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Tuesday,
October 1, 2002,
Chandigarh, India  
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Day of test for S. Kashmir voters Mudslinging marks third phase campaigning All set for today’s election No alliance to form government: Omar
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Observer threatens to recommend NC’s de-recognition Doda dist electorate ‘will decide’ BJP fate
Cong
demands repoll in nine booths Revenue Minister Hussain dead Fernandes reviews
poll security Protest against missing EVMs Disrupt poll, Pak message to ultras
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Day of test for S. Kashmir voters Jammu, September 30 In the two poll battles in Srinagar-Budgam, Kupwara-Baramula, Leh-Kargil, and Poonch Rajouri and Jammu segments, ended with voters and cast their votes despite militant threats. Will be third phase of election in south Kashmir, having 16 constituencies, and in Kathua and Udhampur districts, having 11 constituencies, similar turn-out of the voters? The issue is being debated in political circles, not only in Kashmir but in Delhi also, following threats from militants announcing “the hands that vote will be chopped off.” Senior state government functionaries do not foresee any problem for the voters in Kathua and Udhampur districts, except that the upper reaches in Mahore tehsil, including Gool, Gulabgarh, Arnas, and some pockets in Bani and Billawar in Kathua district, may not witness heavy polling. The real test for the voters is to be witnessed in south Kashmir. “There is terror in several parts of south Kashmir but a sizeable section of rural voters is prepared to risk their lives and cast their votes.” Reports received by the government agencies from the field give this impression. These reports indicate that there is a possibility of poor turnout of voters in the urban areas in South Kashmir where security measures have been strengthened further to infuse confidence among the electorate. An interesting aspect of the phase III election is that the opposition and the ruling National Conference leaders are trying to outwit each other by claims and counter-claims on the formation of the Government. While the Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, and his son, Mr Omar Abdullah, are assuring the people that the NC would form the Government with comfortable majority in the Assembly, the opposition, particularly the Congress and the PDP, are seen building anti-NC wave in south Kashmir which is being supplemented by the BJP in Kathua and Udhampur districts. As was the case in phase one and phase II of election in the constituencies where polling is to be held under phase III there are strong currents of anti-incumbency factor but there is no wave in favour of either the Congress or the BJP or the PDP in south Kashmir and in Kathua and Udhampur districts. In fact the voters have left all candidates of major political organisations guessing. Entry of several rebel candidates, belonging to the NC, the Congress and the BJP in the poll fray has compounded the confusion. In 1996 poll there were 162 independent candidates in the field but only three candidates were able to make it to the Assembly. If campaigning in favour of some independent candidates is any indication independents may fare well this time. Since the Congress and the PDP have fielded candidates in 13 out of 16 constituencies in Anantnag and Pulwama districts the National Conference, having fielded nominees on all 16 seats, banks on split in the votes between the PDP and the Congress and on poor polling percentage. It is the same position with NC leadership in 53 constituencies that went to the polls on September 16 and 24. It has encouraged it to claim absolute majority in the Assembly. 16.69 lakh voters in Anantnag, Pulwama, Kathua and Udhampur districts will determine the fate of the candidates tomorrow. |
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Mudslinging marks third phase campaigning Udhampur, September 30 Leave other parties aside, the ruling National Conference (NC) and the BJP, which are allies in the NDA government at the Centre, also did not spare each other, in their campaigns. Annoyed over the allegations of corruption and nepotism, the President of the NC, Mr Omar Abdullah, has decided to resign his ministerial post at the Centre after the elections were over in Jammu and Kashmir. Senior BJP leaders, including the Information and Broadcasting Minister, Mrs Sushma Swaraj, in their
