India beat world champs for first ever tri-series triumph
Dhoni’s team create history

BRISBANE, Mar 4: India created history by notching up their first-ever cricket tri-series title on Australian soil by pipping the world champions by nine runs in a nail-biting second finals which saw fortune fluctuating from one team to the other till the very end.

After scoring a competitive 258 for nine largely built around Sachin Tendulkar’s majestic 91, the Indians held their nerves in the tense dying moments to stop the Australians at 249 with two balls to spare and wrap up the best-of-three finals with a 2-0 margin.

It was a remarkable display by the Indians who not only conquered the mighty Australians in their own den but brought about a happy ending to a turbulent tour, marked by a racism row involving Harbhajan Singh and a series of on-field bickerings.

The Indians had entered the tri-series finals in 1986, 1992 and 2004 but had never managed to win a single match but made amends for their past failures with the thrilling win at the Gabba.

Paceman S Sreesanth dismissed James Hopes in the very last over to bring India’s moment of glory, triggering scenes of wild celebrations among the players as they hugged each other.

The Australians needed 13 runs off Pathan’s last over who tilted the scale in India’s favour by getting rid of Nathan Bracken and Hopes (63) whose lusty hits kept the home team in the hunt.

The young Praveen Kumar was the pick of the Indian bowlers by scalping four wickets for 46 runs in his ten overs while Sreesanth and Pathan chipped in with two wickets each.

Australia were hurt by loss of three early wickets and then the dismissals of Matthew Hayden (55) and Andrew Symonds (42) in one over in the middle. But the sixth wicket pair of Mike Hussey (44) and James Hopes kept them clinging to their hopes till the very end with a 76-run stand.

Hussey departed in the 43rd over, caught behind off an inside edge off Sreesanth which was referred to the third umpire, and Australia were still short by 60 runs.

Brett Lee hit two consecutive fours off Praveen Kumar to bring the equation to 37 runs from the final five overs. He was bowled by the UP bowler in the same over and when Sreesanth claimed Mitchell Johnson (8), caught behind the wickets, the equation of 21 runs from 10 balls looked a tall order.

Hopes then hit a mighty six off the penultimate ball of the second last over to leave the equation with 13 runs required from the final over.

The hosts were rocked by Praveen Kumar early in the innings when the UP medium-pacer picked up two wickets in his first two overs and later claimed Michael Clarke for 17 to reduce the hosts to 32 for 3 in the ninth over.

Gilchrist (2) edged a catch behind the stumps while Ponting’s woes continued unabated as the Australian skipper pulled a catch to Yuvraj Singh at mid-on.

Praveen also appeared to have got Clarke plumb in front of stumps but his appeal was over-ruled. He could not be denied his scalp for long though as he hit the stumps of Clarke when the latter aimed a pull off a short ball that never rose.

Hayden was let off early in his innings when he edged Sreesanth behind the stumps and Dhoni flung himself in front of Sachin Tendulkar who was perfectly poised to accept the chance.

The ball ricocheted off Dhonis gloves and hit Tendulkar on his left-shoulder which was a serious enough blow for the little master to leave the field and never return again during the Australian innings.

Hayden and Symonds finally got going and they raised the first 100 of the Australian innings in the 23rd over, about the same time Indians had done so earlier in the day.

Then the twist came - Symonds played Harbhajan on the offside and Hayden took off from the non-strikers end. As Hayden changed his mind and looked for the safety of non-striker’s crease, Yuvraj’s throw to bowler Harbhajan was precise and smart.

Mike Hussey and James Hopes then took roots in the middle and kept the scoreboard ticking despite some superlative energy shown by the Indians in the middle.

Earlier, Tendulkar provided the foundation with a controlled 91 but the Indians lost the momentum towards the end as they lost six wickets for 53 runs in a their bid to accelerate the pace of scoring.

Tendulkar faced 121 balls and hit seven fours as he gauged the slowish pace of the Gabba pitch to perfection and provided the heart to the Indian response.

He put on significant stands of 94 and 54 for the first and third wickets with Robin Uthappa (30) and Yuvraj Singh (38) respectively before being dismissed in the 40th over at the team total of 205 for 4.

