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Vote Cong for peace, progress: Sonia
Amarnath land row may cost PDP dear
Parties harp on ‘discrimination’ card
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Shun anti-national forces, says Sidhu
BJP leader Navjot Singh Sidhu addresses a rally in Jammu on Sunday. Tribune photo
Mumbai attacks hit cross-LoC trade
Widow’s journey from kitchen to politics
NC, PDP supporters clash in Khanyar
Srinagar-Jammu highway reopens
200 employees trapped in
Kishtwar?
Gupta: Kashmir-based parties hoodwinking people of Jammu
Arrested militant ‘accomplice’ of Hizbul commander
Mulayam: SP sided with UPA to save Indo-US nuke deal
Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav addresses a public rally in Vijaypur on Sunday. Photo: Inderjeet Singh
Parties tune into voters’ homes
Ongoing polls historic: Mufti
Ties with Pak crucial for peace in subcontinent: NC
Ammo Depot Fire
Ladakhi new year celebrations begin
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Vote Cong for peace, progress: Sonia
Jammu, December 21 Addressing an election rally at Dablehar in the RS Pura Assembly segment, Sonia told the gathering that "some parties are playing with your sentiments to garner votes during the elections and you must defeat such forces." Lashing out at senior BJP leader L.K. Advani for raising the issue of discrimination against the Jammu region, Sonia asked: "The BJP-led NDA ruled at the Centre for six years while their alliance partner, National Conference, was at the helm of affairs in Jammu and Kashmir. Why didn't they do anything for Jammu during their tenure? Now, why are they talking about injustice to Jammu during the elections?" Sonia complimented the people for exhibiting immense faith in democracy by turning out in large numbers to exercise their franchise and rejecting the separatists' poll boycott call. On the Kashmir issue, she said the Prime Minister held three roundtable conferences and set up five working groups, of which four had already submitted their recommendations. On the Indo-Pak ties, she said: "We want good relations with our neighbour, but our good intentions should not be considered as our weakness." On terrorism, she said the country was fully capable of giving a befitting reply to terrorists. Showering praise on the previous Ghulam Nabi Azad-led Congress government, Sonia said the UPA government extended full support to his government and the state witnessed unprecedented progress under him. She said the Congress ushered in all-round development in the state in the fields of basic infrastructure, education, health and women empowerment. "The Baglihar and Dulhasti power projects were started under our regime. We also gave ownership rights of government land to thousands of the state's farmers under the Roshni Scheme. We gave employment to thousands of women by giving nod to scores of anganwari centres in the state's rural areas," she added. Earlier, former CM Ghulam Nabi Azad took the credit for restoring peace in the state. "In the 2002 elections, 197 persons, including 49 political leaders, were killed while in the ongoing elections no political killing has taken place. Besides restoring peace, we also achieved zero tolerance in human rights violation," he claimed. State Congress chief Saif-ud-Din Soz also took Advani to task for raking up the issue of "bias against Jammu" and said the BJP could "merely give slogans". |
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Amarnath land row may cost PDP dear
Vijaypur, December 21 The Vijaypur Assembly constituency is scheduled to go for polling on December 24. Given the present equation in the area, the PDP candidate does not seem to figure in the contest as the main contest on the seat is expected to be between NC candidate Surjeet Singh Slathia and BJP contestant Chander Parkash Ganga, who was runners-up in the last Assembly elections. During the last Assembly elections, the seat had gone to Manjeet Singh who had contested the elections on the BSP ticket. However, he was expelled from the party after he defied the party's wish to support the ruling coalition. Manjeet Singh, who was made a minister of the state in the PDP-Congress regime, later joined the PDP. The Sikh Jat voters in the constituency had played a decisive role in the victory of Manjeet Singh, but his joining the PDP
has upset his supporters in the constituency. In the last Assembly elections Manjeet Singh had defeated BJP candidate
Chander Parkash Ganga by a narrow margin. However, this time the “controversial role” played by the PDP during the Amarnath land row has pushed him to the back foot. Meanwhile, the Congress too is also leaving no stone unturned to woo the voters in the constituency. The fate of 19 candidates contesting the election from the constituency would be decided by the voters on December 24. |
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Parties harp on ‘discrimination’ card
Politicians canvassing for the last phase of elections in the state are leaving no stone unturned to widen the rift that exists between the people of Jammu province and the Kashmir valley.
