Sonia hints at poll alliance Srinagar, May 31 Ms Gandhi, who was talking to mediapersons here on conclusion of the two-day conclave of the Chief Ministers of the Congress-ruled states, with a smile said that the Congress, Mr Mulayam Singh and Mr Ajit Singh could join hands. She said that situation in Uttar Pradesh was very fluid and after withdrawing support to the Mayawati government, Mr Ajit Singh had met the Governor to demand her dismissal. UPPCC president, Nawal Kishore Sharma, was maintaining contact with the SP and RLD leaders. She said that at the national-level we are certainly open to working with the secular parties to defeat the communal elements. Ms Gandhi said that the Congress had not adopted soft line towards "Hindutva" but was determined to foil attempts of the Vishwa Hindu states and the areas where we have to work more have been identified. She was hopeful that the problems of electricity in Madhya Pradesh, which the BJP was trying to make an election issue, would be solved to a large extent soon as she had asked the Chief Ministers of the Congress-ruled states of Chhattisgarh, Uttaranchal and Himachal, to come to its rescue. She refused to comment on groupism in the Congress in view of the recent outbursts of a CWC leader, Mr Arjun Singh. Ms Gandhi said that the foreign policy of the country was a sensitive area, but the BJP-led NDA government was going from one extreme to another on issues of national importance. There was utter confusion and contradiction in the stand of the government on the sensitive issue of ties with Pakistan. However, we have never criticised the manner in which the government was fighting terrorism. They should remain cautious and learn a lesson from mistakes. She accused the NDA government of having failed on all fronts. LoC as International Border: Replying to questions pertaining to the recent reports of proposal to convert the Line of Control between India and Pakistan as an international border, Ms Gandhi said there was no ready-made solution for Kashmir and the government had to come out with a plan followed by consultation with other parties. She said that the Congress had no objection to the release of innocent people languishing in the jails without trial. She said that "I" don't say that mistakes were not committed by the Congress when it was in power in J&K, but the real problem started in 1990 when the party was not in power in the state. The Congress was in favour of talks with all sections for a solution to the Kashmir problem. Ms Gandhi said that she had asked the Chief Ministers of the Congress ruled states to provide reservation for the students of J&K in professional colleges in their states and also prepare a package for promoting tourism in Kashmir. The Chief Minister of Punjab, Mr Amarinder Singh, has offered a package for promoting tourism here. Ms Gandhi was flanked by Mr Jaipal Reddy and Mrs Ambika Soni at the Press conference. Among others who were present, were Chief Ministers, Mr Sushil Kumar Shinde, Mrs Sheila Dikshit, Mr Virbhadra Singh, Mr Digvijay Singh, Mr N.D. Tiwari, Mr Ajit Jogi, Mr S.M. Krishna, Mr Ashok Gehlot and Mr A.K. Antony, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad, PCC president, Mr K. Natwar Singh, Dr Manmohan Singh, Mr Buta Singh, Mr R.K. Dhawan and Mr Pranab Mukherjee, were among others present. Self-Introspection: Earlier, in her concluding remarks at the meeting of Chief Ministers, Ms Gandhi called for another exercise of self-introspection and brainstorming on fundamental political, economic and social issues. This is essential even as we prepare to fight the electoral battles ahead. She said that we would be following up with "you" on all important points that have been made in the meeting. She emphasised the need to enforce the law of the land without fear or favour to deal with all those who disturb social peace and harmony. She said that we must not waver in our determination to deal with religious fundamentalists of all kinds. At the same time there was urgent need to amend the existing laws like the Indian Penal Code and enforce some of these like the Representation of People Act effectively to deal with growing communalism of all varieties. Coming down heavily on communalism, Ms Gandhi said that while political will was essential, I would also urge all of you to take strictest action against those in the administration who were unable to control communal tensions and their fall-outs. There should also be prompt and uniform compensation to all victims of communal violence. She stressed the need to set standards for transparency, accountability, probity and efficiency by giving a clear direction to the administration. Discretion and patronage must be minimised. | |
| Cong stand on 'trishul diksha' softens Srinagar, May 31 "What was done in Rajasthan was certainly appreciated. But there is also a sense that we should not overreact on the issue," senior Congress leader Salman Khursheed told reporters on the sides of the Congress Chief Ministers' conclave here. He said the issue of clampdown on the Sangh Parivar outfits was discussed in details at the meeting. VHP International General Secretary Praveen Togadia was arrested in Ajmer for distributing tridents (trishuls) in Rajasthan. The state government had banned its distribution. The Congress party expressed "strong positive feeling" about its coalition with the People's Democratic Party (PDP) and others in Jammu and Kashmir, at the two-day conclave of the Chief Ministers which concluded here today. Giving details of the two-day meeting of 15 Chief Ministers of the Congress-ruled states and the 24 CWC members, senior party leader, Salman Khursheed said here that the case of Jammu and Kashmir was also taken at the meeting. Mr Salman Khursheed coming out of the meeting hall this afternoon said that Deputy Chief Minister, Mangat Ram Sharma, had given a detailed backgrounder of the happenings and situation prevalent in the state and also the performance of the coalition government in the state over the past seven months. CONG'S POLL STRATEGY Srinagar, May 31 This was deliberated at the meeting on drawing up the broad outline of the election strategy of the Congress which was presided by Ms Gandhi last mid-night. The Chief Ministers of these states and the members of the strategy committee and general secretaries in charge of the four states were present at the meeting. The Congress high command is taking these Assembly elections seriously because it feels that it will be easy to throw out of power the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre in case the party retained power in these four states and also succeeded in capturing the fifth state. Ms Gandhi is understood to have made it clear that the Chief Ministers of these states and party leadership would have free hand to take a decision on taking support of any other party or entering into a pre-poll alliance. It is learnt that the contentious issue of reservation on an economic basis was deliberated threadbare in view of the BJP trying to steal the show by having recommended reservation to counter the initiative taken on the issue by Rajasthan Chief Minister, Ashok Gehlot. The Congress had earlier been saying that the agenda of the meeting of Chief Ministers here would be confined to the national issues and development in the Congress ruled states, but the party could not resist discussing the election strategy for the five states when all Chief Ministers and senior members of the CWC were present. The elections are coming in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Delhi and Mizoram. The other Chief Ministers were asked to follow in the footsteps of Mr Ashok Gehlot, Chief Minister of Rajasthan, in tackling the challenge of the VHP which was trying to polarise political situation in the state. Mr Digvijay Singh, Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, was reportedly confident that the power shortage in the state, made an issue by the opposition would be solved soon and he would be in a position to take on the BJP and other parties. He is also learnt to have claimed that his government did not face any threat from the BSP as most of the constituencies dominated by the BSP supporters have gone to Chhattisgarh. Mr Ajit Jogi, Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, is learnt to have apprised Ms Gandhi and other members of the steps taken to counter the communal campaign in the state and said that it was no more an issue there. It was reportedly decided to maintain the pressure on the opposition parties in Delhi where a lot of development has taken place under the Congress government of Mrs Sheila Dikshit. Sources said that it was decided o take some steps to benefit the farmers and the poor sections before the elections. Ms Gandhi stressed on the launching of an employment guarantee scheme and make sure that the public distribution system provided adequate security to the poor. The leaders who participated in the meeting were reportedly of the view that the Centre was deliberately not coming out with an open heart to provide help to the Rajasthan government to meet the drought-like situation and was also shirking from providing additional power supply to Madhya Pradesh which was suffering because of erratic power supply. |
Friday, August 20, 2010
Srinagar conclave (June 1, 2003)
Srinagar conclave
Govt vacillating on Pak: Sonia
S. P Sharma
Tribune News Service
Srinagar, May 30
Ms Sonia Gandhi, Congress president, said today that the BJP-led NDA government's policy on Pakistan lacked clarity, consistency and conviction. It has vacillated from one extreme to another. She said that the Congress has been clear and unwavering and we have all along believed that diplomatic channels and doors of dialogue with Pakistan should always be kept open and active.
