BJP submits no-confidence notice against NC-Cong govt

Day 1 : Advantage opposition

SYED ALI SAFVI

SRINAGAR, Sep 29: A day ahead of the commencement of J&K Assembly session, problems mounted for National Conference-Congress coalition government, already finding itself on a sticky wicket, as opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today submitted a no-confidence notice against the coalition government, accusing it of being a “complete failure”. Moreover, it would be for the first time after 1996 that assembly session would be held against the backdrop of intensified civil and political unrest.

The no-confidence notice was sent to speaker J&K legislative assembly, Mohammad Akbar Lone, by former union minister and BJP’s leader in the state assembly, Chaman Lal Gupta. Confirming receipt of the notice, the Speaker said that he had referred it to his secretariat for examination.

“The decision will be taken in two to three days,” he said.

Claiming that they enjoy the support of some legislators of National Conference (NC), Congress and state’s principal opposition, People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Gupta said the government had already proven a failure, besides being “absent and invisible” for the last four months of unrest in the valley.

“Taking into consideration all these things, we decided to give a no-confidence motion against the government," he said.

Significantly, in the 87-member House, BJP, with only 11 members, needs support from other opposition parties like PDP and National Panthers' Party (NPP) for introduction of the motion.

Gupta said the chief minister, Omar Abdullah, had lost the confidence of people and added that he (Omar) should have “resigned on his own”.

"This government has not only failed to handle the situation in the valley, but has also made life miserable for people,” he said.

Pertinently, the state unit of BJP had also earlier this month demanded resignation of chief minister, Omar Abdullah.

Gupta said the aim of the motion was to discuss the deteriorating law and order situation in the valley.

"There is a Jammu Bandh tomorrow, natural calamity has struck in Ladakh region while the Valley has been disturbed for four months now and this government is still talking about holding (Panchayat) elections. How can elections be held when all three regions of the state are in turmoil?" he asked.

The problems for the coalition government have multiplied. The Babri Masjid verdict coupled with Jammu Bandh tomorrow would only make the matters worse for the government. Moreover, opposition PDP and NPP had made their intentions clear yesterday after they skipped all-party meet, convened by the Speaker. The Omar Abdullah-led dispensation would be already feeling the heat.

Furthermore, it would be a very momentous and hectic day for police administration to ensure the day passes off peacefully. It is to be seen whether government would impose curfew tomorrow to ensure safe passage for state legislators, including ministerial colleagues of the CM.

It is for the first time since 1996 that assembly session would be held amidst high tension and unrest. Understandably, opposition parties would leave no stone unturned to castigate the coalition government.

The stormy session is likely to witness noisy scenes over civilian killings in police and CRPF firing, issue of revocation of AFSPA, release of political detenues, et al.

Kashmir valley has been reeling under unprecedented spell of unrest since June 11, leaving 108 civilians dead so far and over hundred maimed for life.

The first day of the assembly session has been reserved for obituary references, to be moved by the Speaker to pay homage to former vice-president of India, Bhairo Singh Shekhawat, former legislators, GM Bhaderwahi, Shahjahan Dar, Kumari Shanta Bharti and KC Sharma.

The private members’ resolutions, which would be taken up in the House on October 4, 2010 would be moved by Abdul Majid Wani, regarding uniform policy for promotion of all state employees based upon their performance and target achievements; Javaid Mustafa Mir: release of political prisoners and youths detained by police during the recent unrest; Muzaffar Hussain Baig: transfer of all power projects run by NHPC in the state be transferred to the state; Jugal Kishore: effective steps be taken for securing recognition of Govt Indira Gandhi Dental College Jammu; Mir Saifullah: Kupwara district be given the status of Hill Development Council on pattern of Leh and Kargil; Prof Chaman Lal Gupta: extend 73rd and 74th amendments of the constitution of India to the state of J&K for empowerment of Panchayats and Municipalities; Mohammad Sharief Niyaz: state power generation be taken up on war footing basis in order to give boost to the state economy.

Meanwhile, Congress Party Legislators (CPL) meet was held here today under the chairmanship of CLP leader, Choudhary Mohammad Aslam. The meeting chalked out the strategy for smooth conduct of the legislative session.

