Apr 28 2011
New Delhi : The three interlocutors appointed by the Centre on the Kashmir issue are due to submit their report outlining the political contours of a solution shortly. Work on the report is in its final stages.
Those drawing up the report say it would be more than simply just the perspective of those who live in the Valley. It would take a much broader view of all regions and communities.
The head of the committee, Dileep Padgaonkar, told The Indian Express , “The political, economic and cultural aspirations in Jammu and Kashmir differ from region to region and within each region, from one community to another. Therefore, to appraise the aspirations from the prism of any one region or community would grossly distort the realities on the ground.”
The interlocutors have just concluded a two-day meeting in Srinagar with academics and intellectuals, and a meeting in Jammu with the legal fraternity.
(Courtesy : www.indianexpress.com)
‘Getting out of Hurriyat like Azadi’
Srinagar (April 22, 2011) : The cracks in the Hurriyat Conference seem to have deepened with suspended leader Moulvi Abbas Ansari declaring on Thursday that the decision by Hurriyat chaiman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq spelt “azadi” for him. Meanwhile, rift within the separatist conglomerate widened when the Mirwaiz refuted Ansari’s e
arlier claim that New Delhi-appointed mediators — Dilip Padgaonkar, Radha Kumar and MM Ansari — “just landed at my door”. He also accused the interlocutors of “adding confusion and working under extreme sense of desperation”.
Ansari, who met the interlocutors despite Hurriyat taking a joint decision not to meet them, told HT, “I am not angry with them, it’s actually azadi (freedom) for me to carry forward my quest and mission for peace. I have always believed that guns and bombs are no solution for any problem. The solution always lies in dialogue.”
The decision has not only highlighted the cracks in the moderate camp, but also divided the Hurriyat on sectarian lines. While the Mirwaiz is a Sunni leader, Ansari, who is also a former chairman of the Hurriyat, is a Shia cleric. Ansari’s move has also seen supporters come out on the streets in some Shia-dominated areas.
Ansari’s Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen is an executive council member of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, an umbrella body headed by the Mirwaiz.
While claiming he “only spelled” the preconditions for the talks in his meeting with the interlocutors, Ansari said, “I told the group that the dialogue has to be meaningful and acceptable to all parties — India, Pakistan and Kashmiris, and that the security forces should be in camps and not out on the roads as occupation forces.”
He, however, did not stress on the “four-point pre-conditions” as given by the Mirwaiz. They include releasing political prisoners, revoking laws such as the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, taking the army off populated areas and ending alleged human rights abuses.
(Courtesy : www.hindustantimes.com)
Interlocutors interact with delegations in Kishtwar
Jammu : In yet another visit to Jammu and Kashmir, the Centre's interlocutors today interacted in Kishtwar district with various delegations comprising social groups and political parties.
The interlocutors, led by journalist Dileep Padgaonkar, held detailed discussions with the delegations and apprised them of the proposals submitted by them to the Union government.
The Panel, also comprising academician Radha Kumar and former Information Commissioner M M Ansari, assured members of the delegations that their views and demands would be taken into consideration.
Among the political parties and social groups which met the interlocutors were National Conference, Congress, PDP, National Panthers Party, BJP, Kishtwar Muslim Forum, Hill Development Council, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Imam Sahib Jamia Masjid, Kishtwar and United Muslim Council, Kishtwar.
(Courtesy : www.indianexpress.com)
Interlocutors meet Governor, Jammu lawyers
Saturday, 23 April 2011
Jammu : The three-member team of Interlocutors on Jammu and Kashmir Dileep Padgaonkar, Prof Radha Kumar and M M Ansari, Saturday held a detailed meeting with members of Bar Association Jammu. Prominent Supreme Court lawyer, and senior Congress leader, Advocate Ashok Bhan had been specially invited by the Bar to participate in the meeting.
The Jammu Bar President, B S Salathia, presented a detailed memo to the interlocutors and highlighted the ‘discrimination’ of Jammu region in the matter of politics, employment and allocation of funds. During interactive session, several speakers reiterated Salathi’s assertion and demanded end of regional ‘disparity’.
Padgaonkar in his speech said, “We have not submitted final recommendations to the center yet and all media reports are speculative in this regard. We have come here to listen to the Bar Association members with an open mind in order to enlist their suggestions in our report.”
Ashok Bhan thanked the people of Jammu for having accepted the large population of Kashmiri pandits into social and economic fold of Jammu region. He gave his experience about the Kashmir regional yearning for peace and peaceful settlement of Kashmir imbroglio and emphasized upon GoI to address the grievances of Jammu, Ladakh and Kashmir before embarking on the finality of any solution which will respect the aspirations of all the 3-regions.
He said that legal and constitution relationship between the state and the center were governed by Article 1 of Indian Constitution and section 3 of state constitution. “Besides this J&K enjoys special status as a distinct constitutional entity,” he added. The three-member team also met the Governor, N N Vohra, at Raj Bhavan here today. This was their fifth meeting with him. During their two hour meeting with the Governor, the Interlocutors held wide ranging discussions on issues emerging from their meetings with various shades of opinion during their present visit to the State.
(Courtesy : www.kashmirdispatch.com)
‘Report not on the lines of pre-1953 status’
JAMMU (24 Apr 2011) : The Centre's interlocutors today said that they have not prepared any draft which recommends grant of "pre-53 status" to Jammu and Kashmir, insisting that their report would contain "all major viewpoints".
"All we can say is that we have not prepared any draft as yet nor there is one ready to be submitted in the near future on these lines (grant of pre-1953 status to Jammu and Kashmir)," head of the three-member panel of interlocutors Dileep Padgaonkar told reporters here.
He was replying to a volley of questions about media reports claiming that an interim report to be submitted to government favours grant of pre-1953 status to Jammu and Kashmir, which will empower the state to take decisions on all matters except Defence, External Affairs and Communication, beside other privileges.
Discounting the reports, Padgaonkar said, "We have not made any recommendations nor is there any particular recommendation in our mind unless we speak to all the people. Our report would be comprehensive and containing all major viewpoints".
On the issue of most of the separatists leaders keeping away from talks, Padgaonkar said, "Though efforts are on to bring separatists to the dialogue table. But if still, the exercise remains futile, the interim report has to be submitted to the Government of India excluding them."
The visit by the interlocutors saw breaking of ice with separatists with former Hurriyat chairman Moulvi Abbas Ansari meeting them in Srinagar on Wednesday for which he was suspended from the amalgam.
The interlocutors met over 50 delegations during their fortnight-long visit to the Kashmir Valley, Doda, Kishtwar and Jammu areas of the state. "We have met sections of society during our visits and got to know about facts and figures on J&K situation but at the behest of one section, the report prepared so far, cannot be delayed and has to be submitted with the authorities concerned," he said.
"We interacted with more than 50 delegations from all parts of the erstwhile Doda district and the issues they discussed with us included social and economic backwardness of the inhabitants due to the fact that the vast region's enormous natural wealth is yet to be completely tapped," Padgaonkar said.
The people, however, stressed the need for effective, constitutionally guaranteed devolution of political, financial and administrative powers to all the three regions of the state and a further devolution at all levels, he said.
The interlocutors said in the coming days inter-regional roundtable conferences would also be conducted in all the three regions. Padgaonkar along with academician Radha Kumar and former Information Commissioner M M Ansari were appointed by the Centre in October last year.
(Courtesy : http://expressbuzz.com)
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
गुलाम कश्मीर में 42 आतंकी कैंप
जम्मू। सेना की 25वीं इन्फेंटरी डिवीजन के जरनल ऑफिसर इन कमांड मेजर जरनल ओम प्रकाश ने कहा कि राज्य में दम तोड़ रहे आतंकवाद को जीवित रखने के लिए पड़ोसी देश कोई कोर कसर नहीं छोड़ रहा है। गुलाम कश्मीर में आतंकियों को बदस्तूर हथियार तथा गोरिला लड़ाई की ट्रेनिंग दी जा रही है। मौजूदा समय में पाकिस्तान के कब्जे वाले गुलाम कश्मीर में 42 आतंकी ट्रेनिंग कैंप चल रहे हैं, जिनमें 250 से 400 आतंकियों को प्रशिक्षण दिया जा रहा है। यह आतंकी भारत में घुसने की फिराक में हैं, लेकिन सेना इन्हें रोकने के लिए पूरी तरह सक्षम है।
मंगलवार को सैनिक स्कूल नगरोटा के एक कार्यक्रम के बाद पत्रकारों से बातचीत में जीओसी ने कहा कि पिछले कुछ महीनों में सेना ने आतंकियों की कमर तोड़ कर रख दी है। कई शीर्ष आतंकी संगठनों के कमांडरों को सेना ने मार गिराया है। इसमें 24 अप्रैल को रामबन में मारा गया लश्कर का डिवीजन कमांडर मूसा तथा उसका एक साथी भी शामिल है। जीओसी ने कहा कि साउथ पीर पंजाल रेंज में करीब 200 आतंकी अभी भी सक्रिय हैं। उन्होंने कहा कि अब पर्वतीय क्षेत्रों में बर्फ पिघलने के साथ ही घुसपैठ में तेजी आई थी, जिसे रोकने के लिए सेना ने रणनीति बना ली है। खुफिया एजेंसियों की रिपोर्ट से यह स्पष्ट हुआ है कि गुलाम कश्मीर में आतंकी ट्रेनिंग कैंप चल रहे हैं।
वर्ष 2004 में भारत-पाकिस्तान के बीच हुए संघर्ष विराम को तोड़ने के सवाल पर उन्होंने कहा कि भारतीय सेना सीजफायर का पूरा सम्मान करती है। घुसपैठ कराने के लिए पाकिस्तानी सेना संघर्ष विराम का उल्लघंन करती है।
