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Thursday,
October 31, 2002, Chandigarh, India  
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Give up arms, Azad tells militants
Mufti — leader of courage Ministry expansion in Jammu |
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Bhim Singh gets nod to join coalition 6 ultras, 2 Army men killed in J&K Hurriyat favours Indo-Pak talks
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Give
up arms, Azad tells militants
Srinagar, October 30 Addressing people drawn from distant areas of the Kashmir valley at the PCC headquarters soon after his arrival here from Jammu this afternoon, the PCC chief urged the local youth to utilise their energy towards the progress and development of the state like that in Mizoram, Assam and Punjab. He added that negotiations were the only way to resolve all kinds of issues in the world. Referring to the recent visit of the Congress President, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, Mr Azad said the party’s change in policy towards Kashmir, unconditional talks with people of all three regions of the state, elected representatives and separatists was part of the common minimum programme of the alliance partners. He said the main concern of all alliance partners was the restoration of peace in the troubletorn state of Jammu and Kashmir, where people had suffered a lot during the past 14 years of militancy. Mr Azad also hailed the role of the
Chief Election Commission of India to facilitate the conduct of free
and fair elections in the state that was exhibited in the vote against
National Conference (NC). But he regretted that there was a delay in
the formation of the government for not a single party got a clear
mandate against the NC. He said the new coalition government would
ensure the fulfilment of the promises made to the people who suffered
the most during the past six years of the National Conference
government.  |
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Mufti — leader of courage Jammu, October 30 As such many were waiting for the Mufti to receive a title name from his followers. Indications are that he may be given the title of “Qaidi Jurrat” (leader of courage) for having been instrumental in defeating the invincible National Conference. It started with Sheikh Abdullah, the first Prime Minister of the state after Partition. He earned the title of Sheri Kashmir (Lion of Kashmir). When Mirza Afzal Beg, right hand man of Sheikh Abdullah, led the plabiscile movement, he was called Faqri Kashmir (pride of Kashmir). The Sheikh’s wife, Begum Akbar Jahan, was given the title of Madr-e-Mehrbaan (the kind mother). After Dr Farooq Abdullah was installed as the president of the National Conference and the Chief Minister he earned the title of Caidi Saani (second leader). Even the leaders of lesser stature were given titles. Mr Shabir Ahmed Shah, chief of Democratic Freedom Party, has been given the title of “Aaftabi Kashmir” (Sun of Kashmir), separatist leader, Syed Ali Shah Geelani is called “Qaidi Caravan” (leader of the caravan), Late Mr Abdul Gani Lone “Saheedi Hurriyat” (Martyr of Hurriyat), Mr Shaban Bhat, Editor of Al Safa, who was killed by the militants 10 years ago, is called as “Shaheedi Safat” (Martyr of journalism). The late Molvi Faroor, Chairman Awami Action Committee who was killed by militants in 1990, is addressed by his fans as “Shaheedi Milat” (Martyr of the community). PDP sources said that Mufti preferred a down-to-earth approach. |
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Ministry expansion in Jammu Jammu, October 30 The expansion of the Council of Ministers in Jammu is being done for two reasons. First, the exercise is aimed at tempering the anger in the Jammu region over the non-Jammuite becoming the Chief Minister. Secondly, the Congress-PDP coalition would try to wrest three of the four Rajya Sabha seats which are falling vacant the elections for which are being held in the third week of next month. With 28 Assembly seats the NC can win one seat for the Rajya Sabha easily and the Congress-PDP combine may be able to have three seats in case all the 16 Independent MLAs support its candidates. Hence Mufti Mohd Sayeed and Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad would try to keep the Independent candidates in good humour and guessing till the Rajya Sabha poll was over. Also, six seats in the Legislative Council will fall vacant within a month. For these six council seats and four seats in the Rajya Sabha the list of aspirants from the PDP and the Congress is quite large. Since the Mufti himself will seek election to the Legislative Council to fulfil the constitutional obligation of being a member of either Houses for retaining the Chief Minister’s post within a period of six months it leaves only five for others. The Chief Minister has plans to inducting a couple of senior persons of stature in his council of ministers and this category will get the council seat on priority basis. |
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Bhim Singh gets nod to join coalition Jammu, October 30 During the five-hour meeting, Prof Bhim Singh explained to his party legislators and members of the working committee the reasons that motivated him to join the coalition. Prof Bhim Singh said during his meetings with senior Congress leaders, including Ms Sonia Gandhi, Mr Arjun Singh, Dr Manmohan Singh, Ms Ambika Soni and others, he had succeeded in securing support of the Congress for the inclusion of the Dogri language in the 8th schedule of the Constitution, implementation of the Wazir Commission recommendations and providing adequate relief to the border area migrants in the Jammu region. He claimed that he was instrumental in making the Congress and PDP leaders agree on allotment of 10 marlas each to border area migrants where they could build alternate houses and grant of full citizenship rights to refugees from Pakistan and occupied Kashmir. The committee appreciated Prof Bhim Singh’s role in securing an assurance from the PDP and the Congress leaders on regularising the services of daily wage earners and teachers appointed under Rehbr Taleem and reviving drilling programme by ONGC in the Jammu region for identifying gas and oil reserves. |
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6 ultras, 2 Army men killed in J&K Srinagar, October 30 Three militants and two Army personnel were killed in an encounter at the Saldhar-Gool area of Udhampur district. The exchange of fire between the militants and the security personnel in the area is on since October 28. Two Hizbul Mujahideen militants identified as Hyder Ali Imran and Nasrullah were killed in another gunfight with the security personnel at Kantpora in Kupwara district, he said. An unidentified militant was killed during a search operation by the police at Badigam village in Pulwama district while an Army personnel was killed in an exchange of fire at the Ban-Loran area of Poonch district. Militants shot dead a contractor Ghulam Ahmad Shah and a Social Welfare Department employee Haseena Begum at their house at Sogam in Kupwara during the period. A group of militants attacked a police picket set up for the protection of minority community members at Mirwani in Anantnag district last night injuring two special police officers Ghulam Hassan and Khurshid Ahmad. Before fleeing they took away a rifle and some ammunition.
PTI |
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Hurriyat favours Indo-Pak talks Jammu, October 30 This suggestion was given to the Deputy High Commissioner, Mr Jalil Abbasi, by the Chairman of the All-Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC), Prof Abdul Gani Bhat, when he called on him in Delhi recently. The APHC chief is said to have conveyed to Mr Abbasi the need for the resumption of an Indo-Pak dialogue and the Pakistan Deputy High Commissioner has reportedly assured Professor Bhat that he would talk to the foreign office in Islamabad about it. Mr Jethmalani and his associates are also not opposed to Professor Bhat’s suggestion on a meeting between the two committees, either in Delhi or Islamabad. Professor Bhat told “The Tribune” the two committees could facilitate Delhi and Islamabad pick up the thread from the agenda that may be set by the committees. In reply to a question, Professor Bhat said, “We have not given up the demand for allowing a Hurriyat team to meet the Pakistan Government and leaders of various political and separatist groups,
besides militant outfits in occupied Kashmir. We have demanded that the Jethmalani-led committee be allowed to visit Pakistan in case Delhi had some problem in giving permission to the Hurriyat team to go to Pakistan.” |
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