The members unanimously resolved that the business of both the Houses should be taken seriously and all issues of public interest debated to facilitate public.

The Congress legislators also hailed the eight-point formula announced by New Delhi for bringing peace and normalcy in the state.

“The package is very comprehensive keeping the interests of all the regions into consideration. Its implementation will mark a good beginning towards resolution of state-centric problems for lasting peace and tranquility,” the meeting resolved.

Deputy Chief Minister, Tara Chand, Minister for School Education, Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed, Minister for PHE, Taj Mohi-ud-Din, Minister for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation, Raman Bhalla, Minister for Health, Sham Lal Sharma, Minister for Medical Education, RS Chib, Minister of State for Cooperative and Finance, Dr. Manohar Lal, Minister of State for Power and CA&PD, Shabir Ahmad Khan also attended the meeting.

Don't send your wards to schools: Geelani tells parents

SYED ALI SAFVI

SRINAGAR, Sep 26: Hours after state government formally announced opening of all educational institutions and made a fervent appeal to parents to send their wards to schools from tomorrow, chairman Hurriyat Conference (G), Syed Ali Geelani, termed it an attempt to “sabotage the ongoing Movement”.

The octogenarian separatist leader appealed to the parents not to send their children to school tomorrow. He also asked teaching community to remain indoors in order to send a message to New Delhi that “we are not going to fall into their (New Delhi) trap”.

Geelani said that out of 109 civilians, who fell to bullets in the last four months of unrest in the valley, most of them were students pursuing their studies at various schools and colleges.

He said, if allowed, New Delhi would not shy away from “digging the graves of entire Kashmir youth”.

“They (New Delhi) are not at all concerned about the future of our school going children,” he said. “They have raked up this issue only to weaken our struggle and put brakes on the Movement.”

“Thousands of Kashmiri youth, who are languishing behind bars, had also wanted to study, but their careers were spoiled for ever,” he said.

Urging the people to strictly observe civil curfew tomorrow, he said that the “Quit Jammu Kashmir campaign” was giving sleepless nights to the New Delhi’s corridors of power.

The Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman said that the Kashmiri nation had always given preference to freedom above all other things.

“I am sure the people will continue to lend their full support to the movement,” he said.

Geelani expressed his gratitude to employees, transporters, traders, labourers for extending their full cooperation in effective implementation of the conglomerate’s protest programme, “despite all odds”.

“Even the losses they suffered have not dented their hopes and aspirations,” he said.

Lashing out at the state government for imposing severe curfew in the valley, Geelani said the Hurriyat Conference (G) was concerned about the hardships faced by the people.

“While preparing the shutdown calendar we keep a day or too off for people to purchase essential commodities,” he said. “The strict enforcement of curfew speaks volumes about the state terrorism. It’s a deliberate attempt on part of the government to further compound the miseries of the people.”

Giving details about the conglomerate’s protest calendar, Geelani said that Hurriyat Conference (G) had issued 75 shutdown calls since it gave the call for “Quit Jammu Kashmir campaign” on June 24, 2010.

“As many as 76 days were lost due to curfew and restrictions enforced by the government in the last 105 days,” he said.

Earlier, addressing a press conference here today, minister for school education, Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed, said that the government had made elaborate arrangements for teachers, students and non-teaching staff for making all the educational institutions functional from tomorrow. He said the academic year exams would be held from September 30, 2010 as per the schedule and calendar issued by the department of Education and J&K Board of School Education (BOSE).

Flanked by commissioner secretary education, Naseema Lankar, the minister said majority of the people and parents of students were of the opinion that students’ academic career of students should not be wasted.

Regarding the availability of transport for the convenience of teachers and students, Peerzada said that additional buses were pressed into service on various routes in the summer capital for which the Divisional Commissioner had already issued road map.

He said that all buses of private and government run schools would also run wherever the schools are located.

Peerzada said that some affluent families had sent their wards outside the state.

He also welcomed central government’s announcement for giving Rs 100 crore education package for revival of education sector in the state.

