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Journalism of Courage
Strife-torn Jammu and Kashmir is all set to roll out a grand reception for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Former PM Atal Behari Vajpayee had offered India’s ‘‘hand of friendship’’ to Pakistan from Srinagar in 2003 which cleared the way for the talks between the two countries. Now, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has announced the reduction of troops in the Valley just before his visit on November 17 and 18. Even the separatist Hurriyat leadership seems to have gone on the defensive at this announcement. After Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf announced a ‘‘formula’’ for the solution of the Kashmir issue, the decision to cut down on troops by the Indian government is being seen as a major development. Interestingly, at the same time, a delegation of Indian journalists including scribes from the Valley will visit Pakistan.
After attack, NC rebounds
A month after the bypoll debacle in J-K, the National Conference leadership is suddenly fighting fit. Reason: the recent attack on Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah has infused new blood in the party cadre. The attention the Abdullahs got from the Prime Minister and coalition leaders after the blast made party cadre realise the standing the father-son duo have in Kashmir politics. Party leaders have once again gone back to organising rallies in various parts of the state to target the Mufti-led coalition government. Latest on their agenda is to grill the ruling coalition on its two years in power.
Maharashtra formula, J-K’s envy
Congressmen in Jammu and Kashmir are ‘‘sore’’ at the party taking charge of NCP-Congress government in Maharashtra. Says a Congressman: ‘‘Yahan ham sabse badi party the par chief minister high command ne bana diya PDP ka. Maharshtra mein party dusre number par thee par jab tak chief minister apna nahin banva liya sarkar nahin banne dee (Here, we are the bigger party but the high command let the PDP pick a CM while in Maharashtra, though we are second, the party didn’t let the government take over until we had our CM). Partymen are now questioning why this discrimination with the Congress in J-K by the Congress high command?
Busy Azad can’t hold state charge too
After the formation of the government in Jammu and Kashmir, the allies had constituted a coalition coordination committee (CCC) in 2003 with Ghulam Nabi Azad a s chairman. Over the past 22 months, the CCC has held only three meetings as Azad doesn’t have the time. Though he has resigned from the PCC chief’s post, his followers in J-K want him to continue as the CCC chairman so that he is around when the time comes to pick the Congress Chief Minister.
Now, a new innings
Imran Khan, perhaps, will be the first celebrity to visit the state to strengthen Indo-Pak relationship. Khan, chairman of the Tehreek-e-Insaaf Party in Pakistan, has announced that he will visit the state soon. The former cricketer, in his new role as peace ambassador, is likely to draw as much attention, or perhaps more, than his days on the pitch. Recently, a group of Pakistani journalists and later, pilgrims, had visited Jammu and Kashmir. There are many who suggest that next meeting between heads of two nations be held in Srinagar!
