MHA seeks detailed report on Fai’s agents

*CCS meets on Thursday to take up both issues

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 10: Union Home Minister P Chidambaram said today that his Ministry has proposed three amendments in Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), which would be shortly placed before Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) for implementation wherever AFSPA was applicable once they were cleared by the CCS.
In a significant development, the Home Minister has sought a detailed report from police and Intelligence agencies on the activities of Kashmiri separatist Sayyid Ghulam Nabi alias Fai and his links in the State. The report was sought during security review meeting.
Taking just two questions from media persons on AFSPA and Interlocutors’ report at the end of his one day visit to Jammu, the winter capital of the State, Mr Chidambaram said the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) was in consideration of taking the proposed amendments before CCS. A detailed briefing would also be given to the CCS on recommendations made by the Interlocutors.
Reliable sources said the CCS was meeting in New Delhi on Thursday under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to take up AFSPA amendments and Interlocutors’ report.
Other members of the CCS included Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Defence Minister A K Antony, Home Minister P Chidambaram and External Affairs Minister SM Krishna.
Mr Chidambaram would brief the CCS in detail on report of the Interlocutors and present three proposed amendments in AFSPA for consideration of the Prime Minister headed Committee, sources said.
“We will announce the decision (on proposed amendments) when it was taken’’, he said.
During his hectic one day visit to the State, the Union Home Minister paid obeisance at holy cave shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi ji, reviewed security scenario of the State with Governor NN Vohra and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah besides top brass of civil administration, Central Police Forces, Intelligence agencies and police and met delegations of Congress and Sikhs before flying to Dehradun in Uttarakhand, where he would attend a function of Lal Bahadur National Academy of Administration at Mussorie tomorrow.
The amendments proposed by the MHA in AFSPA included making it mandatory for armed forces to take arrest warrants in advance before conducting searches for arrests of any person, taking away the power of the armed forces to open firing causing deaths and setting up of a Grievance Redressal Cell. Defence Ministry and Army have strong objections to first two amendments.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has been demanding withdrawal of AFSPA from five peaceful districts of J&K including Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Srinagar and Badgam, a demand he reiterated in his meeting with the Home Minister.
Mr Chidambaram said the Home Ministry was ready with three amendments and would be placing them before the CCS for consideration. “If the amendments were approved by the CCS, they would be implemented wherever AFSPA was applicable’’, he said.
At present, AFSPA was applicable in Jammu and Kashmir and most of the North Eastern States.
Congress MP from Jammu-Poonch, Madan Lal Sharma, who was standing with Mr Chidambaram, said: “we have expressed our reservations over AFSPA. Time was not ripe for its revocation’’.
Replying to another question on the fate of Interlocutors’ report, the Home Minister said it would also be taken up with the CCS first before being made public.
“The report would be taken up with the CCS and then made public for debate and discussion’’, the Home Minister said.
The Home Minister appointed Interlocutors—Dileep Padgaonkar, a veteran journalist, Prof Radha Kumar, an academician and MM Ansari, a former Information Commissioner had submitted their report to Mr Chidambaram on October 12 last year, exactly after an year of their appointment. The report was lying with the MHA.
The Home Minister said it would be discussed by the CCS and then circulated for eliciting public opinion.
Sources said Omar Abdullah raked up the issue of Interlocutors report with the Home Minister and demanded that it should be made public and then implemented so that it didn’t meet the fate of other such reports.
Earlier, Mr Chidambaram held a high level security review meeting with top brass of J&K’s civil administration and police, senior officers of all para-military forces and Intelligence agencies operating in the State at the banquet hall of Chief Minister’s official residence. The meeting lasted over one and a half hour.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand and Minister of State for Home Nasir Aslam Wani were also present in the meeting.
K Skandan, Joint Secretary (Kashmir) in Ministry of Home Affairs, Additional Director, Intelligence Bureau, Rajeev Kapoor and BN Ramesh, Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to Union Home Minister, who accompanied Mr Chidambaram from New Delhi, also joined the meeting.
Sources said the meeting discussed measures to ensure a peaceful summer in Kashmir in 2012 like 2011 when the Valley and other parts of the State were abuzz with tourists and pilgrim tourism. It discussed in detail the steps required to ensure that 2010 like situation didn’t erupt in Kashmir this summer when over 100 people were killed in incidents of firing etc.
