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Saturday,
August 3, 2002, Chandigarh, India  
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Elections:
Farooq for foreign observers Elections no solution: APHC
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J&K
poll: CEC logic behind notification Camps to
prepare voters’ I-cards
Army raid
on BBC office alleged 7 refugee
bodies join hands 100 kids
fall ill after consuming ice cream 2,826
pilgrims leave for Amarnath Girl killed in
Pak shelling
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Elections: Farooq for foreign observers Jammu, August 2 Dr Abdullah told newsmen here today that foreign diplomats and those working in the Embassies were regular visitors to Kashmir and “there is no harm if these Embassy people are allowed to monitor the poll process.” He, however, preferred sending NGOs from several states to act as poll observers. He said with additional security forces being sent to Jammu and Kashmir he was sure that it would be incident-free elections. On the other hand Mr Simranjit Singh Maan favoured appointing foreign observers as poll monitors on the plan that Kashmir being an international issue needed observers from outside the country when the world focus was on free and fair poll in Kashmir. He told TNS on phone that “UN military observers group is already monitoring the border development indicating that Kashmir was a dispute between India and Pakistan for which our first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru had committed for a plebiscite.” Mr Mann has also demanded citizenship rights to over 30,000 Sikh population “living as stateless people in Jammu and Kashmir since 1947”. In his letter to Mr Lennart
Kotasalainen, chief of the Delhi-based UN Commission for Refugees, the Sikh leader also urged the UNHCR to “facilitate such a study which will enable these people to get citizenship and other rights associated therewith”. Mr Mann held that while the international community was “seized by the Kashmir issue, no attempt had been made to grant status to Sikhs”. |
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Elections
no solution: APHC Srinagar, August 2 The separatist Hurriyat Conference, which had called for the
boycott of elections in Jammu and Kashmir since 1996, is yet to decide
on the future course of action regarding the forthcoming Assembly
elections in the state. “We will have a meeting then we will come
out with a statement for the people to consider”, Prof Abdul Ghani
Bhat, Chairman of the separatist Hurriyat Conference, said while
commenting on the EC announcement on the schedule of these elections.
He said the position of the 23-party conglomeration regarding
elections to the state legislative Assembly was “quite clear as it
provides no answer to the people’s question”. The APHC Chairman
reiterated the party’s stand on the demand for a “permanent
settlement through negotiations involving all parties to the dispute
in the interest of the entire region”. The Hurriyat Conference had
been opposed to the conduct of elections in the state of a government
as it did not address the basic issue which has led to three wars
between the two neighbouring countries during the past five
decades. The ruling National Conference, which had been opposed to
the conduct of the Assembly elections under the Governor’s rule as
put forth by some mainstream political parties, has described the
announcement of the schedule as timely. The party General Secretary,
Sheikh Nazir Ahmad said the decision to hold the elections in four
phases was a welcome step in view of the prevailing situation in Jammu
and Kashmir. He said the ruling NC workers were being targeted and a
number of its leaders were killed since the eruption of militancy in
the state. There has been an escalation in the attacks on the ruling
party workers during recent weeks. Commenting on the stand of various
other mainstream political parties regarding the elections, Sheikh
Nazir held that his party had never indulged in any malpractice during
elections. “We lost two Assembly seats of Langate and Beijbehara”
in the by-elections when the National Conference was in power, he
pointed out. Describing the announcement as a question of restoration
of confidence among the masses in Jammu and Kashmir, the State
Secretary of the CPM, Mr M.Y. Tarigami held that “extraordinary
measures in case of the extra-ordinary situation” in the state needs
to be taken. He held that there was need to make the elections a
“meaningful process for a wider dialogue to ensure wider
participation of political forces”. Hailing the appointment of Mr
K.C. Pant as interlocutor to hold talks with different Kashmiri
groups, followed by Mr Arun Jaitly to discuss autonomy issue, Mr
Tarigami lamented that there was no outcome of these steps. Mr
Tarigami, MLA, demanded the appointment of election observers from
outside for the forthcoming elections. According to the People’s
Democratic Party (PDP) of the former Union Home Minister, Mufti
Mohammad Sayeed, which has been demanding the conduct of the elections
under Governor’s rule, there was “nothing new”. A party leader
held that no dialogue with different political forces was held prior
to the announcement of the elections. PATHANKOT: Jammu and Kashmir
Congress chief Gulam Nabi Azad has demanded the imposition of the
