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Sunday,
October 13, 2002, Chandigarh, India  
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APHC wants say in talks
Omar talks of rejuvenation Farooq
vacates official residence J&K poll not fair to fair sex |
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Ultra holed up in dispensary killed Shikaras ashore in Dal Lake
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APHC wants say in talks Srinagar, October 12 “Let India and Pakistan start talks and let them involve the APHC. If they do not do it, there will be a much bigger trouble, the responsibility for which shall lie with the Government of India”, Mr Abdul Ghani Bhat, told a press conference here this morning. He said all three parties to the Kashmir dispute — India, Pakistan and the People of Kashmir — would have to rise above the “traditional ways and see things objectively”. Mr Bhat held that it was necessary to ensure peace and stability in the region with two nuclear powers. Reiterating the APHC stand that elections to the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly were no answer to the problem, Mr Bhat said these could never be a first step towards the resolution of the issue with reference to the “international laws and aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.” He said the UN resolutions in respect of Kashmir issue envisaged that no elected Assembly of the state could take up the Kashmir issue. Mr Bhat also referred to the statements of Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee with regard to the recently held elections in Jammu and Kashmir. He held that the people in no way voted for democracy or for the unity and integrity of India. He held that the elections were held under coercion and anger against certain forces prevailing in the state. The future of the state, lay only in plebiscite and tripartite talks, the conference added. The APHC Chairman also referred to the reported statements of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and National Conference President Omar Abdullah, “Our contention is even supported by those who participated in these elections”, Mr Bhat said adding the Mufti had stated that the elections were no answer to the resolution of Kashmir issue. Referring to Mr Omar Abdullah’s statement, the APHC chairman said that he had stated that “elections are no answer to the dispute”. Even two thirds majority of the National Conference was not the answer to the dispute, Mr Bhat said adding that the newly elected “fractured Assembly” would not be effective. PTI adds: In a rebuff to Hizbul Mujahideen Chief Syed Salahuddin, the Hurriyat Conference today dismissed his suggestion that Kashmir Committee headed by Ram Jethmalani was a creation of India and said the conglomerate would be holding third round of talks with them next week. “We are in politics... politics consists of reconciliation, balancing and interpreting various opinions,” Bhat told reporters at the Hurriyat headquarters here. “We will consider the opinion of Syed Salahuddin but it is not imperative that we go by his opinion. We have our own independent stand in this regard,” Bhat said. The Hizbul Mujahideen Chief said recently that it did not think the Kashmir Committees, set up in India and Pakistan, would achieve any breakthrough in the Kashmir imbroglio and asked the Hurriyat Conference not to beg for talks with New Delhi. Salahuddin said that the committee headed by Jethmalani was a private one with secret support of Indian Intelligence agencies and that headed by Sardar Abdul Qayyum in Pakistan was ‘sarkari’ (by government). |
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Omar talks of rejuvenation
Srinagar, October 12 The present setback in the Assembly elections was a blessing in disguise, he told party workers here. The party, which managed just 28 seats in the 87-member House, would introspect, think and act to re-emerge once again as a power to reckon with, said Mr Abdullah, who lost to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) nominee, Qazi Mohammad Afzal, from Ganderbal, the constituency represented by his father and grandfather since 1975. Mr Abdullah, who has decided to resign as Minister of State for External Affairs next week, said, “We will strengthen the party at the grassroots level and ensure that it is revitalised.” The party would work with renewed vigour for the welfare of the people of the state and continue to fight for their rights. “I will go back to my people with the message and ideals of Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah and initiate a new era of resurgence for the party,” he said. Addressing party workers for the first time after the NC got a drubbing in the Assembly elections in the state, Mr Abdullah said: “It is an hour of test for all of us and we have to face this challenge valiantly. I am confident that with your support the party will emerge stronger once again.” Reacting to media reports about differences within the NC, he said. “None exist and none shall ever exist.” Mr Abdullah, who was put up as the NC’s chief ministerial candidate, expressed the hope that the new government would be formed soon and would work for the betterment of the people and fulfil the poll promises. UNI
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Farooq vacates
official residence Jammu, October 12 For the full day be remained busy in supervising packing of his personal belongings with the assistance of men of the hospitality and protocol department. His household goods and gadgets were carried in trucks to his private house, which he had built four years ago at Bhatindi, on the outskirts of the city of temples. Party workers and leaders visited his house and met him in small groups. He avoided meeting newspersons who had thronged his residence. When they reached his official residence, one NC leader was seen coming out after having called on Dr Abdullah. On inquiries he disclosed that the Chief Minister was in. But when the security guards flashed the message they were told that Mr Abdullah was out this time. Though Dr Abdullah has been asked by the Governor, Mr G.C. Saxena, to continue as head of the caretaker government after he submitted his resignation in Srinagar yesterday, he was quick in packing from his official residence. One of his