassination of Lone in a suicide attack in high security zone of Tulsibagh in the city on October 18 is likely to be held sometime in March-April next year. Introducing Shoaib to the people, Mir said Lone in a brief spell as Minister for Education revolutionized and overhauled the education system in the Valley which had gone astray during last decades. He hoped that Shoaib would fulfil the dreams and aspirations of the people for which his father stood and laid his life. He sought people’s support in strengthening the hands of Shoaib so that the legacy of Lone is upheld and carried forward. Earlier, addressing a convention of party workers at Sopore, Mir said people of the State would not be deterred by the sporadic incidents of innocent killings as the people are determined to pursue the path of peace and dignified settlement of issues. He appealed all the sections of Kashmir society to play their creative role in arriving at path of political consensus on the issues facing the State. He said time has come when dialogue and discourse are the only means left for the resolution of conflicts both for State and non-State actors. The convention was also addressed by former Minister and MLA Sarfaraz Khan. (PTI) MUMBAI, Dec 18: Rebel Raj Thackeray today walked out of the Shiv Sena and announced his decision to start an independent political innings in the coming months, delivering a crushing blow to the party in Maharashtra, where it was already reeling under the revolt of Narayan Rane and the debacle in the Malvan by-poll last month. The 38-year-old Raj, who addressed a jam-packed press conference at the Shivaji Park Gymkhana near his residence in Central Mumbai, said he had already resigned from all party posts last and was now quitting the Sena, a party to which he was associated since birth, altogether. Raj pointed out that he had to take this "painful" decision because of being politically sidelined and insulted in the Sena for the last few years. His long-speculated announcement was greeted by cheers, slogan shouting, beating of drums and bursting of fire crackers from his supporters, who had gathered in large numbers. The supporters from Bharatiya Vidyarthi Sena (BVS), the party’s students’ wing that Raj headed for several years, had gathered in large numbers outside his residence since morning. Party MLA from Mazgaon in Mumbai Bala Nandgaonkar and Atul Sarpotdar, son of veteran Sena leader Madhukar Sarpotdar, were prominent among those present on the occasion. Raj said he will float a new political party next year. "I will tour the entire state before announcing the programme and policy of the new party as well as its political course and direction. It will be a platform for people who want to work for the people." Asked whether he had the support of party MPs and MLAs, Raj revealed that he had received calls from elected representatives of the Shiv Sena in the last three weeks expressing their support. He, however, did not name any of them. He said he did not want to cause a split in the 39-year-old party, which ruled Maharashtra from 1995-99 and is currently in power in the politically and financially important Mumbai civic body. "But, if they (elected representatives) want to join me after I announce my new political party, they will be welcome." Raj, who has criticised his cousin and Sena executive president Uddhav and his associates several times in the past, however, made it clear that he would never join any other political party. "I have learnt my politics from Balasaheb, who is my God and will continue to be so. It is impossible for me to have any other ideological leanings. I will work hard to ensure building Maharashtra of his dreams which I too share." As he charts out a separate political journey for himself in competitive and fragmented Maharashtra politics, Raj said he would work hard and if there was a misunderstanding of him being a non-performer, he would remove the misconception through his work. "All I asked for is respect and got insults in return. I was kept away from the (Sena’s) decision making process for formulating political strategies, election campaign, selection of candidates," he said and read out the contents of the letter he had written to the Sena chief on November 25, which had sparked off the latest crisis in the party. (UNI) Show flexibility on Kashmir: Shah Excelsior Special Correspondent KATHUA, Dec 18: President of the Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) Shabir Ahmed Shah today said that it was hightime to show flexibility to resolve vexed Kashmir problem. He, however, said that withdrawal of troops from both sides of Kashmir will provide an opportunity to further accelerate the on-going process to solve the problem. In an informal chat with media persons after addressing one day convention of intellectuals of Kathua district, Shah endorsed demilitarisation proposal given by different groups. "This step will help in further improving the situation", he said. Shah admitted that keeping in view the changing scenario at international level ‘Azadi’ has not remained an only option. "When we have initiated dialogue we have to discuss other options also", he pointed out. Although he stressed on the need of discussing all options to evolve a consensus on this issue, Shah asserted that he will oppose any move to divide the State on communal lines. The JKDFP chief said that in the present scenario no one can dare to ignore Jammu and Ladakh. "Without involving Jammu and Ladakh there will be no lasting solution of this problem", he said and admitted that all regions have importance of their own. He said that it was appropriate time to solve the problem as situation all around the sub-continent was conducive for dialogue. |
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Excelsior Correspondent Srinagar, Omar Abdullah was today elected unopposed National Conference President for the second consecutive term. "Omar was the only candidate for the post and 2747 delegates out of over 7000 proposed the name of Omar for the post and other delegates unanimously seconded the proposal," Leader of Opposition in the state assembly and returning officer for the elections Abdul Rahim Rather said here. Among those who proposed the name of Omar for the post included all office bearers of the party including district and block presidents of the party across the state, he said. Omar was elected president of the party for the first time on the eve of 2002 assembly elections. |
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