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Chandigarh, November 21
The Jammu Mukti Morcha (JMM), the organisation that has been in the forefront of the demand for trifurcation of the state of Jammu and Kashmir, today asked the Union Government to monitor the use of the financial package of Rs 24,000 crore announced for the State recently. Prof Virender Gupta
Gani Bhat agrees with Pervez’s view on APHC
Separatist leaders to meet Pak PM in Delhi
Hizbul militant surrenders
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BJP dissidents plan to revive Praja Parishad
Mufti govt trying to disband KAHDC: Farooq
Militants try to damage college, school
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Jammu Morcha opposes Pak visit by Hurriyat leaders
Chandigarh, November 21 “Many such packages have been announced in the past also. But, nobody, except those ruling the state, know where the money goes. More importantly, the Centre should ensure Jammu region gets its fair share from the package. I am saying this because Jammu region has always been discriminated against in this respect,” said Prof Virender Gupta, President,
JMM. Interacting with some select mediapersons here, Prof Gupta also assailed the main national political parties from having failed to understand the problems of Jammu region. Prof Gupta was in Chandigarh to attend a meeting of “likeminded” people. “Not even a single party has ever raised the issue of continuing discrimination with Jammu region. But, when it comes to seeking votes, they come to us. This will have to stop,” he asserted. Urging the Central Government not to allow leaders of the All Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC) to go to Pakistan, Prof Gupta wondered why the Hurriyat leadership was so keen on going to Pakistan. “Let them (APHC leaders) first prove their credibility by talking to the leadership of Jammu and Ladakh. Whose representatives are they if not of the whole state? Also, it seems strange that every government, be it at the Centre or in J&K, only talks to Kashmir and its problems. Why aren’t they bothered about Jammu and Ladakh? Is it because people of these two regions are not supportive of militancy? Ironically, there are packages for surrendered militants but not for unemployed youth of Jammu. Is this tolerable?” he asked. Prof Gupta disclosed that the movement for creating of Jammu state had started receiving widespread support. He also said that the JMM could field candidates in the next elections. Asked to comment on the claim of some sections that if Jammu is separated from J&K, it will mean severing of India’s links with Kashmir, Prof Gupta said that trifurcation of the State would only lead to improvement in the situation. “Statehood for Jammu is also necessary to fulfill the aspirations of the people of Jammu region,” he maintained, denying that the demand was based on communal lines. He also pointed out that despite making the maximum contribution to the finances of the State, Jammu region has always been neglected in development. “For every one rupee spent in Jammu, Kashmir gets Rs 10. Jobs, development, everything is for Kashmir. We have our own tolerance level. I hope the governments wake up before Jammu starts on the warpath,” he said. |
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Gani Bhat agrees with Pervez’s view on APHC
Jammu, November 21 A senior leader of the APHC, Prof Abdul Gani Bhat, said: “We constitute the principal party representing the aspirations of the Kashmiri people and without talking to us no solution can be reached.” General Musharraf had yesterday insisted on the inclusion of the APHC in the dialogue, describing it as the true representative of the people of Kashmir. Prof. Bhat stressed that General Musharraf’s statement was probably in this context. No talks could be fruitful without India, Pakistan and the APHC coming to the negotiating table. He said the APHC has not firm on prestige and would follow suit if both India and Pakistan showed flexibility in their stand. The underlying principle for solving the dispute should be of “give and take”. Asked whether the APHC, which had laid preconditions, was waiting for a formal invitation for further talks from the Centre, he said in days to come the issues would be sorted out. He said he was going to Delhi tomorrow, but did not specify the purpose of the visit. Meanwhile, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, leader of the breakaway group of the APHC, today left Srinagar for Delhi, reportedly on an invitation from the Pakistan embassy. There have been reports that Pakistan was trying to reunite the two factions of the Hurriyat. Geelani is a hardliner and has so far not given up his stand for a plebiscite in Kashmir. The other faction has been discussing the Kashmir issue with the Centre. |
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Separatist leaders to meet Pak PM in Delhi
Srinagar, November 21 Mr Geelani, who leads the hardline faction of the Hurriyat Conference, left for Delhi today. He was accompanied by two members of the faction — Ashraf Sahrai and Sofi Mohammed Yousuf. Mr Shabir Shah, president of the Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party, has also left for the national capital on a similar mission. Mr Aziz is to discuss the formula put forth by Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf with the Hurriyat leaders for resolution of the Kashmir issue before he presents it to the Indian leaders, the sources said. The moderate faction of the Hurriyat Conference, which has also received an invitation from the Pakistan High Commission, is scheduled to leave for Delhi tomorrow.
