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Wednesday,
May 30, 2001, Chandigarh, India  
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J&K Cong leaders meet Sonia
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| ‘Invitation
not sign of weakness’ Jammu, May 29 The accession of Kashmir to India is final and irrevocable and no power on earth can change this reality. Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and will continue to remain so in future. 4 die trying to
rescue lamb 
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J&K Cong leaders meet Sonia New Delhi, May 29 Sources said state unit vice-president Mangat Ram Sharma, senior leader Ghulam Rasool Kar and spokesman Amrit Malhotra met Mrs Sonia Gandhi for over half an hour today and apprised her of the prevailing political situation in the state in view of impending Assembly elections in the state which are likely to be held ahead of schedule. The security situation in the state in view of the end of the six-month old unilateral ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir and the impending visit of Pakistan Chief Executive Gen Pervez Musharraf were also discussed. During their meeting with Mrs Sonia Gandhi, the leaders sought early constitution of the executive committee of the PCC, including all office-bearers. The leaders conveyed their dissatisfaction over the condition of the party in the state and sought a change in the PCC leadership. The leaders, who also met party general secretaries — Mr Oscar Fernandes and Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad, told the leadership that little efforts had been made to rejuvenate the party in Jammu and Kashmir last year during the reign of PCC chief Mohammad Shafi Qureshi. The high command, which has decided to prepare for the forthcoming Assembly elections in the state in earnest, assured the leaders to look into the issues raised by them. The Congress President has constituted a three-member committee for Jammu and Kashmir to assess the party’s strengths and weaknesses for the forthcoming Assembly poll and suggest remedial measures. Headed by Mr Buta Singh, the committee includes Mr Nawal Kishore Sharma and Mr Avtar Singh Badhana as members. It will work in close coordination with Ms Mohsina Kidwai, Congress General
Secretary in charge of Jammu and Kashmir. The state Congress leaders also had a meeting in Delhi with Mr Nawal Kishore Sharma. |
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J&K Sikh bodies blame Badal for woes Jammu, May 29 At a press conference here today Mr Jagdev Singh, President of the state Akali Dal, Mr Paramjit Singh, president, AISSF, Mr Kulwant Singh, chief adviser, Sikh Nav Jawan Sabha, Mr S.S. Wazir, president, Gurdwara Parbandhak Board, and Mr Mohinder Singh of the Bhai Kanhaiya Nishkaam Seva Society said Mr Badal had failed to “secure” Chandigarh for Punjab and the state had not been provided due share from various rivers. They alleged that under the SAD-BJP regime, the economy in Punjab had suffered a major crisis. Mr Jagdev Singh said the crisis had affected Sikhs living in other states, especially Jammu and Kashmir. He alleged that Sikhs in Jammu and Kashmir were being treated as “second-class” citizens and not being given adequate reservation in government services, the state legislature and professional colleges. The Sikh leaders also accused Mr Badal of patronising Mr Harjinder Singh Raina and said he had been installed as president of the Akali Dal in Jammu even though several police cases had been filed against him in the court. The Akali leaders circulated copies of police cases against Mr Raina. The leaders said Mr Raina had recently acquired land on the outskrits of Jammu and it was being sold to Kashmiri Sikhs at exorbitant rates. They said these Sikhs had decided to migrate from Kashmir and were planning to build a “second home” in Jammu but the Akali Dal leaders in Jammu were fleecing them. The Akali leaders demanded a CBI probe into land grab and land sale cases. The state Akali Dal and other Sikh organisations have decided to send a delegation to central leaders and apprise them of the difficulties Sikh are facing in the state and the “machinations” of some leaders who represent the Akali Dal in Jammu. |
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Involve us in talks: Hurriyat Srinagar, May 29 “Now since the talks between the leaders of India and Pakistan are going to be held, it is impressed upon the leaders of the two countries to involve the Hurriyat Conference in these talks”, a statement issued by the APHC after a day-long meeting of its executive body here this evening said. This is contrary to the stand taken by the senior separatist leader, Shabir Ahmad Shah, who had on Monday proposed to the Centre to reconsider the decision of the withdrawal of the unilateral ceasefire and create “more conducive” atmosphere in Kashmir. He had stated that these would pave the way for his party DFP’s formal meeting with the Centre’s negotiator, Mr Pant on a definite agenda that would lead to tripartite talks for the “solution of the Kashmir issue”. The APHC spokesman said in case it was not involved in the talks, there would be no ultimate solution possible for the Kashmir issue. This would not help in the restoration of peace in the region on the whole. On the one side “peace process” was started and on the other hand there were increased excesses against the innocent masses of Kashmir. The contrary approach would neither lead to the resolution of the issue nor would it restore peace, the spokesman said. The APHC hoped that the Prime Minister would take positive steps in creating a conducive atmosphere for the resolution of the Kashmir issue and restore good relations between the two neighbouring countries, the spokesman added. Meanwhile, the Centre’s emissary, Mr K.C. Pant, today met a cross section of people from separatist leader, Shabir Ahmad Shah and leaders of Quami Mushawarati Council to senior state government functionaries and top police, security and intelligence officers. Giving details of his meetings with various leaders, Mr Pant said it helped in the assessment of the overall situation in Jammu and Kashmir. Stating that he had useful meetings in the valley since yesterday, Mr Pant said the need for frequent dialogue between the leaders of the security forces and local administration was immensely felt. He said that certain steps were to be taken in this direction. He said that there was a tremendous desire for peace. Mr Pant said nobody had talked about accession to Pakistan and there were inputs on the cross-border smuggling of arms and ammunition which had to the trouble in the valley. He claimed that the blame was on the other side of the border for creating trouble in the valley. He said it was strongly noted that those violating law and order and indulging in unlawful activities inflicted deaths, adding that efforts were to be made in the direction of relieving common masses from the ongoing trouble. Those who met Mr Pant included the Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, here last evening. The senior-most minister Mr Ghulam Mohiuddin Shah and a delegation of the ruling National Conference, were among those who had a meeting with Mr Pant today. Mr Pant is scheduled to visit the Ladakh region tomorrow, while his meeting with the former Chief Minister Ghulam Mohammad Shah is awaited. |
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‘Invitation not
sign of weakness’ Jammu, May 29 The Union Minister said the recent decision of the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, to extend invitation to Pakistani military ruler, Gen Pervez Musharraf, should not be
constructed as India’s weakness. Instead, it should send a clear message to Pakistan that India was serious to have good relations with Pakistan. |
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4 die trying to rescue lamb Srinagar, May 29 Official sources said the lamb fell into a well of Ali Mohammad Dar. Five persons jumped into the well to save it but could not come out. Fire-brigade personnel were called in but four persons died before they could launch the rescue operation. The fifth person was rescued.
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