New Delhi, July 5
Congress leaders from Jammu and Kashmir met the AK Antony panel assessing the party’s debacle in the recently concluded General Election and said issues around the National Conference-Congress alliance cost the party dear in the state.

Sources in the party told The Tribune that most of the senior leaders, including Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee president Saifuddin Soz and former state Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, who lost from the Udhampur-Doda seat recently, had advised going it alone in Jammu and Kashmir in the upcoming Assembly elections to strengthen the Congress in the state.

“The top brass of the Congress in J&K feels that we should go it alone in the upcoming Assembly elections. We should not have a pre-poll alliance with any party. The decision on this matter will of course be taken by the party’s central leaders but that’s the overwhelming sense in the state,” a source in the Congress privy to today’s developments said.

When contacted, Soz said, “I have conveyed to the Antony group whatever is in my heart and mind. I have kept the best interests of the party in mind while speaking to the group about what went wrong and what should we look at while going forward.”

The Congress contested from Udhampur, Jammu and Ladakh in the recent Lok Sabha elections as part of a pre-poll arrangement with the National Conference (NC). The NC contested on the three seats in the Valley. The NC-Congress alliance lost all six seats.

Lack of coordination between the NC and the Congress on vital issues related to the state was also raised by state leaders before AK Antony, former Defence Minister.

“We agreed to let the NC retain the Chief Minister’s post for the entire period of our alliance in the state but we did not get much political benefit from the move. In the understanding of a lot of senior leaders, the sacrifice we made should have paid rich dividends. That did not happen,” said a source.

Congress general secretary and in charge of J&K affairs Ambika Soni also presented her assessment of the state to the panel which also held discussions today with Uttarakhand Congress leaders and defeated Lok Sabha candidates.

Today was the last meeting of the AK Antony group which is expected to submit its report on Congress’ poll debacle to party chief Sonia Gandhi soon.

The four-member group, which was formed about a fortnight ago, is led by AK Antony. The other members of the group are Congress general secretary Mukul Wasnik and Congress secretaries Avinash Pande and RC Khuntia.

Anantnag, July 5
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president and Member Parliament from Anantnag Mehbooba Mufti today lashed out at the ruling National Conference-Congress dispensation for ignoring the plans laid out by her party in 2002 to boost the tourism in the Valley.

“Unfortunately implementation of the vision rolled out in 2002 by the PDP on tourism, like many other sectors, was not carried forward (by the current dispensation) leading to an increase in the number of unemployed and frustrated youth (in the state),” said Mehbooba.

Emphasising that proper planning may lift tourism in the Valley and propel economic well being of the region, besides generating employment opportunities, she said: “For economic self reliance and prosperity of the state the resources at hand need be utilised in a sustainable manner.”

“The tourism sector in Kashmir is one of the biggest resources to prosperity if handled in an optimum manner,” Mehbooba said while addressing a meeting at Bijbehara in Anantnag.

“Tourism is a product that can be utilised to every individual’s benefit,” she said, adding that her party recognised the fact and proper plans were being devised to take forward the sector.

Mehbooba said her party’s agenda includes a “logical road map” on development of tourism.

“Our party has plans to promote eco-friendly tourism projects and encourage high-end tourism that would bring in much higher returns for the same product that at present is virtually sold for peanuts,” she said.

Srinagar, July 5
Unlike his predecessors, Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not announce any economic or political package during his day-long visit of Jammu and Kashmir on Friday, still he laid out an agenda as to how he planned to work for this state by opening opportunities for the youth.

His line was that Kashmir needs to be seen through the prism of development and opportunities and not through the outlook of being a violence-ridden and politically problematic area, though there are observers who tirelessly see it as a flash point in south Asia.

His target seemed to be the youth of Jammu and Kashmir, who are suffering from high rate of unemployment. More than a million youth are jobless. Once the youth are on board, much of the Kashmir problem would get resolved, and even though a persistent view of the leaders of the mainstream and separatist groups here is that no amount of the economic packages can resolve the “political issue” of Kashmir.

Both the rivals in the Kashmir politics — the ruling National Conference and Opposition Peoples Democratic Party — have their respective political theories, which they believe , if translated into action, can change the political scenario in Kashmir and resolve the problem.

