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J and K elections won't be postponed: Advani
New Delhi, Aug 19 (ANI): The Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir will not be postponed, according to LK Advani, Deputy Prime Minister. Advani made this statement on Monday in response to the call made by the Kashmir Committee at the end of their three-day tour of the state on Sunday. The committee, led by former law minister Ram Jethmalani, had asked the Centre to consider deferring the polls, due in September and October, to allow more separatist groups to take part in it. The separatists, led by the 23-party All Parties Hurriyat (Freedom) Conference, have refused to participate in the elections, complaining that they have been rigged in the past. "I don't think postponement of elections would have wider participation. It has become clear that Kashmiri separatist groups, who are under Pakistan's influence, would not contest the elections due to financial reasons or pure fear. Therefore, our entire focus and attention is on ensuring that elections are free and fair," Advani, who is also the Home Minister, was quoted as saying. He added there has been a clear message from Islamabad to the Hurriyat not to contest the elections. This was evident from the speech of President Pervez Musharraf last week, wherein he denounced the polls as a farce and another effort to give a "mask of legitimacy to India's illegal occupation" of the region. (ANI) Jayalalitha meets Kalam and Shekhawat
New Delhi, Aug 19 (ANI): Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalitha arrived in the capital on Monday to attend the swearing in ceremony of Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat. She had sent a strongly worded letter to the Centre over its failure to extend an invitation to her for the swearing-in ceremony of President A.P.J.Abdul Kalam. Vice President-elect had extended an invitation to her personally, she said. When asked about her visit, Jayalalitha said, "I met the President to invite him personally for the 151st anniversary celebrations in January, 2003 and he has very kindly agreed. I also invited the Vice-President to the centenary celebrations of the first Veterinary University of the country located in Tamil Nadu in February 2003 and he has also agreed .That was my purpose in meeting the two. Jayalalitha fielded questions on a variety of issues. When questioned about the Cauvery water dispute, she said, "Karnataka is not releasing water but we are getting the overflow from Cauvery. When dams are full water overflows." When asked about the nabbing of Veerappan, the chief minister parried the question. "It is a difficult terrain in the jungle. The foliage is very dense which makes it difficult to even spot an elephant from a distance of six feet. But they are doing their best." She proudly displayed the book "Ignited Minds" written by A.P.J Abdul Kalam which the President had presented to her.(ANI) "Kisan passbooks" mooted
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to top New Delhi, Aug 19 (ANI): Rural Development Minister Shanta Kumar has said the union government was contemplating to introduce 'kisan passbooks' as a part of land reforms. The concept would be highly beneficial to the farming community, he said. Kumar also made various announcements regarding land reforms, distribution and records. He was speaking at a meeting of state revenue ministers which was held after a gap of four years in order to assess the performance of land reforms in the country. Stressing on the need for the kisan passbook, he said, "we want this to be legally accepted so that they can conveniently go to any bank, government office and take loan. We want the poor, innocent farmers of our country to live in comfort and not made to run around. This is a revolutionary step and will be adopted in all states". On the possibility of computerisation of land records, he said land is a state subject and his ministry can only play an advisory role by co-ordinating and guiding the states. Government wasteland has also been one of the key strategies of land reforms. According to official figures, an area of 147.47 lakh acres of government wasteland has already been distributed among the rural poor. (ANI)
Kashmir Committee wraps up J-K visit, Hurriyat adamant Go to top Srinagar, Aug 19 (ANI): The Kashmir Committee wrapped up its three-day visit here on Monday even as the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) refused to budge from its stand of not participating in the forthcoming Assembly elections in the state. The committee which failed to make a breakthrough told the separatist amalgam that staying away from the polls would mean it is a puppet in the hands of Pakistan. Concluding his talks with separatist leader Shabir Shah and PDR Mufi Mohammed Sayeed on the final day here, committee chairman Jethmalani told reporters they were disappointed that Hurriyat won't take part in the elections. However, Jethmalani said the dialogue would continue and Shah would soon come to the Capital for next round of talks. He also said that a section of Hurriyat leaders were keen to participate in the polls. Asked whether non-participation of the Hurriyat in the elections would defeat the whole process, he shot back "please do not equate the people of Kashmir with Hurriyat. Hurriyat is an important faction, but they are not all." He added that Shabir Shah had said that he was not averse to participation in the elections provided certain assurances were given by the Central Government. (ANI)
New Delhi, Aug 19 (ANI): Indian and Bangladeshi border officials on Monday held an annual meeting in New Delhi to resolve outstanding border disputes. The Bangladesh side was led by Brigadier Sina Ibn Jamali, Director General of Bangladesh Rifles, while Ajai Raj Sharma, Director General of Border Security Force (BSF), led the Indian side. Sharma said the annual meetings help both sides avoid misunderstanding on ticklish issues along undemarcated sections of the border. "The governments of both the countries look upto these two forces to successfully shoulder the onerous responsibility of providing a sense of security to the population living on our borders so that the fruits occurring from the resulting peace can usher in an era of economic and social prosperity for both the countries," Sharma told reporters after the meeting. "The agreement by both sides to exercise restraint and cooperate with each other for sorting out problems on border areas is an indication of strong ties existing between the two neighbours," he added. Relations between the two friendly neighbours were severely strained in April last year after skirmishes between the border troops left 19 dead. New Delhi accused the BDR of torturing and killing 16 BSF personnel. Senior BSF and BDR officials last held a four-day meeting in May in Siliguri to discuss several issues, including demarcation of their 4,984-km-long border. They have finalised the terms of reference for two joint working groups that would demarcate the disputed border stretches, measuring about 6.5 kms and the exchange of "adverse possessions" or enclaves and territories in possession of the other side. India is also keen to sort out the status of a contentious 1.5-km stretch near Daikhata in Jalpaiguri district in West Bengal which it says Bangladesh has "captured" illegally. Both sides regularly consult each other on construction and maintenance of pillars along the international border. India is also eager to undertake fencing of the porous border to check infiltration and illegal migration which often results in the Indian and Bangladeshi troops exchanging fire. Besides West Bengal, Assam, Tripura and Meghalaya have borders with Bangladesh.(ANI)
Final batch of pilgrims leaves for Amarnath Go to top Jammu, Aug 19 (ANI): The last batch of 238 devotees left for the cave shrine of Amarnath from here on Monday. With this the total number of pilgrims visiting the shrine comes to 108,222 this year. The group, including 44 women, five children and 26 sadhus, left the base camp of MAM stadium early in the morning on board a number of vehicles, official sources said. According to reports, about 106,000 devotees have already been to the shrine and of them ,over one hundred thousand have returned home. The month-long Amarnath yatra will conclude on August 22. |