Srinagar, June 19
Holding that transferring forestland to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) on a permanent basis is in a violation of the Supreme Court guidelines, National Conference patron Farooq Abdullah has urged the Congress-led government to withdraw the order.

He termed the situation dangerous and sought immediate remedial measures to calm down the controversy.

He asked the coalition government to relinquish office if it failed to act and blamed the ruling parties for polarising the situation on communal and regional lines to “further their political interests.”

The National Conference patron said if voted to power, we would take up the issue within first two months. “We will discuss the issues related to the SASB, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board and the Muslim Auqaf Trust,” and bring to book all those responsible for the misdeeds, Abdullah said.

The wrongs done in the three institutions, looking after the religious places would be set right, Abdullah asserted.

Farooq said the recent decisions of the government to transfer forestland to the SASB had created “multi-dimensional apprehensions” in the minds of the people.

He held that voices were being raised on the apprehensions of changing demographic position in Kashmir, and equated it with an earlier situation when the BJP had raised similar voices in Jammu on the settlement of people from Kashmir.

The former chief minister pointed out that the situation had further been made complicated by the contradictory statements of some ministers in the government.

This was apparent with reference to PDP leader and Deputy Chief Minister Muzaffar Hussain Beig’s recent remarks that his party was “blackmailed” by the Congress on the issue.

Farooq held that since the government took over, the people have been apprehending that it was pursuing a hidden agenda to erode and distort the identity and special constitutional position of the state. Referring to the conduct of yatra, before the SASB was constituted in 2000, Abdullah said various governments provided all the facilities.

“All the communities ensured that it went well. This was never a problem. The present regime has earned dubious distinction of creating one,” Abdullah stated.

Srinagar, June 19
The forestland had been only “diverted” to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) and not transferred on permanent basis, said Deputy Chief Minister Muzaffar Hussain Beig here today.

He said the assertions from Raj Bhawan indicated that there was a “conspiracy to divide people and destabilise” Jammu and Kashmir at a time when there is going to be a change of guard.

Outgoing Governor Lt-Gen S.K. Sinha (retd), as also chairman of the SASB, would relinquish office on May 25.

The recent reports and subsequent statements coming from Raj Bhawan over the issue had created a public resentment. Even the factions of separatist Hurriyat Conference, led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, united over the issue.

Referring to the statements coming from Raj Bhawan, the Deputy Chief Minister threatened to revoke the order “if they say that the land is theirs”.

He said the diversion of land for yatra purposes was to serve public interest to provide better hygienic conditions in the event of gradual increase in the number of yatris. The yatra had not been new to Kashmir, he said, adding that it had been smoothly going on since 1860.

Beig supported his argument of the diversion of forestland with the government order of May 26 which clearly states that “sanction had been accorded to the diversion of forestland measuring 39.88 hactares in the Sindh Forest division for raising prefabricated structures only for camping purposes of pilgrims, without going in for construction of permanent structures, at Baltal and Domeil by the shrine board.”

The terms and conditions set for the purpose stated that the proprietary status of the land be unchanged. It would return to the Forest Department when it was no longer required by the user agency.

“The user agency shall be responsible to get requisite clearance under any other relevant law in vogue,” the order states.

It adds that the user agency would pay an amount of Rs 2.31 crore as per the orders of the Supreme Court of India. The land would not be transferred, as the SASB is a non-state subject, which is prohibited under the Alienation of Land Act, 1995 (1938 AD).

Replying questions, the senior PDP leader said the issue with the SASB had resulted in deferment of the Mughal Road project, which already stands cleared by the Supreme Court. Beigh said the Congress had “pressurised” the PDP on the issue and thus keeping in view the public interest the requisite diversion of land to the SASB was effected.

Meanwhile, breaking its silence over the issue of transfer of forestland, the PDP has expressed its concern over “extra-constitutional utterances” by the senior officials of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB).

“Instead of addressing genuine public concern, the board authorities have been confounding the confusion,” a PDP spokesman stated here yesterday.