The NC wants restoration of greater autonomy – state’s control over everything barring defence, communications and external affairs. The PDP wants “self rule”, the template of which was made by former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, who wanted open borders, demilitarisation, self-governance and joint Indo-Pak control over Jammu and Kashmir.

Separatists, be they hardliners, led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani, or moderates, led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, are not willing to settle down for anything short of the right to self-determination or alternatively the trilateral talks between India, Pakistan and the representatives of Kashmir.

Mirwaiz is votary of the “United States of Jammu and Kashmir”, where different regions have their respective autonomy and governments, which work under one federal government in the state.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is on record to have told the erstwhile UPA government that “Kashmir was not an economic problem, it is a political issue and it needs to be resolved politically”. Of late, he has been questioning the nature of the accession of the state with India.

What the people here have noticed is that Modi deliberately avoided the political furrows.

He is the first Prime Minister, who during his Kashmir visit, did not make any offer of talks to the separatists. He did not say anything like what used to be his predecessors’ standard line, “our doors are open for talks.” Nor did he make a conditional offer that the table of talks is open to all those who shun the violence or lay down the arms.

Modi also did not make any reference to the internal and external dimensions of the Kashmir problem, what his immediate predecessor Manmohan Singh used to talk about.

The word “violence” was missing from his speeches, which he delivered yesterday. Not that there is no violence in the Valley – there was a demonstrative act of violence in Tral village in south Kashmir on Saturday where a Jaish-e-Mohammad militant was killed and the protesters in that militant-infested area torched the police vehicles.

By avoiding the use of word “ violence” and a call to militants to say “farewell to arms”, the Prime Minister made a strong point that Kashmir should be seen through the prism of development and the ample employment opportunities that its resources can generate for the jobless youth.

Perhaps, he reminded himself that the offers made by his predecessors did not yield any results.

To reassure the people of Jammu and Kashmir that he was not in a haste to do anything, he also had a message for his own party men, when he did not talk about the abrogation of the Article 370 that grants special status to Jammu and Kashmir. Nor did he touch the subject of return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits. Let the contentious issues take rest for some time, while the development should march on. That was his theme yesterday and if the sources are to be believed there would be a steady progress on the developmental front.

Jammu, July 5
The Jammu and Kashmir National Panther Party (JKNPP) today lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for “ignoring” the issues concerning the Jammu region during his day-long visit to the state on Saturday.

The BJP and its Prime Minister have “betrayed” the people of Jammu, JKNPP patron Bhim Singh told reporters here today.

Srinagar, July 5
The BJP today said it would form the next government in Jammu and Kashmir.

“People in all three regions of the state want a corruption-free government which can bring in a lot of development in the state. And, we are confident of forming the next government in the state,” co-in charge of the BJP’s state unit RP Singh told mediapersons in Srinagar today.

“The people in the state are fed up with the National Conference, Peoples Democratic Party and the Congress. And, people here also want Modi sarkar,” he said.

RP Singh said the shutdown call given by separatists yesterday during the maiden visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi had no meaning. “Such things do not matter,” he said

The BJP leader said the party had no plans to have a separate homeland for the Kashmiri Pandits in the Valley.

“Is there any document where the BJP talks about a separate homeland for the Pandits. The party has no such intention. They (Pandits) are part of Kashmir and have every right to return,” he said while commenting on the statement of Grand Mufti of Kashmir that people of Kashmir would not accept a separate homeland for the Pandits.

Earlier, several political activists from the National Conference, Peoples Democratic Party and the Congress and some retired government employees joined the BJP during a function here.

Srinagar/Pulwama, July 5
A Pakistani militant was killed and an Army jawan injured in an early morning encounter in south Kashmir’s Aaripal Tral, 45 km from Srinagar, on Saturday.

The killing of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) militant Madani Bhai triggered clashes in the area. Two police vehicles were set ablaze by protesters who demanded the handing over of slain militant’s body. Seven policemen were also injured. The police resorted to baton charge and fired tear gas shells to disperse the mob. The situation remained tense in the area.

A spokesperson for the police in Srinagar said soon after the killing, some miscreants pelted a police team with stones and set two vehicles on fire. “Police exercised maximum restraint,” he said. The encounter took place following intelligence input about the presence of militants in Aaripal Tral. A joint operation by the police, Army and CRPF was launched at Aaripal Tral village early on Saturday.

