Sunday, October 31, 2010

IMAMS HELP TO DOWN SCALE OF PROTESTS IN KASHMIR: REPORTS

Srinagar Oct 31 (Only Kashmir): Imams in the Kashmir Valley played a vital role in scaling down protests during the recent unrest.
When the fresh round of protests began in June, virtually every mosque in the Valley had turned into a rallying point where young boys would assemble and use public address systems installed for 'Azaan' (call to prayers) to play provocative speeches of militant leaders.
"Initially, it was boys in the age group of 12 to 15 years, who would assemble in the mosque after the night prayers and raise slogans," a senior state intelligence official said.
However, as the civilian killings during the clashes increased, the separatist elements got organised and started calling on youth and elderly to join the protests, he said.
That is when the state machinery decided to rope in the Imams (Muslim prayer leaders) for ensuring that the high-pitch sloganeering from the mosques comes to an end.
A significant number of the prayer leaders agreed that the mosques were being misused for "political purposes" and played an important role in convincing the local elders that the practice should stop.
"We do not agree with what is going on in Kashmir in terms of civilian killings but mosques are sacred places and there is a sanctity which has to be observed even by the Muslims," said an Imam, who identified himself as Nazir Ahmad.
He said most of the boys, who would come to his mosque in the civil lines area of the city for protests, did not join the regular prayers.
"I joined the peaceful protests in my locality many times against the excesses and innocent killings but I am not for using the loudspeakers or for pelting stones," he said.
According to another Imam in the city, locals had urged him to intervene in ensuring that protests were not held in the mosque as "they had suffered at the hands of security forces".
"Every time a protest was taken out from the mosque, it would lead to stone pelting at the main road. The police and CRPF personnel would then smash window panes of every house by the roadside while chasing the youth away," he said.
The persuasive role played by the Imams in the Kashmiri society has been used by the state administration in other fields as well.
In the first experiment of its kind, the Imams were roped in by the Jammu and Kashmir AIDS Control Society in 2006 to eradicate the epidemic from the society.
The results were encouraging as for the first in 2008 all the parameters for prevalence of HIV infection in the Valley showed a substantial decline.
The services of the Imams were also used during the recent outbreak of epidemic in Budgam, Doda and Kupwara districts of the Valley. The prayer leaders would create awareness during Friday prayer sermons about need for hygiene and necessary steps to be taken to control the spread of the diseases.

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Saturday, October 30, 2010

MIRWAIZ IS NOW DOCTOR

MY MOTHER MOTIVE FOR HIGHER STUDIES: MIRWAIZ
Srinagar, Oct 30 (Only Kashmir): The Chairman of Hurriyat Conference (M), Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Saturday was conferred with doctorate for his thesis based on the book on political thought in Islam by the famous saint Mir Syed Ali Hamdani (RA) popularly known as Amir-e-Kabir.
The doctorate has been conferred upon Mirwaiz by the University of Kashmir for his thesis ‘Mir Syed Ali Hamdani’s Dhakriratul Muluk: An Annotation and Translation’
Elated over the feat, Mirwaiz credited his mother for motivating him to pursue higher studies. “I express gratitude to all those including people of Jammu and Kashmir who directly or indirectly helped me achieve the feat,” he said.
Biography of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq
Mirwaiz Moulvi Muhammad Umar Farooq born 23 March 1973) is the chairman of the Awami Action Committee and the All Parties Hurriyat Conference- a grassroots coalition of pro-independence secessionist groups in the Indian state of Jammu & Kashmir. He attended Burn Hall School in Srinagar.
As a Mirwaiz (preacher) of Kashmir and head of the Hurriyat he has both an important religious and political role in the politics of the Kashmir.
Placed on the stage at the age of 17, following the assassination of his father, Mirwaiz Maulvi Farooq, then the leader of Awami Action Committee, Umar Farooq united 23 Kashmiri organizations into the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC). However the party was divided in two parts vis-à-vis Hurriyat (M) led by Mirwaiz and Hurriyat (G) led by Syed Ali Geelani. He was also shown among the Asian Heroes by the Times magazine. He maintains that dialogue must take place with India and Pakistan, so long as the Kashmiri aspirations are heard as well.
He inherited as the 12th Mirwaiz (Kashmiri term for traditional preacher of Muslims in Kashmir) in 1990.Before joining the pro-freedom Kashmir politics,Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was an alumnus of the prestigious Burn Hall School in Srinagar,he had interests in computers and he wanted to become a software engineer. But fate had something else in store for this man, who became founder-chairman of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference at the age of 20. He also holds a masters degree in Islamic Studies from Cairo University Egypt.
“Only Kashmir” hearty congratulates Mirwaiz for achieving this desired mark.

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Friday, October 29, 2010

STRIKES DESTROY PEOPLE'S FINANCIAL CONDITION IN KASHMIR: NATIONAL CONFERENCE

Srinagar Oct 29 (Only Kashmir): A senior leader of the ruling National Conference today blamed the separatists for destroying the economic and financial conditions of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, by resorting to strikes and shutdowns.
“The politics of shutdowns has destroyed the economic and financial conditions of the people,” Member of Parliament and veteran NC leader Sharif-ud-din Shariq said here.
Shariq said people wanted to live a peaceful life, “but unfortunately some elements are trying to disturb peace and as such are causing damages worth crores of rupees to the people.” He said labourers, shopkeepers, transporters and other business class people have suffered severe economic losses.
“Shutdowns, stone-pelting and violence are not a solution to any issue but solution to all the issues lies in dialogue and discussions,” he said.
He said, “Unfortunately, our youth are being stopped from getting educated under a conspiracy. It is an attempt to keep the entire population illiterate as it was during the Dogra rule.” Shariq appealed to the Centre to intensify its efforts in solving the “Kashmir issue”.
“We make a strong appeal to the Centre to intensify its efforts to solve the Kashmir issue so that peaceful atmosphere is established in the sub-continent,” he said.

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NO PRAYERS IN JAMIA AGAIN FOR 7TH CONSECUTIVE FRIDAY

Srinagar, Oct 29 (Only Kashmir): There were no prayers in historical Jamia Masjid and other major mosques in old city Friday in wake of the Curfew, reports and witnesses told. This is for the 7th consecutive Friday that there were no congregational prayers in the central Jamia masjid.
Jamia Masjid, in the heart of Srinagar’s old city, remained out of bounds for the people due to imposition of curfew despite a normal day called by Hurriyat Conference led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani.
Hundreds of CRPF and policemen, armed with sophisticated weapons, enforced strict restrictions in Nowhatta and adjoining areas including Rajouri Kadal, Mahraj Gunj, Nawa Kadal, Gojwara and Bohrikadal.
Flaying the government for re-imposing curfew in the old city and restrictions on prayers at Jamia Masjid and other major mosques, Chairman Hurriyat Conference (M) Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Friday asked Islamic scholars and clerics in Valley to raise their voice against what he termed a brazen interference in the religious affairs of Muslims.
In a statement issued here, Mirwaiz said the government under a conspiracy was repeating the “black” history of Kashmir. “ Non-Muslim rulers during their occupation of Kashmir have always tried to stop Kashmiri Muslims from offering prayers at the Jamia Masjid in order to weaken its socio-religious and political importance,” he said.
Earlier this year, it was after six weeks that congressional prayers were offered in the grand Mosque on August 13 last.

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Thursday, October 28, 2010

YASMEEN RAJA DETAINED UNDER PSA

Srinagar, Oct 28 (Only Kashmir): The authorities booked APHC leader and Chairperson of Muslim Khawateen Markaz, Yasmeen Raja under draconian Public Safety Act (PSA) and lodged in Central Jail in Srinagar.
Yasmeen Raja was arrested on Tuesday (October 26) during a raid on her house by policemen in Pampore.
The authorities at Srinagar Central Jail informed Yasmeen Raja that she had been booked under Public Safety Act, the spokesperson of Muslim Khawateen Markaz, told media men.

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KASHMIR SOLUTION MUST FOR PEACE IN SOUTH ASIA: MIRWAIZ

Srinagar, October 28 (Only Kashmir): The Chairman of All Parties Hurriyat Conference, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, has said that peace will continue to elude South Asia unless the Kashmir dispute is resolved in accordance with Kashmiris’ aspirations.
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq in a statement issued in Srinagar said that the strike observed by the Kashmiri people was the ample proof that Kashmiris had not accepted the illegal occupation of the territory. He termed the imposition of curfew and restrictions in the valley as frustration of the authorities.
Mirwaiz urged India to realise ground reality and come forward to resolve the decades long Kashmir dispute.

