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Sonia vows to wipe out terror Congress chief Sonia Gandhi waves to the
crowd before addressing an election rally at Uri on Wednesday. Tribune photo: Amin War
BJP accuses Cong of creating regional imbalance
BJP general secretary Arun Jaitely elaborates a point during a press conference in Jammu on Wednesday. Photo: Inderjeet Singh |
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Chaos rules city as candidates file nomination papers
HC turns down plea of dismissed BSF soldier
Kashmiri Pandits’ body still working on consensus
Post-Mumbai, spotlight on terror
Bhim Singh may upset poll equations
PDP chief opposes Army action
Farooq blames Congress, PDP for Amarnath row
Files papers from Sonawar too
Pre-poll Violence
Row Over Administrative
Services
Fake scribe held on cheating charge
PDP playing petty politics: Omar
Govt staff to vote by postal ballot
Winter vacations from Dec 8
Act tough against terror: Samiti
Grenade found near rally venue
Another Independent dies after filing papers
Mehbooba’s estranged husband joins NC
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Sonia vows to wipe out terror
Doda, December 3 Addressing a public meeting here in support of party candidates in this mountainous belt, Sonia Gandhi said the UPA regime wanted to have cordial relations with its neighbours but it did not mean that “we will remain a mute spectator to the misdeeds of those who want to spread terror in the country.” The AICC chief asserted "our tolerance should not be treated as our weakness. We are competent enough to eradicate the menace of terrorism from this land". She made it clear that "nobody should consider our desire to have friendship with Pakistan as our weakness," she said. Reiterating the government's commitment to containing terrorism at any cost, she pointed out that the Congress-led regime had strengthened village defence committee (VDCs) and enhanced the wages of 25000 VDC members from Rs 1500 to Rs 3000 Seeking an absolute majority for her party, Sonia said the Centre had given all help to the state to make it self-sufficient. She specially mentioned that during the Congress-led government the Baglihar and Dulhasti hydroelectric projects were commissioned. Former Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and other senior leaders also addressed the rally. Talks only way
to resolve issues
Ehsan Fazili adds from Srinagar: Addressing an election rally at Uri near the LoC today, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi said India could not be weakened by terrorist activities. Asserting that India was strong enough the AICC chief said :“We have the capacity and capability to react in any manner. Referring to the dialogue process with Pakistan, Sonia Gandhi said India had taken the initiative in this direction and the process continued even in the midst of hard times. “We are a peace-loving country and can go to any extent to maintain peace”, she said. The Congress president said that dialogue was the only solution to any problem and all issues could be solved through the process of dialogue. |
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BJP accuses Cong of creating regional imbalance
Jammu, December 3 Hitting at the Congress for creating regional imbalance, he said, “All kinds of discrimination, including political and economic against Jammu should come to an end. Migrants should also get their rights and refugees should be rehabilitated.” Whipping the Congress for playing soft on terror, in context of Mumbai terror strike he said, “The Central government has lost legitimacy after its total failure in tackling the terror attack. Not only this, inflation, economy, petrol hikes prices are other issues, where the government has performed badly.” Flaying Pakistan for staging the terror strike at Mumbai, he said, “All the proofs signal Pakistan’s hand in the matter that it has been planned from its soil.” As an opposition party, he feels that if the Central government is hard on terror, then his party will be happy to support it but otherwise it will put pressure on it to change its course of action. “Once the government makes an assessment of the situation, than we will stand by its version before the international community for various courses- building international opinion against Pakistan, the nation’s stand on diplomacy or cooperation with
Pakistan.” |
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Chaos rules city as candidates file nomination papers
Jammu, December 3 The traffic situation of Jammu bore the major brunt as at various places it was either halted or was diverted to other routes as candidates of various political parties along with hundreds of their supporters thronged on roads in Jammu to file their nomination papers. Various roads leading to the city, including the national highway in Jammu, remained chocked today as hundreds of supporters of the candidates accompanied them in cavalcade from various areas here. “I have been standing here for several hours, but due to the ongoing rallies of these political leaders, I am not able to catch a matador to reach my office”, Rajinder Kotwal, a government employee, said. Long queues of the passengers could be seen at various chowks and matador-stands waiting for vehicles, but the traffic police had diverted or either halted the traffic at various areas following the heavy rush of supporters of political parties. For political candidates, the roads in Jammu city had become a ground to show the strength to the rivals as the activists of various political parties ignoring the plight of the common people kept on disrupting the traffic and raised slogans in favour of their respective party and party candidates. Utter chaos prevailed here as the cavalcade of a Congress candidate proceeded to the office of the Jammu deputy commissioner to file nomination papers. “For several hours it seemed that there was nothing like law and order in the city and the political parties had let loose their goons open to create problems for the common masses.” Sunanda Sharma, a postgraduate student of Jammu University said. Adding she said, “Due to all this disturbances I could not attend two of my lectures.”