Sources said the Home Minister shared Intelligence and other inputs with top brass of police, para-military, Intelligence and other agencies on Jammu and Kashmir. He stressed for humane approach towards the people including the youth, engaging them in different programmes including recruitment drives and taking all possible measures to ensure that protests didn’t erupt in the Valley.
The issue of AFSPA figured in the meeting Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had with Mr Chidambaram. Omar cited police, para-military and Intelligence reports that security situation has improved in many parts of the State and that there was no need of AFSPA in some districts.
Omar said they were asking for AFSPA revocation from five peaceful districts only and not from the areas, where there was still presence of militants.
Sources said Mr Chidambaram sought a detailed report from police and Intelligence on the activities and links of Fai in Jammu and Kashmir. A Virginia Court in the United States recently sentenced Fai to two month imprisonment.
Excelsior had carried a series of stories on Fai’s links, who had benefited a lot with hawala transactions and enjoyed his hospitality in the United States. Sources said the Home Minister has asked police and Intelligence agencies to give a detailed report on links of Fai and his involvement in anti-national activities in the State before fleeing to the United States so that a strong case could be made for his extradition.
The State Government has constituted a Special Investigating Team headed by SSP Badgam, Uttam Chand to investigate all links of Fai including those who had benefited of his hawala money and hospitality in the United States.
Besides Fai, Mr Chidambaram directed police to vigorously pursue all terror funding cases to block hawala channels of militants and their upper ground network.
The Home Minister discussed a mechanism with the State officials for return and rehabilitation of youth, who wanted to come back under Rehabilitation Policy of the Government and employment generation for local youth of the State.
Police, civil administration and para-military officials told the Home Minister that situation all across the State including the Kashmir valley has undergone a sea change both on militancy front as well as law and order problem. He was given facts and figures on security scenario, which indicated that militancy graph has gone very low.
All agencies expressed confidence about a peaceful summer in Kashmir this year like 2011.
The Home Minister also reviewed situation on the International Border (IB) in Jammu sector. The Border Security Force (BSF) officer gave a detailed briefing to Mr Chidambaram on zero infiltration attempts on the IB despite all out efforts to push a number of terrorists camping on other side of the border.
The Home Minister stressed that cross border terrorism remained an issue of concern as there was still presence of a number of militants across the border and infrastructure of terrorist outfits like Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and Hizbul Mujahideen was also intact. However, he expressed satisfaction over zero infiltration on the IB and improved security scenario including graph of militancy, which had gone to an all time low in both Jammu and Kashmir regions during past couple of years. He stressed for keeping up the momentum against the militancy.
Security arrangements for Baba Amarnath yatra from June 25 to August 2 also came in for a high level review in the meeting. The Home Minister assured the State Government that it would meet the demand for additional deployment of para-military forces for deployment all along the yatra route.
Mr Chidambaram called for making elaborate security arrangements all along the yatra routes and cave shrine to ensure peaceful and smooth pilgrimage. The Home Minister was told that a large number of pilgrims were expected to visit the Amarnath cave shrine due to peaceful scenario in the Valley.
Sources said the Home Minister also discussed with CRPF and police the removal of some bunkers from Srinagar city. The Chief Minister had said in the Assembly recently that some more bunkers from Srinagar city could be removed shortly.
Sources added that the issue of rehabilitation of surrendered militants was also taken up by some agencies with the Home Minister on the ground that they could be re-cycled into the militancy.
The Home Minister assured the Chief Minister that the Union Government was proposing more Jammu and Kashmir centric Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) to help the people.
Sources said the State Government assured the Home Minister that it was committed to holding elections to Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) and strengthening Panchayati Raj Institutions by giving them more powers.
The meeting was among others attended by Chief Secretary Madhav Lal, Home Secretary BR Sharma, Director General of Police (DGP) Kuldeep Khoda, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister BB Vyas, Special Director General CRPF, J&K, Anirudh Uppal, Additional DGP Law and Order, K Rajendera, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Pawan Kotwal, IGP Kashmir SM Sahai, IGP Jammu Dilbagh Singh, IG CRPF Kashmir, BN Ramesh, IGP CID Dr B Srinivas, IG CRPF (Administration), Kashmir, Ravi Prakash, Deputy Director IB Kashmir, Mahesh Dixit, Deputy Director (SIB), Jammu, Anuragh Kumar, IG BSF Kashmir DS Rathore, IG CRPF Jammu, AH Mohammad and DIG BSF, Jammu, NS Jamwal.

