J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Signs of normalcy in J&K
Jammu, February 16
A sizeable number of people gathered on the lawns of the National Conference headquarters at Mujahid Manzil in interior of Srinagar, the gates of which had been opened after 12 years, to attend a party rally recently. Though no top NC leader was present many people were there to listen to second rung leaders.

Omar, Khurana join campaign
Jammu, February 16
With a clean image and a radiant face, Mr Omar Abdullah Union Minister for External Affairs, today joined his party leaders to mobilise support for the National Conference candidate, Mr Talib Hussain, who is pitted against the Congress and the BJP in the by-election to this Lok Sabha constituency.

Sikh bodies support NC candidate
Jammu, February 16
While the SAD is committed to supporting the BJP in the byelection in Jammu Lok Sabha constituency, several other Sikh bodies, including the state Gurdwara Prabandhak Board, state unit of the SAD, state Akali Dal, AISSF, Gurdwara Singh Sabha, Bhai Nishkam Seva Society, today pledged their support for the National Conference.

Geelani, Qureshi put under house arrest
Srinagar, February 16
Senior APHC executive member Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Democratic Liberation Party president Hashim Qureshi were put under house arrest today as a precautionary measure following the Hurriyat Conference’s call for a strike in the valley, official sources said.

Signs of normalcy in J&K
Tribune News Service

Jammu, February 16
A sizeable number of people gathered on the lawns of the National Conference headquarters at Mujahid Manzil in interior of Srinagar, the gates of which had been opened after 12 years, to attend a party rally recently. Though no top NC leader was present many people were there to listen to second rung leaders.

For the past two days unprecedented crowds thronged various shopping centres for pre-Id-ul-Zuha purchasing. Such a rush used to be witnessed prior to 1990.

Except for incidents of storming of couple of mosques, the militancy-related violence has registered a marked slide in Kashmir and some parts of the Jammu region. Daily eight to ten militants are being killed in different parts of the state. The border routes being buried under snow and the deployment of additional forces on the LoC have resulted in sharp decline in the rate of infiltration.

The Works Minister, Mr Ali Mohammad Sagar, has succeeded in reviving the National Conference base in the interior of Srinagar, which had remained under the control of militants and anti-India elements. Those who had earlier dissociated themselves from the NC are seen moving about as loyal NC workers.

The Hurriyat plan of holding a poll for determining the representative character for the 23-party conglomerate has drawn a flak from a majority of people, mainstream political organisations and even some separatist groups. Its constitution of an election commission has been received with a pinch of disbelief as many are sceptical about its feasibility and utility.

The Peoples’ Conference, headed by Mr Abdul Gani Lone, and the Awami Action Committee, led by Molvi Umar Farooq, which are important constituents of the Hurriyat Conference, do not seem to be totally averse to participation in the Assembly poll if it could solve the main issue of Kashmir. The Hurriyat Chairman, Prof Abdul Gani Bhat, and other executive committee members, Syed Ali Geelani, Sheikh Aziz, and Molvi Abbas Ansari are totally opposed to the Hurriyat’s participation in the Assembly poll.

This is the ground situation in Kashmir. But neither the officers heading different security agencies nor mainstream political party leaders have a definite answer for this improvement in the ground situation.

While some argue that the change is temporary others explain that is shows people’s yearning for peace. However, security experts are of the opinion that the way militants have been on the defensive, it may be a part of their strategy. The rebel groups may have been directed by agencies across the border to lie low till General Pervez Musharraf was able to secure diplomatic and economic support from the West. It could also be the result of lack of man and machine power with the militants because during the past four months the rate of smuggling of weapons and explosives had gone down along with the rate of infiltration.

Others opine that after the fall of the Taliban Government in Afghanistan and the Pakistan Government’s support to the US-led-war against global terrorism a majority of separatists and militants had become demoralised and disillusioned. They have decided to lie low and wait for the events to shape themselves in future. In case no material aid was available from across the border the militants may bid farewell to the gun.

If the change is discernible, in whatever measure it may be, it is time for the government and the security agencies to take suitable steps for removing people’s alienation. While cultivating people the security forces should step up operations against the militants but without repeating Khanpora (Baramula) incident, in which a civilian was killed which triggered big public demonstrations and without causing inconvenience to the people.

Omar, Khurana join campaign
Tribune News Service

Jammu, February 16
With a clean image and a radiant face, Mr Omar Abdullah Union Minister for External Affairs, today joined his party leaders to mobilise support for the National Conference candidate, Mr Talib Hussain, who is pitted against the Congress and the BJP in the by-election to this Lok Sabha constituency.