सीमापार ट्रेनिंग लेने गए युवकों की घर वापसी के लिए बनाई गई पुर्नवास नीति पर उन्होंने कहा कि केंद्र तथा राज्य सरकार जो भी फैसला लेगी सेना उसका सम्मान करेगी। उन्होंने कहा कि उनके डिवीजन के अधीन आने वाले क्षेत्रों में राज्य प्रशासन को करीब 600 युवकों के परिजनों ने घर वापस आने की इच्छा जताई है।
मंगलवार को सैनिक स्कूल नगरोटा के एक कार्यक्रम के बाद पत्रकारों से बातचीत में जीओसी ने कहा कि पिछले कुछ महीनों में सेना ने आतंकियों की कमर तोड़ कर रख दी है। कई शीर्ष आतंकी संगठनों के कमांडरों को सेना ने मार गिराया है। इसमें 24 अप्रैल को रामबन में मारा गया लश्कर का डिवीजन कमांडर मूसा तथा उसका एक साथी भी शामिल है। जीओसी ने कहा कि साउथ पीर पंजाल रेंज में करीब 200 आतंकी अभी भी सक्रिय हैं। उन्होंने कहा कि अब पर्वतीय क्षेत्रों में बर्फ पिघलने के साथ ही घुसपैठ में तेजी आई थी, जिसे रोकने के लिए सेना ने रणनीति बना ली है। खुफिया एजेंसियों की रिपोर्ट से यह स्पष्ट हुआ है कि गुलाम कश्मीर में आतंकी ट्रेनिंग कैंप चल रहे हैं।
वर्ष 2004 में भारत-पाकिस्तान के बीच हुए संघर्ष विराम को तोड़ने के सवाल पर उन्होंने कहा कि भारतीय सेना सीजफायर का पूरा सम्मान करती है। घुसपैठ कराने के लिए पाकिस्तानी सेना संघर्ष विराम का उल्लघंन करती है।
सीमापार ट्रेनिंग लेने गए युवकों की घर वापसी के लिए बनाई गई पुर्नवास नीति पर उन्होंने कहा कि केंद्र तथा राज्य सरकार जो भी फैसला लेगी सेना उसका सम्मान करेगी। उन्होंने कहा कि उनके डिवीजन के अधीन आने वाले क्षेत्रों में राज्य प्रशासन को करीब 600 युवकों के परिजनों ने घर वापस आने की इच्छा जताई है।
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
घाटी में पंचायत चुनाव के लिए मतदान शुरू
कोईमोह [कश्मीर]। दक्षिणी कश्मीर के लोगों ने अलगाववादियों के बहिष्कार के आह्वान को खारिज करते हुए बुधवार को 10 साल बाद हो रहे पंचायत चुनाव के पहले चरण में भारी संख्या में मतदान किया।
दर्जनों मतदान केंद्रों पर पुरूष और महिलाएं सुबह आठ बजे मतदान शुरू होने से पहले ही लाइन में लग गए। यह चुनाव जम्मू जिले के बिश्नाह, साबा और कश्मीर इलाके के उधमपुर कंगन, बडगाम, कोइमोह और कुपवाड़ा समेत आठ ब्लाकों में हो रहा है। इसी तरह की उत्साहजनक रिपोर्टे घाटी के अन्य उन हिस्सों से भी आई हैं, जहा बुधवार को चुनाव हो रहा है। इसमें बडगाम और गंदेरबल के इलाके शामिल हैं।
पंचायत चुनाव के तहत 2800 से अधिक उम्मीदवार सरपंच और पंचों के पदों के लिए पहले चरण में अपना भाग्य अजमा रहे हैं। यहा एक चुनाव केंद्र के बाहर खड़े गुलाम मोहिउद्दीन मीर ने कहा कि मैं जल्दी आया था, ताकि मैं अपने खेतों में जल्दी जा सकूं क्योंकि हमें बुवाई के मौसम के लिए भी तैयारी करनी है। अलगावादियों के बहिष्कार आह्वान पर उन्होंने कहा कि ये चुनाव जमीनी स्तर के प्रशासन के लिए हो रहे हैं। मीर ने कहा कि विधायक और मंत्रियों की तरह हमें उनके पीछे भागने की जरूरत नहीं है और सरपंच और पंच हमारे यहा उपस्थित रहते हैं।
(Courtesy : www.jagran.com)
दर्जनों मतदान केंद्रों पर पुरूष और महिलाएं सुबह आठ बजे मतदान शुरू होने से पहले ही लाइन में लग गए। यह चुनाव जम्मू जिले के बिश्नाह, साबा और कश्मीर इलाके के उधमपुर कंगन, बडगाम, कोइमोह और कुपवाड़ा समेत आठ ब्लाकों में हो रहा है। इसी तरह की उत्साहजनक रिपोर्टे घाटी के अन्य उन हिस्सों से भी आई हैं, जहा बुधवार को चुनाव हो रहा है। इसमें बडगाम और गंदेरबल के इलाके शामिल हैं।
पंचायत चुनाव के तहत 2800 से अधिक उम्मीदवार सरपंच और पंचों के पदों के लिए पहले चरण में अपना भाग्य अजमा रहे हैं। यहा एक चुनाव केंद्र के बाहर खड़े गुलाम मोहिउद्दीन मीर ने कहा कि मैं जल्दी आया था, ताकि मैं अपने खेतों में जल्दी जा सकूं क्योंकि हमें बुवाई के मौसम के लिए भी तैयारी करनी है। अलगावादियों के बहिष्कार आह्वान पर उन्होंने कहा कि ये चुनाव जमीनी स्तर के प्रशासन के लिए हो रहे हैं। मीर ने कहा कि विधायक और मंत्रियों की तरह हमें उनके पीछे भागने की जरूरत नहीं है और सरपंच और पंच हमारे यहा उपस्थित रहते हैं।
(Courtesy : www.jagran.com)
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
'चीन से करो दो टूक, कहो- गुलाम कश्मीर से निकाले अपने सैनिक'
जयपुर। भाजपा ने कहा है कि प्रधानमंत्री मनमोहन सिंह मंगलवार से बरिक्स देशों के सम्मेलन में शामिल होने जा रहे हैं और इसमें उन्हें गुलाम कश्मीर से चीनी सैनिकों को निकलवाने के बारे में चीनी राष्ट्रपति हू चिन ताओ से सीधे बात करनी चाहिए। चीन के हाइनांग में हो रहे इस सम्मेलन में भारतीय प्रधानमंत्री मनमोहन सिंह सफलता की कामना करते हुए भाजपा चाहती है कि चीन पाकिस्तानी कब्जे वाले कश्मीर से अपने सैनिकों को वापस बुलाए।
भाजपा के राष्ट्रीय प्रवक्ता तरुण विजय ने मंगलवार को जयपुर में भास्कर डॉट कॉम से विशेष बातचीत के दौरान कहा कि गुलाम कश्मीर में चीन के दस हजार से ज्यादा सैनिक निर्माण कार्यों के बहाने जमे हुए हैं। चीन की योजना है कि हमारे देश के अकसाईचिन हिस्से से गुजरने वाले कराकोरम हाईवे को पाकिस्तानी पंजाब से होकर ग्वादर बंदरगाह तक ले जाना चाहते हैं। इससे चीन की पहुंच अरब सागर और मध्यपूर्व तक हो जाएगी।भारतीय प्रधानमंत्री चीन से यह बातचीत भी करें कि दोनों देशों के बीच किस तरह संतुलित आर्थिक सहयोग बढ़ सकता है, क्योंकि इन दोनों देशों के बीच व्यापार अब काफी बढ़ चुका है।
क्या है बरिक्स?
यह ब्राजील, रूस, चीन, भारत, चीन और दक्षिण अफ्रीका का एक संगठन है। यह एशियान या यूरोपीय यूनियन की तर्ज पर बना संगठन है।बरिक्स अंतरराष्ट्रीय अर्थशास्त्री जिम ओ नील की अवधारणा पर विकसित संगठन है। इन पांचों देशों के पास दुनिया की 25 प्रतिशत भूमि है और 40 प्रतिशत आबादी है। बीस साल बाद इन पांचों देशों की जीडीपी दुनिया की कुल जीडीपी की आधी हो जाएगी। बरिक्स से दक्षिण अफ्रीका हाल ही जुड़ा है।
(Courtesy : www.bhaskar.com)
भाजपा के राष्ट्रीय प्रवक्ता तरुण विजय ने मंगलवार को जयपुर में भास्कर डॉट कॉम से विशेष बातचीत के दौरान कहा कि गुलाम कश्मीर में चीन के दस हजार से ज्यादा सैनिक निर्माण कार्यों के बहाने जमे हुए हैं। चीन की योजना है कि हमारे देश के अकसाईचिन हिस्से से गुजरने वाले कराकोरम हाईवे को पाकिस्तानी पंजाब से होकर ग्वादर बंदरगाह तक ले जाना चाहते हैं। इससे चीन की पहुंच अरब सागर और मध्यपूर्व तक हो जाएगी।भारतीय प्रधानमंत्री चीन से यह बातचीत भी करें कि दोनों देशों के बीच किस तरह संतुलित आर्थिक सहयोग बढ़ सकता है, क्योंकि इन दोनों देशों के बीच व्यापार अब काफी बढ़ चुका है।
क्या है बरिक्स?
यह ब्राजील, रूस, चीन, भारत, चीन और दक्षिण अफ्रीका का एक संगठन है। यह एशियान या यूरोपीय यूनियन की तर्ज पर बना संगठन है।बरिक्स अंतरराष्ट्रीय अर्थशास्त्री जिम ओ नील की अवधारणा पर विकसित संगठन है। इन पांचों देशों के पास दुनिया की 25 प्रतिशत भूमि है और 40 प्रतिशत आबादी है। बीस साल बाद इन पांचों देशों की जीडीपी दुनिया की कुल जीडीपी की आधी हो जाएगी। बरिक्स से दक्षिण अफ्रीका हाल ही जुड़ा है।
(Courtesy : www.bhaskar.com)
Plight of the people south of the Pir Panjal
Jaibans Singh
The magnificent Pir Panjal Range, lies south of the Himalayas and extends from Pakistan Occupied Kashmir through Jammu and Kashmir to Himachal Pradesh. The Northern slopes of this breathtaking range fall into the exquisite Kashmir Valley which is the ancient dwelling of the Kashmiri people, a cultured, secular civilization comprising of Pundits, Muslims (both Shia and Sunni) and Sikhs who lived in complete harmony till foreign sponsored terrorism wrecked their intrinsic social fabric. The southern slopes of the range fall into the Jammu region where the beautiful peaks and valleys are the abode of communities like the Gujjar/Bakarwals, the Pathowari speaking Muslims, Hindu Dogras and Sikhs who have coexisted peacefully for times immemorial.
The Pir Panjal range provides a historic connect to the two distinct people of the Kashmir Valley and the Jammu region, people who do not share a common cultural identity but are historically intertwined. This stately mountain has also been witness to the changing sands of time and has, in the recent few decades, witnessed unfortunate trials and tribulations forced upon innocent people by foreign sponsored terrorism and unrest.
Terrorism in Kashmir, the northern slope of the great Pir Panjal range, has captured the focus of the nation as well as the international community. The atrocities committed by the terrorists, the courageous effort of the people and the security forces to challenge this menace, the aspiration of the people to follow democratic norms, all this and much more has been scrupulously chronicled and commented upon all through the period of turmoil. Unfortunately, the region south of the Pir Panjal, which has also suffered similar atrocity, pain, deprivation and loss in the hands of terrorists and whose people have put up an equally brave fight has not received the attention that it merits. There is very little awareness about the plight of these people due to terrorism, even less about the fight that they have so courageously put up, in concert with the Army and with great loss to their lives and property. The general impression is that that terrorism was and continues to be confined to the Kashmir Valley and that the Jammu region is safe. There is also a misplaced belief that due to this problem only Kashmiri Pandits were forced to abandon their natural habitat.
Rubina Kooser, resident of village Ludkoti, District Rajouri, was abducted from her home by eight terrorists November, 21, 2005, forced to marry one of them, raped repeatedly and beaten brutally for one month till she managed to escape from the clutches of the her tormentors. Chandrakant, resident of village Mangnar, Tehsil Haveli, District Poonch, while working in Hotel Anand at Poonch, was killed by terrorists along with others in the said hotel on March, 14, 2003. Balkrishna, resident of Rajgadh, District Ramban, was among 32 persons attacked by the terrorists at Chapandi of which 26 were killed. He sustained gunshot injuries resulting in disability in his leg. Gulam Mohmad Bhat, resident of Gundana, District Doda, was killed by militants on May, 01, 1993, his house and house-hold goods were burnt.
The aforementioned incidents have been narrated from amongst innumerable others that give an insight into the magnitude of the suffering of the people due to terrorism. Though randomly picked, they go to prove that the region has been in the grip of terrorism since the last three decades, that terrorists have targeted the people regardless of their caste and religion and that the spread has enveloped that entire area from Poonch to Doda, on the southern slopes of the Pir Panjal.
During the course of this long and debilitating battle many families have been totally wiped out, many have lost their earning members, others have witnessed their property being pillaged and destroyed and a whole lot have been forced to migrate from their home and hearth. Migrants from Poonch, Doda, Rajouri and Udhampur continue to live under inhuman conditions and some families have been forced to sell their small children for survival. Miscreants have reportedly encroached upon and taken possession of lands and property of the people who have fled from these areas. The convenor of Tehreek-e-Insaf, a non government organisation working for these strife torn people, Dr Mumtaz Hussain Bukhari, says that hundreds of innocent women and girls were given maltreatment by terrorists and a majority of them are Muslims.
