J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

J&K House adopts resolution on RSS issue
JAMMU, March 2 — The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly today adopted a private member’s resolution urging the Centre to persuade the Gujarat Government to revoke its decision of allowing its employees to participate in the RSS activities.

Transporters’ stir hits life in J&K
SRINAGAR, March 2 — Normal life was disrupted in Srinagar and other parts of Kashmir valley today following a day-long strike sponsored by the Kashmir Passenger Transporters Welfare Association.

Two jawans among four killed
SRINAGAR, March 2 — Two Army personnel and an equal number of foreign mercenaries were killed and four others wounded in a fierce encounter between militants and security forces in the Bandipora area of north Kashmir’s Baramula district last night.

J&K House adopts resolution on RSS issue
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, March 2 — The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly today adopted a private member’s resolution urging the Centre to persuade the Gujarat Government to revoke its decision of allowing its employees to participate in the RSS activities.

The resolution moved by the CPI(M) member, Mr M.Y. Tarigami, was adopted with the BJP members staging a walkout. The entire National Conference block, besides the Congress and the BSP, supported the resolution.

The discussion on the resolution witnessed heated exchanges between the NC and the BJP members. Mr Tarigami in support of his resolution said that by allowing the government employees to join the RSS would set a dangerous trend and encourage communal forces. He said if the government employees were allowed today to join the RSS it may open doors for others to join even the banned organisations, including the Jamait-e-Islam.

Mr Lal Singh of the Congress said the RSS had been founded when British ruled India. The British rulers had encouraged its birth to divide the Muslims and Hindus. He said the RSS had remained a communal organisation and it had no role to lure the government employees who were supposed to be impartial.

Ashok Khajuria (BJP) supported the Gujarat Government’s decision on the plea that the RSS was a cultural organisation. When he said that he too was a member of the RSS, Law Minister P.L. Handoo intervened and wanted to know if he was a member of a so-called cultural organisation how was he in politics.

After animated discussion, Speaker Abdul Ahad Vakil wanted to know from Mr Tarigami, the mover of the resolution, whether he would withdraw it or press for vote. Mr Tarigami insisted that the resolution be put to vote. It was adopted with thumping of desks.

Another private member’s resolution that generated heat in the House was the one moved by Mr Mohd. Farooq Mir of the NC and Mr Jagjivan Lal of the NC. The two had moved the same resolution separately. Mr Handoo requested the Speaker to club the two resolutions as they were the same which was agreed.

The Law Minister said since the government had made a commitment that the report of the restoration of pre-1953 constitutional status to the state would be discussed in the House it would be in the interest of the House to withdraw the resolutions which was not accepted by the movers.

The House witnessed noisy scenes when Mr Jagjivan Lal was on his feet to support his resolution on restoration of pre-1953 constitutional status. There were heated exchanges between Mr Lal and the BJP members. The BJP members interrupted Mr Lal when be blamed the BJP and the Centre for doubting the credentials of Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah.

The House witnessed pandemonium when the NC member, Mr Dilawar Mir, spoke in favour of the resolution. When he said that Kashmir’s accession with India was conditional, the BJP members backed him. There was an exchange of hot words between Mr Mir and Mr Shiv Charan Gupta of the BJP with latter accusing the former of being a defector.

The lone Panthers Party member, Mr Harsh Dev Singh, raised a point of order when Mr Jagjivan Lal (NC) said if the House wanted it could adopt the resolution on restoration of pre-1953 constitutional status right now. Mr Harsh Dev said “this House has no powers to discuss the issue when only Parliament had the competence.”

Mr Harsh Dev wanted the NC members to realise the ground realities and stop “selling dreams to the people.” The BJP member, Mr Shiv Charan Gupta, told the House that all central laws applied to the state had been approved by the state legislature over the years.

After heated discussion the two members withdrew the resolution when the Law Minister assured the House that a detailed discussion would be held in the House on the issue.

Earlier, before the start of the question hour, the CPI(M) member Mr M.Y. Tarigami was seen on feet protesting against the raw deal given to Jammu and Kashmir in the Union Budget which was presented in Parliament two days back. His protest was supported by the Congress members. These members staged a walkout and demanded better economic deal for the state.

The House witnessed pandemonium when members belonging to the Congress, the Panthers Party and the BSP protested against the government’s inordinate delay in posting Subdivisional Magistrates in various areas. When they were not satisfied by the reply given by Mr Handoo that these posts had not been filled because of financial crunch, these members staged a walk out.

The question was raised by Mr R.S. Sharma of the Congress who said that despite repeated assurances no SDM had been posted at Nowshehra.

The Revenue Minister, Mr Abdul Qayoom, informed the House during the question hour that free ration had been sanctioned for those farmers who had suffered over 50 per cent damage to their crops owing to drought in Doda district. The matter was raised by Mr Najib Sohrawardhy who complained that free ration in various areas had not been distributed so far.

Transporters’ stir hits life in J&K

SRINAGAR, March 2 (PTI) — Normal life was disrupted in Srinagar and other parts of Kashmir valley today following a day-long strike sponsored by the Kashmir Passenger Transporters Welfare Association (KPTWA).

The KPTWA, a representative body of transporters of Kashmir valley, called for a “wheel jam” today in protest against the killing of five truckers of the minority community by militants on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway on Monday night and demanded a high-level probe into the incident.

All modes of passenger vehicles, including load-carriers and trucks remained off the road in response to the call today, affecting work in government and semi-government offices, educational institutions, banks, courts and other establishments, official sources said.

However, some private vehicles, including autorickshaws and security vehicles, were seen plying on the roads, which otherwise wore a deserted look.

The sources said shops in most parts of Srinagar including Lal Chowk, Residency Road, Budshah Chowk and Amirakadal, also remained closed.

Several private educational institutions which were scheduled to reopen today after over a two-month long winter vacation remained closed since employees as well as students failed to reach in view of non-availability of transport.

The state also observed a one-day strike yesterday in response to the strike called by the All-J and K Transporters Joint Action Committee.

Two jawans among four killed

SRINAGAR, March 2 (PTI) — Two Army personnel and an equal number of foreign mercenaries were killed and four others wounded in a fierce encounter between militants and security forces in the Bandipora area of north Kashmir’s Baramula district last night.

The encounter, which lasted for about five hours, took place at Watapora village, 57 km from here, when a joint party of the Army, Border Security Force (BSF) and Special Operations Group (SOG) of the local police laid a siege around the village following information about presence of militants, an official spokesman said here today.

Militants hiding in the house of one Abdul Jabbar Sheikh opened indiscriminate fire at the search parties, resulting in a fierce encounter in which two Army jawans and two foreign mercenaries were killed and two jawans were injured.

Sheikh’s son Manzoor Ahmad and son-in-law Ghulam Ahmad were also injured in the crossfire and their house was completely damaged, he added.

Two AK assault rifles, a rocket launcher and some ammunition were recovered from the debris of the house.

The militants have been identified as Abu Bashir of Pakistan and Saidullah Talwani of Afghanistan.