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PROTESTS AGAIN MOLESTATION IN PALHALAN

Srinagar, Oct 28 (Only Kashmir): After remaining under continued curfew for a month, the residents of Palhalan in Pattan witnessed molestation and an attempt to rape two women by policemen. Police and paramilitary personnel who barged into the house of one Ghulam Rasool Sheikh at Raipora Palhallan, smashed windows and doors and beat up the inmates and ransacked the house goods, the locals said. Sheikh’s son, Sajad Ahmad told media men that a police party led by SDPO and SHO of Pattan without any provocation forcibly entered their house.
“To save me from police my mother forced me to leave the house from the rare side. After hearing the screams of my mother and sister, I along with my neighbours came rushing to my house. I saw my mother and sister lying on the ground with policemen beating them ruthlessly,” he said.
Sajad said that had his father not been there, the policemen would have outraged the modesty of his mother and sister. “My father received police thrashing while protecting the chastity of my sister. He covered her and got fractures in arm and his right foot. Policemen were trying to take my sister to the nearby Special Operations Group Camp,” said wailing, Sajad.
Sajad’s 25-year-old sister is in deep shock. “Everything is lost,” she cried and fell unconscious. Sajad’s wailing mother sitting besides her daughter is unwilling to talk. “Police have destroyed our family,” she said after much persuasion.
Sajad said police broke everything that came their way. “Damage to the property is not the worry, but the molestation and attempt to rape is humiliating,” Sajjad said.
Hundreds of people staged protests against the police and paramilitary personnel for abusing and beating women

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Wednesday, October 27, 2010

GEELANI HAS TO PAY 17300000 AS INCOME TAX DUES

New Delhi Oct 27: Income Tax department has asked hardline Kashmiri separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani to file Rs 1.73 crore in tax dues over a period when he had not filed his returns after rejecting his appeal.
The IT sleuths, which had swooped on residences of Geelani and his family members in 2002 and seized valuable items including a diamond-studded watch gifted by Pakistan Government, had raised a tax demand of over Rs 1.5 crore.
Geelani challenged the demand and approached the Commissioner of Income Tax (appeals) for review of the case and also sought a waiver, saying he did not earn anything other than the pension from Government of Jammu and Kashmir and from agriculture land.
The case dragged on for nearly three years and recently the appeal was dismissed after which he was asked to deposit Rs 1.73 crore as tax liabilities by end of 2010.
Geelani, who heads the breakaway faction of Hurriyat Conference, has still the option to go to the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT).

The Tax Department had raised the demand of Rs 1.73 crore against the firebrand Jamaat-e-Islami leader after giving him ample opportunities to furnish answers to a questionnaire about his sources of income.
The questionnaire followed an assessment of Geelani’s wealth by the department following a series of raids conducted at his house and other places in June 2002.
The department had raided Geelani’s house and other places of his kin on June 9, 2002 and seized Rs 10.2 lakh and 10,000 US dollars in cash, vouchers showing purchase of substantial amount of jewellery, a diamond-encrusted watch inscribed with “From Pakistan Government” besides documents pertaining to purchase of property and vehicles.
Geelani had shown an annual income of Rs 17,100--Rs 7,100 as pension from the state Assembly as a former MLA and Rs 10,000 as agriculture income.
However, according to the assessment made by the Income Tax Department, the monthly expenditure of Geelani allegedly ranged from Rs one lakh to Rs 1.5 lakh as he had 15 servants at his house and his wife had confirmed that she used to get Rs 25,000 per month for kitchen expenses.
When asked to comment, Geelani said he had not received the notice as yet and would like to first understand the grounds of rejection before reacting.

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Tuesday, October 26, 2010

MIRWAIZ UNDER HOUSE ARREST, GOVERNMENT TRYING TO FOIL UN MARCH

Srinagar, Oct 26 (Only Kashmir): The Hurriyat Conference (M) today accused the government is trying to foil its UN office chalo march on Wednesday by arresting several of its activists and putting the senior leaders including its Chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, under house arrest.
A Hurriyat spokesman while speaking to Only Kashmir said the police placed Mirwaiz under house arrest since yesterday evening, its senior leader Bilal Gani Lone has been confined to his house from today morning.
A posse of police also went to the houses of Hurriyat leaders Shahid-ul-Islam and Sofi Mushtaq at Sanatnagar and Mahraj Gunj respectively, however both were not present there.
The spokesman said the police have arrested several of its leaders and activists including Prof Habibullah Jeelani, Musadiq Adil, Hakeem Abdul Rashid and Peer Ghulam Nabi.
The spokesman strongly condemned the crackdown on the conglomerate terming it as government’s frustration. “This is an act of sheer political vengeance. We urge the people to march along with the Hurriyat leaders from the respective districts to the UN office here,” he said.

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SOME INDIANS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF 'FREEDOM': FAROOQ ABDULLAH

New Delhi Oct 26: Amid a furore over remarks by Arundhati Roy on Jammu and Kashmir, Union Minister Farooq Abdullah today said there was "too much of freedom" in India that was being used by some to destroy the country.
"There is too much freedom in India that some Indians are taking advantage of and destroying the country. There are no limits to the way they are using this freedom," the former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir told reporters here when asked about the recent controversial speech of Roy on the state's accession to India.
Asked if people such as Roy were exploiting the freedom of speech, the Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy said, "The country has given the freedom, it is up to them how they use this freedom. It is for them to realise what is right and what is wrong. What to say and what not to say is for a person to decide."

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PROJECT YOUR VIEWPOINT IN A DEMOCRATIC WAY: MUBARAQ GUL TO SEPARATISTS

Srinagar Oct 26, (Only Kashmir):- Reiterating that dialogue is the only effective means to sort out issues, the Advisor to Chief Minister Mr. Mubarak Gul on Tuesday called upon separatist leaders to come to table for putting across their viewpoints in a democratic way.
Addressing a public meeting here, Mr. Gul said conducive atmosphere is building up towards resolution of Kashmir problem, adding that all stake holders need to shun intransigence and facilitate in evolving a roadmap acceptable to all.
The Advisor said that Chief Minister Mr. Omar Abdullah has been advocating political initiative to address issues concerning Jammu and Kashmir. He said 8-point political initiative announced by the Centre has thrown a good opportunity for working in unison towards restoration of peace and normalcy for good.
The Advisor said that the coalition government is committed to provide all basic amenities to the people especially those living in far-flung areas of the State. He said that it is the endeavour of the Government to facilitate the people with the drinking water, electricity, road connectivity, health care facility and quality education to the student community.
The Advisor said that significant measures have been taken for successful implementation of various developmental and welfare schemes launched by the state and centre governments.
Later, several deputations called on the Advisor and apprised him about their day to day problems. The Advisor heard them patiently and assured that the problems would be looked into sympathetically.

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CRACKDOWN AGAINST HURRIYAT (M) CONTINUES

Srinagar, Oct 26 (Only Kashmir): In a bid to prevent a march towards the United Nations Observers’ Office in Srinagar on Wednesday, Indian police have started a crackdown against the workers of the All Parties Hurriyet Conference (M) arresting several of them.
The arrests were made by the police during raids in different areas of Srinagar. The police conducted a raid on Mirwaiz Manzil at Rajouri Kadal and took into custody Professor Habibullah Jeelani, the Special Secretary to the APHC (M) Chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Peer Ghulam Nabi Senior cleric working at Awami Action Committee.
The APHC (M) spokesman while speaking to Only Kashmir strongly condemned the police action. “Many of the APHC workers have been arrested so far. Police have seized a vehicle of the APHC (M) and have arrested its driver also,” he added.

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PR. HABIBULLAH JEELANI ARRESTED

Srinagar, Oct 25 (Only Kashmir):Police on Monday raided Mirwaiz Manzil (Central Office Awami Action Committee) here in Rajouri Kadal late this evening and arrested Hurriyat (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq's special secretary Professor Habibullah Jeelani.

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Monday, October 25, 2010

GEELANI AND ARUNDHATI TO BE BOOKED UNDER SEDITION CHARGE

New Delhi Oct 25: A go-ahead to file a case of sedition against hardline Kashmiri separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani and activist Arundhati Roy has been given to Delhi Police by the Union Home Ministry.
However, it is far from clear now whether the police will proceed with the case although legal advice received by it says that a case has been made out under Section 124 of IPC which applies to cases where disaffection against the State is advocated.
The police is now mulling over possible ramifications of proceeding with the case and is likely to seek political clearance to go ahead.
Delhi Police is said to be having some hesitation on going ahead with filing the case because once registered then arrests would have to be effected of those named in the FIR.
Officials of the Delhi Police met Union Home Ministry officials and had a detailed discussions in this regard earlier in the day, the sources said.
An unfazed Geelani said in Kashmir that there were already 90 cases have been registered against him. "I have 90 FIRs registered against me already, this will be 91st," he said.

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K-ISSUE CAN'T BE RESOLVED THROUGH INTERCUTORS: HILAL WAR

Srinagar Oct 25 (Only Kashmir): People’s Political Party (PPP) Chairman, Hilal Ahmad War, has rejected the role of interlocutors in resolving the Kashmir Issue which has assumed the shape of an International Issue. He reiterated that Kashmir Issue is the question of life , death and honour of the common man of Kashmir, therefore , it cannot be resolved through any interlocutors or mediators , it can be resolved directly the masses of Jammu and Kashmir ( 14 million people) by means of a free, fair and impartial referendum.
PPP Chief, Hilal Ahmad War, has told the visiting interlocutors that, having regard to the commitment of exercise of right of self-determination for the people of J & K, history has provided golden chance to you to write and recommend the GoI to concede the demand of Right of Self-determination of the 14 million people of Jammu and Kashmir which they are required to fulfil and en-cash towards their obligations.
He further said, “No amount of repressive policies, use of force, intimidating through Indian military, Para military and other forces can take away this inalienable right of J & K people”.
He said to leadership of India, “Please do not sit over the volcano but avoid any such calamity which endangers entire South-East –Asia as a whole by your negligence”. Let better sense prevail upon you and your leadership to capitalize at this historical juncture for the attainment of Permanent Peace and Tranquillity on this side of globe.