“It will help further strengthen education scenario in the state particularly in the valley,” he said.

The minister reiterated that 90 percent schools remained functional in rural areas during the last four months of unrest.

“To bring the students of city and towns at par with rural areas, the maximum choices will be given in question papers and the schedule limit of the three hours time of examination will be enhanced to accommodate such students who are affected,” he said. “If any particular student is not able to attend the examination, his re-examination application will be considered positively on merits basis.”

Regarding the examination schedule, the minister said that the 3rd and 5th primary examinations would be conducted on cluster and zonal bases, while 8th class examinations was scheduled to be held from October 20, 2010 for one lakh students of the valley.

He said BOSE had also issued examination calendar for 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th classes. Examination for 9th class is scheduled to be held from October 14th to November 6th, 2010, while as 10th (regular class) examination would be held from October 25th to November 15. Examination for 11th (regular) would be held from November 1 to November 29, while as 12th class (regular) examination would be held from October 2 to December 5, he said.

He said 10th class private exams would be held from October 27 to December 14 while as examination for 12th private would be held from September 13 to October 31.

He said the BOSE has set up 520 examination centers for 88, 895 secondary class regular candidates, while as 435 examination centres have been set up for 47,000 candidates of 12th class.

The Board has also finalized the arrangements for conducting examination of private students of 10th and 12th classes for which 700 centres and 280 centres have been set up respectively for the convenience of the students in which one lakh children are appearing in 10th class while 55,000 are appearing in 12th class examination, he added.

Regarding practical exams, the minister said that the 10th class practical exams would start from October 14 and 12th class practical exams from October 18, 2010 in their respective schools.

Pertinently, incessant protests and shutdowns coupled with curfews and restrictions in the valley for the last 109 days had forced many parents to send their wards out of the state for continuing their studies.

Over 200 students of Delhi Public School (DPS) Srinagar had flown to New Delhi in two flights on August 29.

Kashmir has been reeling under unprecedented spell of unrest for the last 109 days, leaving 108 civilian dead and over a hundred maimed for life.

The ongoing agitation has hit the education sector, particularly government institutes, hard. Some well-known private schools had opted for e-teaching to make up the loss; however, students of government schools are most affected.

In the wake of prolonged strikes and curfews, valley-based schools had taken various initiatives to prepare students for approaching examinations. DPS had uploaded lessons and assignments on its website, while Tyndale Biscoe School had asked parents to collect home assignments for their wards from the school.

Pertinently, the minister for school education has been ad nauseam claiming that most of the schools in villages of Kashmir were functional.

However, going by the ground assessment the minister’s claim seems just another attempt to undermine the gravity of the situation. The minister’s audacious claim was ironically belied by the officials of his own department, who termed the statement as “blatant lie”.

To make up for the academic loss, most of the educated youth of the valley, including some government teachers, have started special teaching academies in their respective villages and towns to help students to complete their syllabus and prepare them for upcoming examinations.

The shutdowns and curfews had forced the closure of schools in early 1990s during the heydays of militancy.

Kashmiris at receiving end in Delhi ahead of CWG

SYED ALI SAFVI

SRINAGAR, Sep 22: As 19th Commonwealth Games 2010 approach and more skeletons tumble out of the closet, Kashmiri youth working in Delhi are finding themselves on a sticky wicket (though cricket is not part of the games!).

Over 150 Kashmiris working in different companies in Gurgaon had to bid farewell to the national capital for “security reasons”.

“As Kashmiris, we are being treated as potential threats,” Mudassir (name changed), who is working for a BPO company at Gurgaon, told Kasmir Times over phone.

Security has been beefed up ahead of commonwealth games in Delhi and adjoining cities.

“They (police) don’t entertain our company ID cards. They ask for election card or passport,” he said. “When our company recruited us we submitted the documents detailing identification requirements and we were given employees card which we have been carrying with us ever since.”

Mudassir said that most of the employees were afraid to move out because policemen would often ask for their identification proofs.

“Those who don’t have ID proofs are sent back to their native places,” he said. “So far 20000 employees working in different private companies have been sent back to their respective states. The best part of it is that their traveling expenses are borne by the state.”