Excelsior Special Correspondent

JAMMU, Apr 10: The issue of land grabbing by influential politicians, bureaucrats and Police officials, as exposed by Daily Excelsior in February 2011, took a new turn today when a Division Bench (DB) of Jammu & Kashmir High Court recorded its displeasure over Divisional Commissioner Dr Pawan Kotwal’s “affidavit” wherein the IAS officer had stated on oath that no politicians or police officials had grabbed any land in Jammu and Samba districts. Kotwal has been directed to file a fresh affidavit in accordance to requirement of the Bench or else remain personally present in the court on the next date of hearing—ten days from now.

DB, comprising Mr Justice Mansoor Ahmad Mir and Mr Justice Muzaffar Hussain Attar, issued the direction while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL), pleaded by advocate Sheikh Shakil Ahmad on behalf of petitioner Prof S K Bhalla, today. In an order on March 14^th, 2012, DB comprising Mr Justice Virender Singh and Mr Justice Muzaffar Hussain Attar, had directed Divisional Commissioner of Jammu to file a comprehensive affidavit in the light of the Director General of Police’s reply to advocate Sheikh Shakil’s RTI application.

Later, on the basis of a report sought from Deputy Commissioner ofJammuand Additional Deputy Commissioner of Samba, Divisional Commissioner Kotwal filed an affidavit while stating on oath that no state land had been grabbed by any of the politicians or senior Police officers inJammuand Samba districts. While examining the affidavit today, Mr Justice Mansoor and Mr Justice Attar recorded their displeasure on Dr Kotwal’s action and directed him to file a fresh affidavit or else remain personally present in the court on the next hearing. They directed that the case be listed for next hearing after 10 days.

Government of J&K through Chief Secretary, Financial Commissioner Home, Commissioner-Secretary General Administration Department, Commissioner-Secretary Revenue, Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Director General of Police, IG CIP, DC Jammu, DC Samba besides three daughters of the Minister of Irrigation and PHE, Mr Taj Mohiuddin, namely Shabnam Taj, Nausheen Taj and Arshi Taj, have been listed as respondents in the PIL.

As advocate Shakil advanced his arguments on behalf of the petitioner in the PIL, Additional Advocate General Gagan Basotra and Deputy Advocate General Vinod Bakhshi appeared on behalf the state respondents. DB observed that the status report on behalf of Divisional Commissioner Jammu was not in accordance with the order passed by the Court on March 14th. It expressed displeasure over Divisional Commissioner’s affidavit and directed him to file a fresh status report.. In case of failure, he was directed to remain present personally on the next date of hearing.

In his RTI application dated March 7^th, 2011, advocate Sheikh Shakil had requested Director General of Police to provide him information whether or not Police Headquarters had taken notice of a story, carried by Daily Excelsior in its issue of February 10^th, 2011, with the heading “Top police officers, politicians encroach land worth Crores”. He had sought information whether PHQ had constituted any inquiry over the Excelsior report and if yes, composition of such a committee. He had also requested DGP to make it clear whether an inquiry on the matter had been conducted, what was its status and when the inquiry report would be completed.

Acting on the RTI, PHQ replied to advocate Shakil that necessary notice of the Excelsior report had been taken and Divisional Commissioner Jammu and IGP CID had been asked to submit their findings. In his U.O, No: CIV/VIG/JZ-01/2011/292 dated 10-02-2011, AIG (CIV) at Police Headquarters wrote to Divisional Commissioner Jammu: “This has reference to the news published in Daily Excelsior, Jammu, dated February 10^th, 2011, under caption ‘Top police officers, politicians encroach land worth crores’. In this regard, I am directed to request that any Police action warranted may accordingly be intimated”.

Later, vide U.O No: CIV/VIG/JZ-01/2011-334 dated 17-02-2011, AIG at Police Headquarters referred to another story, published in Daily Excelsior on February 11^th, 2011, with the heading ‘politicians-police-mafia nexus duping exchequer’. He asked for similar information and Police requirement if any warranted from Divisional Commissioner.