The losses suffered by the terrorism hit people of Kishtwar, Doda, Ramban, Reasi, Kathua, Rajouri and Poonch districts have been terrible and yet they have responded stoically to save what is theirs. The concept of Village Defence Committees where local civilians were trained by the Army in the use of arms and given the responsibility to guard their own villages originated in these regions only. Undeterred by this onslaught the people have firmly and proudly cast their lot with the India. Despite all this, Kashmir gets more attention mainly because the leadership of the State, whether separatist or mainstream, is predominantly Valley based.
With the summers setting in, political activity in the State is bound to gain momentum, the report of the interlocutors will come up for debate, various political organisations will resort to political posturing and show of strength through disruptions, Hartals and Bandhs etc. Pandering to a select elite that is guided primarily by motivated and vested interests will not accrue any benefit in the longer run. It will only create a feeling of isolation in a majority of the population which will, in turn, aggravate the problem rather than resolving it. The suffering, sacrifices and aspirations of all the people of the State have to be considered on an even scale. The centre should send out a clear message that it will be addressing the situation in its entirety and that it is sensitive to the predicament being faced by all the people of the State, especially south of the Pir Panjal.
(Courtesy : www.thenorthlines.com)
The magnificent Pir Panjal Range, lies south of the Himalayas and extends from Pakistan Occupied Kashmir through Jammu and Kashmir to Himachal Pradesh. The Northern slopes of this breathtaking range fall into the exquisite Kashmir Valley which is the ancient dwelling of the Kashmiri people, a cultured, secular civilization comprising of Pundits, Muslims (both Shia and Sunni) and Sikhs who lived in complete harmony till foreign sponsored terrorism wrecked their intrinsic social fabric. The southern slopes of the range fall into the Jammu region where the beautiful peaks and valleys are the abode of communities like the Gujjar/Bakarwals, the Pathowari speaking Muslims, Hindu Dogras and Sikhs who have coexisted peacefully for times immemorial.
The Pir Panjal range provides a historic connect to the two distinct people of the Kashmir Valley and the Jammu region, people who do not share a common cultural identity but are historically intertwined. This stately mountain has also been witness to the changing sands of time and has, in the recent few decades, witnessed unfortunate trials and tribulations forced upon innocent people by foreign sponsored terrorism and unrest.
Terrorism in Kashmir, the northern slope of the great Pir Panjal range, has captured the focus of the nation as well as the international community. The atrocities committed by the terrorists, the courageous effort of the people and the security forces to challenge this menace, the aspiration of the people to follow democratic norms, all this and much more has been scrupulously chronicled and commented upon all through the period of turmoil. Unfortunately, the region south of the Pir Panjal, which has also suffered similar atrocity, pain, deprivation and loss in the hands of terrorists and whose people have put up an equally brave fight has not received the attention that it merits. There is very little awareness about the plight of these people due to terrorism, even less about the fight that they have so courageously put up, in concert with the Army and with great loss to their lives and property. The general impression is that that terrorism was and continues to be confined to the Kashmir Valley and that the Jammu region is safe. There is also a misplaced belief that due to this problem only Kashmiri Pandits were forced to abandon their natural habitat.
Rubina Kooser, resident of village Ludkoti, District Rajouri, was abducted from her home by eight terrorists November, 21, 2005, forced to marry one of them, raped repeatedly and beaten brutally for one month till she managed to escape from the clutches of the her tormentors. Chandrakant, resident of village Mangnar, Tehsil Haveli, District Poonch, while working in Hotel Anand at Poonch, was killed by terrorists along with others in the said hotel on March, 14, 2003. Balkrishna, resident of Rajgadh, District Ramban, was among 32 persons attacked by the terrorists at Chapandi of which 26 were killed. He sustained gunshot injuries resulting in disability in his leg. Gulam Mohmad Bhat, resident of Gundana, District Doda, was killed by militants on May, 01, 1993, his house and house-hold goods were burnt.
The aforementioned incidents have been narrated from amongst innumerable others that give an insight into the magnitude of the suffering of the people due to terrorism. Though randomly picked, they go to prove that the region has been in the grip of terrorism since the last three decades, that terrorists have targeted the people regardless of their caste and religion and that the spread has enveloped that entire area from Poonch to Doda, on the southern slopes of the Pir Panjal.
During the course of this long and debilitating battle many families have been totally wiped out, many have lost their earning members, others have witnessed their property being pillaged and destroyed and a whole lot have been forced to migrate from their home and hearth. Migrants from Poonch, Doda, Rajouri and Udhampur continue to live under inhuman conditions and some families have been forced to sell their small children for survival. Miscreants have reportedly encroached upon and taken possession of lands and property of the people who have fled from these areas. The convenor of Tehreek-e-Insaf, a non government organisation working for these strife torn people, Dr Mumtaz Hussain Bukhari, says that hundreds of innocent women and girls were given maltreatment by terrorists and a majority of them are Muslims.
The losses suffered by the terrorism hit people of Kishtwar, Doda, Ramban, Reasi, Kathua, Rajouri and Poonch districts have been terrible and yet they have responded stoically to save what is theirs. The concept of Village Defence Committees where local civilians were trained by the Army in the use of arms and given the responsibility to guard their own villages originated in these regions only. Undeterred by this onslaught the people have firmly and proudly cast their lot with the India. Despite all this, Kashmir gets more attention mainly because the leadership of the State, whether separatist or mainstream, is predominantly Valley based.
With the summers setting in, political activity in the State is bound to gain momentum, the report of the interlocutors will come up for debate, various political organisations will resort to political posturing and show of strength through disruptions, Hartals and Bandhs etc. Pandering to a select elite that is guided primarily by motivated and vested interests will not accrue any benefit in the longer run. It will only create a feeling of isolation in a majority of the population which will, in turn, aggravate the problem rather than resolving it. The suffering, sacrifices and aspirations of all the people of the State have to be considered on an even scale. The centre should send out a clear message that it will be addressing the situation in its entirety and that it is sensitive to the predicament being faced by all the people of the State, especially south of the Pir Panjal.
(Courtesy : www.thenorthlines.com)
Separatists slam moderate's killing
NDTV Correspondent, Updated: April 10, 2011
Srinagar: In a rare instance, separatists in the Kashmir have spoken out against the killing of Maulana Shaukat, a religious leader in the Valley. Also interesting is that it's the first time a Chief Minister has visited the family of an assassinated separatist. Hundreds of voices in the state are making one demand: catch those who killed Maulana Shoukat. The Kashmir Valley witnessed a second day of protest after the moderate religious leader was assassinated outside the mosque in Srinagar. "This time we will not sit idle. We have decided that we will find the killer and bring him before the people of Kashmir," said Yasin Malik, Chairman, J&K Liberation Front.
For once, the moderate separatists are speaking in one voice, openly speaking up against the killing of the man who headed the Jamiat-e-Ahlehadees or JAH which has over a million followers and 800 mosques in Jammu and Kashmir. The JAH itself blames the black sheep within the Islamists. "This hideous conspiracy should be exposed and black sheep among Muslim Umah should be identified and given exemplary punishment," said Maulana Ghulam Rasool, President, JAH. The police are now worried about the safety of other moderates.
They suspect Maulana Shoukat may have been killed because he spoke of peace. "He had been speaking openly and publically against stone pelting and return of peace. He was seen as man who was working for peace in Kashmir. These things have played a role in his assassination," said SM Sahai, IGP, Kashmir. The outspoken Maulana may have been silenced, but his supporters are refusing to remain silent over his assassination. Thousands continue to pour in at his residence and voices are getting shriller for bringing culprits to justice.
(Courtesy : www.ndtv.com)
Who killed Maulana Shaukat Ahmed and why?
Sunday, April 10th, 2011
Jaibans Singh
Maulana Shaukat Ahmed, the soft spoken, 55 year old chief of the Jamiat-e-Ahli-Hadees (JAH) has become yet another victim of violence in the strife torn Kashmir valley. His assassination has caused shock waves in the region. The Maulana had been heading the JAH since 2004, when he was first elected President, followed by three more tenures in this responsible position, his last election came in 2010. Under his stewardship the JAH is said to have about 15 lakh followers and more than 800 Mosques spread across the valley.
The notable cleric was a man of conviction who did not hesitate from speaking out his mind. His organisation advocated a puritanical concept of Islam which is at variance with the more moderate Sufi Islam predominant in the Valley. He held pro-freedom views and yet he was known to be a liberal who was very vocal against all forms of violence. He openly denounced stone pelting and other such disruptive activities as un-Islamic and went to the extent of issuing a fatwa against them. In the process, he earned the ire of the likes of Syed Ali Shah Geelani but was undeterred in his ideas. He had no qualms in engaging with the interlocutors appointed by the Centre and despite raised eyebrows from the separatist camp, he held several discussions and parleys with them. In short, the Maulana was a person who chose to tread the righteousness path. It is possible that his liberalism and open thinking led to the two earlier attempts on his life in 2007 and 2008 while the third one was unfortunately successful.
Even though the Valley has maintained calm in the face of this major tragedy and set back to the peace process, conspiracy theories by certain segments of the leadership are flowing fast and furious. Geelani has termed the incident as, “the handiwork of the anti-Kashmiri and anti-Islam elements”. Nayeem Khan termed the killing as, “an act of enemies of the people of Kashmir who are hell-bent to divide the society and create a wedge among people”. Moulana Abass Ansari also feels that this is a conspiracy to create a wedge between people to weaken the ongoing movement.
These leaders seem to be implying that the assassination has been committed by some non-Kashmiri and non-Muslim entity. This effectively excludes Pakistan sponsored terrorists and Kashmiri militants (who are mostly in the forefront for committing such atrocities) from the list of suspects and it leaves only Hindu Indians as the possible perpetrators of this heinous crime. Without saying as much, these leaders are giving vent to vitiating divisive propaganda and blatant rumour mongering. Soon enough, talk of the possible involvement of the security forces and other government agencies will also start doing the rounds.
This thought process is also in accordance with certain intercepts from across the border in which leaders of the Lashkar-e-Taiba have been heard directing their cadre and some elements of the media to spread a rumour that the killing was a handiwork of some Hindutva group.
If we look at capabilities and a possible motive for those on whom fingers are being pointed, we would come up with a different set of deductions altogether. Firstly, the Hindutva groups do not have that kind of presence in the Valley which would make it possible for them to carry out a high profile assassination of this nature even if they nurtured a desire to do so. Also, if they had an option of choosing a target, Maulana Shaukat Ahmed would be pretty down in their order of priority. Next, the security forces and government sponsored agencies would not wish to rock the boat at this point in time when they are looking for ways and means to maintain peace in the Valley through the coming summer. The winter month would have been better period for them to carry out such elimination exercises in case they desired to do so.
There is possibly a much larger, much more sinister design behind all this. It could be that Pakistan sponsored terrorist groups wanting to resurrect the failing morale of their cadre, had ordered this killing to remove a liberal moderate leader from the scene and at the same time set the pace for terrorist activity through the incoming summer months. It could be the result of a rivalry involving ideological, religious or political differences. It could be a personal vendetta. It could also be an accident, maybe the killers simply wanted to create mayhem and the Maulana became an unwitting target.
Maulana Shaukat Ahmed was a good man. In the coming years he would have played a significant role in resolution of the Kashmir imbroglio. He had the vision, the stature and the capability to emerge as a leader of prominence. His unfortunate murder has been committed by someone who is an enemy of the people of Kashmir and the people of India. It is most important to find out the perpetrators of this heinous crime so that the real enemies of the people stand exposed. Both Yaseen Malik and Mirwaiz Omar Farooq, who held the Maulana in great esteem, have expressed their resolve to flush out his killers. In this case, political rivalries should be set aside and a joint effort made to reach to the bottom if this heinous and senseless crime. It is also necessary to expose conspiracy theories as brands of political opportunism that they are in actuality.