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STRIKE CALENDER 27 OCTOBER TO 08 NOVEMBER

Srinagar Oct 25 (Only Kashmir): Syed Ali Geelani today announced a new protest calendar in connection with the Quit Kashmir Campaign, which includes shutdowns, protests and sit-ins. According to the calendar people will observe complete shutdown and Black Day on October 27 against the landing of Indian troops in Jammu and Kashmir and march towards the UN Observers’ Office. On October 28 and October 29 people will resume their normal activities.
He said that complete strike would be observed on October 30 and October 31 with peaceful protests from Maghrib to Isha would be held against Indian state terrorism and human rights violations. “On November 1, people have been asked to observe complete strike and hold peaceful protests from Maghrib to Isha. No Strike will be observed on November 2. On November 3, Kashmiris have been asked to observe a complete strike against the arrests by Indian forces, however, no strike shall be observed on November 4,” he added
Syed Ali Gilani called upon the people to observe civil curfew on November 5, November 6, November 7 and November 8. He urged people to pay tribute to Jammu martyrs who were killed in 1947on November 6. “On the same day Internet users will mail letters to the US President, Barak Obama, against illegal occupation of Jammu and Kashmir by India and stage protests to invite Obama’s attention towards Kashmir dispute, who will be visiting India on November 6,” the veteran leader added.

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BOYCOTT INTERLOCUTORS, GEELANI TELLS KASHMIRIS

Srinagar 25 Oct (Only Kashmir): Hardline Kashmiri separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani on Monday asked Kashmiris to boycott the interlocutors named by the Indian government on Jammu and Kashmir.
Addressing the media at his residence, where he was placed under house arrest immediately on arrival from Delhi Sunday, Geelani said: "The Indian government has rejected our five-point demands and, therefore, we have nothing to do with the team of interlocutors appointed by New Delhi."
"I also appeal to the people not to meet the interlocutors and boycott their visit," Geelani said.
Although policemen were deployed outside Geelani's residence, no mediaperson was prevented from entering his house where he spoke to them.
The rejection of the interlocutor panel by the Hurriyat Conference has come as a big challenge for the central government representatives - Dilip Padgaonkar, Radha Kumar and M.M. Ansari - who are presently on their four-day maiden visit to the valley.

Admitting that the decision not to interact with the interlocutors by both groups of the separatist Hurriyat Conference was a challenge, Padgaonkar said on Sunday: "Yes, it is something we will have to overcome. We shall be knocking doors of those who do not come to meet us. There are no protocol or ego hassles with us."
Geelani also issued a fresh protest calendar beginning Oct 28. It calls for shutdowns and protests up to Nov 8, barring Oct 28, 29, Nov 2 and 4.
Geelani spoke about the forthcoming visit of US President Barack Obama to India.
"The last time a US president visited India, Indian security forces killed Sikh villagers in Chattisinghpora," he said, reiterating an allegation that has remained unproven. "We fear they can do anything (similar) around the forthcoming visit."
He was asked about the gradual defiance of his shutdown and protest programmes by people in the Kashmir Valley, which has been reeling under unrest since June 11 with 110 people being killed in firing by security forces.
"I salute the people for complete success of our resistance programme. If anybody is defying it at a personal level, that should be a matter between him and his conscience," he said.
Geelani also endorsed the appeal of Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, chairman of the moderate Hurriyat group, who has asked people to march to the offices of the UN Military Observers Group (UNMOG) in Srinagar on Oct 27.
"Our goal is common and, therefore, I fully endorse the appeal made by Mirwaiz Umer Farooq," Geelani said.
The Indian Army landed in Kashmir on Oct 27, 1947 after the Dogra Maharaja, Hari Singh, acceded to India.

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MIRWAIZ LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN FOR KASHMIR RESOLUTION

Srinagar, Oct 24 (Only Kashmir): The Hurriyat Conference (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Sunday launched the “cross-LoC signature campaign” to draw the attention of the United States President, Barack Obama, who is visiting India early next month, towards the Kashmir issue. Umar said the campaign would be conducted in support of a petition to the US president from the people of Jammu and Kashmir, asking him to intervene between India and Pakistan for the resolution of the Kashmir issue and for appointment a special rapporteur for the same.
“Both India and Pakistan have failed to find a solution to the Kashmir issue. There have been many accords and agreements in the past 63 years but the issue is as it was. There is a trust-deficit between India and Pakistan as a result of which dialogue cannot take place,” Mirwaiz told reporters during a news conference here, ahead of launching the campaign.
He said the third party intervention was therefore imperative. “We want that the international community should give attention to the issue. There have been instances in the past when third parties have played important role in the disputes like Kosovo, Palestine, Afghanistan and Northern Ireland. We seek the appointment of a special rapporteur of international stature on Kashmir. The facilitation of a special rapporteur is indispensable to help rebuild trust amongst the stakeholders and reinstate their confidence in the processes of dialogue” he said
The Kashmir issue resolution, Mirwaiz said, was important to establish peace in South Asia and for the “national interest of India.”
He said the signature campaign for the petition will not only be conducted in valley but also in Jammu and Azad Kashmir. The Hurriyat will also conduct the campaign online on the link: (http://www.petitiononline.com/24102010/petition.html) and also via faxes and e-mails, and will later be submitted to the president through US embassy in New Delhi.
The campaign will remain on till November 5—a day before of Obama’s arrival.
“It’s not important that only Kashmiri people will support or sign the petition. Anyone who supports basic human rights and values, the humanists from any part of the globe can support it,” he said. “We hope Obama will use his influence to prevail upon India to take steps for a peaceful resolution of Kashmir issue in accordance with wishes and aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.”
Miwaiz, along with other Hurriyat leaders Prof. Abdul Gani Bhat and Bilal Gani Lone, kick-started the campaign by signing the petition.

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Saturday, October 23, 2010

BE SYMPATHETIC TO KASHMIR: MUSLIM CLERICS

Islamabad Oct 24 (Only Kashmir): A prominent Indian Muslim cleric has urged the Indian government to be serious about resolving the Kashmir issue and take a "sympathetic view" of the Kashmiris' grievances, a Pakistani paper reported Saturday.
"The Indian government should adopt a serious approach to solving the Kashmir problem and take a sympathetic view of the grievances of the Kashmir Valley's people," Mufti Mohammad Mukarram, the Imam of New Delhi's Fatehpuri Mosque, told the Urdu daily Jang in a telephonic interview.
Terming the curfew and restrictions in the Valley for over the last three-four months as an "unwise" step, he said if the Indian government considers the Kashmiris to be Indian citizens, then the Kashmiris should be entitled to the same rights as available to Indian citizens in the country's other states.
The almost regular curfew in the Kashmir Valley has placed a question mark on India's democratic system, he said, according to the paper.
The Mufti also said that the respective stands of the Kashmiri leaders whom the members of the all-parliamentary delegation met during their recent visit to the Valley must be examined with "an open heart and in all seriousness".

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SHABIR SHAH REJECTS CONDITIONAL RELEASE

Srinagar, Oct 23 (Only Kashmir): Senior APHC leader and the President of Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party, Shabbir Ahmed Shah, has rejected the offer of authorities to release him on parole.
Shabbir Ahmad Shah while rejecting the offer said that he would not hesitate to sacrifice his life for the liberation of Kashmir from India. He appealed the Kashmiri people to pray for his ailing mother, who is undergoing treatment in a Srinagar hospital.
It is pertinent that Shabbir Ahmed Shah continues to remain under illegal detention at Kot Bhalwal jail Jammu after slapping of the draconian law, Public Safety Act (PSA) by the administration against him.

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163 J&K HEAD-CONSTABLES PROMOTED

Srinagar, Oct 23 (Only Kashmir): The Jammu and Kashmir Police today promoted 163 head-constables to the post of Assistant Sub-Inspectors (ASIs), official sources said.
Inspector General of Police (Kashmir range) S M Sahai issued the promotion orders following recommendations of the Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) constituted by the zonal police headquarters, Kashmir, they said.

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DELEGATION OF HURRIYAT CONFERENCE (M) VISITS MALOORA

Srinagar Oct 23 (Only Kashmir): Today a four member delegation of Hurriyat Conference (M) led by Pr. Habibullah Jeelani, Sofi Mushtaq, Gulam Qadir Beigh and Khazir Mohd visits the families of the Maloora victims killed in forces firing in the past weeks to express their condolences. They console these families and pray for strength to their parents to bear this irreparable loss. They also convey the sympathy message of Mirwaiz towards victim’s families. The spokesman said in a statement to Only Kashmir.

