J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

No poll deferment, says Farooq
Srinagar, July 21
Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah has said there is no question of deferring the forthcoming Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir which would be held in time under the elected government. He said that his party, being part of the NDA government, had held no discussions for the imposition of Central rule in the state with the Central government.

An Amarnath-bound pilgrim queries about yatra schedules from a securitymen in Jammu on Sunday. — PTI

Parties say it is state repression
Srinagar, July 21
Political parties in the state, including the CPM and Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party, today criticised the arrest of Hurriyat Conference leaders and use of force against a procession sponsored by the amalgam here yesterday.

Hurriyat appeals to Annan
Srinagar, July 21
The All-Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC) Chairman, Prof Abdul Gani Bhat, has said that the Kashmir issue is the main cause of violence and bloodshed in the subcontinent and should be settled, once and for all, rising above political considerations.

4 ultras shot, JeM men surrender
Srinagar, July 21
Five persons, including four militants, were killed and four ultras arrested while two Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terrorists surrendered in the valley during the past 24 hours.

Bank employee gets jail for forgery
Srinagar, July 21
A local court convicted an employee of the J and K State Cooperative Bank for producing forged certificate to the bank authorities in a bid to get promotion.

No poll deferment, says Farooq
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, July 21
Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah has said there is no question of deferring the forthcoming Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir which would be held in time under the elected government. He said that his party, being part of the NDA government, had held no discussions for the imposition of Central rule in the state with the Central government.

Dr Farooq Abdullah also expressed concern over the reported statement of the Congress President, Ms Sonia Gandhi, over the impartiality of the Jammu and Kashmir Governor, Mr G.C. Saxena. “I am deeply hurt. She (Ms Gandhi) can say anything, but the elections will be free and fair”, Dr Abdullah said. He added that he was ready to permit foreign observers during the elections.

“Dismiss every Chief Minister of India and then hold elections... And do not threaten us”, Dr Abdullah said in reply to a question on the reports of imposition of Governor’s rule in the state ahead of the Assembly elections scheduled to be held by September-October this year.

The Chief Minister was talking to mediapersons after the prize distribution function at the Royal Springs Golf Club here this afternoon.

In reply to another question, the Chief Minister said the last elections held in the state were won with a thumping majority by his party, the National Conference, even when there was Governor’s rule. “Why are they (Centre) afraid now?” the Chief Minister questioned and added that there was no fun in imposing Governor’s rule in the state under the present circumstances.

The Chief Minister said that his party would decide whether he would be the chief ministerial candidate in the forthcoming elections.

J-K atmosphere conducive for poll: CPI
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, July 21
While rejecting the need for imposition of Governor’s rule in Jammu and Kashmir ahead of the forthcoming Assembly elections, the Communist Party of India has demanded Central rule in Gujarat that witnessed a “breakdown of law and order”.

Addressing a press conference at the end of a two-day party conference here today, the CPI general secretary, Mr A.B. Bardhan, said the atmosphere was conducive in Jammu and Kashmir for the conduct of Assembly election. “No such steps should be taken that vitiate the atmosphere and the CEC should initiate steps to hold free and fair election”, Mr Bardhan stated.

He appealed to all political formations, including the separatist APHC, to join the political process and not boycott the elections. He said that his party, which at present, has no elected member in the 87-member Assembly in Jammu and Kashmir would also contest a few seats in Kashmir and Jammu or have a electoral alliance with other friendly and secular parties.

Taking a dig at the repeated statement of the Deputy Prime Minister and Union Home Minister, Mr L.K. Advani, Mr Bardhan claimed, “We have been fighting terrorism on our own for the past 20 years. No USA or UK came to our help and, even now, we believe that the influence has to be exercised, but the main fight has to be ours”. He lauded the role of the international community in preventing escalation of a military conflict between the two nuclear neighbouring countries. The role of the international community, coupled with public opinion within the country, had helped mount pressure on both the countries to press for a bilateral dialogue, he said. He said steps needed to be taken to minimise the level of deployment on the borders which are in an eyeball-to-eyeball situation, in all sectors, like Rajasthan.

Describing the RSS demand of trifurcating Jammu and Kashmir and supported by the VHP as “dangerous”, for being based on communal lines, Mr Bardhan held that it would mean “an end to India’s secularism”. He claimed that it was doublespeak of the BJP, which also amounted to the acceptance of the two-nation theory.

Supporting the NC demand of autonomy, as envisaged under Article 370, the CPI leader demanded a dialogue among the political forces in the state on the quantum of autonomy. He criticised the Centre’s outright rejection of the autonomy resolution passed by the state Legislative Assembly last year. He alleged that there had been an alienation of the people of Jammu and Kashmir due to the eroding of Article 370 from time to time. He sought economic and administrative autonomy to various regions within the state to “end the feeling of discrimination among the people in various regions”.

