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| Wednesday, August 23, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
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NDA trusts Farooq’s stand on
Kashmir
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Three more
battalions for J&K police Autonomy cell
constituted Pak soldier’s
body buried
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NDA trusts Farooq’s stand on
Kashmir JAMMU, Aug 22 — Notwithstanding an occasional strain in the National Conference-NDA alliance the BJP leadership continues to repose confidence in the Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, as far as his ability to lobby for India in the international fora on the Kashmir situation is concerned. A proof of this confidence is that Dr Abdullah has been allowed to go for a three-week tour of European countries. Dr Abdullah is scheduled to leave Srinagar on Wednesday for London to be with his wife who has been staying there for the past 11 years. According to these sources, the three-week tour of Dr Abdullah will be personal-cum-official. He would spend his time in several countries lobbying for India on the Kashmir issue. The Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, will be in the USA next month in connection with the UN Assembly session. The Kashmir issue is likely to figure in his official and private meetings. The Pakistan’s military ruler, Gen Parvez Musharraf, too will utilise his trip to the USA for highlighting the Kashmir “dispute”. The BJP leadership is said to have suggested to Dr Abdullah to meet leaders, who matter, and convince them of India’s stand on the Kashmir issue. Dr Abdullah in the past embarrassed Pakistani leaders and lobbyists in international conferences by his oratory and down to earth approach. Dr Abdullah has details of Pakistan-trained militants in Jammu and Kashmir on his finger tips. Dr Abdullah has decided to remain aligned with the NDA Government as he regards it essential for the survival of his government and economic development of the state. He learnt this lesson in 1984 when his duly elected government was dislodged by the then Congress government at the Centre. Despite his party having the two-third majority in the Assembly and the Central Government willing to hold talks with separatists, Dr Abdullah has decided to sink and swim with the BJP-led government at the Centre, according to a senior National Conference leader. This leader said Dr Abdullah knows that talks would take time to materialise and even if these made a headway the Chief Minister would try to ensure his political survival, even if it meant a prestigious post in Delhi. The NDA Government has also realised that there is immediate “suitable alternative” to Dr Abdullah in the state. Despite marked erosion in its mass base the National Conference continues to be the biggest political organisation headed by the tallest political figure in Jammu and Kashmir. Moreover there is no second-rung leadership in the National Conference. The Chief Minister has survived machinations of dissidents within the National Conference. Several ministers and MLAs are not quite happy with the style of functioning of Dr Farooq Abdullah, but they have no-political strength to pose a threat to the Chief Minister. It is because of invincibility that Dr Abdullah banks on senior bureaucrats more than his ministerial colleagues. |
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Three more
battalions for J&K police SRINAGAR, Aug 22 (PTI) — The Jammu and Kashmir Government has sanctioned three more battalions of the J and K Police to strengthen it and meet the growing challenges of the militancy in the border state. “Gujjars and Bakerwals as also the courageous people of the border areas who are facing the brunt of trans-border terrorism and protecting the solidarity of the country will be given due representation in the recruitment to these battalions,” Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah said addressing a meeting of the state advisory board for development of Gujjars and Bakerwals here yesterday. He said
Gujjars, Bakerwals and the people of the border areas would bring good name to the force by their dedicated service as they were stout and alert. Despite granting a Scheduled Tribe status, these communities had not been able to progress much as even their recruitment quota was not fully adhered to, he said. Referring to the experience of the Kargil war, he said while Haryana led the country in offering highest number of martyrs, the local Ladakh scouts too sacrificed 27 personnel. He expressed the hope that the overall situation would take a turn and the people of the state would live in peace again. |
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Autonomy cell
constituted
SRINAGAR, Aug 22 (PTI) — The Jammu and Kashmir Government has constituted the State Autonomy Cell under the chairmanship of Teja Singh, convenor of the erstwhile State Autonomy Council. The terms of reference of the cell would be to collate and analyse views and comments appearing in the press and other media on the subject of restoration of autonomy to the state, to interact with intellectuals and eminent persons within and outside the state with a view to creating a conducive atmosphere for balanced and comprehensive understanding and consideration of the subject, an official spokesman said here today. The cell has been entrusted with the task to prepare and publicise fact sheets, pamphlets and brochures explaining that the demand for the restoration of autonomy is strictly within the confines and provisions of the Constitution of India governing the constitutional relationship of Jammu and Kashmir with the Union of India, the spokesman said. He said this measure has been taken to dispel misinformation, doubts and misunderstandings in some sections of the public, press and intelligentia regarding content and implications of the report of Jammu and Kashmir State Autonomy Committee as approved by the state government and endorsed by the state legislature. According to a government order, it has also been felt necessary to project the correct picture in the proper perspective before the people of the state and the country reflecting the purpose of autonomy as promoting better understanding and harmonious relationship between the state and the union without affecting the unity and integrity of the country. |
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Pak soldier’s
body buried JAMMU, Aug 22 (PTI) — A Pakistani soldier killed in a retaliatory action by Indian troops on August 17 in Noushera sector of Rajouri district was buried as per Islamic rites by the Noushera Brigade, after Pakistan refused to take back the body, a defence press note said today. Though the Indian Army had offered to hand over the body to the Pakistani authorities, they had refused to take it, it said. |
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