J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Kashmiri groups seek representation in Indo-Pak parleys
Jammu, December 6
Voices favouring the involvement of representatives of people of Jammu and Kashmir in the ongoing Indo-Pakistan talks keep on multiplying on both sides of the border.

Civic poll in J&K in January
Jammu, December 6
The Jammu and Kashmir Government has announced that the elections to the municipal corporations of Jammu and Srinagar and other municipalities would be held on party lines in January next. The elections would be held districtwise in eight phases.

Kalam to open museum
Srinagar, December 6
The President, Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, will inaugurate a museum during his visit here on Wednesday. It showcases heritage, culture and history of the people and the Army’s role from the day of its arrival here in 1947.

Kashmiri groups seek representation in
Indo-Pak parleys
M.L. Kak

Jammu, December 6
Voices favouring the involvement of representatives of people of Jammu and Kashmir in the ongoing Indo-Pakistan talks keep on multiplying on both sides of the border.

A majority of political leaders, including Prime Minister of occupied Kashmir, Sardar Sikender Hayat Khan, JKLF supremo, Mr Amanullah Khan, and others who matter in occupied Kashmir, seem to be in the race with separatists and mainstream political leaders in Jammu and Kashmir while demanding their involvement in the bilateral parleys.

The APHC, headed by Molvi Umar Farooq, has shown consistency in its demand for involving its leaders in the talks, a senior APHC leader Prof Abdul Gani Bhat has said “since we represent the aspirations of people of Kashmir our inclusion in the parleys was mandatory.”

He and others opine that “our future and fate are at stake and any solution reached between Islamabad and Delhi on the Kashmir issue, if finalised in our absence, will not be acceptable to us.”

Another faction of the JKLF, headed by Mr Mohd Yasin Malik, too, is supporting the demand for the involvement of Kashmiris in the talks. Those owing allegiance to Mr Malik in occupied Kashmir, too, have the same story to tell. This demand has found favour from the Jammu Kashmir Liberation League in occupied Kashmir.

Members of the bar associations in Kashmir and in the area under the control of Pakistan have also put their weight behind the demand.

For a change, the ruling elite, including Pakistan President, General Pervez Musharraf, has also favoured the involvement of all political leaders in Kashmir in the parleys, though his emphasis is on the APHC participation in the dialogue.

Mr Amanullah Khan has moved a step ahead by demanding involvement of people’s representatives from Jammu, Ladakh, Gilgit and Baltistan also in the talks.

In the background of the growing demand from separatists and other political leaders for including them in the parleys, leaders of different ethnic groups in Jammu and Kashmir, too, have started voicing their support for their participation in the dialogue.

Leaders of Gujjar and Bakerwal Front, various Sikh organisations Kashmiri Pandit bodies have started campaigning for their involvement in the talks.

When it was in power, the National Conference leadership did not support inviting Hurriyat leaders for talks. However, during the last six months, the NC leaders have demanded the holding of dialogue with all political groups.

This situation seems to have complicated the process related to promoting peace between India and Pakistan and to the settlement of the Kashmir issue.

With the growth of mainstream and separatist political groups not only in Jammu and Kashmir but in occupied Kashmir also, it has become difficult for Delhi and Islamabad to identify leaders who can claim to represent the people living on either side of the LoC.

In a clever move, General Pervez Musharraf has placed the ball in the court of Delhi when he recently said that talks should be held with all, including the NC and PDP leaders.

This has caused some embarrassment for Delhi, which is not yet in a mood to resume the dialogue with the APHC leaders. Political observers are of the opinion that the stalemate can be ended by Delhi and Islamabad either by engaging leaders of all political organisations in the talks or clinch the Kashmir issue to the satisfaction of both sides. This could either prolong the parleys for an indefinite period or result in an agreement which may not be defied by state leaders.

Civic poll in J&K in January
Tribune News Service

Jammu, December 6
The Jammu and Kashmir Government has announced that the elections to the municipal corporations of Jammu and Srinagar and other municipalities would be held on party lines in January next. The elections would be held districtwise in eight phases.

The Srinagar Municipal Corporation would be the first to go to the polls on January 20, polling for the Jammu Municipal Corporation would be held on February 1.

The announcement for these elections was made by the Chief Electoral Officer here this evening along with the districtwise schedule of poll.

The elections would be held on party lines and one-third of the seats would be reserved for women in each municipal body. Reservation would also be there for the Scheduled Tribes and the Scheduled Castes.

Elections for the urban local bodies are being held after about 29 years in the state.

The announcement said that elections for the urban local bodies of Baramula and Kupwara would be held on January 29, Anantnag and Pulwama on February 6, Srinagar and Budgam on February 10, Jammu and Kathua on February 7, Udhampur and Doda on February 11, and Rajouri and Poonch on February 17.

Elections would not be held for the time being in Leh and Kargil district.

It is worth mentioning that the given poll has earlier been postponed twice under the present regime on one or the other pretext.

Kalam to open museum
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, December 6
The President, Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, will inaugurate a museum during his visit here on Wednesday. It showcases heritage, culture and history of the people and the Army’s role from the day of its arrival here in 1947.

The museum which has come up at the BB Cantonment of the Army is aimed at making the people and children aware of the rich cultural heritage of the Kashmir valley.