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Friday, October 22, 2010

MUSLIM LEAGUE LODGES FIR AGAINST ANTI-BURQA REMARKERS

Kolkata: Taking serious notice of Shiv Sena Chief Bal Thackeray’s propaganda against burqa in the editorial of Samna, the party’s mouthpiece, West Bengal unit of Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) lodged an FIR in Kolkata against Thackeray terming it dangerous for the security and safety of Muslim women as well as for the communal harmony of the country.
IUML demanded immediate action against Shiv Sena Chief to stop publication of such write up which harms any particular community.
Notably, Mr. Thackeray, who is known for making inflammatory remarks against Muslims time to time, demanded ban on burqa in Samna’s editorial on 19th Oct following a condemnable incident in which a burqa clad woman stole two-month-old child from a hospital in Mumbai on Oct. 15.
The IUML also wrote to Union Minority Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid, National Commission for Minorities, National Commission for Women and National Human Rights Commission seeking their interference into the matter because it is related to religious right of Muslim community.
The party expressed fear that if strict action is not taken against Thackeray, it will create threat for Muslim women who wear burqa which is mandatory for them in the light of Islamic Shariah because Shiv Sena workers may try to harm them.

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NO PRAYERS IN JAMIA AGAIN FOR 6TH CONSECUTIVE FRIDAY

Srinagar, Oct 22 (Only Kashmir): There were no prayers in historical Jamia Masjid and other major mosques in old city Friday in wake of the Curfew, reports and witnesses told. This is for the sixth consecutive Friday that there were no congregational prayers in the central Jamia Masjid.
Reports said Jamia Masjid, in the heart of Srinagar’s old city, remained out of bounds for the people due to imposition of curfew.
Hundreds of CRPF and policemen, armed with sophisticated weapons, enforced strict restrictions in Nowhatta and adjoining areas including Rajouri Kadal, Gojwara, Bohrikadal and Mahraj Gunj they added.
Meanwhile Mirwaiz is has been taken under house arrest by the so called authorities.

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Thursday, October 21, 2010

SHOE HURLED AT GEELANI

(First Blog in Kashmir to publish this News)
New Delhi, Oct 21 (Only Kashmir): A shoe was thrown towards hardline Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani at a function here today as a group of people, including Kashmiri Pandits, staged a strong protest against his presence.
The protestors, shouting slogans like ''Bharat Mata Ki Jai'' and ''Vande Mataram'', created ruckus at the convention on ''Azaadi -- The Only Way'' which was being attended by a number of sympathisers of Kashmiri separatists and naxals.
Though Geelani was yet to speak, the protesters numbering around 70 shouted slogans asking him to leave.
Amid the pandemonium, someone threw a shoe towards Geelani on the dais but it missed him.
A human chain was immediately thrown around him on the dais by the security personnel and organisers to protect the leaders on the dais.
The protestors were taken out by police personnel.
At the time of the protest, S A R Geelani, a lecturer who was accused in the Parliament attack case but later set free, was speaking on the topic.

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OMAR ON GEELANI INCIDENT

Srinagar, Oct 21 (Only Kashmir):- Reacting to the Geelani incident in a seminar in New Delhi, the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said it is against the democratic traditions of the country where freedom of speech no matter how unpalatable is a right which needs to be respected & protected.
The Chief Minister said the strength of our democracy is in its values of tolerance and to allow a fearless ex-pression of dissent only strengthens the democratic fabric of the country.
He said our democracy is a matured democracy and is capable of absorbing political dissent and diverse view points and so we should provide every individual an opportunity to air his or her opinion in a democratic manner.
He said the right to debate, disagree and reject anybody?s views is also an inherent part of democracy but the rebuttal must be decent and the response and disagreement must be civil and best expressed in a democratic fashion.

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Wednesday, October 20, 2010

OMAR ABDULLAH SHOWN BLACK FLAG AT PUBLIC RALLY IN JAMMU

Jammu Oct 21 (Only Kashmir) : Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was Wednesday shown a black flag by a member in the audience at a public meeting in Vijaypur town of Jammu and Kashmir.
The protestor waved a black flag at the chief minister when he rose to make a speech in the border town of Vijaypur, about 30 km south-west of Jammu.
The protesor shouted slogans and made it known that his action was against the chief minister’s speech in the legislative assembly Oct 6 in which he stated that the state had “acceded to India and not merged with it”.
Police dragged the man out from the rally, beating him ruthlessly.
The identity of the protestor was yet to be ascertained.
Omar, however, went ahead with his speech. He described the protestor’s action as “frustration” of some. He maintained that the majority of the people had understood him and his intentions in the right perspective.

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MIRWAIZ SEEKS OBAMA'S INFLUENCE TO RESOLVE KASHMIR

Srinagar Oct 20 (Only Kashmir): Chairman Hurriyat Conference (M), Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Wednesday said the amalgam will send American President, Barack Obama a memorandum during his November visit to India, urging him to use his influence to press India for resolving the Kashmir ‘dispute’ through dialogue.
Addressing party workers here at the Mirwaiz Manzil, Rajouri Kadal, the Hurriyat chairman reminded the American president that Kashmir had been on his agenda during his Presidential campaign. “Back then, he had promised that he will take measures for a resolution of the dispute as soon as he is in power. Even other responsible American leaders have time and again reiterated that a resolution of the Kashmir dispute in accordance with the wishes and aspirations of Kashmiri people was imperative for peace and stability in south Asia,” Mirwaiz said.
He said the Hurriyat Conference will publish the memorandum in local news publications besides keeping copies available at party headquarters and district headquarters so that people may send them through internet and other mediums to the American embassy in New Delhi.
“ The memorandum will urge the American president to pressurize India to resolve the dispute through dialogue with Kashmiris and Pakistan so that the killings of innocent civilians, oppression and other human rights violations in Kashmir come to an end,” Mirwaiz said.
Meanwhile, reiterating his call for UNO march on October 27, Mirwaiz asked people to join Hurriyat leaders in all districts in the march while as he said he will lead a similar march from the Mirwaiz Manzil, Rajouri Kadal on the day. “ October 27 is a black day in the history of Kashmir for Indian troops landed in Kashmir and began their forceful occupation of Kashmir which continued to this day. Therefore, a memorandum will be presented to the UN office at Sonawar to remind the international body of the resolutions passed by it in favour of the right to self determination for Kashmiris. The memo will also urge the UN to play its role in stopping India’s violations of Kashmir people’s human rights,” he said.

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Tuesday, October 19, 2010

COURT SENDS BISCOE SCHOOL ALUMNI MASRAT AALAM BHAT TO 5-DAYS POLICE REMAND

Srinagar Oct 20 (Only Kashmir): A local court on Tuesday remanded senior pro-freedom leader and general secretary of Hurriyat Conference (G) to five-day police remand.
Official sources said that Alam, chairman Muslim League, was produced before the court of forest magistrate, Masarat Roohi this afternoon who granted him five days police remand.
They said that as soon as Alam was produced before the court, a team of lawyers including Nazir Ahmad Ronga, Bashir Ahmad Sidiq, Mohammad Rafiq Joo, Mir Shafaqat and others appeared before the court. The made some contentions including that the Biscoe Schoool alumni be kept in police station Harwan where case is registered against him,
Advocate Rafiq Ahmad Joo said that the contention was made after Masrat Alam alleged that he was kept in ‘Cargo-SOG Camp’.
Besides, he said, the lawyers submitted that Alam should be allowed to meet the family and also adequate health care should be given to him.
“The court allowed our contention as Mr Alam was granted police remand for 5-days,” he told Press Bureau of India.
Masrat Alam Bhat was arrested by police during a raid in Telbal area in outskirts of here last evening.

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MASRAT AALAM'S ARREST WILL BRING RELIEF TO KASHMIR: OMAR ABDULLAH

Srinagar Oct 19 (Only Kashmir): Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said the arrest of Hurriyat Conference leader Masrat Alam will bring relief to the people of the Valley who were suffering due to his weekly protest and strike calendars.
"I think not for us (Government) but for the people it is a relief as they faced problems due to the calendars issued by him," Omar said.
He said anybody's arrest will not have any impact on the Kashmir issue. "There is going to be no impact on the Kashmir issue if anybody is arrested or released... if anyone issues a calendar or not," he said.
Asked about the circumstances leading to Alam's arrest, the Chief Minister said there are many secrets behind that.
"We had been searching for him for the last four months. There are many secrets how he has been arrested now and these should remain so," Omar said.
"There are lots of things how he (Alam) was found all of a sudden and what steps have been taken after his arrest," he said.

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MIRWAIZ TO ATTEND SEMINARS OF SIKHS IN PUNJAB & JAMMU

Srinagar Oct 19 (Only Kashmir): Chairman Hurriyat Conference (M), Mirwaiz Umar Farooq will attend seminars to be organized by a Sikh body in Jammu and Punjab regarding the current situation in Kashmir.
In a statement issued here, a spokesman said that a delegation of International Democratic Party, an influential Sikh body, led by President Master Kheta Singh called upon the Mirwaiz at party headquarters late Sunday. “The delegation while expressing solidarity with the genuine struggle of Kashmiris invited Mirwaiz Umar and other
Hurriyat leaders to address seminars in Jammu and Punjab to apprise the people about the situation in Kashmir and the struggle of Kashmiris, which was accepted by the Mirwaiz,” the spokesman said in a statement to Press Bureau of India.

