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Friday,
September 20, 2002, Chandigarh, India  
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Uma harps on Sonia’s foreign origin
Poll campaigns: a study in contrast
People want change of govt: Manmohan |
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Media group reviews poll arrangements Lyngdoh arrives in Srinagar BJP, Cong maligning NC: Omar
Accord which spelt doom for Cong Poll no referendum on statehood plea: VHP Katiyar fails to appear in court Another NC minister quits Migrants’ return top priority: PDP Lone’s kin files
nomination Lone’s murder: probe panel set up No repoll in Pattan
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Uma harps on Sonia’s foreign origin Akhnoor, September 19 “A foreigner who has no idea about issues concerning India will never be allowed to become the Prime Minister,’’ she told an election meeting here. Terming the Congress a “leaderless’’ party, she said people would never commit the mistake of making her the Prime Minister. “Politicians can be foolish but people are wise and the Congress would not be able to allowed to install a foreigner at the helm,’’ said the Minister for Coal and Mines. “To be the President of the Congress is entirely different from being the Prime Minister of the nation,’’ she added. “Ms Gandhi has no idea about the issues and problems being faced by the people. How can she hold the post?’’ she asked. “She is just not aware of the issues concerning Jammu and Kashmir also, Ms Bharati said. Ms Gandhi is on a two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir. She will arrive in Jammu tomorrow where polling for the second phase would be held on September 24. Ms Bharati warned Pakistan against sponsoring cross-border terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, saying New Delhi would not be responsible for the consequences if Islamabad crossed its limits. “India is waging a war against terrorism and if Pakistan crosses its limits, we will unfurl the Tri-colour in Lahore and Karachi,’’ she said addressing a string of election meetings in this border area which goes to polls on September 24. Asserting that war with Pakistan was not an option, she said India was fighting terrorism through “vote-voice and gun’’. Urging people to vote she said, “These elections are not ordinary elections and a high voter turnout would be the victory of democracy over terrorism.’’ Attacking the ruling National Conference for discriminating against the Jammu region, she said the state government had “diverted’’ major portion of development funds towards the Kashmir valley while the people here lack basic amenities. She blamed the Congress party for the present situation in the state because it is the party which has governed the nation for 50 years.’’ She said India did not require any “guidance’’ to tackle terrorism. “We have been facing the problem for more than a decade now we know how to deal with it’’. Ms Bharati said the battle against terrorism would not be complete unless the Kashmiri Pundits returned to the valley. “They should not be told when to return, they should be allowed to decide their future themselves,’’ she said.
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Poll campaigns: a study in contrast Jammu, September 19 Had not the contesting parties got engaged in flag and banner war, rows of them fluttering in the cool breeze in three of the 10 constituencies of Srinagar district, one would have hardly noticed that it is election time in the summer capital. Once a muscleman in the National Conference and now contesting Amirakadal constituency as a Congress candidate, Mohammed Safi alone seems to have succeeded in breaking the eerie silence in Srinagar with his supporters shouting slogans backing the Congress from mike-fitted vehicles. “Shafi pal karega al bani chhal karega” (Shafi’s crusade will smash into pieces the plough, NC symbol in the election) is the slogan that brings cheer on the faces of people who are tired of the militancy-related violence. Had not Srinagar been gripped by terror, one would have expected a mammoth crowd at the rally that was addressed by the AICC President, Ms Sonia Gandhi, today. It was not the case as not many dared to attend the rally. Against this, her junior colleagues in the organisation, Dr Manmohan Singh, former Union Finance Minister, and Mr Digvijay Singh, Chief Minister, Madhya Pradesh, and the PCC President, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad, attracted bigger crowds at their rallies in the winter capital. Mark another contrast. The NC president, Mr Omar Abdullah, whose charisma is gradually growing, drew a very poor response from the people when one NC candidate, Mr Mohammed Sayed Akhoon, invited him to a boat rally for mustering voters support in Srinagar on Wednesday. The board rally was to cover more than, 7 km water course from Gagribal to Hazratbal, but on seeing the poor response, Mr Omar Abdullah is said to have lost his cool telling Mr Akhoon. “I made a mistake in accepting the invitation and you committed a blunder by inviting me here.” Against this, Mr Omar Abdullah emerged a star campaigner for the NC in the winter capital when he attracted reasonable crowds to his rallies at Suchetgarh, Ishna, Vijaypur, Samba. In the winter capital, at least 50 to 75 pre-poll rallies by various parties and Independent candidates are held daily. In the summer capital, the pre-poll campaigning is discernible only in the Ganderbal and Kangan constituencies. In the rest of the area, especially in the five constituencies, including Zadibal, Idgah, Khanyar, in the interior of Srinagar city, it is a shutdown for the contesting parties. Two reasons, according to the police sources, are responsible for it. One, militants and separatists have concentrated in these segments in a bid to ensure a total response to their call for poll boycott. Two, since the separatists, including leaders belonging to the JKLF, Awami Action Committee, Democratic Freedom Party, and the Hurriyat Conference, have pockets of influence in the summer capital. According to a spokesman of the Army’s Northern command, the threat perception in the summer capital is far bigger than in the winter capital which may be the reason for a sluggish pre-poll campaign. He said that messages, intercepted by the security agencies, have confirmed the plan of the militants to attempt at disrupting the poll process. One message said, “Warn them to remain in their houses. Do they not understand the notice displayed by Hizbul Mujahideen.” Militants, operating in the Kashmir valley have received clear instructions “to eliminate those who are shouting pro-election slogans.” The message from across the border said, “Our field is very strong but you have not done a good work for your side. Kill their big supporter and target his janaza. Kill them if they (people) do not comply.” |