 Congress President Sonia Gandhi with the Chief Ministers of 15 Congress-ruled states in Srinagar on Friday. — PTI photo |
Ms Gandhi, who inaugurated the fifth conclave of the Chief Ministers of 15 Congress-ruled states here, speaking on the initiative towards Pakistan taken by Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, said that despite contradictions in the stand of the Centre on Pakistan, we would continue to extend broad and sustained support to the Centre on matters of national security, cross-border terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir and on Indo-Pak relations.
There will be no flagging in our determination to defeat terrorism. Cooperation, collaboration and contact across political, economic and other social fronts must be fostered and kept going. We were criticised for this by the BJP in all recent Assembly election campaigns, but our stand has been vindicated.
Describing the meeting of the Chief Ministers here as of profound significance, Ms Gandhi said our presence here reciprocates in small measure the faith that people had reposed in the democratic process and it also reflected how deeply we felt for them.
She said that together with the PDP and other allies, the Congress was committed to bringing J&K back on the path of enduring peace, amity and development. The dialogue for normalcy should be held with sincerity, transparency and a sense of purpose and we believe very strongly in the need to interact with all sections of society here.
Substance and style of the dialogue should inspire confidence that the process of reconciliation had begun in right earnest.
She said that we would make generous efforts that quotas for students of J&K and migrants are set aside in colleges, universities and technical institutions in the Congress-ruled states. Punjab, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh have already come out with such offers.
Election mode: On elections Ms Gandhi said that she was confident that we would overcome the so-called anti-incumbency syndrome in four of the five Congress-ruled states where Assembly elections are forthcoming. In these states the Congress has record of achievements that have to be projected and propagated by everyone of us.
She was hopeful that people of these states would give the Congress renewed hallmark of Congress administration.
Ms Gandhi said that taking advantage of the presence of the Chief Ministers here, the election strategies for these states would be discussed later in the evening.
She emphasised that the victory in these polls would need united effort and coordination between the state governments and the party's machinery.
Ms Gandhi complimented Rajasthan Chief Minister, Ashok Gehlot, for tackling attempts of the VHP to disturb harmony and amity in the state. With elections around the corner, we cannot afford to slacken vigil for this is the time when the merchants of hate get overactive to polarise society.
Enemies of amity are everywhere and in every community. They have to be dealt with ruthlessly. She called for the setting up of district-level peace committees to take care of this aspect.
Ms Gandhi extended a special welcome to Himachal Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, to the council of Congress Chief Ministers and without naming the BJP said that the people of Himachal rejected the efforts of our political adversaries to communalise the campaign.
She said that the people of Himachal had showed the way to the rest of the country.
Ms Gandhi stressed the need for taking some bold initiatives to manage special problems of drought-prone and rain-fed regions. These regions required a Maharashtra type employment guarantee scheme.
Spelling out priorities of the party, Ms Gandhi said that we would strengthen the foundations of our agriculture by giving the farmers better seeds, assured irrigation, reliable power, cheaper credit, remunerative prices and adequate insurance. We will focus on the creation of productive employment opportunities both in organised and unorganied sectors. The investment momentum in economy, especially in the manufacturing industry and infrastructure like power and water would be revived and we would launch massive food for work programme, a national employment guarantee scheme and make sure that the public distribution system provides adequate security to the poor, particularly the destitute.
She said that the burden of the grave financial crisis is being felt by the poor.
Stressing for austerity in the Congress ruled states, Ms Gandhi stressed the need for institutionalising code of austerity which she had already sent.
Size of ministry: She said that the Chief Ministers should consider laws for limiting the size of the Council of Ministers in their states.
She said that unlike the dilution by the BJP led NDA government, the Congress will support the order of the Supreme Court order for compulsory declaration of assets by the candidates.
Besides 15 Chief Ministers, senior members of the AICC are also participating in the conclave.
Earlier, Ms Gandhi was received at the airport by Chief Minister, Mufti Sayeed and Deputy Chief Minister, Mangat Ram Sharma.Srinagar conclave
Congress CMs arrive for conclave
Tribune News Service
Srinagar, May 29
It was almost after a gap of 14 turmoiled years that a number of VVIPs, three Chief Ministers and senior leaders of the AICC moved out together for sightseeing the Mughal Gardens and the Dal Lake, here this afternoon.
The Chief Ministers of the 15 Congress-ruled states are reaching here to participate in the conclave which will be inaugurated here tomorrow by Ms Sonia Gandhi.
The PCC president, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad, who is the host for the conclave, accompanied the Chief Ministers for the sightseeing. Ms Ambika Soni and Mr Moti Lal Vora were also with them.
The Chief Ministers who went to places which were the destinations for film shootings before terrorism started here are Mr Virbhadra Singh (Himachal Pradesh), Mr Ashok Gehlot (Rajasthan) and Mr Ibobi Singh (Manipur).
The Punjab Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, was the first to reach here this morning and he proceeded to Baramula where he met some Sikh residents and also visited the Army regiment in which he had once served. Baramula has a large population of Sikhs who are continuing to stay there despite threats of militants.
Mr Virbhadra Singh was received by the Deputy Chief Minister, Mr Mangat Ram Sharma, at the airport. Mr Virbhadra Singh spent the last night at Jammu where he had reached from Bharmour where he was campaigning for the Assembly elections.
The security around the Dal Lake and other tourist spots was tightened with the deployment of the BSF and the CRPF in strength. The movement of the Chief Ministers was being kept as a closely-guarded secret and mediapersons were even not informed about their visit to these places.
It is believed that the conclave is being held here as another step after the public meeting of the Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, to send a signal that normalcy is returning to the valley. This is after 1988 that the Congress President and so many Chief Ministers are coming here. The terrorism had so far kept VVIPs away from Kashmir.
There are indications that the Chief Ministers of the northern states, including Capt Amarinder Singh, Mr Virbhadra Singh, Mr N.D. Tiwari and Ms Sheila Dikshit, might utilise the opportunity to discuss their regional problems when they are free from the conclave.Kashmir crisis
Jammu people unforgiving
S. P. Sharma
Tribune News Service
Jammu, October 31
The volte face of the Congress on the chief ministership issue is not being supported here.
The BJP and the Jammu State Morcha have got an opportunity to launch an attack on the Congress, accusing it of having misled the people of the region.
With a lot of resentment prevailing among the people on the issue, Mufti Sayeed will have to make an extra effort to win their favour.
Though the coalition ministry will be sworn in at Srinagar this week, the Mufti will actually start functioning from here when government offices, which closed in Srinagar for the winter, will reopen here on November 5.