— PTI |
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Hizbul militant surrenders
Jammu, November 21 Identified as Amjad Parvez Ansari, alias Gulla, he surrendered before an Army commandant and was later handed over to the crime branch of the Jammu and Kashmir Police. Gulla operated from Udhampur, Kathua and Doda districts of Jammu and Kashmir and was instrumental in triggering off an IED explosion that killed the DSP of Basholi, Devinder Singh, last year. A powerful landmine exploded near the forward Karol Mathra outpost of the BSF in the Samba sub-sector this morning. A BSF spokesman said the landmine exploded after a goat entered the mine field at Karol Mathra. Though some farmers were working nearby, they escaped unhurt. Militants shot dead a teenager after he refused to join militancy in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir. A group of three militants belonging to the Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) entered the house of Gulam Din in Surankote tehsil of Poonch district early today. The militants asked the family to hand over the teenaged boy, Abarat Hussain, to them so that he would be trained in handling of weapons. However, 17-year-old-Abarat refused, at which the militants opened fire, killing him on the spot.
— PTI |
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BJP dissidents plan to revive Praja Parishad
Jammu, November 21 Its chief, Mr Prem Nath Dogra, had posed a major problem for the then state Prime Minister, Sheikh Abdullah, when he launched an agitation in Jammu. The party remained a force to reckon with till Mr Dogra was alive and later in 1970 the Praja Parishad merged with the Jana Sangh. Irked at the prolonged silence adopted by the leadership of the state unit of the BJP and the party high command over the demand for revoking the suspension of six BJP leaders, including the influential vice-president, Mr Chander Mohan Sharma, the dissidents have decided to revive the parishad. These leaders were suspended on the charge of anti-party activities, especially during the elections. The dissidents had sent a memorandum to the party high command, rebutting the charges and levelling counter-allegations against the party president, Dr Nirmal Singh. The dissidents’ contention for revoking their suspension has been ignored by senior party leaders, including Mr Manohar Lal, in charge of the party affairs in Jammu and Kashmir. A senior dissident leader told this correspondent today "The Praja Parishad will be different from the parent organisation." "Our doors will be thrown open to non-Hindus too,
especially Gujjars and Bakerwals. We intend to enrol members from all six districts of the Jammu region," he explained. "We do not want to have an organisation parallel to the BJP. Our's will be a set up to counter the Congress party." He claimed that senior BJP leaders, including former MLAs and MLCs and who had been sidelined by the
leadership, had supported "our move." "These senior BJP leaders will be our founder members." If the Praja Parishad is revived, it will further hit the state unit of the BJP, which has suffered a major erosion in its strength. It won only one seat in the 2002. Assembly poll and drew a blank in the recent Lok Sabha elections. |
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Mufti govt trying to disband KAHDC: Farooq
Jammu, November 21 “The Mufti government’s undemocratic way of trying to disband the KAHD Council is condemnable and shows clear intentions of autocratic rule,” Mr Farooq said here last night before leaving for New Delhi. Mr Farooq asked the Centre and Governor S K Sinha to stop the “undemocratic” destabilisation of the council and asked them to ensure the sanctity of the KAHDC. “The Mufti government’s act is highly autocratic, undemocratic and objectionable,” the former Chief Minister said, adding “I want the Centre and the Governor to take notice of it.” I appeal to the people to rise and oppose the undemocratic actions of the state government and stop them from destroying the democratic institution of the state, he said. A total of 21 of the 44 members of the KAHD council have revolted against Chief Executive Councillor Qamar Ali Akhnoor of the National Conference and have submitted their letters in this direction to the Jammu and Kashmir Government.
— PTI |
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Militants try to damage college, school
Srinagar, November 21 Two hand grenades planted by militants near Islamia College at Hawal area of downtown Srinagar were recovered by the security forces, scuttling militants' plan to damage the educational institution, the spokesman said. He said militants opened fire on police guards posted at Model School Aglar-Shopian, Pulwama district last night in their bid to enter the school. The guards returned the fire and foiled the nefarious designs of militants. No loss of life was reported. Militants also made an attempt to enter the residence of a National Conference leader at Zainapora-Shopian in Pulwama district, opening fire on the guards posted there last night. The guards retaliated, forcing the militants to flee. Militants set ablaze the house of Bashir
Ahmad Dar at Rusoo-Beerwah in Budgam district of central Kashmir last night.
— PTI |
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