J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Hurriyat favours talks, not war

Srinagar, June 3 The separatist Hurriyat Conference has asked India and Pakistan to pave the way for a “purposeful and result-oriented dialogue to resolve the burning Kashmir issue” without resorting to war. Senior Hurriyat Conference leader Umar Farooq (L) with Bilal Ahmad Lone, son of former executive member Abdul Ghani Lone, at a condolence meeting at the APHC headquarters in Srinagar on Monday. — Photo Amin War.

Video (28k, 56k)

Panun not to enter poll fray
Jammu, June 3
The Panun Kashmir Movement (PKM) has decided to dissociate itself from the poll process which is to begin shortly in Jammu and Kashmir with the holding of the Assembly elections on the plea that the system would not allow any true representative of the community in exile to get elected to the state legislature.

With household things in the open, a border migrant woman cooks a meal for her family at an R. S. Pura migrant camp on Monday. — PTI Photo

Hurriyat favours talks, not war
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, June 3
The separatist Hurriyat Conference has asked India and Pakistan to pave the way for a “purposeful and result-oriented dialogue to resolve the burning Kashmir issue” without resorting to war.

The seven-member executive committee, and members of the general council and working committee met here under the chairmanship of Mr Abdul Ghani Bhat, for the first time after the assassination of its senior executive committee member and leader of the Peoples Conference, Abdul Ghani Lone on May 21. The Peoples Conference has been represented in the 23-member All-Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC) by Mr Bilal Ahmad Lone, elder son of Abdul Ghani Lone.

“No issue can be resolved by war, which in itself is an issue... Kashmiris, having been suppressed for the past many decades, should be given a chance to determine their own future.... a dividing line needs to be drawn between terrorism and freedom struggle”, a spokesman of the Hurriyat Conference said at the end of the meeting this afternoon.

The meeting also paid rich tributes to its former leader and founder chairman of the Peoples Conference, Abdul Ghani Lone, who fell to the bullets of unidentified gunmen at Iddgah on May 21.

Panun not to enter poll fray
Tribune News Service

Jammu, June 3
The Panun Kashmir Movement (PKM) has decided to dissociate itself from the poll process which is to begin shortly in Jammu and Kashmir with the holding of the Assembly elections on the plea that the system would not allow any true representative of the community in exile to get elected to the state legislature.

This decision was contained in a resolution adopted by the executive committee of the PKM which met here today with Mr Ashwani Chrungoo in the chair.

The resolution said under the existing system, the minority community had been entitled to exercise its right of franchise through postal services or local arrangements being made by the Chief Electoral Officer. It said this arrangement could be misused as had been the case in the previous elections.

The resolution said the only way to ensure that all democratic and fundamental rights are exercised by the Pandits, it had become mandatory for the government to concede the demand for a separate homeland.

By another resolution, the PKM expressed dismay over the meagre economic package announced for the migrants by the Prime Minister. It said enhancing the cash relief by Rs 150 per head per month was a joke. The community leaders during the meeting with central leaders, including Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, had been assured that their demand for Rs 5,000 monthly cash relief per family would be conceded.

Mr Ashwani Kumar Chrungoo said the government should have taken into account the price escalation in all essential items and the upward curve in the cost of living index. He said at least Rs 5,000 be given to each family per month. The community had expected the Prime Minister to announce other measures which could enable the displaced community to lead a slightly comfortable living in the camps.

Through another resolution, the PKM criticised the government decision to take over Gandhi Memorial College in Srinagar which is run by the Hindu Education Society. It described it as a sinister move aimed at completing the ethnic cleansing started by the militants and separatists in the valley.