Jammu, April 10
In an interesting development in the run-up to the Legislative Council election, Panthers Party candidate Faqir Nath today withdrew in favour of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) nominee Bharat Bhushan Gupta.

After Faqir Nath’s announcement, four candidates have been left in the fray for the two Legislative Council seats of the Jammu region. The voting would be held on April 13.

In a hurriedly called press conference, Faqir Nath said there was “no reason to remain in the fray as his party didn’t have the required numbers to win the election on its own”. “Being the opposition group, our aim is to defeat the ruling alliance. So I have decided to withdraw from the contest,” he announced.

The announcement by Faqir Nath is being considered as shot in arm for PDP candidate Bharat Bhushan Gupta who already has 21 votes in his kitty. A minimum 28 votes are required for winning a Legislative Council seat from Jammu region because the ruling coalition, which is contesting both the seats, has 54 votes.

“The decision of the Panthers Party to withdraw from the contest has brightened the prospects of our candidate because with three votes of the Panthers Party, our count has reached 24,” a senior PDP leader said on anonymity.

Panthers Party chairman Bhim Singh appreciated the decision of his party nominee Faqir Nath to withdraw from the contest. “Contesting elections without mustering adequate votes is like indirectly supporting the ruling party candidates,” Bhim Singh told The Tribune over the phone from Delhi. He termed the decision of his candidate as “wise” and “farsighted”, which would further unite the opposition camp.

Bhim Singh said their aim was to “expose” and oppose the “corrupt” government in the state.

However, Faqir Nath, while announcing retirement from the contest, made a veiled attack on the BJP for not withdrawing its candidates despite the fact that the party didn’t have the required numbers.

In an obvious reference to the BJP, he said, “Candidates of one of the opposition party are still in the fray despite their leaders knowing that they could not win the elections. We all know why they are contesting the elections,” he said.

Meanwhile, sources said that Panthers Party leader Harsh Dev Singh would formally issue whip to his party members on Monday to cast votes in favour of PDP candidate. 

Jammu, April 10
With just three days left for the first phase of the panchayat elections, the election fever has gripped the region and contestants, their supporters, security personnel and electoral staff are all busy with their respective poll-related jobs.

For the panchayat poll being conducted after a gap of almost 10 years, the candidates have dotted streets, houses and shops with their propaganda material, including posters, stickers and banners.

A visit to the Bishnah area of Jammu district and the Vijaypur area of Samba district revealed that all candidates in the fray have spent a huge sum of money for this purpose.

Tilak Raj, an outgoing sarpanch of Salehar village in Bishnah, said, “The trend of poll has changed. Last time when I contested the elections, hardly anyone took the support of posters or any other printing material. But this time the scenario is altogether different. Last time, there were only three contestants for the post of sarpanch in the village, which reached to six this time.”

He said this was the major reason behind the sudden increase in demand of posters, stickers and banners.

On the other hand, publicity material has proved a boon for the printing press owners, as the elections have increased their income manifold.

“The elections are taking place after a gap of long period and the contestants are trying their best. We are getting orders more than the capacity,” said Tajinder Kumar, a printing press owner at Bari Brahamana.

He added that it was the right time for them to generate income.

The security personnel have also started roaming in their respective areas, frisking vehicles and keeping an eye on miscreants, so as to make the elections free and fair.

“Sometimes, contestants try to woo voters by adopting illegal methods, so we have been ordered by the higher-ups to keep a check on such things,” said a sub-inspector deployed at a checkpoint on the outskirts of Bishnah.

Not only the candidates and the security personnel, but also the voters are overenthusiastic to participate in the process of constituting their local self-governments.

Many people told The Tribune that they were expecting 85 to 90 per cent polling this time.

“Panchayats are the first step of the democratic system and we will definitely cast our vote on April 13,” said Ashok Kumar of Treva village.

The electoral staff has also prepared themselves for the task, as ballet boxes have already arrived from Punjab.