The Maulana was the first to demand an inquiry into the into the killings of separatist leaders like Mirwaiz Farooq, Abdul Gani Lone and Qazi Nissar and it was as a follow up to his statements that the Hurriyat leaders Abdul Gani Bhat and Sajjad Lone openly said that these leaders had been killed by “our own men”. Now is the time to pay last respects to the departed soul by bringing his killers to justice.
(Courtesy : http://www.defenceinfo.com)
Omar asks police to expose Maulana Showkat’s killers
OUR CORRESPONDENT
SRINAGAR: The Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, asked Home Secretary and Director General Police to investigate the assassination of Jamiat Al-Hadith President, Maulana Showkat Ahmad Shah, and expose the killers immediately, reports said.
The Chief Minister on Saturday morning visited the residence of Maulana Showkat at Lal Bazar, here to personally convey his deep grief and sorrow to the bereaved family over the inhuman killing of Maulana in a blast at Maisuma yesterday.
He was accompanied by his Political Advisor Devendra Rana and Minister of State for Tourism, Nasir Aslam Wani.
The Chief Minister remained with the bereaved family for some time offered Fateh for the peace to the departed soul and consoled the family. He also conveyed his solidarity and sympathy to the bereaved family.
“I’m deeply pained over the killing of a noble person and a religious scholar of high echelon”, Omar told the bereaved family condemning the cowardice and barbaric act. He said the killing of Maulana Showkat is a great loss to the society and those responsible for it have displayed their dastardly attitude towards humanity.
He directed the Home Secretary and Director General Police to investigate the killing and expose the killers before people immediately.
The Minister for Rural Development, Ali Mohammad Sagar, also visited the residence of Maulana Showkat. Sagar termed him as a great scholar and said his killing has created a vacuum in the society. Sagar appreciated CM’s directions to authorities to expose the killers immediately.
(Courtesy : http://statetimes.in)
Srinagar: In a rare instance, separatists in the Kashmir have spoken out against the killing of Maulana Shaukat, a religious leader in the Valley. Also interesting is that it's the first time a Chief Minister has visited the family of an assassinated separatist. Hundreds of voices in the state are making one demand: catch those who killed Maulana Shoukat. The Kashmir Valley witnessed a second day of protest after the moderate religious leader was assassinated outside the mosque in Srinagar. "This time we will not sit idle. We have decided that we will find the killer and bring him before the people of Kashmir," said Yasin Malik, Chairman, J&K Liberation Front.
For once, the moderate separatists are speaking in one voice, openly speaking up against the killing of the man who headed the Jamiat-e-Ahlehadees or JAH which has over a million followers and 800 mosques in Jammu and Kashmir. The JAH itself blames the black sheep within the Islamists. "This hideous conspiracy should be exposed and black sheep among Muslim Umah should be identified and given exemplary punishment," said Maulana Ghulam Rasool, President, JAH. The police are now worried about the safety of other moderates.
They suspect Maulana Shoukat may have been killed because he spoke of peace. "He had been speaking openly and publically against stone pelting and return of peace. He was seen as man who was working for peace in Kashmir. These things have played a role in his assassination," said SM Sahai, IGP, Kashmir. The outspoken Maulana may have been silenced, but his supporters are refusing to remain silent over his assassination. Thousands continue to pour in at his residence and voices are getting shriller for bringing culprits to justice.
(Courtesy : www.ndtv.com)
Who killed Maulana Shaukat Ahmed and why?
Sunday, April 10th, 2011
Jaibans Singh
Maulana Shaukat Ahmed, the soft spoken, 55 year old chief of the Jamiat-e-Ahli-Hadees (JAH) has become yet another victim of violence in the strife torn Kashmir valley. His assassination has caused shock waves in the region. The Maulana had been heading the JAH since 2004, when he was first elected President, followed by three more tenures in this responsible position, his last election came in 2010. Under his stewardship the JAH is said to have about 15 lakh followers and more than 800 Mosques spread across the valley.
The notable cleric was a man of conviction who did not hesitate from speaking out his mind. His organisation advocated a puritanical concept of Islam which is at variance with the more moderate Sufi Islam predominant in the Valley. He held pro-freedom views and yet he was known to be a liberal who was very vocal against all forms of violence. He openly denounced stone pelting and other such disruptive activities as un-Islamic and went to the extent of issuing a fatwa against them. In the process, he earned the ire of the likes of Syed Ali Shah Geelani but was undeterred in his ideas. He had no qualms in engaging with the interlocutors appointed by the Centre and despite raised eyebrows from the separatist camp, he held several discussions and parleys with them. In short, the Maulana was a person who chose to tread the righteousness path. It is possible that his liberalism and open thinking led to the two earlier attempts on his life in 2007 and 2008 while the third one was unfortunately successful.
Even though the Valley has maintained calm in the face of this major tragedy and set back to the peace process, conspiracy theories by certain segments of the leadership are flowing fast and furious. Geelani has termed the incident as, “the handiwork of the anti-Kashmiri and anti-Islam elements”. Nayeem Khan termed the killing as, “an act of enemies of the people of Kashmir who are hell-bent to divide the society and create a wedge among people”. Moulana Abass Ansari also feels that this is a conspiracy to create a wedge between people to weaken the ongoing movement.
These leaders seem to be implying that the assassination has been committed by some non-Kashmiri and non-Muslim entity. This effectively excludes Pakistan sponsored terrorists and Kashmiri militants (who are mostly in the forefront for committing such atrocities) from the list of suspects and it leaves only Hindu Indians as the possible perpetrators of this heinous crime. Without saying as much, these leaders are giving vent to vitiating divisive propaganda and blatant rumour mongering. Soon enough, talk of the possible involvement of the security forces and other government agencies will also start doing the rounds.
This thought process is also in accordance with certain intercepts from across the border in which leaders of the Lashkar-e-Taiba have been heard directing their cadre and some elements of the media to spread a rumour that the killing was a handiwork of some Hindutva group.
If we look at capabilities and a possible motive for those on whom fingers are being pointed, we would come up with a different set of deductions altogether. Firstly, the Hindutva groups do not have that kind of presence in the Valley which would make it possible for them to carry out a high profile assassination of this nature even if they nurtured a desire to do so. Also, if they had an option of choosing a target, Maulana Shaukat Ahmed would be pretty down in their order of priority. Next, the security forces and government sponsored agencies would not wish to rock the boat at this point in time when they are looking for ways and means to maintain peace in the Valley through the coming summer. The winter month would have been better period for them to carry out such elimination exercises in case they desired to do so.
There is possibly a much larger, much more sinister design behind all this. It could be that Pakistan sponsored terrorist groups wanting to resurrect the failing morale of their cadre, had ordered this killing to remove a liberal moderate leader from the scene and at the same time set the pace for terrorist activity through the incoming summer months. It could be the result of a rivalry involving ideological, religious or political differences. It could be a personal vendetta. It could also be an accident, maybe the killers simply wanted to create mayhem and the Maulana became an unwitting target.
Maulana Shaukat Ahmed was a good man. In the coming years he would have played a significant role in resolution of the Kashmir imbroglio. He had the vision, the stature and the capability to emerge as a leader of prominence. His unfortunate murder has been committed by someone who is an enemy of the people of Kashmir and the people of India. It is most important to find out the perpetrators of this heinous crime so that the real enemies of the people stand exposed. Both Yaseen Malik and Mirwaiz Omar Farooq, who held the Maulana in great esteem, have expressed their resolve to flush out his killers. In this case, political rivalries should be set aside and a joint effort made to reach to the bottom if this heinous and senseless crime. It is also necessary to expose conspiracy theories as brands of political opportunism that they are in actuality.
The Maulana was the first to demand an inquiry into the into the killings of separatist leaders like Mirwaiz Farooq, Abdul Gani Lone and Qazi Nissar and it was as a follow up to his statements that the Hurriyat leaders Abdul Gani Bhat and Sajjad Lone openly said that these leaders had been killed by “our own men”. Now is the time to pay last respects to the departed soul by bringing his killers to justice.
(Courtesy : http://www.defenceinfo.com)
Omar asks police to expose Maulana Showkat’s killers
OUR CORRESPONDENT
SRINAGAR: The Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, asked Home Secretary and Director General Police to investigate the assassination of Jamiat Al-Hadith President, Maulana Showkat Ahmad Shah, and expose the killers immediately, reports said.
The Chief Minister on Saturday morning visited the residence of Maulana Showkat at Lal Bazar, here to personally convey his deep grief and sorrow to the bereaved family over the inhuman killing of Maulana in a blast at Maisuma yesterday.
He was accompanied by his Political Advisor Devendra Rana and Minister of State for Tourism, Nasir Aslam Wani.
The Chief Minister remained with the bereaved family for some time offered Fateh for the peace to the departed soul and consoled the family. He also conveyed his solidarity and sympathy to the bereaved family.
“I’m deeply pained over the killing of a noble person and a religious scholar of high echelon”, Omar told the bereaved family condemning the cowardice and barbaric act. He said the killing of Maulana Showkat is a great loss to the society and those responsible for it have displayed their dastardly attitude towards humanity.
He directed the Home Secretary and Director General Police to investigate the killing and expose the killers before people immediately.
The Minister for Rural Development, Ali Mohammad Sagar, also visited the residence of Maulana Showkat. Sagar termed him as a great scholar and said his killing has created a vacuum in the society. Sagar appreciated CM’s directions to authorities to expose the killers immediately.
(Courtesy : http://statetimes.in)
IHK shut to protest killing of Maulana Shaukat
SRINAGAR - Complete shutdown was observed on Saturday in Indian held Kashmir against the killing of a leading Kashmiri religious scholar and the president of Jamiat-e-Ahl-e-Hadith, Maulana Shaukat Ahmad Shah. He was martyred in a blast outside a mosque at Maisuma in Srinagar when he was on his was to offer Juma prayers. Call for the shutdown was given by the All Parties Hurriyet Conference Chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, veteran Kashmiri Hurriyet leader, Syed Ali Gilani and Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front Chairman, Muhammad Yasin Malik. Meanwhile, a large number of people including Hurriyet leaders went to the residence of Maulana Shaukat Shah at Lal Bazaar in Srinagar and expressed condolence with the bereaved family.
Co-Chairman of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and President Asif Ali Zardari on Saturday reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to the Kashmiri people in their just struggle for their right of self-determination.He also asked PPP workers to reach the people in far-flung areas and to complement government’s efforts in addressing their problems and grievances.President Zardari said this in his meeting with a four-member delegation led by Lord Qurban Hussain at Aiwan-e-Sadr here.Members of PPP Kashmir Committee, including Ch Abdul Majeed, Ch. Mohammed Yasin and Sardar Mohammed Yaqoob, Federal Minister Mian Manzoor Ahmad Wattoo, Raja Parvez Ashraf, Farhatullah Babar, Ms Rukhsana Bangash and Ms Fauzia Habib also attended the meeting.
Matters pertaining to party’s organization and developmental works in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) came under discussion. President Asif Ali Zardari said that he had asked the Federal Government to take necessary steps on priority for completion of ongoing projects in AJK. He said that the cross-Line of Control trade was a pioneering confidence building measure in Kashmir. Lord Qurban Hussain thanked the President for the meeting and praised his leadership for taking courageous and bold decisions like 18th and 19th Constitutional Amendments, operation in Swat against militants, renaming NWFP as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Aghaze Haqooqe Balochistan Package.
He said that these decisions were long over. Lord Qurban Hussain also lauded the efforts of government for handling the challenges despite devastation of floods and war against militancy, which could be possible under the able leadership of PPP Co-Chairman President Asif Ali Zardari. The members of the delegation gave various suggestions related to progress on various development projects with particular emphasis on issues relating to the Mangla Dam raising project and reconstruction programme in the AJK.
