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Sunday,
June 8, 2003, Chandigarh, India  
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J&K ASSEMBLY Shelling will thwart peace move: Mufti Mufti calls on Governor Parties keen to meet Vohra |
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CBI pattern for J&K vigilance President
to visit J-K on June 26 No water, power in Jammu areas Panel to identify sick units 12 Bangladeshis held in Jammu Constable commits suicide No dull moment at Dal Lake
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J&K ASSEMBLY Srinagar, June 7 Intervening on the question of Mir Saifullah, NC member, over the detention of various people, including separatists, during question hour, the Chief Minister said 567 persons were in detention under the Public Safety Act (PSA) while cases of 379 others were under investigation. He said the aim of his government was to release as many as possible of those having lesser charges. He pointed out that the past practice of re-arresting those released under court orders would not be repeated. “There is no question of confrontation that would hinder the peace process”, Mufti Sayeed commented. He referred to the release of separatist leaders, Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mohammad Yaseen Malik and allowing of a public meeting in Sher-e-Kashmir Park by the Peoples’ Conference, a constituent of the APHC, and permission to take out procession on the occasion of Id-e-Milad. Elaborating further, the Chief Minister said there was no line of demarcation since thousands of militants who had surrendered had joined the SOG or the Ikhwan, and some of them had even made it to the state legislature. He held that there was a greater threat from the upper-ground supporters of separatist militants against whom action was necessitated. National Conference member and former minister, Ali Mohammad Sagar, expressed concern over the delaying tactics regarding the release of those detained. He said the procedure adopted by the state government in examining such cases in the presence of a representative from the Union Home Ministry was delaying the process and those jailed were being harassed unnecessarily. He held that during the previous government the cases were being examined at district levels weekly. Earlier, in a written reply from the Minister in-charge of Home, held by the Chief Minister, the MoS for R&B, Mr A.R. Veeri, stated that 26 detained persons had been released on the recommendations of the screening committee. It was stated that the government had all along been willing to talk to any separatist political activist with the aim of ushering in peace in the state. “The government is ready to hold a dialogue with such activists who come forward for this purpose”, it was stated. Intervening on another question, the Chief Minister said there was a view that the number of Assembly constituencies be increased in accordance with the increase in population. Since there is also a thrust on keeping a check on the increasing population, and as a
deterrent to that the number of constituencies would not be increased. He, however, added that the existing Assembly seats could be re-organised. In a written reply to the question of Mr Balwant Singh, the Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Mr Muzaffar Hussain Beigh, said the delimitation commission would be constituted by the Governor after the completion of each census to determine the delimitation of Assembly constituencies in the state and not for meeting the aspirations of any particular region. UNI adds: The Chief Minister also said additional university campuses were being set up at various places in Jammu and Kashmir to enable students of far-flung areas to pursue postgraduate courses nearer home. The University Grants Commission (UGC) has already granted permission for setting up of additional campuses of Kashmir University at Baramula, Anantnag and Leh, Mr Sayeed announced in the Legislative Assembly here yesterday. He said the matter had been taken up with the UGC for setting up two additional campuses of Jammu University as well. The funds for this purpose would be no constraint, as the UGC would bear the expenses of faculty and infrastructure. The Chief Minister said nearly 400 kanals had been identified for setting up of North Kashmir campus of Kashmir University at Delina near Baramula while the sites for other two additional campuses at Anantnag and Leh were being identified. Intervening during supplementaries to a question by Mir Saifullah, Mr Sayeed said in view of the limited number of seats available in post-graduate courses, particularly in science subjects in the universities, he had interacted with the Vice-Chancellors of Kashmir and Jammu varsities and decided to take up the matter with UGC for setting up additional campuses and introducing post-graduation classes in some colleges. He said these classes had already started at S.P. College, Womens’ College, M A Road and Anantnag College while MCA class had begun at Baramula College. A similar arrangement has been ordered for the Leh college. Referring to the introduction of post-graduate classes in the colleges of Jammu region, the Chief Minister said these had been planned for Jammu, Udhampur, Kathua, Doda, Poonch and Rajouri in a phased manner. |
