J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Ceasefire comes under strain
Tough decision ahead for Cabinet
Jammu, February 17
The ceasefire, which has been in force in Jammu and Kashmir since November 27, is under strain. When the Union Cabinet meets next week to decide whether a further extension should be given, its members will go through a detailed note prepared by the Union Home Ministry regarding the series of events that have taken place during the three-month ceasefire.

CPI candidate retains council seat
Jammu, February 17
Despite being a constituent of the NDA government led by Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, the ruling National Conference today preferred the CPI candidate to the BJP in the elections for seven seats in the Legislative Council.

Plea to clear rush of passengers
Jammu, February 17
A delegation of Leh district headed by Mr Sadiq, councillor of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, called on the Minister of State for Ladakh Affairs, Housing and Urban Development, Mr Kushak Togdan Renpochey, here yesterday.

Ceasefire comes under strain
Tough decision ahead for Cabinet
M.L. Kak
Tribune News Service

Jammu, February 17
The ceasefire, which has been in force in Jammu and Kashmir since November 27, is under strain. When the Union Cabinet meets next week to decide whether a further extension should be given, its members will go through a detailed note prepared by the Union Home Ministry regarding the series of events that have taken place during the three-month ceasefire.

The ceasefire has come under stress not due to a step-up in militancy-related violence but by the recent events in which large groups of people took to the streets defying curfew restrictions in protest against the killings of six civilians in firing by the security forces. Five were killed at Haigam village and one in Srinagar. In these incidents, more than 25 civilians were wounded.

Ask any Kashmiri to comment on the latest situation in the valley and the stock reply is: “We are back to 1990 when the summer capital and other towns witnessed massive public demonstrations.” The only difference being that in 1990 the common cry was “azadi” and this time the uproar is over the reaction by the security forces.

A number of senior police officers and state government functionaries are of the opinion that the ceasefire has not resulted in any positive reformation in the security scenario. In support of their argument they refer to the recent massacre at Mehjoor Nagar in Srinagar, where eight Sikhs were killed by militants, and at Budhal in Rajouri district of Jammu where 15 civilians were gunned down.

During the 82-day ceasefire period, more than 250 civilians were killed, including those killed in firing by the security forces, while not more than 160 civilians had lost their lives prior to the non-initiation of combat operations against the militants. During the ceasefire period 190 militants were killed against 440 during the three months preceding the ceasefire.

If the security forces feel worried over the turn of events during the past 82 days they are not wrong because they lost 120 personnel against 72 before the enforcement of the ceasefire.

Till Wednesday the security forces had shown restraint even in the face of provocation. A number of security pickets and camps, including the one at Badami Bagh and Tattoo grounds in Srinagar, came under Fidayeen attack. The attackers lost their lives but the troops did not go berserk as they did at Haigam or in Srinagar on Thursday and Friday. These incidents have led to the pro-Pakistan forces to exploit the situation.

Separatists and those opposed to the peace process initiated by the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, had been unnerved by peoples’ support to the suspension of combat operations.

Leaders of the All-Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC) were disheartened by New Delhi’s stand on granting passports to them for visiting Pakistan. They had come to believe that their proposed visit might not materialise. The separatists thought they were losing the support of people and were keen to see the peace process sabotaged.

The APHC leaders were not ready to call off the visit to Pakistan because they did not want to be blamed for wrecking the peace process. They were waiting for events that would force the Government of India to withdraw the ceasefire.

In the light of these developments — even ruling National Conference members have protested against the Haigam incident and those connected with the alleged custodial killings — the Union Cabinet would have to take a difficult decision whether to extend the ceasefire or not.

Those who support extension include the top brass of the defence forces who argue that the protest rallies are mere aberrations and will be short-lived.

Even the Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, who was at one stage against the ceasefire and grant of passports to the APHC leaders, is less critical of the Central Government’s decision.

Dr Abdullah has suggested to the Government of India to persuade world leaders to mount pressure on Pakistan so that Islamabad stopped encouraging cross-border terrorism.

Supporters of the ceasefire say that India will be able to secure support from world leaders if the ceasefire was further extended.

However, the situation has changed. When Mr Vajpayee announced non-initiation of combat operations, senior politicians, including the BJP President were with him. Now the BJP chief Mr Bangaru Laxman, besides several other political leaders, including Mr Chandra Shekhar, want the Centre to adopt a cautious approach while deciding the ceasefire matter.

Some separatist leaders have started describing the ceasefire as an act of treachery on the plea that the security forces have continued killing rebels and civilians. Political observers say that their reaction was part of their gameplan to force the government to withdraw the ceasefire.

There are indications that another extension will be given to ceasefire notwithstanding opposition from some of the Cabinet colleagues of Mr Vajpayee. 

CPI candidate retains council seat
Tribune News Service

Jammu, February 17
Despite being a constituent of the NDA government led by Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, the ruling National Conference today preferred the CPI candidate to the BJP in the elections for seven seats in the Legislative Council.

The open support from the NC members led to the victory of the CPI candidate, Mr Abdul Rehman Tukroo. The BJP candidate, Mr Lalit Kumar Moza, lost the contest.

Mr Tukroo was a candidate from the Kashmir valley from where three seats had to be filled after Mr Abdul Rashid Dar, Chairman, Legislative Council, had got elected unopposed recently.

Others who were elected to the council from the Kashmir valley were Mr Abdul Qayoom, Revenue Minister and Mr G.N. Shaheen. Both of them retained the seates as NC candidates.

Four seats had to be filled from the Jammu region.

The four NC candidates, Chaudhary Mohammad Hussain, Mr Nazir Ahmed Mir, Mr Abdul Azis and Mr Brij Mohan Sharma were elected. The president of the state unit of the BJP, Mr D.K. Kotwal, lost the contest as he could poll only nine votes. The BJP has eight members in the Legislative Assembly.

The Congress, the PDP and the BSP abstained from polling but a BSP member, Mr Ram Chand voted in favour of the NC violating the party whip.

The only JD candidate, Mr Jagdish Dubey, voted for the BJP.

Kukka Parrey of Awami League and M. Y. Tarigami of CPM voted in favour NC candidates.

In all, 74 out of 87 MLAs cast their votes making it a clean sweep for the National Conference which bagged seven out of eight seats.

Plea to clear rush of passengers
Tribune News Service

Jammu, February 17
A delegation of Leh district headed by Mr Sadiq, councillor of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), called on the Minister of State for Ladakh Affairs, Housing and Urban Development, Mr Kushak Togdan Renpochey, here yesterday.

The delegation demanded to arrange at least four flights in a week to Leh from Jammu as has been done the last year to clear the heavy rush of stranded passengers.