Rajouri, November 11
The Congress may be hoping to form the next government at the Centre, but its plans for Jammu and Kashmir are full of complexities.

With less than a week to go for the first phase of the elections, the delay in the release of party’s election manifesto has already caused its candidates a serious harm.

Party candidates are fumbling at rallies and public meetings to come out boldly with promises and disclose the party’s agenda.

“The election manifesto will soon be out and you will know more about our programmes and policies,” candidates have been telling supporters till this juncture.

Party sources said the central high command was preoccupied with national politics and was yet to clear the manifesto for the state.

As a result, the opposition has not only been highlighting “lack of seriousness on part of the Congress towards Jammu and Kashmir”, but also directly attacking the Ghulam Nabi Azad-led government for not doing enough in terms of development, though there are others who say the Azad’s government is credited with unparalleled development activity.

On the contrary, political parties like the BJP, Panthers Party, National Conference (NC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have gone all out to highlight their issues.

No politician, irrespective of his or her affiliation leaves an opportunity to hit out at the Congress on this count.

Former Rajya Sabha MP and senior Congress leaders Chaudhary Muhammad Aslam, who is contesting from Surankote says that the party would highlight the developments during the Azad’s term as chief minister.

“We are highlighting the setting up of district hospital’s, new degree colleges, linking roads, creating of eight new districts (four each in Jammu and Kashmir valley) and other developmental works.”

But there is still not much clarity on what to say about the future plans.

Even on major issues facing the state there is no clear-cut policy announcement. While, other parties have given out concrete proposals.

The Omar Abdullah-led NC has announced that it would give a stipend to unemployed youth.

The NC has said, “If voted to power, we would see that all educated unemployed are absorbed either in government jobs or in private sector thereby assuring them of a recurring source of income.”

Similarly, the PDP too has come out with a proposal for the youth.

On the other hand the PDP is widely circulating its documents on self-rule that talks of a framework for resolution of various issues facing Jammu and Kashmir.

Jammu, November 11
After “successful” implementation of the “social engineering formula” in Uttar Pradesh, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has adopted the same for the upcoming assembly elections in the state where the party has decided to field candidates from various caste and religious background.

The party is hopeful to replicate its winning formula in the state as the party leadership is hopeful to “single-handedly” form the next government in the state.

“The BSP is the party that takes people of all walks of life along with it. We care for the aspirations of the people and are hopeful that the people of the state would give us a chance and vote the BSP to power,” the party’s national general secretary Narinder Kashyap said.

The BSP would also field “adequate” number of women candidates at various assembly seats in the state.

“Our party believes in equality so we would be fielding adequate number of female candidates from various seats in the state,” Kashyap said.

For the upcoming assembly elections, the party has high stakes in the region as it has decided to field candidates from all the 87 assembly segments and BSP president and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati has been monitoring the party’s activities and election campaign in the state.

However, days before the assembly elections, the party has been witnessing an internal tussle as the party state president Yashpal Bhagat alleged Kashyap of selling party tickets. Bhagat was later expelled from the party. Bhagat being a popular figure in the region joined the National conference and would now be an NC candidate from the Bishnah assembly segment.

Meanwhile, the state is being viewed by the BSP as the second turf after Uttar Pradesh and is hopeful to form a government there. “Mayavati has decided to campaign for the party candidates and for that she would be visiting the state on December 4 and December 10,” Kashyap said.

BSP national general secretary and party in-charge for elections in the state Narinder Kashyap has announced Kamal Arora, a National Conference (NC) rebel from the Bishnah assembly constituency, as the party candidate from Bishnah.

Kamal Arora was the first runner-up seeking mandate of the NC but refused ticket by the party high command after BSP state president YashPal Bhagat, who was expelled by the party for “anti-party activities”, joined the NC and was given mandate.

Jammu, November 11
Though educational institutions in the state are busy celebrating birth anniversary of renowned freedom fighter Maulana Abul Kalam Azad as National Education Day, children below the age of 14 years are working at shops, restaurants, hotels, dhabas and as domestic servants. They wish to go to school some day but are helpless and depend on these jobs for their survival.

