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April 18, 2001, Chandigarh, India   
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4 militants, panch among 9
killed Euphoria of 1973
missing NC to plead for pre-1953
status 11.5 MGD water deficit in
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APHC leaders should be given visas: Qasim Move to fill quota in govt services
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4 militants, panch among 9 killed Jammu, April 17 A newly elected panch, Mohammad Suban, was shot dead by militants at Challar village in the Arnas area of Udhampur district, he said, adding militants later fled away. He said a group of militants opened fire at an Army patrol in the Kalabhan area of Rajouri district yesterday and in the retaliatory action one militant of the Lashker-e-Toiba was killed. One Army jawan and a civilian were also killed in the exchange of fire. Troops seized one AK-type rifle, two magzines and some rounds. One militant of the LeT outfit was killed and two of his accomplices were injured in an encounter in the Ghai Chubata area of Rajouri district during the period. One police constable and a special police officer (SPO), who were wounded during the encounter, died later, he said. In another incident in Rajouri district, two militants of the Harkat-ul-Mujaheedin outfit were killed and two others injured in Keri forests in Budhal tehsil yesterday, he said. Recoveries from the slain militants included two AK rifles with its one magzine and 166 rounds, one hand grenade, one radio set and two pounches. A blast took place in government primary school at Balwal-Barat in the Pargwal area of Jammu district last night damaging the building. However, there was no loss of life in the incident. The slueths of the counter intelligence wing of the state CID recovered 12
chinese-made pistols along with 24 magzines and 125 rounds from Kullian village near the border in the R.S.Pura sector during the period.
PTI |
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Euphoria of 1973
missing Jammu, April 17 The reasons are manifold: First, Mrs Gandhi was a law unto herself and she had hardly anyone within the Congress and outside to challenge her decision. The Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, is said to be a prisoner of indecision and of alliance partners. Mr G. Parthasarthi, an intellectual giant, was a trusted man of Ms Gandhi and he knew that he was answerable only to her. Mr K.C. Pant, no doubt a shrewd politician, cannot expect to be answerable to one person in the central government because it is a coalition rule. Second, the security and political situation in the state in 1972-73 was different from what it is today. If Mrs Gandhi was the supreme power in Delhi, Sheikh Abdullah was the tallest political figure in Kashmir. The dialogue had to be held with the party headed by Sheikh Abdullah and Mr Pant had to hold the negotiations with political and religious groups of may hues and ideologies. This time, even the separatists have to take cautious decisions. They are under the influence of Pakistan and the militant groups. In 1972-73, neither Mirza Afzal Beg, chief lieutenant of Sheikh Abdullah and who held long negotiations with Mr Parthasarthi, nor the government’s negotiator was under any threat from the militants. Abdullah and Mirza Beg could take a decision on their own. But at present, separatists’s decision would have to be approved first by agencies across the border. And when the Sheikh-Indira accord was signed by Mirza Afzal Beg and G. Parthasarthi on November 13, 1974, even the staunch critics of Sheikh Abdullah dared not take to the streets and oppose the accord. In the current situation, however, even if an agreement is reached between the government and the one or two separatist groups, there may be many groups besides the militants who may leave no stone unturned to sabotage the agreement. No doubt the party led by Sheikh Abdullah had made the pro-plebiscite slogan louder between 1953 and 1974, but the Kashmir leader was never prepared to play the second fiddle to Pakistan. He had the support of the masses and the determination to take decisions on his own without seeking any approval from Pakistan. This time, senior APHC leaders have been seen wavering as far as their stand on talks is concerned. This is the result of the way they have been held “hostages” by agencies across the border. They are willing to hold negotiations but they cannot express their opinion freely because their “masters” across the border have different idea on the bilateral talks. Pakistan wants it to be involved in the talks so as to legitimise its stand that “it is party to the dispute.” In fact, the APHC leaders have started finding escape routes. They say that they have not received any formal invitation. Syed Mr Qasim, a former Chief Minister, and a known separatist, Sabir Ahmed Shah, have not received any formal letter, but both of them have had a session with Mr K.C. Pant. The APHC Chairman, Prof Abdul Gani Bhat, has blamed the government for imposing conditions within conditions for talks. He said Mr Pant had first stated that all the APHC leaders had to convince him on the utility of their visit to Pakistan. But two months ago, the government had announced that a Hurriyat team would be allowed to visit Pakistan. However, no passports had yet been issued and the government was “itself sabotaging the talks.” In reply to a question, he said that the Executive Committee of the APHC, which is meeting in Srinagar in the next few days, would take the final decision, but a majority of the members were not for being a part of the crowd. He explained that talks with trade union leaders, traders and other small sized organisations would not yield any result. Responding to the statement of Dr Farooq Abdullah that if the APHC did not accept talks, it would be finished and isolated, Professor Bhat said, “yes, we can be finished by the security forces. But we cannot be isolated because we represent the sentiments of the people of Kashmir.” He suggested that Mr Pant should adopt a pragmatic approach and show seriousness in carrying the peace process to its logical conclusion. He said “the way talks are being initiated, I and my colleagues should have 100 years more to see these parleys reach some destination.” |
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NC to plead for pre-1953