Uthappa hit the first four of the innings by hoisting Brett Lee in front of square but then clearly played second fiddle to Tendulkar who, dropped once early in his innings, decided that it after all was going to be his day.

Tendulkar was let off by Ricky Ponting at short cover off Nathan Bracken when he was on seven and team total was 23 for no loss in the seventh over, and from then on made Australia pay for their lapse.

Before India raised their 100 in the 22nd over, Uthappa mistimed Stuart Clark to be caught at mid-off for 30, having batted for 49 balls and hit one four.

Gautam Gambhir (15) suffered his second successive failure when he hoisted Michael Clarke to widish long-on fielder but India didn’t lose their momentum as Yuvraj Singh, the next man in, soon got into his stride.

Yuvraj began with a straight six off Clark and then lifted a full-toss from lee over mid-off for a thunderous four. He then had a little battle going with Andrew Symonds whom he pulled for a four and a six in successive overs.

But, another such attempt off a long-hop against the same bowler proved his undoing as he was caught in the deep for 38 off 38 balls with two fours and a two sixes.

Tendulkar departed in the 40th over when he tried to play in the gap between the short mid-off and the bowler but the gentle uppish stroke was nicely held by Ponting, diving to his left.

Clarke picked up his third wicket when he had young Rohit Sharma driving straight to Symonds at extra cover for two runs.

India lost a bit of momentum between the 40th and 45th overs when only 17 runs were scored from five overs, being 220 for 5 after 45 overs.

Dhoni picked up the cudgels by slamming Lee straight down the ground for a six but the momentum was again arrested when both he and Irfan Pathan (12) lost their wickets in Nathan Bracken’s eighth over.

First Pathan found his stumps in disarray and then Dhoni drove on straight to long-off to get India down in the dumps again. Dhoni batted for 37 balls for his 36 runs and hit two fours and a six.

SCOREBOARD

India innings:

Uthappa c Hopes b Clark 30

Tendulkar c Ponting b Clarke 91

Gambhir c Johnson b Clarke 15

Yuvraj c Hayden b Symonds 38

Dhoni c Clarke b Bracken 36

Rohit c Symonds b Clarke 2

Pathan b Bracken 12

Harbhajan lbw b Lee 3

Praveen c Ponting b Bracken 7

Piyush Chawla not out 6

S. Sreesanth not out 1

Extras: (lb-5, w-12) 17

Total

(for 9 wkts in 50 overs) 258

Fall of Wickets: 1-94, 2-121, 3-175, 4-205, 5-209, 6-237, 7-240, 8-249, 9-255

Bowling: Brett Lee 10-0-58-1, Nathan Bracken 9-1-31-3, Stuart Clark 6-0-32-1, Mitchell Johnson 6-0-33-0, James Hopes 6-0-20-0, Michael Clarke 10-0-52-3, Andrew Symonds 3-0-27-1.

Australia Innings:

Gilchrist c Dhoni b Kumar 2

Hayden run out Singh 55

Ponting c Singh b Kumar 1

M Clarke b Kumar 17

A Symonds lbw Singh 42

Hussey c Dhoni b Santh 44

James c Chawla b Pathan 63

B Lee b Kumar 7 Johnson c Dhoni b Santh 8

Bracken c Chawla b Pathan 1 Extras:(b 0, lb 2, w 7, nb 0) 9 Total:( 10 wkts, 49.4 overs) 249 (pti)

‘Resume duty or face action’
Govt declares SRTC strike ‘unlawful’

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Mar 4: The Government has termed the strike of the JKSRTC employees as illegal and unlawful and asked the Corporation workers to resume duty or face action.

A notice has been issued to the employees of the JKSRTC asking them to resume their duties and start the operational activities of the Corporation, stating that failure on this count will make employees of the Corporation liable for prosecution under Ordinance of 1987 and relevant laws.

The Government order has declared SRTC as an essential service in terms of Essential Services ( Maintenance) Ordinance 2001, as such the employees of the Corporation can not abandon their employment and duty or absent themselves from work or abstain from discharging their duties, failing which they shall be deemed to have committed offence under section 5 of the Ordinance.