Though they want to study but cannot do so due to lack of finances. Their parents have no money to educate them. Moreover, the family depends on the money they bring at the end of the month to survive.

”I pick rags from different localities of the city. I left my studies after passing Class III. I have great desire to go to school but because of poor financial condition I cannot,” said Hira Lal (10), a rag picker.

”My 14-year-old son is working as labour. My 13-year-old daughter and me wash utensils at marriages. My husband expired two years ago and now we hardly manage to make both ends meet. If my son goes to school, who will earn living for us?” said Chuni Devi at Bhagwati Nagar.

Rohit Kumar (17), working at a dhaba in Talab-Tillo, said: “I am working at this dhaba for the last five years at low wages. I want to pursue education but there is no way that I can do that.”

“I am working at this automobile workshop. Due to financial hardship, my parents engaged me at this workshop at the age of seven. Whenever I see children dressed in school uniform I find myself neglected,” rued Rajeev Kumar (12) of Muthi.

Jammu, November 11
National Education Day was celebrated by the Directorate of School Education in collaboration with the Department of Higher and Technical Education at Government College for Women Gandhi Nagar, Jammu, today to celebrate the birth anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, first union education minister and a renowned freedom fighter.

On the occasion, Dr S.S. Bloeria, adviser to the Governor, was the chief guest whereas Professor Amitabh Mattoo, vice-chancellor, Jammu University, was the guest of honour.

A provincial-level symposium on ‘Maulana Abul Kalam Azad’s crusade for education’ was also conducted. As many as 14 students from different government higher secondary schools and colleges participated in the symposium.

Speaking on the occasion, Mattoo attributed Azad’s rise to the post of education minister to his great vision and broad mindedness, as he was unwilling to compromise on the communal harmony of the country. He asked the students to emulate the simple life led by Azad, who preached and practiced honesty, integrity and simplicity and died in complete penury.

Bloeria said the biggest tribute to Azad would be converting his crusade for universal education into a collective determination and dream of freeing India from shackles of illiteracy and ignorance.

Srinagar, November 11
PDP patron and former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed has decided not to contest the Assembly elections after his party put forth a much awaited self-rule framework for resolution of the Kashmir issue.

According to sources, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, MP representing Anantnag in the Lok Sabha, would be the party candidate against Mehboob Beigh (NC) from Anantnag Assembly constituency.

Mufti Sayeed had not contested the last Assembly elections also but after taking over as the Chief Minister at the head of a PDP-Congress coalition government, he got elected from Pahalgam constituency of Anantnag district in south Kashmir. Pahalgam was vacated by his daughter, Mehbooba Mufti, who later contested the last general election and got elected to the Lok Sabha from Anantnag in 2004. Mehbooba had been first elected as a Congress candidate from their home constituency of Bijbehara. Former minister Abdul Rehman Veeri would be the PDP candidate from Bijbehara and Rafi Ahmad Mir from Pahalgam.

Against 32 candidates in the 2002 elections in which the party got 16 seats, the PDP this time is contesting at least 70 seats. Of these, the list of 44 candidates has been issued comprising the candidates contesting the first two phases.

Those in the list of 44 include five former ministers and three members of the last Assembly and two Members of the Legislative Council. The former PDP ministers include Qazi Mohammad Afzal, Javed Mustafa Mir, Abdul Aziz Zargar, Abdul Gaffer Sofi and Abdul Rehman Veeri. The three former MLAs include Sartaj Madni from Devsar, Nazir Ahmad Bhat from Gurez and Mohammad Sultan Panditpuri from Langate. Two MLCs include Nizamuddin Bhat from Bandipore and Syed Basharat Bukhari from Sangrama constituency.

Meanwhile, Pulwama district NC president Syed Showkat Gayoor Andarbi, his six block presidents along with the entire district body today joined the PDP here today, a party spokesman said.

In another development, about 300 Congress workers joined the PDP in Kapran Shahabad in south Kashmir yesterday.

Srinagar, November 11
Former Cabinet minister Hakeem Yasin will fight elections from two constituencies, Budgam and Khansahib. He had won from Khansahib in 2002 as an Independent.