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HC turns down plea of dismissed BSF soldier
Jammu, December 3 The petitioner arrested a smuggler while trying to cross the border at the Durga Nagar (West Bengal) BSF post on September 22,2003 . On interrogation, the said smuggler disclosed that he usually used to cross the border to enter Indian territory with the consent and help of the Company Commander. The Company Commander on coming to know about this threatened the petitioner to involve him in a false case. The case as projected by the petitioner was that in September, 2003, his wife fell ill and he requested the Company Commander to sanction leave but it was denied. The petitioner, however, left the battalion on September 30, 2003, after informing the Company Commander and attended to his wife who remained admitted in hospital from September 22, 2003, to October 1,2003. Thereafter, the petitioner himself fell ill and remained under treatment from October 5,2003, to December13, 2003,at the Civil Hospital, R. S. Pura, Jammu. After recovery, when he joined duty on December 17, 2003, he was asked by the Company Commander to leave the battalion. The petitioner was taken into custody on January 24, 2004, when he was able to join his duty and was finally dismissed from service vide an order dated February 12, 2004. While dismissing the petition the court observed that “a perusal of the record shows that earlier also the petitioner has been awarded punishments on seven occasions for his unlawful act and conduct. This clearly shows that the petitioner has proved himself to be an indisciplined member and the respondents thus keeping the said facts have rightly imposed the punishment of dismissal upon the petitioner. This court cannot in writ jurisdiction reopen and appreciate the evidence as to whether the same was sufficient for imposing a major penalty of dismissal. I am of the opinion that no reasons can be recorded to say that the punishment imposed upon the petitioner is not commensurate to the gravity of charges proved against the petitioner.”
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Kashmiri Pandits’ body still working on consensus
Jammu, December 3 As many as 10 KP candidates have filed their nomination from the Habba Kadal constituency, including one from the BJP, one from the Congress, one from the Lok Jan shakti Party, and independent sitting MLA Raman
Mattoo. Amira Kadal too has one KP candidate from the BJP, one from the
PDF. Sonawar has one KP candidate from the BJP and one from the Congress. The nomination filed by a large of number of KPs has not disappointed the
KVSS, as they are still hopeful of a positive outcome. KVSS general secretary S.K. Bhatt, said, “We Kashmiri Pandits have been fighting for our cause for decades together. Instead of bifurcating votes among many, we should rather have one winnable KP candidate in each constituency and increase our chances of winning. I have informed all the KP candidates about the proposal. Many have already given their consent to it. Ravinder
Badam, KP from Jammu Kashmir, National United Front, has also withdrawn his name. I am hopeful of building consensus on the matter soon.” Sitting MLA Raman
Mattoo, who won the last assembly election, has also agreed to support the idea of consensus candidate. He said, “I support the call given by the KVSS and, am ready to sacrifice my interest for the welfare of Kashmiri Pandits. I'll withdraw if I am asked to do so after zeroing in on a name.” It is said, that Matoo even otherwise does not have much chance to win, owing to his alleged involvement in the Kashmir
Sex Scandal. But the new crop of candidates who have got fresh backing from national parties, especially the BJP do not seem to give up their new-found right at least for this election. Sanjay
Kachroo, candidate from Sonawar, who is also the vice-president of Essar, Delhi, said, “The national party has reposed their trust in us to take their ideology forward and, has given us backing for it. Withdrawing our name would mean cheating them and, forfeiting our rights and duties. I think, the independent candidates should be asked to withdraw their names instead of candidates of national parties. |
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Post-Mumbai, spotlight on terror
