Udhampur, December 4
UP Chief Minister and BSP supremo Mayawati assured today that the BSP, if voted to power at the Centre, would provide reservation to the economically weaker sections of all castes. "I have already recommended the case for reservation to the upper caste poor to the Union Government but the Centre has yet not taken any decision on this demand", she said.

Buoyed over its success in UP, the BSP had for the first time fielded a large number of "upper caste" candidates in Jammu province to woo voters of all castes.

Addressing an election rally here, she said her party was not against any caste. She said some political groups had launched a malicious campaign against the BSP as her party had been emerging as a strong force in the country.

Highlighting achievements of the BSP government in UP, Mayawati asked the people to form BSP government in Jammu and Kashmir for development and the uplift of downtrodden and poor sections of all castes.

Mayawati blamed the Congress and the BJP for the miseries of the weaker sections in the country.

After Independence the Congress and the BJP had ruled the country by turns and these parties, including their coalition partners, were responsible for the woes of the weaker sections, minority and the other marginalised lot of society.

Lambasting the Congress and the BJP for furthering the interests of big industrialists and ignoring aspirations of the poor, Mayawati said "as the BJP, Congress and some other political parties have been getting huge donations from big industrial groups and they are protecting only their interests", she said.

Jammu, December 4
As the spotlight shifts to Hindu-dominated constituencies in the next four phases of the state Assembly elections, which were witness to the Amarnath land agitation, the political parties are now trying to cash in on the polarisation by raising the issue of regional imbalances and blaming each other for the same.

Leading the race, the BJP has launched a media blitzkrieg, “Jammu Ek to Jeete Jammu, highlighting the “discrimination” that has been meted out to the Jammu region over the last 60 years.

The ad campaign dwells upon political imbalance, discrimination in providing government jobs and expenditure in basic sectors like power, irrigation, health, agriculture and urban development.

The BJP is seeking votes for what it terms the political empowerment of Jammu, highlighting the fact that despite having more area and number of voters, Jammu has less number of Assembly seats.

The party has given figures of the Jammu region vis-à-vis the Kashmir valley regarding the expenditure in key areas. The party also gives different punch lines like “Jammu ke prati anyay ke khilaf vote de” (Vote for injustice against Jammu) and “Ab Jammu apne hak ke liye ladega” (Now, Jammu will fight for its rights) in its advertisements.

On the other hand, the Congress, which won 15 out of its 20 seats in the last Assembly polls from the region, is projecting itself as the true champion of the people of all three regions.

The Congress leaders have been blowing the trumpet of their previous regime led by Ghulam Nabi Azad which, according to them, ensured equitable development of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh regions. They are also taking a dig at the BJP for “not doing anything” for Jammu during six year of the NDA rule at the Centre.

It may be mentioned here that the issue of alleged bias with Jammu came to fore prominently during the Amarnath land agitation. Having high stakes in the Jammu region, both, the Congress as well as the BJP, have promised setting up of separate regional councils to address the issue of regional disparity.

When it comes to regional imbalances, the state’s key players - the National Conference and the PDP - are also not far behind in eyeing electoral gains over the issue. The NC’s Vision Document says: “The party will ensure that autonomy is given expression, in real terms on the ground, at the regional and sub-regional levels.” Similarly, the PDP's “self-rule document” talks of regional council of Greater Jammu and Kashmir and also sub-regional councils under its framework of new political superstructure.

Jammu, December 4
The escalating tension between India and Pakistan in the aftermath of the Mumbai terror attacks is giving sleepless nights to farmers of the border areas in various parts of the Jammu region.

Talking to The Tribune, Nirmal Singh, a farmer from the border village of Suchetgarh, said: "We have been living in peace for the past 5 years and reaping a rich harvest. However, the recent terror attacks brought back the horrifying memories of the Parliament attack of 2001, following which there was a massive build-up on both sides along the border. Vast stretches of our land was taken over by the Army and mines were laid, leaving us to fend for ourselves." He lamented that it took a couple of years for them to get their land back for cultivation.

Dina Ram, another farmer from a Kathua village near the border, says: "Our family witnessed tough times for a couple of years. Though we got the compensation for the land acquired by the Army, we had to struggle a lot for our survival prior to its payment. We ended up drying all our savings while my sons had to toil as daily wagers for eking out livelihood."