The delegation thanked the President for his keen interest in the development projects in AJK and uplift of the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. They also appreciated the role of federal government for the political stability of the area. Indian Home Secretary GK Pillai has said the Hizbul Mujahideen, has been “almost” vanquished now and if the outfit’s leadership based in Pakistani Kashmir wants to join the peace process, they can.
He said the government won’t invite militant leaders for talks “unless and until they give up arms”. “Militancy is down in Kashmir, every day you must be reading reports that some militant leader or the other has been killed. I think the Hizbul Mujahideen has literally, almost, been wiped out, especially the Pakistan element of it has been wiped out,” Pillai said.
He said the government had no proposal as of now to extend talks offer to Kashmiri militant leadership based in Pakistani Kashmir, especially to Syed Salahuddin, the Hizbul Mujahideen chief who also heads the United Jehad Council (UJC). “If (he) Salahudin wants to come and talk, he is welcome if he gives up violence. We are not saying no to anybody. He has to come here and talk. Nobody is going there to talk to him,” Pillai said.
Asked why the government was reluctant to take militant leaders onboard the peace process, Pillai said: “There are less than a hundred local militants (in Kashmir). Nobody would even talk to them. They don’t represent anybody.” Pillai said the threat of revival of militancy remains even as the forces have been maintaining a tough vigil across the border with Pakistan.
“The threat is there. There are still people in the valley. There are hundreds of people still across (in Pakistani Kashmir) who want to come as the snow has started melting and it becomes easier for them to cross over. I am sure some will cross. We have to be vigilant, we have no option.” Pillai, who is retiring June 30, said the scheme to grant amnesty to Kashmiri militants in Pakistan who want to surrender and return home will take off soon.
(Courtesy : http://dailymailnews.com)
Co-Chairman of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and President Asif Ali Zardari on Saturday reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to the Kashmiri people in their just struggle for their right of self-determination.He also asked PPP workers to reach the people in far-flung areas and to complement government’s efforts in addressing their problems and grievances.President Zardari said this in his meeting with a four-member delegation led by Lord Qurban Hussain at Aiwan-e-Sadr here.Members of PPP Kashmir Committee, including Ch Abdul Majeed, Ch. Mohammed Yasin and Sardar Mohammed Yaqoob, Federal Minister Mian Manzoor Ahmad Wattoo, Raja Parvez Ashraf, Farhatullah Babar, Ms Rukhsana Bangash and Ms Fauzia Habib also attended the meeting.
Matters pertaining to party’s organization and developmental works in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) came under discussion. President Asif Ali Zardari said that he had asked the Federal Government to take necessary steps on priority for completion of ongoing projects in AJK. He said that the cross-Line of Control trade was a pioneering confidence building measure in Kashmir. Lord Qurban Hussain thanked the President for the meeting and praised his leadership for taking courageous and bold decisions like 18th and 19th Constitutional Amendments, operation in Swat against militants, renaming NWFP as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Aghaze Haqooqe Balochistan Package.
He said that these decisions were long over. Lord Qurban Hussain also lauded the efforts of government for handling the challenges despite devastation of floods and war against militancy, which could be possible under the able leadership of PPP Co-Chairman President Asif Ali Zardari. The members of the delegation gave various suggestions related to progress on various development projects with particular emphasis on issues relating to the Mangla Dam raising project and reconstruction programme in the AJK.
The delegation thanked the President for his keen interest in the development projects in AJK and uplift of the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. They also appreciated the role of federal government for the political stability of the area. Indian Home Secretary GK Pillai has said the Hizbul Mujahideen, has been “almost” vanquished now and if the outfit’s leadership based in Pakistani Kashmir wants to join the peace process, they can.
He said the government won’t invite militant leaders for talks “unless and until they give up arms”. “Militancy is down in Kashmir, every day you must be reading reports that some militant leader or the other has been killed. I think the Hizbul Mujahideen has literally, almost, been wiped out, especially the Pakistan element of it has been wiped out,” Pillai said.
He said the government had no proposal as of now to extend talks offer to Kashmiri militant leadership based in Pakistani Kashmir, especially to Syed Salahuddin, the Hizbul Mujahideen chief who also heads the United Jehad Council (UJC). “If (he) Salahudin wants to come and talk, he is welcome if he gives up violence. We are not saying no to anybody. He has to come here and talk. Nobody is going there to talk to him,” Pillai said.
Asked why the government was reluctant to take militant leaders onboard the peace process, Pillai said: “There are less than a hundred local militants (in Kashmir). Nobody would even talk to them. They don’t represent anybody.” Pillai said the threat of revival of militancy remains even as the forces have been maintaining a tough vigil across the border with Pakistan.
“The threat is there. There are still people in the valley. There are hundreds of people still across (in Pakistani Kashmir) who want to come as the snow has started melting and it becomes easier for them to cross over. I am sure some will cross. We have to be vigilant, we have no option.” Pillai, who is retiring June 30, said the scheme to grant amnesty to Kashmiri militants in Pakistan who want to surrender and return home will take off soon.
(Courtesy : http://dailymailnews.com)
Report : Indo-Israeli nexus and the assassination of Maulana Shaukat in Kashmir
Muhammad Shamil
Just 5 days ago, when Frontline Kashmir was told about an intelligence report that something was going to happen in Jammu & Kashmir soon and Indo-Israel nexus had planned a multi-objective covert operation in Kashmir, I was wondering what impotent RAW could come up with this time. The ultimate objective was to launch surgical strikes on suspected militant outfits in Azad Kashmir to engage Pakistan Army over there. The entire operation was said to be funded by Israeli agency Mossad because it was a part of an even greater plan which would have benefited Israel ultimately. Fleet was ready with an execution plan. Keep in mind the movement of Chinese forces on the borders which I would relate to all these happenings later in this post.
Pakistan's Agencies were aware and informed about this plan. This plan was discussed with the Ministry of State security (MSS) by Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) immediately. Chinese forces, which are already in a strategic partnership with Pakistan Army, displayed a strategic move to counter this evil plan and beefed up its forces along the Line Of Control just to convey a message to Indo-Israel nexus that any move of aggression against Pakistan in Azad Kashmir would be countered jointly by Sino-Pak nexus. This was the reason why General Parnaik and Indian media started shouting on the move of Chinese forces along the Line of Control (LoC) because they knew they didn't have guts to face Pakistan and China simultaneously. The crux of saying is that Chinese move on the border was not purposeless.
When there comes the game between secret agencies, expect not only one but a pipeline of alternate plans there, in case the first plan is thwarted by the opponent. What next was the assassination (martyrdom) of Maulana shaukat Shah at Maisuma Srinagar on April 8, 2011 in an IED planted blast. That was a great loss for Kashmiris as the deceased was a learned scholar. He always preached for non-violent resistance. When the entire valley was mourning over his martyrdom, I had something else in my mind. I was wondering why could he be the target of someone? Who could be behind his assassination? But all of sudden, i got a clue for my queries from a Facebook page post. After the martyrdom of Maulana Shaukat Shah, SM Sahai IG Kashmir wrote on his page , "This is a such huge tragedy, personal loss for me." Then his next post was, "Prof Gani Bhat has already revealed who do these things to the moderate leaders seeking peace". This came just a few hours after the assassination of Maulana. Without any investigation if the police head is giving a statement, it means it came out for a purpose. What was that purpose? What did Ghani Bhat reveal? Who did IG Sahai try to blame and why? On what basis? Don't forget that this saying is coming from a police head whose statements are always based on investigations and facts and not just like the conspiracy theories and political statements coming up from politicians and political commentators. Plus if he (Maulana sahib) was so dear to him (Sahai) and he was a moderate leader seeking peace, then why did Indian authorities put him behind the bars under the draconian PSA for 6 months in 2008? We are being told that PSA means Public Safety Act meant for those who are enemies of peace. Sheer hypocricy here. If they knew that his life was in danger, then why such a lax security for him?
Now everything was clear to me. He was trying to put the blame on a "Pro-Freedom leader" who enjoys the support of almost 80% of Pro-freedom Kashmiris. It was a move for his character assassination but let me tell you it was just one-half of the Plan-B of India's notorious intelligence agency RAW. By putting the blame on the stated leader, their plan was to divide Kashmiris on political and sectarian basis. The reason why Maulana Shaukat was chosen for this operation was that he had a difference of opinion with that "pro-freedom leader" about the stone-pelting and even he issued a fatwa against it. So by picking up Maulana Shah for it, it was easier for them to make people believe that the Pro-freedom camp was behind this incident which was advocation stone-pelting.
I was observing each and every news report of Indian and Pro-Indian kashmiri media very closely as I was sure something important would come up which would tell the direction of future happenings. Eventually i came across a news report "LeT wants Srinagar blast blame on Hindutva outfits".
It further says "Intelligence agencies have intercepted a telephonic conversation of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) spokesperson in Pakistan asking a Kashmiri journalist to put the blame of Friday’s Srinagar blast that killed a top religious leader on Hindutva groups, including the Shiv Sena". Now their plan was clear to me. When China foiled their Plan A, they tried to generate an excuse through this way to involve militants from across the border and then to carry out surgical strikes.
It was just an attempt to sow the seed for an upcoming tree of propaganda. RAW is full of stupid and brainless lots, I must say, who do not even know how to replicate and re-implement the Western tactics of covert operations and false flags. They made mistakes and they were exposed. I was still waiting for more to come and suddenly I saw a post on Greater Kashmir site which said "Hizb Militant caught with ammunition : Kashmir Police". Without wasting any time, I posted that link on the Frontline Kashmir but Greater Kashmir removed that report within no time. However, I was able to locate the link for that report which is not working now .
No doubt Greater Kashmir was always a tool for Indian propaganda campaign but here it went a step ahead in serving its master. This report reminded me of the few tactics intelligence agencies use to adopt while carrying out such operations and the most common tactic is "Group Penetration Insurgency Tact". I predict, within next couple of days, that the same guy will be brought in front of media acknowledging that he was involved in the assassination and he planned everything. He was getting directions from across the border and he was a part of some x,y,z "jihadi" organization. If not him, some other guys will be ready to become scapegoats. This is how the "False Flag attacks" are given direction to shape the future events. I am sure that news report will be published again in next few days and blame will be put on Mujahideen and stated "Pro-freedom leader".
In short this operation had two objectives.
1- To create a situation to launch surgical strikes on AJK .
2- To divide kashmiris by involving most popular kashmiri leader in this incident.
Atlast, do not overlook the recent nonsensical statment by US officials which says " Separatists are involved in Human Rights Abuses in Kashmir" US agencies confirm presence of Chinese troops along LoC in PoK Despite the strong Chinese denial, US agencies have confirmed to Indian authorities about the presence of Chinese troops all along the LoC in PoK. (Here comes the involvement of the US. The US was never concerned about Kashmir so much as it showed its concern in past 2 weeks. Why?)
S M Sahai's posts (When Maulana was alive, he was charged with PSA. Why so much sympathy now Mr Sahai?)
(Courtesy : www.terminalx.org)
Just 5 days ago, when Frontline Kashmir was told about an intelligence report that something was going to happen in Jammu & Kashmir soon and Indo-Israel nexus had planned a multi-objective covert operation in Kashmir, I was wondering what impotent RAW could come up with this time. The ultimate objective was to launch surgical strikes on suspected militant outfits in Azad Kashmir to engage Pakistan Army over there. The entire operation was said to be funded by Israeli agency Mossad because it was a part of an even greater plan which would have benefited Israel ultimately. Fleet was ready with an execution plan. Keep in mind the movement of Chinese forces on the borders which I would relate to all these happenings later in this post.