campaign accused the NC government of Dr Farooq Abdullah of misusing funds granted by the Centre. A former Prime Minister, Mr H.D. Deve Gowda, also alleged that millions of rupees provided by the Centre even at the time of the Third Front government were not properly utilised. The PCC chief, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad, levelled serious allegation of corruption and nepotism against the Farooq government. The NC reacted by pointing out that Mr Azad had never won even the election of a Sarpanch but was dreaming of becoming the Chief Minister of the state. The Union Minister of State for Defence Production, Mr Chaman Lal Gupta, has alleged that no sincere effort was made by the Congress and the NC to remove unemployment. The rampant corruption during their regime has only caused frustration among the youth, he alleged. The UP Chief Minister, Ms Mayawati, who addressed a mammoth public meeting at Ramnagar, lambasted the state government for ignoring the Dalits. The Panthers Party chief, Mr Bhim Singh, also addressed a large public meeting here in which he alleged that the NC government was discriminating with the Jammu region. He said the party will strive for statehood for Jammu. Ms Ambika Soni, General
Secretary of the Congress and political adviser to Ms Sonia Gandhi, besides accusing the NC government of rampant corruption, said the state government had miserably failed to control terrorism which had spread throughout the state. Mr Inderesh, a top leader of the RSS, said discontent was brewing among the people of Jammu and Ladakh because of discrimination by the Kashmir-dominated governments in the state. |
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All set for today’s election Srinagar, September 30 “Apprehensions have been voiced from various quarters for the trouble ahead of tomorrow’s polling”, Mr Pramod Jain, Chief Electoral Officer of Jammu and Kashmir, said here this evening. He told mediapersons that adequate forces had been deployed in all areas depending upon the gravity of threat perception. “The idea is that there is no fear and confidence among the people is up during tomorrow’s polling like that in the first two phases”, Mr Jain said. Three polling stations had been shifted following attacks by militants on these installations in south Kashmir since yesterday, he said. In yet another bid to hamper poll process, militants tried to target a polling station at Watnar in Kokernag segment of Anantnag district. The school building earmarked for the polling station had been shifted. The troops of 77 battalion of the BSF and the Army recovered an IED from the school building that was later defused, he said. He said three constituencies of Kulgam, Homshalibugh and Noorabad in Anantnag district and Wachi constituency in Pulwama district had the highest number of hypersensitive polling stations. Out of 2045 polling stations where the polling would be held tomorrow, 989 polling stations had been categorised as hypersensitive and the rest sensitive in the four districts. He said all-out measures had been taken to beef up the security arrangements in and around polling station locations besides area dominance to instil confidence among the electorate so that they could exercise their franchise freely in accordance with their will. The Election Commission (EC) today ordered the State Task Force (STF) and the Special Operation Group (SOG) of the Jammu and Kashmir police to stop conducting anti-insurgency operation till the completion of the polling tomorrow. The two anti-insurgency groups had been asked not to conduct searches during the polling period, Mr Jain said. He said the SOG and the STF would remain confined to the police lines as restrictions had been imposed on their movements. Meanwhile, Election Commission Consultant K.G. Rao said the security forces had been directed to extend every assistance to the voters so that they could freely exercise their franchise. Chief Election Commissioner J.M. Lyngdoh along with two Commissioners and senior officials visited the state to personally monitor arrangements for the third phase of polling. He met representatives of various political parties and issued necessary directions to the Chief Electoral Officer for ensuring smooth conduct of elections. The Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG), Anantnag, said no “ikhwani” (surrendered militant) would be allowed to intimidate voters tomorrow. He said all “ikhwanis” would be kept in barracks till the polling was over. The Election Commission today denied the allegation of malfunctioning of EVMs terming those apprehensions as “baseless and unfounded”, saying the EVMs were sealed in the presence of the candidates and observers. If anything will be found in the EVMs, returning officer concerned would be held responsible for the purpose, the Consultant to EC, Mr K.G. Rao, said here today. |
