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Wednesday,
September 25, 2002,
Chandigarh, India  
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Live
coverage hit polling: Azad
Farooq
takes a dig at EVM |
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ultras among 7 killed in J&K Srinagar, September 24 In the continued militancy-related incidents, at least seven persons, including four militants, three of them foreigners, were killed and two others injured in separate incidents in the Kashmir valley since yesterday. Those killed included a relative of the ruling National Conference candidate, Mr Javed Hussain Shah, at Bandipore in Baramula district.
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Live coverage hit polling: Azad
Jammu, September 24 Mr Azad told TNS that the live coverage of such an incident by the electronic media, particularly today when polling was being held, was neither in the interest of India nor Kashmir. The electronic media played up the episode to the hilt which created a scare among the people. He said “we” had all the time been trying to generate confidence among the people to come out in strength and exercise their franchise to give a befitting reply to Pakistan which was trying to thwart the election process in Jammu and Kashmir. However, by highlighting such incidents the entire exercise got a setback. Mr Azad said the electorate in the sensitive border districts of Poonch, Rajouri and Kupwara, which went to poll in the first phase, came out in strength to vote despite the firing of mortars by Pakistan and its was expected that the turnout would be better than that in the second phase today. However, the incident had created a scare among the electorate who remained away from the polling booths. He said the people were determined to throw out the National Conference government which was “patronising” corruption and nepotism. People were equally fed up of the BJP, which was being supported by the NC at the Centre. Having remained daggers drawn for the past 55 years on their very basic principles and ideology, both parties had joined hands just to stick to power. In reply to a question whether he was being projected as the Chief Minister in case the Congress came to power, Mr Azad said his policy during the past about 17 years, when he was the General Secretary of the Congress and the party had contested about 20 elections, was that the party should be projected rather than the individual. However, the issue of Chief Ministership could be discussed only after the results came in. |
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Farooq takes a dig at EVM
Srinagar, September 24 This led to laughter in the polling booth and Dr Abdullah was also seen smiling. Amid tight security, the Chief Minister, his son and daughter-in-law Payal reached the Burn Hall School polling booth here at around 8.15 a.m. The NC President was the first to exercise his franchise at 8.20 a.m. followed by his wife and Dr Abdullah. Responding to the photo calls, Payal did not move from the place where the electronic voting machine (EVM) was installed and kept Dr Abdullah waiting for some time before the union minister asked her to leave the place for his father. Asked why it took time to cast his vote, Dr Abdullah told reporters that he took time to locate his party’s symbol on the EVM. ‘’There was nothing going on in my mind... I was trying to locate the NC symbol on the EVM.’’ He said it was a great relief for him that the elections were finally taking place in the state and also that he was ‘’going to hand over the reins of the next government to his son.’’ The NC president said it was for the first time that he was using the EVM. The union minister confronted the newspersons by asking ‘’Do I look nervous? I have learnt the rules of the game.’’ When the junior Abdullah was reacting to media reports about the differences with his father, the Chief Minister intervened to say ‘’I play golf and he does not.... There is another difference and that is of age.’’
UNI |
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4 ultras among 7 killed in J&K
Srinagar, September 24 A defence spokesman said here that four militants were killed in an encounter with the security forces in Baramula district today. Two security force personnel were also injured in the exchange of fire. The encounter took place when security personnel were fired upon by hiding militants during search operations launched on a tip-off at Kainchan village. Three militants are reported to be foreigners, the spokesman said. Three AK rifles with nine magazines and 197 rounds, one IED circuit, one RCD with two detonators and 21 hand grenades were seized from the slain militants. Militants shot dead two contractors last evening in the Beijbehara area. |
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