ministerial colleagues said Dr Abdullah advised his partymen who had lost the elections to vacate the official residences immediately. When a couple of them discussed the possibility of getting a stay from the courts, they were advised by senior party leaders to demonstrate decency and vacate the government houses and flats. The NC working committee is scheduled to meet in Srinagar tomorrow to discuss the factors that led to the defeat of the party and formulate its strategy while dealing with the new situation having emerged after the poll results. Indications are that the Chief Minister and the NC President are in favour of sitting in the Opposition as they do not think that the coalition government will be able to complete its six-year term. Dr Abdullah has plans to visit some foreign countries, including the UK, where his wife is settled, for at least three months after October 17. He may return to the state after celebrating Christmas and New Year’s Eve in London. |
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J&K poll not fair to fair sex
Srinagar, October 12 Though 26 women filed their papers, Mehbooba Mufti of the People’s Democratic Party was the lone woman who could make it to the state Assembly reflecting a sentiment for their insignificant representation in political arena, common in various state Assemblies. Significantly, more than 700 men contested the 2002 elections. While some of the women candidates, who failed to make it to the Assembly, said people of the state were not yet mentally comfortable with a woman representative, others blamed the poor show on fear of violence which restricted their movements during election campaign resulting in less or no awareness about their candidature among the respective constituencies. Out of 26, four candidates were fielded by National Conference from Noorabad, Wachi and Habbakadal (all from valley) and Jammu West. The candidates included minister in the outgoing NC government, Sakina Itoo, who escaped four attacks by militants during campaigning. The Congress had also fielded four candidates, Khemlata Wakhlo from Sonawar, Amren Badr from Budgam, Swaran Lata from Samba and Suman Lata Bhagat from R S Pora. The major chunk of women candidates this time were Independents numbering 10 — Hafeeza Begum from Pampore, Mehar Noor from Noorabad, Farhat from Dooru, Santosh Suri from Reasi, V.R. Pathania from Bilawar, Kamla Devi from Ramban, Khlida Tabassum from Amirakadal, Hafiza Begum from Sonawar, Noor Jehan and Minu Jamwal both from Gandhinagar. All of them failed to make it to the state Assembly. Other political parties which fielded women candidates were the Nationalist Congress Party with one, the Janata Dal (U) with one and the Panthers Party with two. PTI
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Election
results declared formally Srinagar, October 12 A complete list of the elected candidates was issued today, two days after the declaration of results of 85 constituencies that went to the polls in four phases from September 16 to October 8. |
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Ultra holed up in dispensary killed
Srinagar, October 12 Elsewhere in the state, a soldier was among five persons killed and 10 others were wounded in the past 24 hours. Official sources said a foreign militant, Abdu Asim, entered the dispensary last evening after a brief encounter with security forces during which one ultra was killed. Security forces immediately sealed the area and asked Asim to surrender, but he continued firing with automatic weapons. Reinforcement was then rushed to the area and sharp-shooters took positions in the nearby houses. With the militant’s persistent refusal to surrender, security forces used mortars to blast the dispensary building. The militant was killed this morning. The dispensary building and some adjoining houses were damaged in the mortar fire, sources said. A resident of the area told UNI over phone that he heard a number of loud explosions early this morning. JAMMU: An Armyman was killed and two others were injured in separate incidents in Jammu and Kashmir where militants detonated an improvised explosive device and security forces seized a number of arms and ammunition since last night. In an exchange of fire between militants and security personnel, one Army jawan was killed and another injured at Sildhar in the Gool area of Udhampur district last night, official sources said here today. Militants shot and injured Shohabdin when he tried to prevent them from abducting his nephew at Matandara village of Poonch district. Ultras detonated an IED at Dundhak in Surankote of Poonch district this morning but there was no damage or loss of life. Security forces who reached the site detected another IED which was defused. During search operations, security forces seized one AK rifle with two magzines and 45 rounds in the Mila area of Gool in Udhampur district while four hand grenades, one electronic device and 10 m of cordex wire were found from a house in Asthan village of Kishtwar in Doda district during the period. A BSF man was killed when Pakistan forces fired on 18 Indian border outposts along the International Border in the Jammu region since last night. Head constable P. Kalita was critically wounded in the firing in the Pansar area of Kathua district last night and later succumbed to injuries in a hospital, official sources said today. Pakistani rangers fired on Indian positions in the Arnia, R.S. Pura, Samba and Kanachak sectors of Jammu district with small arms, they said, adding that both sides exchanged intermittent firing at Manguchak and Sadheychak in the Hiranagar sector of Kathua district since last evening. UNI, PTI
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Shikaras
ashore in Dal Lake Srinagar, October 12 Almost all houseboats on the Dal Lake have boards of “ To let” and “ Vacant”. Shikaras remain ashore. There aren’t any tourists for the Nehru park and Charchinari islands in the lake. Another shikarawala, Bashir Ahmed, says soon after Governor’s rule was lifted and the Farooq government came into power in 1996 the tourist trade began to sink. Now, it has hit rock bottom, he laments. From Rs 500 to Rs 50 per day earning, that too occasionally, it is quiet a slide for the
shikarawalas.
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