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Coalition victory apt reply to PDP: Omar
News
Analysis
Pakistan violates ceasefire along LoC, targets posts in Poonch
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LC Poll: What winners from
Valley have to say
Opposition accuses coalition of daylight robbery of votes
Seven IAS officers transferred
Rehabilitation of poor,
exploited girls
Report on rights abuses
Yasin Malik draws flak over shutdown call in Kashmir
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Coalition victory apt reply to PDP: Omar
Jammu, December 6 “Your victory is an appropriate reply to those (PDP leaders) who remained engaged in propagating the false conception that the NC-Congress coalition was not effective and cohesive at the lower level,” an elated Chief Minister told a group of panches, sarpanches and party workers of the NC and Congress who had arrived at his residence here carrying winning candidates Shenaz Ganai and Sham Lal Bhagat in processions. Omar, who is also the working president of the National Conference, said the wholehearted support of panchayat members to coalition candidates had nullified the PDP propaganda that panchayat members had fallen out with coalition partners. “They (PDP leaders) had tried their utmost to create confusion in the minds of panches and sarpanches and let loose unabated, malicious propaganda in this regard but failed miserably,” he said. Omar told the coalition workers not to get complacent after the poll victory. “Work hard and remain closely associated with each other and with the common people in every area and at all levels,” the Chief Minister said. “The workers of the National Conference and the Congress parties have to further strengthen the coalition and stand like a rock against propagandist elements.” “Your real test will be in 2014,” Omar said while urging the workers to show the same spirit and determination for the Assembly elections and depict coalition charisma. Omar also referred to the efforts of J-K Pradesh Congress Committee president Saifuddin Soz and Union Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad in ensuring the “extraordinary victory” of coalition candidates in elections to the four seats of the Legislative Council. Meanwhile, Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Ali Mohammad Sagar, who was accompanied by Minister for Social Welfare Sakina Itoo, visited the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) here to celebrate the victory of coalition candidates in the elections. Sagar, while referring to the PDP’s criticism, said the “misunderstandings” had been removed. He said the win was a clear message of the electorate and encouragement for the next Assembly elections. He, however, declined to comment on the possibility of a similar coalition arrangement in the Assembly elections. As the celebrations ended at the SKICC on the banks of the Dal Lake, Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Monga rushed to the party headquarters on Moulana Azad Road where he was received by party workers and senior leaders. Monga addressed the gathering briefly. “I am thankful to panchayat members for showing their faith in the party and the coalition candidates,” Monga said. |
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News
Analysis
Jammu, December 6 It has also opened an unstoppable march for the future elections in the state, including that of the block development councils that were kept on hold last month. Local bodies and municipal elections are on the cards, and the victorious National Conference is even eyeing six seats in General Election in alliance with Congress, which the Chief Minister has described as a “grand alliance”. Politically speaking, more than 96 per cent of 33,000 panches and sarpanches voted for the alliance candidates on Monday because the NC and Congress were in power and could empower them. They had no such hope from the Opposition Peoples Democratic Party, which banked on its past performance of three years from 2002-2005. But the village heads were looking at the rest of the two years of the Omar Abdullah government in the state and had hoped that the government would empower them. This 96 per cent of the voters were yearning for more powers and funds for development of their respective villages, and also wished to raise their own profile in the eyes of the government. For them, the opposition had nothing of this sort to offer. And, the fact of the matter is that panchayat elections of 2011, though fought on a non-party basis, had, in fact, the political backing of various parties. So essentially, they were voting for their parties. Excited over the victory of the alliance’s four candidates — Ali Mohammad Dar and Shenaz Ganai of the National Conference and Ghulam Nabi Monga and Sham Lal Bhagat of the Congress — Chief Minister tweeted: “ 4/4 :-)” . He could not hide his happiness over this sweet victory, almost the same way when he was designated as Chief Minister of the state. In his jubilation, he did not forget to take a dig at his opponents, the PDP, and told a celebratory gathering of his party supporters in Jammu: “Your victory is an appropriate reply to those (PDP leaders) who remained engaged in propagating the false conception that the NC-Congress coalition was not effective and cohesive at the lower level.” At the time when the Chief Minister should have been talking of many firsts in the election (like holding the LC elections from the panchayat quota in 38 years), he had a reason to target the PDP. “We have captured south Kashmir as well,” said a highly excited aide of Omar Abdullah. The NC was beaten badly in south Kashmir in the 2008 poll. Now, it made the LC poll results look like a revenge victory. National Conference strategists, who had made a lot of promises about development and more powers to village heads during the campaign, have started chalking out plans for all elections — block development councils, urban local bodies poll and also General Election — with the target of regaining power in the 2014 Assembly poll. “The march has begun,” NC activists have been told. Since 2008, all elections have shown that the separatists, traditional poll boycott callers, have very few supporters left who boycott elections. People are for economic stability and peace. |
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Pakistan violates ceasefire along LoC, targets posts in Poonch
