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Kashmir : PM to intervene to save coalition

	March 12, 2007

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh would be presiding over a meeting this week to sort out the differences that are threatening the ruling coalition in Jammu and Kashmir. This comes in the wake of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), a constituent of the coalition, boycotting the State cabinet meeting on Friday, March 9, the second time in a row.



The PDP has been pushing for gradual reduction of troops, revocation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, and evicting troops from agriculture and horticulture lands. PDP Ministers have been demanding that the State cabinet discuss the agenda if they are to attend the Cabinet meeting. On the other hand, Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said on March 5 that he would sacrifice the Government rather than give in to what he “called PDP’s inappropriate demands.”



Dr. Manmohan Singh, reports said, would be convening a meeting that would be attended by Ministers of Home, Defence and External Affairs, apart from Chief Minister Azad and his predecessor, Mufti Mohd. Sayeed.



“For me, life and security is paramount. I would not risk it even at the cost of the government. I will never give in to the demands raised for political reasons”, Azad told a gathering in Kokarnag, where he had gone to distribute relief to the survivors of the families who were killed by security forces in fake encounters.



Azad said, “Supposing we withdraw forces from any area, and then militants come, and kill 50 people, who will take the responsibility.”



The issue has snowballed into a major crisis for the coalition. After the Prime Minister ruled out the possibility of any troop cut until the situation improves, PDP patron Mufti Sayeed sent a detailed letter to the Prime Minister. In the letter, he said there was disproportionate deployment of troops across Jammu and Kashmir that needs to be brought down. He said that the armed forces occupation of land and social infrastructure is a constant economic misery.



Observers say that regardless of the outcome of the meeting, efforts are underway to explore other options if the PDP pulls out of the Government and the coalition. The National Conference, the principal opposition and the largest political party in the state, has kept its options open to handle the crisis if and when it erupts.



Meanwhile, the PDP is continuing with its campaign for acceptance of its demand for pull out of troops. Mufti Mohd. Sayeed said in Jammu that the ongoing peace process will be reversed if he party’s demands are not considered. He said the PDP demand is part and parcel of the common minimum programme, and is an article of faith for the party.



There are reports that in the wake of worsening ties with the Congress, the PDP is exploring the prospects of an alliance with separatist Hurriyat leaders like Mirwaiz Umar Farooq for the Assembly elections to be held in the state next year.



The PDP has accused the National Conference of subverting people’s interests instead of taking a clear stand on troop reduction. A PDP spokesman said in Jammu on March 7 that the NC should have lent support to the demand for reducing the presence of troops in civilian areas.





Congress-NC tie up in Jammu Municipal Corporation



A tacit understanding between the Congress and the National Conference in the Jammu Municipal Corporation has helped them retain the posts of both the Mayor and Deputy Mayor for the second year in succession. Narendra Singh of the Congress, supported by NC corporators defeated his rival from the BJP by a margin of seven votes. A National Conference candidate was elected as Deputy Mayor with the support of the Congress





BSF to pull out of five towns



While the Prime Minister has ruled out reduction of troops in Jammu and Kashmir for the present, over 11,000 Border Security Force men engaged in counter terrorist operations are to be pulled out of five of the worst violence hit towns in the state. Reports say that while eight battalions would move out of the Kashmir valley, two would pull out of the mountain town of Doda. The units would be relocated along the line of control after rest and retraining. The BSF battalions would be replaced with a newly raised Central Reserve Police Force formation.





Geelani given passport



The hardline Hurriyat Conference chairman, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, has been given back his passport to enable him to travel to the United States for medical treatment. He was diagnosed with malignancy in his only kidney last week. His other kidney had been removed earlier.



Reports say that Geelani was given the travel documents after the Prime Minister’s intervention. His passport was impounded nearly two decades ago. However, in between, he had been given a temporary passport to perform Haj.





Kashmiri writer given Gnanpeeth award



Renowned Kashmiri litterateur Rahman Rahi has been awarded the Gnanpeeth Puraskar for his contribution to the Kashmiri language and literature which he has been nurturing for he past six decades.



The decision to grant him this award has been widely hailed in the valley, particularly in literary circles. Prominent writers, poets, cultural organizations and political leaders have described it as recognition not only to Rahman Rahi, but also to the Kashmiri language, and its people.



Rahman Rahi said it was a great occasion and a great honour not only to him, but to the people of Kashmir.



Rahi, born in 1925, in Srinagar, had been interested in poetic works in Urdu from his school days. He had started writing in different genres of Urdu since his early days and later switched over to Kashmiri, mainly poetry since 1949.