The two-day conference of the Kashmir Council of CPI also held that the militancy in the valley had reduced, “but that does not mean that militancy, cross-border terrorism and infiltration has come to an end”, Mr Bardhan pointed out. He added that in spite of the assurances of the Pakistan President, General Pervez Musharraf, promises were not fulfilled. He lamented that efforts were being made to communalise the situation through attacks by foreign militants in Jammu region of the state.

J-K poll notification likely in mid-August

Srinagar, July 21
National Conference chief Omar Abdullah today said his father Farooq Abdullah would be the first choice for chief ministership in the event of his party’s victory in the coming Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, the notification for which was likely to be issued by the middle of next month.

Dr Farooq Abdullah would contest the elections and he would be the first choice for chief ministership if he agreed to, Omar, Minister of State for External Affairs, said at a party function here.

If his father declined the offer, then the National Conference would decide the chief ministerial candidate, Omar, who airdashed here from Delhi to admit Congress MLA R. S. Sharma from Nowshehra into the party, said.

“The notification for the Assembly poll is likely to be issued by August 13 or 14,” he said. Launching an attack on state Congress, he said, “It wants to join hands with those who are responsible for bloodshed in the state.”

On autonomy to the state, the main poll plank of the party in 1996, Omar said granting greater autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir did not mean separation of the state from India. PTI

Parties say it is state repression

Srinagar, July 21
Political parties in the state, including the CPM and Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party, today criticised the arrest of Hurriyat Conference leaders and use of force against a procession sponsored by the amalgam here yesterday.

In separate statements, these parties, including the Jamaat-e-Islami, also regretted the alleged “policy of repression let loose by the state government in connivance with the Centre while dealing with its political opponents”.

Condemning the state government for its “policy of repression” against its political opponents, CPM state secretary and MLA M.Y. Tarigami said there was no justification for a lathi charge on a peaceful demonstration.

He also lambasted the government for putting Hurriyat leaders in detention and re-arresting JKLF Chairman Mohammad Yaseen Malik after the high court had ordered his release by granting bail.

The JKNPP also condemned the lathi charge on Hurriyat conference workers who were protesting against the killing of innocent residents of Qasim Nagar on July 13.

Addressing a two-day session of the party here, the JKNPP chairman, Prof Bhim Singh, condemned the detention of Hurriyat leaders and other political workers under the Public Safety Act.

The Jamaat-e-Islami, a constituent of the Hurriyat Conference, also condemned the arrest of Hurriyat leaders saying “this whole affair goes against the basic right of democracy and freedom of expression”.

Terming the lathi charge and arrest of Hurriyat leaders as “uncalled for”, party spokesman Zahid Ali said, “There was no parallel to the methods used by the state government to supress the voice in the civilised world”. PTI

Hurriyat appeals to Annan

Srinagar, July 21
The All-Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC) Chairman, Prof Abdul Gani Bhat, has said that the Kashmir issue is the main cause of violence and bloodshed in the subcontinent and should be settled, once and for all, rising above political considerations.

The appeal, contained in a memorandum to United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, drew attention to the Qasim Nagar killings and emphasised the need at the global level to unmask the ugly criminals involved in the carnage.

The memorandum, a copy of which was released to the Press here, said the Hurriyat had been frantically demanding that an impartial inquiry by any international agency should be conducted into all mass killings involving Muslims, Sikhs and Hindus in Jammu and Kashmir by unidentified gunmen during the past 12 years.

The Hurriyat regretted that innocent blood was being shed in the state to apportion blame on freedom lovers, obviously to bring infamy and disrepute to the whole movement. It cited the Pathribal killings and the contradictory statements issued by the state Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, in this regard on the floor of the Assembly.

The Hurriyat also condemned the re-arrest of its executive council member and Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front Chairman Mohammad Yaseen Malik under the Public Safety Act at Jammu yesterday. UNI

4 ultras shot, JeM men surrender

Srinagar, July 21
Five persons, including four militants, were killed and four ultras arrested while two Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terrorists surrendered in the valley during the past 24 hours.

An official spokesman said the security forces killed two militants each at Jabbar Nowgam and Narkote in separate encounters last night. A large cache of arms was also recovered.

The spokesman said Mohammad Zulfikar, who was abducted by ultras from his house on July 19, was killed at Wali-Dok today.

He said two militants each were arrested at Anantnag and Baramula, while two JeM militants surrendered along with two AK rifles, nine magazines and 270 rounds at Kupwara last evening. UNI

Bank employee gets jail for forgery

Srinagar, July 21
A local court convicted an employee of the J and K State Cooperative Bank for producing forged certificate to the bank authorities in a bid to get promotion.

Muhammad Maqbool Mugloo has been handed one year’s rigorous imprisonment and asked to pay a fine of Rs 1,000, zonal crime headquarter officials said.

In a similar case an employee of the J and K Bank Syed Sirajuddin was sentenced to two years simple imprisonment for producing a fake matriculation certificate to the bank authorities for getting promotion.

The Crime Branch, which investigated both cases, has also unearthed about 60 cases where fake and forged certificates had been procured in connivance with some school employees.

These were eventually used to secure admissions, appointments and promotions, a spokesman of the Crime Branch said. PTI