The fist phase of the panchayat poll in the Jammu region will be held in the Samba and Bishnah block on April 13. 

New Delhi, April 10
Join the peace process to solve Kashmir's problems or get isolated — this is the message from union Home Secretary GK Pillai to separatist leaders who have so far refused to be part of the dialogue initiated by the government last year. “It is up to them (separatists) if they want to be a part of the peace process, otherwise they will get isolated,” Pillai said.

"We will call people when the report is out. Then there will be discussions and we will seek suggestions on the roadmap provided by the interlocutors." — GK Pillai

Both the hardline and moderate separatist Hurriyat Conference groups headed respectively by Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq have so far refused to be a part of the dialogue process that the government had set in motion the last year after months of unrest in the Kashmir valley. They even refused to meet the government-appointed interlocutors tasked to suggest a way forward on how to find a political solution to the Kashmir issue.

Pillai said the interlocutors, Dileep Padgaonkar, Radha Kumar and MM Ansari, have so far submitted six reports to Home Minister P Chidambaram outlining the political and social problems in the state. “They will submit their final report after the state Assembly elections,” Pillai said, adding that once the final report was with the government, they would again call all “shades of opinion,” including those of separatists, for their view. “We will call people when the report is out. Then there will be discussions and we will seek suggestions on the roadmap provided by the interlocutors.”

“We will call them (separatists) also. It is up to them to come. They may not come and that is their choice. We will call all groups,” the Home Secretary said. He said the Central and state governments were taking suggestions of the interlocutors “seriously and are implementing the recommendations”.

sling shot: A paramilitary jawan tries to use a slingshot at Kashmiri protesters. — AFP

Keeping vigil: Security personnel patrol a closed market during a strike called by the JKLF in Srinagar on Sunday. Photo: Amin War

Asked if any separatist leader met the interlocutors secretly, Pillai said: “We will get to know who they (interlocutors) met, formally or informally, when they submit their report”. On the controversial reduction of security forces from the Kashmir valley, the Home Secretary said: “Two battalions of the CRPF are already out from the streets of Jammu and Kashmir. They are back in the barracks”. Pillai said as part of the confidence building measures, the government had also removed most of the security forces’ pickets from Srinagar. “You have seen those bunkers, they have also been removed from Srinagar. Out of 41 bunkers, I think, 29 have been removed,” he said. The Home Secretary said the removal of the pickets from the city had helped a lot because the presence of the bunkers was a lot of irritant for the common people. ”Removal of bunkers means a lot for them because when they open the window in the morning or move out in the morning they don't have to encounter somebody looking at you with a gun pointed at you. It has been a good sign,” he said.

Asked about the Defence Ministry opposing the idea of reduction of troops in the state, Pillai said there had been a lot of misunderstanding.

“When we talk about a troop cut, we are not talking about the border or something like counter-insurgency operations. You can keep as many as you want, we have no problem with that. We are talking of those deployed for law and order duty,” he said. “Last year we took out 10 battalions and then we had 70 battalions. This year, so far, we have taken out two, which means 68 battalions are still there. They are more than enough, we don't need them,” Pillai said. He added that more troopers would be pulled as the situation improves. — IANS

Jammu, April 10
Governor NN Vohra has stressed the importance of discipline, greater accountability, transparency, adherence to ethical values and devotion to duty among all public services to meet the expectations of the people and contribute to the nation-building.

The Governor was addressing a seminar on “Corrosion of the Steel Frame: Implication on Good Governance”, organised by the Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA), J&K Regional Branch, here last evening.

The Governor, who was also the chief guest on the occasion, said the civil services had contributed significantly to meeting the rising challenges across the country and take the nation on the path of growth and development. In this context, he referred to the outstanding work done by the civil servants immediately after Independence to resettle millions of displaced persons, restore law and order, establish thousands of ration depots and lay the foundations of the future growth under the visionary leadership of the first Prime Minister, Pt Jawaharlal Nehru.

