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| Thursday,
July 25, 2002, Chandigarh, India   
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Governor’s rule in J&K put on hold? 14,000 have darshan at cave shrine
2 havala conduits arrested |
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8 hurt as cops, students clash Taxis in J&K
to have fare meters VIPs continue to visit Rajiv Nagar
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Governor’s rule in J&K put on hold? Jammu, July 24 There are no definite answers following conflicting signals emanating from Delhi and Srinagar. An element of confusion has crept in the political atmosphere and has people divided over the imposition of Central rule. The ruling National Conference (NC) is opposing any such move. Latest reports said the Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, during had during his visit to Delhi persuaded Central leaders, especially the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr L.K. Advani, to defer the plan to improve Governor’s rule. Dr Farooq, according to sources conveyed to the leaders that the imposition of Governor’s rule might send wriong signals to the international community as this practice had not been adopted in Gujarat and three other states where the Assembly elections had been held. The sources said the Central Government had decided to link Governor’s rule to the willingness of separatists to take part in the elections. The APHC had made it clear that it would not participate in the poll process as it wanted talks to precede the elections as the elections were not an answer to the Kashmir issue. About three months ago, the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, had announced that Governor’s rule could ensure free and fair elections. However, the latest statement of the Union Minister of State for Home, Mr I.D. Swami had set at rest speculation about placing the state under Central rule at least for now. In an interview to a Jammu based newspaper, Mr Swami had said: “I personally think it will not be a judicious decision to change the Governor of the state at this juncture. As far as imposing Governor’s rule just before the Assembly elections is concerned, I don’t think it would make a difference.” Political observers attach significance to Mr Swami’s statement as “he usually speaks language of Mr Advani.” However, the Centre has not given up the idea of imposing Governor’s rule. It has only been delayed because the Centre prefers Dr Abdullah to recommend it. The National Conference leadership is encouraging leaders from the Congress and other parties to join NC. Mr Janak Raj Gupta, a former MP and MLA and Mr R.S. Sharma, a Congress member, have already joined the NC. Reports said it was also trying to woo three estranged BJP MLAs.The NC wants to field candidates who have some influence in different pockets of the Jammu region. Meanwhile, most of the separatists do not want to take part in the elections. They fear that they would be risking their life if they did so. In this scenario, the NC is at an advantage. |
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14,000 have darshan at cave shrine Jammu, July 24
The batch comprising 3822 pilgrims, including 564 women and 283 sadhus, left in 274 vehicles even as thousands more remained stranded here as they had arrived earlier than their scheduled date for embarking on the yatra, official sources said. Reports from Srinagar said nearly 14,000 pilgrims have, so far had ‘darshan’ at the cave shrine located at an altitude of 3880 metres in south Kashmir Himalayas. Sources said administration was having a difficult time making arrangements for those still in Jammu. J and K Chief Secretary I.S. Malhi said efforts were being made to accommodate up to 8,000 pilgrims at Nunwan and Pahalgam base camps, up from 6,000 at present. He said arrangements had already been made to accommodate 4,000 pilgrims each at Sheshnag and Panchtarni, 2,500 at Baltal, 1,500 at Manigam and 1,800 at Srinagar. “In the wake of inclement weather, focus should be to lodge pilgrims at Panchtarni and Sheshnag so that they don’t get trapped at Mahagunas or Pissu Ghati which are at high altitude,” he said. The yatra was suspended on Sunday due to bad weather. A Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) spokesman said elaborate communication arrangements had been made on the ‘yatra’ route.
PTI, UNI |
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2 havala conduits arrested
Srinagar, July 24 Abdul Jabbar Bhat, alias Moulvi, a resident of Zampakadal and Shoukat Ahmed Shah of New Colony, Lal Bazaar, were arrested by a joint party of the BSF and police last night, a spokesman of the border guards said here today. The spokesman said Moulvi Jabbar was instrumental in receiving illegal funds from across the border and had received Rs 20 lakh for distribution to TuM cadres. Shah is also involved in havala transactions and had received Rs 10 lakh through various channels in January for further distribution. Both were working under the cover of Moulvi in the Jamiat-e-ahl-e-Hadis office at Barbarshah in Srinagar. The spokesman said Shah, during a haj pilgrimage two years ago, had reportedly visited Pakistan from Saudia Arabia in a special aircraft arranged by the ISI. He claimed that the two were working as nodal agents for distribution of money to TuM. The Jamiat-e-ahl-e-Hadis, in a press note to the local media a week back, had claimed that BSF personnel arrested two of its activists (Shah and Moulvi) and condemned their arrest. Today’s claim of busting the havala channel is the third in the past two months.
PTI |
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8 hurt as cops, students clash Srinagar, July 24 Trouble began when the students of Degree College Anantnag, boycotted classes and took to the streets, denouncing the VHP’s demand for “amendments in the Muslim religious books”. The students were joined by local residents. As they started marching towards the Deputy Commissioner’s office, the police asked them to disperse. The police resorted to lathicharge and fired teargas shells when the protesters allegedly started throwing stones at them. The clash left five policemen and three demonstrators injured. The police later fired several rounds in air to bring the situation under control. Normal life was disrupted in the town due to the clash. The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association has called for a general strike on Friday in support of its demand for a ban on the VHP, RSS and Bajrang Dal. “A Muslim can bear anything but not blasphemous remarks against Islam,” it said in a statement here which described the Sangh Parivar organisations as “terrorist outfits”.
PTI |
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Taxis in J&K
to have fare meters Srinagar, July 24 He said the main aim of the government was to discuss and address the problems and grievances of consumers and dealers. The minister said the government had already passed a Bill to establish forums at all district headquarters so that the consumers were not exploited. A massive consumer awareness campaign would be launched to make people aware of their rights and to initiate legal action against the traders indulging in unfair trade practices, he added.
PTI |
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VIPs continue to visit Rajiv Nagar Jammu, July 24 The Deputy Prime Minister, Mr L.K. Advani, Governor G.C. Saxena, Dr Farooq Abdullah, and Mr Omar Abdullah, Union Minister of State for External Affairs, besides Ms Sonia Gandhi and Union Minister of State for Defence, Prof Chaman Lal Gupta, have visited the colony. Recently, Mr Ashok Singhal, President of the VHP, paid a visit to the area and distributed compensation. Mr Shabir Ahmed Shah, President of the Democratic Freedom Party, and Maulana Syed Athar Hussain Delhvi, Chairman, Anjuman Minhaj-e-Rasool, during their visit to the labour colony today condemned the massacre. Maulana Delhvi said it was time for separatists to take part in the Assembly elections. Mr Shabir Ahmed Shah expressed grief over the carnage and said killing of innocent people was neither jehad nor had a place in Islam. He opposed the trifurcation of the state as demanded by the RSS and said the three regions needed to remain united. He said the elections would not settle the Kashmir issue. |
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