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Shelling will thwart peace move: Mufti Srinagar, June 7 “At a time when there is a greater need for confidence-building measures, the shelling can’t go in tune with the favourable atmosphere created by the peace initiative taken by the Prime Minister during his Srinagar visit,” he said. “The bone of contention between the two nations became a launch pad for sincere friendship. The CM said the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee, was a statesman par excellence who had chosen to talk about peace and friendship rather than resorting to Pakistan bashing from the soil of Kashmir. He said a solution to the problems between India and Pakistan could evolve only with time. The Mufti said to the initiatives taken by the coalition government had created a national consensus for holding a dialogue and forging friendship with the neighbouring nation. This is reflected in the recent visits of the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition. Ms Sonia Gandhi, who not only endorsed the healing-touch philosophy of the coalition government, but also described it as the sole way of removing alienation. The subsequent Congress Chief Ministers’ conclave brought about a healthy change for the people of the state. He also referred to Ms Gandhi’s announcement for reserving seats in professional and technical institutions in the Congress-run states for the Jammu and Kashmir youth and assurance by the CMs to promote Kashmir tourism. He said he had no reason to be pessimistic about the exchange visits of members of the divided families of Kashmir. He said when the people of hostile South and North Korea could meet, what could stop Kashmiris on both sides from doing so. For this, he called for the opening of border in Sialkote and Uri Sectors. “This will certainly happen one day”. The people of Kashmir were not captives of the security forces as being made out by Pakistan, the Chief Minister said, and frequent exchange visits would expose this malicious campaign. He said Islam was deeply rooted in India, particularly in Kashmir. The opposition was told not to undermine the Vohra mission, that had the mandate of the Prime Minister and the Government of India, akin to Parthasarthy talks with Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah. The Chief Minister said, besides the elected representatives, those who had opposed accession, boycotted elections and picked up guns should also engage themselves in the dialogue process. Without naming any separatist organisation, the Chief Minister said he was surprised why the offer for talks had been spurned. In his 45-minute speech, the Chief Minister also touched upon human rights, state’s economy, tourism and the role of police in combating militancy. The UNI adds that civilian casualties and damage to property in the border areas due to shelling by Pakistani troops rocked the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly today. As the Speaker took the first question of the day, the National Conference Legislator, Mr Mir Saifullah, demanded a statement from the government on the casualties and the damage in yesterday’s shelling. He alleged that no compensation had been paid to the affected. However, the Speaker did not allow him to speak further. Subsequently, Mr Manjit Singh of the Bahujan Samaj Party and an Independent, Mr Ashwani Kumar, joined Mr Mir and said the House should move a resolution to condemn the shelling by Pakistani troops. They said the shelling by Pakistani troops had made the life of persons living near the Line of Control and international border miserable. The members resumed their seats after the Speaker directed Mr Mir to ask his question regarding the opening of postgraduate classes in colleges in the state. |
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Mufti calls on Governor Srinagar, June 7 The Mufti called on the Governor Lt-Gen S.K. Sinha this evening and discussed, among other things, coalition government’s multi-pronged strategy to restore peace with dignity in the state, an official spokesman told PTI after the meeting. He said the ‘healing touch’ policy initiated by the government for the people who had suffered due to a long spell of violence was also discussed at the meeting which lasted 40 minutes. The security situation and steps under way to combat trans-border militancy also figured in the discussion, he said. Earlier, Deputy Chief Minister Sharma during an hour-long meeting with the Governor briefed him in detail about the policies of the government and the steps taken to bring peace and normalcy in the state.