The order further says that in persuasion of Section 4 of the Essential Services ( Maintenance) Ordinance 2001 ( 1944 AD), all the employees of the SRTC are called upon to resume their duties forthwith at their units/ areas.

Secretary Transport Dilip Singh explained to the media persons here this evening the necessity of issuing the order and said that Government will not allow a group of employees to cause unabated inconvenience to the public especially school going children. He said Government was facing huge losses per day with this strike and general public was the worst hit. MD SRTC Manzoor Ahmed Lone was also present. They appealed the workers to resume their work in the larger interest of the public.

With the strike of State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC) employees and workers for the last fifteen days, State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC) has lost huge revenue as its entire fleet has remained off the road.

Employees of the Corporation took out protest rally and held demonstration outside the office of General Manager today. They were shouting slogans against the Transport Minister, Managing Director and the coalition Government. The protesting workers were carrying banners and placards in hands depicting their demands.

Despite appeal by the Managing Director and the concerned Minister to the employees to resume their duty, the workers remained unmoved. They have refused to accept four months salary. They have made it clear to the management that they will resume work only if their five months salary and pending COLA installments were released by the Government.

Leaders of the SRTC union, Ashok Mehra, Pawan Sharma, Dev Raj Bali, Amrik Singh and others addressed the gathering and urged the Government to do justice with them and give written assurance that they will pay their wages regularly. They said if Government was not in a position to give salary and COLA, it was free to take a final decision about the fate of the Corporation.

The strike also remained in Srinagar, Anantnag, Kathua and other workshops and SRTC units in the State. All the operation of the fleet came to grinding halt with the ongoing strike. The people were also affected with the strike while the Government failed to resolve the crisis.

Various organisations including, All Public Sector Employees and Workers Federation Jammu, All Public Sector Employees Joint Action Committee, Chairman Suresh Sharma and Shopkeepers Association General Bus Stand Jammu have condemned Government action.

Geelani Hurriyat, Jamaat take umbrage on Zardari's bombshell
Leaders all fire but Kashmiris indifferent to PPP's prescription of hibernation

From Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

SRINAGAR, Mar 4: With the main ruling party, Congress, tightlipped and the main opposition outfit, National Conference (NC), jubilant inspite of Abdul Rahim Rather's negative statement on Monday, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-Chairperson Asif Ali Zardari's suggestion of putting the Kashmir problem in hibernation for the generation next has ruffled the feathers of a many political and militant leaders in the Valley. People at large, however, have not come out so far either with bouquets or with brickbats for Mr Zardari.

PDP patron and former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed has taken a lead over both factions of the separatist Hurriyat Conference in trashing Mr Zardari's suggestion of keeping the Kashmir problem in 'cold storage' for the more mature posterity. Pat came the harsher reactions from some political and militant outfits who had initially appeared somewhat bewildered in the emerging labyrinths of Islamabad's fresh politics. On the day of Mufti's reaction pouring in from New Delhi, NC itself seemed to be labouring under confusion as its Patron, Dr Farooq Abdullah, issued a welcome statement and his senior lieutenant Abdul Rahim Rather chose to sail in the Hurriyat-militant-PDP boat.

Maintaining his constant contact with the media in Srinagar from his holiday home of New Delhi, hardcore separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani has now aggressively denigrated the entire PPP leader, from Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto to Benazir Bhutto, as "enemies of the Kashmir freedom struggle". Without reference to the hands behind the PPP founder's execution in 1979 and Benazir's assassination in 2007, Geelani has reminded that it was Ms Bhutto who ordered removal of all pro-Azadi banners of Kashmiri militant and political outfits on occasion of then Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's visit to Islamabad.

Geelani's Hurriyat held a meeting of its Majlis-e-Shoora in Srinagar today only to warn that nobody would be "allowed to either put the Kashmir problem into cold storage or build a political mansion over it". It dismissed Zardari's statement as "irresponsible" and asserted that Geelani had already come out with "a timely and appropriate reaction". Hurriyat (G) sought to highlight the fact that even "some pro-Indian politicians" were now jostling to berate Zardari's statement as their intention was "nothing but to build their own mansions" on the Kashmiri imbroglio. It, however, favoured a wait-and-watch until the new Government in Islamabad came out with her "unambiguous Kashmir policy".