He added that it was highly regrettable that the spirit of hospitality, accommodation and warmth behind the yatra had been systematically sought to be politicised and communalised.

“PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed had cautioned about it when he was the Chief Minister of the state and warned of the pitfalls that the unimaginative leadership of the board could lead us to. Unfortunately, our worst fears have started coming true. It is for all of us to remain on guard against any attempts to tarnish the image of Kashmir,” the spokesman added.

A statement issued by the main coalition partner said the amount of concern, its reach and dimension that had been expressed about the ecological implications of recent administrative decisions augured well for the state and its future interests.

It appealed to all sections to ensure that they do not fall prey to the vested interest that had for the past few years been trying to communalise the pilgrimage. Amarnath Yatra has been a part of Kashmir’s cultural landscape for decades and it is the local Muslims who played host to the yatris and sadhus all along the route and even maintained the holy cave.

On occasions of natural calamity, people have been coming to the rescue of yatris much more than any civilised society would dream of. 

Udhampur, June 19
Although the scheduled visit of Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad to this town is aimed at bringing peace among warring factions of the party, infighting among Congress workers further intensified as party leaders clashed publicly in the meeting which was held to review preparations.

Azad is visiting Udhampur on June 22 to kick off election campaign for the party from this district. As district president and other party leaders have threatened to boycott the scheduled meeting, Janak Raj Gupta, political adviser to the Chief Minister rushed to Udhampur this morning to pacify the enraged leaders.

Although Gupta claimed to placated the enraged leaders, sources disclosed that the district committee and other local leaders were still adamant. They were demanding that the party should be involved in the rally and individuals, who have been taking credit of this programme, should be sidelined.

District and block presidents of the Congress party have expressed their anguish for being sidelined by Lok Sabha member Choudhary Lal Singh in organising the rally of the Chief Minister here. They alleged that instead of taking organisation into confidence Lal Singh had been projecting his own men.

Congress workers held a meeting at Dak Banglow to review preparations for the forthcoming visit of Azad. At the meeting district president Bhupinder Singh Pathania showed his resentment over sidelining of the party. He charged the Lok Sabha member with encouraging factionalism in the party by projecting only his men.

Lal Singh took strong exception to the allegation of the district president and claimed that the meeting was being organised by him as Lok Sabha member of this area. Both the leaders entered into a verbal dual followed slogans by their supporters.

The situation took an ugly turn when supporters of some leaders manhandled their rivals. Some policemen, who were present on the occasion, ultimately intervened and pacified all leaders.

Political adviser to the Chief Minister claimed that it was a minor incident. "I am here to review preparations of the visit of the Chief Minister", he told The Tribune and added that all senior leaders had been assigned the job to make the forthcoming visit a historic event.

Udhampur, June 19
After the BJP, main opposition National Conference (NC) has also charged Congress with making political appointments in the election year. Senior NC and party candidate for Bhaderwah seat, Mohammad Aslam Goni has taken serious note of recent appointments in Doda district and alleged that these appointments were made to fulfil interests of the Congress party in the coming assembly elections.

Goni said that developmental works virtually came to a halt in Doda district and the officers appointment by the government in this mountainous belt were more interested in organising political functions.

Goni who has announced to contest election from Bhaderwah alleged that some junior-level officers had been appointed on important positions and these officers had been dancing to the tunes of the Congress party.

Drawing attention of the Election Commissioner towards wholesale appointments of junior-level officers on important posts in Doda district, Goni said the government was appointing these undeserving officers to influence them during the elections.

NC leaders, who concluded his visit to the Bhalesa area of Bhaderwah, said that the administration had been totally politicised. Areas dominated by the opposition were ignored while formulating developmental plans; he alleged and pointed out that developmental activities had been going in haphazard manner without any planning.

He also pointed out that cloudburst and flashflood had caused havoc in many places in Bhaderwah but the authorities had not yet not taken any steps to provide relief to the affected people. Instead of mitigating miseries of the masses, officers appointed in Doda district, were more concerned about furthering political interests of Congress leaders.

