J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

CM dares militants to target him

Srinagar, August 15 Barring stray incidents of violence, the Independence Day celebrations were held amid tight security arrangements across the valley where the Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, took salute at the main function in Bakshi Stadium here today. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah salutes after unfurling the Tricolour in Srinagar during Independence Day celebrations on Wednesday. — Photo Amin War

Farooq planning early poll?
Jammu, August 15
The expansion of the Council of Ministers headed by Dr Farooq Abdullah in Srinagar is being viewed as part of the ruling National Conference plan to go in for Assembly poll earlier than scheduled. The next Assembly elections are due in October next year.

BSF jawans take part in a parade held at Lal Chowk on the occasion of Independence Day in Srinagar on Wednesday. — Photo Amin War

CM dares militants to target him
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, August 15
Barring stray incidents of violence, the Independence Day celebrations were held amid tight security arrangements across the valley where the Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, took salute at the main function in Bakshi Stadium here today. A complete shutdown was observed throughout the valley in response to the Hurriyat’s call to mark the day as “protest day”.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah addressing a gathering at an Independence Day function at Bakshi Stadium after unfurling the National Flag in Srinagar on Wednesday. — PTI photo

The entire area around the stadium was turned into a fortress where curfew-like situation prevailed since last night. No traffic, which was skeletal since yesterday, was allowed around the stadium this morning. The traffic police had already issued directions to divert traffic on the Indira Gandhi road passing by the stadium to Batamaloo bypass. Mediapersons invited to cover the function were not allowed to use their own vehicles.

Dr Abdullah’s ministerial colleagues, legislators and police and security officers were present on the occasion.

The Chief Minister charged Pakistan leadership with spilling the blood of Kashmiris for political sustenance. “They want to build castles on the graves of Kashmiris”, he said.

After unfurling the Tricolor here this morning, the Chief Minister said despite engineering mayhem and parroting Kashmir day in and day out, Pakistan could not change the Line of Control.

An army jawan with a heavy weapon guarding the road leading to Bakshi Stadium, the venue of the main Independence Day function in Jammu and Kashmir where Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah unfurled the National Tricolour. — PTI photo

Asking people to fight militancy to the finish, Dr Abdullah said those digging graves for others would themselves get buried in them. “Kashmiris, no doubt predominantly Muslims, are Indians and not Pakistanis and have been at the receiving end of terrorism for the past 12 years. Whenever a Kashmiri gets Pakistan bullet, the blood spills for India”, the Chief Minister said in a rage of emotion and added that “Disect our heart and you will find India inscribed on it”.

In the name of so-called freedom, they were killing innocent people, coercing people and newspapers to toe their line and above all, defaming Islam. “Let them target Farooq Abdullah, why do they pick up on innocent people here and there”, he said.

In his hour-long speech, he referred to the miseries perpetrated by Pakistan on Kashmiris and said that in the name of Islam its agents had committed heinous crimes against humanity. Hapless women had been subjected to humiliation that had touched alarming dimensions with the sprinkling of acid on them for not being veiled. In fact, under the camouflage of veil, militants wanted to further their design to target innocent civilians, he said.

Our Correspondent adds from Udhampur: Independence Day was celebrated at Degree College here, Mr Ajat Shatru Singh, Minister for Transport and Information, was the chief guest. A parade and cultural function were held.

Programmes were also organised by students of various schools and colleges.

Speaking on the occasion, the minister appealed to people to work unitedly for the development of the state. Very few people attended the function.

Security arrangements had been tightened in the town. There was no movement of vehicles on the national highway here.

Farooq planning early poll?
M.L. Kak
Tribune News Service

Jammu, August 15
The expansion of the Council of Ministers headed by Dr Farooq Abdullah in Srinagar is being viewed as part of the ruling National Conference plan to go in for Assembly poll earlier than scheduled. The next Assembly elections are due in October next year.

The Chief Minister inducted Chaudhary Mohammad Hussain from Darhal in Rajouri, Syed Mushtaq Ahmed Bukhari from Surankot in Poonch and Mr Najeeb Sohrawardhy from the Doda constituency as Ministers of State. Dr Abdullah said the main idea behind the expansion was to give representation to Poonch and Rajouri districts in the Council of Ministers. By inducting Mr Sohrawardhy, he wanted to have an active ministerial colleagues as Social Welfare Minister, B.A. Kichloo has been ailing and is under treatment in the AIIMS, New Delhi.