Another Kashmiri, Rafeeq (name changed), who is working as a software engineer in the city, said that the landlords have been directed by the police authorities to get a proper identification proof from their tenets.

“The landlord is supposed to make three copies of the identification proof and deposited one copy at local police station, keep one for his personal information and give one copy to the tenant,” he said, adding that police only entertains election card or passport as “authentic identification proofs”.

There have also been reports that in the wake of commonwealth games, Kashmiris were finding it difficult to get accommodation in hotels across Delhi.

“When we tell them we are Kashmiris, the only reply they give us is that ‘sorry, hotel is full booked’,” said Mujtaba, who often visits Delhi on business trips.

Pertinently, there have been numerous instances when Kashmiris, living, working or studying outside their state, were harassed in other states of India by police, more often than not without any justification.

Last year, under-22 cricketer, Parvez Rasool, was arrested by Bangalore police for carrying “suspicious material”. Rasool was given a clean chit by the Forensic Science Laboratory, which said his luggage did not contain any residual of explosive substances.

In 2008, two Valleyites, Irshad Ali and Mohammad Moarif Qamar were branded as members of a banned militant outfit, Al-Badr, before CBI came to their rescue and unearthed the truth.
A valley-based cartoonist, Malik Sajad, who is working with local English daily, was detained by the Delhi police two years back for being a “Kashmiri”.

Toll 70: Army ‘kills’ civilian, injured dies

SYED ALI SAFVI

SRINAGAR, Sep 9: As the debate over revocation of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) gathers steam, troops of 44-RR (Rashtriya Rifles) allegedly killed a civilian on the intervening night of September 8-9 in the forest area of Bandipora, about 55 kilometers north of Srinagar, mistaken him for a militant. Police have registered a murder case and started investigation following massive protest demonstrations in the area.

Meanwhile, 55-year-old Ghulam Mohammad Guroo, who had sustained critical injuries during clashes between protestors and police and CRPF paramilitary men at Tengpora Bypass here, succumbed to his injuries at SKIMS today, taking the death toll from three months of unrest in the valley to 70.

According to reports, 34-year-old, Manzoor Ahmad Piswal son of Ghulam Nabi Piswal of Aparkudara Gujjar Basti had gone into the upper reaches of forests, Behak, with other nomads to graze their livestock.

Leaving his livestock and other companions back at Behak, Manzoor left for his home in the dead of night after he received information that his lone son had taken ill at home.

According to locals, while Manzoor was returning home, troopers of 44 RR, who had laid an ambush in the area, mistook him for a militant and opened fire on him, injuring Manzoor critically. After there was no retaliatory fire, troopers waited for a while before walking towards the body of the slain man, who was lying in a pool of blood.

After realizing that he was a civilian, troopers immediately rushed him to a military camp nearby for treatment, however, his condition deteriorated and he was shifted to Bandipora sub-district hospital where he succumbed to his injuries at 0800 hours this morning.

According to hospital sources, Manzoor’s body had four bullet injuries and he had died due to massive blood loss.

A pall of gloom descended on the Aparkudar Gujjar Basti after the news about Manzoor’s death broke out in the area. Hundreds of residents comprising men, women, and children raised slogans against the Army. The protestors, carrying body of Manzoor, marched throughout the area, while shouting slogans against the incident.

As the protests intensified, senior officials of police, Army, civil administration reached the spot to pacify the protestors. They assured the irate protestors that the incident would be probed and action would be taken against the erring troops.

After receiving assurances from the administration, protestors dispersed peacefully. Meanwhile, police registered a case and started investigation into the incident.

According to reports, Army had initially labeled Manzoor as militant, but later on changed its statement and accepted its responsibility following huge public outcry. Local village head, Meraj-ud-Din, said that police had already registered a case against the killing and had ensured justice to the bereaved family.

Meanwhile, Army spokesman in Srinagar said that troopers had laid an ambush in the forest area of Aparkudar after they received information about the presence of some militants in the area.