Jammu, December 3 Whether it is a public rally or a press conference leaders of almost all political parties are busy projecting their outfits' stand over the issue. While it has given the BJP more ammunition against its rival, Congress, in the midst of the crucial Assembly poll, the latter can be seen defending its UPA government at the Centre. And the war of words between the two key political parties is intensifying with each day. The BJP, which is confident of improving its tally in the light of the role the party played in the Amarnath land row, has got another issue to corner the Congress in the latter's stronghold of Jammu. Former state BJP chief Nirmal Singh admitted that in the aftermath of the Mumbai terror attacks terrorism would definitely be a key issue during the elections. "We are strongly raising the issue at every platform and the people too are comparing the approach of the UPA regime with that of ours (NDA)," he averred. On the charge that the BJP is politicising the issue instead of putting up a united front, he said the allegations like these were nothing but an "attempt to find an escape route". He alleged that the Congress was not only "soft on terror but is also abetting terrorism indirectly". State Congress spokesperson Ravinder Sharma said terrorism was not a
"votebank issue" and the BJP should not rake it up for electoral gains. "They should look at the report card of the previous BJP-led NDA regime regarding terror before commenting on the UPA government," he said. Meanwhile, during their recent visits to the state, top BJP leaders, including Arun Jaitley, Shahnawaz Hussain and R.P. Singh, pulled up the UPA government for its weak-kneed approach in dealing with terrorism, besides the alleged intelligence failure and loss of lives during the Mumbai terror attacks. On the other hand, the Congress is on the defensive. During her election rallies at Uri and Doda, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi today minced no words in warning Pakistan. She said the country would not bow to terrorism and would give a "fitting reply to it". Earlier, the scion of Gandhi family and AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi, in his election rallies in Tangdhar and Udhampur on November 28, lashed out at the BJP for "exploiting terrorism to garner public support". |
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Bhim Singh may upset poll equations
Jammu, December 3 While contesting candidates of mainstream parties like the BJP, Congress and the National Conference claimed that Bhim's foray in Jammu East would not make any difference to their prospects, but political pundits felt that loquacious orator Bhim Singh might cause a dent, at least in the BJP's vote-bank, considered to be front-runner. They said the BJP had been riding high in Hindu dominated constituencies in the backdrop of post Amarnath land scenario but Bhim's entry might cast a shadow as both outfits claimed themselves to be pro-Jammu parties. If the BJP spearheaded the Amarnath land agitation, then the Panthers Party too played a pro-active role in the agitation so the BJP may face division of votes that will fall in the kitty of Bhim Singh. It may be recalled here that in 2002 edition of the assembly elections, Congress candidate Yogesh Sawhney had won the seat while BJP candidate Vaid Vishnu Dutt had wrested the 1996 edition. However, this time around the Congress high command gave the mandate to former Jammu Municipal Corporation mayor Narinder Singh. Though this annoyed
Sawhney, he did not raise a banner of revolt quietly. Bhim Singh’s unprecedented plunge has caused a political squabble in the key constituency, but it may be mentioned here that the Panthers Party had never won a seat from any of the three constituencies of the Jammu city. |
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PDP chief opposes Army action
Srinagar, December 3 Without naming NC president Farooq Abdullah for his reported remarks to bomb POK camps, during an all party meet called by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Mumbai attacks at New Delhi, the former Chief Minister expressed dismay. He said the latest verbal acrobatics of some state politicians, reportedly advocated punitive military action against Pakistan would have disastrous consequences for the state and its people. Local newspapers today quoted Abdullah as saying at the Prime Minister’s meeting, to bomb the POK camps. Addressing a series of public meetings in Badgam district where five assembly constituencies are going to polls on Sunday, Sayeed pleaded for a united response to the grave challenge.