The more voluminous faction of the separatist amalgam, led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, had similarly organised a meeting here on Monday and emphatically asserted that the 60-year-long dispute could not be relegated to the backburner at this stage. Currently on a visit in United States of America, Mirwaiz has, significantly, reserved his reaction to Zardari's bombshell till date.

Al-Umar Mujahideen, which drew most of its guerrilla cadres from the Mirwaiz followers in early 1990s, has, in a statement here today, admonished Zardari that the Kashmiris, according to spokesman Khalid Jehangir, have not launched their "freedom struggle" on anybody's diktats. "We will carry on the struggle to the dawn of Kashmir's freedom. Kashmiris have not given their sacrifices for the exchange of trade between India and Pakistan". Leaders of Hizbul Mujahideen, Lashkar-e-Toiba and Muttahida Jihad Council have identically rejected Zardari's suggestion.

Jamaat-e-Islami's Jammu & Kashmir chief, Sheikh Mohammad Hassan, has registered a stronger protest today and trashed Zardari's suggestion as "an insult to the Kashmiris' sacrifices of life and property". Sheikh has said in a statement today that putting the Kashmir dispute under lid for decades was the main reason behind three wars between India and Pakistan in the past. He has asked Zardari to strive for resolution of the Kashmir crisis by way of holding a Plebiscite in accordance to the UN resolutions or else tripartite talks between Islamabad, New Delhi and the Kashmiris.

In the whole hullabaloo on Zardari's statement, the common Kashmiri is uninterruptedly busy with his day-to-day chores. Unlike in 1990s, most of the Kashmiris neither listen to the news and current affairs programmes of radio and television nor does an overwhelming majority of them read newspapers.

"Call it despondency or indifference, this is a 6-year-old process which has begun on 9/11. A large number of Kashmiris have their sentiment of Azadi in their mind but they are not blind to the entire Pakistani leadership falling in the American hands. They have no faith in their political leaders most of whom have turned into businessmen. They are aware that most of the individuals and institutions are just playing to the galleries and nobody is sincerely concerned over the trouble Kashmir has been facing for 20 years now", said a woman sociologist at University of Kashmir.

"I congratulate Pakistan Government and people of Pakistan to (have) come out with such a realistic and legal statement, which will definitely now facilitate and pave way for Plebiscite FIRST between the people of Kashmir and India, to which people of Kashmir are indisputably a party as compared to the Plebiscite TWO passed by UN, between India and Pakistan in absence of Kashmiris", argues leading advocate and jurist Maulvi Aijaz in an SMS to many lawyers, judges, journalists and politicians. He, however, does not elaborate.

"We have to come out of our emotions and face the realities. We have repeatedly erred for years and decades. There should be a debate on whether the Kashmiris should have retained the keys of their struggle to themselves or left the same with the so-called benefactor across. We are bound to fall when Washington will pull the cushion from behind Islamabad and Islamabad will pull it from behind Srinagar for whatever her compulsions. It's all out of a state of confusion that our leaders are welcoming Wendy Chamberlain's statement on Saturday and abusing America as a great Satan on Sunday", an eminent political analyst observed, wishing anonymity.

He said that Kofi Anan's calling the UN's Kashmir resolutions as "not to be implemented without assent from New Delhi and Islamabad", European Union's forgetting "the world's most beautiful prison" and Emma Nicholson's resolution, Musharraf's crackdown on militants, setting aside the UN resolutions and asking for something between Azadi and Autonomy, Benazir's tantrums against the Jihadis, Nawaz Sharif's anti-terrorism declaration in London, Zardari's suggestion of temporarily burying the Kashmir problem and now India's facilitation of Asma Jehangir's visit to Srinagar were all in one sequence. "Who knows Nawaz Sharif may land here tomorrow with Sonia Gandhi to inaugurate a hospital, J&K's pro-India politicians may visit Muzaffarabad with Islamabad's hospitality? We have to realize that we are living in a fast changing scenario. We should be prepared to see it all and not to cry on everything", he added.

