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Sunday,
July 14, 2002, Chandigarh, India  
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NC ready for poll under Governor’s rule
Speaker refuses motion
on autonomy
Kashmiri Pandits block traffic
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AIR station to
counter Pak propaganda Pak troops open
mortar fire
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NC ready for poll under Governor’s rule Srinagar, July 13 “We have no problem if the election is held under the Governor’s rule. We are not scared of that...,” he said at the Mazar-e-Shohda’ (martyrs graveyard) here. “We are also ready to contest polls under the Governor’s rule as we believe that we have a mass support base, but there should be an amendment to the Constitution to this effect accordingly,” he added. Let the Centre motivate separatist leaders, including Shabir Ahmad Shah, to take part in the election, he said. He said the NC also won the 1996 election held under Governor’s rule with polling staff from outside the state. About the appointment of observers to oversee the election in October, he said “let the observers come from the USA or UP to monitor the elections. We are ready as we enjoy mass support of the people.” At a function here on Thursday, Omar said there would be no trading with the Centre over the issue of Governor’s rule as it is the mandate of people that has brought the National Conference to power. Maintaining that the Hurriyat Conference was not against democratic process, senior separatist leader Maulana Abbas Ansari has said elections were a “futile exercise” if the underlying motive was “to usurp the basic rights and freedom of the people”. “We are not against any democratic process. But when the purpose of the elections is to usurp the basic rights and freedom of people, the exercise is futile,” Ansari said addressing a Friday congregation. He warned that the Kashmir issue was assuming “dangerous” proportion and said it should be “solved according to wishes of Kashmiri people at the earliest”. The executive committee member of the Hurriyat Conference alleged that security forces were harassing common people while the pro-government militants were committing “atrocities”. On the demand for autonomy Mr Omar said it was not just a demand but a political Bible for the people of Jammu and Kashmir. He asked the Centre to appoint a Cabinet Minister immediately who could discuss the autonomy issue with the state. JAMMU: Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP) chief Prof Bhim Singh today welcomed Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani’s nod for conducting Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir under the Governor’s Rule. He reiterated his demand that there could not be elections unless the ruling National Conference government was dismissed. The JKNPP chief also expressed happiness that “the RSS has realised the stupidity of their demand for trifurcation and accepted the universal view of re-organisation of the state to establish three secular democratic states — Jammu Himalaya Rajya (Jammu and Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir), Kashmir Valley Rajya and Ladakh-Gilgit Rajya.” Prof Bhim Singh also demanded the extension of the Kuldip Singh Commission to the state to re-adjust territories and fix reservations for newly-created Scheduled Tribe communities.
PTI, UNI |
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Tributes paid to 1931 martyrs Srinagar, July 13 The strike was called to remember the martyrs who were killed in police firing outside Central Jail here during the Dogra rule on July 13, 1931. Shops and business establishments in Srinagar and some other major towns of the valley remained closed. Vehicles were off the road on the fifth day of the “wheel jam” by private passenger and goods transporters, demanding an increase in fares. Today was a holiday for government offices, schools and colleges. The Hurriyat and several other separatist organisations paid tributes to the martyrs. Their mission would be carried forward with the same zeal and would
culminate in the resolution of the Kashmir issue as per the wishes of the people, they said. Jammu and Kashmir Governor G.C. Sexana and Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah also paid tributes to the martyrs. Mr
Sexana, in his message, said the Martyrs Day commemorated the birth of the people’s movement for democratic rule and social justice in the state. In his message, Dr Abdullah called for building a strong and peaceful state, adding that the state had undergone a traumatic period of violence unleashed by elements inimical to peace. Earlier, an impressive function was held at “Mazar-e-Shuhda”, to mark the day. Mr Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din Shah, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, the President of the ruling National Conference, Mr Omar Abdullah, Mr Abdul Rahim Rather, Mr Ali Muhammad Sagar, Mr Abdul Qayoom, Peerzada Ghulam Ahmad Shah, Ms Sakeena Ito, a galaxy of legislators, party workers and a sizeable number of people, besides, National Conference General Secretary, Sheikh Nazir Ahmad, paid tributes to the martyrs. Addressing a gathering, Mr Shah said, “The martyrs of July 13, 1931, have set an example for generations to come, by making the supreme sacrifice for the freedom of homeland.” In his address, Mr Omar Abdullah said, the sacrifice of the peace loving-people, leaders and political workers would not go waste and it would certainly contribute towards a turning point for the complete restoration of peace, progress and prosperity to the people of state. Describing the greater autonomy as the political “bible” for the people of Jammu and Kashmir, he reiterated the demand of the state government and pleaded that the Centre should resume talks with it to discuss the autonomy issue.
UNI |
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Speaker refuses motion on autonomy Srinagar, July 13 Criticising the disallowing of the motion, Mr Tarigami today accused the ruling National Conference of having “double standards” on the issue of “greater autonomy” to the state. “In public meetings, they (NC leaders) are making so much hue and cry about the restoration of pre-1953 autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir but in the Assembly where the party has a majority they disallowed the resolution,” he said, adding that: “NC action in this regard is unfortunate.” Speaker Abdul Ahad Vakil disallowed the motion which was submitted by Mr Tarigami through the private members resolution for the forthcoming session of the Assembly which has been convened for the election of the country’s President on July 15. Meanwhile, the arrangements for the smooth conduct of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly session beginning on July 16 were reviewed at a high-level meeting here, which emphasised strengthening the security for the MLAs in view of the prevailing situation in the state. Chaired by Mr Vakil and attended by acting Chief Minister Ghulam Mohi-ud-din Shah and Minister of State for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Mushraq Ahmed Lone, the meeting reviewed the facilities provided to the MLA hostel, including better security, telephone and catering services.
PTI |
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Kashmiri Pandits block traffic Mishriwala (Jammu), July 13 The displaced people held a rally from one of the biggest migrant camps, housing 30,000 Pandits, and later sat on a dharna on the Jammu Poonch highway at Jehri Morh disrupting traffic, police sources said. Wearing black badges, the demonstrators observed black day to protest against police action on the displaced Pandits, who were demanding the restoration of power supply to the camp, cut off for a week in peak summer. The protesters alleged that Senior Divisional Police Officer Jagjit Singh had used criminals and the police in beating and ransacking property in the camp and 36 persons, 11 of them women and children, were injured. The demonstrators shouted anti-National Conference and anti-police slogans and demanded a CBI probe into the incident. “We want CBI probe into the harassment of migrants here, as it is a conspiracy of the NC to create a wedge between the local Dogra population and displaced people”, Veerji Bhat and Satpaul, two members of the Mishriwala Camp Development Committee (MCDC), told reporters here today.
PTI |
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AIR station to
counter Pak propaganda Jammu, July 13 Speaking on the occasion, Lt Gen J.B.S. Yadava, Corps commander, said that joint efforts of Prasar Bharti and the Army saw AIR station coming up in this backward area. Gen Yadava disclosed that similar stations were being set up in Rajouri and Nowshehra. |
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Pak troops open
mortar fire Jammu, July 13 Pakistani troops opened sudden and heavy fire from 60 mm mortar guns and rained shells for sometime, a BSF spokesman said. There was no report of any casualties or damage to
property, he said. He said Indian soldiers retaliated by firing from similar calibre guns.
UNI |
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