Jammu/Poonch, December 6 A soldier of 3 Grenadiers, identified as Naik Sanjeev Singh, sustained critical injuries at the LoC but the Army maintained that he was injured in an anti-personnel mine blast. “Last night around 8:30 pm, the Pakistan army opened unprovoked fire from their Daku, Battal and Roza posts, targeting the Indian posts, Kranti, Kirpan and Nangi Tekri, in KG sector. They opened small and medium arms fire,” said an Intelligence source. Initially, the volume of fire was intense, followed by intermittent firing till 12:30 am, said the source. “More than 2,000 bullets were fired by Pakistan to give a cover fire to militants but the Indian troops retaliated and foiled their infiltration attempt,” the source said. An Army officer said the firing from the Pakistan side started at 4:50 pm and lasted till 5:15 pm. Officiating Defence PRO SN Acharya maintained that only 22 rounds of small arms were fired by the Pakistan army between 4 pm to 5 pm. “Indian troops didn’t retaliate,” he said. The Intelligence sources said the soldier was injured in Pakistan firing but the Defence PRO maintained that he was injured in a mine blast in the same sector this morning. “The jawan was airlifted to Garrison Hospital in Udhampur and his condition is stable,” the Defence PRO said. The Pakistan Rangers opened small arms fire on BSF posts in the Pansar area along the international border in Samba sector of Kathua district this afternoon. “Around 3:10 pm, the Pakistan Rangers opened fire and to silence their guns we also retaliated. The skirmish lasted till 3:20 pm,” said a senior BSF officer. Despite informing them repeatedly that the BSF was carrying out composite border outpost work to improve the living conditions of border guards and no new structures were being constructed, the Rangers today raised objections to our work and opened unprovoked fire, compelling us to give them a calibrated response, he added. The Pakistan Rangers had opened fire from their Thakurpura post on India’s Pansar post, he said. |
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LC
Poll: What winners from Valley have to say
Srinagar, December 6 Talking to the media after his win, Monga assured them that the elections to Block Development Councils (BDC) would be held within one month. He added that this would be followed by the constitution of the District Development Councils, completing the three-tier system for the overall development at the ground-level. The BDC elections were deferred recently, even as the government had announced the elections for further strengthening and empowerment of the Panchayati Raj. The Congress leader said the demands and problems of panchayat members would be addressed soon. He expressed his gratitude to the panchayat members across Kashmir and Ladakh, who participated in large numbers in these elections. The main demands of the panchayat members have been empowerment and adequate funds to undertake various works and ensure the transfer of powers in 14 government departments. Monga, in his late 50’s, unsuccessfully contested the Assembly elections from Baramulla constituency of north Kashmir in 2002. A law graduate from Aligarh Muslim University, he first joined the Congress in 1976 from Uri in Baramulla district. He held various positions in the state Youth Congress and the district-level Congress. He became vice-president of the Youth Congress in 1989. He lost to Muzaffar Hussain Beigh of the PDP in the 2002 Assembly elections from
Baramulla. |
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Credit of victory goes to CM: NC candidate
Srinagar, December 6 “The credit goes to the Chief Minister who is heading the coalition government,” said Dar. He said it was a beginning of an immense support at the ground-level for his party. Dar made it clear that the huge participation of panchayat members was an indicative of a strong democratic set-up at the grass-roots level. He also pointed out that it was a clear fight between the ruling National Conference and the PDP, particularly in the Kashmir valley, even as the PDP gave a tough fight to the ruling coalition candidates in these elections. As the elections to the four seats of the Legislative Council from the panchayat quota were held after a gap of more than three decades, Dar said the government would ensure that all promises made to the panchayat members are fulfilled. He also referred to problems raised by the panchayats and assured them that an honorarium would be paid to them. These things would further strengthen the Panchayati Raj, Dar said. Dar, who is also the provincial president of the National Conference, was first elected to the state Assembly in 1996 from Chadoora constituency of Budgam district in central Kashmir. A graduate from the University of Kashmir, Dar (58) has headed the block unit of the party earlier. He contested from his home constituency Chadoora during the 2002 and 2008 Assembly elections and lost to PDP member Javed Mustafa Mir. |
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Opposition accuses coalition of daylight robbery of votes
Jammu, December 6 During the counting, Panthers Party leader Rajesh Pangotra came out of the counting centre at Government Polytechnic College and alleged that seals on EVMs belonging to polling stations 57 and 58 were broken, giving indication of alleged “massive rigging” in these polls. Demanding a high-level probe into the alleged rigging, the Panthers Party leader urged the Election Commission of India to cancel the results of the poll and said it should order re-poll on both the seats of Jammu division. Senior BJP leader Bansi Lal Bharti also sought an explanation as to why the EVMs reached counting centres on December 4 night from Kishtwar and Kathua. “The EVMs from Kathua and Kishtwar, which should have reached Jammu during the day, were handed over to the staff concerned late at night. It hardly takes 2 hours from Kathua and 5 hours from Kishtwar to reach Jammu,” Bharti said. PDP candidate from J-2 seat Ved Parkash Gupta raised slogans against the ruling coalition and alleged that it was a “broad daylight robbery of votes” by the coalition as seals of many EVMs were broken. |
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Seven IAS officers transferred
Jammu, December 6 Dr Arun Kumar, who has been awaiting orders of adjustment, has been posted as the Financial Commissioner, Revenue. BR Sharma, Principal Secretary, Home Department, has been transferred and posted as the Principal Secretary, Planning and Development Department, relieving BB Vyas of his additional charge. KB
Agarwal, Financial Commissioner, Revenue, has been transferred and posted as the Principal Secretary, Higher Education Department. He will continue to hold the charge of the Chairman, Special Tribunal. Suresh Kumar, Principal Secretary, Housing and Urban Development Department, has been transferred and posted as the Principal Secretary, Home
Department. Arun Kumar Mehta, on his repatriation to the state government, has been posted as the Commissioner Secretary, Power Development Department. He will relieve BR Sharma of his additional charge.