"This is a temporary phase. Who knows when the Pakistani leaders will start fighting one another and lend a new lease of life to the K-issue? Who knows when a new General will take over the reins and align with clergy? There has to be a solution to the crisis and its hibernation is definitely not one", observed Munnawar Iqbal, a student at University of Kashmir.

Kashmir Singh reunites with family after 35 years

ATTARI(PUNJAB), Mar 4: A former Constable Kashmir Singh returned home today to a hero’s welcome and reunited with his family amid tears and hugs, a day after he was freed after languishing in Pakistani jails for 35 years.

"It is my new birth," said 67-year-old Singh, who was released last night from a Lahore prison getting a pardon from Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf after being convicted on espionage charges.

Bald and white-bearded, Kashmir Singh had tears in his eyes as he crossed over to the Indian side of the Indo-Pak border here at 12:45 pm and was greeted by his wife and son, who was just 25 when he left India, ending their long wait.

Dressed in a white shirt and camel-coloured trousers, Singh, who looked physically fit, was brought in an official vehicle symbolizing efforts by India and Pakistan to normalize relations.

"Never have we seen before an Indian prisoner being escorted in a flag car of a minister," said Pakistan Human Rights Minister Ansar Burney who accompanied him. Burney was instrumental in getting Singh released.

Singh’s 65-year-old wife Paramjit Kaur offered him flowers and fed him a sweet.

Singh was arrested in 1973 when he was a 26-year-old trader in electronic goods. He was detained during a business trip to Rawalpindi and convicted of spying and sentenced to death by a military court.

Talking to reporters, Singh said "I have no wishes left. I have got everything now. I thank President Pervez Musharraf and Human Rights Minister Ansar Burney". Singh later left for his Nangal Choran village in Hoshiarpur district.

Struggling to control her emotions, Paramjit Kaur said it was the happiest moment of her life. "I am very happy today".

"I have been through bad times in bringing up my three children single-handedly. But I am looking forward to a new dawn," Singh’s wife said.

Some well-wishers also garlanded Singh and showered him with rose petals as he met his family briefly before being taken away by BSF and intelligence agencies for a "debriefing."

Singh said he was never tortured in Pakistani jails.

"A new life has begun for me and I am grateful to the people of Pakistan and to the Pakistani Government," said Singh, who carried a plastic bag with his meagre belongings.

Singh said he would want to go back to Pakistan, this time on a valid Indian Passport, to lay a ‘chadar’ at the shrine of Baba Farid. He spent the last night in Pakistan in a luxury hotel.

After tasting freedom, Singh praised his wife Paramjeet.

"I thank my wife for doing so much for my release. She also took care of my children," Singh said.

Earlier, he waved to Pakistani journalists and well-wishers before crossing the border.

Singh also gave a long hug to Ansar Burney.

"I was finding it difficult to control my tears when I was hugging Singh. I want that all Indians also hug Pakistanis with the same emotion," said Burney, adding Singh’s release was unconditional and a purely humanitarian gesture.

"There was no bargain. This is a bargain of love. In love there are no conditions," Burney said. The prisoner had become "mentally disabled" after spending three and a half decades without ever seeing the sky or receiving a single visitor, he said.

Singh said he held no bitterness toward Pakistan. "I have no regrets for anything that happened to me ... That life is over," Singh told reporters on the Pakistani side of the border.(PTI)

Amarnath cave shrine fenced to prevent Lingam tampering

By Sanjeev Pargal

JAMMU, Mar 4: In a bid to prevent last year like tampering with Lord Shiva’s Ice Lingam, Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) has, this time, fenced the entire cave shrine with large iron grills to ensure that no one is able to cross the fencing until the yatra is officially declared open.

This is for the first time that holy cave shrine of Amarnath ji in south Kashmir Himalayas has been fenced from all four sides to ensure that holy Lingam of Lord Shiva is not tampered with by some over enthusiastic pilgrims as had been the case last year.