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Monday, October 18, 2010

MASRAT ALAM BHAT ARRESTED

Srinagar, Oct 18 (Only Kashmir): Police on today arrested the general secretary of Hurriyat Conference (G) Masrat Alam Bhat from city outskirts here.
The Police spokesman told Media that Masrat Alam was arrested during a raid in Tailbal area this evening.
Pertinently, Alam was released in month of June this year. Soon after his release he announced the ongoing “Quit Kashmir Movement.”

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BIRITSH DELEGATION CALL ON MIRWAIZ

(Only Kashmir Exclusive)
Srinagar Oct 13 (Only Kashmir): Delegation of British High Commissions based in New Delhi and Islamabad called on the chairman of Hurriyat Conference (M) Mirwaiz Umar Farooq at his Nageen residence here on Tuesday, Mirwaiz’s close aide Sofi Mushtaq told Only Kashmir on Phone.
He said the delegation comprising Sharon McDonald, the second secretary (political) of the British High Commission in Islamabad; and Victoria Whitford, first secretary (political) of the British High Commission in New Delhi.

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Sunday, October 17, 2010

KASHMIRIS SHOULD TAKE ADVENTAGE OF THE OBAMA'S VISIT TO INDIA: MIRWAIZ

Srinagar, Oct 17 (Only Kashmir): Ahead of United States president Barrack Obama’s proposed visit to New Delhi, the Hurriyat Conference led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Sunday decided to kick-start a signature campaign across the State to seek Washington’s intervention for impressing upon India and Pakistan to resolve the Kashmir dispute.
“As India and Pakistan have kept the dispute lingering for the past over six decades at the cost of Kashmiris, we have unanimously decided to seek third party intervention of the United States for impressing the two countries to resolve the dispute according to aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir,”
Mirwaiz said Kashmiris should take advantage of the Barrack Obama’s visit to India next month. “The conglomerate has decided to kick-start a state-wide signature campaign from tomorrow and forward it in the form of a memorandum the US embassy in New Delhi. We want to impress upon Obama that another war between the nuclear powers India and Pakistan can be catastrophic for the World and it is high time for resolution of the dispute,” Mirwaiz said.
Mirwaiz said the conglomerate will intensify its diplomatic efforts through various Kashmir centres in Brussels, London, ahead of Obama’s visit to highlight the exigency to resolve the dispute.
“As a first step the US should appoint its special representative in Kashmir on the pattern of other conflict zones in the World. This will help to initiate mediation between India and Pakistan,” he said.
Urging the people of the State particularly the academicians, intellectuals and students to extend support to the campaign, Mirwaiz said memorandums should be forwarded through emails to the US president and embassies of all the countries.
“In the memorandum, we will state that by virtue of its military might India has been denying Kashmiris their inalienable right to self-determination for which over one lakh Kashmiris have sacrificed their lives. We will reiterate our four points including revocation of special powers to armed forces, withdrawal of troopers, release of all political prisoners and youth languishing in jails,” Mirwaiz said.
The Hurriyat Chairman also called for a shutdown on October 27 as a mark of protest against the landing of Indian troopers on this day in 1947. “October 27 should be observed as a black day. The conglomerate’s leaders will take our marches from the district headquarters of the Valley and proceed towards the United Nations Military Observers Group in India and Pakistan at Sonawar to reiterate our demand for demilitarization.

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STUDENTS STUDYING IN JAIL TO SAVE THEIR ACADEMIC YEAR

Books have replaced stones for the ‘stone throwers’ currently in the lock-up in Kashmir.
The Jammu and Kashmir police have embarked on a `Mission Education’ to help students arrested for throwing stones at security forces to study in the lock-up by arranging special classes for them in an attempt to save their academic year.
Under the programme, the police have roped in teachers of a government higher secondary school in the old city, who regularly visits one of the police stations selected for this experiment to impart education to the youth. Some police officers too have chipped in to teach the students so that they could prepare for their upcoming examinations.
“The law will take its own course as far as their cases are concerned,” said Shokat Hussian, superintendent of police (Srinagar-North), “But at the same time, we do not want their careers to be ruined. Therefore, we have started imparting education while in detention so that they could be able to sit in the examinations.”
Most of the students detained for stone pelting are studying in different classes ranging from IX to XII. “We are taking proper care to create the necessary atmosphere for studying and learning in the police stations. That is why we have made a makeshift classroom in the police station where the students can study,” Shoket said.
Nearly 50 students arrested for stone pelting were recently released from different police stations following a slew of confidence-building measures announced by the Omar Abdullah government on September 29 in an attempt to end the cycle of violence the began a few months ago.
For students who are still facing charges, the government is making arrangements to save their academic career. “I have asked all the police stations to arrange for special classes for the students arrested for stone-pelting,” Shoket said.
Incidentally, the education of the students had become a major bone of contention between the separatists and the government. While the separatists wanted the students to go to school only on the days that curfew had not been imposed or protests not called, the government decided to keep schools open even during curfew hours or while demonstrations were being staged in an attempt to save the students’ academic year.
The police said keeping the schools open had not gone down well with the stone-throwers, who then began targeting the school buses. Three school children were injured when miscreants stoned a school bus at Badamwari on Wednesday, the police said.

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TOP TEN MUSLIMS OF INDIA

(Only Kashmir Exclusive) (Courtesy: Secular Mahaz, Bihar India)

1. Moulana Mohammad Wali Rehmani Sahib, Islamic Scholar
2. Dr Shah Faisal, 1st position holder in KAS Examination 2010
3. Rishad Hassan, Representative to Bark Obama
4. S Y Qureshi, Election Commissioner of India
5. Faried Zakaria, Journalist
6. A R Rehman, Musician
7. Hamid Ansari, Vice President of India
8. Azeem Hussain, Owner Dell Computers
9. Omar Abdullah, Chief Minister J&K
10. Zaheer Khan, Cricketer

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KASHMIR UNREST: 'SENSITIVE' NOWHATTA WITNESSES FEWER PROTESTS

Srinagar Oct 17 (Only Kashmir): Nowhatta, the hotbed of protests over the last two decades in Jammu and Kashmir, was unusually calm this summer when most of the Valley erupted leaving 106 people dead and thousands others injured.
The locality near the Jamia Masjid in the interior city had been the first to witness violence during past few years.
Even the central square has been named after Muntazar Ahmad, who was killed in clash with security forces a few years ago.
A stone's throw away from the 'Shaheed Muntazar Chowk' is a worn-out building of Nowhatta police station which bore the brunt of violence during the 2008 Amarnath land row agitation.
Even though Nowhatta, with an estimated population of 5,000 people, is a sensitive place, a change in strategy by the local police has brought down the number of protests in this area.
In 2008, when streets across the Valley were filled with angry crowds, the police station recorded 21 cases of intense and mild stone-pelting in its areas of jurisdiction.
The number of incidents in 2009, when Valley witnessed protests over the death of two women in Shopian district, 32 clashes between stone-throwing protestors and the police were recorded.
However, this year, the number of stone-throwing incidents is still the lowest as compared to recent years even though the unrest has entered its fifth month now.
Only 18 cases have been registered so far and the reason is the change in the deployment strategy of the police.
"We changed our strategy of deployment and that has given us a respite and it is working," a police official said.
"We keep the deployment on the main roads, even though we remove them from the alleys," he said.
The main reasons for the decline in protests is strict implementation of curfew in the area on almost every Friday since the unrest began and the identification of protest instigators.
The ready gathering at the Jamia Masjid after the prayers had become 'tools' at the hands of instigators of stone-pelting, sources said.
104 youths were arrested from the area on charges of stone-pelting during the unrest this year. Four of them were later booked under the Public Safety Act.

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INDIA UNDER WORLD PRESSURE TO RESOLVE KASHMIR ISSUE: HURRIYAT (M)

Srinagar, Oct 17 (Only Kashmir): Hurriyat Conference (M) on Saturday said Government of India was under tremendous pressure from international community to resolve Kashmir issue. “It is only because of the supreme sacrifices of life offered by martyrs that the Kashmir issue has become the focus of international attention. The martyrs are great asset of our ongoing struggle. Their sacrifices will very soon come to fruition as the international pressure is building up on India to resolve Kashmir issue in accordance with the wishes and aspirations of its people,” said a spokesman of the Hurriyat in a statement today, urging the people to continue struggle till the complete realization of the objective of freedom. Meanwhile, a delegation of Hurriyat comprising Muhammad Musadiq Adil, Ghulam Nabi Zaki, Ghulam Muhammad Nagoo, Abdul Rashid Untoo, Hakim Abdul Rashid , Abdul Majid Wani , Abddul Rouf and Imtiyaz Ahmad Reshi visited Pampore today to condole the demise of 55-year old employee of State Handloom Development Corporation Ghulam Nabi Mir who was beaten by the armed forces. The delegation conveyed the condolence message to the family of martyred from Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Muhammad Umar Farooq.