Central Rule saying that impartial poll could not be conducted under
Dr Farooq Abdullah’s regime. Addressing the mediapersons here on
Friday, Mr Azad demanded the imposition of Governor’s rules for
impartial conduct of elections. Mr Azad said Kashmiri Pandits should
be given voting rights at the relief camps through electronic voting
machine and irregularities be removed in the voting list. Mr Azad was
welcomed by Mr Raman Bhalla, Mr Sham Behal, President City Congress
committee and other senior Congress leaders on his arrival here. |
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J&K poll: CEC logic behind notification Jammu, August 2 It is certain that the Chief Election Commission announced election schedule after approval from the Union Home Ministry. Several factors are said to have led the Election Commission to favour the Assembly election on schedule. First, the Government of India had come to the conclusion that various separatist outfits especially those belonging to the APHC, were not interested in participating in the election. The Government sent several mediators to persuade the Hurriyat leaders and other rebels to contest elections and establish credentials as representatives of people of Kashmir. Sensing that it would be a waste of time expecting any response from the separatists, who were pleading that talks should precede the election, the Chief Election Commission took the final decision. Secondly, the Government of India decided to accept the suggestions of Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, who had opposed postponement of the poll. Reliable reports said that he had argued with central leaders, especially the Deputy Prime Minister, that postponement of the poll would send a wrong signal to the separatists and militants. These separatists would, in case the poll was postponed feel encouraged and get an opportunity to claim credit for forcing the Government to defer the election. Thirdly, New Delhi formed an opinion that since Pakistan would be busy in general elections in the country it could give breathing time to “us” for completing the poll process. Fourthly, the demand for the postponement of the Assembly election in Gujarat has started gaining momentum. The Centre wanted to convey to the opponents of the Gujarat poll that when the election in trouble-torn Jammu and Kashmir could be held why not in Gujarat where the security scenario had improved. Another reason for fixing election schedule is that New Delhi wanted to convey to the international community, especially the US Government, that it would not take dictation even on the timing and the mode of holding the Assembly poll. The voices from these international communities were trying to mount pressure on the Government of India to appoint foreign observers for monitoring election in Jammu and Kashmir. It has been turned down by the Government. Whatever may be other factors responsible for keeping to the poll schedule, the battle lines between the separatists and the mainstream political parties are drawn with election schedule having been notified. As was expected separatists, including President of the Democratic Freedom Party, Mr Shabir Ahmed Shah, and Chairman of the APHC, Prof Abdul Gani Bhat, have criticised the decision of holding elections without resolving the core issue of Kashmir. Mr Shabir Shah said that he was not opposed to election process but he wanted that talks should precede the election. He said “we wanted to know the purpose of holding the poll”. If “the election was to be held only for the formation of a Government, I am not for it”, he said. Prof Bhat said that the election “will not lead to the settlement of the Kashmir issue.” He and Mr Shah said that had the Centre taken one step “we would have taken 10 steps.” The ruling National Conference leaders have welcomed the Chief Election Commission’s decision to hold the poll on due date. Dr Abdullah said even if people demanded the appointment of foreign observers those from the embassies, shuttling between Srinagar and Delhi, could monitor the poll process in the state. He said he would prefer allowing NGOs and other intellectuals from various states of India to monitor the poll process. The Congress, the PDP and the BJP leaders, while welcoming the announcement of the poll schedule, said that the election should be held under the Governor’s rule if the Centre wanted it to be free and fair. Inside reports said that the Centre had taken a step in line with the demand of Dr Abdullah. Now it will be the term of the Chief Minister to reciprocate by recommending imposition of the Governor’s rule, said a senior central Government functionary. |
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Camps to prepare voters’ I-cards Jammu, August 2 Over 1000 such cards were prepared on the first day of the camps, which were organised in the districts from yesterday, Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, Rohit
Kansal, said today. Mr Kansal said as per the Election Commission guidelines, photo identity cards were being prepared at the doorstep of people living in far-flung and remote rural areas. The cards would be issued after the completion of formalities, he said adding that the government was providing facilities for taking photographs of eligible voters.
