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Seven injured in grenade attack
CPM unhappy with J&K Govt’s performance
Several Cong aspirants for CM’s post
Chrar-e-Sharief township to be developed as pilgrim centre
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Seven injured in grenade attack
Srinagar, August 24 SHO Sajad Ahmad
Parray, along with other policemen, was patrolling the main road near the police station when the militants carried out the attack at around 10.30 a.m., the sources said. Inspector
Parray, two CRPF personnel and four labourers busy with road construction in the area were injured in the explosion, the sources said, adding the militants fled the scene taking advantage of the panic after the blast. All the injured were rushed to hospital where their condition was stated to be stable, the sources said. No militant outfit has so far claimed responsibility for the grenade attack. A self-styled battalion commander of pro-Pakistan Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) was killed by the security forces during a search operation in South Kashmir last night, a defence ministry spokesman said today. He said troops cordoned off Osur village in Pulwama district last evening following information that some militants were hiding there. However, when the troops were about to storm a particular house, they came under heavy fire. The fire was returned and in the clash a militant identified as Gulzar Ahmad Mir, alias Captain alias
Shahin, was killed. One AK rifle, one magazine and 18 rounds were recovered from the B-category militant.
— PTI, UNI |
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CPM unhappy with J&K Govt’s performance
Srinagar, August 24 Talking to reporters at the end of two day’s meeting of the state committee of the CPM, said that there was need to further strengthen the steps, decisions and CBMs taken by the UPA government at the centre. He held that the dialogue process was the peoples’ voice in the entire region and the steps so far taken by India and Pakistan should be taken forward. Holding that dialogue process alone could lead to solution to all problems, Mr Karat urged the centre to take up the Siachen issue with Pakistan. “It is an economic burden on both countries”, and needed to be resolved he commented. Replying to questions Mr Karat said that the CPM was “not happy” with the performance of the coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir. He said that the expectations of the people had been raised by the coalition partners, when the government took over three years ago. But, he lamented, that no tangible steps were taken to come to the expectations of the people of the state. He, however, mentioned that unemployment problem in the State had not been addressed properly. He said that all issues relating to the political and security situation in the state were taken up during the State Committee meeting. Accompanied by Mr Mohammad Saleem, MP and deputy leader of the party in the Lok Sabha and Mr Mohammad Yusuf Tarigami, MLA, and State CPM secretary, Mr Praksh Karat met the Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and Governor S K Sinha here. Various issues related to political and security situation were discussed by the leaders. Referring to the dialogue process with different groups in Jammu and Kashmir, Mr Karat asked the central government to further take initiatives in the political process. He held that so far no solid steps had been taken in this direction and stressed the need for including all groups in the dialogue. The separatist moderate faction of the APHC led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq had two rounds of talks with the NDA government at the centre, but no further dialogue has been taken up by the UPA government since it took over last year. Evading queries about the role of some state Governors, the CPM leader, sought to set up certain norms for the appointment of state Governors. This, he said, should be coupled with consultations with the State Chief ministers concerned, he said. Pointing towards, various problems at the Gubernatorial level, Mr Karat held that the appointment of retired politicians as Governors led to such problems. |
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Several Cong aspirants for CM’s post
Jammu, August 24 The latest to stake claim for the Chief Minister’s post is Rural Development Minister Peerzada Mohammed Sayed. Party sources said supporters of the minister are against “importing” a party leader from Delhi when Peerzada, who has political roots in the Kashmir valley, could suitably fit the bill party high command decided in favour of the transfer of power. Till now there were four aspirants, including Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad, Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Prof Saifuddin Soz, MP, Mr Mohammed Shafi Qureshi, a former Governor and Mr Ghulam Rasool Kar MLC and the seniormost Congress leader,for the post of Chief Minister. Reports said supporters of Peerzada have conveyed to the Congress leaders in Delhi that if the Peerzada was not acceptable to them then the status quo be maintained in the interest of the success of the peace process, for which the Mufti has been receiving the credit. This demand is said to have received support from Deputy Chief Minister Mangat Ram Sharma. Sources close to him said if a Congress leader from Jammu was installed as Chief Minister he (Sharma) would have to quit as the Deputy Chief Minister. Mr Sharma is not prepared to exchange the Deputy Chief Minister’s chair with that of the Assembly Speaker. According to inside reports, senior PDP leaders were also encouraging those Congressmen who were for the status quo. Though the PDP leadership has not received any hint from the Congress high command regarding the transfer of power it has decided to adopt wait and watch policy and allow the pro-Mufti lobby in the Congress to campaign for maintaining the status quo at least for another year or so to allow the peace process to reach its logical conclusion. Earlier, the PDP leadership had reconciled with the plan on the transfer of power as per the 2002 agreement but now alarm bells have started ringing in the party circles following reports that the behind the scene hobnobbing between Congress MP Rahul Gahi and the National Conference President, Omar Abdullah could lead to isolation of the PDP. Political observers in Jammu and Kashmir are not in favour of any alliance or understanding between the National Conference and the Congress on the plea that it may not only allow the PDP to gain added political weight but also help separatists to be a main platform for those sections of people who feel disenchanted with the government even if the Congress forms government with the National Conference supporting it from outside. |
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Chrar-e-Sharief township to be
Srinagar, August 24 This was announced by the Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, at a meeting yesterday at the holy township of Chrar-e-Sharief, where the shrine of Sheikh Nooruddin Wali is located. He also announced to accord tehsil status to the town, a day after a similar announcement was made for Khag
tehsil thereby raising the total number of tehsils in the central Kashmir district of Budgam to five. The Chief Minister said the proposed authority would be provided special grants to undertake development projects for the area. He said his vision for Chrar-e-Sharief was of an important pilgrim centre that would attract devotees and tourists from all over the country and abroad. He said the mausoleum of the patron saint of Kashmir, Sheikh Nooruddin Wali (RA) is in focus all over the world. He said people who come from Pakistan are also keen to visit the shrine and pay obeisance. Centrality of Chrar-e-Sharief in terms of an overwhelming reverence people have for the shrine could be transformed into the place becoming a significant pilgrim destination, the Chief Minister said. He said facilities would be upgraded and announced that a guesthouse would be constructed for the convenience of the pilgrims wanting to stay overnight. He said private sector could also be invited to invest in raising similar facilities. He said the development of Yusmarg on the pattern of Pahalgam and Gulmarg would also boost tourism activity making the area a pilgrim-tourist circuit. He said pilgrims visiting the shrine would like to go to Yusmarg and enjoy the beauty of nature also like the Amarnath pilgrims take time out to visit Pahalgam and Sonamarg. Mufti Sayeed, who is also the Chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Wakf Board, said the construction of the gutted Khanqah at the shrine would be taken up soon. He said the beautification of the Hazratbal shrine is in progress while the 60 acre Idgah is in the advanced stage of development. He said the entire Idgah is being fenced to protect it from encroachment and being a free place for stray animals. He said unlike in the past every penny of the Wakf Board is accounted for and spent on the welfare of the community. |
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