SASB Chief Executive Officer (SASB) Dr Arun Kumar told the Excelsior that a decision to this effect was taken by the Shrine Board to prevent last year like incident when some securitymen were shown on TV channels fiddling with the Lingam before official start of the yatra.

The fiddling was widely believed to be the reason behind early melting of the Lingam, which affected the number of pilgrims to Amarnath shrine last year.

"The fencing will be removed only when security forces and SASB staff reached the cave shrine two to three days before start of the yatra", Dr Kumar said.

The Shrine Board, however, couldn’t take measures for preservation of the Lingam as the issue was sub-judice. The Board, as reported, wanted to preserve the Lingam using air conditioning like system.

The SASB officials were, this year, expecting the Shiva Lingam to be in full shape as heavy snowfall has been recorded this year in south Kashmir Himalayas.

The SASB is meeting on April 15 to discuss various measures pertaining to this year’s annual Amarnath ji pilgrimage. "We will take a view of this year’s yatra as well in that meeting as till then a view on both track will be available as this year there has been very heavy snowfall", Dr Kumar said.

Sources said the SASB had also mooted an ambitious Rs 40 crore ropeway project to Amarnath ji shrine from Baltal which would have not only smoothened the yatra but also helped old and infirm pilgrims to undertake the pilgrimage, which would have been completed within two to three hours as against two to three days.

However, the Government has not allotted land to the SASB for the project, sources said, adding that the Board was even ready with the project and finances.

The ropeway project would have fulfilled a long cherished demand of the people to have darshan of Lord Shiva’s Ice Lingam on Shivratri. As the festival of Shivratri falls every year in February end or starting March, both tracks to the shrine remained closed due to snowfall but the ropeway would have taken the devotees to the cave shrine.

The SASB, according to sources, was still ready with the project if the Government agrees to provide land for which the Board was ready to pay the cost.

Hali to be Addl Judge of HC

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Mar 4: Advocate Sunil Hali has been cleared for elevation as Additional Judge of State High Court.

Sources in the High Court said that the name of Advocate Sunil Hali was recommended by the State High Court for the elevation which was also cleared by the Supreme Court.

The Ministry of Law has sent the name of Advocate Sunil Hali to the President for issuance of notification and warrants which are likely within next few days, the sources further said.

Born on February 22, 1951 at Srinagar, Advocate Sunil Hali passed BSc in 1971 and LLB in the year 1973 from Jammu University. He started practice in Jammu Courts and shifted to Srinagar in 1977. In 1990 he migrated to Jammu on account of militancy.

He started practice in the High Court, Jammu Wing and become one of the leading lawyers, conducted many important cases in the State High Court including Excise, Sales Tax and Forest.

FIR registered against Minister

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Mar 4: Police today registered a FIR against Minister of State for Technical Education and PDP leader Javid Mustafa Mir for yesterday’s accidental firing from his licensed pistol at Jammu Airport, which had created panic among the waiting passengers.

The FIR was registered at Satwari police station under Sections 336 and 337 RPC (causing a negligent act which endangered human lives).

Police sources said the FIR was registered after investigations revealed that the bullet had went off from Minister’s pistol at Jammu Airport yesterday afternoon due to negligence.

Though the Sections imposed on the Minister were bailable offence, he would have to appear at the police station to secure bail. The Minister had left for Mumbai yesterday after the firing.

Sawhney injured in accident

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Mar 4: Congress MLA from Jammu East and former Minister, Yogesh Sawhney was injured in an accident near Bakshi Nagar Pulli on Jammu-Akhnoor road this morning.

Mr Sawhney, his PRO Sanjay Kumar and a family member were on way to the MLA’s Muthi house from Bahu Fort temple when the car skidded off the road and turned turtle while the driver tried to save a motor cyclist coming from opposite direction.

All four occupants of the car including driver sustained minor injuries.

Mr Sawhney was rushed to the Government Medical College hospital, Jammu where he got stitches on his arm. He was discharged in the evening.

Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, Health and Medical Education Minister Mangat Ram Sharma, Rural Development Minister Mula Ram and Advisor to Chief Minister Janak Raj Gupta visited Mr Sawhney’s residence this evening to inquire his condition.