— UNI War with Pak no option: NC
NC patron Farooq Abdullah today said war with Pakistan is no option and those who are propagating this option are the enemies of India. Reacting sharply to media reports that in the All-Party Meet at New Delhi he had pleaded for strong military action against Pakistan, Abdullah said the reports were baseless and mischievous . He said in fact he had suggested to the Prime Minister that all 30 foreign countries whose nationals were targeted in the Mumbai terror attacks along with India and Pakistan must formulate a joint strategy to expose culprits.
— UNI |
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Farooq blames Congress, PDP for Amarnath row
Vijaypur, December 3 Addressing a public gathering here today, after party candidate from the Vijaypur constituency filed his nomination papers, Farooq said the Congress and the PDP were responsible for the Amarnath land row, which triggered religion and regional divide in the state. Without naming anyone he said attempts were being made by some political groups to divide the state on communal and regional lines little realising that the strength of the nation was its secularism. “It is high time that we should isolate such forces which are bent upon to create a wedge among communities and regions,” he said. The former Chief Minister claimed that his party had a dream of transforming the destiny of the state and its people for which the party had conceived an agenda for governance, and after coming to power would channelise things in right perspective. “My party after coming to power will come out with a special package for employment of the youth and shall open new job avenues for the unemployed youth”, he said. Salathia, who also addressed the rally, said the state witnessed unparalleled development during 1996 and 2002. He said in 1996 when the National Conference came to power, the entire administrative machinery had collapsed and the infrastructure was in ruins due to 10 years of terrorism. However, the party with its visionary leadership ensured that not only the entire infrastructure was reconstructed, but also unleashed an era of economic development of all sections of society.
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Files papers from Sonawar too
Srinagar, December 3 This is for the first time that he is contesting two seats and that too outside the home constituency of Ganderbal, represented by his father, Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah. Farooq did not contest the last elections giving way to his son and NC chief Omar Abdullah from Ganderbal in 2002. Omar, however, lost to Qazi Mohammad Afzal of the PDP in the last elections. Both are pitted against each other this time again.
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Ultras gun down candidate’s kin
Srinagar, December 3 Bashir Ahmad Kababi (65) was shot dead outside a mosque near his house at Nowhamam in Sopore township of Baramulla district last night, they said. Kababi, a retired lecturer, was coming back home after offering night prayers when he was shot dead by unidentified gunmen, official sources said. Kababi was a close associate of senior Congress leader Kar, who is fighting the ongoing assembly elections from the Sopore constituency as an independent. He was actively involved in door-to-door canvassing for Kar, the sources said. The militants also shot at and critically injured a relative of Kar identified as Farooq Ahmad Pandit at Krankishivan in Sopore last night. Pandit (45), was running a shop in the village, and was involved in canvassing for Kar, the sources said. Sopore along with 17 other constituencies spread over Baramulla, Budgam, Udhampur and Reasi districts are going to polls in the fourth round of the 7-phase J-K assembly polls on December 7. Sopore witnessed a number of militant strikes during campaigning. While a National Conference candidate escaped unhurt in a grenade attack during a road show on November 25, the blast killed a teenaged boy, while three others were injured. — PTI
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Row Over Administrative
Services
Jammu, December 3 The protesting students converged in front of he Central Library of Jammu University
(JU) and shouted slogans against the GAD, besides seeking maintenance of status quo. “If the GAD intends to minimise the age limit to 28 years from existing 35 in general category and 32 against 40 for the reserved category and in service candidates, it should invite applications every year on regular basis,” PSA president Rahul said. Rahul regretted that for the last 30 years, applications for the top state administrative services were invited five times only. “The present criterion will only encourage candidates from the elite class as most of the students drawn from far off pockets hardly have any awareness about such professional examinations. It is only after they come to university that they come to know about such exams.” Urging government to raise quality education and infrastructure in rural pockets before making such decisions, president of Sangarsh Vikrant said: “In the light of current proposal candidates would hardly get any time for the preparation.” Sharma said both the organisations would hold the demonstration tomorrow too.