Exploiting differences arising out of cultural and historical reasons for electoral gains has become norm rather than an exception. Attempts to gain mileage by harping on “discrimination with the people of Jammu as opposed to special treatment to people in the valley” have become thrust of the campaign. May it be BJP’s prime ministerial candidate L. K. Advani or Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav or even cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Sidhu, each one has been harping on the “perceived discrimination” with the Jammu region. In his address to the people of Jammu, Advani, Sidhu and others leaders have sought votes for BJP candidates to “end discrimination being faced by the people”. The BJP has promised to scrap Article 370 of the Constitution that gives special status to Jammu and Kashmir. Virtually turning the electoral battle here into one between the BJP and the Congress, Delhi Chief Minister Shiela Dixit has been telling people that the “third consecutive victory for the Congress in Delhi is a clear rejection of the BJP as the Congress was the only party that can ensure peace, prosperity and secular development in the nation”. UPA chairperson and Congress president Sonia Gandhi, who was in the region today, also sought votes in the name of development and said India wanted peace, but it should not be taken as its weakness. While the National Conference (NC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) are the main contenders for the seats in the valley, it is the BJP and the Congress aiming to maximise their gains here. Jammu district has both highest number of voters (over 9 lakh) and maximum number of candidates (210) in comparison to all other districts of the state. In the last phase of polling that will take place on Wednesday, voters will decide the fate of four Cabinet ministers, a Speaker and four ministers of state in Jammu and Samba districts. Also in the fray are four Ministers of the Farooq regime besides Prof Chaman Lal Gupta, a three-time MP and former Union minister who is contesting from the Jammu (west) seat. The statement made by defence minister Parnab Mukerjee indicating that the Congress and the PDP may again form a coalition in the state has done considerable harm to the Congress in this area as the PDP is viewed as a pro-militant party here. The Congress leadership has attempted to undo this damage by saying Mukherjee was misinterpreted on the issue and it would form the government on its own in the state. |
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Shun anti-national forces, says Sidhu
Jammu, December 21 Sidhu urged people not to undermine the ensuing elections as they hold great significance for Jammu for bringing political empowerment to the region. He also called upon people to stay away from anti-nationalist forces such as PDP, Congress and NC. He asked the people to unite on the factor of nationalism and vote for the BJP. He said: “If the PDP with 16 seats can make into the state Assembly, then the BJP that has secular and democratic credentials can return to the Assembly with a Chief Minister from Jammu also.” Sidhu sharpened his weapons against the UPA for using terminology such as “Hindu terrorists” for saints. “The BJP never used such derogatory language for any particular community when it was in the government in the Center.” Sidhu even did not spare NC president Omar Abdullah’s rhetoric on the Amarnath land that he would not give an inch of land to the Amarnath shrine and he went on challenging the separatist forces such as Hurriyateven to participate in nationwide debate on the rights of the Jammu people. He stressed that separatism and discrimination had ruined the basic fabric of Jammu. He said the Jammu region should not be given step-motherly treatment in comparison to Kashmir. |
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Mumbai attacks hit cross-LoC trade
Poonch, December 21 Reliable sources in the district administration told The Tribune that there was no weekly cross-LoC transport of the commodities between India and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir through the Poonch-Rawlakote road this week. They added that the cross-LoC transport of consignment that usually takes places on Wednesday did not take place following the attacks. Sources stated that though there was no stoppage of trade from the Indian side, the traders did not sent anything from here and neither did their counterparts from PoK dispatch anything. They added that lack of clarity about mode of transaction and non-receipt of payment might have prompted the traders not to send any consignment across the LoC. Yashpal Gupta, president, Associated Chamber of Traders Federation, said: “We had to go to
PoK to discuss the mode of transaction with the traders there as there is lack of clarity on the
subject. Also, our traders have not received the payment for the consignment they had sent previously. However, following the Mumbai terror attacks, our visit has been postponed.” |
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Widow’s journey from kitchen to politics
