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Kashmir : Terrorist violence continues |
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Terrorist attacks on innocent civilians in the Kashmir valley show no sign of decreasing. In the latest incident, five members of a family were killed by militants in a village in Udhampur district on Saturday, August 13. Nine other members of the family were injured in indiscriminate firing by militants who attacked the house of a member of the village defence committee.
Ironically, the incident came just a day after Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil told the Lok Sabha on August 12 that there has been a nearly 25 per cent dip in violent incidents in Jammu and Kashmir till July end. He was replying to a discussion on terrorism and the terrorist attack on Ayodhya. On the Ayodhya attack, Patil said the terrorists had tried to ignite communal hatred and divide the country.
Azad-Soz-Qureshi front runners for Chief Ministership
As decks for the transfer of power from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the Congress in Jammu and Kashmir are being cleared, an exercise is underway to identify the person who will take over from Mufti Mohd. Sayeed as Chief Minister in November. According to party sources, Union Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad is on the top of the list to don the mantle of Chief Minister. Others whose names are being considered include former Governor Mohd. Shafi Qureshi and Rajya Sabha member Saifuddin Soz.
There are reports that Mufti Sayeed after completing his tenure as Chief Minister may stage a comeback in national politics as a member of the UPA headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. If he ultimately makes it to the Manmohan Singh Government, PDP president and Mufti’s daughter Mehbooba Mufti may become Deputy Chief Minister after a Congressman takes over as Chief Minister. In that case, present Deputy Chief Minister Mangat Ram Sharma would be installed as Speaker of the State Assembly.
Meanwhile, in a significant step, the state Government has withdrawn its controversial order restricting the period of validity of permanent resident certificates of unmarried woman till their marriage. The withdrawal of the circular was communicated to the Jammu bench of the state high court last week. The Government order had been criticised for discriminating against women.
Mehbooba Mufti, in the meantime, has been re-elected president of the PDP for the second term.
Geelani presses for right to self-determination
The hardline Hurriyat Conference leader, Syed Ali Shah Geelani has again put three conditions for any talks with the Central Government. Addressing a rally in Srinagar on August 7, he said there should be a complete withdrawal of troops and the Centre should accept Jammu and Kashmir as disputed prior to any talks. He termed as traitors those in the moderate faction of the Hurriyat who had entered into a dialogue with the Central Government. Geelani had parted ways with the moderate faction of the Hurriyat two years back.
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