Poonch and Rajouri have remained unrepresented in the Council of Ministers for the past about two years when the Chief Minister, under a major reshuffle, sacked Mr M.S. Tariq and Mr Nissar Ahmed Khan. Though Mr Tariq had been mounting pressure for all these months on the Chief Minister for his reinduction into the Cabinet, Dr Abdullah had brushed aside a series of representation made by the people from Rajouri.

No doubt there was simmering discontent among the people in the two border districts of Poonch and Rajouri over their non-representation in the Council of Ministers. The Chief Minister could have waited for the next Assembly poll or give representation to other communities, including Kashmiri Pandits.

If the Chief Minister had expanded the Council of Ministers to give representation to the unrepresented, he could have filled the Cabinet post which had fallen vacant after the Law Minister, Mr P.L. Handoo, expired five months ago. The Chief Minister had said a Pandit would be inducted into the Council of Ministers at an appropriate time. Observers are of the view that since the Kashmiri Pandits have ceased to be a votebank, Dr Abdullah had no reason to be in a hurry.

Chaudhary Mohammad Hussain, who has won the Assembly poll five times, had been sulking when he was not included in the Cabinet in 1996 when the NC formed government. He had then an edge over others by being one of the seniormost legislators of the ruling party.

Dr Abdullah did not want to take back M.S. Tariq and Nissar Ahmed Khan who were reported to be hobnobbing with dissidents within the National Conference. Hence, he picked up Mr Hussain and Syed Mustafa Bukhari to reduce the size of dissidence in Poonch and Rajouri districts from where his party has expectations of winning majority seats.

Word had gone to the Chief Minister that Doda district needed adequate representation after a lion’s share in the Council of Ministers had been taken away by Jammu and Srinagar districts. The strength of the Council of Ministers has gone after yesterday’s expansion to 26, which is still short by five when the NC assumed office.

Though the expansion may be an added burden on the frail state exchequer, it will allow the ruling party to make up for the gradual erosion in its votebank in Poonch, Rajouri, Doda and other areas.

It is evident that the Chief Minister wants to prepare his party for the Assembly poll which may be held somewhere in the middle of next year and a month earlier if the situation does not warrant postponement.

Sonia’s J&K visit may boost Cong prospects
Prashant Sood
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 15
With early elections to the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly now a distinct possibility, the Congress president, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, is likely to visit the state next month.

Mrs Gandhi’s first “political” visit to the state is expected to revive the party’s sagging fortunes and bring some order to the state PCC whose functioning has been impaired by factionalism. During her visit, Mrs Gandhi is expected to address public rallies both in the valley and in the Jammu region.

Jammu and Kashmir Congress chief Mohammad Shafi Qureshi, who was in Delhi recently, invited both Mrs Gandhi and Ms Mohsina Kidwai, general secretary-in-charge, to the state. While the dates of Mrs Gandhi’s Kashmir visit were being finalised, Ms Kidwai would be visiting the state on August 23, 24 and 25, AICC sources said.

Ms Kidwai, who would attempt to contain factionalism in the state unit before Mrs Gandhi’s visit, is expected to address a PCC meeting in Jammu. She would address party workers in Kishtwar which has seen massacres of the minority community in the recent past. Ms Kidwai would later go to the valley and address meetings in Srinagar, Kupwara and Baramula.

AICC sources say the Congress, which could emerge as a secular alternative to the National Conference in the sensitive border state, was yet to put its act together. The PCC was deeply divided with a strong section of leaders demanding removal of the present PCC chief. Though several delegations from the state PCC have met the Congress high command seeking a change of guard in the PCC, the latter has been lukewarm to the demand.

Divisions within the state Congress have also delayed the appointment of the PCC office-bearers which has adversely affected the functioning of the party. Party sources say a list of office-bearers has finally been prepared by Ms Kidwai and sent to the Congress president for approval.

Mrs Gandhi’s proposed visit to Jammu and Kashmir would go a long way in boosting the morale of the Congress workers who have been dismayed by the infighting within the state unit. The party has to recover a lot of ground in the state where its position has been considerably weakened after Mufti Mohammed Sayeed’s exit from the Congress.