Goni aired apprehension that the Congress party has devised a nefarious game plan for elections and appointments of junior officers on important posts were made to accomplish that mission. He said that he had already brought the matter to the notice of the NC leadership.

Jammu, June 19
The process for return of Kashmiri migrants to the valley has started on a positive note with the relief department issuing 2,000 forms within three days of the start of registration process under the Prime Minister's relief package.

Relief Commissioner Vinod Kaul said, "The migrants will get relief primarily on two fronts “ housing and employment. The process of submission of forms has also been started." Though a large number of forms may have been issued, the migrants are skeptical about the entire process. "The state government has skipped the issues of employment and reason behind selling of land or property in the form," said Satish Razdan, who came to the Relief Commissioner's office to collect the form. He said, "Every Kashmiri Pandit would like to return to the valley. On employment front, the government must ensure one job per family, while in housing all of us should be rehabilitated in the same area. We were scattered earlier, which proved disadvantageous to us." He brushed aside the security concerns, stating "Nobody is safe in India, as terror strikes have taken place in various cities in the past." He said Kashmiri migrants had been attending Khir Bhawani Mela in the valley for the past couple of years without any hassle.

However, Dileep Kaul at Muthi camp for Kashmiri migrants has a different view on the issue. "Firstly, the government has not taken adequate measures to ensure our security in the valley. Secondly, the process is fraught with bureaucratic hiccups. Last but not the least, there is no minority quota in the valley. Our children could neither get jobs there nor could they establish a business owing to security threat.

The 'Expression of Interest' form issued by the relief department requires a migrant family to spell out details like number of family members at the time of migration, current strength of the family, besides particulars of residence/agricultural land/orchard. The form also asks the family to clarify whether the entire family or some of its members want to return. It also gives them the choice to mention the probable year of return, in which they have the option to return in any of the coming three years.

The migrant families have following concessions available under the Prime Minister's package “ Rs 7.5 lakh as cash assistance for construction/renovation of house, transit accommodation for six months, relief for two years after return to those registered under relief category, Rs 750 per month scholarship for schoolgoing children, employment package, cash assistance of Rs 5 lakh for those wanting to set up income generating units, aid for re-cultivation of land, and waiver of interest to those who had loan outstanding as January 1, 1990.

Jammu, June 19
Despite being known as the rice bowl of the state where world renowned variety of basmati rice is grown, still farmers in various villages near the border in R.S. Pura and Bisnah sector rue government apathy of providing them better irrigation 
facilities.

Though Ranbir canal provides water for irrigation to majority of the Jammu region, but various villages like Korothana, Sai, Sai-Khurd in R.S. Pura sector and Arnia in Bisnah sector are not covered by the canal, to mitigate the problems of the farmers, the state irrigation department had installed tubewells at these villages, however, these tubewells have been defunct.

“We produce the best quality of basmati rice in the region, but because of lack of proper irrigation facility our yield was low,” said Pawan Kumar, a farmer in Arnia village in Bisnah Tehsil.

He said “As the water from Ranbir canal does not reach here, we requested the state government to install tubewell for us, the state irrigation department had installed tube-wells here, but after a few months of their installation they have become defunct.”

The farmers in these villages say that their repeated requests to the officials of the state irrigation department have fallen on deaf ears.

The farmers say that they had to suffer huge losses due to the apathetic attitude of the department as a large portion of their crop had wilted away due the unavailability of proper irrigation facilities.

“When our crop needs water we don’t have enough to irrigate our fields that result in huge loss of the standing crop, inflicting huge financial losses to the farmer community,” said Ghirdhari Lal, a resident of Korothana village of R.S. Pura sector.

Though the officials at the department hold mismanagement of the tubewells responsible for their being defunct, they say that the matter has come to their notice and that they would soon repair these pumps.

But the farmers in the affected villages say that the quality of the machinery installed by the irrigation department was substandard. “We are in the process of sowing seeds, so we need water to irrigate our fields, but due to lack of irrigation facilities we are very much worried these days,” said Sham Singh, a farmer in 
Sai-Khurd.