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GOOD NEWS ON KASHMIR SOON: PAKISTAN PM

Lahore, Oct 16: Pakistan Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has congratulated the nation and Kashmiri people on ‘international acceptance’ of demands of Pakistan on the issue and said people would hear good news soon.Addressing a meeting after a briefing on the Kashmir issue by Prime Minister of Pak administered Kashmir Sardar Atique Ahmad Khan, on his arrival from a high-level meeting on Kashmir at Brussels, Gilani said that Pakistan was very much concerned about the solution of the issue and it would never step back from its principles.Earlier, Sardar Atique told PM Gilani that it was a great achievement of the government in foreign affairs after 63 years that parliament of the European Union (EU) had accepted the issue of Kashmir as an international issue and initiated its hearing in the parliament.He said the United Nations, EU and OIC had included the issue in their official documents by adopting a common mechanism on the issue.He declared it is great success of foreign policy of the government and said the standing committee of EU parliament on Kashmir had restarted its work on the issue.He thanked Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani for his special contribution to rehabilitation work in earthquake affected areas of Kashmir, prompt help to the masses during floods and focusing on the ‘torture’ of Indian forces on Kashmiri people.

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Saturday, October 16, 2010

GOVT SETS CONDITION TO RELEASE 12 PSA DETENUES

Srinagar Oct 17 (Only Kashmir): The government has stipulated the release of 12 PSA detainees to a set of conditions including guarantee by parents and local respectable.
On the basis of recommendations of the Review Committee, Government on October 09 last ordered temporary release of 12 PSA detenues lodged in different jails.
Official sources told Press Bureau of India that the detenues would be released only after a bond with two sureties by parents and at-least one respectable person for locality that the released would not indulge in subversive activities.
“The sureties would also be held responsible for any kind of undesirable activity by the youth released under PSA,” the sources said.
The released youth, as per government directions, cannot leave the jurisdiction of concerned District Magistrate without his permission.
Besides, the sources said, the release would be reviewed after three months and will be extended only after concerned District Magistrate certifies that the released person’s behaviour was satisfactory during the period. “In-case of any violation to the conditions, the youth can be re-arrested any time even within a period of three months.”
the government on October 09 last had announced release of 12 persons including Omar Fayaz Katoo son of Fiaz Ahmad of Tiploo Mohalla Anchar Soura, Sameer Ahmad Mir son of Wali Mohammad of Mawar Handwara, Sabzar Ahmad Bhat son of Abdul Rashid of Redwani Bala Kulgam, Sarwar Iqbal Rather Son of Mohammad Iqbal of Kralpora Dharambugh Chadoora, Budgam, Mohammad Shafi Kanjal Son of Mohammad Abdullah of Ichhkote, Budgam, Aqib Nazir Bhat Son of Nazir Ahmed Bhat of Tengpora Gandharbal, Mousin Shafi Mir Son of Mohammad Shafi of Naseerabad Chinkipora, Sopore, Baramulla, Samiullah Bakshi Son of Hafizullah of Branwari Kupwara, Hilal Ahmed Malik Son of Ghulam Ahmad of Trehgam, Kupwara, Tariq Ahmed Dar Son of Mohammad Ramzan of Hathishah Sopore ,Baramulla, Firdous Ahmed Shah Son of late Ali Mohammad of Abi Guzar, Srinagar and Mushtaq Ahmed Mir Son of Ghulam Hussan of Chek-e-Cholan Hermain, Shopian. So far, only four persons have been released, sources said.

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CHIDAMBARAM BACKED OMAR ABDULLAH

Wellington Oct 18 (Only Kashmir) : Home Minister P Chidambaram has backed Omar Abdullah saying BJP leader L K Advani had attacked the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister without getting the "real context" of the remarks made by him on the issue of the state's accession to India. "Advani has to read the entire text of speech made by Omar Abdullah in the state assembly. Then he would know the real context in which Abdullah made these remarks," Chidambaram told reporters in response to a question on the demand for Abdullah's resignation made by Advani.

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CHIDAMBARAM BACKED OMAR ABDULLAH

Wellington Oct 18 (Only Kashmir) : Home Minister P Chidambaram has backed Omar Abdullah saying BJP leader L K Advani had attacked the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister without getting the "real context" of the remarks made by him on the issue of the state's accession to India. "Advani has to read the entire text of speech made by Omar Abdullah in the state assembly. Then he would know the real context in which Abdullah made these remarks," Chidambaram told reporters in response to a question on the demand for Abdullah's resignation made by Advani.

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NO PEACE IN ASIA WITHOUT KASHMIR SETTLEMENT: GEELANI

Srinagar, Oct 16 (Only Kashmir): Veteran Kashmiri Hurriyat leader, Syed Ali Geelani, has said that peace will continue to elude South Asia if the Kashmir dispute is not resolved in accordance with the Kashmiris’ aspirations.
Syed Ali Gilani in a statement issued in Srinagar said that the unique sacrifices of the Kashmiri people and their unflinching resistance against Indian illegal occupation had center-staged the dispute over Kashmir on global level. The veteran leader maintained that it was high time for India to give the people of Jammu and Kashmir their inalienable right to self-determination.

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TWO BOYS BOOKED UNDER PSA IN PULWAMA

Srinagar, October 16 (Only Kashmir):Four days after the authorities slapped draconian law, Public Safety Act (PSA) on four youth in Shopian, two more youth were booked under the Act in Pulwama district.
The district administration Pulwama on Friday booked two young boys from the main Pulwama town under the PSA for participating in anti-India demonstrations in the area.
The boys, Basharat Bilal and Mudasir Ahmad Dar, were detained in police station Pulwama since last week and were shifted to Kathua jail on Friday under the PSA.
Confirming slapping of the PSA on the youth, SHO Pulwama, told media men that they were booked under the Act for leading the protests and were shifted to Kathua jail.
The action contradicts the claims of the puppet administration that it is seriously considering the revocation of the PSA slapped on dozens of youth over the past four months in the occupied territory.

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MIRWAIZ CONDEMNS JAMIA MASJID SIEGE

Srinagar, Oct 16 (Only Kashmir): The Chairman of Hurriyat Conference (M) Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has lashed out at the government for not allowing congregation prayers at historic Jamia Masjid in old city for the sixth consecutive Friday.
“It was only during the month of Ramadhan in last four months that people were allowed to offer Friday prayers at Jamia Masjid here. Despite uproar in the state assembly over it, the government continues to debar people from offering Friday prayers there. Putting Jamia Masjid under siege is a deplorable act,” Mirwaiz said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Mirwaiz's close aide Sofi Mushatq speaking to Only Kashmir said "Mirwaiz had to shelve his plan to visit Charar-e-Sharief shrine today to offer Friday prayers and deliver a sermon as he continued to be under house arrest."
Barring Wednesday, October 14, Mirwaiz has been under house arrest continuously since September 12. “The government and other agencies are placing Mirwaiz under house arrest to put curbs on his religious, social and political activities which highly condemnable. They are scared of this overwhelming popularity,” he added.

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INTERLOCUTORS TO SUBMIT REPORT WITHIN A YEAR

Srinagar, Oct 16 (Only Kashmir): The three-member interlocutor panel formed by the government of India to hold “sustained dialogue” with the people of Jammu and Kashmir including separatists is expected to submit its report within a year.
While the terms and references were being framed for the three-member panel, sources in the Union Home Ministry said the group was expected to submit its report within a year.
The Ministry has prepared a set of all agreements and Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir and will hand over it to the three members soon, the sources said.
The agreements include the Instrument of Accession, 1952 Delhi Agreement, 1975-accord and other relevant documents pertaining to the state.
The sources said the terms and references will be framed in consultation with the members of the panel.
No political personality figures in the group, contrary to widespread speculation that a politician with the status of a Union Cabinet Minister would head it.
Senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh and two Union Ministers of state Prithviraj Chavan and Salman Khursheed are believed to have been sounded but they appeared to be disinterested, highly-placed sources said.
The interlocutors will be in Jammu and Kashmir for one week each month, the sources said.

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Friday, October 15, 2010

GEELANI HINTS AT INSTENSIFYING PROTESTS

Srinagar Oct 15 (Only Kashmir): Hurriyat hawk Syed Ali Shah Geelani on Friday hinted at intensifying protests, accusing the Centre of not being keen on normalising situation in the Valley as it had not responded to his five-point formula to resolve the crisis even 45 days after it was offered.
"It seems that New Delhi is not keen on normalising the situation in the valley as there has been no positive response to our five-point formula despite the fact that 45 days have passed," the hardline Hurriyat Conference Chairman said.
Hinting at intensifying the protests, Geelani said he cannot wait forever for the Centre to react to his sugestions.
"We had given the suggestion with sincerity and good intentions but putting the Kashmir issue on the back burner can lead to loss of more precious lives and we do not want to be a party to it," the Hurriyat leader said.
Geelani said October and November months were of historic importance for Jammu and Kashmir as "it was on the black October 27 day that Indian troops landed in Kashmir" in 1947.

