J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

NEWS ANALYSIS
Farooq’s threat aimed at survival
Jammu, August 27
Apparently the statements of Prime Minister Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee and Home Minister, Mr L.K. Advani, had prompted Dr Abdullah to fulminate against the Centre. But there were other factors that led him to give vent to his pent-up feelings. It is no longer a secret that the alliance between the BJP-led NDA and the National Conference has been a marriage of convenience and not conviction. 

• Pant, Farooq to discuss special powers

A group of students, like many other Kashmiri women, who have switched to the scarf-phiran traditional dress to obey the militant diktat of “wear purdah or face consequences” by September 1, 2001. — Photo Amir War

Ultra among 4 killed in valley
Srinagar, August 27
A militant was among four persons killed in separate incidents in the Kashmir valley since last night, a police spokesman said today. The troops killed a militant in an encounter in Rangli forest in Baramula district last night.

Kichloo buried with state honours
Jammu, August 27
The body of Mr B.A. Kichloo, Minister for Social Welfare, was laid to rest in Kishtwar today. The Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, several ministers, and senior bureaucrats attended the funeral.

NEWS ANALYSIS
Farooq’s threat aimed at survival
M.L. Kak
Tribune News Service

Jammu, August 27
Apparently the statements of Prime Minister Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee and Home Minister, Mr L.K. Advani, had prompted Dr Abdullah to fulminate against the Centre. But there were other factors that led him to give vent to his pent-up feelings.

It is no longer a secret that the alliance between the BJP-led NDA and the National Conference has been a marriage of convenience and not conviction. The ideologies and political history of the Sangh Parivar and the National Conference have been poles apart.

The BJP-led NDA opted for an alliance with the National Conference to secure its position in the number game as the NC has four members in the Lok Sabha. More important than this was the realisation of the NDA Government that Dr Farooq was India’s best bet in Kashmir. The Central Government had no choice but to keep Dr Abdullah in good humour and accepted his demand of inducting his son into the Union Council of Ministers.

His routine Pak bashing at the national and international fora brought Dr Abdullah closer to the seat of power in Delhi. And despite his realisation that alliance with the BJP-led NDA would be exploited by his opponents in the Kashmir valley he went for it.

The reason was that he wanted more funds for his state from the Centre and an assurance that his Government would not be destabilised through defections or any other political trick as had been done in 1984. Since 1987 he has been heard saying that even if his party had two-third majority in the state Assembly it would not act as a shield against destabilisation of his Government. Hence he thought it convenient to go in for alliance with the BJP.

The situation had been changing during the past over two years. The Chief Minister had not been happy over the flow of funds from the Centre. He aired his resentment on several occasions. But he had no choice but to remain with the NDA.

The outburst against the Centre primarily was the result of one important factor. He had received reports that the Government of India, directly or indirectly, had started cultivating several political leaders and groups. These political leaders were being given liberal funds to launch a campaign against the ruling National Conference leadership. He had even articulated his anger over the way Mufti Sayeed and other political rivals of the National Conference had secret links with some senior Government leaders in Delhi.

On the basis of these reports he had fears that either the Government was planning to carry out operation ouster or create a situation in which his political rivals could be helped to win the next Assembly elections.

Dr Abdullah has no vital card to play during the next Assembly poll. He knows better than anybody else that by kicking up anti-Centre sentiments he could infuse new life to the National Conference. This is what he did it in 1983 despite the fact that Ms Indira Gandhi had played a key role in installing Dr Farooq as the Chief Minister after the death of his father, Sheikh Abdullah. At that stage Mr G.M. Shah son-in-law of the Sheikh, was getting ready to take the oath as Chief Minister.

Though Omar Abdullah has performed the damage control role and for the time being the NC would not leave the NDA. But the BJP-led NDA Government has to remain ready for more outbursts from Dr Abdullah as the poll dates draw near.

One cannot blame Dr Abdullah for it because in “everything is fair” in love and politics, if not war. Dr Abdullah has a strong instinct of political survival and would naturally use any card for it.

It would be better for the NDA not to provoke him because that would prove useful to the National Conference.

Pant, Farooq to discuss special powers

On Board Special Aircraft, August 27
The Centre has asked its special interlocutor K.C. Pant to initiate talks with Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah on granting special powers to the state within the constitutional framework.

“The Union Government is in favour of granting special powers to Jammu and Kashmir but that is possible only when the nature of powers can be decided upon,” Union Home Minister L.K. Advani told newspersons last night while returning from Lakshdadweep. UNI

Ultra among 4 killed in valley

Srinagar, August 27
A militant was among four persons killed in separate incidents in the Kashmir valley since last night, a police spokesman said today.

The troops killed a militant in an encounter in Rangli forest in Baramula district last night.

In another incident, ultras shot dead a surrendered militant, Mohammad Shaban Tantray at Trikalbal-Pattan in Baramula last evening, while the body of a former militant was recovered by the police from Wadsun in Anantnag district.

Unidentified gunmen also killed former militant, Abdul Gan Wani, alias Diler Khan, at Mazhama in Badgam district today.

Meanwhile, a powerful blast damaged the house of a Hizb-ul-Mujahideen militant, Ghulam Mohammad Malik in Kupwara district town of north Kashmir last night.

No one was hurt in the blast, the spokesman said adding that the incident appears to be the result of inter-group rivalry.

The Army, meanwhile, recovered a disposable rocket launcher, three kgs of RDX, two rockets, four grenades, two IED switches, 20 detonators and other incriminating material during search operations at Kandi and Handwara in Kupwara last night, he added.

JAMMU: At least three foreign militants belonging to the Lashkar-e-Toiba were killed by the security forces in Khangar forest near Surankot of Poonch district of Jammu on the night of Sunday.

A defence spokesman said based on information provided by locals about militants’ presence in Khangar forest in Poonch district the security forces launched an operation and cordoned off the area. In the ensuing fight, the three militants were killed on the spot.

Later the security forces seized arms and ammunition, including four UBGL, a Pika gun, RFG, a AK-56 rifle and large quantity of ammunition from the site of encounter. PTI, UNI

Kichloo buried with state honours
Tribune News Service

Jammu, August 27
The body of Mr B.A. Kichloo, Minister for Social Welfare, was laid to rest in Kishtwar today. The Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, several ministers, and senior bureaucrats attended the funeral.

Mr Kichloo (65) passed away yesterday after a protracted illness. He is survived by his wife, four sons and two daughters.

He was buried with full state honours. The government declared today a holiday and all offices and other public sector undertakings were closed.

Mr Kichloo had joined active politics in 1958 when he joined the then Plebiscite Front, headed by Sheikh Abdullah. He had remained deputy minister in the Council of Ministers headed by Sheikh Abdullah in 1977. Since then there had been no looking back for Mr Kichloo.

He held several portfolios as a Cabinet Minister in Dr Farooq Abdullah’s government. He remained the general secretary of the National Conference. He was among the trusted man of Dr Abdullah.

The Chief Minister did not attend today’s NDA meeting in Delhi and deputed his son to represent the National Conference.

The National Conference held a meeting in Jammu and Srinagar where several leaders expressed sorrow over the demise of Mr Kichloo.