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No alliance to form government: Omar Srinagar, September 30 “If we do not get a clear majority, we will not stake claim to forming the government”, he said in reply to questions at a press conference here this morning. He said being the President of the ruling party, a position he took over on June 23, he had decided not to be a ministerial representative at the Centre. Claiming that the National Conference had not lost ground and there was no wave against the party, he said in case of any eventuality, the opposition parties should join hands to form a government. The ruling party’s chief-ministerial candidate, Mr Omar Abdullah, contesting from the Ganderbal constituency in place of his father and the state Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, said the National Conference, being a part of the NDA alliance, would not have its ministerial representative at the Centre. “In either case, I will be back in the state”, he said, adding that he would be here either as the Chief Minister or Leader of the Opposition. Mr Omar Abdullah ruled out any alliance with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which has launched a vigorous campaign against the “misrule and mismanagement” of the ruling National Conference. Replying to questions, the Union Minister of State for External Affairs said even if his party did not get a majority in the 87-member House, it would continue to have a dialogue with the Centre on its demand for grant of greater autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir. Referring to the situation in Kashmir, the Chief Minister-in-waiting said an Indo-Pak dialogue was a must for complete peace in the region. He said the elections never played a role in solving the problem as these were always for the formation of a government in the state and to hold talks with the Central Government on various issues. Expressing concern over the charges levelled by the Congress and the PDP, he also criticised the “way in which the Punjab Chief Minister” had been campaigning for his party in the Jammu region of Jammu and Kashmir. He said the Punjab Chief Minister’s visit, in view of the presence of a considerable number of polling staff from the neighbouring state, had given “wrong signals”. Mr Omar Abdullah said the situation was “not absolutely conducive” for an election exercise in view of the militancy, adding that the ruling National Conference was the most targeted by the militants since the beginning of the election process in the state. “No other political party has been targeted to this extent by militants”, he said, adding that his party paid the “highest price”. The National Conference (NC) on Monday urged the Election Commission to debar Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh from campaigning in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections. Mr Omar Abdullah said the EC should direct Capt Amarinder Singh not to campaign for his party in the state as his presence would send a political message to poll officials from his state to take a particular political line. Lauding the role of the Special Operation Group (SOG) and the Special Task Force (STF) of the Jammu and Kashmir police in tackling militancy in the state, the National Conference asserted that it will not disband the two anti-insurgency groups if returned to power. “There is no question of disbanding the SOG or the STF.... This simply is not possible. These are playing a significant role in the fight against militancy,’’ Mr Omar Abdullah told reporters here. The NC President, however, said the functioning of the two anti-insurgency groups would be reviewed. |
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Observer threatens to recommend NC’s de-recognition Srinagar, September 30 The observer, who had received a number of complaints from the opposition parties about the involvement of officials of several departments in the NC campaigning, has already suspended a revenue official for helping a ruling party candidate. On investigation, the observer was of the opinion that the NC was misusing the official apparatus which violated the model code of conduct. The observer was unhappy over the role of the Station House Officer of the Pulwama police station for organising election meetings and rallies of the NC nominee. Mr Bashir Ahmed Nengroom, a state minister, is seeking re-election from the Pulwama constituency. The PDP and the Congress had submitted photographs of the revenue official to the observer showing him actively participating in the ruling party’s election meetings. Meanwhile, the Pulwama District Election Officer placed under suspension with immediate effect M.A.Qawoosa for refusing to discharge his election duty in the militancy-infested Tral constituency, an official spokesman here said.
