J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Blasts fail to dampen R-Day spirit
Tribune News Service
JAMMU, Jan 27 — Barring half a dozen rocket and IED explosions during the Republic Day celebrations passed of peacefully in Jammu and Kashmir state yesterday. As a result of unprecedented security arrangements made by the police, paramilitary forces and the Army the militants, especially the Fidayeen, were prevented from disrupting the celebrations for which they had made elaborate preparations.

A rocket was fired near the Karan Bagh area of Garigarh. Security experts said the target of the attack was presumably Jammu airport which was less than a km from the spot where the rocket exploded. Five other rockets and IEDs exploded in the Tawi belt and the Khour area of Akhnoor without causing any loss of life or property.

Fear that militants, especially the Fidayeen might strike in a big way had kept a majority of people indoors in the state capitals. Tight security measures too had discouraged most of the people from going to participate in the R-Day celebrations. The attendance was thin at Bakshi Stadium in Srinagar and it was limited at Maulana Azad Memorial Stadium in Jammu.

Speaking on the occasion Mr Saxena urged the misguided youth to join the national mainstream because the cross-border terrorism aided by Pakistan was a futile exercise. He said in a democratic system youth had several channels to see an end to their grievances and this could be done through a dialogue.

He said that India's multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and its nationhood besides its security and integrity were at stake in Jammu and Kashmir because of the Pak-sponsored proxy war. The Governor said that hijacking of the Indian Airlines plane by Pak-aided terrorists had added a new dimension to the security scenario. He said Pakistan had violated the Simla Agreement and other agreements by intruding into the Kargil sector. He praised the Army and the other security agencies for having failed all Pak games of destabilising the peace in the state.

Later the Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah, said if Pakistan thrust a war on India the enemy would receive a befitting reply. He said it was really unfortunate that Islamabad never responded to the offer of friendship from India. He said the dream of Pakistan to grab Kashmir would never materialise.

Dr Abdullah said if Pakistan continued to foment trouble in Jammu and Kashmir India had no other alternative but to strike back and teach Islamabad a lesson.

The valley received a Republic Day gift when Kashmir television channel was opened. The Kashmir channel will telecast cultural programmes and those connected with news, views and other historical and literary activities for 18 hours a day.

The R-Day celebrations were also held at several district and tehsil headquarters. Several ministers had been assigned the job of presiding over the R-Day parades and of hoisting the National Flag.

Several political parties, including the BJP, the Congress and the National Conference, held separate functions to celebrate the "big day." Several government buildings were illuminated and a number of cultural programmes and literary functions were held in different parts of the Jammu region in the past three days.

People of Jammu rejoiced over uniterrupted supply of power. It was a major change from the usual 12-hour load shedding. The regular power supply on Wednesday was ordered in connection with Republic Day.