The people are taking the statement of PCC Chief Ghulam Nabi Azad that he was satisfied with the inclusion of 23 poll promises of the Congress in the common minimum programme (CMP) which the coalition government will pursue with a pinch of salt. However, the people from Jammu are not pleased as the state has never had a Chief Minister from there.
The president of the Panthers Party, Mr Bhim Singh, has claimed that most of the points pertaining to the uplift of Jammu were included in the CMP following his insistence.
Mr Bhim Singh is also drawing flak for not sticking to his stand of supporting a government which was headed by a person from Jammu.
The Mufti's connections with the Jammu region are old. He won the 1983 Assembly election from the Ranbirsingh Pura constituency in Jammu.
Activists of the PDP say that he is conversant with the problems of the region and would try to alleviate them. The PDP had not even got a single seat here.
The Mufti is facing an uphill task in connection with the composition of his ministry as the coalition partners and the Independents supporting him are demanding the maximum number of ministerial berths. He has however, stated that his ministry will be small.
Several people have meanwhile started lobbying for nomination to the Upper House where eight seats have fallen vacant.Kashmir crisis
M A I N N E W S
Congress-PDP govt likely
National Conference not to stake claim
S. P. Sharma
Tribune News Service
Srinagar, October 10
Having routed the rule of the Sheikh dynasty, a coalition government of the Congress and the Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is likely to be installed in Jammu and Kashmir next week.
Some other parties, including the J&K National Panthers Party of Mr Bhim Singh and a couple of Independents, are expected to support the coalition government.
Dr Farooq Abdullah announced that the National Conference would not stake the claim for forming the new government because the verdict was against the party.
The PCC chief, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad, and the PDP chief, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, told this correspondent that the question of who would be the Chief Minister would not be a problem because "we have achieved the bigger goal of throwing out the corrupt and inefficient" government of Dr Abdullah.
There was an atmosphere of jubilation at the residence of Mr Mufti where hundreds of his party supporters had gathered. Mr Azad left for Jammu where he will meet newly elected legislators, including the Independents.
The Election Commission is scheduled to issue the formal notification of the results tomorrow or the day after to set the ball rolling for the formation of the new government.
It is after 27 years that the state is heading for a non-National Conference government. The Congress itself had installed Sheikh Abdullah as Chief Minister in 1975 following the accord signed between the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and Sheikh Abdullah, although the Congress was in absolute majority in the Assembly. Mufti Sayeed was also a minister in the Congress government which handed over the reins to Sheikh Abdullah on a platter.
The mood of the people here following the ouster of the National Conference government is of jubilation. An elderly person, Mr Ali Mohammed, said the "corrupt" government had at last been thrown out. They did nothing for the common people and only the interests of their kith and kin were watched. The bungalows of ministers of the NC government are lying deserted now.
It is learnt that the Congress President, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, is in constant touch with Mr Azad and Mr Mufti. She is likely to discuss the issue of government formation with the two leaders soon.
Sources said Mr Bhim Singh met Mrs Gandhi in Delhi yesterday and discussed the political scene that was expected to emerge.
A group of Independents has already announced that it would in no case support the National Conference for forming the government.
The defeat of Mr Omar Abdullah, Minister of State for External Affairs, who was projected as the next Chief Minister, has come as a surprise. The younger brother of Dr Abdullah, Sheikh Mustafa Kamal, who is a minister, has also been defeated. This indicates the level of anger which the people have against the Abdullah rule.
Mr Azad refused to name who would be the new Chief Minister although he was projected for this slot in the campaign by senior leaders of the party. Mr Azad belongs to the Kishtwar area of Jammu and it will be for the first time that the Chief Minister will be from Jammu if the choice came on him.
Mr Azad said the issue would be decided by the coalition partners because the Congress on its own was not in a position to form the government.
Mr Mufti and Mr Azad said the topmost task before them would be to restore peace in this trouble-torn state and tackle corruption with a firm hand. Stress would be laid on removing fear from the minds of the people so that they came forward to invest in industry so that avenues of employment were created.
Mr Mufti said that the PDP contributed significantly by providing the alternative of a regional party which helped in the defeat of National Conference.
He said the election results could be a turning point in the history of the turmoiled state if the Centre understood the verdict and initiated negotiations with the elected representatives to find a solution to the Kashmir problem. The militants could be put on the defensive in case the Centre ordered a ceasefire and begins the talks. The matter could be discussed with Pakistan or any party later.
He said the defeat of big guns like Mr Omar Abdullah, Mustafa Kamal and Mr Mohammed Shaffi Uri, had sent the bold message that running the government was not the monopoly of a single family. It had also indicated that if a person did not deliver the goods, he had to go. The people had ventilated their anger by throwing the Farooq government out of power.
Mr Mufti said that it was a challenging job for the new government as it had to undertake the gigantic task of reconstruction of the state. A healing touch has to be provided to the people who have been affected by the 13 years of militancy.
A senior leader of the NC, Mr Sharief-ud-Din, said it was time for introspection for the party.Kashmir crisis
M A I N N E W S
Voters reject NC; Omar humbled
Split mandate: NC gets 28 seats, Cong — 20, PDP — 16
Tribune News Service
| Final party position | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Srinagar, October 10
After 27 years, the National Conference was voted out of power in Jammu and Kashmir with a split mandate resulting in a hung Assembly and giving the Congress-PDP the chance of forming a coalition government.
The ruling party lost the prestigious seat of Ganderbal, known for electing Chief Ministers since 1977, to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Qazi Mohammad Afzal.
The Union Minister of State for External Affairs, Mr Omar Abdullah, who took over as President of the National Conference only three months back, is the first of the Sheikh dynasty to lose the prestigious seat of Ganderbal. Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah's younger brother and Industries Minister, Dr Mustafa Kamaal, who represented the Gulmarg constituency in Baramula district also lost to his nearest rival of the Peoples Democratic Party of the former Union Home Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.
The latest poll results declared here this evening showed that the National Conference had bagged 28 seats in the Legislative Assembly against 60 in the 87-member House in the 1996 elections. This was followed by the Congress getting 20 seats, the PDP 16 seats, Independents 15 seats, the Panthers Party four seats, the CPM two seats, the BJP and the BSP one seat each.
The Lolab constituency of Kupwara district has gone to the National Conference where Qaisar Jamshed Lone, nephew of a former minister, has been elected. Elections were countermanded in this constituency in the first phase following the death of National Conference candidate and former Law Minister Mushtaq Ahmad Lone during electioneering on September 11.
Prominent losers of the ruling party include senior NC leader and Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Abdul Ahad Vakil, and ministers Mohammad Shafi, Moulvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari, Ajatshatru Singh, Peerzada Ghulam Ahmad Shah, Choudhary Mohammad Ramzan, Bashir Ahmad Nengroo, Ms Sakina Itto, SS Salathia, Harbans Singh. The winners include the ministers, Mian Altaf ahmad and Ali Mohammad Sagar. The PDP candidates who emerged victorious included Ms Mehbooba Mufti from Pahalgam and Muzaffar Hussain Beigh from the Baramula constituency.
The counting of votes was held for 85 constituencies today while results of two members of Leh and Nobra in Leh district of the Ladakh region were declared elected unopposed.
The National Conference, which got 39 of the 46 seats in Kashmir valley in the 1996 elections, has got 28 seats.
The Amirakadal constituency has been bagged by Mohammad Shafi Bhat of the Congress, after he had resigned from the National Conference following denial of mandate.
