J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Centre accused of sidelining Kashmiri Pandits
Jammu, January 14
Leaders of different organisations of displaced Kashmiri Pandits feel upset over the way the Central Government has ignored them in the general programme of initiating talks with those connected with security problems in the state.

Blast at Baramula hospital
Srinagar, January 14
Panic gripped the sub-district hospital in Baramula town today following a blast that caused minor damage to a parked vehicle, official sources said.

Widen scope of talks, says Salvation Movement
Jammu, January 14
Mr Mohammad Farooq Khan, Chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Salvation Movement, today said that the separatists should adopt a realistic approach during talks with the Centre for a solution to the Kashmir problem.

• JD (U) to contest five LS seats

At least 50,000 to be mobilised for Sonia’s rally
Tribune News Service

Jammu, January 14
A target of mobilising at least 50,000 persons for the rally of the Congress President, Ms Sonia Gandhi, here on January 20 was today fixed at a meeting of party leaders that was presided over by the PCC president, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad. Ms Sonia Gandhi is arriving here on January 19 for two days during which she will scrutinise the functioning of the Mufti-led coalition government in which the Congress is a major partner. This is her first visit here after last year’s Assembly elections. Mr Azad returned to Delhi this afternoon after finalising the arrangements for the visit of Ms Sonia Gandhi and will return on Saturday. Ms Ambika Soni will also come here with the party President.

It is learnt that the expansion of the Cabinet and the reshuffle of the PCC in the state have been postponed for the time being as this may lead to further groupism in the faction-ridden party.

Centre accused of sidelining Kashmiri Pandits
Our Correspondent

Jammu, January 14
Leaders of different organisations of displaced Kashmiri Pandits feel upset over the way the Central Government has ignored them in the general programme of initiating talks with those connected with security problems in the state.

Mr Hira Lal Chatha, a senior leader of the All-State Kashmiri Pandits Conference, told this correspondent here today: “We do not oppose talks with the Hurriyat Conference, but the way we have been sidelined by the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr L.K. Advani, is yet another instance of step-motherly treatment being meted out to the minority community.”

The Chairman of Panun Kashmir, Dr Ajay Chrungoo, said “in case the Government of India prefers separatists to the nationalist Pandits for hammering out a settlement, there is then no alternative for the government but to carve out a separate homeland for Kashmiri Hindus.”

Blast at Baramula hospital

Srinagar, January 14
Panic gripped the sub-district hospital in Baramula town today following a blast that caused minor damage to a parked vehicle, official sources said.

An explosive device went off in the hospital complex around noon, but no one was hurt. However, a parked gypsy of the hospital suffered some damage under the impact of the blast, they said.

The sources said the police immediately reached the scene and preliminary investigations revealed that the blast was caused by a countrymade bomb planted by suspected militants.

In another incident, the sources said, militants opened fire at a police picket set up for the protection of minority community members in Muran village of Pulwama district in south Kashmir late last night. No police personnel was injured. — PTI

Widen scope of talks, says Salvation Movement
Tribune News Service

Jammu, January 14
Mr Mohammad Farooq Khan, Chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Salvation Movement, today said that the separatists should adopt a realistic approach during talks with the Centre for a solution to the Kashmir problem.

Mr Khan, who is a released militant, welcomed the invitation to the Hurriyat Conference for talks with the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr L.K. Advani, on January 22 and said that the scope of the talks should be widened so that lasting peace returns to Jammu and Kashmir.

He said that no talks could be successful without involving the people of the state.

Mr Khan said that India and Pakistan had shunned rigidity on talks regarding Kashmir and now it was the turn of the separatists to adopt a realistic approach.

JD (U) to contest five LS seats

Jammu, January 14
The Jammu and Kashmir unit of the Janata Dal (United) today said it would contest five of the six Lok Sabha seats in the state and hoped that it would put up a “good show” in the coming poll.

“There is no alliance among the NDA partners at the state level... the political situation in Jammu and Kashmir is different from the national level,” JD (U) state president Sanjesh Gupta told newspersons here. Peace and development would be the party’s main poll plank, he said. — UNI