119 years of Trust J A M M U C
&
CK A S H M I R
Regional news THE TRIBUNE
Saturday, September 18, 1999
weather spotlight
today's calendar
image
Line Punjab NewsHaryana NewsJammu & KashmirHimachal Pradesh NewsNational NewsChandigarhEditorialBusinessSports NewsWorld NewsMailbag

Cong seeks repoll in Srinagar
SRINAGAR, Sept 17 — The Congress has demanded repoll in the Srinagar parliamentary constituency and alleged that the National Conference government had indulged in"massive rigging" during the first phase of elections.


Farooq denies coercing voters
SRINAGAR, Sept 17 — The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Mr Farooq Abdullah today dismissed press reports alleging him to have forced the voters to exercise franchise.

line

J &K mapJammu
Srinagar







Revamp in Cong, NC imminent
JAMMU, Sept 17 — Whatever may be the poll results in the six Lok Sabha constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir, both the ruling National Conference and the state unit of the Congress are going to witness a major revamp.
50 years on indian independence 50 years on indian independence 50 years on indian independence
50 years on indian independence

Search

 
 

Cong seeks repoll in Srinagar
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, Sept 17 — The Congress has demanded repoll in the Srinagar parliamentary constituency and alleged that the National Conference government had indulged in"massive rigging" during the first phase of elections.

This was stated by the all India General Secretary of the party, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad, at a press conference here today. He claimed that the threat of the militants was only 20 per cent while the rest had been "created by the NC government". "They (NC) were sure to lose the seat if there was massive polling in the Srinagar constituency", Mr Azad said and added that a fear psychosis had been created by the ruling party during elections to discourage the voters.

Mr Azad alleged that the NC government headed by Dr Farooq Abdullah misused surrendered militants, Special Operations Group (SOG) of the police and government machinery during the election in Srinagar.

"If same tactics are adopted in the Baramula constituency, which goes to the polls tomorrow, the Congress party will launch a crusade against the National Conference", Mr Azad said.

He expressed serious concern over the alleged apathetic attitude of the Chief Electoral Officer of Jammu and Kashmir towards the complaints lodged by the Congress party. He said no action had been taken regarding 10 complaints lodged with the Election Department of the state, and added that the party high command would now approach the Chief Election Commissioner of India regarding the complaints of malpractices during elections in the state.

The AICC General Secretary, said the complaints, included allegations of mass rigging in the Assembly segments of Amirakadal, Khanyar, Idgah, Budgam, Beerwah and Chrar-e-Sharief in the Srinagar parliamentary constituency. Mr Azad demanded repoll in these Assembly segments if not in the whole constituency. Top


 

Farooq denies coercing voters

SRINAGAR, Sept 17 (UNI) — The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Mr Farooq Abdullah today dismissed press reports alleging him to have forced the voters to exercise franchise.

"We had not employed any force during the first phase of elections in Srinagar. Why should we do it now,’’ he said in an interview to Doordarshan.

He, however, hastened to add: "The voters are free to vote for whomsoever they wish. Why should anybody stop them from voting, or threaten or force them on gun-point not to vote?’’

The Chief Minister said the administration is committed to ensure peaceful polling and any attempt to coerce the voters from participating in the democratic exercise would be sternly dealt with.

"Sufficient security cover would be given to the people during the elections. It is responsibility of the state. I shall not shy away from this legitimate duty as the Chief Minister,’’ he said, noting that Pakistan did not wish the people of Kashmir to participate in the democratic process and were harrassing the people by issuing threatening letters and pasting posters outside the mosques.

"Islamabad does not want peace to prevail in Kashmir. They keep pushing mercenaries into the state, he added.

Going by the experience during the first phase of the parliamentary elections in the state in the wake of threats issued to voters, the Chief Minister said adequate forces had been deployed to instil confidence among the voters in remaining two phases. "Pressure has been built on militants. The security forces have been achieving success in the anti-militancy operations.’’Top


 

Revamp in Cong, NC imminent
From M.L. Kak
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Sept 17 — Whatever may be the poll results in the six Lok Sabha constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir, both the ruling National Conference and the state unit of the Congress are going to witness a major revamp.

Though the Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, has lost the moral authority to drop the ministers in whose assembly segments voter turnout was poor because in his constituency, Ganderbal, too there was only 10 per cent polling, on September 5, he is determined to carry out a major reshuffle of portfolios. The Chief Minister may not drop more then three ministers but sources close to him said that Dr Abdullah is likely to give key portfolios to the Rural Development Minister, Mr Abdul Rahim Rather, in whose assembly segment the Chief Minister received a rousing welcome during campaigning.

The Forest Minister, Mr Mohammad Ramzan, too may be given one more key portfolio. The Minister for School Education, Mr M.S. Tariq, the Agriculture Minister, Mr Nissar Khan, and two others may, however, lose their portfolios and be given unimportant departments.

The Chief Minister also plans to reduce the size of the Council of Ministers to lessen the burden on the state exchaquer. He also plans to entrust, his ministerial colleagues with the task of working for the party and promoting interaction with the people. He also plans to involve some retired bureaucrats in the task of strengthening the party's base. A former Chief Secretary, Sheikh Ghulam Rasool, has already been asked to work for revamping the National Conference in the Ganderbal-Srinagar belt.

As far as the state unit of the Congress is concerned major changes in the PCC are on the cards after the elections. In case the party draws a blank in the poll, the AICC General Secretary, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad, may be asked to keep his hands off Kashmir. A senior Congress functionary and confident of Mrs Sonia Gandhi, Mr Ahmed Patel, has already taken serious note of the behind-the scenes activities of Mr Azad who has been instrumental in selecting party candidates for Jammu, Udhampur and Anantnag against the wishes of senior PCC leaders.

A former PCC President, Mr Ghulam Rasool Kar, had planned to quit the Congress and join the National Conference but was dissuaded by Mr Ahmed Patel. Mr Patel phoned Mr Kar and invited him to Delhi, where he was assured that the PCC would be replaced. This could mean that Mr Mohammad Aslam as the PCC President for his refusal to obey the orders of Mrs Gandhi to change the candidate from Jammu Lok Sabha constituency.

Since the state unit of the Congress had witnessed a major change after Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, his daughter Mahbooba Mufti and a large number of Congressmen quit the party, the high command has decided to restructure the PCC.

The AICC has received a number of complaints that for the first time in the history of the state Congress, the PCC chief had been selected from the Jammu region. Several party workers and leaders have suggested to the AICC leadership that a senior leader from the Kashmir valley be appointed as the PCC chief.

A senior party leader and Vice-President, Mr Mangat Ram Sharma, is said to be pleading with the Central Congress leaders that Mr Kar be reinstalled as the PCC Chief because he is the senior most Congress leader in the state.

Reports indicate that after the elections, new political combinations may emerge in the state and the Mufti's Peoples' Democratic Party (PDP) may become a second home for the dissidents in the National Conference, the Congress and the Janata Dal. But this will depend on the PDP's success at the hustings.Top


  Image Map
home | Nation | Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir | Chandigarh |
|
Editorial | Business | Sport |
|
Mailbag | Spotlight | World | 50 years of Independence | Weather |
|
Search | Subscribe | Archive | Suggestion | Home | E-mail |