J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

J&K Cong chief: race hots up
Jammu, January 19
The race is hotting up for the post of PCC chief in the faction-ridden Congress following reports of the reinduction of Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad as General Secretary of the All-India Congress Committee (AICC) by Mrs Sonia Gandhi.

Ultras’ diktat on marriage
Jammu, January 19
A militant outfit on Saturday asked Muslim girls in Jammu and Kashmir to get married at 15. On Saturday, the posters in the name of the Harkat-ul-Jehad went up on the walls of the main mosque of Shahdhara Sharief about 190 km north of here. The police removed the posters, but not before a number of people read what they had to say.

2,000 chickens roasted
Jammu, January 19
About 2000 chickens were burnt to death when a fire broke out in a poultry farm at Domana, about 12 km from here last night, police sources said here today.

J&K Cong chief: race hots up
S. P. Sharma
Tribune News Service

Jammu, January 19
The race is hotting up for the post of PCC chief in the faction-ridden Congress following reports of the reinduction of Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad as General Secretary of the All-India Congress Committee (AICC) by Mrs Sonia Gandhi.

There are many aspirants for the post this time because the Congress is a coalition partner in the Mufti-led state government, and is enjoying power after 27 years.

However, it is not yet known whether Mr Azad will continue to lead the party in Jammu and Kashmir, besides being the General Secretary at the headquarters. It will be difficult to choose the new party chief in the state because of the sensitivity of the coalition.

With a wide range of experience, including that of union ministership, Mr Azad had steered the Congress well during the recent Assembly elections. He managed to build the campaign against the then ruling National Conference and throw it out of power.

The Congress, which had got relegated to the background over the years because of poor leadership, became a vibrant Opposition during the NC regime when Mr Azad was appointed the PCC chief.

Although the critics of Mr Azad had been claiming that he was sidelined by Mrs Gandhi by having been sent as the PCC chief, yet it was a fact that he retained his chamber in the AICC headquarters even while being in Jammu and Kashmir. He was reportedly consulted by Mrs Gandhi on various issues, including the party’s strategy for the coming Assembly elections in Himachal Pradesh.

The extent to which Mr Azad enjoys Mrs Gandhi’s confidence was recently witnessed when he was asked to rush to Mumbai from here to resolve the issue of chief ministership there.

With his excellent organising capacity, Mr Azad initially instilled life into the Youth Congress when he was president of the state unit about 30 years ago. Thereafter, he was made president of the youth wing at the national level as he enjoyed confidence of Indira Gandhi and thereafter Rajiv Gandhi.

However, it will be a tough task for any new PCC chief as the party is at the moment facing a virtual rebellion from MLAs who have not been included in the ministry.

The denial of ministerial berths to a couple of legislators has divided the party in to three groups, one led by Mr Azad, the other by the Deputy Chief Minister, Mr Mangat Ram Sharma, and the third one comprising annoyed MLAs.

Most of the legislators had been rallying behind Mr Azad when the issue of chief ministership was undecided after the Assembly elections and he was being projected for the post.

However, groupism came to the fore when the Congress leadership succumbed to the political pressure of the Mufti and joined hands with the PDP to form a coalition government.

Mr Sharma did not relish the appointment of Mr Azad as the PCC chief as he was himself an aspirant for the post. He is considered close to the Mufti eversince the latter was in the Congress and his ministerial colleague in the Cabinet of Syed Mir Qasim.

Ultras’ diktat on marriage

Jammu, January 19
A militant outfit on Saturday asked Muslim girls in Jammu and Kashmir to get married at 15.

On Saturday, the posters in the name of the Harkat-ul-Jehad went up on the walls of the main mosque of Shahdhara Sharief about 190 km north of here. The police removed the posters, but not before a number of people read what they had to say.

“All girls of 15 and above should get married forthwith. They should take bath inside their homes only,” the posters read.

They also reiterated the threat issued by the Lashkar-e-Jabbar for all quit their jobs by January 25. “This is the last warning and any defiance of this would (invite) dire consequences”, the posters said. IANS

2,000 chickens roasted

Jammu, January 19
About 2000 chickens were burnt to death when a fire broke out in a poultry farm at Domana, about 12 km from here last night, police sources said here today.

The fire, which started accidentally in one of the store rooms, later engulfed the entire poultry farm, the sources said, adding all 2000 chickens perished in the fire.

The fire was bought under control by local villagers early this morning. PTI