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Wednesday,
July 24, 2002, Chandigarh, India  
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APHC undecided on leader VHP cautions Centre against evading war
Clerks, peons better off than jawans! Ultras kill 3 VDC members in Doda |
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APHC undecided on leader Jammu, July 23 Commenting on a report from Delhi, Prof Bhat denied that any decision had been taken on his continuation as Hurriyat chief. He said the Executive Committee would meet shortly and take a decision. He explained that under the Hurriyat constitution, he could not contest for another term. However, if Executive Committee members unanimously agreed, “I could be asked to continue as Chairman of the APHC for an indefinite period or till the elections are held.” Prof Bhat said so far no member of the executive had approached him. Asked if he would continue to head the conglomerate if asked, he said “it depends on the situation prevailing at the time the Executive Committee holds its meeting.” To another question, he said there would be no need to amend the Hurriyat constitution if the executive took a unanimous decision on “my continuance as Chairman. Since our constitution is silent on such an issue, the will of the executive will prevail.” Though there is no bar on the members to elect Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Sheikh Aziz Ahmed, who are in jail, a majority of APHC leaders favour Prof Bhat in the chair on the plea that by electing a head who is in prison, the APHC may not have an effective leadership. Asked to comment, Prof Bhat said: “Yes, I have managed to keep the flock together in trying times. If left to me, I would prefer a chance in the leadership, but at the same time I may not shirk the responsibility of leading the team if I am asked to do so.” |
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VHP cautions Centre against evading war Jammu, July 23 Mr Singhal while talking to newspersons today in Rajiv Colony, where he had gone to console the families of those killed in a massacre on July 13, said India should prepare for war. He said India should not allow interference from foreign powers in its internal security matters adding that it was because of this interference that India had been “evading launching a direct was against Pakistan.” Mr Singhal ridiculed the statement of Pakistan President, Gen Pervez Musharraf that the next war would be fought on the soil of India. Referring to the carnages in Jammu, including those in Rajiv Nagar and Kaluchak Army camp, Mr Singhal said such massacres were being committed to carry out ethnic cleansing of the Hindu-dominated Jammu.” He alleged that such massacres were being committed to scare the Hindus away from here and blamed the National Conference (NC) for supplementing the plans of the terrorists. He said the state government had decided to transfer forest land to the Jammu Development Authority for building a colony for the muslim migrants. He alleged that the main aim of this plan was to “alter the tomographic character of Jammu.” He pleaded for the trifurcation of the state and said this could reduce regional discrimination. |
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Clerks, peons better off than jawans! Jammu, July 23 According to official sources, an Army jawan in the “Z” category has a payscale of Rs 3050-3875 against Rs 2500-4000 in the case of a peon in the Central Government. Clerks in the state government get a payscale of Rs 3050-4600 and that in the Central Government Rs 4000-6000. Peons in the state government are in the pay scale of Rs 2550-3200 and in the Central Government Rs 2500-4000. Constables in the state police have also better payscales than the “Z” category soldiers. Even promotional avenues in the police are more than in the Army. Since a soldier retires after putting in 15 years of service he has a limited scope of promotion as compared to constables and clerks in state and Central Governments. An Army officer who has been in constant touch with different categories of soldiers, said two reformations were needed in the defence services. First, the retirement period should be increased from 15 to 20 years depending on the physical fitness of individual jawans. Second, the pay scales and pension benefits needed major improvement and if these two suggestions were implemented it would encourage even talented youths to join the defence services. Besides revision of grades promotion avenues for soldiers should also be increased which would “reduce the rate of dropouts.” |
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Ultras kill 3 VDC members in Doda Jammu, July 23 They said ultras swooped on Sumber village near Ramban last night and shot dead the three- identified as Mohammad Ramzan, Jamal-uddin and Mohammad Shafi. The militants fled after the incident, the sources said, adding that security forces had launched a ‘seek and destroy’ operation in the area. It was believed the militants had been trapped in the cordon laid by the troops, they added. According to a report from Srinagar, elsewhere in the state, four militants and a civilian were killed during the past 24 hours. The security forces gunned down three militants at Sarachi Gali while another ultra identified as Mushtaq Ahmad Peer was killed at Kali Masta last night. A large cache of arms and ammunition was seized from them. An official spokesman said the body on one G.M. Lone was recovered at Hampathri in the south Kashmir district of Anantnag last night.
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