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Fake scribe held on cheating charge
Rajouri, December 3 The police has recovered identity card of a national electronic channel, rubber stamp of that channel, cash, 30 photographs of aspiring journalists, original certificates of four persons from the possession of the accused. Sources told The Tribune that following a specific input about a person playing fraud with some youth and asking them for money to get them job in a national news channel, the police raided a local hotel on December 2. Preliminary investigations suggested that the accused had taken Rs 20,000 each from 12
persons on the pretext that he would get them jobs in a national channel, they added. “He had been taking money as a security for getting them jobs in various electronic channels. Yesterday, he had come to collect money from four persons, including three youth from Buddhal and one from Rajouri, on the pretext that he will get them jobs in a national news channel but was arrested,” a police source said. |
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PDP playing petty politics: Omar
Srinagar, December 3 He added that Kashmir suffered at the hands of the parties like PDP because they had always indulged in politics of deceit and survived through political intrigues without bothering about the people of Kashmir and their welfare. He said the performance of the PDP in the last six years was dismal and he was confident that the people of the state would teach them a befitting lesson in the forthcoming Assembly elections. Omar alleged that six years of the coalition government led to an administrative anarchy and chaos and brought the process of development in the state to a standstill. He also said restrictions on the trans-LoC movement on the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road were complicated and the people on both sides were not allowed to travel freely. Addressing the gathering, Gujjar leader Mian Altaf said the PDP leader and former finance minister Muzaffar Hussain Beig were responsible for the administrative mess in the last six years. |
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Govt staff to vote by postal ballot
Jammu, December 3 Of the total 2,722 voters, 330 are in Bani, 519 in Basohli, 766 in Kathua, 397 in Billawar and 710 in the Hiranagar Assembly constituency, the spokesman said. Voting for the Basohli and the Hiranagar Assembly constituencies will be held on December 4, while employees in the Bani, Kathua and the Billawar Assembly constituencies will exercise their franchise on December 5. Postal ballots will be issued to the eligible employees on December 3 and December 4 by the returning office and they would be allowed to cast their votes at postal ballot facilitation centres set up in their respective constituencies under the charge of assistant returning officer and two other officers.
— PTI |
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Winter vacations from Dec 8
Jammu, December 3 As per an official statement, the classes from first standard to eighth standard will close for winter vacations from December 8, whereas from Class IX to Class XII the schools will stop functioning from December 15 this year.
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Act tough against terror: Samiti
Jammu, December 3 Samiti spokesperson Narinder Singh exhorted the people to show solidarity with the residents of Mumbai in the aftermath of this horrifying tragedy. Condemning the terror attacks, the samiti said the government should come up with stringent norms to wipe out terrorism from the country once and for all. It also stressed the need for fighting the menace jointly. |
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Grenade found near rally venue
Doda, December 3 “As soon as Sonia left for the national capital after addressing the public gathering at the Parade Ground in Doda, the security forces recovered a hand grenade just 500 m short of the venue,” the sources said. The police party, however, cordoned the area while the bomb disposal squad was informed, who immediately rushed to the spot and disposed off the grenade, they said.
— UNI
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Another Independent dies after filing papers
Srinagar, December 3 Ghulam Mohammad Wadoo(55) complained of chest pain soon after entering the fray from Sonawar in the Kashmir valley, official sources said. Wadoo, a former local NC leader, was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced brought dead. Wadoo is the second Independent candidate to die soon after submitting papers for the staggered election. On November 22, militant-turned-politician Bilal Ahmad Khan, alias Bilal Lodhi, who entered the race from Beerwah in Budgam district, died following cardiac arrest.
— PTI |
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Mehbooba’s estranged husband joins NC
Srinagar, December 3 Javid’s inclusion in the NC fold was announced by the party patron and former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah, in an election rally, after the latter filed nomination papers for the Sonawar constituency. Having contested 2002 elections unsuccessfully from the Amirakadal constituency, Javid met NC chief Omar Abdullah, this morning and expressed his wish to join the party.
— PTI
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UPA chairperson and AICC president Sonia Gandhi today vowed to wipe out terrorism, asserting that the UPA regime would deal militancy with iron hand and a befitting reply would be given to the terrorists.
The BJP has adopted a clear-cut strategy to fight the state assembly elections in Jammu. Revealing about his party’s two-point agenda at a press conference today, BJP national general secretary and MP Arun Jaitley, said, “The BJP will emerge as the voice of the people of Jammu and address their issues.