The Chief Minister wished speedy recovery to the MLA.

PPP committed to Kashmir solution

ISLAMABAD, Mar 4: Under attack from hard-line parties and groups on either side of Kashmir, the PPP today said it wanted conflict management and simultaneous creation of a trading bloc in South Asia as part of efforts to settle outstanding issues with India like the Kashmir problem.

Reacting to angry responses to its co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari’s contention that Indo-Pak ties should not be held hostage by the Kashmir issue, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), which is set to form the next Government here, said ‘‘it is committed to the resolution of the Kashmir dispute and normalization of relations with India on the basis of respect and honour".

"It is the PPP vision that while not giving up unilaterally the UN resolutions (on Kashmir), we should also not let any single issue hold hostage the relations in the South Asian subcontinent," Party spokesman Farhatullah Babar said in a statement. "The PPP sees the people of Kashmir as key to a final settlement of the Kashmir issue."

During an interview with an Indian TV channel last week, Zardari said Pakistan and India could set aside Kashmir issue for resolution by a future generation while they focussed on trade and economic ties, particularly in the energy sector.

The remarks earned the ire of Kashmiri separatists in both countries as well as hard-line Pakistani groups like Jamaat-e-Islami.

Claiming that PPP Co-Chairman’s remarks were quoted out of context in a section of media, Babar said Zardari "had stated that PPP believes in conflict management and simultaneously creating a trading bloc of nations to improve living conditions of people of South Asia and at the same time enhancing confidence as key to resolution of outstanding issues".

"The PPP believes that peace requires patience and that confidence-building measures are required to create a climate for durable peaceful relations," Babar said.

The PPP also said it favoured the normalization of relations with India and the enhancement of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) as a trading bloc.

"In this context, the party proposed soft borders as far back as 1999. Earlier, the PPP introduced the South Asian Preferential Tariff Agreement as well as the concept of visa-free travel in SAARC for Parliamentarians and Judges," Babar said.

He said that progress on Indo-Pak issues "has been substantive and durable" during PPP’s tenures in power.

Babar noted that the Shimla Agreement, the pact on not attacking each other’s nuclear facilities and the South Asian Preferential Tariff Agreement were all inked when PPP Governments were in power in Pakistan.

The PPP believes "that as a party of the masses, it is in a position to build an internal consensus on durable peace with its neighbour on the basis of honour and self-respect", Babar said. "The fate of one billion people of South Asia hangs in the balance. It is the people, and the people alone, who can decide about the future of South Asia. An enduring peace demands that South Asia move forward with the support and blessings of the true representatives of the people," he said.(PTI)

Two killed, 5 hurt in blast

Excelsior Correspondent/Agencies)

SRINAGAR, Mar 4: Two persons were killed and five injured when a grenade exploded in a house in Shopian area of Pulwama district tonight.

The explosion took place at 9:40 pm and two members of the family living in the house were killed and five injured, officials said here.

The deceased have been identified as Abdul Hamid and Jana.

While at least one militant is believed to have got killed in a chance encounter between militants and security forces in Chitti Bandi area of Bandipore this evening, Army claimed to have recovered arms and ammunition from a hideout in Kulgam area of south Kashmir.

DIG north Kashmir, B Srinivas, told EXCELSIOR that troops of 23-Punjab and 10-Para were on a patrol when they had a chance encounter with some militants at Wodinar Argam, near Chitti Bandi, in Bandipore this evening. He said that troops retaliated and repulsed the militant offensive. Even as one or two militants were reportedly trapped at a house, one more was believed to have got killed in the gunbattle. He said that a dead body had been spotted from a distance but neither it or any weapons had been recovered till late tonight.

DIG said that the gunbattle was underway and casualty of one or two militants was likely. He said that there had been no civilian casualty till reports last came in.

A Defence spokesman said that troops of Rashtriya Rifles 9th Bn busted a hideout in general area of Chak Wotu, in Aharbal area of Kulgam and recovered one AK-47 rifle with one magazine , 8 rounds of ammunition and two wireless sets.

