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OMAR AMONG 81 IN FRAY Campaign ends for phase two 11/22/2008 12:13:07 AM Jammu, Nov 21: National Conference president Omar Abdullah is among 81 candidates in six assembly constituencies to face polls on Sunday as campaigning in Rajouri and Ganderbal districts ended this evening after a high level of political enthusiasm. A record number of 81 candidates are in the fray in the six constituencies of Ganderbal, Kangan in recently carved out Ganderbal district and Nowshera, Kalakote, Rajouri and Darhal in Rajouri district that witnessed high pitched campaigning contrary to the first phase of polls on November 17. Candidates were seen making a last minute effort to woo the voters as they went door-to-door, asking for votes in their favour as the campaign ended around 4 PM. Compared to 2002 elections when 46 candidates were in the fray in the six constituencies, a record number of 81 nominees including NC president Omar Abdullah, his arch rival Qazi Mohammad Afzal of PDP, NC rebels Choudhary Talib Hussain and Mohammad Sharief Tariq and Congress rebel Ashok Kumar Sharma are in the fray. In Ganderbal, an electorate of 77,627 have to choose their represent...   READ MORE

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BJP to undo bias against Jammu: Katiyar 11/22/2008 12:12:40 AM Early Times Report Jammu, Nov 21 For balanced development of all the three regions of Jammu and Kashmir delimitation of assembly constituencies is necessary in the state, BJP National General Secretary Vinay Katiyar said here today. "Delimitation of constituencies would help development of the state and flow of adequate funds to its all three regions," Katiyar told reporters here. He said the process of delimitation of constituencies was done all over the country but former National Conference (NC) government stalled it till 2026, thus creating hurdle in the development of all the three regions of the state. If the BJP is voted to power at the centre and the state, the party would im...   READ MORE   Court martial of retired senior army official stayed 11/22/2008 12:11:42 AM Agencies New Delhi, Nov 21 The Delhi High Court Friday stayed court martial proceedings against a retired lieutenant general on corruption charges for allegedly procuring poor quality food items for troops fighting insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir in 2004. The court martial proceedings against Lt Gen (retd) S.K. Sahni were scheduled Nov 26 at the 11 Corps headquarters in Jalandhar. If the court martial had been held, Lt Gen (retd) S.K. Sahni would have been the seniormost army officer, serving or retired, to face such disciplinary proceedings under the Army Act. A bench headed by Justice A.K. Sikri stayed the court martial proceedings for the interim period. The matter has been post...   READ MORE   India capable of handling J&K militancy US intelligence assessment New Delhi can contain separatists 11/22/2008 12:11:08 AM ET DESK Jammu, Nov 21 A leading United States’ official report has though apprehended more violence in India in the near future but has expressed confidence that country is fully capable handling situation in Jammu and Kashmir. India, which has been "plagued by regional and ethnic insurgencies" since its independence, will remain confident of containing the militancy in Jammu and Kashmir, a new US intelligence assessment has said. "We assess New Delhi will remain confident that it can contain the Kashmiri separatist movement," said the US report titled 'Global Trends-2025, A World Transformed'. "However, India is likely to experience heightened violence and instability in se...   READ MORE   Militant attack on Mehbooba’s cavalcade 11/22/2008 12:10:38 AM Early Times Report Srinagar, Nov 21 Militants this evening hurled grenades at the campaign cavalvade of Peoples Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti in Kashmir's Kangan town, injuring a policeman and causing panic, police said here. The PDP president escaped unhurt. Police said the separatist guerrillas hurled the grenades at the PDP cavalcade of over 100 vehicles when it was returning to the Jammu and Kashmir summer capital Srinagar at the end of campaigning in Kangan constituency, 37 km from here. "One policeman received splinter injuries in the explosion, while several PDP workers were injured in the ensuing melee. Mehbooba Mufti's vehicle had crossed Kangan town when the att...   READ MORE   Farooq’s hasty conclusion irks opponents 11/22/2008 12:10:12 AM Sandeep Bhat Jammu, Nov 21 The first phase of polling in Kashmir valley which passed peacefully has upset all calculations. The absence of militants strike in the first phase has now boosted the confidence among the people to contest in remaining six phases. Now keeping in view the turnout of voters and failure of boycott call of separatist various political leaders have started making claims to form next government in the state. National Conference patron Dr. Farooq Abdullah in recently held press conference with full confidence said, National Conference will get absolute majority in the state legislature and as such will form government of its own. The even said that Kashmir Pan...   READ MORE   Don’t poke nose in our polls: India tells Pak 11/22/2008 12:09:46 AM Agencies New Delhi, Nov 21 India Friday objected to Pakistan raising questions on the credibility of assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir and asked it to play a 'responsible role in the region'. 'It is most unfortunate that Pakistan has commented on an internal matter of India. We strongly object to these remarks,' external affairs ministry spokesperson Vishnu Prakash said. He was reacting to a Pakistani foreign ministry spokesperson Thursdaysaying the Nov 17-Dec 28 polls in Jammu and Kashmir 'cannot be construed as an authentic expression of the real aspirations of the Kashmiri people'. Prakash said: 'It is in Pakistan's own interest to play a responsible role in the region. ...   READ MORE   More the candidates, merrier the polls and happier the people 11/22/2008 12:09:02 AM Early Times Report Jammu, Nov 21 When first phase of elections on Monday last left the separatists red faced as people boycotted the boycott campaign to exercise their democratic rights, the enforcers of boycott said that one of the second phases is not end of it. However, things appear headed for still better performance in the forthcoming phases. One of the main reasons for huge voter turnout is considered to be the massive participation of candidates. 102 candidates were in fray for 10 seats to the legislative assembly. The number of candidates for the subsequent phases is following almost same sequence as it was in the first phase. There is an unprecedented increase in the numbe...   READ MORE   Azad deceived his own party 11/22/2008 12:05:53 AM Early Times Report Jammu, Nov 21 “I had a vision and dream for Jammu and Kashmir which was on path of realization but when Ghulam Nabi Azad took over he washed away what all I had built over three years”, said PDP patron and former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed while addressing a public meeting in Koteranka. Azad has not only betrayed his coalition partner but also deceived his own party as he was more concerned about implementing his personal agenda rather than executing policies of the Congress Party, said Mufti and added, "when Ghulam Nabi Azad became Chief Minister of the coalition regime in November 2005, United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson and Congress president...   READ MORE   PDP, Congress ruined J&K, we’ll save 11/22/2008 12:01:58 AM Early Times Report Jammu, Nov 21 Farooq Our government will usher Jammu and Kashmir in an era of peace, prosperity and development which has been vitiated by the bad ruling experiment of Peoples Democratic Party and Congress coalition”, said NC leader and former Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah while addressing public meetings in Kalakote and Nowshera constituencies. “The coalition government which came into power in 2002 by raising hollow slogans and making false promises failed to address the public importance issues, with the result the six years of Congress-PDP rule in the state led to an administrative anarchy and chaos”, he told people. "In the name of development, the Co...   READ MORE   My only agenda is development 11/21/2008 11:59:18 PM Early Times Report Jammu, Nov 21 Azad To set the discrimination complaints at rest, if voted to power, the Congress will constitute autonomous regional councils for Kashmir, Jammu and Ladakh, said former Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad. Addressing public meetings at Peeri and Sunderbani, Azad pointed out: “During the past couple of years the focus of the Congress led government was to create the infrastructure across the state and a balanced development of all the three provinces of the state so that no region could complain that it has been neglected”. He promised that if voted to power again the separate regional councils for Jammu and Srinagar would be set up and there will be dev...   READ MORE   Choices: Self rule v/s autonomy v/s development 11/21/2008 11:57:57 PM Early Times Report Rajouri, Nov 21 Choicest of invectives they hurled against each other notwithstanding, between Ghulam Nabi Azad’s development program, Dr Farooq Abdullah’s autonomy and Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s self-rule, people of four constituencies of Rajouri district have to make a choice as now it is over to them. Three former Chief Ministers today concluded their whirlwind tour of the district and their speeches were marked with bundles of loathes against each other’s person, party and policies. Farooq Abdullah said the “unholy alliance” of Peoples Democratic Party and Congress has ruined politics and economy of Jammu and Kashmir and if given a chance National Conference ...   READ MORE

