Jammu, October 20
The announcement of the Assembly elections has put political parties from the Jammu and Kashmir regions in starkly different situations.

While the key players in Jammu - BJP and Panthers Party - are upbeat, the National Conference and the PDP, both having their votebanks in Kashmir, are treading cautiously.

Among the most enthused is the BJP which hopes to make major gains in the backdrop of the successful Amarnath land agitation in the Jammu region.

The party's expectations stem from the fact that it was the only political outfit in the Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti, which spearheaded the agitation, with high stakes in the elections. The BJP has already made its intention clear of raising the Amarnath issue during the elections.

The Panthers Party, which had four MLAs in the last Assembly, would also look to boost its tally on the poll plank of discrimination with Jammu. The party has been rigorously pursuing the issue of delimitation of Assembly seats for political empowerment of the Jammu region.

The Congress, which had earned the people's wrath on both sides of the Jawahar Tunnel over the land issue, would look to regain the lost ground. Though Congress leaders are saying that the land row would have no bearing on their poll prospects, workers are having a tough time fielding queries on the party's role in the entire controversy.

It would not be easy for the party to repeat its last performance when it won 15 Assembly seats in the Jammu region.

On the other hand, National Conference, the only party having acceptability in all regions of the state, is busy devising its poll strategy. The party has high stakes in the valley where the separatists have given a call for poll boycott.

The PDP, another Kashmir-based party, has gone into the introspection mode after the elections were announced.

According to political analyst Rekha Chowdhary, the PDP would be the most disheartened party as it suffered the maximum damage during the land agitation. The NC, she said, though has reconciled to the idea of elections, has got everything to be optimistic. "Firstly, it is the least damaged party in the Kashmir valley and secondly, it has the advantage of the anti-incumbency factor.

It may well form the next government on its own or in coalition," she averred.

As far as the Congress is concerned, she said the land agitation would have an impact on the its poll prospects, but it would not play a role beyond a certain point. She said the BJP would certainly be in a better position than 2002 when it had a single seat.

Jammu, October 20
A workshop on ‘Delimitation of Constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir: Problems and Prospects’ was organised by the Department of Economics, Jammu University, in collaboration with the Universal Foundation here today.

HoD Prof Rajender Gupta said delimitation had become a burning issue, while Prof Dipankar Sengupta made a power point presentation wherein data regarding population, voters, voters per seat, area per seat, both in Jammu province and Kashmir was presented.

Ashok Sharma of the Pradesh Congress Committee said it was an uphill task and urged unity among Jammu’s population and politicians to achieve the goal.

Senior Panthers Party leader Harsh Dev Singh said the issue was far more serious than it was thought. “The amendment made to freeze delimitation by the National Conference government in 2002 did not merely freeze it till 2026, but de facto till 2035,” he said.

Singh, however, refuted the claim that the Governor was helpless in this regard and said the discrimination against Jammu was ultimately the result of poor and unjust representation.

Dineshwar Singh Jamwal, president of the Universal Foundation, delivered the vote of thanks.

Salamabad (Uri), October 20
As we approach Uri near the LoC the inscription on a rock -- “the road joins hearts”-- seems to be a pointer to the developments taking place along this route on which “Karavan-e-Aman” has been running since April 7, 2005. The stage is now set for the opening of trade between the two sides of Kashmir tomorrow.

While the cross LoC- passengers had been crossing the “Aman Setu” over the KDK nullah on foot, the trucks carrying goods from either side would cross the LoC for the first time after 61 years. “It is a good beginning…. the governments on both sides have to be sincere in their approach”, said a resident here.

“If it is like the bus service, it would be of no use”, said Ghulam Ahmad Jaan, a small businessman in Uri, 18 km short of the Kaman bridge or Aman Setu” on the LoC. For the past more than three years he has been waiting to visit his elder brother, Abdul Samad, in Bagh district of PoK. “There should be free movement of people and traders must have many facilities like banking and telecommunication”, he asserts.

He adds if the traders want to buy certain commodities, how could it be possible without a communication system. “They (PoK people) can call us but we cannot make a phone call to that side”, he laments.

The Tourist Reception Centre at Salamabad between Uri and the LoC is agog with preparations for tomorrow’s event. Security and other related measures were in place for the event.