“Army noticed some suspicious moment on Wednesday night at around 0230 hours. The man (Manzoor) was challenged by the troops, but he started running away, prompting the soldiers to open fire which resulted in injuries to the man,” the spokesman said. “After ascertaining that the injured person was not armed, the troops gave him first aid and tried to send him to a hospital, but he succumbed to injuries."

There were reports that a large contingent of militants had crossed over to this side along the line of control (LoC) in the district, he added.

A 55-year-old person, Ghulam Mohammad Guroo, who had sustained critical injuries in police and CRPF firing at Tengpora Bypass yesterday, succumbed to his injuries at SKIMS Soura here. After the word of his death spread in the SKIMS, men and women in large numbers came out and raised slogans against Army and administration. They also shouted pro-freedom and pro-Islam slogans. The body of Guroo was taken in a procession to his native place at Maloora Sumbal.

The locals alleged that police had fired teargas shell towards Guroo when he, along with his two brothers, was on his way to Maloora Sumbal in a private vehicle. They said if the claim of police was correct that Guroo had sustained injuries in stone pelting then how come there was a big hole in his head.

In a statement issued to the press, police spokesman said that Guroo had received head injury by a brick or stone while traveling from Letpora to Maloora Sumbal. “The vehicle they were travelling was stoned and stopped by stone-throwers at Tengpora,” the spokesman said. “The victim had received head injuries and shifted to SKIMS, Soura. He breathed his last Thursday afternoon.”

PDP refuses to apologise, ready to face CM in court

7-day deadline expires

SYED ALI SAFVI

SRINAGAR, Sep 4: A week after chief minister, Omar Abdullah, served defamation notice on People’s Democratic Party (PDP) legislator and spokesman, and sought their public apology within seven days, state’s principal opposition, PDP, today refused to apologise and asserted that the party was ready to face court case.

“We will fight the case whenever it comes to the court,” PDP spokesman, Naeem Akhtar told Kashmir Times.

Confirming the receipt of legal notice, he said that his party’s position was clear and they were ready to defend the charges leveled against the chief minister.

“We received a notice some days back asking us to apologise within seven days and withdrew all the allegations or face,” he said.

He said that by taking the matter to court, the government had provided an opportunity to his party to expose the government’s functioning.

“We are gathering further details and evidences against the misappropriation of funds by the present dispensation, which will be produced before the court of law to expose the government,” Naeem Akhter was quoted by a local agency as saying.

“We believe that assets of both father-son duo of Farooq and Omar Abdullah in Gulmarg, Srinagar and Delhi should be scrutinized,” he said, adding that the leaders of his party were ready to face similar scrutiny.

Pertinently, PDP legislator, Nizam-ud-Din Bhat, and Naem Akhtar had, during a press conference on August 26, accused the chief minister of receiving Rs 500 crore as kickbacks in the allotment of the Rattle Power Project.

The PDP legislator had also alleged that Rs 20 crore had been spent so far on a residence being constructed for the chief minister at the Gupkar road.

Taking strong note of the allegations being hurled at Omar, senior National Conference (NC) leader and finance minister, Abdul Rahim Rather, while addressing a hurriedly-convened press conference at Dak Bunglow here, termed the allegations as “baseless”.

He negated the allegation that an amount of Rs 20 crore had been spent on the residence of the chief minister.

“So far only Rs 1.50 crore has been spent out of the estimated amount of Rs two crore,” he had said.

Two days after the press conference, the chief minister sent a legal notice for defamation to Bhat and Naeem. The notice was sent through Omar’s lawyer, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, a senior advocate and former additional solicitor general of India.

Terming the charges “baseless, fabricated, concocted, frivolous, false and defamatory”, the defamation notice called upon Bhat and Naeem to publicly apologise and withdraw the allegations made against the chief minister within seven days.

Leave me if I budge from my stand: Geelani

SYED ALI SAFVI

SRINAGAR, Aug 3: Ruling out division of Jammu and Kashmir state, chairman Hurriyat Conference (G), Syed Ali Geelani, today called for social boycott of all pro-India leaders.

Urging the denizens of the state to distance themselves from unwarranted adulation of their leaders, Geelani said that it was this approach which had ruined the state in the past.