The unexpected rise in tension among the two neighbours has left the farming community shocked as it was looking forward to better days ahead in view of the confidence-building measures like cross-LoC trade. "The last few years were good as we were cultivating our land right up to zero line. Also, the fence along the border was being re aligned so that we need not cross it to cultivate our land," said Dilawar Singh from Jourian.

The farmers, who are aware of the political developments, are more apprehensive. "Pakistan has already said that it may move 100,000 troops to the border," feared Madan Lal, a farmer from RS Pura.

However, there is also a sense of disillusionment among the farming community. "Leave aside border farmers, those at the helm of affairs are not at all bothered about the entire farming community. Various cases of compensation of the farmers whose land was acquired by the Army for laying mines in 2001-02 are still pending, but no one is listening. We have to run from the pillar to post to get the compensation released if rain or hailstorm spoils our crop. The powers that be are least concerned about our plight," rues Sham.

Srinagar, December 4
Militants fired upon the residence of Abdul Hameed Reshi, Lok Janshakti Party candidate from Shangus constituency in Anantnag district last night. The police said guards posted at the residence of the LJP leader retaliated. However, no loss of life or injury was reported.

Militants have frequently tried to scare away contesting candidates by firing at their houses and, if they could find chances, at them or their cavalcades. Some candidates' houses have been attacked in Baramulla district in the past few days.

Though militants have targeted low-key candidates due to high security cover provided to better-known candidates or those representing more significant political parties, they managed to throw a grenade at a National Coference electioneering team led by its candidate in Sopore. The candidate escaped unhurt but a youth, who was standing there, was killed.

Meanwhile, the police has arrested three militants, including Qari Ismail, alias Hussain, a Pakistani commander of Jaish-e-Mohammad, who had been active for a long period.

A police party from Srinagar followed the militant after tip-off about his movement in Sopore yesterday "Qari sensed that he was being followed and instead of moving towards the adjoining village, he boarded a Srinagar-bound vehicle. The police continued chasing the militant who was subsequently apprehended near Lal Mandi crossing near Lal Ded hospital, Srinagar," an official said. Two Chinese grenades, one rifle grenade and 22 AK-47 rounds were seized from him possession.

In another operation, the Pulwama police and 55 RR of the Army apprehended two Pak-trained militants, John Mohammad Bhat of Kulgam and Showkat Ahmad Wani of Lolipora in Pattan. Both had been missing since 1998 and 2006, respectively, and had entered back into the country though Nepal on November 26 on Pakistani passports. Two Pakistani passports and two Pakistani identity cards were seized from them, the police said.

Militants fired upon a police search party at a village in Kangan. The police retaliated, making the militants escape.

Jammu December 4
A hoax phone call about the presence of a bomb in the High Court, Jammu wing, today set the police on alert and created panic in the city.

''Panic gripped the High Court complex and its surrounding areas when locals found policemen and the bomb disposable squad roaming in the area,'' sources said.

An anonymous phone call this morning made the police rush to the area.

''Police personnel, along with a group of sniffer dogs and the bomb disposal squad, searched the area for one hour but nothing suspicious was traced,'' sources added.

A senior police official, said: ''It was a routine checking and no such call was received regarding the planting of a bomb in the court complex.''

Security in the winter capital has been tightened after the recent Mumbai terrorist attacks. — UNI

Jammu, December 4
In yet another incident of outsiders forcing their entry into the campus of Jammu University, a clash took place between the outsiders and the varsity guards at the Central Library late last night in which the latter were thrashed severely.

Interestingly, the police instead of taking action against the outsiders picked up guards on duty at midnight and allegedly thrashed them. Both the guards, Balveer and Surinder, as per the varsity authorities, entered into verbal duel with three outsiders who were forcing their entry into library at around 10:30 pm.

“They scuffled with guards when enquired about their identity cards. Instead of revealing their credentials they clashed with the guards in which Balvir suffered injury in the neck and received four stitches,” librarian Naresh Padha said. Padha, agreed that the police had to seek permission from the univeristy authorities before making their entry into the campus. He, however, said that it was not in his notice whether the police sought any permission from anybody or not.

“We have forwarded our complaint addressed to the SP though the VC. We have demanded strict action against the concerned chowky officer and all three outsiders who tried to vitiate the environment of the campus,” said Padha.

D.S. Bhau, dean, Students Welfare, said, “Having taken the charge, I had asked the police to appoint a flying squad to visit the campus for keeping a check on outsiders and curbing illegal activities on the campus.” He maintained that the police did not take him into confidence before picking up both the university guards. “It was only after my intervention that the police released both the guards at midnight,” he added.