A list of 21 items has already been finalised for the cross-LoC trade, which include fresh fruit, dry fruits, spices, carpets, shawls and other handicraft items, said Mubeen Shah, president of the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Srinagar, October 20
The PDP political affairs committee (PAC) meeting presided over by president Mehbooba Mufti has welcomed the opening of cross-LoC trade via the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad and Poonch-Rawalkote routes tomorrow.

“The opening of Srinagar-Muzafarabad and Poonch-Rawalkote roads for trade is a step of unprecedented wisdom and courage that the two countries have displayed in recent history. It is the second most significant and historic confidence-building measure (CBM) after the launch of cross-LoC bus service on April 7, 2005”, the meeting resolved.

Udhampur, October 20
Even as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has made it clear that India has not violated the Indus Water Treaty while constructing the 450 MW Baglihar Hydroelectric Project, a three-member delegation from Pakistan today inspected the dam site and powerhouse at Chanderkot. The team also measured the flow of water at Ramban.

The delegation was led by Sayed Jamail Ali Shah, secretary works and chairman of the Indus Water Commission Pakistan and accompanied by Shehnaz Memon and Mirza Ali- two senior officers of the Water Resources. The delegation inspected the dam exactly 10 days after the Prime Minister commissioned the project on October 10. The PM, while inspected the project, said India would be abide by its commitments under the Indus Water Treaty and said the treaty was sincerely observed while constructing the project.

Sources said the team reached Chanderkot at 11 am and visited the dam site along with their Indian counter parts. They inspected water storage at the dam in the Ramban district, alluding its fears that India had blocked the supply of regular water (23,000 cusecs a day) to Pakistan from the Chenab last month, while filling the reservoir of the dam.

Pakistan alleged that water blockade badly affected its share meant for agricultural crops. After visiting the site and measuring the flow of water, they visited the powerhouse at Chanderkot. Pakistan has repeatedly alleged that India has violated the Indus Water Treaty - a water-sharing agreement between the two countries signed by the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and president of Pakistan Ayub Khan in 1960. The World Bank is a signatory as a third party.

According to the treaty, India has exclusive rights to use waters of all eastern rivers namely the Sutlej, the Beas and the Ravi and their tributaries before the point where the rivers enter Pakistan. Similarly, Pakistan has rights to use waters of all western rivers namely the Indus, the Jhelum and the Chenab - all in Jammu and Kashmir.

Jammu, October 20
A.G. Puri (75), who retired as assistant financial controller from Jammu and Kashmir Industries (JKI) Limited, has been running from pillar to post for the release of gratuity for the past over 19 years

"I joined the department in 1972 and retired in 1989. I was entitled to receive a gratuity of Rs 45,000 on my retirement. However, I haven't received the amount till date," rued A. G. Puri.

Aggrieved with the approach of JKI, Puri filed a case with the controlling authority under the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972, and received a verdict in his favour. "On November 17 last year, the court instructed the JKI MD to deposit the gratuity along with interest of 10 per cent per annum from the date of my retirement within 30 days," Puri said.

As per the court's calculations the department had to pay Rs 1,73,500 as gratuity to Puri. However, the department has failed to deposit the amount.

In February this year, JKI deputy general manager sent a letter to Puri, asking for a meeting to carry out 'negotiations'

"I went there to meet him. As he wanted me to negotiate, I clearly told him it was not possible after the court's order in my favour. They could have negotiated it earlier," Puri said.

An official of JKI said:" The case will be taken up with the new MD so that justice is delivered to Puri."

Repeated attempts to contact the JKI MD proved futile.

Srinagar, October 20
With the announcement of Assembly elections, the Model Code of Conduct has come into force.

The circular issued by the General Administration Department (GAD) stated that the

Election Commission had considered the release of funds under the Member of Parliament Local Area Development Schemes and decided that no fresh release of funds under the Member of Parliament, including Rajya Sabha members, Local Area Development Fund should be made in any part of the country till the elections were over.

Similarly, no fresh release of funds under the MLAs’ or MLCs’ Local Area Development Fund be made if any such scheme was in operation till the implementation of the elections process.

No work should start in respect of which work orders had been issued before the issue of the letter. However, if a work actually started, that could continue.

Jammu, October 20
A Sikh delegation from Punjab, headed by Jaswant Singh Mann, met Governor N.N. Vohra today and apprised him about the problems being faced by the Sikh community in the state especially in the Kashmir valley.

