 |
Thursday, February 7, 2002,
Chandigarh, India  
|
Hurriyat men finding ‘escape route’ Suspect’s mother
pleads for his release Centre to take up Bursar hydel project 2 killed in road accident |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Hurriyat men finding ‘escape route’ Jammu, February 6 Recently Mr Ramzan went to the Ramhal and Rajwar areas and despite sub-zero temperature he sweated when he saw large groups of people, including women, come out of their houses to greet the minister. Two things have been responsible for it. First, sustained operations against the militants in recent months have forced many a foreign mercenaries to cross over to the occupied Kashmir. Second, people are fed up with the rule of the gun in which every normal democratic and administrative activity has been suspended thereby accentuating their yearning for peace. This development is significant and the Hurriyat leaders being aware of it have started floating new ideas for finding an honourable escape route. The Hurriyat Executive Committee is meeting in Srinagar tomorrow to discuss the emergence of Wajahat Habibullah as a mediator. However, a senior Hurriyat Conference leader, Molvi Abbas Ansari, brushed aside speculation on the possibility of the 23-party conglomerate taking part in the next Assembly poll. He told TNS the Hurriyat would not participate in the elections under the system prevalent in the country. “We know even if we receive voters’ support, it will not be registered in the ballot boxes.” He said the Hurriyat Conference would not be prepared to take part in the elections even under a caravan of Indian observers because these observers would be touring the constituencies to see if the poll was being conducted in a fair manner. The Molvi said for the resolution of the Kashmir issue representatives of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and the occupied Kashmir had to be taken into confidence. He appreciated Jawaharlal Nehru when he had sent Sheikh Abdullah to Pakistan in 1964 to find out a course for a settlement which could satisfy both sides. He said had the Sheikh not cut short his trip because of the demise of Nehru some progress could have been achieved. He made it clear that “peace cannot be built in vacuum.” Several National Conference leaders said the Hurriyat plan to set up its Election Commission and hold a mock poll for determining as to who the real representatives of the people of Kashmir were was to hoodwink world opinion which had been motivating the conglomerate to take part in the Assembly poll. “It is an honourable escape route,” said one NC minister. He asserted that even if the Hurriyat Conference participated in the poll it would not win more than 10 seats in the valley and hence to be in the news Hurriyat leaders were toying with ideas “which are neither feasible nor practicable.” But the Molvi wanted everybody to be patient as “we are trying to persuade both Islamabad and Delhi to start negotiations and that too, with focus on the Kashmir issue.” |
|
Suspect’s mother pleads for his release Srinagar, February 6 In identical appeals addressed to the President, the Prime Minister and various human rights groups, Geelani’s mother Syeda Shazada said she was hopeful that “justice will not be delayed” in the case of her “innocent son”. “I have unshakable faith in the innocence of my son whom I have brought up in a congenial and conducive atmosphere with love for the dignity of mankind and tolerance. “My son is a learned scholar of Arabic and it is beyond my imagination that he would stoop so low and do this act of violence, subversion and oppression for which he has the hatred,” she said in the appeal. Shazada said Geelani was born in a “value-oriented atmosphere of humansim” and wondered “how could he become a fanatic and do subversive and anti-national activities.” “To allege that he is involved in subversive activities is far from truth and is far away from his nature,” she added.
PTI |
|
Centre to take up Bursar hydel project Jammu, February 6 The survey of this project has already been completed, Dr Abdullah told a deputation of people from the remote areas of Kishtwar led by district president of National Conference Sajad Kitchloo. Dr Abdullah said Jammu and Kashmir had immense hydroelectric potential and, if tapped fully, it would not only meet the domestic requirements, but cater to the needs of neighbouring states as well. The Chief Minister said the centre was also contemplating to take up Kishtwar-Kargil road via Marwah-Wadwan that would be an alternate link and improve the economic conditions of this remote area. Communication, he said, was essential for the progress and development of any area. Dr Abdullah also referred to the allocation of Rs 2 crore by the former Prime Minister Mr I.K. Gujral for the setting up of a hospital in the area and said this was aimed at providing best available medicare in the remote pocket.
PTI |
|
2 killed in road accident Jammu, February 6 A truck loaded with LPG cylinders overturned while negotiating a sharp turn, killing the driver and his helper on the spot and critically injuring another, in the Nowgam area near Banihal in Ramban of Doda district, the police said. In another accident, in the Fazla area in the Surankote sector of Poonch district, one person suffered serious injuries when the truck rammed into a scooter today. UNI |
|
Report on bungling
of funds denied Jammu, February 6 |
|
 |
| Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir | Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs | Nation | Editorial | | Business | Sport | World | Mailbag | In Spotlight | Chandigarh Tribune | Ludhiana Tribune 50 years of Independence | Tercentenary Celebrations | | 122 Years of Trust | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