Conceding the party's defeat, National Conference President, Omar Abdullah said here that there could be many reasons for the poor performance of the party in these elections. He pointed out that its closer ties with the NDA government, of which it is an ally, could be one of the main reasons. He said that his party, being the single largest party in the Assembly would not stake its first claim to form the government and thus paved the way for the alliance of the opposition parties like the Congress, the PDP and the independents to stake claim for the formation of the government. Mr Omar Abdullah said despite threats from militants at the behest of their mentors across the border, people participated in the elections fearlessly.
He said the people of Jammu and Kashmir had given their verdict. He assured the new government, whosoever it may be, of its fullest cooperation.
The counting of votes was held at 16 centres, which included 13 district headquarters and three additional counting centres in the hilly Doda district of the Jammu region. The counting of votes in the 10 Assembly segments of Srinagar district was held at the highly guarded SKICC overlooking the Dal Lake here.
| Omar to quit as minister
Srinagar, October 10 "I will resign from the NDA ministry after Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee returns from abroad", Mr Omar Abdullah, who lost to PDP candidate Qazi Mohammad Afzal from the Ganderbal seat, said. To a question about the continuance of the NC in the NDA, he said: "We will not be part of the government any more but whether to remain in the alliance is still an open question." There will be self-introspection and we will try to figure out where things went wrong, he said. Omar said he had accepted the defeat gracefully and would start afresh. Asked about the reasons for the party's humiliating defeat, he said "lot of this has to be answered by the MLAs and senior leaders of the party who have been in power for the past six years." He said the unavailability of the MLAs and ministers to the people had cost the party dearly. Congratulating Afzal on his victory from Ganderbal, the 32-year-old NC president said he would continue working for the people of the state. The trends clearly showed that people's verdict was against the NC, Omar said, adding that the defeat was an opportunity for the party to have a relook at its policies and strengthen itself at the grassroot level. He said some party candidates had thought that they could not be defeated. "This is democracy where people can pull one down for failing to deliver the goods", Omar, flanked by his wife and friends, said, adding that he would be calling an urgent session of the party to discuss the future strategy. The NC president said his party would not stake claim to form a government even if it emerged as the single-largest party. "Certainly", he said when asked whether the ruling NC had lost the mandate of the people in the elections. Predicting that the Congress-PDP coalition would not last long, he said already a quarrel had started between the two parties on the candidate for Chief Minister's post. Dismissing a suggestion that the NC had lost the elections because of Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah, he said the reasons for the drubbing needed to be gone into and it would be difficult to say at this moment that the people were unhappy with the NC and wanted to punish it. |
Kashmir crisis
M A I N N E W S
Independents hold key
Cong ropes in 6, PDP claims support of 7
M.L. Kak & S.P. Sharma
Tribune News Service
 Thousands of people throng the residence of People's Democratic Party leader Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and her daughter Mehbooba Mufti on the outskirts of Srinagar on Friday, following party's good show in the assembly elections. — PTI photo |
Jammu/Srinagar, October 11
The Congress and PDP are keeping the cards close to their chest on the question of who will head the coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir. However, both sides have kept the doors open for Independents. The PCC chief, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad, today succeeded in roping in six elected Independent candidates, while the PDP claimed the support of seven Independents.
Mr Azad paraded five of the six Independents at a press conference here. They were Maulvi Abdul Rashid from Banihal, Mr Aijaj Khan from Gool, Mr Haji Nissar Ali from Kargil, Mr Jatinder Singh from Kathua and Mr Abdul Majid Wani from the Doda constituency.
Mr Azad said four more Independents would join the Congress in the Kashmir valley. He said with these Independents, the Congress-PDP alliance would have "no problem so far as the formation of the government is concerned."
He said talks were in progress for having a consensus candidate for the post of Chief Minister. He left for Delhi this afternoon to attend the Congress Working Committee meeting.
Mr Azad said the CWC would decide whether the mantle of Chief Minister should fall on a Congress candidate or one from the PDP.
Congress workers here demanded that Mr Azad be made Chief Minister as the party had a bigger strength in the Assembly than the PDP. The PDP has 16 seats and the Congress has 20, excluding the six Independents who joined it today. Mr Azad has a strong contender in Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, who has ruled out the possibility of his daughter Mehbooba Mufti, who won from the Pahalgam constituency, being in the race for either the post of Chief Minister or Deputy Chief Minister.
The Mufti is not in favour of the Deputy Chief Minister's post. He has said if the coalition partners insisted on it there should be two Deputy Chief Ministers, including one from Ladakh. The Congress plans to opt for a Deputy Chief Minister from Jammu in case a man from Kashmir valley is inducted as Chief Minister.
The PDP's claim for the post of Chief Minister is based on the argument that since it was instrumental in routing the NC from the Kashmir valley after a gap of 27 years, it deserved a preferential treatment.
The PDP leader, Ms Mehbooba Mufti, told TNS that a meeting of the newly-elected legislators of the party had been convened in Srinagar tomorrow to discuss the future course of action.
However, another PDP leader claimed that the Chief Minister should be from their party because it had wrested more seats in the Kashmir valley which had resulted in the ouster of the NC. A meeting of the Working Committee and the Political Affairs Committee of the PDP will also be held tomorrow.
Seven Independents have decided to go with PDP. This was expected to tilt the balance in favour of the PDP on the question of chief ministership as its strength will increase to 23.
Besides Mr Azad and Mufti Sayeed the name of Mr Saif -ud-Din Soz is also being discussed for the Chief Minister's post. Mr Soz was earlier in the National Conference and was expelled from the party when the Vajpayee government at the Centre fell in the Lok Sabha by one vote as he violated the party's whip by not voting against the no-confidence motion against the NDA government. Later, he joined the Congress and has been speaking for bringing the militants in the mainstream.
It is learnt that the seven newly elected MLAs who have extended support to the PDP are, Mr Sofi Mohiuddin, Mr Raman Mattoo, Mr Hakim Yaseen, Mr Abdul Majid, Maulvi Abdul Rashid, Mr Nissar Ali and Mr Shahjahan Dar. The PDP is expecting three more Independents to come into its fold.
A section of the PDP is of the opinion that keeping in mind the complex situation and the poll promises made by the party, Mufti Sayeed should not burn his fingers by becoming Chief Minister. Moreover, a couple of poll promises of the Congress and the PDP were contradictory which could lead to tension between the two parties.
Meanwhile, the residence of Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, near Srinagar, presented a picture of festivity. Slogan-shouting men and women reached there in trucks and buses from various parts of the valley. The womenfolk sang folk songs in Kashmiri to glorify the Mufti and his daughter Mehbooba.
A number of civil and police officers, who were earlier running around ministers of the NC, were seen at the residence of the Mufti, carrying garlands and bouquets. The elected members of the PDP sat separately on the sprawling lawns of the residence, addressing their respective supporters.
In contrast, the residence of Dr Abdullah and his ministerial colleagues gave a deserted look. Supporters of Education Minister Mohammed Shaffi thronged his residence to express surprise and sorrow on his defeat after having won the Uri seat for seven successive terms.Kashmir crisis
M A I N N E W S
Cong, PDP adamant
Azad is LCP chief, gets support of 8 Ind, Panthers
S.P. Sharma and M.L. Kak
Tribune News Service
Srinagar/Jammu, October 14
The PCC chief, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad, was unanimously elected leader of the Legislature Congress Party (LCP) in Srinagar today even as both the Congress and the People's Democratic Party (PDP) stuck to their guns on the issue of chief ministership of the coalition government.