With three days left for electioneering, political stalwarts belonging to the Congress, the BJP and the BSP, have coming here to make a last-minute bid to woo voters. And after having realised that it is going to be Dr Farooq versus the rest here. Mr Omar Abdullah today started touring various areas in the constituency to garner voters’ support.

For the BJP it was the turn for Mr Madan Lal Khurana to hit at the Congress and the National Conference after his party colleagues from Delhi, Mr I.D. Swami, Dr Murli Manohar Joshi and Prof Chaman Lal Gupta tried to influence voters in favour of Dr Nirmal Singh.

Mr Khurana had a pleasant news for the BJP candidate when he told newsmen here today that the Akali Dal chief and Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, had directed his party unit in Jammu to mobilise supporters of the Akali Dal in favour of the BJP.

Mr Madan Lal Khurana said the National Conference was trying to “unsettle what had been settled in Jammu and Kashmir and stated that such dreams of the ruling party will not be allowed to materialise. He referred to the demand for the restoration of greater autonomy, and the Resettlement Act and said these were the NC demand which could unsettle the settled issues.”

Holding the Congress responsible for the current turmoil in Jammu and Kashmir, the BJP leader said whatever gain the Indian troops had achieved in the past wars had been frittered away by the then Congress leadership in the Centre. He said the blunders committed by the successive Congress Government in the Centre had given rise to militancy in Jammu and Kashmir.

Mr Khurana stated that there was no question of the resumption of the Indo-Pakistan dialogue unless Pakistan stopped aiding cross-border terrorism and did not hand over 20 extremists mentioned in the list forwarded to Islamabad.

He said the committee on defence would tour border villages in Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir to assess the problems of the villagers and evolve a mechanism for their rehabilitation.

The BSP candidate, Sheikh Abdul Rehman, received a boast from the party supremo, Mr Kanshi Ram, who toured various areas in the constituency where he urged the voters to strengthen the BSP in the interest of the survival and betterment of the people belonging to the backward classes.

Mr Kanshi Ram told a news confere here today that voters should realise that vote for the NC would strengthen the hands of the Vajpayee government. Whether the NC candidate wins or of the BJP both will have “to sit in the lap of Mr Vajpayee, “he said and appealed to the voters to defeat the candidates of these two parties.

He said though the BSP expected, to win over 200 seats in Uttar Pradesh but in case there was a need the BSP would seek support from the like-minded parties to form the government.

The Congress candidate, Mr Madan Lal Sharma, has been assisted by a caravan of AICC leaders Dr Manmohan Singh and Mr M.L. Fotedar are expected on Monday to boost the party campaign.

Sikh bodies support NC candidate
Tribune News Service

Jammu, February 16
While the SAD is committed to supporting the BJP in the byelection in Jammu Lok Sabha constituency, several other Sikh bodies, including the state Gurdwara Prabandhak Board, state unit of the SAD, state Akali Dal, AISSF, Gurdwara Singh Sabha, Bhai Nishkam Seva Society, today pledged their support for the National Conference.

Addressing a press conference Mr Sudershan Singh Wazir, president, State Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee, Mr Rangil Singh, a senior political figure, Mr Gurdev Singh, president, SAD Mr Jagdev Singh, chief of the State Akali Dal, Mr Paramjit Singh, president, state unit of the AISSF, said vote for the Congress or the BJP would mean supporting disruptive and communal forces.

Mr Wazir said all ills that existed in the country were the result of misrule of successive Congress regimes. He described the BJP a security risk and appealed to the voters to reject it in the interest of the country's security and integrity.

Rangil Singh said the National Conference was the only party that could safeguard the interests of the minorities in the state.

Mr Gurdev Singh and Mr Paramjit Singh said the BJP had brought the country on the brink of war without achieving anything. They said the National Conference had only played a major role in the progress of Jammu and Kashmir.

Geelani, Qureshi put under house arrest

Srinagar, February 16
Senior APHC executive member Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Democratic Liberation Party president Hashim Qureshi were put under house arrest today as a precautionary measure following the Hurriyat Conference’s call for a strike in the valley, official sources said.

The two secessionist leaders were arrested as a precautionary measure in view of the strike called by APHC.

The sources said Mr Geelani and Qureshi had planned to visit Baramula today. Mr Geelani was placed under house arrest early today when a posse of policemen encircled his Hyderpora residence on the outskirts of Srinagar, the sources said.

A police officer, who visited the residence of Mr Qureshi at Batmaloo in central Srinagar asked him to stay indoors. Mr Qureshi expressing surprise over the placing of restrictions on his movements said “I am preaching non-violence during my public meetings.” PTI