Meanwhile, several Class IV employees, students and scholars condemned the attack and protested against the incident. They asked university authorities to take up the matter of “police excesses” with the concerned authorities.

Udhampur, December 4
Former Chief Minister and patron of NC Farooq Abdullah has asked the voters to exercise their franchise in favour of his party so that the vision of a prosperous state in which every individual lives with dignity and earns his livelihood with honest toil is given a practical shape.

Abdullah, who was addressing a series of public meetings at Gool, Arnas and Dhanore in the Gool Assembly constituency in support of Ghulam Qadir Mughal and Udhampur and Barmeen (Chenani) in support of party candidates Sunil Verma and Lal Chand Musafir said the NC was not only a political party but a mission started by the people for the people of the state.

“The NC has always had a vision of an ideal society, which will consist of human beings, who are equal, filled with spiritual endowment and in which the skilled and the intelligent citizens will earn their livelihood by honest toil”, he said.

Abdullah said the NC was concerned about the plight of the people of the state staying in the far-flung areas. “The people of remote and far-flung areas have faced the brunt of neglect during the coalition rule but I assure that my party after coming to power will do away with the issues of poverty, illiteracy, backwardness, lack of infrastructure, unemployment, disease and other bottlenecks in the road to progress of the state”.

“Fortunately, now the people of the state have realised their (Congress-PDP’s) manipulative, self-centered politics and so shall defeat them and remove them form the political space of the state.”

Abdullah said, if voted to power, the NC would restart the Sawlakote Hydroelectric project and initiate work on numerous mini and micro hydroelectric projects so as to make the state self-sufficient in power and also generate adequate employment and fill the 70,000 posts lying vacant in various government departments through a fast -track recruitment drive.

Srinagar, December 4
After the completion of three phases of elections to 21 constituencies spread over the three regions of the state, the scene now shifts to the fourth phase to be held on December 7. There are 256 candidates contesting from 18 constituencies of Baramulla and Budgam of Kashmir division, and Udhampur and Reasi districts of Jammu division.

Out of the 18 constituencies, the Sopore constituency in Baramulla district has the distinction of having the highest number of 24 candidates in the electoral fray. As many 10 women contestants are also in the electoral ring.

In the fourth phase, 105 will contest from Baramulla district, which include 13 from Uri, 9 from Rafiabad, 24 Sopore, 19 from Sangrama, 12 from Baramulla, 15 from Gulmarg and 13 from the Pattan Assembly constituencies. The total electors in the Baramulla district are 5,18,963.

In Budgam district, 71 contestants are in fray, which include 18 from Chadoora, 16 from Budgam, 17 from Beerwah, 11 from Khansahib and 9 from the Charar-i-Sharief constituencies. The total electors in Budgam district are 3,83,987.

In Jammu division’s Udhampur district, 42 candidates are in fray out of which 18 are in Udhampur, 12 each in Chenani and the Ramnagar constituencies. The total electorate in Udhampur district is 2,83,400.

In Reasi district, 39 contestants are in fray, which include 14 from Gulabgarh, 16 from Reasi and 9 from the Gool-Arnas Assembly constituencies.

Jammu, December 4
Panthers Party chairman Bhim Singh today accused the state administration of “acting as a tool of the Congress and the PDP”.

Addressing election rallies at Reasi, Kotli, Katra and Slal, Singh assured the people that the party would regularise the services of ReT teachers and SPOs , provide Rs 3,000 per month to every unemployed youth, and regularise the services of home guards and daily wagers. He also assured that the Panthers Party would implement the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission without any delay. Singh appealed to the people to vote for the party for justice, equality and peace. Hundreds of activists of the NC, the BJP and the Congress joined the Panthers Party on the occasion.

Meanwhile, in a letter to the Election Commission, Sanjoy Sachdev, president, Delhi Pradesh National Panthers Party, said the party leaders, district presidents and other important functionaries, who were campaigning in the militancy- prone areas had not been provided any security cover or security transport, whereas such facility had been given to other parties.

According to him, Balwan Singh, president, district Reasi, had not been able to canvass in Mahore, Gulabgarh, Gool and other militancy-prone areas because the state administration had refused to provide him even a single police escort. On the other hand, the non-contesting Congress, PDP, NC activists have been provided government transport and security cover, he alleged.