Immediately after his election as CPL leader, Mr Azad left for Raj Bhavan to meet the Governor, Mr G.C. Saxena, and discuss the situation regarding the position of the Congress to form a government. He clarified that his aim was not to stake claim for forming a government.
The Governor had invited the leaders of the NC, Congress and PDP separately to explore the possibility of forming a government before October 17, when the term of the present government ends.
All 20 Congress MLAs supported the candidature of Mr Azad for chief ministership when the AICC leaders, Mr R.K. Dhawan, Mr Ahmed Patel and Mr Satyajit Singh Gaekwad, met them individually to elicit their views on the issue. A Congress spokesman claimed that eight Independents have also supported Mr Azad for the post. Mr Mangat Ram Sharma, vice-president of the PCC, also supported him.
Mr Azad said the Congress wanted that a coalition government should be formed in J & K with the PDP. Further talks on the possibility would be held with the PDP chief, Mufti Sayeed.
The Panthers Party Chairman, Dr Bhim Singh, announced unconditional support to the Congress leader, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad, if his name was cleared for heading the coalition government.
He told newsmen in Jammu that his party, which had four members in the House, would support any candidate from the Jammu region for the Chief Minister's post.
The Panthers leader said a Jammuite had never been installed as Chief Minister. In view of the fragmented verdict, a situation had been thrown up for giving the Chief Minister's post to a Jammuite.
He said Ms Mehbooba Mufti's rejection of a Jammuite as Chief Minister was unfortunate.
On the other hand, hectic activity is taking place in the National Conference and PDP camps.
After lying low for four days after the election results came in, Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah's residence was again humming with activity. The NC chief, Mr Omar Abdullah, also met party workers after returning from Raj Bhavan. Two Independent MLAs also visited the CM's residence. The Working Committee of the NC is reported to have decided yesterday that the party should not surrender its claim of forming the government.
Mr Omar Abdullah, who is also a minister at the Centre, left for Delhi in the afternoon, reportedly to submit his resignation from the ministry as he had announced during the third phase of the election after getting annoyed over the criticism of the NC government by certain senior leaders of the BJP, including Mrs Sushma Swaraj.
The Working Committee and the Legislature Party of the PDP also met at the residence of Mr Mufti in Naogam on the outskirts of the town.
Mr Azad, who arrived from Delhi in the afternoon, said it would have been ideal to have a Congress-led coalition government with the PDP and other like-minded people in it. The CPL meeting was held to elicit the opinion of the elected MLAs as the Mufti at his meeting with Mrs Sonia Gandhi had said that the members of the PDP had expressed the desire that only he (Mufti) should head the coalition government.
He said with the national-level character of the Congress, which was enjoying the position of the Opposition party in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, it was capable of rectifying the wrongs that had been done in the state during the 27-year rule of the National Conference.
Mr Azad said he was not in a hurry as three days were still there for forming the new government. He accused the NC of trying to kidnap certain Independent MLAs who had announced their support to the Congress. Four MLAs were taken to the house of an NC minister yesterday by policemen. One MLA, Mr Manohar Lal, was missing, he said.
He said after having been defeated in the Assembly elections, the NC should allow the elected MLAs to discharge their function of choosing the leader and the official machinery should not be misused by Dr Abdullah to manipulate things.
Mr Azad said a group of Congress leaders had identified the common agreeable points in the manifestos of the Congress and PDP after two days of exercise.
Soon after the meeting of the LCP, Haji Nissar, an Independent MLA from Kargil, announced that he would support the Congress.Kashmir crisis
M A I N N E W S
Ultimatum to Cong, PDP
Join hands, then seek our support: Inds
S. P. Sharma & Ehsan Fazili
Tribune News Service
 CPM MLA Mohammad Yousuf Taragami and PDP leader Ghulam Hassan Mir (bandaged wrist) with other leaders of the PDF after a meeting in Srinagar on Tuesday. — Tribune Photo Amin War |
Srinagar, October 15
The efforts of the Congress to form a government in Jammu and Kashmir with the support of some Independents and smaller groups received a setback today as the group of seven Independents led by the CPM MLA, Mr Mohammad Yousuf Taragami, changed its stand and announced that they will extend their support only in case the Congress and the PDP joined hands.
These MLAs had earlier said that they would support the Congress in forming the government.
This has created a crisis because a government has to be installed in the state before Thursday when the term of the present Assembly expires. The Governor's rule will have to be imposed in case any party fails to stake its claim for forming the government.
 PDP president Mufti Sayeed addresses a Press conference in Srinagar on Tuesday. — PTI photo |
These independent MLAs held a separate meeting in the afternoon with Mr Ghulam Hassan Mir, MLA of the PDP, in a hotel following which they changed their stand and urged both Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad, CLP leader, and Mufti Sayeed of the PDP to join hands.
They held a long meeting with Mr Azad in the evening and later left for the residence of Mr Mufti. No word had come till the filing of this report.
Following the meeting with Mr Azad, Mr Taragami told mediapersons that they had clearly told Mr Azad that they would not support any single party because the verdict of the people was in favour of the PDP in Kashmir valley and the Congress in Jammu region. The verdict was against the government of the National Conference headed by Dr Farooq Abdullah. All non-NC and non-BJP parties should join hands to provide a stable government to honour the mandate of the people.
However, the Congress circles were confident that they would be in a position to form the government and the state would not be allowed to plunge into a constitutional crisis.
On the other hand, the Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, flew to Delhi this morning. His supporters indicated that when the Congress with a strength of 20 MLAs was claiming to form a government , why should not the NC stake claim to forming a government.
Earlier in the day Mr Mufti made it clear that a stalemate had been created in the talks between the Congress and the PDP because the former was adamant to head the coalition government. He claimed that the mandate of the people in the Kashmir valley was in favour of the PDP which has a commitment with the people.
Asserting that the verdict of the Kashmiris was in favour of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) , Mufti Mohammed Sayeed asked the Congress to "rise above partisan interests and pave the way for his party to lead a coalition government " in Jammu and Kashmir.
He said his party "should lead the coalition and it is only Kashmir that is to be addressed".
He held that due to a clear mandate by the people of Kashmir , the people knew that the PDP had certain commitments. Mufti held that his party had no pre-poll alliance with any party on account of its basic agenda. Further elaborating, Mufti said the verdict in Kashmir was clearly in favour of the PDP and against the National Conference in Kashmir, while it was in favour of the Congress, and not the BJP in Jammu.
The PDP leader held the Congress responsible for the delay in the formation of the government in the state, but said that the option to have an alliance in this direction was still open. "When we are together, let us approach things together", he said.
The former Union Home Minister, who returned from New Delhi after meeting several Congress leaders yesterday, also had a meeting with the Jammu and Kashmir Governor today.
Mufti said the ball was in the Congress court, which will have to be far-sighted vis-a-vis the future government of Jammu and Kashmir.Kashmir crisis
M A I N N E W S
Governor extends deadline
Stalemate continues in J&K
S.P. Sharma
Tribune News Service
Srinagar, October 16
Providing a breather to the three major political parties which have so far failed to cobble an alliance to reach the magic figure of 44 to form a government in Jammu and Kashmir, the Governor, Mr G.C. Saxena, today extended the deadline for the show of strength till 5 p.m. on October 21.