PTI |
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Army raid on BBC office alleged Srinagar, August 2 Mr Hussain said some persons carrying automatic weapons knocked at the door of his office at Partap Park last night at around 10.30 pm. “Despite my repeated requests, the gunmen refused to identify themselves,” he said, adding that he attempted to flee through the rear gate. “I rang up the police control room for help but found myself surrounded by the armed men,” he said, adding that it was at this stage that they informed him that they were from the Army and wanted to question him. He said the Army officer leading the raid told him, “We have intercepted a wireless conversation between two militants during which your telephone number figured so we want to question you.” “I explained to the Army officer that it is not unusual as almost all militant groups besides top central and state government and security force officials have telephone numbers of all mediamen,” Mr Hussain said. “I must add that the Army officer acted with complete professionalism during the search of the office-cum-residence,” he added. However, expressing anguish over the time at which the raid was conducted, he said the Army should not have raided the office during late night hours. They could have got it searched during the day, he added. The BBC correspondent said the Army troops, who had sealed the entire area, left only after the Inspector General of Police, Mr K. Rajinder Kumar intervened. Mr Kumar was contacted by other journalists residing in the same locality. However, help from the police control did not come at all, he said. Meanwhile, BBC’s chief of the south Asian bureau Paul Danahar has taken up the matter with the GOC, Lt. Gen V.G. Patnakar, and requested him to look into the circumstances surrounding the decision to carry out the raid last night, Mr Hussain said.
UNI |
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7 refugee
bodies join hands Jammu, August 2 These organisations are of people who became refugees due to 1947, 1965 and 1971 conflicts with Pakistan. Mr Rajiv Chuni, chairman of the working group of these organisations, told newsmen here that the refugees have not been resettled. Central leaders who visit here listened only to the problems of Kashmiri migrants and ignored the PoK refugees, he added. Leaders of various refugee organisations, including Mr Surjit Singh, Capt (retd) S.R. Nagial, Capt (retd) Yudhvir Singh, Mahasha Yash Paul, Mr S.H. S. Bahri and Mr Y.R. Gupta highlighted the problems being faced by the refugees for the past 52 years. Mr Nagial pointed out that the Chhamb refugees, who faced the brunt of the enemy during the successive wars, were the worst affected as the J&K government has not taken any steps for their resettlement. Mr Y.R. Gupta described the Resettlement Act as a conspiracy of the government to displace the refugees who were occupying the evacuee properties in the state. The Act would result in large scale influx of Pakistanis here. |
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100 kids fall ill after consuming ice cream Jammu, August 2 They started vomiting and fell
unconscious after consuming locally made ice cream from two vendors at Chhatha, Satwari and Nai-basti, the police said today. It said 56 children were admitted in Gandhinagar hospital and 30 were undergoing treatment in SMG S Hospital. Some children and adults were discharged after treatment, sources said. The vendors were taken into custody late last night and equipment used for making the ice cream was seized, they said. It appeared that milk or other food products used in making the ice cream could be unhygienic, they said, adding that investigations were on.
PTI |
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2,826 pilgrims leave for Amarnath Jammu, August 2 The devotees, comprising 2,307 men, 172 women, 44 children and 303 sadhus left in 149 vehicles from the base camp. Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary I.S. Malhi visited Sheshnag, Panjtarni and the holy cave of Amarnath yesterday and reviewed the arrangements made for the pilgrims. Mr Malhi asked the administration and other agencies to see that the pilgrims did not face any difficulty, according to an official press note. He gave directions to ensure cleanliness at all camp sites and in the holy cave area to further improve civic amenities.
PTI |
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Girl killed in
Pak shelling
Srinagar, August 2 The girl, Hajra Bano, was killed when a shell exploded in her village at Dobin Chotiwari this morning, it said. Indian troops retaliated following intense Pakistani shelling in the Machil sector and the cross-border shelling was continuing when the reports last came in. The toll in the ongoing Pakistani shelling in the sector has risen to two within the past three days. Afzal Khan was killed and four civilians were injured in the shelling at Ringibala village on Wednesday.
PTI |
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