“I appeal to people of Kashmir that if Geelani budges from his stand, you are free to leave him,” he said. “The present struggle has passed on to the youth and it should be carried to its logical end,” Geelani said while addressing a gathering at Pather Masjid here.

Earlier, Geelani appeared outside the Pather Masjid this afternoon in an auto rickshaw. Upon seeing him, hundreds of youth present there shouted pro-Islam and pro-freedom slogans, and escorted the octogenarian leader into the mosque.

Addressing the congregation, Geelani said that the result of two and half month long agitation have started to appear.

“International community has started building pressure on India regarding the resolution of Kashmir dispute, and put an end to this bloodshed” he said.

He said that the ongoing agitation had compelled members of Indian civil society to come forward and express solidarity with Kashmiris.

“They (civil society members) are blaming their own government for spilling blood of Kashmiri civilians on roads,” he said. “So this is our victory.”

Stating that pro-India leaders were strengthening the hands of those forces which were engaged in spilling the blood of Kashmiri youths in the valley, he asked them to stop toeing the line of their masters, and join the present agitation.

“If they (pro-India leaders) care about the people of the state then they must join the agitation at this crucial juncture,” he said.

He said that Hurriyat Conference (G) had already given its 5-point proposal to New Delhi.

“If they (New Delhi) want to regain trust of Kashmiris then they must accept our proposals,” he said.

He said that the present struggle of Kashmiri people have shaken up New Delhi.

Geelani asked the people to refrain from shouting inflammatory slogans and ransacking of public property.

“We should carry forward this struggle in a peaceful manner,” he said. “There is no role of Hizb (Hizb-ul Mujahideen), Lashkar (Lakhkar-e Toiba), or Jaish (Jaish-e Mohammad) in the ongoing agitation, but still poisonous weapons are being used against the peaceful protestors.”

The veteran separatist leader draw parallels between Kashmir imbroglio and Palestinian problem.

“Today we are observing ‘Youm-e Quds’ to show solidarity with oppressed Palestinians,” he said. “Palestine and Kashmir face similar problems with colonial powers strangulating voices of the subjugated people.”

He said that India would not succeed in suppressing the “Azadi sentiments” among Kashmiris.

“The onus is on the youth to show discipline while carrying forward the ongoing struggle,” he said. “Youths must defeat New Delhi’s plan to defame the moment.”

Geelani also dared union minister and NC president, Farooq Abdullah, to come to Lal Chowk and dare to speak in the same language in which he had spoken in Lok Sabha during a debate on the unrest in Kashmir on August 26.

He appealed to the people to strictly follow the conglomerate’s protest calendar.

Later, Geelani was taken in a motorbike procession to his Hyderpora residence.

Ansari vs NC now on Ikhwani issue

SYED ALI SAFVI

SRINAGAR, Sep 1: A day after senior People’s Democratic Party (PDP) leader, Moulvi Iftikhar Ansari, accused state government of pressing into service Ikhwanis (government-backed gunmen) to create fissures among the Muslim community, ruling National Conference (NC) today took a potshot at Ansari, describing him as “political chameleon”.

Ansari’s statement has sparked a political controversy with former renegade, Padma Shree Ghulam Mohammad Mir alias Momma Kana, refuting the allegation leveled against him and terming them as offshoot of the rivalry between NC and PDP.

“If I have committing wrongdoings in the past, I apologize to the entire community for that,” Momma Kana told media persons at his Magam residence today.

Moulvi Ansari had yesterday, in a statement, alleged that Momma Kana and another notorious and dreaded Ikhwani, Qasim Khaar, were, with the tacit support of NC, shaping a group in the name of Shia community to create Shia Sunni wedge.

“This group will certainly not succeed in sowing the seeds of discord between Shia and Sunni Muslims of the state,” he had said. “The government may try to do something more desperate to defame the people of Kashmir as they have been trying to do recently by raking up Sikh security issue or calling an entire community as stone pelters. The crimes of the present dispensation have now assumed very serious dimensions and the unholy effort to create fissures among the Muslim community are the most reprehensible.”

Addressing media persons, Momma Kana said that he was an ordinary person and not an Ikhwani.