Jammu, December 21 Her journey from kitchen to election rallies has not been a long one. As a BJP candidate for the state Assembly elections from Bishnah, she addresses thousands of people from dais with unwavering confidence everyday. In the heat of the elections these days, her normal routine starts from 6 in the morning for door-to-door campaign and meetings with villagers till 11 at night. During her campaign at Deoli village, she called upon people to vote her for her martyr husband. “This is a fight of the Dogra community and people of Jammu, who successfully fought the land agitation. Now they have to register their win in the Assembly elections,” she said. Talking about the family support, she said: “I am getting all support from my parents, in-laws and children when I go out for campaigning.” |
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NC, PDP supporters clash in Khanyar
Srinagar, December 21 Official sources said in Khanyar, a constituency in downtown Srinagar from where NC's veteran and previous winner, Ali Mohammad Sagar, is facing robust challenge from the PDP, supporters of both parties came face to face while campaigning. "It started around 1 p.m. and they threw stones at each other for almost 45 minutes," a security official said. A police official said Hurriyat supporters also threw stones at supporters of both parties and security personnel in the downtown area of Nowhatta and Rajouri Kadal and at least 10 persons, including three cops, were injured. They also tore down their posters and banners. These areas is the traditional bastion of the Mirwaiz family, the traditional head priest of Jamia Masjid, and its present head, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, wields a considerable influence in these localities. He is currently under house arrest. Shouting anti-election slogans, groups pelted stones on policemen and paramilitary personnel at Jamia Masjid and adjoining areas. The police used batons to disperse the protesters. Supporters of the separatist coordination Committee which has called for a boycott of elections pelted stones on the cavalcade of Bilal Ahmad Parra, a senior leader of the People's Democratic Front and an Independent candidate in the Habbakadal constituency here. |
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Srinagar-Jammu highway reopens
Srinagar, December 21 Minimum temperature in Srinagar was 4°C, 2.6 degrees above normal, which is unusual during this part of winter, the Met office said. The onset of chilaikalan preceded snowfall in the upper reaches and incessant rains in the valley. It had prompted the authorities to suspend traffic on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway, the only road linking Kashmir with the rest of the country, yesterday. However, the highway that was blocked by landslides at Panthal was thrown open to traffic today, facilitating transport of vegetables as people mostly depend on produces from Jammu and other northern states. The cold wave began a bit early this year in the valley following first snowfall lashing wide parts of Kashmir, including Srinagar in November. Snowfall and rains had lashed upper reaches and plains periodically with the famous Ski resort of Gulmarg experiencing a fresh two feet of snow till yesterday. Border towns of Gurez, Tulail, Teetwal, Karnah, Tangdhar, Keran and Machil were cut off from rest of the valley. Srinagar and its suburbs had rains since Friday and the temperature had considerably dipped, but relaxed after Though chilaikalan would end on January 31, the winter would continue. The period would be followed by a 20-day-long 'chilai khurd' and a 10-day-long 'chila bachha'. In the frontier district of Kupwara, the upper reaches had received heavy snowfall bringing down mercury to sub-zero, the Met office said. — PTI |
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200 employees trapped in
Kishtwar?
Udhampur, December 21 Highly placed sources in the security forces revealed that most of the employees had been striving on dry fruits. The inclement weather and heavy snowfall, which started on December 19, forced the administration to suspend the evacuation of these employees. One of the employees, who managed to reach Kishtwar this evening, told The Tribune that the authorities had not made an effective plan to shift the employees from the higher reaches. Although EVMs had been shifted to the district headquarters from the hyper sensitive polling stations of Kishtwar district, about 150 jawans of the security forces and some civil employees were still trapped in the snow-bound areas. Kishtwar DC Sudershan Sharma, however, claimed that "I have reports that all trapped employees have been evacuated by this evening". |
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Gupta: Kashmir-based parties hoodwinking people of Jammu