status Jammu, April 17 Informed sources said the National Conference headed by Dr Farooq Abdullah will impress upon Mr Pant the need for restoring to the state the pre-1953 constitutional status which alone could act as a balancing factor between the separatists and mainstream political organisations. Since the National Conference has been advocating converting the LoC into a permanent border as the most suitable solution to the Kashmir dispute, the idea has no takers in Delhi and Islamabad. Delhi would welcome it but cannot openly support it because it would amount to conceding the right to Pakistan to occupy what is called azad Kashmir. Islamabad would not welcome it because in that case its claim on Kashmir would be forfeited. The National Conference has also decided to forcefully oppose the demand for trifurcation of the state. Instead, it would favour establishment of regional councils which could remove regional passions and discrimination, as alleged by the people of Jammu and Ladakh regions. The National Conference leadership would convey to Mr Pant that restoration of greater autonomy would, at least, appease people in the Kashmir valley and some segments in the Jammu region. For the past 11 years, people have suffered death and destruction. The cry for ‘azadi’ or Kashmir’s incorporation with Pakistan could be diluted only through grant of greater autonomy. The other principal parties whose views and voices can be given weightage, besides the National Conference, are the APHC, the Hizbul Mujahideen militant, the Peoples’ Democratic Party, the Peoples’ Democratic Freedom Party of Shabir Ahmed Shah and the Jamait-e-Islami. There are other individuals like Syed Mir Qasim, Mr G.M. Shah (both former Chief Ministers) and leaders of the Ladakh Buddhist Association, leaders of a couple of Shia organisations and Kashmiri Pandits whose opinion will be solicited. According to informed sources, Syed Mir Qasim has revealed his cards to Mr Pant. He is said to have supported the demand for restoration of greater autonomy and the need for allowing the APHC team to visit Pakistan. Mr G.M. Shah is also in favour of the pre-1953 constitutional status. Though separatists, including the APHC, have made it clear that grant of greater autonomy is not the solution to the 53-year-old problem, they may ultimately support it as a face-saving devise. Here is the tussle between the National Conference and the APHC because the former would wish to see the pre-1953 constitutional status restored to the state during its regime. Reliable reports said the Government of India would want the Hizbul Mujahideen at the negotiating table. For the government, the support of Hizbul Mujahideen activists, a majority of who belong to Jammu and Kashmir, is essential. If the Hizb leadership agreeds to participate in the talks, it will pave the way for several thousand gun-totting youths to bid adieu to arms. This would mean isolation of foreign mercenaries which was required to encourage separatist political leaders to join the peace process. When in July last, the chief commander of operations of the Hizbul Mujahideen announced a unilateral ceasefire, Pakistan took immediate steps to sabotage the process. It sacked Syed Salahuddin, head of the United Council in Pakistan, forcing Abdul Majid Dar to beat a hasty retreat. Syed Salahuddin was reinstated as head of the Jehad Council and since then he has been in the forefront of sabotaging the peace process initiated by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee. However, the government has started making serious efforts to win over the Hizbul Mujahideen leadership and Delhi will be happy even if a section of Hizb leaders agree to join the peace process. It is certain that which ever group from the Kashmir valley participates in the talks, will oppose the demand for trifurcation of the state. Those from Jammu and Ladakh are likely to favour it. Those from Jammu favouring trifurcation include the Jammu Mukti Morcha, a major chunk of the RSS, and a section of the BJP. Even a set of Gujjars and Bakerwals living in different parts of the Jammu region favour trifurcation. They are not for regional councils on the pattern recommended by the National Conference. This pattern is opposed by the BJP, the Congress and other mainstream political groups. Indications are that the government negotiator will try to rope in different separatist groups, promising them early Assembly poll and three regional councils for the three provinces of Kashmir, Jammu and Ladakh. Mr Pant will be directly or indirectly assisted by experts on Kashmir. |
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11.5 MGD water deficit in
Srinagar Srinagar, April 17 Two more water treatment plants with the total capacity of 20 MGD are being planned to overcome the deficit of drinking water in Srinagar city. These include a 10-MGD plant at Rangil in addition to the existing prestigious Rangil plant with a capacity of 20 MGD, the biggest plant in the valley. Another 10-MGD plant is being planned at Galandhar on the southern outskirts of the city. The construction and implementation of these plants, whoever, depends on the availability of the funds with the Public Health Engineering Department looking after the water supply in the state. The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, inaugurated Rs 5 crore new vertical turbine pump house (VTPH) and 1.5 MG service reservoir on the Doodhganga water supply scheme at Kralpora in Srinagar suburb yesterday. |
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APHC leaders should be given visas: Qasim New Delhi, April 17 Mr Qasim said the political leadership in both India and Pakistan should try and facilitate the peace process by sidelining the hawks.
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Move to fill quota in govt services Jammu, April 17 This was stated at a meeting of the Advisory Board for Welfare and Development of Scheduled Caste (SC) here today. The Minister for Social Welfare, Mr Bashir Ahmad Kithloo, was in Chair. For maintaining roster for the reserved category, Rule 14 of the J and K reservation rules have been recast, which inter alia says that the appointing authority shall, in respect of each service of category of posts under the state, maintain separate registers to be known as “roster”. Ordinarily the roster will consist of 100 points, with each point representing an individual post as per the details laid down in form “R-I”. The meeting was informed that responsibility for custody, maintenance and updating the roster for posts, forming part of state-wide cadres, the roster will be maintained by the cadre controlling authority which would ordinarily be the administrative department concerned in the government which may, however, delegate this responsibility to the head of the department concerned with prior concurrency of the general administration department. Similarly, for posts in the divisional cadre, the roster shall be maintained by the head of the department concerned separately for each division and for posts under the district cadres, the roster shall be maintained in duplicate, one register being kept by the head of the department and other by the principal officer of the department concerned at the district level. It shall be the duty of the head of the department to ensure both the rosters are verified and counter signed by himself and the relevant district officer, once every six months. For services to which direct recruitment takes place through the combined services examination conducted by the Public Service Commission, a fresh roster shall be prepared for each service by the general administration department with reference to the position obtaining on 1.1.2000. |
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