Yasin announced that his party, People’s Democratic Front, which he formed after the last elections, would put up candidates from 30 seats, including Ishtiaq Qadri, who has been in the NC and the PDP earlier. About the possibility of a third front, he said talks were on and something might develop near the poll.

He dismissed the concepts of autonomy and self-rule put forward by the NC and the PDP, respectively, as a viable solution to the Kashmir issue, asserting that any feasible answer could only emerge from talks between India and Pakistan. He said he understood issues of separatists, claiming that elections were necessary for administrative matters but were not a solution to the Kashmir imbroglio.

Yasin has been a veteran politician, elected to the assembly in 1977, 83, 87 and 2002. He was earlier in the National Conference but joined ranks with NC-rebel G.M. Shah in 84.

Udhampur, November 11
More than 125 battalions of paramilitary forces are required to conduct free and fair elections in Udhampur district with 107 hypersensitive and 111 sensitive polling stations. Udhampur-Reasi zone DIG Alok Puri told The Tribune that as militant threats loomed large in Mahore, Gulabgarh, Gool, Bastangarh and other remote areas, preventive measures like completion of the area domination process and combing of adjoining localities to flush out terrorists had been taken.

The administration was also seeking assistance from the Army in flushing out militants from the far-flung areas. Apart from conducting free and fair elections, providing security to the candidates was another challenge for the administration.

Three of the six assembly constituencies in this belt, Gool-Arnas, Mahore and Chenani, face militant threat and all hypersensitive polling stations are located in these constituencies. "We have already deployed forces in the sensitive areas", the DIG said Sources said the administration had identified some “safe” areas and candidates had been advised to hold public meetings only in these spots as it was impossible to provide security in every nook and corner of their respective constituencies.

The fate of four former ministers, including Jugal Kishore Sharma (Reasi), Harshdev Singh (Ramnagar), Aijaz Khan (Gool-Arnas) and Jagjiven Lal, is at stake in Reasi and Udhampur districts.

Srinagar: The government, in an attempt to curb any untoward incident during the forthcoming Assembly elections, has asked all the gun licence holders to deposit their arms till the poll process is over in the district. The district magistrate of Ganderbal district issued the directive yesterday. Ganderbal along with four assembly seats of Rajouri district are going to polls in the third phase of Jammu and Kashmir elections on November 30. — PTI

Rajouri, November 11
Governor N.N. Vohra today exhorted the administration to strictly adhere to the model code of conduct, leaving no scope for deviation from the laid down norms.

Reviewing the overall security arrangements in Poonch and Rajouri this morning, the Governor said that no complaint in this regard will be acceptable, as the administration is required to maintain total impartiality for ensuring free and fair conduct of the elections.

The Governor also stressed the need for close synergy in security forces to instill confidence among the people, who are going to exercise their right to franchise during the seven-phased Assembly elections.

Vohra reviewed the security apparatus with the senior officers of the civil administration, police, central police and the Army.

He discussed all the logistical concerns like accommodation, transport, medical services, communication system, food supplies etc for the security forces and the civilian staff deployed on poll duties.

At Poonch, CRPF additional director general Karanjeet Singh, and DIG (Poonch-Rajouri range) Kamal Saini briefed the Governor on the security scenario and DC Mohammed Afzal dwelt on the overall scenario.

In Rajouri district, 454 polling stations would be established in the four constituencies for an electorate of 3,50,424. In all 65 candidates are in the fray in the district with the largest number of 24 candidates in Rajouri Assembly Constituency, followed by 16 in Kalakote, 13 in Darhal and 12 in Nowshera constituency.

In the Poonch district, 353 polling stations would be set up for an electorate of 2,60,565 in the three constituencies of Surankote, Mendhar and Haveli.

Srinagar, November 11
Army chief Gen Deepak Kapoor inaugurated Gohalan as a model village on the Line of Control (LoC) in Uri sector of north Kashmir today.

The Army had adopted the village after a devastating earthquake on October 8, 2005, killed at least 30 persons there and rendered many homeless.

Taking cognizance of the suffering of villagers on the LoC, Gen Deepak Kapoor, the then Army Commander, Northern Command, ordered the adoption of such villages with a view to providing amenities for social and economic growth. Several short-term and long-term projects worth Rs 1.22 crore would be executed.