Jammu, December 21 Gupta, who is also contesting elections from the Jammu (west) constituency, in a press statement lamented vacuum in the Jammu leadership after the death of Pandit Prem Nath Dogra. “Both Congress and the BJP have failed to provide strong leadership to the Jammu region,” he claimed, adding that separate statehood for the region was the only viable solution to all vexed problems of the people of Jammu. Gupta also criticised BJP leader Arun Jaitley for undermining role of the JSM (P) and said the party had fielded 14 candidates in the present Assembly elections while in 2002 JSM had contested from eight seats only. Gupta further said: “During his tenure as the minister of state for civil aviation, BJP leader Chaman Lal Gupta had upgraded the Srinagar airport to the status of an international airport whereas the Jammu airport remained a small terminal.” Prof. Virender also condemned the Congress and alleged that it always pursued an appeasement policy towards Kashmir and in the process ignored the Jammu region. “All the agreements were made with the Kashmiri leaders grossly sidelining the Jammu region. Major industries are set up in the valley despite being techno-economically unviable,” “The National Conference and the PDP pursue communal, anti-Jammu and anti-national policies. These parties have encouraged secessionism and terrorism and always endorsed Pakistan policies in connection with the state,” he said. |
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Arrested militant ‘accomplice’ of Hizbul commander
Rajouri, December 21 Sources close to investigators told The Tribune that the militant, Satpal, who worked as a peon in the Kalakote tehsil office in 2001 before joining militancy, and Fareed Ahmed, divisional commander of the Hizbul for Buddhal-Darhal division, were neighbours in the Mora Daraj area of Buddhal. Satpal was initiated into militancy by Fareed and was his close aide before the latter moved to Pakistan in 2004. Satpal later joined Hizbul area commanders Kirpal Singh and Sham Lal, who remained active in Kalakote, Budhal and Dharamsal areas, they added. Same sources further divulged that Satpal had given ‘valuable’ information about some militant hideouts in the Buddhal area and a team led by deputy SP, operations, Farooq Qaisar had rushed to the spot to ascertain the authenticity of the disclosures. The police had reportedly nabbed Satpal from a vehicle believed to be belonging to Dev Raj, who is contesting elections on a BJP ticket from Darhal. Meanwhile, the Rajouri police is yet to name the BJP candidate from Darhal, Dev Raj, in the FIR and had allegedly succumbed to pressure from the party to give its candidate clean chit. “The police actually succumbed to pressure from the BJP and let off its candidate from the Darhal Assembly segment, who was not only transporting the militant and his family members but was also driving the vehicle himself”, said intelligence sources. DIG, Rajouri-Poonch range, Dr Kamal Saini told The Tribune that the police was yet to ascertain the involvement of the accused in any militancy-related incident. |
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Mulayam: SP sided with UPA to save Indo-US nuke deal
Jammu, December 21 "We never supported the Congress. We gave our support to the UPA to save the Indo-US nuclear deal and bring the nation out of decades of nuclear apartheid," he said while addressing an election rally in the Vijaypur Assembly constituency. Not leaving a single chance to attack policies of the Congress and the BJP, Mulayam Singh made all efforts to woo Muslim voters of the constituency by saying that his party had always worked for the welfare of Muslims and the weaker sections of society. He said his party would provide equal growth opportunities to all and work for the uplift of the economically and socially weaker sections of society. About terrorism, Mulayam said that the reason for the menace was rampant unemployment. "The solution to the menace of terrorism is to provide employment to the unemployed youth and I had provided employment to over 10 lakh youth during my tenure as the UP chief Minister." he claimed. Launching an attack on the Congress-PDP regime in the state, he said: "During Mufti's time, J&K was named as the second most corrupt state in the country and during Azad's tenure it topped the chart, thus the common people were made to suffer." |
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Parties tune into voters’ homes
Srinagar, December 21 It’s not in the streets of Srinagar but in these widely heard music stations that you can hear full-throttle campaigning of the NC, PDP and the Congress with resourceful independents also making their voices heard. Private channels have also grabbed their share of political advertising, especially in evening news slots that are widely seen in the summer capital. “We are concentrating on radio and private TV channels due to their reach. Urban voters are not much interested in attending rallies and this proves very helpful for us to convey our message,” the NC spokesperson told The Tribune. “We are the only source of entertainment for a majority of people. Politicians have bought a whopping airtime for advertisements and we are also making decent money in the process,” an executive of the station on the condition of anonymity said. The political parties have taken care to package their message according to the need of their audiences. Providing employment to a huge number of unemployed educated youths is the universal message used by the political parties followed by other developmental planks like better roads to ease the traffic congestion in Srinagar and availability of electricity and water. “We have brought all-round development in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. Give us another chance,” a Congress advertisement repeated almost every hour says. The reach of these stations has resulted in the PDP accusing the state-run All-India Radio of deliberately downplaying its news and at times projecting it in a bad light. “Every household in Kashmir hears radio so fairness should be there,” a PDP leader said. Independents like Amanullah Khan, who is fighting from Amira Kadal in Srinagar, are exhorting people to come out to vote, otherwise Srinagar will keep “sliding” on developmental index. |
