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Monday,
June 2, 2003, Chandigarh, India  
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Jamait-e-Islami reverses decision on Geelani Sonia offers support to Indo-Pak talks
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Mufti for opening of Uri
link
Advani wants shorter Mansarovar
route
Four ultras among 9
killed Lawyers barred from
stirs J&K Budget session opens
today
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Jamait-e-Islami reverses decision on Geelani Jammu, June 1 When Mr Bhat took this decision, an impression had gone round that the moderates in the Jamait-e-Islami had won their battle against the hardliners headed by Mr
Geelani. However, at its meeting, the Majlis Shoura (working committee) of the Jamait-e-Islami declared that the party leadership had not replaced Mr Geelani by Mr Sheikh. In fact, it reposed its trust in Mr Geelani as the party’s representative in the APHC. The Jamait-e-Islami did not stop there. It endorsed the demand of Mr Geelani seeking clarification and explanation from the representatives of the Peoples’ Conference, headed by Mr Sajjad Lone, whether its indirect participation in the September 2002 Assembly poll warranted its expulsion from the 23-party conglomerate. Right from the day the Jamaat leadership had sent a letter to the APHC Chairman regarding the replacement of Mr
Geelani, the firebrand separatist had fulminated against the party
Amir. He had said that he was physically fit and the reason for his replacement was part of the plan to sabotage the ongoing liberation movement. In fact, the tussle between the moderates and the hawks in the Jamait-e-Islami in Kashmir has been more than six years old. Two years ago, the APHC Chairman had turned down the suggestion of Jamaat chief in which he had conveyed to Prof Abdul Gani Bhat that the party had decided to send a replacement for Mr Geelani in the conglomerate. And when the Chairman of the APHC, Professor Bhat, received a communication from the Jamait-e-Islami chief, he accepted it as a decision of one of the constituents and this time he did not reject it indicating that he was not as averse to the Jamaat stand as he was two years ago. Along with Mr
Geelani, several militant outfits criticised the decision of the Jamaat Amir and those who warned him included leaders of the Hizbul Mujahideen and the
Jamait-ul-Mujahideen. These militant outfits had warned the Peoples’ Conference too. The last to react to Mr Geelani’s replacement was Pakistan-based United Jehad Council headed by Syed
Salahuddin. Inside reports said the working committee of the Jamait-e-Islami succumbed to the pressure mounted by the rebel outfits whose leaders had dubbed the Jamaat Amir as an “Indian agent and an informer”. It is said that these threats and a “maligning strategy” forced the Jamaat leadership to change its decision. A senior APHC leader, who wished to remain unidentified, felt amazed over the change in the Jamaat stand and said, “The executive committee will discuss the matter and see whether Mr Geelani could be accepted in the conglomerate and whether his demand for a clarification from the Peoples’ Conference leadership warranted attention or not.”
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Sonia offers support to Indo-Pak talks Baramula, June 1 Addressing a public rally organised jointly by the Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) the first attended by her in the state outside Srinagar, Ms Gandhi said the Congress always favoured the resolution of issues through negotiations. Expressing optimism over the recent developments and improvement in the Indo-Pak relations, she added that her party stood for upholding amity and brotherhood. Ms Gandhi was accompanied by senior leaders of the Congress and the PDP, two main allies of the coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir. They included the Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, Finance Minister, Muzaffar Hussain Beigh, both of the PDP and the state party president, Ms Mehbooba Mufti. The Congress leaders included Ms Ambika Soni, the Deputy chief minister, Mr Mangat Ram Sharma, a CLP leader and AICC general secretary, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad, and the Rajya Sabha Member, Mr Saifuddin Soz. The PDP supporters outnumbered those from the Congress as leaders of both the parties from the area made allout efforts to make the meeting a success. It is the hometown of Mr Soz, who has represented the Baramula Lok Sabha constituency twice before. In the Assembly the constituency represented by Mr Beigh. Mr Taj Mohiuddin, Food and Supplies Minister, represents the nearby Uri constituency in the Assembly. In her 12-minute speech after distributing letters of appointment on compassionate grounds to some kin of those killed in militancy, Ms Gandhi said the restoration of peace was most needed in this troubletorn state. She said the common minimum programme formulated by the coalition partners in the state had the people’s mandate. She regretted that the people of Baramula and Kupwara districts were most affected by the militancy at the behest of mentors from across the border. She sought the people’s support for an end to militancy in Kashmir and added that the policy of the coalition partners was aimed at prosperity through peace. Ms Gandhi said the party’s future policies vis-a-vis Kashmir focused on jobs to educated unemployed youth and education. She said all Congress chief ministers at the two-day conference which concluded in Srinagar yesterday, agreed to reserve seats for students of Jammu and Kashmir in educational institutions in their respective states. She added that tourism was the sector which needed more attention and referred to the offer of some chief ministers in this direction. Those associated with the tourist trade, handicrafts and agriculture would also benefit from the policies of the coalition government, she said. Ms Gandhi also held that roads and hospitals needed much attention. |
