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State lacks good governance, says Azad
PDP, CPM extend support to Azad
NC leadership upbeat over Mufti’s stepping down
Panthers not to join new govt
Two Hizb commanders killed
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State lacks good governance, says Azad
Srinagar, October 30 Mr Azad, accompanied by senior Congress leaders, Mr Moti Lal Vora and Ms Ambika Soni, as observers of the party high command, was addressing a press conference after being elected CLP leader. He said the support of those outside the coalition partners, including the Opposition parties and “those outside election process” (separatists), would be sought for the restoration of peace in Jammu and Kashmir. He said talks would be held with the separatist Hurriyat Conference, which already had been initiated under the common
minimum programme. He clarified that the dialogue process had been initiated following its mention in the CMP and added that under the 2002 Assembly election manifesto the point was made that the party would urge the Central Government to hold talks with those outside the election process. The process had been started during the NDA government at the Centre led by Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee, he said. “Talks were initiated. It has come a long way and the bus has since reached Muzaffarabad...” he commented. Mr Azad said the healing touch policy was also mentioned in the common minimum programme and the Congress-led government would further improve upon it. Referring to the healing touch, Mr Azad said being part of the manifesto, it would also be among the top priorities of the new government. “Yeh dil ke zakhm dil se hi samjhaye jaate hain, doctor ke marham se nahin”, he remarked when asked about the “slow progress” in this direction. Mr Azad said the Congress-led government in the state would work for taking forward development, progress and restoration of peace. Thrust would be laid on the creation of a conducive situation wherein people live a “prosperous life”, he said. During the next three years further improvement would be made in this direction, as already initiated during the past three years of Mufti’s rule, Mr Azad added. He hoped that the coalition parties, including the PDP, the PDF, the CPM, the Panthers Party and Independents, would continue to strengthen the process for an equitable development of all three regions of the state. The newly elected CLP leader assured full support of the nation to the people of Jammu and Kashmir and allayed the sense of alienation among the people of this trouble-torn state. He referred to his long career of over three decades having been elected from different parts of the country, beginning from Maharashtra, wherefrom he was first elected to the Lok Sabha. Earlier, addressing the legislators, Mr Azad cautioned ministers, legislators and officers against corruption and assured that such persons would not be retained. He asked his party leaders to remain “away from their relatives” during their work. He asked them that the “relatives should not be in their offices and should not influence them”, but at the same time asked them not to shun their relatives. Hinting at the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, Mr Azad pointed out that there was lack of two things — a good governance and good politics. Politics, he said, was not in the hands of its people, as there were international players. “There is need for good governance”, he said and added that this being in the hands of the people had enormous scope to improve, and stressed the need to earnestly work for a good governance. Referring to the strength of his party members in the 87-member Legislative Assembly, Mr Azad clarified that it had the largest number of 31 members. They included 21 of the Congress, four Independents, including two ministers and two MLAs from the Ladakh region, apart from six other Independents, who had joined the Congress and were its associate members. |
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PDP, CPM extend support to Azad
Srinagar, October 30 A meting of these leaders was held here today and attended, among others, by CPM state secretary and MLA Mohammad Yusuf Tarigami and ministers, Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen, Ghulam Mohiuddin Sofi and Usman Majid. The members expressed the hope that the new leadership would continue to meet the challenges by honouring the wishes and aspirations of the people. |
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NC leadership upbeat over Mufti’s stepping down
Jammu, October 30 The NC leadership, including former Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah and his son Omar Abdullah, who is president of the NC, was allergic to the Mufti regime on various counts. The Abdullahs were happy when the AICC announced its decision to abide by the agreement under which the Congress was to take over the reins of the state government. The Mufti and his daughter, Ms Mehbooba Mufti, who heads the PDP, had taken several steps not only to weaken the NC, but the state government took over certain valuable properties that were being looked after the Abdullahs. In the background of friendly relations of Dr Abdullah and Mr Omar Abdullah with the central leadership of the Congress, the new Chief Minister Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad, is unlikely to offend them. Political observers believe that Mr Azad might keep the NC by his side as there were indications that the PDP might make the functioning of his government rough. Breaking away of two legislators of the NC to the PDP fold was being seen as an effort of the Mufti to crack the NC. Although the Mufti has said the PDP would extend whole-hearted support to Mr Azad, but nomination of Mr Muzaffar Beig, for the post of Deputy Chief Minister by the PDP has sent different signals. With Mr Beig occupying the second position in the Cabinet, doing things might not be smooth for Mr Azad. Certain senior leaders of the PDP have not liked nomination of Mr Beig. Supporters of Mr Ghulam Hassan Mir, Tourism Minister, were hopeful that in case Ms Mufti declined the post then he might be the choice as he was a founder member of the party. Mr Beig had joined the party later. On the other hand, it is learnt that Mr Mangat Ram Sharma, Deputy Chief Minister, was not keen on joining the Azad-led ministry and was trying to be appointed either the Speaker or sent out of the state as Governor. Himachal Pradesh was reportedly his first choice in case his request for governorship was accepted. The Peoples Democratic Front (PDF) formed by a group of independents, who had refused to support a Congress-led government in 2002, when the present Assembly was elected, and rallied behind the Mufti, now has announced unconditional support to Mr Azad. The Panthers Party, that has four MLAs, has decided not to join the Azad Ministry, but support the Congress-led government from outside. |
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Panthers not to join new govt
Jammu, October 30 The decision was taken during an emergency plenary session of the party that was convened here today. The Panthers Party was in the Mufti-led government with two of its four MLAs enjoying ministerial berth. Mr Bhim Singh said that the party would serve a 40-day notice to Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad on November 2 when he takes the oath of office as Chief Minister for implementation of the promises listed in the Common Minimum Programme. The party would review the situation after 40 days. |
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Two Hizb commanders killed
Srinagar, October 30 A self-styled divisional commander of Hizbul Mujahideen Taj Pahalwan was killed in an encounter with the security forces at Peer Bali in the Surankote area of Poonch district today. The security forces gunned down the area commander of Hizbul Fareed Hussain, alias Haris, in an encounter at Tandla in the Gandoh area of Doda district this morning, the spokesman said.
— PTI |
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