“As the search operation began, the militants trapped inside a house fired at the team, injuring an Army man. In the retaliatory fire, one militant was injured who fled to the nearby Pastuna forest area,” said a police officer.

The security forces later gunned down the injured militant in the forest after a brief encounter. An AK rifle and three magazines were recovered from the scene.

The police said Madni was active in the area for the past one year and had operated in coordination with Hizb-ul-Mujaideen militant cadres in the Tral area.

“Madni was part of militant activities carried out by Hizb in the Tral area over the past one year,” said a police officer.

Jammu, July 5
The birth anniversary of Guru Hargobind was celebrated today at all gurdwaras here.

The main function was organised by the District Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (DGPC), Jammu, at Gurdwara Chatti Pathshai, Talab Tillo, Jammu, in which hundreds of Sikh devotees across the Jammu city and other surrounding areas participated.

Some of the Sikh organisations had organised ‘langars’ (community kitchens) and distributed ‘chabeel’ (sweetened water) in the city.

Besides, the local ragi jatha of the DGPC, Jammu, Bhai Kaaraj Singh, Sri Darbar Sahib, Amritsar, recited shabad kirtan.

Gaini Soocha Singh Patialawale, the main parcharak at today’s function, highlighted the history of Guru Hargobind.

All functionaries of the District Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, Jammu, Dalip Singh, Attar Singh and Manjit singh were present in the function.

Srinagar, July 5
Minister for Housing, Horticulture and Culture Raman Bhalla today visited Gurdwara Chatti Padshahi at Rainawari here on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Guru Hargobind Singh and prayed for sustained peace and prosperity in the state.

The minister greeted people and said the need of the hour was to follow the path of truth, humanity, charity, honesty and mutual brotherhood as preached by the Guru.

During his visit to the Gurdwara, Bhalla interacted with the members of the managing committee and took stock of arrangements made for the devotees.

Srinagar, July 5
First Lady Usha Vohra attended an interaction programme with the spouses of members of the India CEO Forum of the International Market Assessment at Gulmarg in the Valley.

During the session, issues relating to women in the Indian society, girl child protection and conflict in Kashmir were discussed.

Usha Vohra addressed the ladies forum and talked about the obtaining social and cultural milieu and how it impacted the changing role of women in the Indian society. She highlighted the challenges which the present day women were facing while carving out a niche for themselves in every sphere of life.

The First Lady particularly highlighted the difficulties and challenges faced by women in the Valley, consequent to the advent of terrorism and violence and its effect on their psyche.

She also spoke about the educational prospects of girls and the role required to be played by the government and the civil society in ensuring better educational opportunities, reducing school dropout ratio of girls, ban on sex determination, curbing female foeticide and safeguarding the rights of the girl child.

The First lady urged the members of the forum to contribute towards enhancing gender equality and women empowerment for securing a bright and better future for girls and women, as they were the pillars on which the foundations of any civilised nation were based.

Srinagar, July 5
Former Chief Justice of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court and an eminent jurist of the region Justice (retd) Mufti Bahauddin Farooqi passed away here today morning.

Mufti Bahauddin, who was the first Kashmiri Muslim to be appointed as a High Court Chief Justice in the country, served as the 12th Chief Justice of the J&K High Court from March 7, 1983, to August 23, 1983.

Bahauddin breathed his last at his residence at Jawahar Nagar in Srinagar this morning. He was buried at his ancestral graveyard at Khanqah-e-Moulla locality in old Srinagar city.

A large number of people, including people from judiciary, lawyers from the High Court and a delegation led by Bar association president, participated in his funeral prayers.

Srinagar, July 5
Governor NN Vohra, on the eve of the 33rd Kalachakra initiation, visited Chuglamasar at Leh and had audience with the 14th Dalai Lama.

The Dalai Lama is at Leh to bless several lakh devotees, who will be visiting the town in connection with the Kalachakra ceremonies.

The Governor and the Dalai Lama exchanged views about the importance of all nations working towards world harmony and peace among people of all races, regions and religions.

Vohra also greeted the spiritual leader on his 79th birthday and wished him continuing successes in his ongoing endeavours to restore faith and compassionate understanding in the world at large.