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Cong chief gives healing
touch Baramula, June 1 Ms Saleema Begum and seven others of the district were handed over letters of appointment on compassionate grounds under SRO 43 by her. The others who got the letters were Ms Arsha Begum, Mr Abdul Hameed Malik, Mr Showkat Ahmad
Gujjri, Ms Gowhar Sultan, Mr Muzaffar Nabi, Ms Manjeet Kour and Ms Haleema Begum as part of the healing touch policy of the coalition government. Cheques for Rs 1 lakh each were also handed over as ex gratia to 50 others. The state government also handed over appointment orders as rehbar-e-taleem or teachers to 450 persons of the district. |
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IED found near Sonia’s rally venue Baramula, June 1 Official sources said that an IED concealed in a polythene bag was discovered near the floodgate at Khawaja
Bagh, four hours before the public meeting of the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament. The bomb disposal squad was rushed to the spot and the explosive defused.
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SPG men in tow, has shikara ride Srinagar, June 1 Ms Gandhi, along with several senior party leaders, boarded the shikara at Centaur hotel ghat and went to Char-Chinari in the heart of the lake. She returned to the ghat after 40 minutes of joy ride. Ms Gandhi, here in connection with the conclave of party Chief Ministers, was accompanied by AICC general secretaries Ambika Soni and Ghulam Nabi Azad. SPG personnel followed her in two boats all the way on her shikara ride.
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Mufti for opening of Uri
link Baramula, June 1 He said the coalition government had resolved to solve the problems being faced by the people in the state due to militancy and reiterated its stand to wage a war against corruption. Addressing a public meeting that was addressed by the Congress president, Ms Sonia Gandhi, here today, Mufti Sayeed said families were divided by the LoC and in order facilitate their meeting without undertaking long routes via Amritsar, the same could be achieved by opening the Uri link to Muzaffarabad. He said its opening would give a chance to the people on either side of the LoC to “find the difference”. When the Delhi-Lahore bus service can be operated and people visit the two countries via Wagah, why they could not visit via Uri, Mufti Sayeed questioned. He said the armed militants crossed to this side of the LoC and added that by opening of Uri road the people could go to either side on valid papers. The Chief Minister expressed the hope that the improvement of relations between India and Pakistan following Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s Kashmir visit would lead to good results. While the Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan were of the view that the process was time consuming, it was necessary to be initiated for the restoration of peace in the region, he said. Appreciating the role of people in extending support by voting for a change in the last Assembly elections, Mufti Sayeed said the coalition partners by working out the common minimum programme had made a small beginning. He reiterated his government’s resolve to give relief and healing touch to the people who suffered a lot during the past 12 years of militancy. Earlier, the Finance Minister and senior PDP leader, Mr Muzaffar Hussain Beigh, addressed the meeting welcoming the Congress president, Ms Sonia Gandhi, in this border town of north Kashmir. The other leaders, including PDP president, Ms Mehbooba Mufti, and Congress leader Saifuddin Soz could not address the meeting due to the paucity of time, Ms Sonia Gandhi concluded her three-day visit to the Kashmir valley today. |
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Advani wants shorter Mansarovar route Leh, June 1 Speaking at the “Sindhu Darshan” festival here, Mr Advani said he would request Mr Vajpayee to tell the Chinese leaders to permit journey to Kailash Mansarovar from Leh along Sindhu River to help cut down the journey time drastically. Mr Advani said he had asked the Defence Minister, Mr George Fernandes to raise the issue of Kailash Mansarovar pilgrims with the Chinese leaders during his visit to China recently. The journey at present takes 27 days, he said and added that if one trekked along the river Sindhu, it would take only four days. The Deputy Prime Minister said Mr Fernandes had spoken to Chinese leaders about it and they had promised to consider it. Mr Advani said he would request Mr Vajpayee to ensure that the matter was carried forward. He said if the proposal succeeded, the pilgrims could come here for Sindhu Darshan and spend four days for Kailash Mansarovar yatra. During the Sindhu Darshan festival the river