Advocate Sheikh Shakil simultaneously filed a separate RTI application before Divisional Commissioner, asking him to make it clear whether any communication had been received on this matter from PHQ and if yes, had any action been initiated by Revenue Department. However, contrary to the reply from PHQ, Divisional Commissioner Pawan Kotwal’s office wrote to Advocate Shakil vide No: 601/RA/RTI/83 dated 18-04-2011: “I am directed to intimate you that no such communication has been received by this office from DGP J&K”.

In view of non-seriousness and dilly-dallying on the part of the government, Prof S K Bhalla later filed a PIL before J&K High Court on August 17^th, 2011. It was during the course of hearing and interim directions that Divisional Commissioner Jammu filed an affidavit with the claim that no land had been grabbed by politicians or police officials inJammu and Samba districts.

In contrast to Divisional Commissioner’s condemned affidavit, astonishing revelations have been made in the PIL with regard to land grabbing. Quoting replies of PHQ to yet another RTI application, the PIL says that in Samba District alone 32 FIRs have been registered from the year 2005 to August 2011. Similarly in 5 Police Stations under the jurisdiction of SP City South Jammu, as many as 90 FIRs of land grabbing had been registered in the same period. Besides, 17 FIRs of land grabbing had been filed during same period in the three Police Station under jurisdiction of SP City North Jammu. Giving break-up, PHQ made clear to nthe applicant that seven FIRs had been filed in Janipora, three in Bakhshi Nagar and nine in the area under Police Station Nowabad.

Not only this the petitioner in his PIL has highlighted a brazen case of land-grabbing of proprietory land of two brothers namely Tilak Raj and Hem Raj, residents of Chak Lalu Shah Tehsil & District Jammu, whose land measuring 342 Kanals 4 Marlas comprised in Khasra Nos 1, 2, 3, 3 min, 33, 34 and 36 has been allegedly encroached by three daughters of Minister of Public Health Engineering, Irrigation & Flood Control Mr Taj Mohiuddin. These instances, according to PIL, were just the tip of an iceberg. It claimed that a mafia comprising Police officials, bureaucrats and politicians had been enjoying a field day in grabbing all types of land, private as well as state, inJammuand Samba districts. It has prayed for a professional investigation, comprising officials of different departments, and its continuous monitoring by J&K High Court, besides restoration of the encroached lands and punishment to the guilty under law.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 10: Union Home Minister P Chidambaram paid obeisance to Goddess Vaishno Devi ji inside holy cave shrine at Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan, located between Trikuta hills this morning. He remained inside the sanctum sanctorum for eight minutes and offered prayers and ‘aarti’ to the Goddess.
He stayed at Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan, located at a height of 5200 feet from the sea level, for about 10 minutes before returning to Sanji Chhat and flying back to Jammu.
Soon after his arrival at Jammu Airport from New Delhi along with Governor NN Vohra, Chairman of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB), Mr Chidambaram flew to Sanji Chhat.
K Skandan, Joint Secretary (Kashmir) in Ministry of Home Affairs and Rajeev Kapoor, Additional Director, Intelligence Bureau, who accompanied the Home Minister from New Delhi, also joined him in visit to holy cave shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi ji.
He was received at the Airport by Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand, Minister of State for Home Nasir Aslam Wani and Director General of Police (DGP) Kuldeep Khoda. Tara Chand, Mr Khoda and Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Pawan Kotwal accompanied the Home Minister to the cave shrine.
Mr Chidambaram reached Sanji Chhat at 8.25 am and was received by SMVDSB Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Navin Choudhary, Additional CEO Dr Mandeep K Bhandari, DIG Udhampur-Reasi range, Jagjit Kumar, Deputy Commissioner, Reasi, Sheetal Nanda and SSP Reasi Atul Goel among others.
The Home Minister trekked three kilometers distance from Sanji Chhat to Bhawan. The pilgrimage to the cave shrine continued uninterruptedly even as Mr Chidambaram walked from Sanji Chhat to Bhawan amid tight security arrangements.
Sources said there had been special instructions from the Home Minister that the yatra shouldn’t be disrupted during his visit to the holy cave shrine.
Mr Chidambaram went inside the holy cave shrine around 9.30 am and offered prayers and ‘aarti’ for about eight minutes.
He had a brief halt of about 10 minutes in the premises of Sreedhar complex outside the Governor’s suite. He took some water and started return journey to Sanji Chhat on foot. From Sanji Chhat, he flew back to Jammu Airport and drove to the Chief Minister’s official residence for security review meeting.
Enroute Sanji Chhat to Bhawan and back, SMVDSB CEO Navin Choudhary briefed Mr Chidambaram about arrangements made by the Board for the pilgrims and increase in yatra to the cave shrine every year, which had, for the first time, crossed 10 million mark last year.
DGP Kuldeep Khoda briefed the Home Minister about security arrangements made at Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan, 13 kilometers track from Katra to Bhawan and Katra, the base camp of the shrine.
The Home Minister appreciated arrangements made for pilgrims by the Shrine Board and security arrangements by police.