Pakistan's Agencies were aware and informed about this plan. This plan was discussed with the Ministry of State security (MSS) by Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) immediately. Chinese forces, which are already in a strategic partnership with Pakistan Army, displayed a strategic move to counter this evil plan and beefed up its forces along the Line Of Control just to convey a message to Indo-Israel nexus that any move of aggression against Pakistan in Azad Kashmir would be countered jointly by Sino-Pak nexus. This was the reason why General Parnaik and Indian media started shouting on the move of Chinese forces along the Line of Control (LoC) because they knew they didn't have guts to face Pakistan and China simultaneously. The crux of saying is that Chinese move on the border was not purposeless.
When there comes the game between secret agencies, expect not only one but a pipeline of alternate plans there, in case the first plan is thwarted by the opponent. What next was the assassination (martyrdom) of Maulana shaukat Shah at Maisuma Srinagar on April 8, 2011 in an IED planted blast. That was a great loss for Kashmiris as the deceased was a learned scholar. He always preached for non-violent resistance. When the entire valley was mourning over his martyrdom, I had something else in my mind. I was wondering why could he be the target of someone? Who could be behind his assassination? But all of sudden, i got a clue for my queries from a Facebook page post. After the martyrdom of Maulana Shaukat Shah, SM Sahai IG Kashmir wrote on his page , "This is a such huge tragedy, personal loss for me." Then his next post was, "Prof Gani Bhat has already revealed who do these things to the moderate leaders seeking peace". This came just a few hours after the assassination of Maulana. Without any investigation if the police head is giving a statement, it means it came out for a purpose. What was that purpose? What did Ghani Bhat reveal? Who did IG Sahai try to blame and why? On what basis? Don't forget that this saying is coming from a police head whose statements are always based on investigations and facts and not just like the conspiracy theories and political statements coming up from politicians and political commentators. Plus if he (Maulana sahib) was so dear to him (Sahai) and he was a moderate leader seeking peace, then why did Indian authorities put him behind the bars under the draconian PSA for 6 months in 2008? We are being told that PSA means Public Safety Act meant for those who are enemies of peace. Sheer hypocricy here. If they knew that his life was in danger, then why such a lax security for him?
Now everything was clear to me. He was trying to put the blame on a "Pro-Freedom leader" who enjoys the support of almost 80% of Pro-freedom Kashmiris. It was a move for his character assassination but let me tell you it was just one-half of the Plan-B of India's notorious intelligence agency RAW. By putting the blame on the stated leader, their plan was to divide Kashmiris on political and sectarian basis. The reason why Maulana Shaukat was chosen for this operation was that he had a difference of opinion with that "pro-freedom leader" about the stone-pelting and even he issued a fatwa against it. So by picking up Maulana Shah for it, it was easier for them to make people believe that the Pro-freedom camp was behind this incident which was advocation stone-pelting.
I was observing each and every news report of Indian and Pro-Indian kashmiri media very closely as I was sure something important would come up which would tell the direction of future happenings. Eventually i came across a news report "LeT wants Srinagar blast blame on Hindutva outfits".
It further says "Intelligence agencies have intercepted a telephonic conversation of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) spokesperson in Pakistan asking a Kashmiri journalist to put the blame of Friday’s Srinagar blast that killed a top religious leader on Hindutva groups, including the Shiv Sena". Now their plan was clear to me. When China foiled their Plan A, they tried to generate an excuse through this way to involve militants from across the border and then to carry out surgical strikes.
It was just an attempt to sow the seed for an upcoming tree of propaganda. RAW is full of stupid and brainless lots, I must say, who do not even know how to replicate and re-implement the Western tactics of covert operations and false flags. They made mistakes and they were exposed. I was still waiting for more to come and suddenly I saw a post on Greater Kashmir site which said "Hizb Militant caught with ammunition : Kashmir Police". Without wasting any time, I posted that link on the Frontline Kashmir but Greater Kashmir removed that report within no time. However, I was able to locate the link for that report which is not working now .
No doubt Greater Kashmir was always a tool for Indian propaganda campaign but here it went a step ahead in serving its master. This report reminded me of the few tactics intelligence agencies use to adopt while carrying out such operations and the most common tactic is "Group Penetration Insurgency Tact". I predict, within next couple of days, that the same guy will be brought in front of media acknowledging that he was involved in the assassination and he planned everything. He was getting directions from across the border and he was a part of some x,y,z "jihadi" organization. If not him, some other guys will be ready to become scapegoats. This is how the "False Flag attacks" are given direction to shape the future events. I am sure that news report will be published again in next few days and blame will be put on Mujahideen and stated "Pro-freedom leader".
In short this operation had two objectives.
1- To create a situation to launch surgical strikes on AJK .
2- To divide kashmiris by involving most popular kashmiri leader in this incident.
Atlast, do not overlook the recent nonsensical statment by US officials which says " Separatists are involved in Human Rights Abuses in Kashmir" US agencies confirm presence of Chinese troops along LoC in PoK Despite the strong Chinese denial, US agencies have confirmed to Indian authorities about the presence of Chinese troops all along the LoC in PoK. (Here comes the involvement of the US. The US was never concerned about Kashmir so much as it showed its concern in past 2 weeks. Why?)
S M Sahai's posts (When Maulana was alive, he was charged with PSA. Why so much sympathy now Mr Sahai?)
(Courtesy : www.terminalx.org)
अलगाववादियों से बातचीत में परहेज नहीं
जागरण ब्यूरो, जम्मू। जम्मू-कश्मीर के जमीनी हालात का जायजा लेने आए भाजपा संसदीय दल के दरवाजे अलगाववादियों के लिए भी खुले हैं, पर उनसे बातचीत सिर्फ इंसाफ, इंसानियत और संविधान के दायरे में ही की जाएगी। अलबत्ता, उन्हें मुलाकात के लिए न्योता नहीं दिया जाएगा। कश्मीर समस्या के अध्ययन के लिए यहां पहुंचे भाजपा संसदीय दल के अध्यक्ष राजनाथ सिंह ने सोमवार को यहां कहा कि जम्मू-कश्मीर के बारे में दुष्प्रचार से कई समस्याएं पैदा हुई हैं। लिहाजा खुद हालात का अध्ययन कर पार्टी राज्य के संबंध में विजन डाक्यूमेंट तैयार करेगी।
चार दिवसीय राज्य दौरे के पहले दिन शहर के शास्त्री नगर में अध्ययन दल के कार्यालय के उद्घाटन के बाद पत्रकारों से बातचीत करते हुए सिंह ने कहा कि इसमें कोई दो राय नहीं है कि जम्मू-कश्मीर देश का अभिन्न अंग है। पार्टी संसद में जम्मू-कश्मीर के बारे में निष्पक्ष नजरिया रखने के लिए सबसे बात करेगी। अलबत्ता, उन्होंने स्पष्ट किया कि अलगाववादियों के दरवाजे नहीं खटखटाए जाएंगे, वे चाहे तो मिलने के लिए आ सकते हैं। लोकपाल बिल पर उन्होंने कहा कि पार्टी की नीति भ्रष्टाचार के मुद्दे पर स्पष्ट है। सरकार मानसून सत्र में बिल लाती है जो भाजपा इसे समर्थन देगी।
एक प्रश्न के उत्तर में उन्होंने माना कि भाजपा राज्य के बारे में डाक्यूमेंट की कमी महसूस करती है। संसदीय दल को राज्य के बारे में पूरी जानकारी जुटाने के लिए जितने दौरे करने पड़े, किए जाएंगे। अगला दौरा लद्दाख का होगा। सिंह ने कहा कि रिपोर्ट तैयार कर इसे दिल्ली में पार्टी को सौंपा जाएगा। श्रीनगर में मौलाना शौकत की हत्या को लेकर लग रहे आरोपों पर कुछ भी बोलने से इंकार करते हुए राजनाथ ने कहा कि पार्टी इस हत्या की कड़े शब्दों में निंदा करती है।
चार दिवसीय राज्य दौरे के पहले दिन शहर के शास्त्री नगर में अध्ययन दल के कार्यालय के उद्घाटन के बाद पत्रकारों से बातचीत करते हुए सिंह ने कहा कि इसमें कोई दो राय नहीं है कि जम्मू-कश्मीर देश का अभिन्न अंग है। पार्टी संसद में जम्मू-कश्मीर के बारे में निष्पक्ष नजरिया रखने के लिए सबसे बात करेगी। अलबत्ता, उन्होंने स्पष्ट किया कि अलगाववादियों के दरवाजे नहीं खटखटाए जाएंगे, वे चाहे तो मिलने के लिए आ सकते हैं। लोकपाल बिल पर उन्होंने कहा कि पार्टी की नीति भ्रष्टाचार के मुद्दे पर स्पष्ट है। सरकार मानसून सत्र में बिल लाती है जो भाजपा इसे समर्थन देगी।
एक प्रश्न के उत्तर में उन्होंने माना कि भाजपा राज्य के बारे में डाक्यूमेंट की कमी महसूस करती है। संसदीय दल को राज्य के बारे में पूरी जानकारी जुटाने के लिए जितने दौरे करने पड़े, किए जाएंगे। अगला दौरा लद्दाख का होगा। सिंह ने कहा कि रिपोर्ट तैयार कर इसे दिल्ली में पार्टी को सौंपा जाएगा। श्रीनगर में मौलाना शौकत की हत्या को लेकर लग रहे आरोपों पर कुछ भी बोलने से इंकार करते हुए राजनाथ ने कहा कि पार्टी इस हत्या की कड़े शब्दों में निंदा करती है।
जमीनी हालत जानने आएगा भाजपा का ग्रुप
जम्मू। भाजपा मुख्यालय में प्रेस कांफ्रेंस में केंद्रीय महासचिव जेपी नड्डा ने बताया कि पूर्व भाजपा प्रधान राजनाथ सिंह के नेतृत्व में प्रतिनिधिमंडल राज्य के तीनों संभागों को दौरा कर समाज के विभिन्न वर्गो एवं राजनीतिक दलों से मिल कर राय जानने के लिए सोमवार को आ रहा है। पार्टी समाज के विभिन्न वर्गो, गैर सरकारी संगठनों, अलगाववादियों, विपक्षी राजनीतिक दलों से बातचीत कर जानना चाहती है कि राज्य के जमीनी हालात क्या हैं ताकि राज्य की देश के साथ रिश्तों की वास्तविक स्थिति बारे बताया जा सके।
इसके अलावा राज्य के प्रमुख नागरिकों, अफसरों से भी प्रतिनिधिमंडल मिल कर राज्य के हालात पर चर्चा करेगा। मिलने की इच्छा रखने वाला कोई भी संगठन प्रतिनिधिमंडल से मिल सकता है। संसदीय प्रतिनिधिमंडल के इस दल का गठन नवंबर में हुई राष्ट्रीय पदाधिकारियों की बैठक में किया गया था।
पार्टी हाईकमान राज्य के हालात एवं संवेदनशीलता बारे तथ्यों को जानना चाहती है और यह तभी संभव हो सकता है जब राज्य के लोगों से मिल कर उनकी आकांक्षाओं के बारे में जाना जा सके। नड्डा के मुताबिक जिस ढंग से नेकां, पीडीपी एवं अलगाववादी नेताओं ने राज्य को लेकर अपना रोडमैप दिया है। ऐसे में जरूरत है कि भाजपा के देश के साथ पूर्ण एकीकरण की मांग को और जोरदार ढंग से रखा जाए। इसलिए यह ग्रुप दौरे पर आ रहा है ताकि विस्तृत रूप से लोगों की आकांक्षाओं को जाना जा सके।
जम्मू कश्मीर संवेदनशील मसला है और इसके राजनीतिक हल के लिए जरूरी है कि बिना किसी छेड़छाड़ के इसे हल किया जाए। लोगों की राय जानने के बाद यह ग्रुप जब भाजपा प्रधान नितिन गडकरी को रिपोर्ट सौंपेगा तो उसके आधार पर भाजपा राष्ट्रीय स्तर पर राज्य को लेकर ठोस प्रमाण के साथ अपना पक्ष रख सकेगी। पार्टी ने विभिन्न वर्गो से मिलने के लिए निमंत्रण भी भेजे हैं और कुछ लोगों के माध्यम से संपर्क साधा है। यह ग्रुप पहले से निर्धारित किसी सोच पर काम नहीं करेगा। लोगों की राय जानने के बाद जो रिपोर्ट केन्द्रीय भाजपा को सौंपी जाएगी, उसी रिपोर्ट पर कोई भी प्रतिक्रिया गहन चर्चा के बाद दी जाएगी।