is worshipped by followers of all faiths. Mr Advani, today expressed the hope that peace would soon return to Jammu and Kashmir and the state would be back on the international tourism map, a point supported by Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. Addressing the inaugural function of the Sindhu Darshan festival here, he said people in Jammu and Kashmir wanted peace and their growing aptitude to be in the main stream clearly demonstrated that. Kashmir was the hub of India’s tourism activities till terrorism hit the state, he said. He added that of late people have once again started giving impetus to the tourism and other economic activities. “With this change of approach among the people, I am quite hopeful that peace would definitely return to the state soon,’’ he said. The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister in his brief speech also stressed that people in the state desperately wanted peace. “Jammu and Kashmir has been a symbol of peace and love. Gautam Buddha gave the message of peace here.’’ He pointed out that holding of the festival here would not only promote tourism but also show to the world that situation in Jammu and Kashmir was improving. “Whether it was Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s rally, ongoing Congress’ Chief Ministers’ Conference or the Id-ul-Milad, a clear change of circumstances was visible in the state,” he said. The Chief Minister said his government was committed to protect the rights of all people, irrespective of their religion and promoting various religious visits, like Amarnath Yatra. Jammu and Kashmir Bank has offered a special package for the pilgrims. “We are promoting Amarnath yatra, Vaishno Devi pilgrimage or Sindhu Darshan as they promoted tourism.’’ He said the message of peace given by the Sindhu Darshan Festival here should be carried to different parts of the country.
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Four ultras among 9 killed Jammu, June 1 Militants kidnapped three Hindu shepherds from Bhaderwah tehsil of Doda district yesterday and later killed them. Their bodies were found from the forest area of Tiba Dhar today, they said. As a mark of protest, shops remained closed in Bhaderwah town today, they added. In another incident in Doda district, militants killed Dullah Gujjar in the Dhar forest area of Bhaderwah town last night, the sources said. BSF personnel shot dead an intruder near the international border in the Budhwar area of RS Pura, they said. The intruder, from whom an AK rifle and some ammunition were seized, was reportedly sent by Pakistani agencies to disrupt the ongoing fencing work in the area, the sources said, adding that his identity was being ascertained. A Hizbul Mujahideen militant, Aijaz Hussain, was killed in an encounter with the police in the Sumber area of Doda district. One AK rifle with two magazines and two hand grenades were seized from him, the sources said. Special Police Officer Amar Singh was injured in the encounter and was later airlifted to the Army hospital in Udhampur, they said. In a gunbattle with security forces, a militant was shot dead in the Thanamandi area of Poonch district. Another militant was killed during an encounter in the Kalaban area of Rajouri district, they added. In the Surankote area of Poonch district, security personnel intercepted a group of militants who had abducted a civilian on the May 30 night and in the encounter that followed, hostage Mohammad Sharief was killed, the sources said. The militants fled but their guide, Mohammad Alyas, surrendered to the security forces. Security forces also busted a militant hideout at Ranitop in the Banihal area in Doda. A Srinagar report, meanwhile, said militants detonated an IED in frontier district of Kupwara this morning. No loss of life was reported. The IED was planted by the militants under a kulvert at Keygam under Handwara police station and it went off around 9.45 a.m., the sources said.
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Lawyers barred from stirs Jammu, June 1 A notification issued here yesterday under the chairmanship of Acting Chief Justice V.K. Jhanji, said advocates had been prohibited from giving a call for strikes, individually, jointly or through any association. It also said that advocates had been prohibited from abstaining from court or boycotting judicial proceedings. The notification said any advocate violating these provisions may be debarred from appearing, pleading and conducting cases for one to five years. The meeting also decided to constitute a disciplinary committee, headed by the Chief Justice and comprising one or more judges of the high court.
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J&K Budget session opens today Srinagar, June 1 The Budget will be presented on Tuesday by Finance Minister Muzaffar Hussain Baig, an official spokesman said. This is for the first time that the Budget will be presented in June. The coalition government could not present the Budget in March this year and instead presented vote on account for three months. Meanwhile, security
arrangements in and around the assembly complex had been tightened to thwart any militant attempt to disrupt the proceedings of the both the Houses.
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In video: The Conclave of 15 Congress Chief Ministers evokes a positive
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