Meanwhile, repeated attempts to contact the chief engineer of the department proved futile.

Srinagar, June 19
Both factions of the separatist Hurriyat Conference here today resolved to sink differences and forge unity on the resolution of Kashmir issue under the relevant UN resolutions and through tripartite talks.

The leaders of both factions, Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq had six and a half hours long meeting at the Hyderpora residence of the hardline leader, Geelani today. Mirwaiz was accompanied by senior colleagues, including Shabir Ahmad Shah, while Geelani was accompanied by Ghulam Nabi Sumji, Ashraf Sahrai and Massarat Aalam. The meeting continued till late this evening, after it had started around noon today.

Apart from concentrating on UN resolutions and tripartite talks, the meeting constituted a six-member committee to sort out mechanism to forge unity among the two groups, Ayaz Akbar spokesman of the Geelani's Hurriyat told The Tribune after the meeting. He added that the committee would also find out whether there was any need to amend the 1993 APHC constitution. The names of the six committee members would be disclosed within a few days, the spokesman said.

Geelani had parted ways with the Hurriyat Conference early in 2003 following differences with Mirwaiz over the reports of proxy candidates in the last assembly elections. 

Jammu, June 19
For the very first time, an outfit has decided to fight the Assembly elections on the main plank of separate statehood for Jammu.

The Jammu State Morcha (Progressive) headed by Prof Virender Gupta will contest from at least 20 Assembly seats in Jammu region seeking votes for Jammu as a separate state.

The party has already announced its candidates for Vijaypur and Nagrota Assembly constituencies. The party believes that the solution to the vexed Kashmir issue lies in the trifurcation of the state into three independent political units - Jammu and Kashmir as two separate states within the Indian union and Ladakh as a Union Territory.

“The union of these regions into one state is accidental and is an unnatural wedlock. Each of these regions has a distinct cultural, geographical, historical and political identity,” Prof Gupta said.

He said the people of Jammu had been subjected to political neglect and discrimination in the areas of development and state services. “Jammu region has almost 50 per cent of the state's population and an area 1.7 times of the Kashmir valley, but it has only 37 Assembly seats against the latter’s 46. If population and other criteria laid down in the Representation of the J&K People's Act are followed judiciously, Jammu should have got at least 52 seats. Also Jammu contributes over 70 per cent of the state's revenue whereas it gets only 20-30 percent of the total allocation for development,” Prof Gupta added.

Prof Gupta opined that the ills that afflicted Jammu stemed from the fact that it was “systematically denied” free and fair participation in the political structure of the state. “The undue weightage given to Kashmir region in the state Assembly and Lok Sabha coupled with the Centre's appeasement policy has put Kashmir in a politically dominant position,” he added.

Prof Gupta added that the trifurcation of the state would not only satisfy the regional aspirations of people of all three regions but also “save Jammu and Ladakh regions effectively from terrorism and secessionist forces” in the valley.

Jammu, June 19
Though the political parties have not decided the fate of those leaders, who are have been alleged to be involved in the Srinagar sex scam, constitutional experts see no problem for these leaders in contesting the forthcoming Assembly elections.

According to experts, there is no bar for these leaders on contesting the poll.

They said since G.A. Mir and Raman Mattoo, who face trial in the high court in connection with their alleged involvement in the sex scam, have not been convicted they cannot be prevented from contesting the election.

While G.A. Mir won the 2002 election from the Dooru constituency in south Kashmir, Raman Mattoo was elected to the Assembly from the Habba Kadal constituency in Srinagar as an independent candidate. Later he joined the People’s Democratic Forum, a group of independent MLAs.

As far as the fate of Peerzada Mohd Syed and speaker Tara Chand is concerned, they too have no restrictions in contesting the next election as one Congress MP Madan Lal Sharma had leveled charges against them saying they too were involved in sex scam. These charges have not been so far substantiated.

Peerzada had won the 2002 election from Kokernag and Tara Chand from Chhamb on the Congress ticket. Reports said both Peerzada and G.A. Mir have started pre-poll campaign in the Kokernag and Dooru constituencies, respectively.