As per the schedule, the term of the present Assembly was to expire tomorrow and a new government was supposed to be sworn in by tomorrow evening. However, the decision of the Governor has provided more time to the major political parties to negotiate among themselves or with the Independents to be in a position to stake claim for forming the government. The NC government of Dr Farooq Abdullah will continue to be in office as the caretaker government.
The order of the Governor came in the evening while the Legislature Congress Party leader, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad, was trying to secure the support of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) of Mufti Mohammed Sayeed and the Independents to meet tomorrow's deadline.
At his meeting with the Governor this morning Mr Azad did not stake claim of forming the government, but sought more time and appraised him that the Congress had not yet parted ways with the PDP and negotiations were still going on. Before leaving for Raj Bhavan, Mr Azad had detailed discussions with the Congress President, Mrs Sonia Gandhi. None of the other two parties has so far staked claim of forming the government.
According to Raj Bhavan sources in the talks that the Governor had with the presidents of the NC, Congress and the PDP, they did not clarify the developing political situation adequately enough to enable the Governor to reach firm conclusions and decisions for moving towards a resolution of the issue in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir.
The Governor has asked the leaders of the National Conference (NC), the Congress and the PDP to meet him along with the duly elected leaders of their respective legislature parties (in case the legislature party leader happens to be someone other than the party president) at a mutually convenient time on any day before 5 pm on Monday positively to clarify whether their party had the requisite support among the members of the newly constituted Assembly to form a stable government which will command majority or will otherwise be able to win a vote of confidence on the floor of the House.
The Governor has said that any of the leaders of these parties making such a claim will have to bring along the necessary evidence in their support, including any relevant resolutions of their party or their legislature party as well as valid letters of support from the parties, groups or individual members concerned who have given their clear agreement to join or support the government of their party or a coalition of which their party is a member.
The CPM MLA, Mr Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, who is heading the group of seven Independents, at his meeting with the Governor earlier in the day urged that the time for staking claim to forming a government should be extended beyond tomorrow.
Mr Azad, Mr Tarigami and others mediating with the Mufti were busy in hectic discussions throughout the day. In an overnight development, Mr Azad made a last ditch effort of reconciliation with the Mufti and himself went to his residence this morning to personally break the deadlock with the PDP and hold fresh talks.
Meanwhile, it is learnt that the Mufti was adamant that he should be the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister could be from the Congress. However, sources said that the Congress high command wanted that the coalition government should be led by Mr Azad and none else.
Certain Congress leaders said the party had offered that with Mr Azad as the Chief Minister, there could be two Deputy Chief Ministers — one from the PDP and the other from some other party which supports the government.
The Mufti could head the coordination committee of the alliance partners to supervise the functioning of the government, they said.Kashmir crisis
M A I N N E W S
Governor's rule in J&K
Farooq refuses to be caretaker CM
Tribune News Service
Srinagar, October 17
Governor's rule was imposed in Jammu and Kashmir late tonight after a week-long stalemate over the formation of a new government and Dr Farooq Abdullah declining to continue as caretaker Chief Minister.
According to an official spokesman, the Governor, Mr Girish Chander Saxena, this evening initiated action for the imposition of Governor's rule in the state. Quoting Raj Bhavan sources, the spokesman said this would come into force from midnight tonight.
The stalemate over the formation of a new government took a new turn late this evening, with Dr Abdullah declining to continue as caretaker Chief Minister after the expiry of the present term of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly. This led to a constitutional crisis in the state as no party was in a position to stake claim for the formation of a new government.
The stalemate took a new turn following a nearly two-hour meeting of senior functionaries of the ruling National Conference here this evening. The meeting was attended among others by the Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, the National Conference President, Mr Omar Abdullah, and other senior party leaders at the Gupkar residence of the Chief Minister. The meeting started at about 6.30 p.m. and lasted till 8.10 p.m. this evening. The Chief Minister and the National Conference President were not available for comment after the meeting
It also came as a surprise following the appeal of the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr L.K. Advani, and for the second time by the Governor, Mr Girish Chander Saxena, to Dr Abdullah to continue till a new arrangement was made.
Dr Abdullah, who tendered his resignation on October 11, a day after the counting of votes was over, had been asked by the Governor to continue in office till an alternative arrangement was made. The two major political parties, the Congress with 20 MLAs and the PDP with 16 MLAs could not arrive at any agreement to form a coalition government over the past seven days, while the ruling National Conference, being the single largest party with 28 members did not stake a claim to form the new government. A party requires 44 members in the 87-member House for the formation of a government in Jammu and Kashmir.
As the Governor yesterday extended the deadline for the formation of a new government till October 21, he asked the Chief Minister to continue as caretaker till Monday.
The Chief Minister drove to Raj Bhavan this morning and held a over 40-minute meeting with the Governor, requesting him that he had "no moral right to be in office after midnight tonight". The term of the present Legislative Assembly elected in 1996 expires today.
The PCC chief and CLP leader, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad, who was scheduled to leave for New Delhi for consultations with senior party leaders, including the party President, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, on the issue, had to cancel his visit later today. This decision was taken after the Chief Minister this morning announced his decision not to continue as caretaker Chief Minister after he had a meeting with the Governor.
The National Conference, soon after the declaration of results of the Assembly elections on Thursday last, had made it clear that it was not staking its claim to form the government even as it emerged as the single largest party in the Legislative Assembly. The stalemate continued since then even as the two major parties, the Congress, having made inroads in the Jammu region, and the PDP, bagging 16 seats in its first innings, could not reach any agreement to form a coalition. Both parties remained stuck to their respective positions and could not pave the way for any breakthrough. The PDP leader and former Union Home Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, was adamant on his party getting to lead the coalition government with the Congress for having got a mandate for its manifesto.
Another group of eight Independent members, united under the banner of the Democratic People's Forum (PDF), and other MLAs led by a CPM MLA, Mohammad Yusuf Tarigami, here the other day urged the Governor to extend the term of the formation of a government.Kashmir crisis
M A I N N E W S
Saxena 'bowed under BJP pressure'
Cong renews efforts to persuade Mufti
S. P. Sharma
Tribune News Service
Srinagar, October 18
Having taken by surprise, most of the parties except the National Conference have accused the Governor, Mr G. C Saxena, of succumbing to the pressure of the BJP-led Central government and suddenly imposing the Governor's rule in Jammu and Kashmir by violating his own deadline of October 21 set for any party to stake claim to form a government in the state.
These parties have alleged that the caretaker Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, forced the imposition of the Governor's rule in the state by refusing to continue in the office.
The proclamation issued by the Governor, copies of which were provided to mediapersons this afternoon, says since no political party has come forward to form a stable government in the state despite efforts in this regard and more so Dr Abdullah had conveyed his inability on October 17 to continue as Chief Minister beyond midnight, the Governor, after having satisfied that a situation has arisen in which the government of the state cannot be carried on in accordance with the provisions of the constitution of Jammu and Kashmir, imposed Governor's rule with the concurrence of the President.
Reacting sharply, these parties have alleged that Mr Saxena succumbed to the pressure of the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr L.K. Advani, and defeated the popular mandate.