Meanwhile, Police sources said that three live short-range tear smoke gas shells were found abandoned in a plastic container outside the entrance gate of Airport Srinagar. After examination by Bomb Disposal Squad, the shells were handed over to local police for further necessary action.

BJP’s Kavinder new Mayor,
NC’s Dharamvir retains chair as deputy

JAMMU : Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Kavinder Gupta today defeated his Congress opponent in a straight contest to become the new Mayor for the second time while the National Conference (NC) candidate Dharamvir Singh Jamwal retained his chair as Deputy Mayor of Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC).

In the close ballot election to the post of Mayor and Deputy Mayor in the 71-member JMC, which was held in the conference room of the corporation this morning, Mr Gupta emerged as the winner with 37 votes in his favour as his rival Congress candidate Manmohan Singh Pinka got only 34 votes.

Out of 71 votes, Dharamvir Singh Jamwal won the seat by 10 votes as he secured 40 votes to retain his post whereas independent candidate Jaswant Singh Soodan could manage 30 votes. However, BJP candidate Usha Choudhary, who was the third candidate in the race for the post of Deputy Mayor, withdrew from the contest.

The Congress has the maximum 27 number of corporators in the JMC followed by the BJP with 25, National Conference 6, PDP 2, Shiv Sena 1, BSP 1 and independent 9.

(UNI)

Loan waiver, an initiative to meet unpaid
distress bill: PM

NEW DELHI : Rejecting Opposition charge that the farm loan waiver was announced with an eye on elections, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said it was a historic initiative to meet the "unpaid distress bill" left behind by the erstwhile NDA Government.

An unusually aggressive Singh, responding to the debate in the Lok Sabha on President’s Address, also brushed aside the opposition charge that government was resorting to appeasement of minority communities, saying all efforts were towards reducing the "inequality" in opportunities.

In the midst of the tirade, the Prime Minister surprised the opposition praising his predecessor Atal Bihari Vajpayee for taking "most courageous" steps to build peace with Pakistan.

"Doubts have been raised about the resources required for this write-off," he said referring to questions raised by Leader of Opposition L K Advani and other members asking the government how it could provide the whopping Rs 60,000 crore towards waiver of bank loans to small and marginal farmers.

"Let me remind the Leader of the Opposition that what we have done is nothing more than picking up the unpaid distress bill which the NDA Government left behind," Singh said.

On allegations that the Government was trying to appease minorities with different programmes, he said "we are trying to reduce inequalities of opportunities, gaps that exist between region, between classes, between urban and rural areas. This is part of the process of inclusive growth."

In his hour-long reply, the Prime Minister touched on Government’s priority areas including national security, health, education, employment and foreign policy.

The entire Opposition led by BJP walked out of the House expressing dissatisfaction with the Prime Minister’s reply. The Left parties also followed suit later demanding immediate bringing forward of the Women’s Reservation Bill.

Government will seek the "broadest possible consensus" within the country to enable the next steps to be taken on the Indo-US nuclear deal, he said.

"We are presently engaged in negotiations with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for an India-specific safeguards agreement."

India also requires the nod of the 45-member Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) to enable international nuclear commerce with it.

"We also continue to seek the broadest possible consensus within the country to enable the next steps to be taken. I believe that such operation is good for us, for our energy security and for the world," Singh said.

Singh made a special reference to remarks by former US Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott that NDA Government had agreed to settle for much less on the nuclear issue, evoking loud protests from BJP benches.

Talbott and NDA External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh had held 14 rounds of talks to bring back on track Indo-US relations which had touched a new low in the wake of the 1998 Pokhran explosions.

Singh welcomed former National Security Advisor Brajesh Mishra’s open support for the deal.

The NDA also came under attack on issues of internal security while in power.

Singh termed as a "shameful sight" the then External Affairs Minister "escorting dreaded terrorists to their freedom."

Seeking to "nail the lie" that his Government had provided easy legal regime for terrorists, Singh said "legal regimes do not prevent terror. If that had been the case, there would have been no attack on Akshardham or on the Raghunath Mandir." (PTI)