J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Farooq Abdullah addresses a gathering on the Indian Independence Day celebrations on Tuesday at Baksi Stadium in Srinagar.  Abdullah appealed to Kashmiri militants to enter a dialogue and said guns were no solution to the peace process. — AFP photo

Borders can’t be changed: Farooq
SRINAGAR, Aug 15  — Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah, today warned Pakistan that war cry was a path to destruction and declared that “borders can never be changed, come what may.”

Chhari Mubarak reaches holy cave
JAMMU, Aug 15 — The month-long Amarnath pilgrimage culminated this morning with the arrival of Chhari Mubarak (the holy mace of Lord Shiva) and prayers in the cave shrine in the Himalayan range of South Kashmir.

Borders can’t be changed: Farooq

SRINAGAR, Aug 15 (PTI) — Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah, today warned Pakistan that war cry was a path to destruction and declared that “borders can never be changed, come what may.”

“Pakistan must understand that terrorism will not take them anywhere. They will ultimately themselves fall into the graves they are digging for us in Jammu and Kashmir,” he said addressing the main Independence Day function, after unfurling the Tricolour here.

“Talk of peace and trans-border terrorism cannot go together,” the Chief Minister said.

Reasserting India’s desire for a dialogue and taking a peace initiative to its logical end, Dr Farooq said no friendship could be achieved under the threat of war or pressure. “While we believe in peaceful coexistence and don’t want wars as these create more problems than solving them, we will give a befitting reply when war is forced on us.”

He said if Pakistan’s military ruler Gen Pervez Musharraf was sincere in normalising relations with India he should visit New Delhi to declare an end to terrorism reciprocating Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s gesture of peace and friendship.

“Pakistan must understand that 100 crore people of India would never allow any Prime Minister to talk with Islamabad when it is killing people here everyday.”

Dr Abdullah, however, said while India wants to live in peace and prosper, it was New Delhi’s sincere desire that Pakistan too becomes strong and prosperous. “Weak Pakistan is not in the interests of India.”

He said the war being fought today by the people of Jammu and Kashmir was not only theirs but of entire India. “It is a war of principles and values for which our freedom fighters laid down their lives,” he said, adding that India’s diversity was its real strength and the concept of unity in diversity has to be protected from all challenges.

Stating that talks were the only solution to step out of the unfortunate situation, the Chief Minister said hopes were kindled in the hearts of people of Jammu and Kashmir when Hizbul Mujahideen declared ceasefire and process of talks started. But these were scuttled by vested interests, within and outside, who thrive on violence.

He also cautioned the people against challenges of fundamentalism and said every type of extremism in any religion has dangerous overtones.

He said thousands of freedom fighters sacrificed their lives to attain freedom. “The freedom was not achieved for any particular religion but for everyone”, he said, adding that fundamentalism has no place in secular India.

Later, speaking to mediapersons, Dr Abdullah said he was not in favour of any retaliatory action against Pakistan for engineering terrorist acts in India, saying that “wars don’t solve problems but aggravate them... let us not tread on the path of war, but on peace.”

Asked what message he had for Pakistan’s military ruler Gen Pervez Musharraf, Dr Abdullah said “if he (Musharraf) has the courage, he should come to Delhi and tell us that he wants peace.. let him take this bold initiative as Vajpayee took when he went to Lahore,” he said.

The Chief Minister told CNN that he was optimistic about resumption of talks with the Hizbul Mujahideen as even they and their families wanted them to return and live in peace.

TNS adds from Jammu: Amid unprecedented security measures Independence Day celebrations were held at all district and tehsil headquarters. The ministers and legislators hoisted the national flag. In Jammu, the Education Minister, Mr Mohd Shafi, unfurled the Tricolour and took the salute at a march past. Passenger transport services were suspended for several hours in the town and its adjoining areas. Shopkeepers were not permitted to open their shops. Streets wore a deserted look. There was poor attendance at the Sports Stadium.

Most areas in the Jammu region had been gripped by panic following unofficial reports that militants had planned to disrupt Independence Day celebrations. As a result the functions in Udhampur and Kathua drew poorest ever public participation. Contrary to expectations participation of people was large in Poonch and Rajouri areas.

The Director General Police, Mr Gurbachan Jagat, congratulated the police and other security agencies for having ensured incident-free Independence Day celebrations in the state.

A state government spokesman said there would be no laxity in the security arrangements in the state.

Chhari Mubarak reaches holy cave

JAMMU, Aug 15 (PTI) — The month-long Amarnath pilgrimage culminated this morning with the arrival of Chhari Mubarak (the holy mace of Lord Shiva) and prayers in the cave shrine in the Himalayan range of South Kashmir.

Devotees and sadhus, accompanying the mace, chanted incantations and bhajan to invoke the blessings of Lord Shiva, officials said here.

Over 1.77 lakh pilgrims, including women and children, from different parts of the country, trekked to the cave located at 3952 metres via mountainous and forest routes of Baltal and Pahalgam.

Despite continued inclement weather along yatra routes and militants attack on yatris early this month near Pahalgam the pilgrimage which started on July 13 received a good response.

A record number of 1,77,518 pilgrims visited the cave shrine this year, surpassing last year’s record of 1.07 lakh.

Reports said while most of the pilgrims have already reached their respective destinations, others were on way to base camps of Pahalgam and Baltal.

“Chhari Mubarak” which was led by Mahant Dipender Giri of the Dashnami Akhara in Srinagar would return to Pahalgam and then to Srinagar.

Reports from Poonch district said that hundreds of devotees also paid their obeisance at the Budda Amarnath Temple in the Rajpura-Mandi area, near the Line of Control (LoC).