Surprised over the action, the CLP leader, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad, convened a meeting of the legislators supporting him for forming the government and took stock of the situation. He later left for Delhi to brief the Congress President, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, of the situation and discuss the future course of action.
He told mediapersons after the meeting that it was unfortunate that the Governor first extended the deadline for forming the government by five days and suddenly imposed the Governor's rule without consulting any political party. Mr Saxena had sent letters to the NC, the Congress and the PDP on October 16 asking them to stake their claims till 5 pm on October 21.
Mr Azad said there was no justification for imposing the Governor's rule when Mr Saxena had himself extended the deadline. There was pressure on the Governor from the Centre which resulted in such action.
The Panthers Party chief, Mr Bhim Singh, described the action as a "Delhi-sponsored assault on the democratic process in the state". He said Raj Bhavan had failed to justify why the Governor's rule had been imposed and the Assembly placed in suspended animation when the process for installing a democratic government was initiated by various parties.
Mr Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, CPM MLA and leader of the seven-member group of Independent legislators, said those opposing a change in Kashmir had temporarily won by succeeding in imposing the Governor's rule.
One the other hand, the NC has said the decision of Dr Farooq Abdullah not to continue in the office beyond the expiry of he term of the Assembly was in the interest of the constitutional propriety and was based on consultations with a wide range of legal opinion. Constitutional experts were uniformly of the view that the continuation of Dr Abdullah as Chief Minister had become untenable once the tenure of the old House had expired and a new Assembly constituted.
Meanwhile, renewed efforts have been initiated by the Congress high command to break the deadlock and persuade Mr Mufti Sayeed, President of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to support the formation of a Congress led coalition government in the state.
A highly placed source in the Congress told TNS that senior leaders, including Mr Manmohan Singh and Mr Arjun Singh, were in contact with Mr Sayeed to muster his support although the Congress had got the backing of 42 MLAs.
Briefing mediapersons about his meeting with the newly elected legislators, Mr Azad said besides the 20 MLAs of the Congress, seven Independents, four MLAs of the Panthers party, attended the meeting. The seven Independents, who have extended conditional support to the Congress, were not invited to the meting. He alleged that Dr Abdullah had himself precipitated the crisis although there was no harm in continuing as caretaker Chief Minister for five more days when he had already remained in the office for a week.
He said he had the support of at least 40 MLAs, but "we want that the PDP should also come along in the formation of the government as the mandate was against the NC".
Meanwhile, Mr Bhim Singh met Dr Abdullah and Mr Tarigami and had given a deadline of three days to the Congress to form a government failing which he will himself stake the claim to form a government.
It is learnt that many newly elected MLAs in a meeting with Mr Azad said he should have pre-empted the tacit of Dr Abdullah by staking the claim to form the government yesterday.
JAMMU: The Peoples' Democratic Party (PDP), headed by Mr Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, has staked the claim for the post of Chief Minister on the basis of its strength in having defeated the NC from its stronghold in the Kashmir valley and not on the consideration that the top post should go to a Kashmiri.
The General Secretary of the PDP, Mr Ved Mahajan, told newsmen here on Friday that the PDP manifesto had promised to end regional discrimination and development of backward areas in the Jammu region.Kashmir crisis
M A I N N E W S
Governor's rule 'to be short'
S.P. Sharma
Tribune News Service
Srinagar, October 19
The decks seem to be clearing for the installation of an elected government in Jammu and Kashmir with the Governor, Mr G.C. Saxena, today announcing that he could invite any largest group in a position to provide a stable government and which, he was satisfied, might win the vote of confidence on the floor of the Assembly.
Mr Saxena told mediapersons here that there was no constitutional binding that he should invite the single largest party, but the Governor has to be satisfied whether any group commands the majority and would survive the vote of confidence in the Assembly.
Replying to a question whether he would stick to the magic figure of 44 to invite any party to form the government, Mr Saxena said the claim would have to be weighed and the strength would be based on the figure of 85 in the House of 87 because the two legislators of Leh sponsored by the Ladakh Union Territory Front (LUTF) have said that they would not support any party in the Assembly.
He said it would be his effort to keep Governor's rule as short as possible in the state and if the stalemate continued it would be the responsibility of the political parties to come back to him with a credible strength. "We will not allow the people to suffer the consequences of the current impasse", he said.
The Governor said he would not appoint any advisers at the moment, but the matter could be considered in case the Governor's rule stretched long.
He refused to comment whether Dr Farooq Abdullah had created a constitutional crisis by refusing to function as the caretaker Chief Minister beyond the midnight of October 17. Governor's rule had to be imposed without sticking to the extended deadline of October 21 because of the constitutional breakdown and more so because no political party had staked claim for forming the government.
He said the complex situation had emerged due to the fractured verdict that the people gave in the Assembly elections.
He said he held two rounds of discussions with the political parties. The situation remained fluid and nothing crystalised in the first round as no party was in a position to prove the majority on the floor of the Assembly and after the second round of talks, the National Conference, the Congress and the PDP, were requested to come back by 5 pm on October 21 in case they managed the requisite strength to form the government.
Mr Saxena said he had explained to Dr Abdullah on October 17 when he insisted that he would not continue as the caretaker Chief Minister that there was no deadline in the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir requiring that the Chief Minister should resign. He could have continued till an alternate arrangement was made.
"That created a situation of breakdown of the Constitution and I had to impose the Governor's rule under Section 92 of the Jammu and Kashmir Constitution as I could not administer the oath to anyone because no claim of any party was pending before me," Mr Saxena said.
Mr Saxena said the doors were open for any party to stake the claim of forming the government even beyond October 21.
Earlier, Mr Saxena congratulated voters for braving bullets to participate in the elections.
He also lauded the candidates for participating in the elections despite the killing of two contestants and bids on the lives of many others.
Praising the security forces for providing a secure environment for the conduct of poll, Mr Saxena said "I salute the memory of those personnel who lost their lives while performing their duties".
The Election Commission also came in for some plaudits from the Governor for organising visibly free, fair and transparent elections as did the state administration and police for their assistance to the commission.Kashmir crisis
M A I N N E W S
Manmohan hopeful
Talks with Mufti to continue today
S.P. Sharma and Ehsan Fazili
Tribune News Service
Srinagar, October 20
The stalemate between the Congress and the People's Democratic Party (PDP) on the issue of sharing power in Jammu and Kashmir was broken here today with Dr Manmohan Singh, a senior Congress leader, initiating talks with Mufti Sayeed for installing a coalition government.
Dr Manmohan Singh did not divulge anything to reporters after the first round of talks at the Naogam residence of the Mufti, but said he was satisfied with the discussion.
The talks will continue tomorrow when a meeting will again be held at the same place at 1 p.m.
The talks today were held on one-to-one basis and no one except Dr Manmohan Singh and the Mufti was present.
Replying to a question whether he was hopeful of a positive outcome, Dr Manmohan Singh said there was always hope.
The Mufti did not come out to comment on the talks and one of his aide said he had nothing to say as the talks were inconclusive.
Dr Manmohan Singh has been deputed for the talks by the Congress President, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, who is learnt to have herself discussed the matter with the Mufti on telephone yesterday.
However, sources said the Congress was not prepared to leave its claim on the Chief Minister's post and most probably Dr Manmohan Singh had offered the post of Deputy Chief Ministership to the PDP with the Mufti heading the coordination committee of all parties and groups supporting the coalition government. The Mufti was insisting that he should be made the Chief Minister as the PDP had won 16 seats in the Kashmir valley causing a severe setback to the National Conference (NC).