PTI |
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Parties keen to meet Vohra Jammu, June 7 Unlike the Kashmir valley where the separatists have not appreciated the Centre’s move, almost all parties here and keen to meet Mr Vohra on his first visit for talks. Mr Vohra had come here to meet the Governor and the Chief Minister soon after being nominated as the Centre’s representative, but at that time he did not hold talks with representatives of any group. Representatives of the Panthers Party led by Mr Bhim Singh, will be among the first ones to meet Mr Vohra tomorrow. Mr Bhim Singh will lead a delegation of the party in the evening to present a “workable” solution for ensuring equality and justice to the three regions of the state. An emergency meeting of the leaders of the Panthers Party was held today discuss the issues that will be brought to the notice of Mr Vohra. The Panthers Party is a coalition partner of the PDP-led government in J&K. Interestingly, top most on the agenda of almost all political parties here appears to be the demand for removing discrimination with Jammu and Ladakh by providing these two regions status equal to that accorded to the Kashmir valley. It is learnt that the state BJP has been invited for talks on June 10 when the party leaders are expected to seek abrogation of Article 370 providing a special status to J&K so that the separatist status of the state could be removed. The party has been stressing that being an integral part of India, J&K should be treated like other states and the special status should be withdrawn. A BJP leader said they would also seek special steps for ending discrimination against the Jammu and the Ladakh regions by the successive governments in the state. Militancy should be crushed with an iron hand instead of giving sops to terrorists. |
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11 ultras shot
in valley Srinagar, June 7 However, a Defence Ministry
spokesman said eight militants were killed in the encounter. Six militants of the Lashkar-e-Toiba and two from the Jaish-e-Mohammad outfits were killed in a 24-hour long operation that ended late last night near Shopian in south Kashmir district of Pulwama. Three structures were also gutted in the exchange of fire between the militants and security forces, police here said. Those killed included five foreign and three local militants, a Defence spokesman said. Two of the local militants have been identified as Nazir Ahmad and Shakeel Ahmad of Balhar area, according to the police. Three of the killed were yet to be identified as two bodies were completely charred and the other was defaced. Acting on specific information, the security forces cordoned off Hiskura village in the Bihibagh area of Pulwama district around 9 p.m. on Thursday. The hiding militants were asked to surrender, but they refused and continued to remain holed up throughout the night. The encounter ensued when the hiding militants opened fire on the security forces on Friday morning. An intermittent firefight continued throughout the day, with the killing of all eight militants. The police resorted to lathi charge and fired into the air to disperse demonstrators demanding the handing over of the bodies to the locals in Shopian town today. The bullet-riddled body of a special police officer, Ghulam Nabi Dar, was found at Lassipora in Pulwama last night while a timber smuggler, Manzoor Ahmad Khan, was killed allegedly in security force firing at Panzulla in Baramula last night. The spokesman said two Lashkar-e-Toiba militants were killed by security forces in an encounter at Panner Bandipora last night. Two AK rifles, seven magazines, 244 rounds, one grenade and one detonator were seized from the slain militants. He said Mohammad Sharief and his son Mohammad Junaid were killed by militants at Dara Bagla Samote under Banihal police station last night. Security forces gunned down one militant at Khari Karmara while Muneer Ahmad, peon at a sub-divisional magistrate office in Bhaderwah, was shot dead by militants at Pasri Addah today. Security forces arrested a Lashkar militant at Seelu Sopore while Mohammad Ashraf Wagay was abducted at Gogjinar in
Badgam. |
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CBI pattern for J&K vigilance Srinagar, June 7 Intervening during supplementaries in the state Assembly, the Chief Minister said cases would be diligently pursued and taken to their logical end so that the guilty were taken to task. Earlier, in reply to a question, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Abdul Rehman Veeri gave the names of 15 IAS and IPS officers against whom cases were registered by the vigilance organisation under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The Chief Minister referred to some officers who had a clean image but figured in the list.
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President to visit J-K on June 26 Srinagar, June 7 Mr Kalam would arrive here on June 26, Inspector-General of Police, K. Rajendra Kumar said. “It is a matter of pride for the Jammu and Kashmir Police that Mr Kalam will present President’s Colour to the local police
for the exemplary courage shown while tackling militancy in the state”, he said. This will be his first visit to the state after taking over as President of the country.