Referring to the evolution of a federal polity, growth of regionalism, the break-up of a single party system and the virtual birth of a new state, he said these significant changes led to the politicisation of the public services with consequential loss of discipline and accountability.

Serious gaps and failings in the honest and efficient delivery of public services, prolonged delays, corruption, insensitivity and unaccountability had eroded the foundations of good governance and resulted in the people at large losing trust in the governments of the day and consequent frustration and anger, the Governor added.

The Governor, while dwelling on the important achievements of the civil services over the years, said strict adherence to the Constitution, rule of law and prompt and severe punishments to the wrong doers were imperative in maintaining accountability.

He added that the IT revolution, functioning of the Right to Information Act, the phenomenon of PILs and the overall expansion of awareness among the masses had contributed to the rapid societal change. The Governor released the IIPA newsletter on the occasion.

Srinagar, April 10
Setting an example of communal harmony and brotherhood, members of the majority Muslim community are facilitating Kashmiri Pandits in the Valley to perform fast and other religious rituals during the ongoing Navratra festival.

A large number of Kashmir Pandit youth, who returned to the Valley following their absorption in various departments under the Prime Minister’s job package, have expressed gratitude towards the majority community for showing so much hospitality.

The government has constructed residential quarters for accommodating the Kashmiri Pandit youth. Many Kashmiri Pandits prefer to stay in rented accommodation at the houses of their earlier neighbours. “I wanted to stay in a rented accommodation at the house of a family friend in Kashmir. They allowed me to live with them, but refused to take any rent,” said Anjali, who was appointed as a teacher in Anantnag under the Prime Minister’s job package.

Anjali said she thought she would not be able to perform the Navratra puja and observe the fast while living with a Muslim family. “Muslims don’t keep the picture of deities in their house, but they brought the picture of a Hindu deity and purchased all puja material for me. I feel at home here,” she said.

Like Anjali, a large number of Kashmiri Pandit youth have returned to the Valley and are living with the majority community. These Pandit youth feel elated and say all these years they have missed the real essence of ‘Kashmiriyat’.

“The Kashmiri Muslims not only welcomed us, but also opened the doors of their houses for us. This is the real Kashmir and we love being back here. Though I was born in Jammu, now I don’t want to leave the Valley,” said Ajay Kaul, a Kashmiri Pandit.

The members of the majority community say they will like all Kashmiri Pandit migrants to return to the Valley and live in their houses. 

Srinagar, April 10
Life remained paralysed for the second consecutive day in Kashmir valley today in response to a bandh called by the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front over the killing of religious leader Moulana Showkat Ahmad Shah. Most of the shops and business establishments remained closed and transport services were also affected badly due to the strike. However, some vehicles were seen plying on the roads in the Civil Lines area.

lone ranger: An elderly rides a bicycle. — AFP

Elaborate security arrangements were made to maintain law and order in various parts of the city, including Lal Bazaar, Nowhatta, Khanyar, Rajouri Kadal, Maisuma, Batamaloo, Nawakadal and Safakadal areas.

A senior police official said: “Adequate deployment of police and CRPF personnel has been made to tackle any law and order disturbance. The security agencies are fully prepared to thwart any attempt to disrupt peace in the Valley.”

Meanwhile, complete shutdown was observed in other districts of the Kashmir region as well, though thin traffic movement could be seen on the roads. But majority of the residents preferred to stay indoors. “The situation was tense, but under control,” the official added. Notably, Showkat Ahmad Shah, who was killed in an IED blast outside a mosque where he was heading to offer prayers on Friday, was the Kashmir unit president of the Jamiat-e-Ahl-e-Hadees. A supporter of peace, he had issued a fatwa against stone-pelting during the summer unrest — a string of protests that left over 100 persons dead — in the Valley last year. — TNS