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Strike Calendar Oct 17 to Oct 26 2010

Srinagar Oct 15 (Only Kashmir): Hurriyat (G) issues fresh protest calendar
17, Oct Sunday: Deal
18, Oct Monday: Complete Strike (Palhallan Chalo)
19, Oct Tuesday: Complete Strike
20, Oct Wednesday: Deal
21, Oct Thursday: Complete Strike (Lal Chowk Chalo where Geelani will address the gathering)
22, Oct Friday: Complete Strike (Bijbhara Chalo)
23, Oct Saturday: Complete Strike
24, Oct Sunday: Deal
25, Oct Monday: Complete Strike
26, Oct Tuesday: Complete Strike

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NO PRAYERS IN JAMIA AGAIN FOR 5TH CONSECUTIVE FRIDAY

Srinagar, Oct 15 (Only Kashmir): There were no prayers in historical Jamia Masjid and other major mosques in old city Friday in wake of the Curfew, reports and witnesses told. This is for the fifth consecutive Friday that there were no congregational prayers in the central Jamia masjid.

Reports said Jamia Masjid, in the heart of Srinagar’s old city, remained out of bounds for the people due to imposition of curfew despite a normal day called by Hurriyat Conference led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani.
Hundreds of CRPF and policemen, armed with sophisticated weapons, enforced strict restrictions in Nowhatta and adjoining areas including Rajouri Kadal, Gojwara and Bohrikadal, Mahraj Gunj they added.
Meanwhile Mirwaiz is still under house arrest.

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ONE MORE INJURED SUCCUMBS TOLL 112

Srinagar, Oct 15 (Only Kashmir): In occupied Kashmir, one more civilian, who was critically injured after he was thrashed by Indian police personnel in Pampore, succumbed to his injuries in a hospital in Srinagar, today.
The father of four children, Ghulam Nabi Mir, who was severely beaten by men in uniform on October 7 at Kadalabal in Pampore, succumbed to his injuries at Soura Institute of Medical Sciences in Srinagar.
Hundreds of people including APHC leader, Yasmeen Raja, took to the streets in the area to protest the killing. They shouted anti-India and pro-liberation slogans.

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Thursday, October 14, 2010

OMAR CALLS ON N N VOHRA

Srinagar Oct 14 (Only Kashmir): Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday called on the Governor N N Vohra here and briefed him about the measures being taken to restore normalcy in the Valley.
The meeting between the two at Raj Bhavan lasted an hour and issues relating to conduct of elections to panchayats and urban local bodies were also discussed, an official spokesman said.
The state government is planning to hold panchayat polls in the month of December with mainstream political parties activating their cadres and hardline Hurriyat Conference led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani urging the people to boycott the elections.
The spokesman said Omar briefed the Governor about the situation in the state and the measures being taken to restore normalcy in the Valley.
Various other issues pertaining to governance, particularly the implementation of the related state laws for establishing full fledged functioning of statutory bodies responsible for enhancing accountability, promoting efficiency and curbing corruption in the administrative system were also discussed, the spokesman said.
He said the governor reiterated his concern about the prevailing situation affecting educational institutions and called for measures on an urgent basis to restore full functioning of the schools, colleges and universities in the Valley.

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BOTH FICTIONS OF HURRIYAT REJECT APPOINTMENT OF INTERLOCUTORS

Srinagar, Oct 14 (Only Kashmir):Veteran Kashmiri Hurriyat leader, Syed Ali Geelani and the All Parties Hurriyat Conference Chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq have maintained that the Indian government’s announcement of three interlocutors for talks with Kashmiri leaders was meant to mislead the international community.
Syed Ali Geelani in a statement issued in Srinagar urged India to acknowledge Kashmir as a dispute, withdraw its troops from the territory and release all illegally detained Hurriyet leaders and activists. He said that since 1952 there had been talks on the dispute, which could not yield desired results because India had been consistently ignoring the aspirations of Kashmiris.
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq termed the appointment of the interlocutors by India as mere wastage of time. He said that the lingering dispute should be resolved through tripartite talks participated by Pakistan, India and the real Kashmiri leadership. APHC leader, Yasmeen Raja in a statement expressed concern over the continued curfew restrictions imposed by the occupation authorities.

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Wednesday, October 13, 2010

BSF ON RAMPAGE; STORMS GOVT SCHOOL IN SANGRAMA

Srinagar Oct 13 (Only Kashmir): At least twenty schoolchildren and government teachers on Wednesday were injured after being allegedly assaulted by Border Security Force (BSF) personnel in Sangrama area of North Kashmir’s Baramulla district.
Reports and eyewitnesses told that a BSF convoy on way to Baramulla from Srinagar was pelted upon with a few rocks by protesters near Sangrama on the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad highway this afternoon. The BSF convoy, eyewitnesses said halted their convoy and barged into the nearby government middle school (GMS). The deployment of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) provided them the cover from outside.
Eyewitnesses said that the BSF men went on a beating spree after barging into the school. The troops, they said abused, misbehaved and thrashed the teachers, including female staff. The troops did not even spare small schoolchildren, as young as six. At least fifteen students and five teachers were injured in the troopers’ action, eyewitness said.
Some of the injured schoolchildren have been identified as Shagufta Amin, Masrat Bashir, Sehreena Amin, all seventh standard students, Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Ashraf Malik, eighth standard students, Asmat Rashid, sixth standard, Nausheen Akhter and Nilofer Amin, fourth class, Muzammil and Tanveer Nabi, third standard and Kounsar Gulzar, a first primary student.
“The children were attending the classes, when the BSF men stormed the school and thrashed the teachers without any reason or rhyme. They even beat female teachers, including me,” Headmistress, GMS, Sangrama, Kounsar Jabeen told a news agency.
“The ruckus continued for at least fifteen minutes. We urged them not to harm the small children, but they didn’t listen to us,” she added.
Kounsar said that as the BSF men were busy in thrashing her staff members and students, she called up senior civil and police officials, but to no avail. She said 20 students and her staffers were injured in the troopers’ action.
She identified the injured teachers as Javeeda Parveen, Asifa Nabi, Tahir Manzoor and Firdous Ahmad.
“We’ll not resume duty, unless government takes stern action against the guilty troopers,” she added.
After middle school, eyewitnesses said troops barged into the adjacent government high school and roughed up at least a dozen students and a few teachers.
“As the screams in the middle school ceased, BSF troops barged into our school and beat many students. They also thrashed the teachers who objected to their actions,” Ghulam Nabi Dar, a teacher said.
“One of my colleagues, Firdous Ahmad was brutally beaten when he tried to convince the troops. This is the limit of lawlessness,” he added.
When the news of beating of students and teachers spread, hundreds of men, women and children, including the family members of the schoolchildren took to streets and staged pro-freedom and anti-India demonstrations in the area. Chanting “We want Freedom,” Islam Zindabad,” “Go India Go Back,” and anti-India, anti-BSF slogans, the people were protesting against the BSF action. The protesters also blocked the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad highway for nearly an hour to demand action against the guilty troopers.
Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Baramulla, Muneer Ahmad Khan said that the incident took place this afternoon when some youth pelted rocks on the BSF party that was on way to the town.
“The BSF personnel entered the school. Soon, the teachers and BSF entered in altercations, resulting in injury to a youth. He is being treated upon,” Khan said.
“We’re probing the allegations leveled against the BSF,” he added.

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GEELANI CALLS FOR BOYCOTT OF PANCHAYAT POLLS

Srinagar Oct 13 (Only Kashmir): Stating that India has been using elections in Jammu and Kashmir as a justification for its military “occupation” on international level, Chairman Hurriyat Conference (G), Syed Ali Shah Geelani Wednesday appealed for a complete boycott of the upcoming Panchayati elections.
“Although these elections being held on gun point have no bearing on our passion for freedom or the ground reality, yet at diplomatic level, India uses the elections to raise questions over our freedom struggle. Therefore, people must uphold the sacrifices of martyrs and keep aloof from all kinds of elections,” Geelani said in a statement issued here to Press Bureau of India.
Geelani also condemned the Indian representative Charan Das’ statement in the ongoing session of United Nations General Assembly regarding Kashmiris expressing their opinion through free and fair elections in Kashmir as “unrealistic”.
“Resolution 91 passed in the United Nation’s Security Council session of 1951 and Resolution 122 passed in 1957 have made it clear that the state legislative assembly has no right to decide the future of the state and assembly elections cannot be a replacement for the UN supervised plebiscite. India has no moral and legal justification to hoodwink the international community by linking assembly elections to plebiscite,” he said.
Geelani also questioned the temporary membership of India at the UNSC, terming it as an “unjust” step. “ The world community should have taken into consideration that because India is in forceful occupation of Kashmir and its armed forces are guilty of war crimes in the state , it doesn’t deserve a temporary seat in the UNSC,” he said.
The Hurriyat leader also slammed the state government for the “humanitarian crisis” developing in Palhalan in wake of a stringent curfew.