Jeet Lal Gupta, Commissioner Secretary, Social Welfare Department, has been transferred and posted as the Commissioner Secretary, Housing and Urban Development
Department. Gazanfar Hussain, Secretary, Higher Education Department, has been transferred and posted as the Secretary of the Social Welfare Department.
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Rehabilitation
of poor, exploited girls
Srinagar, December 6 The directions were issued on Tuesday by a double bench of the High Court comprising Justice JP Singh and Justice Muzaffar Hussain Attar. In July this year, the high court had directed the state Chief Secretary to file a compliance report about the steps taken for identifying and providing support to the poor girls of the state so as to enable them to live an honourable life. These directions were passed by the high court while dismissing a habeas corpus petition challenging the detention of Mohammad Amin Beg of Kulgam in July. The District Magistrate, Srinagar, had ordered the detention of Amin under the Public Safety Act (PSA) for being involved in immoral activities. There were allegations against him that he exploited “poor and hapless” women not only monetarily but physically as well on the pretext of employing them in his private security firm. “The Court on Tuesday directed the Chief Secretary to file a proper compliance report within a week,” said advocate Bashir Ahmad Bashir, who is the amicus curiae of the J-K High Court in the matter. He said that the report which was submitted by the government on December 4 was “not complete” as there was no response/reply to certain directions of the court related to amending anti-corruption laws. In July, the high court had also directed the state to take steps for amending the Prevention of Corruption Act or making new laws for retrieving money/wealth and confiscating properties accumulated through corrupt practices. The high court had directed the Chief Secretary to take steps by giving proper and due publicity to the schemes sponsored by the Central and state governments aimed at uplift of the poor girls so as to enable them to earn their livelihood and lead a dignified life. |
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Srinagar, December 6 The alleged individual culprits named in the report include two Army officers of the rank of major general, three brigadiers, nine colonels and two paramilitary Additional Director Generals. The 352-page report, compiled by International Peoples’ Tribunal on Human Rights and Justice in Kashmir (IPTK) and Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP) was released by these rights groups here today. The report is based on official state documents gleaned through Right To Information, testimonies of the witnesses, FIRs and petitions filed by the families of “victims” in courts, including the J-K High Court. — TNS |
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Yasin Malik draws flak over shutdown call in Kashmir
Jammu, December 6 He and his men were allegedly involved in shooting of four unarmed IAF officers in 1989, kidnapping of Rubaiya Sayeed, daughter of the then Union Home Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed in 1989, killing of Doordarshan Director (Srinagar) Lassa Kaul in 1990 and gang rape and gruesome murder of Sarla Bhat, a staff nurse in 1990. “Unfortunately, a false belief has been created by mainstream political parties that the JKLF is a moderate outfit. It had always been a radical and secessionist outfit,” said Ajay Chrungoo of Panun Kashmir, an organisation of the displaced Pandit community. He held the JKLF responsible for mass genocide and exodus of Pandits from the Valley. “Malik challenging the judiciary’s decision is no big surprise. It is high time the Union government realised that the JKLF was neither a moderate organisation nor a mainstream party,” said Chrungoo. He said India remained the worst victim of terrorism sans any anti-terrorism law similar to that in the US. “And, that is why people like him continue to take full advantage of the existing deficiency,” he said. Malik had renounced “armed struggle” in 1994 and re-launched “freedom movement” from a political platform. Former DGP MM Khajooria said that since the trial against Malik was taking too long to reach a conclusion, the man keeps roaming around freely. “Cases against him should be expedited and when the verdict comes out, his real face will be exposed,” said Khajooria. He felt if the JKLF chief had any reservations about the judiciary’s verdict, which awarded life term to two JKLF men, he should have moved the higher court. Giving a call for Kashmir shutdown shows that Malik still has a soft-corner for those who believe in bloodshed, said Khajooria. This also shows that Malik hasn’t renounced violence, he added. Bar Association Jammu president BS Salathia called JKLF chief a “two-faced” man. “Following summer unrest in 2010, Malik had filed a PIL in 2011 seeking the registration of a case against the state government and now he is opposing the judiciary’s verdict of life imprisonment to JKLF men. It’s nothing but hypocrisy,” said Salathia. He also appealed to the civil society of Kashmir not to fall prey to the “ill-devised machinations” of such people. |
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