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People want change of govt: Manmohan Gole Gujral Camp, September 19 Speaking here in this village of the border constituency of Marh, he said voters had expressed the desire for a “change of status quo’’ in Jammu and Kashmir. “People want a change. They realise something needs to be done to change the status quo,’’ he said, expressing happiness at the large voter turnout in the first phase of the Assembly elections in the state. “The turnout was very good considering the prevailing conditions, of constant militant attacks and Pakistani firing,’’ he said. Asked why militancy was not the main issue in the elections, Dr Manmohan Singh, the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, said militancy could not be controlled until the National Conference (NC) was in power in the state. “Many elements in the present setup do not want to control militancy...they feel they are safely in power so long as militancy is there,’’ he said. Terming the NC government as a “worthless government’’ (Nikammi Sarkar), the former Union Finance Minister said the people should reject the Farooq Abdullah government and vote for his party for the better development of the region.
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Media group reviews poll arrangements Srinagar, September 19 The local media advisory group, which met here with Mr B.R. Singh, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah, in the chair, reviewed the media arrangements for the second phase of polling. It was stated that over 400 mediapersons, both from within and outside the country, besides a number of diplomats observed the first phase of polling. The national and international media expressed satisfaction about the arrangements made for the conduct of elections in a free, fair and transparent manner, the committee was told. The massive participation of people in the democratic process is evident from the fact that 47.28 per cent voters turned out to exercise their right of franchise in the first phase. The Zanskar constituency registered the highest turnout of 78.74 per cent whereas it was the lowest at 7.28 per cent in Sopore. The meeting decided to infuse greater confidence among the people to translate their enthusiasm into a heavy turnout, by launching a media blitz. The local media advisory group also reviewed the functioning of the central media centre set up at Srinagar for the facility of mediapersons. It also discussed several measures for facilitating wide coverage of the remaining phases of polling by the electronic and print media. Radio Kashmir, Srinagar, has launched more programmes for creating awareness among the voters for the second phase of polling. These pertain to special arrangements made in Anantnag and Srinagar districts, number of polling stations and voters in Srinagar district, besides panel discussions. Doordarshan, Srinagar, is also telecasting several programmes at prime time to create awareness among the voters.
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Lyngdoh arrives in Srinagar
Srinagar, September 19 The CEC is scheduled to have a meeting with senior state election officials here. The arrangements for the second phase of polling in 15 assembly segments in Srinagar and Badgam on September 24 will come up for discussion during the meeting, official sources said. Polling would take place in 10 Assembly constituencies in Anantnag and six in Pulwama in the third phase. Mr Lyngdoh, accompanied by Election Commissioner T.S. Krishnamurthy and Deputy Election Commissioner S. Chatterjee, is on a two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir to review poll arrangements. Mr Lyngdoh said intimidation of voters would not be tolerated. He held a similar meeting with the DEO of
Pulwama. UNI |
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BJP, Cong maligning NC: Omar Jammu, September 19 Launching party campaign in the R.S. Pora, Suchetgarh, Bishna and Vijaypur constituencies, the NC President, Mr Omar Abdullah, who was later joined by Dr Farooq Abdullah, targeted PCC president Ghulam Nabi Azad. Mr Omar Abdullah said 20 years ago Mr Azad had lost from the Inderwal constituency in Doda district. With the support of the NC, he had been elected to the Rajya Sabha four years ago. He said the Congress was projecting Mr Azad as the future Chief Minister even though he was not contesting the elections. He said: “It is amazing that the Congress is sending its soldiers to fight the poll and its leaders have remained indoors as they are afraid of people.” He criticised BJP leaders for accusing the NC of facilitating militancy. “If we are responsible for it why was I inducted into the Union Council of Minister? Why was I sent to 70 countries to plead India’s case in Kashmir, he asked. He said the BJP was adopting two strategies. On the one hand it had opposed the demand for trifurcation and on the other hand BJP leaders in the state were in its favour. Dr Farooq Abdullah said the National Conference, despite severe odds, had implemented several development projects and given jobs on a scale which had not been achieved during the Congress regime in the state. He said communalism and regionalism had no place in Jammu and Kashmir and the state being an integral part of India was supposed to maintain and promote communal amity. He advised his opponents to desist from raising the trifurcation issue which was bound to weaken the integrity of the country. Mr Omar Abdullah castigated those Congress leaders who accusing the Sheikh family of perpetuating dynastic rule. He said there was no other party except the Congress that had been in the forefront of “blessing” the dynastic rule right from Nehru to Ms Sonia Gandhi. |