“We requested the Governor to allot at least five per cent reservation in all government jobs for Sikhs. Besides we asked him to treat all Sikh officials in the administration as par with their Muslim counterparts for promotions and transfers,” said Mann, who is the president of the All-India Shiromani Akali Dal.

The Governor has agreed to look into the matter, he said.

Mann arrived in the state along with other members of his party to deliberate upon with the Kashmiri leadership to find an amicable solution to the Kashmir dispute.

“We have arrived to hold talks with various parties regarding the dispute and to find a solution to it,” Mann said.

The delegation would try to bridge the regional divide between the Jammu and Kashmir regions, he said.

The delegation is also scheduled to meet the separatist leaders in the valley and would take up the issue concerning the security of the Kashmiri Sikhs with them.

“We would be holding an inter party and inter religious seminar in Srinagar in which we would deliberate upon on the political, religious and other historical aspects of the Kashmir problem and with the consent of all the parties would try to find a solution to the crisis,” Mann said.

The delegation would also visit the Jammu region and would interact with leaders to find out a ‘broader prospect’ of the crisis.

Srinagar, October 20
The apple-laden trucks, which would be a part of the first consignment for the cross-LoC trade beginning tomorrow, arrived today in the fruit mandi in Baramulla. According to the officials and traders, out of 10 trucks for the first consignment, eight would carry fresh fruits, mainly apple, and two others would include dry fruits, spices and handicraft items from this side.

These apples --- collected from Sopore, Anantnag, Pulwama, Kulgam and Shopian--- have varieties like Delicious, American and Maharaji in addition to the Kashmir pears, said Ghulam Rasool Bhat, coordinator of the Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers-cum-Dealers Union, at Baramulla.

Meanwhile, the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry has come out with the details of the first consignment as agreed upon with its recent meeting with the counterparts from PoK. The consignment from the valley to be carried from Salamabad to Chakoti (PoK) tomorrow includes turmeric, mirchi, sump, beans, almonds and walnuts.

The trucks carrying these and other items would be returning from Chakoti, two kms from the Aman Sethu, while those carrying goods from across the LoC would be unloaded at Salamabad near Uri. The consignment expected to arrive in the valley from PoK includes two truckloads of rice and two truckloads of rock salt. The trucks would return to their respective places after unloading the consignments.

Jammu, October 20
The Jammu and Kashmir High Court today set aside the process, issued by the Srinagar Chief Judicial Magistrate, against senior journalist N. Ram.

One Zia-ul-Rehman Khan had filed a complaint against Ram, in which he alleging that the journalist had committed an offence under Section 153 of the Ranbir Penal Code, by publishing a feature in the newspaper ‘The Hindu’ which had hurt the religious sentiments of the complainant in particular and the Muslim community in general. Khan alleged that the publication of feature created widespread riots in different parts of Srinagar city on October 30, 2001 and people shouted slogans against the publication.

The high court observed: “Without placing on record copy of newspaper, the magistrate could not have proceeded in the matter. The complaint does not reveal the role of accused in present case. A copy of newspaper placed on file of court reveals that petitioner is neither the editor-in-chief nor executive director of the newspaper.”

Srinagar, October 20
A labourer was killed and at least three others injured in an explosion, which occurred at the Army ammunition depot in Khundru in Anantnag district today.

According to sources, it was not immediately known how the explosion occurred. However, the victims were carrying some explosives when they went off, they added. The deceased have been identified as Mohammad Ayub Mir. Army officials said they were still getting the details of the incident and more details were yet to come.

The last year blasts inside the Army premises had come as a major embarrassment for the force and created resentment in the local villagers as live shells, which were flown into nearby villages due to the huge intensity of explosions, continued to go off for months.

Jammu, October 20
A religious function was organised here to celebrate the tercentenary of Gurta Gaddi Divas. The main attraction of the programme held at Gurdwara Chand Kour was the ragi jatha from Punjab.

Members of the Sikh community thronged the gurdwara to pay obeisance to Guru Granth Sahib. Religious scholars from all over the country who attended the function threw light on the teachings and preachings of the Sikh Gurus.

"The 10th Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, had ordered the Sikh Panth to worship Guru Granth Sahib as the only Guru and it's a matter of great pride for us to celebrate 300 years of Gurta Gaddi today," said one of the speakers at the function.

The speakers emphasised that people, especially the younger generation, should abstain themselves from the use of drugs and other social evils as preached by the Sikh Gurus.