J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

SHO among 7 hurt in blast
Srinagar, November 5
A tourist from Kolkata and a Station House Officer were among seven persons injured in a grenade blast in South Kashmir today, an official spokesman said. A Hizbul Mujahideen militant was killed in an encounter with the security forces at Nassarpora Keller in Pulwama last night.

Women offer prayers at the Hazratbal shrine on the third Friday of the holy month of Ramzan in Srinagar on Friday. — Photo by Amin War

BJP woos Abdullahs?
Jammu, November 5
Is the BJP trying to woo National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah, who had severed ties with the NDA following differences on certain issues?

Cong leaders against enforcement of guest order
Jammu, November 5
While several social organisations and individuals have welcomed the implementation of the Guest Control Order, the Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Department is under political pressure against the enforcement of the order.

SHO among 7 hurt in blast

Srinagar, November 5
A tourist from Kolkata and a Station House Officer were among seven persons injured in a grenade blast in South Kashmir today, an official spokesman said.

A Hizbul Mujahideen militant was killed in an encounter with the security forces at Nassarpora Keller in Pulwama district last night. An AK rifle, four magazines, 20 rounds and a wireless set were recovered from the slain militant.

He said militants hurled a hand grenade towards a police party at Pahalgam Chowk in south Kashmir this afternoon.

The blast caused injuries to four police personnel, including SHO Shabir Ahmad and a tourist Suman Sarkar, a resident of Kolkata.

The injured have been shifted to hospital. — UNI

BJP woos Abdullahs?
S.P. Sharma
Tribune News Service

Jammu, November 5
Is the BJP trying to woo National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah, who had severed ties with the NDA following differences on certain issues?

This indication comes from candid statements of certain local BJP leaders during the past few days.

While being the single largest party in the Assembly, the NC is in the Opposition. The BJP had won only one seat in the House of 87.

All of a sudden the BJP leadership, that was critical of Dr Abdullah during his tenure as Chief Minister, has started endorsing his viewpoint on various issues.

Observers point out that the shift in the stand of the BJP vis-a-vis the Abdullahs has come in the backdrop of NDA partners not relishing the statements of the newly appointed BJP chief, Mr L.K. Advani, on certain issues, including Ayodhya temple.

However, Dr Abdullah and his son, Mr Omar Abdullah, who is heading the NC, have so far maintained a distance from the NDA although certain emissaries had reportedly approached them to bury the hatchet. The Abdullahs are maintaining good relations with the SAD chief, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, who is considered close to the top BJP leadership.

The NC had broken its relations with the NDA when Mr Omar Abdullah resigned as a minister following the communal incidents at Godhra and the stand of the government on the issue of Babri Masjid.

Moreover, the party was also irked on the issue of the NDA backing out of the assurance to get Dr Abdullah elected as Vice-President of India.

There are also indications that a section of the Congress is in the favour of keeping the Abdullahs in good humour. At the same time the Congress does not want the Abdullahs to join the PDP. This appears to be a calculated move in view of the political situation in the state where the Congress is slated to assume power from the PDP by the end of next year.

Cong leaders against enforcement of guest order
Tribune News Service

Jammu, November 5
While several social organisations and individuals have welcomed the implementation of the Guest Control Order, the Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Department is under political pressure against the enforcement of the order.

According to an announcement of the department, those hosting marriage parties will have to inform the department 10 days in advance.

It is learnt that a section of the Congress leaders in particular is pressurising the department not to take notice of the violations during marriage parties.

Interestingly, the restrictions on marriage parties have been imposed at the initiative of the Consumer Affairs Minister, Mr Taj Mohiuddin, who himself belonged to the Congress.

At a meeting with the Director of the Consumer Affairs Department here yesterday, certain marriage hall owners are learnt to have pleaded that the department should refrain from embarrassing them by conducting raids at their premises.