Haji Yousaf death case

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Apr 10: The State Government has resisted the cross-examination of all the witnesses including the Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, Minister of State for Home, Nasir Aslam Wani, Political Advisor to Chief Minister, Devinder Singh Rana and other ‘key’ witnesses in the much publicized death of National Conference worker Syed Mohammad Yusuf Shah alias Haji Yousaf.
Authoritative sources told EXCELSIOR that some days back Mushtaq Ahmad Dar, the counsel for the deceased’s family, moved an application before Justice H S Bedi Commission seeking permission to cross-examine all the witnesses in the Haji Yousaf murder case.
Accordingly, the Comm-ission invited objections from the State Government in response to the application of Mushtaq Ahmad Dar and the same were submitted yesterday in which the Government has resisted the cross-examination of all the witnesses on various grounds, sources said.
The Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, Minister of State for Home, Nasir Aslam Wani, Political Advisor to the Chief Minister, Devinder Singh Rana, Inspector General of Police (Crime Branch), Dr Noor, who had conducted the post-mortem of Haji Yousaf, are among 12 persons, who have been arrayed as witnesses in the much publicized case, sources disclosed.
They said that Commission has adjourned the proceedings in the case till April 27 as the counsel for the Chief Minister has pleaded his inability to appear before April 21 due to some prior engagements.
“On April 27, there will be arguments on the application of Mushtaq Ahmad Dar seeking cross-examination of the witnesses and affidavit of the Government resisting the same”, sources said, adding “it would be only after hearing the arguments from both the sides that the Commission will take any decision on this vital aspect of the case and initiate further proceedings”.
In response to a question, sources said, “as per law, opportunity of cross-examination of the witnesses cannot be denied to the counsel of the aggrieved party. However, before allowing the same the Commission will have to decide as to who are the relevant witnesses, whose cross-examination would be of considerable help in the case”.
“The application seeking cross-examination of all the witnesses in the case was moved by the counsel of Haji Yousaf’s family after visiting the residence of Chief Minister where Yousaf was summoned on September 28, 2011, a day prior to his death allegedly under mysterious circumstances”, sources further said.
Replying to another question, they said, “it would be only after the decision on the cross-examination of the witnesses that the Commission would be in a position to decide whether it can complete its task within the latest deadline fixed by the Government on its request”, adding “at present the Commission has time till May 28 to complete the probe and submit report”.
It is pertinent to mention here that Haji Yousaf was handed over to IG Crime Branch by the Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah on September 29 last year after he (Haji Yousaf) allegedly admitted to taking money from two NC workers for getting them favours from the Government.
He died a day later and the medical tests so far have revealed that he died of cardiac arrest and that there were no external injuries on his body. His death after he was summoned by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on September 28, 2011 to ascertain whether he was taking money from people on the pretext of getting them Ministerial berths, snowballed into a political controversy with top leadership of NC being directly accused by the Opposition parties in the State.
After Haji Yusuf’s death, the Chief Minister ordered a judicial probe by a sitting J&K High Court Judge. However, after Chief Justice of State High Court expressed his inability to spare a sitting judge, the Government wrote to the Union Law Ministry to provide panel of three retired Supreme Court Judges.
Accordingly, the Union Law Ministry proposed the name of Justice H S Bedi, a retired Judge of the Supreme Court, and subsequently a Commission of Enquiry was appointed by the State Government in exercise of the powers conferred under Section 3 of Jammu and Kashmir Commission of Enquiry Act, 1962 to enquire into the causes and circumstances leading to the death of Syed Mohammad Yusuf Shah, son of Sayed Ghulam Ahmed of Loktipora, Bijbehara in Anantnag district