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Doda dist electorate ‘will decide’ BJP fate Jammu, September 30 Addressing BJP workers from the Doda district here today Professor Gupta said since the voters in the remaining 81 constituencies, where the polling would be completed tomorrow, were going to give a fragmented and split verdict, the results of the six constituencies in Doda were going to play a crucial role in the formation of the new government. He urged party workers to gear up their energy and resources so that the National Conference (NC) candidates were rejected by the electorate. The minister expressed concern over the way the NC regime, during the past six years, had neglected the strategic district which had remained backward during the past 54 years. While appreciating the role of the people of the district and the
members of the village defence committees (VDCs), Professor Gupta said they had been instrumental in foiling the gameplan of the militants to carry out “ethnic cleansing” in the district on the pattern of the Kashmir valley. He said it was the result of the efforts of the VDCs and the central security forces that the minorities did not migrate from their ancestral villages. He castigated the NC government for not releasing funds for strengthening the VDCs and their members were not being provided with better weapons as had been suggested by the BJP-led NDA government. He alleged that it was part of the “strategy” of the NC regime to demoralise the VDC members. Professor Gupta said despite the fact that the security-related expenses had gone up to Rs 500 crore a year from Rs 194 crore a year in 1995, the VDC members were not paid their honorarium for the past six to seven years. |
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Cong
demands repoll in nine booths Srinagar, September 30 The party alleged that the supporters of Independent candidate Hakim Mohammad Yasin had indulged in booth capturing and had held agents of other contestants hostage. The two other main contestants, Abdul Gani Naseem of the National Conference and Peoples Democratic Party’s Bilal Lodhi, had also sought the repoll, he added. Meanwhile, repoll was ordered in nine polling booths in Jammu, Poonch and Badgam districts, where polling was held on September 24. These included two polling booths in Badgam constituency, one in Gandhinagar, and three each in Surankote and Mendher.
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Revenue Minister Hussain dead Jammu, September 30 Hussain, 73, a prominent Gujjar leader, had been suffering from lung cancer and was admitted to a hospital here. After his condition deteriorated, he was airlifted to Rajouri and was being taken to his native village Taralla when he breathed his last, official sources said. He is survived by his wife, three sons and three daughters. Hussain came into active politics in 1966, quitting as a block development officer. He was first elected to the Assembly as a Congress MLA from Darhal in Rajouri district in 1967. Hussain had recently resigned after the National Conference did not nominate his son Ali Choudhary from Darhal constituency. His body will be laid to rest at Taralla tomorrow. PTI |
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Fernandes reviews poll security Jammu, September 30 Mr Fernandes, who flew to Jammu and Doda districts, reviewed the security situation in these areas which have been labelled as extra sensitive by the Election Commission in view of the presence of a large number of foreign mercenaries. The Defence Minister chaired a high-level meeting attended by the Northern Army Commander, Corps Commander, senior police and paramilitary officers and directed that extra precautions should be taken in the worst affected Mahore region of Udhampur district and Rambhan and Doda regions.
PTI |
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Protest against missing EVMs Srinagar, September 30 They alleged that since 4 pm on the day of polling for the second phase, Ganderbal voters had been kept in the dark about the 21 reserved EVMs. The demonstrators alleged that despite repeated requests to the returning officer, nothing was known about the EVMs, which should have been placed in the strong room at Centaur Hotel, Srinagar, along with other machines. Ganderbal had a total of 68 EVMs. Residents alleged that the truth with regard to the 21 EVMs was being concealed. They demanded that the government’s promise of free and fair elections in the valley should be kept. They feared that the ruling party might indulge in widespread rigging, as had been done in the 1987 Assembly elections. |
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Disrupt poll, Pak message to ultras Jammu, September 30 The excerpts of the intercepts of a Hizbul radio net released by a spokesman for the Army here today indicated that the Pakistani authorities had ordered the outfit to “make efforts to sabotage the polling and the turnout should be only 2 per cent”. Another intercept ordered that the turnout should be 0 per cent. Meanwhile, the security forces killed two terrorists when they infiltrated into this side of the Line of Control (LoC) in Galiwakana village in Machhal. An AK rifle, Pika gun, 8 RPG rockets, 18 rifle grenades, 4 hand grenades and a large quantity of ammunition were recovered from them. A terrorist was arrested at Chaukia village in Rajouri. |
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Jawan killed in Pak firing Jammu, September 30 The sources said Pakistani troops opened sudden fire on the outpost and pounded it for sometime. The Indian border guards retaliated and the firing continued for some time, following which it simmered. The deceased has been identified as Lance Naik Puttuswami, the sources said.
UNI |
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Power cut
duration up Jammu, September 30 The district went to the polls on September 24. Two days later, the duration of the power cuts was increased by an hour. There was no power cut on the day of polling. during the coming months. |
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