राजनाथ कर रहे दल का नेतृत्व
भाजपा महासचिव ने बताया कि इस ग्रुप का नेतृत्व पूर्व भाजपा प्रधान राजनाथ सिंह कर रहे हैं। जबकि इस ग्रुप में रवि शंकर प्रसाद, शाह नवाज हुसैन, माया सिंह एवं जेके जैन शामिल हैं। राज्य के बारे अध्ययन करने आ रहे इस दल के लिए विशेष रूप से गांधीनगर में कार्यालय बनाया गया है और स्थानीय समिति का भी गठन किया गया है।
इस समिति में चंद्रमोहन शर्मा, कवीन्द्र गुप्ता, जितेन्द्र सिंह, गुलाम अली खटाना, राजेश गुप्ता एवं चंद्र प्रकाश गंगा को जम्मू संभाग तथा कश्मीर के लिए सोफी यूसुफ एवं चरणजीत सिंह खालसा को रखा गया है। प्रेस कांफ्रेंस में भाजपा राज्य प्रधान शमशेर सिंह मन्हास, प्रवक्ता डॉ जितेन्द्र सिंह एवं चंद्रमोहन शर्मा भी मौजूद थे।
(Courtesy : www.bhaskar.com)
इसके अलावा राज्य के प्रमुख नागरिकों, अफसरों से भी प्रतिनिधिमंडल मिल कर राज्य के हालात पर चर्चा करेगा। मिलने की इच्छा रखने वाला कोई भी संगठन प्रतिनिधिमंडल से मिल सकता है। संसदीय प्रतिनिधिमंडल के इस दल का गठन नवंबर में हुई राष्ट्रीय पदाधिकारियों की बैठक में किया गया था।
पार्टी हाईकमान राज्य के हालात एवं संवेदनशीलता बारे तथ्यों को जानना चाहती है और यह तभी संभव हो सकता है जब राज्य के लोगों से मिल कर उनकी आकांक्षाओं के बारे में जाना जा सके। नड्डा के मुताबिक जिस ढंग से नेकां, पीडीपी एवं अलगाववादी नेताओं ने राज्य को लेकर अपना रोडमैप दिया है। ऐसे में जरूरत है कि भाजपा के देश के साथ पूर्ण एकीकरण की मांग को और जोरदार ढंग से रखा जाए। इसलिए यह ग्रुप दौरे पर आ रहा है ताकि विस्तृत रूप से लोगों की आकांक्षाओं को जाना जा सके।
जम्मू कश्मीर संवेदनशील मसला है और इसके राजनीतिक हल के लिए जरूरी है कि बिना किसी छेड़छाड़ के इसे हल किया जाए। लोगों की राय जानने के बाद यह ग्रुप जब भाजपा प्रधान नितिन गडकरी को रिपोर्ट सौंपेगा तो उसके आधार पर भाजपा राष्ट्रीय स्तर पर राज्य को लेकर ठोस प्रमाण के साथ अपना पक्ष रख सकेगी। पार्टी ने विभिन्न वर्गो से मिलने के लिए निमंत्रण भी भेजे हैं और कुछ लोगों के माध्यम से संपर्क साधा है। यह ग्रुप पहले से निर्धारित किसी सोच पर काम नहीं करेगा। लोगों की राय जानने के बाद जो रिपोर्ट केन्द्रीय भाजपा को सौंपी जाएगी, उसी रिपोर्ट पर कोई भी प्रतिक्रिया गहन चर्चा के बाद दी जाएगी।
राजनाथ कर रहे दल का नेतृत्व
भाजपा महासचिव ने बताया कि इस ग्रुप का नेतृत्व पूर्व भाजपा प्रधान राजनाथ सिंह कर रहे हैं। जबकि इस ग्रुप में रवि शंकर प्रसाद, शाह नवाज हुसैन, माया सिंह एवं जेके जैन शामिल हैं। राज्य के बारे अध्ययन करने आ रहे इस दल के लिए विशेष रूप से गांधीनगर में कार्यालय बनाया गया है और स्थानीय समिति का भी गठन किया गया है।
इस समिति में चंद्रमोहन शर्मा, कवीन्द्र गुप्ता, जितेन्द्र सिंह, गुलाम अली खटाना, राजेश गुप्ता एवं चंद्र प्रकाश गंगा को जम्मू संभाग तथा कश्मीर के लिए सोफी यूसुफ एवं चरणजीत सिंह खालसा को रखा गया है। प्रेस कांफ्रेंस में भाजपा राज्य प्रधान शमशेर सिंह मन्हास, प्रवक्ता डॉ जितेन्द्र सिंह एवं चंद्रमोहन शर्मा भी मौजूद थे।
(Courtesy : www.bhaskar.com)
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Shah had denounced stone pelting
Religious leader falls prey to militants' IED blast
Excelsior Correspondent/PTI
SRINAGAR, Apr 8: Militants today killed a prominent religious leader Moulvi Showkat Ahmad Shah, a liberal voice who had denounced stone-pelting and was engaged with Centre's interlocutors, by triggering an IED attack near a mosque here after a lull, drawing condemnation from separatists and political leaders. The chief of Jamiat-e-Ahlihadith, 55-year-old Shah, who survived two bids on his life earlier, was seriously injured as militants detonated at around 12.30 PM the bomb planted in a cycle outside the mosque ahead of Friday prayers in Maisuma area adjacent to Lal Chowk, striking in the heart of Srinagar.
The last militant killing in the area had taken place in August 2009 when a CRPF jawan died in an attack. A vocal opponent of violence, Shah, who had termed last year's stonepelting protests as un-Islamic, was declared brought dead in a hospital, police said.
Shah had earlier met one of the interlocutors and discussed with him a possible road map for bringing peace in the Valley. He was among the first who had demanded a fresh enquiry into the killings of separatist leaders including Mirwaiz Farooq, Abdul Gani Lone and Qazi Nissar.
Following his statement, Hurriyat leader Abdul Gani Bhat and Sajjad Lone had openly said that these leaders had been killed by "our own men". Separatist and political leaders condemned the killing with the moderate faction of Hurriyat Conference calling for a shutdown tomorrow while its hardline faction termed it as an "act of terrorism." Moderate Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said in a statement that Shah always chose to tread the path of righteousness.
Dileep Padgaonkar, heading the Central interlocutors' team, said, "This is a reprehensible act and it runs counter to the Kashmiri tradition of tolerance of all faiths and opinions." Shah was also actively involved in separatist politics and was close to JKLF chief Mohammad Yasin Malik and moderate Hurriyat chairman Umar Farooq. Militants had earlier fired at his car in 2006 and hurled a grenade at his house in Lal Bazar in outskirts of city in 2008.
Shah, criticised by hardliners who had supported stone pelting protests, had challenged the perpetrators of violence to cite even one sermon from Islamic religious texts which supports such acts. Known for advocating puritanical Islam, Shah had issued a fatwa against such violent protests. Shah was a tech-savvy individual with a public figure page on social networking site Facebook where many threatening messages were also posted by his opponents.
He came under fire from hardliner Syed Ahmed Shah Geelani soon after he issued fatwa against stone pelting protests which left over 115 people dead last year. The killing of Jamiat president sent shock waves among the people of Kashmir valley as he was a popular religious figure and was held in high esteem by people belonging to different sects. He was very close to JKLF chairman, Mohammad Yasin Malik and he used to guide Malik on various issues.
According to IGP Kashmir range, SM Sahai the blast took place near the gate of the mosque when the people were heading towards the mosque to offer the Friday prayers. "The whole area is congested and many people offer Friday prayers in the mosque where the incident has occurred. The mosques are not guarded and as such I don’t see any security lapse in this whole issue. This is an unfortunate incident and condemnable," the IGP said.
When asked about any clue or lead that would help in tracing the person or persons who carried out the task, Mr. Sahai said that police is on the job adding that the said person or persons are yet to be identified. The IGP along with DIG Central Kashmir range, Abdul Gani Mir reached the spot and took stock of the situation. They were accompanied by other police and security forces officials and the situation remained by and large peaceful in the area. The security was beefed up across the Srinagar city.
The situation became tense in the entire area with schools, colleges and other commercial establishments getting closed. Shopkeepers downed their shutters and in no time the city centre area of Lal Chowk more so Maisuma, Gaw Kadal and adjoining areas wore a deserted look. Chairman of moderate faction of Hurriyat Conference Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and JKLF chairman Mohammad Yaseen Malik today joined thousands of mourners to offer funeral prayers of slain Jamiat-e-Ahli Hadees chief at the historic Lal Chowk here.
Mourners, many of whom were wailing and sobbing, chanted slogans on their way to Lal Chowk from different parts of the Kashmir valley. Police and paramilitary forces, deployed in strength earlier during the day as a precautionary measure, were withdrawn to allow smooth funeral prayers and avoid clashes. The mourners, many of whom chanted slogans, dispersed off peacefully as the body of the slain scholar was taken for burial.
Immediately after the ‘Nimaz-e-Jinazah’ (burial prayers) ended, the body was taken to Shah’s Lal Bazar residence, about 13 kms from here as many of his relatives and supporters had directly reached there. Another funeral prayer was offered at the residence before the body was taken to martyrs’ graveyard at Eidgah for burial, a spokesman of the Jamiat-e-Ahli Hadees said. Mirwaiz, has already called for a general strike tomorrow in protest against the killings.
JKLF chairman Mohammad Yaseen Malik said he will unveil the killers of his close friend and Jamiat-e-Ahli Hadees president Showkat Ahmad Shah. "The death of Shah has broken our back. I will not rest till I unveil his killers," Malik said addressing mourners at Lal Chowk here. Moulvi Showkat Ahmad Shah was to lead the Friday prayers a little over half-an-hour later when an explosive on a bicycle at the rear entrance of the Ahl-e-Hadees mosque in Maisuma area here went off, resulting in the death of the cleric.
Blood spilled around the area, smashed window panes and the mangled bicycle said everything about the incident. Immediately, members of Jamiat-e-Ahle Hadees, which Shah headed, hundreds of his followers and people who had come for the weekly prayers gathered around. "I was in my room when I heard a loud thud. I went upstairs to see what happened and I saw a man lying on the road," said Yasmeen, who lives in a house less than a meter away from the blast site. An old man who was inside the mosque when the blast took place said he felt the wall will come down.
"I saw a bag on the cycle but I went inside the mosque. When the blast took place everything just trembled," he said. Shah fell on the ground and was taken to a local hospital where doctors declared him "brought dead". His body was later taken back to Gaw Kadal and placed in the middle of the road, where people gathered in large numbers. Jamiat, which propagates a puritanical version of Islam, has often been at loggerheads with the more moderate Sufi Islam - which has been predominant in the Valley.
Shah was elected president of the group for the third consecutive term last year. Meanwhile, Union Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah today expressed grief over the killing of Moulvi Showkat Ahmad Shah. "I strongly condemn the killing of religious scholar Moulvi Showkat Ahmad Shah. His killing has created a void in the religious circles which is impossible to fill," the Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy said in a condolence message. Shah’s killing is against the teachings of Islam, Dr Abdullah, who is also the president of ruling National Conference, said.
