J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Cong against simultaneous elections
Srinagar, August 11
The Congress party will oppose the holding of Assembly and Parliamentary elections simultaneously. This was maintained at a meeting of the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee executive committee held here today under the chairmanship of its president and AICC general secretary, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad, MP, who is also president of the Coordination Committee of all coalition parties in the state.

Azad calls meeting to end discontent
Jammu, August 11
In a bid to end the simmering discontent among Congress activists about the functioning of the Mufti-led coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir, the PCC chief, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad, has convened a meeting of the executive committee of the party here on Wednesday.

A policeman takes a nap while his weapon lies  unattended at the backseat of a flying squad gypsy, in Gole Market, Jammu, on Monday. — Photo Sarabjeet Singh

Jammu-Srinagar road closed
Jammu, August 11
The 300-km Jammu-Srinagar national highway was closed to vehicular traffic today due to landslides caused by rain, the police said.

Cong against simultaneous elections
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, August 11
The Congress party will oppose the holding of Assembly and Parliamentary elections simultaneously.

This was maintained at a meeting of the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee executive committee held here today under the chairmanship of its president and AICC general secretary, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad, MP, who is also president of the Coordination Committee of all coalition parties in the state.

Addressing the executive committee members, the PCC chief said that major points of the common minimum programme had been implemented and areas concerning educated unemployed youth, de-limitation of the constituencies and Wazir commission report would be paid due attention by the coordination committee now.

Those who attended the meeting include Mr Ghulam Rasool Kar, former president, PCC, Mr Mangat Ram Sharma, Peerzada Mohammad Sayed senior vice-president of the JKPCC, executive members of the JKPCC, presidents of District Congress Committee, Congress Ministers and heads of the front organisations including Mahila Congress, Youth Seva Dal, etc.

The meeting paid homage to Mrs Dayavanti wife of Mr Mangat Ram Sharma, who died recently.

The meeting also fixed the dates for District Congress Committee conventions. The meeting of DCC Srinagar Urban and Ganderbal will be held on August 23 at Cricket Stadium, Sonawar, Kupwara on September 3, Budgam on September 4, Anantnag on September 15, Baramula on September 25 and Pulwama on September 26.

Azad calls meeting to end discontent
S. P. Sharma
Tribune News Service

Jammu, August 11
In a bid to end the simmering discontent among Congress activists about the functioning of the Mufti-led coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir, the PCC chief, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad, has convened a meeting of the executive committee of the party here on Wednesday.

All district presidents have been invited to the meeting. Mr Azad is currently holding such an exercise in the Kashmir valley where the partymen allege the Chief Minister and his daughter, Mehbooba Mufti, are encroaching on the areas of influence of the Congress.

Most of the Congress activists are disappointed as they have not been given any opportunity to air their grievances against the PDP-led government on the party’s forums eversince the Congress-supported coalition came to power about eight months ago. The coordination committee of the coalition, which Mr Azad heads, was supposed to meet every month. However, it has met only thrice during the period.

Most of the Congress MLAs called on the party chief, Ms Sonia Gandhi, at Delhi recently and apprised her of their problems. Ms Sonia Gandhi, it is learnt, then asked Mr Azad to spend more time in the state.

A section of the party laments that the Deputy Chief Minister, Mr Mangat Ram Sharma, has miserably failed to watch the interests of the Congressmen in the coalition.

The groupism in the Congress and the failure of the party so far to fulfil its election promise to end discrimination against the Jammu region has given an opportunity to the BJP to corner the Congress and the Panthers Party. The Panthers Party is also a coalition partner of the Mufti Government, but its chairman, Mr Bhim Singh, had recently given an ultimatum to the Mufti to mend the ways of the government.

The allocation of “insignificant” portfolios to minister belonging to the Congress by the Chief Minister has also led to resentment among the partymen who feel that it is humiliating.

Meanwhile, Prof Hari Om, BJP spokesperson, has said that the Congress and the Panthers Party which contested the last Assembly election on the issue of ending discrimination with Jammu have failed to do so.

Youth Congress convention for jobs to
educated youth
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, August 11
Unemployment among educated youth in Jammu and Kashmir dominated the day-long convention of the state unit of the Youth Congress Committee held here today. The convention was attended among others by AICC general secretary and Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chief, Ghulam Nabi Azad and Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister, Mr Mangat Ram Sharma.

Thousands of Youth Congress workers from all six districts of Kashmir valley, attended the convention at the Sher-e-Kashmir Cricket Stadium, this being the first public meeting at the venue, after a largely attended meeting addressed by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on April 18 last. Others who addressed the Youth Congress workers included senior vice-president of Pradesh Congress Committee and Rural Development Minister, Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed, Social Welfare Minister, Mulla Ram, party MLAs and senior functionaries of the Youth wing of the Congress.

A 25-point resolution seeking jobs for the unemployed educated youth, uniform development of rural areas, release of youth detained on flimsy grounds and an end to excesses and custodial killings was passed.

Senior vice-president of the PCC and Rural Development Minister, Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed send the Congress would quit the government if it failed to come up to the expectations of the youth of the State.

Youth leaders highlighted problems faced by youth of the valley, particularly due to turmoil in the past 13 years.

PTI adds: Mediapersons today walked out of a Jammu and Kashmir Youth Congress convention after stones and abusive language were hurled at them from the audience.

The trouble arose when JKPCC chief Ghulam Nabi Azad walked towards the dais and Congress workers wanted to have a glimpse of their player who was blocked by mediapersons covering the event.

Some people in the audience started shouting and hurled stones at journalists leading to exchange of hot words.

Jammu-Srinagar road closed

Jammu, August 11
The 300-km Jammu-Srinagar national highway was closed to vehicular traffic today due to landslides caused by rain, the police said.

The landslides occurred between Ramban and Banihal last night forcing authorities to suspend vehicular traffic. A number of vehicles were stranded at different places on the highway, the police said — PTI