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Malegaon probe: unhealthy ‘inspiration’ for J&K poll campaign Except BSP all parties exploiting people: Kashyap RKSP to regularize services of SPO’s NC organizes public meeting at Nagrota Jammu Rural Bank launches two farmers clubs Traders find VAT difficulties Batwal community holds condolence meeting PCC condoles demise of Shakuntla Dogra NC manifesto uninspiring: SFJHR Wazir tours Gandhi Nagar constituency DPP urging Govt to remove traffic restrictions NCC cadets celebrates Traffic Day Sharma getting overwhelming support from Kalakote Celebration of “Communal Harmony Week” on “Kavi Samelan” Ansal Housing enters Jammu JU students want early appointment of new VC JSM launches door-to-door campaign Bhim says his party alone can save Dogras Gupta ridicules Congress claim of forming government Manhas welcomes decision on Justice Sharma Commission BJP warns of legal action against Sikh bodies Anita assures reservation to Women Panthers condemn police action on employees CPI to contest on five seats only Lecture series begins at JU DDE JKNUF complains of MCC violation PYC sets up election office at Talab Tiloo Several join NC Sanction for prosecution of DPO, others Court declines directions for uninterrupted power supply HC decides law point in pension case Academy Organizes state level poetic festival Contact Rajouri EOs RO set up offices in Doda Omar makes last bid with voters as campaign ends in Ganderbal Jamwal: BJP is anti-Hindu BSP’s Kashyap accuses Police of bias BJP, Congress workers clash at Uri Baramulla candidates allege favouritism Commission reviews arrangements in Ganderbal Observers take charge in Baramulla 14 papers filed in Shopian Kupwara district gearing up for challeng   READ MORE THIS SECTION

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Himachal beats J&K by 6 wkts in women cricket Differences remain there! Inter-school athletics meet begins Boxing competitions remain inconclusive Inter-block women sports meet held A Poll Full Of Many Surprises   READ MORE THIS SECTION

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