PTI |
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No water, power in Jammu areas Jammu, June 7 On an average, the power remains shut for six or seven hours during the day. Womenfolk in the Kandi areas of Samba, Akhnoor, Nagrota, Reasi and Kathua have to fetch water travelling long distances. Several water sources have dried up. Some residential areas in the city are being supplied water on alternate days. |
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Panel to identify sick units Srinagar, June 7 The government was keen on reviving sick PSUs but it could not continue to fund those which could not be revived, Deputy Chief Minister Mangat Ram Sharma said in the state Assembly replying to a debate on demand for grants of the departments under his charge. He said the government was aware of the interests of workers and in the event of any PSU being shut down, the workers would be given a golden handshake. Stating that as many as 162,19 industrial units were found to be ‘non-existent’, Mr Sharma announced an inquiry into the matter. Of the non-existent units, 9422 were in Kashmir and 6797 in Jammu, he said. Mr Sharma said the government was formulating a new industrial policy for which suggestions would be sought from the public and representatives concerned of trade and industry. He said huge incentives were available to entrepreneurs for investment under the industrial policy which had been extended for six months. The Deputy Chief Minister said the government had launched a multi-pronged strategy to attract industrial houses of the country to invest in the state. Several MNCs had shown inclination to invest in the state. Mr Sharma said the Commissioner, Industries and Commerce, had been made nodal officer to coordinate with the departments for early clearance of projects and provision of electricity and other basic requirements. He announced that J & K Minerals had successfully extracted sapphire in Paddar. The government had decided to launch global tenders for exploiting the huge reserves of this precious stone.
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12 Bangladeshis held in Jammu Jammu, June 7 The BSF troops took them into custody soon after they crossed the international border via Amk border outpost in the R.S. Pura sector around midnight, he said. The infiltrators were carrying only clothes, he said, adding that after preliminary questioning, they were handed over to the police for further investigation. In another incident, BSF troops arrested a militant conduit from the Darara area of Kalakote tehsil in Rajouri district last evening and seized some packets of brown sugar, he said. The militants at times bring brown sugar from across the border and sell it in the market through their conduits and use such earnings for militant activities, he said.
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Constable commits suicide Srinagar, June 7 Constable Harvinder Singh, attached with the erstwhile Special Operations Group of Jammu and Kashmir, used his service pistol to end his life at Humhama camp of the SOG around 0700 hours, the sources said. A resident of Tral in Pulwama district, he was reportedly perturbed over the past few days following a scuffle with his wife, who was also living with him at the SOG camp.
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No dull moment at Dal Lake Srinagar, June 7 The “shikaras”, which are the beauty of the Dal, are again floating with tourists taking a ride. The fountains are again dancing and the water bodies in the Mughal Gardens provide a superb backdrop to the tourists for photography. Tourism remained crippled during the worst period of terrorism and the visitors were hounded away whenever they gathered the courage to visit here in 1999 and in between. Those connected with tourist trade are hopeful of a good season this time as many hotels at the Boulevard on the banks of the Dal are already overflowing with tourists. The occupancy in a leading hotel at the moment was 40 per cent against merely 15 per cent at this time last year. Mr M. Ashraf, Director-General of Tourism, said 22,000 tourists, including 1500 foreigners, had come to the valley by May 30 this year against only 8,000 tourists last year. Mr Ashraf said the state government had taken several initiatives to attract tourists here. About 15 tourist groups were expected from Dubai. The Arabian travellers were afraid of going to the West because of security reasons and to the East because of SARS. This has provided an opportunity to many tourists planning to come here from the Gulf. Another group of tourists from Dubai has chosen Leh as their destination. The people here feel that the visit of the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee and the subsequent conclave of 15 Chief Ministers of Congress-ruled states presided by Ms Sonia Gandhi has sent the desired signals to the world outside. The Chief Ministers stayed in a private hotel in the heart of the town to build confidence among the tourists. Envoys of 10 countries came here last month to participate in a Golf tournament. All these developments were expected to once again revive the tourism in the valley. Mr Ashraf said the meeting of the Travel Agents Association of India, which is the apex body of tour operators, was held here on April 5 and 6. Most of the leading travel agents were hopeful of diverting tourists here in the summer. A separate group of 16 tour operators of
Surat, Baroda and Ahmedabad in Gujarat was specially invited here to see things for themselves. This part of the year attracts a large number of tourists here from Gujarat. The Indian Airlines and the Jet Airways have announced a concessional tariff package for the valley. Mr Ashraf said he was expecting that about 2 lakh tourists might visit here this year. The valley was receiving about 7.50 lakh tourists every year prior to outbreak of militancy in 1989. As many as 7.22 lakh tourists came here in 1988. There was again a phenomenal rise in the tourist flow in 1999 when the figure touched 2.17, including 17,000 foreigners, but the trade again received a setback because of Kargil war. Thereafter, there were repeated setbacks. The adverse travel advisories issued by different European countries against travelling to Kashmir also hit the trade. |
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Srinagar, June 7