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Accord which spelt doom for Cong Jammu, September 19 The National Conference, brought into power by Indira Gandhi, has virtually left no stone unturned to root out the Congress from the state. Not only the younger elements, but the elderly also describe the move as undesirable, but privately . They are also sore about the accord between Rajiv Gandhi and Dr Farooq Abdullah, which they claim was against the party interest. Interestingly, the Congress manifesto claims that the accord between Indira Gandhi and Sheikh Abdullah, if followed properly, could solve the Kashmir problem. The Congress had a strength of 58 in the 75 member assembly in 1975 when Sheikh Abdullah, who was not even a member of the House, was installed as the Chief Minister. In 1977 the situation was reversed when the National Conference got 47 seats and the Congress 11. In the last Assembly election in 1996 the Congress got seven seats while the National Conference got 57. Jammu division has remained a stronghold of the Congress, but in the 1996 elections the National Conference got four of the 13 seats, while the Congress got only one. The Congress is now trying to improve its position in this election by inviting bigwigs of the party to campaign for their candidates. The Congress President, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, is coming here tomorrow to address an election rally. The Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister, Mr Digvijay Singh, and the Chhatisgarh Chief Minister, Mr Ajit Jogi, are addressing a series of rallies in the
constituencies. Mr Manmohan Singh, former Finance Minister, also addressed some rallies here yesterday. |
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Poll no referendum on statehood plea: VHP Jammu, September 19 According to the VHP President, Dr Rama Kant Dubey, the poll results “will not affect our movement for a separate state for Jammu region. Our agitation will continue even after the poll ends. Dr Dubey told TNS here today that the polling under the second phase in Jammu district “is crucial as it will be a united voice against prolonged discrimination of the people of this region.” He castigated the Congress and the National Conference for dubbing the VHP and the RSS resolution on the division of the state as “communally motivated”. He said, in fact, the Congress “has been responsible for the division of India in 1947.” Dr Rama Kant said the National Conference stood “fully exposed” as far as its designs on the division of the state on communal lines was concerned. In this respect he referred to the Regional Autonomy Committee report and said the National Conference had, in this report, favoured the division of the state into eight zones purely “on communal lines”. He said the Resettlement Act, under which those who had migrated to Pakistan after 1947 could get citizenship rights in case they returned to Jammu and Kashmir, had dangerous implications on the security of the state. |
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Katiyar fails to appear in court Srinagar, September 19 The court ordered Katiyar to appear before it in person on October 21 after he failed to comply with its earlier summons to appear today in connection with the two complaints filed against him for his reported remarks on the holy relic. It directed that the fresh summons be sent to Katiyar through Principal Civil Court, New Delhi. The court had earlier issued summons to Katiyar taking cognizance with the two complaints filed by the Kashmir Bar Association and a journalist, Imdad Saqi, on March 16. Both the complaints were filed against Katiyar’s remarks published in a daily. The complaints were filed before the court after the Srinagar District Magistrate granted permission to proceed against Katiyar.
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Another NC minister quits Srinagar, September 19 Mr Rinpoche, Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development and Ladakh Affairs, has sent in his resignation to Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah. “In view of the recent political development that took place in Leh following the demand for Union Territory status by the Ladakh Union Territory Front (LUTF), the situation has compelled me to decide not to continue” as minister, he said in a letter released to the media today. Minister of State T. Namgyal, Rajya Sabha member K. Thiksey and Mr Tizing Thiksey had earlier resigned from the party to join the LUTF which was formed on August 25 after the dissolution of local units of political parties in the region, including the NC and the Congress.
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Migrants’ return top priority: PDP Jammu, September 19 Besides, ensuring the honourable return of the Pandits and restoring their property in the valley, the PDP is also for generating employment for the unemployed youth of the community, PDP vice-president Mehbooba Mufti said while addressing migrants at the Mishriwala camp, near here, last evening. Expressing concern over the conditions prevailing in different migrant camps in Jammu division, she alleged that the ruling National Conference was responsible for their plight. The NC and the Central Government have “failed” to address the problems and grievances of the community, she said.
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Lone’s kin files
nomination Srinagar, September 19 Mr Qaiser Ahmed Lone filed his nomination papers today for the Lolab constituency, where poll was countermanded after the killing of his uncle on September 11 at Takipora. The fresh notification in this regard was issued along with six constituencies of the Doda district on September 13 for the fourth and last phase of Jammu and Kashmir elections on October 8.
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Lone’s murder: probe panel set up Srinagar, September 19 |
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No repoll in Pattan Srinagar, September 19 There would be no repoll at Pattan as announced earlier. It was a communication error as the polling station was located in a remote village of the Pattan Assembly segment, he said. The repoll was ordered by the Election Commission on Monday at one of the polling stations in the segment as the electronic voting machine installed there was not functioning. A replacement had been despatched in time to the polling station and 205 votes had been cast there, he said.
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