Earlier, on his arrival at the residence of the PCC chief, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad, in the afternoon, Dr Manmohan Singh told TNS that he had come here with the mission to create harmony between the Congress and the PDP. He was hopeful that the talks with the Mufti would be successful.
Thereafter, before leaving for the residence of the Mufti to begin the talks, Dr Manmohan Singh held a meeting with the Congress legislators and the five Independent MLAs who have become associate members of the CLP to elicit their views on the situation.
It is learnt that many of the legislators suggested that the Congress should not leave its claim the chief ministership to Mr Azad, but at the same time should clinch the issue with the Mufti who was a natural ally of the Congress. They said that some suitable adjustment should be made with the PDP.
An impasse has been created in the formation of the government here because of the hung Assembly which has emerged following the recent elections. No party was in a position to form the government on its own.
Mr Azad rushed to Delhi on Friday to consult Mrs Sonia Gandhi and other senior leaders of the party and it was decided to send Dr Manmohan Singh to break the impasse.Kashmir crisis
M A I N N E W S
Deadlock continues
Mufti says no to 'CM by rotation'
S.P. Sharma
Tribune, News Service
Srinagar, October 21
There was no breakthrough in the talks between the senior Congress leader, Dr Manmohan Singh, People's Democratic Party (PDP) chief, Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, here on the second day of their discussion on forming a coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir. Both sides refused to budge on the issue of chief ministership.
Dr. Manmohan Singh and the CLP leader, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad, left for Delhi after the luncheon meeting held at the residence of the Mufti to apprise the Congress President, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, about the outcome of the talks.
Sources said the Congress offered the formula to the Mufti that the post of chief minister could be held by the two parties by rotation. However, the Mufti was adamant that the PDP having won more seats in the Kashmir Valley should be given the chief ministership.
Dr Manmohan Singh refused to tell anything more, saying: "Both sides have given their suggestions and these will be put before the Congress high command for approval".
He said the minimum common programme was also discussed at the meeting. The people in the state want that the issue should be solved at the earliest, he added.
While Dr Manmohan Singh had come to the Mufti's residence alone yesterday, he was accompanied by Mr Azad today. However, the meeting was held on one-to-one basis between Dr Manmohan Singh and the Mufti.
Before coming for the meeting, Dr Manmohan Singh called on the Panthers Party chief Mr Bhim Singh, at the tourist reception centre here. Later, Mr Bhim Singh along with his four MLAs held a meeting with Manmohan Singh and Mr Azad in a local hotel. The seven-member Democratic Forum headed by Mr Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, CPM MLA, also met Dr.Manmohan Singh to discuss the situation.
Ms Mehbooba Mufti, Vice-President of the PDP refused to say anything about the meeting. But Mr Muzaffar Hussain Beg, an MLA of the PDP and a member of the Political Affairs Committee of the party, said it was not proper to divulge anything about the talks as the negotiations were still going on.
He denied that there was any division in the PDP over the issue of coalition with the Congress. He claimed that the PDP was not claiming chief ministership on regional basis.
Earlier in the morning a meeting of the Political Affairs Committee of the PDP refused to soften its stand on the issue of chief ministership and decided that the party should sit in the Opposition instead of toeing the line of the Congress.
Dr Manmohan Singh along with Mr Azad called on the Governor, Mr G.C. Saxena, in the morning, but they did not attach any political significance to the meeting which was described as a courtesy call.
Mr Bhim Singh made it clear to Dr Manmohan Singh that the support of his party's four MLAs was conditional as they would back the coalition only if the chief minister was from Jammu.
Mr Tarigami said various proposals were discussed with Dr Manmohan Singh and he made it clear that the mandate was not in favour of a single party but was for a change. It was the responsibility of the Congress and the PDP to narrow down their differences to meet the aspirations of the people.Kashmir crisis
Mufti bows fearing split
S.P. Sharma & M.L. Kak
Tribune News Service
Srinagar/Jammu, October 23
In a dramatic turn this morning, the People's Democratic Party (PDP) of Mufti Mohammed Sayeed relented and offered to resume talks with the Congress on the issue of forming a coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir. The change in the attitude of the PDP leadership is understood to have come because of the pressure of certain newly-elected MLAs of the party who were reportedly annoyed over the stiff posture taken by the Mufti and his daughter, Ms Mehbooba Mufti.
The Mufti will go to Delhi on Friday to resume talks with the Congress.
There had been no breakthrough in the two days of discussions Dr Manmohan Singh had earlier this week with the Mufti and the talks had virtually broken with the latter insisting that he should be made Chief Minister because his party had bagged 14 seats in the Kashmir Valley in the recent Assembly elections. The Congress had reportedly offered that the Chief Minister could be by rotation from the two parties.
However, Ms Mehbooba Mufti is learnt to have telephoned the Congress President, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, and requested her not to take a final decision on the Congress going ahead alone to form a government in the state. The PDP is learnt to have decided to reconsider the proposals offered by Dr Manmohan Singh during his two days of talks with the Mufti.
There were reports that the Muftis gave in because of the rumours that some of the PDP legislators were in contact with the Congress and the party could split in case some corrective measures were not taken immediately. The Congress leaders here were expecting that the CLP leader, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad, might return from Delhi to stake the claim of forming the government with the support of some smaller parties and Independents. However, the new development came when Ms Mehbooba Mufti telephoned Mrs Sonia Gandhi while she was holding a meeting with certain senior members of the CWC on the impasse in Kashmir.
One Congress MLA, wishing to remain unidentified, said that Ms Mehbooba Mufti had agreed to be part of the coalition on the terms and conditions put forward by Dr Manmohan Singh, who had two sittings with the Mufti in Srinagar. He said the PDP leadership may demand additional concessions which the Congress could accept in the interest of government formation.
He said the PDP may accept the offer of joining the coalition either on having a Chief Minister by rotation or a Deputy Chief Minister with Home portfolio going to the PDP.
If the Congress and the PDP agree to form a coalition government the combine would require only eight MLAs to demonstrate their majority on the floor of the House. The combine has a strength of 36 and 44 are required to prove its majority. In such a case it need not bank on all Independent candidates.
Sources close to the PDP leadership said the Mufti and his daughter were forced to review their stand following reports that at least six PDP MLAs were ready to either support the Congress or defect to it.
Dr Manmohan Singh had told mediapersons after the failure of his talks with the Mufti that the Congress was by and large agreeable to including the controversial election manifesto of the PDP in the common minimum programme of the coalition government. In its manifesto, the PDP had offered to open a dialogue with the militants after releasing them to enable them to come into the mainstream and disband the Special Operation Group of the police which had firmly dealt with terrorists. But there had been complaints against the SOG of high-handedness with innocent people.
However, the talks had entered a deadlock on the issue of chief ministership. The Congress had projected Mr Azad as the Chief Minister in its election campaign. The Mufti is likely to make his stand clear at a public meeting which he will address at Anantnag tomorrow.
Meanwhile, the Panthers Party with four MLAs has decided to review the situation as it had given support to the alliance with the condition that the Chief Minister should be from Jammu. Mr Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, who is heading the group of seven Independent MLAs, met the Governor along with four legislators and urged him that a duly elected government should be installed at the earliest.