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LASHKAR-I-TOIBA ARE FREEDOM FIGHTERS: MUSHARRAF

London: Pakistani militant groups likes Laskar-e-Taiba are freedom fighters waging a campaign for the rights of the people of Kashmir, Pervez Musharraf said.Musharraf, the former Pakistani president, said in a weekend interview with New Delhi broadcaster NDTV that he felt LeT and its counterparts were fighting for a noble cause in parts of Kashmir.”From our point of view anyone who is fighting in Kashmir, your part of Kashmir, is a mujahed who’s fighting for the freedom, for the rights of the people of Kashmir,” he said.
LeT was linked to the deadly raids on Mumbai in November 2008 where more than 100 civilians were killed in a three-day siege.Musharraf brushed off the connection to Mumbai, instead blaming India for targeting civilians in the conflict over Kashmir.”Isn’t the Indian army also a terrorist then?” he asked. “I think we are going to enter into a discussion where you won’t prove anything, I also won’t prove anything.”
Indian and Pakistan have fought two wars over the disputed region of Kashmir. Protesters have stormed government troops for three consecutive summers calling for Kashmiri independence from India or a merger with Pakistan.Musharraf said, however, that he felt disputes over Kashmir were political.”We were very close to finalizing the Kashmir issue,” he said.

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FIVE PROTESTERS INJURED IN BANDIPORA

Srinagar, Oct 13 (Only Kashmir): At least five persons were injured when police and paramilitary CRPF troopers used force to quell protesters in Bandipore district. The protests broke out at Nusoo, Saderkoot Bala, Takia and Ajas when paramilitary CRPF troopers beat up two youth and tried to arrest them from Saderkoot bala in the district without any provocation.
Paramilitary CRPF troopers injured five persons including Rameeza Raja, Rafiqa Begum, Showket Ali, Imtiyaz Ahmed and Mudasir when the protesters resisted CRPF’s attempt and did not allow the force personnel to arrest the youth, witnesses told media men.
Anti-India protests were also held at Galwanpora, Hyderpora, Mochou, Chattabal, Qamarwari and Lal Bazaar areas. Paramilitary CRPF men beat up civilians without any provocation at Jawahar Nagar, Nawpora, Rainawari and other areas in Srinagar. “When the paramilitary personnel were leaving the places in the evening, they beat several persons mostly youth without any provocation,” the residents said.
Meanwhile, troops arrested four persons including Mohammad Farooq Didad, Nasir Ahmad Poswal, Mohammad Iqbal Magray and Qasim Jan from Tangmarg in Kulgam district of South Kashmir.

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CURFEW LIFTED FROM ALMOST ENTIRE KASHMIR VALLEY BUT STRIKE CONTINUES

Srinagar Oct 13 (Only Kashmir): Barring Sopore town, curfew was lifted from the entire Kashmir Valley on Wednesday but normal life was disrupted due to a strike called by hardline faction of Hurriyat Conference.
"Curfew has been lifted from entire Kashmir Valley this morning except some places in Sopore town," a police spokesman said here.
He said curfew remained in force in Shalipora, Ashpeer, Iqbal Colony, Chankhan and Neharpora areas of the apple town, 52 kms from here.
Curfew was imposed late on Monday night to thwart a planned march by separatists to the Hyderpora residence of hardline Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani on Tuesday.
Normal life was today hit due to a strike called by the hardline faction of Hurriyat as part of its protest calendar.
Shops, banks, private offices and business establishments were closed while public transport was off the roads, official sources said.
However, private vehicles were seen plying on the roads in large numbers and educational institutions were open in view of the annual examinations.
Security force personnel have been deployed at sensitive spots in the city following reports that some elements were planning to disrupt peace in these areas.

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Tuesday, October 12, 2010

INDIA ELECTED TO UNSC AS NON-PERMANENT MEMBER

United Nations, Oct 12: After a gap of 19 years, India was today elected as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, a position which would help it push more aggressively for the reform of the world body's top organ.
India secured an emphatic win, with 187 of the 191 member states in the General Assembly backing its candidature and one member state abstaining from the vote.
India, which is a founding member of the UN, has been on the Council six times earlier, but not since 1992.
In 1996, India lost to Japan by a huge margin of 100 votes. This time, however, it is taking over the Asia seat from Japan, being the sole candidate from the region in the race as Kazakhstan pulled out earlier this year.
In the run-up to the vote, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna, who was in New York for 10 days last month, met leaders of a record 56 countries on the margins of the UN General Assembly's annual session.
"We have worked hard... we have pushed for every single vote," India's envoy to the UN, Hardeep Singh Puri, said.
In February, India's candidature was endorsed by the Asian Group but it still had to get support of 128 countries, two-thirds of the 192 members of the UN General Assembly.
Other "clean slate" candidates included South Africa that got the Africa seat replacing Uganda with the vote of 182 members in its favour, and Colombia, which secured the seat for the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States, replacing Mexico.
The elected members take their spots on January 1, 2011 and will serve for two years.
South Africa has returned to the Council after a break of two years when it had served its first term from 2007-2008. Colombia, like India, has previously served six terms.
The five new countries will be replacing Austria, Japan, Mexico, Turkey and Uganda. The two seats for Western Europe and Others Group were fought for by Canada, Germany and Portugal.
India, which is among the three largest troop contributing countries to the UN, has already highlighted the significance of all the BRIC nations (Brazil, Russia, India and China) being on the Council together, which could present a united front on several contentious international issues.
It has also underlined that the IBSA (India, Brazil and South Africa) will also be on the Council together.
New Delhi, which is seeking expansion in both the permanent and non-permanent categories of the UN Security Council as part of its reform, is hoping that change comes in the next two years while it is already in the Council.

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196 INDIAN TROOPS COMMIT SUICIDE SINCE JAN 2007

Srinagar, Oct 12 (Only Kashmir): A trooper of Indian paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) committed suicide in Pulwama.
An inspector of CRPF’s 183 Battalion, Ramjeet Ram, fired upon himself with his service rifle at Camp Hall in Pulwama and died on the spot. This raised the number of such deaths amongst Indian troops and police personnel to 196 since January 2007.

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KASHMIR SPENT RS 900,000,00 ON MINISTERS

Srinagar Oct 12 (Only Kashmir): In the past three years, the National Confernce-Congress coliation government in Jammu and Kashmir has spent more than Rs nine crore on renovation and face-lift of 42 official residences of ministers, legislators and bureaucrats, in brazen violation of its own rules.
Some Rs 3.4 crore have been spent on renovation of 18 official residences in Jammu and about Rs 5.88 crore on 24 houses in Srinagar, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah informed the Assembly on Saturday.
Renovation of the two official residences of Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather in Jammu and Srinagar has cost the most — a little over Rs one crore.
This is in violation the government’s November 11, 2009 order that states that a maximum of Rs 18 lakh can be spent to renovate a Cabinet minister’s bungalow over a period of six years.
Rs 15 lakh can be spent on the bungalows of junior ministers and Rs 10 lakh and Rs five lakh respectively on the houses of commissioner secretaries and secretaries to the state government.
In the past three years, the government has also spent Rs 59.51 lakh to renovate the Srinagar bungalow of Medical Education Minister R S Chib and Rs 40.88 lakh, including Rs 17.20 lakh in the current financial year, on Minister of State for Haj and Auqauf Minister Ajaz Khan’s bungalow.
The state government has also spent Rs 18.20 lakh to give a face-lift to the J&K Bank guest house at Zeethyar in Srinagar.
The guest house was used by former Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad as his official residence.

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Monday, October 11, 2010

GEELANI ASKES DEOBAND NOT TO SHY FROM REALITY

Srinagar Oct 12 (Only Kashmir): Rejecting the stand taken by Darul-Uloom-Deoband regarding Kashmir being an integral part of India, Chairman Hurriyat Conference (G), Syed Ali Shah Geelani Monday asked the Islamic body not to shy away from the “historical” fact that India forcefully occupied an independent Jammu and Kashmir in 1947.“While the Ulema (clerics) spoke about the excesses committed by India forces, they ignored the root cause of the problem, raising serious questions over the conference itself. The Ulema should have taken into consideration the pledges made by Indian leadership to allow Kashmiri people to decide their future, a right duly endorsed before by the international community,”
Geelani said in a statement issued here.The Hurriyat leader while commenting on Congress’ defence of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s recent accession remarks in the assembly said it had proved speculations about “Abdullah’s speech having been written by New Delhi.“ The speech was made with New Delhi’s blessings to fool Kashmir people. The National Conference has a history of such political gimmicks. When Sheikh Abdullah buried the Plebiscite Front by the accord with Indira Gandhi in 1975, the party projected it as a change in strategy. Now again when New Delhi is losing its grip over Kashmir,Omar Abdullah is enacting his part in New Delhi’s drama,” he said.
However, the Hurriyat leader said Kashmiri people cannot be “fooled” anymore like 1975.He also rejected the demand of more universities in Assembly as useless unless Kashmir remains under Indian occupation. “People particularly those clerics who are welcoming the establishment of this university should first think that the so called rulers are doingeverything in contradiction to the teachings of the great personality in whose name the University is going to be build,” he said.

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