"Shah was working for the propagation of Islam and welfare of the people," he added. Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah has strongly condemned the blast at Maisuma, Srinagar in which Maulana Showkat Ahmad has lost his life. Terming the act as most heinous, Omar said that killing of a veteran religious scholar is a great loss to the society and those responsible for the crime have exhibited their inhuman behaviour towards the civil society and the innocents. The Chief Minister conveyed his earnest sympathies to the bereaved family and expressed his deep sorrow over the loss of precious human life in the blast.
Excelsior Correspondent/PTI
SRINAGAR, Apr 8: Militants today killed a prominent religious leader Moulvi Showkat Ahmad Shah, a liberal voice who had denounced stone-pelting and was engaged with Centre's interlocutors, by triggering an IED attack near a mosque here after a lull, drawing condemnation from separatists and political leaders. The chief of Jamiat-e-Ahlihadith, 55-year-old Shah, who survived two bids on his life earlier, was seriously injured as militants detonated at around 12.30 PM the bomb planted in a cycle outside the mosque ahead of Friday prayers in Maisuma area adjacent to Lal Chowk, striking in the heart of Srinagar.
The last militant killing in the area had taken place in August 2009 when a CRPF jawan died in an attack. A vocal opponent of violence, Shah, who had termed last year's stonepelting protests as un-Islamic, was declared brought dead in a hospital, police said.
Shah had earlier met one of the interlocutors and discussed with him a possible road map for bringing peace in the Valley. He was among the first who had demanded a fresh enquiry into the killings of separatist leaders including Mirwaiz Farooq, Abdul Gani Lone and Qazi Nissar.
Following his statement, Hurriyat leader Abdul Gani Bhat and Sajjad Lone had openly said that these leaders had been killed by "our own men". Separatist and political leaders condemned the killing with the moderate faction of Hurriyat Conference calling for a shutdown tomorrow while its hardline faction termed it as an "act of terrorism." Moderate Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said in a statement that Shah always chose to tread the path of righteousness.
Dileep Padgaonkar, heading the Central interlocutors' team, said, "This is a reprehensible act and it runs counter to the Kashmiri tradition of tolerance of all faiths and opinions." Shah was also actively involved in separatist politics and was close to JKLF chief Mohammad Yasin Malik and moderate Hurriyat chairman Umar Farooq. Militants had earlier fired at his car in 2006 and hurled a grenade at his house in Lal Bazar in outskirts of city in 2008.
Shah, criticised by hardliners who had supported stone pelting protests, had challenged the perpetrators of violence to cite even one sermon from Islamic religious texts which supports such acts. Known for advocating puritanical Islam, Shah had issued a fatwa against such violent protests. Shah was a tech-savvy individual with a public figure page on social networking site Facebook where many threatening messages were also posted by his opponents.
He came under fire from hardliner Syed Ahmed Shah Geelani soon after he issued fatwa against stone pelting protests which left over 115 people dead last year. The killing of Jamiat president sent shock waves among the people of Kashmir valley as he was a popular religious figure and was held in high esteem by people belonging to different sects. He was very close to JKLF chairman, Mohammad Yasin Malik and he used to guide Malik on various issues.
According to IGP Kashmir range, SM Sahai the blast took place near the gate of the mosque when the people were heading towards the mosque to offer the Friday prayers. "The whole area is congested and many people offer Friday prayers in the mosque where the incident has occurred. The mosques are not guarded and as such I don’t see any security lapse in this whole issue. This is an unfortunate incident and condemnable," the IGP said.
When asked about any clue or lead that would help in tracing the person or persons who carried out the task, Mr. Sahai said that police is on the job adding that the said person or persons are yet to be identified. The IGP along with DIG Central Kashmir range, Abdul Gani Mir reached the spot and took stock of the situation. They were accompanied by other police and security forces officials and the situation remained by and large peaceful in the area. The security was beefed up across the Srinagar city.
The situation became tense in the entire area with schools, colleges and other commercial establishments getting closed. Shopkeepers downed their shutters and in no time the city centre area of Lal Chowk more so Maisuma, Gaw Kadal and adjoining areas wore a deserted look. Chairman of moderate faction of Hurriyat Conference Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and JKLF chairman Mohammad Yaseen Malik today joined thousands of mourners to offer funeral prayers of slain Jamiat-e-Ahli Hadees chief at the historic Lal Chowk here.
Mourners, many of whom were wailing and sobbing, chanted slogans on their way to Lal Chowk from different parts of the Kashmir valley. Police and paramilitary forces, deployed in strength earlier during the day as a precautionary measure, were withdrawn to allow smooth funeral prayers and avoid clashes. The mourners, many of whom chanted slogans, dispersed off peacefully as the body of the slain scholar was taken for burial.
Immediately after the ‘Nimaz-e-Jinazah’ (burial prayers) ended, the body was taken to Shah’s Lal Bazar residence, about 13 kms from here as many of his relatives and supporters had directly reached there. Another funeral prayer was offered at the residence before the body was taken to martyrs’ graveyard at Eidgah for burial, a spokesman of the Jamiat-e-Ahli Hadees said. Mirwaiz, has already called for a general strike tomorrow in protest against the killings.
JKLF chairman Mohammad Yaseen Malik said he will unveil the killers of his close friend and Jamiat-e-Ahli Hadees president Showkat Ahmad Shah. "The death of Shah has broken our back. I will not rest till I unveil his killers," Malik said addressing mourners at Lal Chowk here. Moulvi Showkat Ahmad Shah was to lead the Friday prayers a little over half-an-hour later when an explosive on a bicycle at the rear entrance of the Ahl-e-Hadees mosque in Maisuma area here went off, resulting in the death of the cleric.
Blood spilled around the area, smashed window panes and the mangled bicycle said everything about the incident. Immediately, members of Jamiat-e-Ahle Hadees, which Shah headed, hundreds of his followers and people who had come for the weekly prayers gathered around. "I was in my room when I heard a loud thud. I went upstairs to see what happened and I saw a man lying on the road," said Yasmeen, who lives in a house less than a meter away from the blast site. An old man who was inside the mosque when the blast took place said he felt the wall will come down.
"I saw a bag on the cycle but I went inside the mosque. When the blast took place everything just trembled," he said. Shah fell on the ground and was taken to a local hospital where doctors declared him "brought dead". His body was later taken back to Gaw Kadal and placed in the middle of the road, where people gathered in large numbers. Jamiat, which propagates a puritanical version of Islam, has often been at loggerheads with the more moderate Sufi Islam - which has been predominant in the Valley.
Shah was elected president of the group for the third consecutive term last year. Meanwhile, Union Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah today expressed grief over the killing of Moulvi Showkat Ahmad Shah. "I strongly condemn the killing of religious scholar Moulvi Showkat Ahmad Shah. His killing has created a void in the religious circles which is impossible to fill," the Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy said in a condolence message. Shah’s killing is against the teachings of Islam, Dr Abdullah, who is also the president of ruling National Conference, said.
"Shah was working for the propagation of Islam and welfare of the people," he added. Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah has strongly condemned the blast at Maisuma, Srinagar in which Maulana Showkat Ahmad has lost his life. Terming the act as most heinous, Omar said that killing of a veteran religious scholar is a great loss to the society and those responsible for the crime have exhibited their inhuman behaviour towards the civil society and the innocents. The Chief Minister conveyed his earnest sympathies to the bereaved family and expressed his deep sorrow over the loss of precious human life in the blast.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Seminar on PoK
The first ever comprehensive seminar on PoK organized by the Department of Strategic and Regional Studies of Jammu University unfolded a variety of aspects--- geography, history, politics, society, ethnicity and economy---- of a region that formed part of the original State of Jammu and Kashmir prior to the tribal incursion of October 1947. Given the democratic culture of our educational institutions, a lively debate on some contentious issues pertaining to the history of PoK took place in the course of deliberations.
It is intriguing to know that while Pakistan has always been speaking of extending moral, political and diplomatic support to the "azaadi movement' in Kashmir valley, New Delhi has seldom told Pakistan publicly that the first thing to be talked about Kashmir is of Pakistan withdrawing her troops and militias from PoK and Gilgit and Baltistan in accordance with the resolutions of the United Nations. It will also be noted that though most of the territory occupied by Pakistan and renamed as "Azad Jammu and Kashmir" is from Jammu region yet the Indians call it just "Pakistan Occupied Kashmir", which is factually not correct. This anomaly needs to be corrected.
Why New Delhi has adopted unrealistic attitude in setting the record straight? These questions are to the amusement of young scholars desirous of conducting study and research on the contemporary history of the state. Jammu University deserves kudos for initiating very open and frank academic discussion of current situation in the region. The significance of the seminar is revealed by the fact that apart from experts and specialists in the field, the GOC-in-C Northern Command, Lt. General Parnaik was the Guest of Honour and spoke on the subject in the inaugural session besides the Vice Chancellor of the university. It was a treat to listen to compact yet comprehensive presentation of the Army Commander particularly his assessment of security scenario in the background of significant Chinese presence in Gilgit-Baltistan region and the implications of militarizing the Karakorum Highway.
What the audience appreciated most in General's presentation was the confidence and determination he reflected in the Indian nation wanting implementation of the 1994 unanimous resolution of the parliament in regard to the parts of the State of Jammu and Kashmir illegally occupied by Pakistan. The fact is that while there has been a lot of fuss about inclusive talks between the two countries and Pakistan's oft repeated cliché of talks including Kashmir, New Delhi never felt it necessary to speak about Pakistan vacating the parts of the State she has illegally occupied in 1947.
The Vice Chancellor of Jammu University was very right in envisioning the expansion of the Department of Strategic and Regional Studies in the light of great importance the entire Central and South Asian region is assuming in geo-strategic scenario. He is right in realizing the importance of language-based expertise as catalyst to objective and balanced research and analysis of current situation in the entire region.
It is intriguing to know that while Pakistan has always been speaking of extending moral, political and diplomatic support to the "azaadi movement' in Kashmir valley, New Delhi has seldom told Pakistan publicly that the first thing to be talked about Kashmir is of Pakistan withdrawing her troops and militias from PoK and Gilgit and Baltistan in accordance with the resolutions of the United Nations. It will also be noted that though most of the territory occupied by Pakistan and renamed as "Azad Jammu and Kashmir" is from Jammu region yet the Indians call it just "Pakistan Occupied Kashmir", which is factually not correct. This anomaly needs to be corrected.
Why New Delhi has adopted unrealistic attitude in setting the record straight? These questions are to the amusement of young scholars desirous of conducting study and research on the contemporary history of the state. Jammu University deserves kudos for initiating very open and frank academic discussion of current situation in the region. The significance of the seminar is revealed by the fact that apart from experts and specialists in the field, the GOC-in-C Northern Command, Lt. General Parnaik was the Guest of Honour and spoke on the subject in the inaugural session besides the Vice Chancellor of the university. It was a treat to listen to compact yet comprehensive presentation of the Army Commander particularly his assessment of security scenario in the background of significant Chinese presence in Gilgit-Baltistan region and the implications of militarizing the Karakorum Highway.
What the audience appreciated most in General's presentation was the confidence and determination he reflected in the Indian nation wanting implementation of the 1994 unanimous resolution of the parliament in regard to the parts of the State of Jammu and Kashmir illegally occupied by Pakistan. The fact is that while there has been a lot of fuss about inclusive talks between the two countries and Pakistan's oft repeated cliché of talks including Kashmir, New Delhi never felt it necessary to speak about Pakistan vacating the parts of the State she has illegally occupied in 1947.
The Vice Chancellor of Jammu University was very right in envisioning the expansion of the Department of Strategic and Regional Studies in the light of great importance the entire Central and South Asian region is assuming in geo-strategic scenario. He is right in realizing the importance of language-based expertise as catalyst to objective and balanced research and analysis of current situation in the entire region.
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