J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Ensure security else we resign, says Omar
Srinagar, February 11
Expressing concern over the prevailing security scenario, National Conference President Omar Abdullah today threatened en mass resignation of the elected members of his party to local bodies in case no adequate measures were taken to ensure their security.

Cong scores point over BJP for Mayor’s post
Jammu, February 11
The Congress today scored a point over the BJP in the race for the mayorship of the Jammu municipal corporation for which elections were held recently.

JKLF strike hits life in valley
Srinagar, February 11
Normal life was paralysed in the Kashmir valley today in response to the strike call by the JKLF to commemorate its founder Mohammad Maqbool Bhat on the occasion of his 21st death anniversary.

Ensure security else we resign, says Omar
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, February 11
Expressing concern over the prevailing security scenario, National Conference President Omar Abdullah today threatened en mass resignation of the elected members of his party to local bodies in case no adequate measures were taken to ensure their security.

Any decision to this effect would be taken only after the Chief Minister Mufti Sayeed returned from his tour to England, Omar Abdullah said in reply to questions at a press conference here today. He had to cut short his visit and returned here yesterday from New Delhi following the assassination of Mohammad Maqbool Shah Khaksar, a newly elected corporater from Srinagar on Wednesday night. He held that no security was provided to the elected members in view of the prevailing situation and thereby those elected were being targeted.

Omar claimed that his party members elected to various civic bodies had been surprisingly asked to stay in police stations for security reasons. He expressed concern over the official claims that a security scenario had to be evolved for the civic polls and elected members thereof. “If this exercise was not done ahead of the elections, what do I tell those members being killed” by the enemies of peace, Omar questioned.

The NC President held that the decision to hold civic polls was taken in haste without any planning and application of mind. He added that due to the security problems elections could not be held to various wards in the civic polls as no candidates could come forward due to threats, while many had been declared elected unopposed.

Omar Abdullah claimed that Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed had endangered the lives of all participating members in the civic polls by presenting them in a political colour. He added that the statement of US Embassy was a clear indication in this direction, who were informed about the “successful civic polls” by the Chief Minister only to get a pat of endorsement. Replying questions over the defeat in Ganderbal civic polls, Omar Abdullah blamed the government for misusing government machinery.

Referring to the performance of civil administration, the National Conference President alleged that people of the valley were faced with enormous hardships and difficulties. He expressed concern over the ongoing tour of the Chief Minister to England and questioned the efficacy of the tour. Omar Abdullah added that while the Chief Minister was away, no measures were being taken to rescue thousands of people stranded on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway over the past five days. He added there was lack of power supplies, as there was 18-hour power curtailment schedule, but the people did not get proper supplies for the remaining six hours a day. “They talk of McDonald’s in London, while people here suffer for basic amenities”, Omar said.

Cong scores point over BJP for Mayor’s post
M.L. Kak

Jammu, February 11
The Congress today scored a point over the BJP in the race for the mayorship of the Jammu municipal corporation for which elections were held recently.

Since the two major participants in the election, the Congress and the BJP, fell short of the magic number of 36 required for either side to elect Mayor, they have been hobnobbing with nine Independent candidates and the six belonging to the National Conference (NC). The Congress had won 25 seats out of 71 and with the support of two PDP members, its strength in the corporation was 29 against 26 of the BJP, which includes one candidate from the Shiv Sena.

The Congress claimed to have won the support of seven Independent members. Mr Raman Bhalla, Minister of State for Food, paraded seven Independent members of the corporation at a press conference here today.

These seven members announced their support for the Congress, enabling the ruling party in the state to gain the strength of 36 members needed for electing Mayor.

Even if the NC, which has six members, announced its support for the BJP, the chances for such an exercise being very dim, it may still fall short of four members.

Indications are that if the Congress ultimately succeeded in demonstrating majority in the corporation, the National Conference may not align itself with either the BJP or the Congress because its vote bank may now no longer tilt the scales in favour of either of the two.

Mr Bhalla told mediamen that four more members had assured their support to the Congress and hence “we will have no difficulty in having a Congressman as Mayor of the Jammu municipal corporation”.

JKLF strike hits life in valley
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, February 11
Normal life was paralysed in the Kashmir valley today in response to the strike call by the JKLF to commemorate its founder Mohammad Maqbool Bhat on the occasion of his 21st death anniversary.

The police resorted to a lathicharge to quell demonstrators taking out processions on the occasion here. The processions were taken out by senior separatist leader, Shabir Ahmad Shah, chief of the Democratic Freedom Party, and Javed Ahmad Mir, chief of the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Forum. Mir, who has been a close associate of the JKLF chief, Mohammad Yaseen Malik, was held by the police while taking out a procession here, but was later released.

Shops and business establishments were closed and traffic was off roads. Skelctal transport plied on certain routes here and on inter-district routes.

Meanwhile, JKLF chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik announced two awards on the occasion. These awards went to 10-year-old Shabnum Rashid of Handwara and 60-year-old Hakim Jaan of the Phalgam area, alleged victims of security forces’ harassment.