“I used to be a Congress supporter, but now I vote for National Conference (NC),” he said.

He said he was a member of state Congress unit when PDP patron, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, was its president and Ansari was also its member.

“During PDP’s reign, after he failed to get a suitable candidate for local bodies’ elections, Mufti gave mandate to my daughter,” he said.

He said he was now living life of an ordinary citizen therefore labeling him as Ikhwani was unjustified.

“I don’t know whether Iftikhar sahib has given this statement of his own or on the advice of anyone else,” he said.

He said the need of the hour was to stop every kind of violence in the valley.

“Killings will not achieve anything,” he said.

“I request the Indian government to allow Kashmiris to visit Pakistan so that they can decide for themselves what will be better for them,” he said.

Meanwhile, taking a dig at Ansari, spokesman of NC today termed his statement as “his frustration and figment of imagination”.

Denying allegations about government’s hand in reviving the Ikhwani culture, the spokesman of NC alleged that Ansari had himself sought help of Ikhwanis in last assembly elections to ensure his victory.

He said that it was an open fact known to people of Sonawari assembly constituency that Ansari’s younger brother, Abid Ansari, had engaged Qasim Khaar, who played a “prominent role” during Abid’s electioneering campaign in the assembly segment.

“The people of the state are witness to the fact that National Conference has always promoted unity between Shias and Sunnis under the pioneering leadership of late Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah,” he said, adding the party has been playing historic role in promoting harmony and co-existence among different religions, castes and sections.

Stating that PDP president, Mehbooba Mufti, had introduced daughter of Muma Kana as the party’s candidate for local bodies’ elections, the spokesman said that Ansari was actually trying to conceal his “record breaking irregularities of the past and ill-gotten massive wealth”.

“The leader has lost his credibility,” he said.

The spokesman added the government would shortly reveal the irregularities committed by Ansari.

“Ansari has broken all records of defection. His past statements are still reverberating in political circles. Ansari is on record having said during Parliament election of 2004 at Khurhima Batmaloo and other election rallies that a dozen of PDP candidates have won due to rigging in 2002 as well as with the help of four army commanders,” he said. “Ansari even accused Mufti Mohammad Sayeed of making a sell out of Kashmir.”

The spokesman also expressed surprise over the statement of Mehbooba, stating the onus of turning the state into a garrison and bringing the draconian AFSPA to the state was on former chief minister and PDP patron, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.

“He (Mufti) was responsible for dislodging elected government in 1990 and bringing Jagmohan as governor of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said. “The hardliner Jagmohan was responsible for bloodshed and creating mayhem in the state.”

_______________________

I will expose NC: Ansari

KT NEWS SERVICE

SRINAGAR, Sep 1: Senior PDP leader, Moulvi Iftikhar Ansari, today dared National Conference (NC) to reveal the financial irregularities allegedly committed by him.

“If they (NC) think I have committed irregularities let them come out with evidences,” he told Kashmir Times. “Even I am ready to make public all the financial wrong-doings of NC since 1947.”

He said that his revelation would leave the entire state stunned and would expose the real face of NC and its leaders.

Referring to the allegation of NC that Ansari’s younger brother, Abid Ansari, had engaged dreaded Ikhwani, Qasim Khar, during the former’s 2008 election campaign, Ansari said that he or his brother had nothing to do with Ikhwanis.

“Neither I nor my brother has any links with Ikhwanis,” he said.

He said that NC has been blaming PDP for its own failures.

“They hold PDP responsible for the present unrest and blame us for instigating youth,” he said. “I would suggest them to accept their failure. Hurling baseless accusation will not help restore peace in the valley.”

Reiterating that the government wanted to create dissention among Muslims to divert public attention away from the present unrest, Ansari asked the people of Kashmir to remain vigilant and not play into the hands of divisive forces.

Ansari had accused NC of reviving the Ikhwani culture by pressing into service Ikhwanis to create fissures among the Muslim community.

“Padma Shree Momma Kana and dreaded Ikhwani, Qasim Khaar, were, with the tacit support of NC, shaping a group in the name of Shia community to create Shia Sunni wedge,” he had said.