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 10: Within days of being entrusted with the responsibility of handling the affairs of the party, Chief Minister and working president of National Conference, Omar Abdullah, today had nearly two hours long interaction with the Provincial Working Committee of the party Jammu province and chalked out a schedule to personally interact with the workers at all levels. He also advised the party Ministers, Legislators and senior leaders to focus on every nook and corner of the State to ascertain people’s grievances and get the same resolved.
According to the sources in the party, in nearly two hour long meeting, Mr Omar preferred to devote maximum time to elicit views of the Provincial Working Committee members about the party activities at various levels instead of making long speech to them.
He confined his address to only 15 minutes wherein he divulged his plans to interact with the workers at all levels to hear their views regarding the functioning of the party and the steps required to be taken to further strengthen party base in every nook and corner of the State. He also received feed-back from the party leaders about the functioning of the Coalition Government.
Describing National Conference as a fortress of public aspiration, communal amity, solidarity and equitable development of all regions of the State, he asked the party rank and file to render selfless service to the people to mitigate their difficulties and help Coalition Government to carry forward development agenda with firmness and determination.
“National Conference has always stood for the cause of people and history bears testimony to the struggle spearheaded by it for empowerment of common man. Our endeavour in this direction would continue”, he said.
Stating that National Conference and Congress share the ideology of secular democracy and equitable development and both the parties stand for solidarity and holistic development of the State irrespective of any consideration of creed, caste, region, religion or colour, Mr Omar stressed the need for strengthening the coalition to achieve the higher goals in the process of development and restoration of permanent peace.
He advised the party workers to disseminate the people-friendly initiatives taken by the Government during last three years at grass root level. “This is the collective responsibility of one and all to ensure that common masses are made aware about the revolutionary steps taken by the Government”, Mr Omar said, adding “this is also imperative to counter the false propaganda being launched by the Opposition parties”.
Advising the party Ministers and Legislators to focus even on those areas from where the party has no representation in the Government, he said, “you have to highlight the public requirements on development fronts at all fora and at the Government level so that these are properly focused and addressed”.
The working president of the National Conference said that he has formulated a schedule to interact with workers at all levels to hear their views regarding the functioning of the party. “I have asked the provincial presidents and others to finalize meetings with the workers at district level. These meetings will follow the interaction with the party cadre at block and village level”, he added.
He stressed the need for strengthening National Conference at all levels and asked the workers to contribute in this direction. “You represent the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Your glorious past and shining present is with you. You have to work to ensure prosperous future for the State and its people”, he told the workers.
Earlier, Provincial president, Rattan Lal Gupta and all the District presidents of J&K National Conference Jammu province highlighted the issues of the party workers.
Minister for Industries, Surjeet Singh Slathia, Political Advisor to Chief Minister, Devender Singh Rana, MLCs Ajay Sadhotra, Khalid Najeeb Suharwardy, Javed Rana, Master Noor Hussain, MLAs Aijaz Jan, Bimla Luthra, Sajjad Ahmed Kitchloo, Mohammad Aslam Goni, Vijay Lakshmi Dutta, Harbans Singh, Haji Mohammad Hussain, Brij Mohan Sharma, Sheikh Bashir Ahmed, Qazi Jalal Din, Ram Paul, Mushtaq Bukhari, Mirza Abdul Rashid, Mohd Aslam Khan, Gh. Haider Malik, Surinder Singh Bunty, Jugal Mahajan and other provincial committee office bearers were present in the meeting.

By Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Apr 10: Former Union minister and president Pradesh Congress Committee, Prof Saif-ud-Din Soz today said that visiting Union Home Minister P Chidambram was satisfied with the security environment in the State and stressed for joint efforts by both the ‘coalition partners’ for further improving the situation here.
The PCC chief who met the Union Home Minister along with a delegation of about fifty Congress functionaries including Dy Chief Minister Tara Chand, some cabinet ministers, legislators and several former ministers and senior party functionaries at State Guest House here this afternoon, told the Excelsior that nearly fifty-five minute dialogue with the Home Minister was held under good and peaceful atmosphere. He said Mr Chidambram was satisfied with the over all security environment in the State. He also referred to the security review meeting which was held here today with various representatives from security agencies. The Union Minister said that last summer had remained peaceful in Kashmir and he was hopeful that this summer will also pass off peacefully. He, however, asked to remain alert from the designs of the anti-national forces. He said it was joint responsibility of both the coalition partners to work in tandem and carry forward the peace agenda and help in improving over all situation in the State.
Prof Soz said the Home Minister expressed that an improvement in the tourists influx and pilgrims rush at Mata Vaishnodevi and Shri Amarnath shrine every year has been witnessed which is clear indicative of normalization of situation in the State. He stressed that both the coalition partners (Congress and NC) have to play a crucial role in further normalizing situation in the State. It was emphasized to improve the tourism infrastructure and facilities for the pilgrims visiting the State. The contribution of security forces including paramilitary forces, VDCs, SPOs and police in improving situation also came for discussion during the meeting.
Referring to the issues of border migrants and PoK refugees, Prof Soz said that he and several other party leaders projected the issue forcefully. It was stressed to resolve their issues once for all by providing adequate compensation. The demand regarding enhancement of cash relief of migrants and special package for Jammu migrants and border people was also projected during dialogue with the Home Minister. When asked about any talks regarding Armed Force Special Powers Act or Interlocutors, Soz said no such issue was discussed with the Home Minister during today’s meeting. He however, said that issue of smooth trade and travel between two sides along the LoC had taken place and he has also emphasized on the same during rally in Kashmir yesterday.
Another senior leader said though earlier, thirty minute time was provided to the 50-member Congress delegation but the time was extended to 55 minutes. He said Revenue Minister Raman Bhalla projected the demand of Rs 1775 crore special package for settlement of PoK, West Pakistan refugees and displaced persons from Chhamb once for all. The demand was also projected before the Union Home Minister to provide cash relief in favour of Jammu migrants at par with the Kashmiri migrants. Some Congress men also pointed out that with the fencing of LoC, infiltration has been contained to large extent specially in Rajouri and Poonch. It was projected that role of armed forces, para-military forces and police besides SPOs and VDCs has been crucial in containing militancy and improving situation in the State. They said that armed forces have a crucial role to play in the State under present situation.
Prominent among those who accompanied Prof Soz included, DyCM Tara Chand, Pt Mangat Ram Sharma, Dharam Pal Sharma, Ministers Raman Bhalla, Sham Lal, Peerzada Mohd Sayed, Dr Manohar Lal, Shabir Khan, Aijaz Ahmed Khan, Madan Lal Sharma (MP), Ch Lal Singh (MP), Ravinder Sharma, Ghulam Mohd Saroori, Ghulam Nabi Monga, Bashir Ahmed Magray, Indu Pawar, Subash Chander Gupta, Naresh Gupta and others.
Meanwhile, another deputation of Pahari Culture & Welfare Forum led by former minister Mushtaq Bhukhari called on Union Home Minister and apprised him about their demands. Several other members of the Forum from Rajouri and Poonch accompanied Mr Bukhari.
A deputation of All Party Sikh Coordination Committee led by Jagmohan Singh Raina, chairman, presented a charter of demands to the visiting Home Minister at Guest House today. The other members of the deputation included Ajeet Singh Mastana, Paramjeet Singh Bali, Dr Sheetal Singh, advocate Teja Singh, Harcharan Singh Khalsa, Kulbir Singh, Mohinder Singh, H S Raina and Surinder Singh.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 10: Union Home Minister P Chidambaram had wide ranging consultations with Governor N N Vohra and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on several important matters at a meeting held at Raj Bhavan here today.
During their hour long luncheon meeting, the Governor, the Union Home Minister and the Chief Minister discussed several important matters which related, interalia, to the pace of socio-economic development of the State, internal and external security management, measures taken for empowerment of Panchayati Raj Institutions and ensuing elections to the Urban Local Bodies.