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Ongoing polls historic: Mufti
Srinagar, December 21 Addressing election rallies at the Sonawar and Hazratbal constituencies here today, Mufti said the heavy turnout in the six phases of the elections was fundamentally an assertion of their self-respect and identity. “The election process cannot be seen in isolation of the need for the resolution of the Kashmir issue,” he said. He said the people must have a strong representative voice in shaping up a peaceful, stable and prosperous Kashmir. The former Chief Minister said the participation of the people in the democratic process would create an enabling environment for the peaceful and amicable settlement of the Kashmir issue. He said the ongoing elections were perhaps the most important democratic exercise being conducted in the state’s history. “The forthcoming government would not only be the most empowered, but it would be more accountable to the people of the state,” he said. Mufti said the PDP-led coalition government while addressing the basic developmental needs of the people, had, between 2002 and 2005, piloted some significant political initiatives towards the resolution of the issue. These political and economic initiatives that had started transforming the situation positively shall have to be revived, consolidated and expanded further. |
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Ties with Pak crucial for peace in subcontinent: NC
Srinagar, December 21 Farooq held that only the NC could be the bridge between the Indian and Pakistani political leadership and assist both in creating a congenial atmosphere for better bilateral relationship. The former Chief Minister reminded the people about his landmark visit to Pakistan in 1974 and meeting with Zulfikar Ali Bhutoo, the then PM of Pakistan, where he took up the issue of opening of roads between the two nations. It, he said, had helped the two countries to come closer. Farooq stated that even during the recent the all-parties meeting at New Delhi, he had pleaded for accelerating dialogue process than war which political parties like the BJP were favouring. Coming down heavily on the PDP for allegedly ignoring the general plight of the people of the state, Farooq said Mufti's anti-people polices had added to the miseries of the people of the state. “They (PDP) have indulged in divisive politics and tried to divide the people of the state on regional, religious, caste and ethnic basis for vote bank politics thereby destroying the traditional secular fabric of the state,” he alleged. |
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Ammo Depot Fire
Khundroo (Shangus), December 21 The villagers are still ruing the disproportionate compensation. “Six of my houses were totally damaged in the incident and I just got Rs 6,000 as relief”, laments an elderly resident of the nearby Nowgam village. This old man, accompanied by many of his family members, smilingly evading his identity with a twinkling, was eager to reach the venue of the election meeting addressed recently by the Prime Minister. His neighbour, Abdul Rashid, expressed unhappiness over the way the relief had been disbursed to the fire victims saying many of the deserving victims were totally ignored. “Shangus was declared a safe zone, but relief was given only to them”, resented Abdul Rashid, adding that though many others in distant villages were provided relief, those residing in Nowgam, closest to the place of fire were ignored. Addressing public meeting on the occasion of the Prime Minister’s rally, former CM Ghulam Nabi Azad said liberal funding from the Centre had led to immense development. He said the Central assistance of Rs 26.50 crore was more than double to that of the assessment made by the department concerned. An amount of Rs 23.50 crore had already been disbursed to those affected, while the remaining amount of Rs 3 crore was yet to be disbursed. |
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Ladakhi new year celebrations begin
Leh, December 21 The festival begins on the 25th of the 10th month of the Tibetan lunar calendar that falls on December 21 with the celebration of the birth anniversary of Gawa Tsonghkapa, the founder of Gelungpa sect of Tibetan Buddhism. The main celebration is on the 1st of the 11th month of the Tibetan calendar that falls on December 28. On this day, people besides visiting respective Gonpa and village nambader for Losar greetings. The celebrations will begin with offering a lingam (traditional lamp) at monasteries, houses, cattle sheds mani wall (Buddhist monument) and mountains on the 25th, 29th of the 10th month of the Tibetan lunar calendar in the names of various God and Goddess. |
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Jammu, December 21
Srinagar, December 21
Jammu, December 21
