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Pranab

He met the joint legislature party of National Conference and Congress at the Shere Kashmir International Convention Centre in Srinagar along with Democratic Party Nationalist Chief Ghulam Hassan Mir.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who has already announced his party's support to Mukherjee's bid, led the joint legislature party in the meeting.

CPI (M) state secretary M Y Tarigami, PDF leader Hakim Mohammad Yasin and Independent MLA Engineer Rashid met Mukherjee separately. The brief meeting was also attended by Chief Minister Omer Abdullah, JKPCC Chief Saifuddin Soz and Congress General Secretary Mohan Prakash. “We gave full assurance to him of our support”, Tarigami told VOS over phone.

Meanwhile, firebrand MLA Langate Engineer Rasheed presented a memorandum to the presidential candidate on the mercy petition of parliamentary attack convict Afzal Guru, requesting for its acceptance by him after assuming the office of President.

Talking on Kashmir's development, Mukherjee said that he wants Kashmir to develop and progress under the constitutional framework.
Mukherjee had a meeting with PDP Patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed at his residence here in the afternoon. Mukharjee in his half an hour meeting with Mufti was accompanied by the JKPCC chief Shri Saifudin Soz, Congress General Secretary Rajive Shukla and MOS Parliamentary affairs and MP Madan Lal Sharma. Senior PDP leader and Former Deputy Chief Minister Muzaffar Hussain “Beig told Mukharjee that the party was sure that he would win to the prestige of the institution of the president of India”, said the PDP spokesperson. Besides Beg senior party leader Molvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari, General Secretary Mohd Dilawar Mir and Chief Spokesperson of the party Naeem Akhtar were present on this occasion. 

People's Democratic Party (PDP) patriarch Mufti Mohammad Sayeed said “Pranab Mukherjee is a capable and competent man who will prove to be one of the country's best Presidents”.
"We had many great Presidents, he will be one of the best we will have," Sayeed told reporters at his residence after meeting Mukherjee.
"He has been my party colleague. When his nomination was announced we were very happy. Personally, I was very happy. He is a person with whom I have long association, he is a very capable and competent person," the PDP patron said.
The former Jammu and Kashmir Chief MInister said he was hopeful that Mukherjee, with whom he had campaigned for Indira Gandhi, will not turn out to be "his master's voice" when he becomes the President.
"When his nomination was announced, PDP president Mehbooba (Mufti) extended the support. He will be one of the best persons for the institution of Presidency," Sayeed said.

Mukherjee, while speaking to media persons on the occasion said he had come to thank different leaders and political parties for their support to his candidature. “Presently I neither represent the government nor the party”, said Mukherjee adding he can comment on issues if and when he becomes the president of India. According to VOS correspondent, he also refused to comment on whether he will accept the clemency petition of parliamentary attack convict Afzal Guru. Mukherjee assured full support for development of the state.
Mukherjee, who was in the Valley, meeting legislators and leaders of various political parties to garner support for his Presidential bid left for Chandigarh in the afternoon

National Conference has 28 MLAs, five MPs and support of an independent MP from Ladakh, while Congress has 17 MLAs and four MPs in Jammu and Kashmir. PDP has 21 MLAs but no presence in the Parliament.
The polling for electing the President will be held on July 19. (VOS)

Mirwaiz

Hurriyat Conference (M) Chairman Mirwaiz Umer Farooq expressed disappointment over the ‘restricted visit’ of Buddhist spiritual leader. “He did not interact with people neither did he meet civil society members, rights people or different shades of political leadership, which was expected”, Mirwaiz said. He said the government hijacked his visit by restricting its ambit.

Mirwaiz said the spiritual leader being a representative of oppressed people can understand the plight of Kashmiris, however, the government managed to confine his visit to its own people. “We expected him to meet parents of disappeared persons, victims of violence and the destitute”, said the Hurriyat Chairman. “He did not talk about injustice, killings and human rights violations either. We understand India is sympathetic to Tibetan cause, however, we hoped he would take notice of these issues”, Mirwaiz added.

The Mirwaiz appealed the Tibetan leader to impress upon India to change its attitude towards Kashmir. “India is talking peace but acting through its army and forces”, he said adding the Dalai Lama can understand the pain of Kashmiris better as his people have also been suffering for long.

Meanwhile, Mirwaiz Umer Farooq condemned and expressed grief over the fire incident at Beeru Shrine. (VOS)

Protests

Three teenage boys Manzoor Ahmad Khan, Muhammad Arif Khan and Manzoor Ahmad have allegedly been severely beaten. “They were grazing cattle when the Army men thrashed, dragged and beat them ruthlessly. We had to hospitalize them,” said the locals.  

The incident triggered protests by people who blocked Handwara-Wader road hours. They demanded punishment to erring Army men and removal of the Army camp from the civilian location.

SDPO Handwara Ifroz Ahmad rushed to the spot and with the help of Police Chowki Zachaldara, pacified the agitating people after which traffic was restored on the important road, sources said The police officer assured people that their grievance and demands will be conveyed to the government.

Meanwhile, Army has denied the allegations saying it did not beat any youth. “There was an altercation between troopers and local youth after the youth were asked to stay clear of army compound as mines could be laid there”, said Brigadier A. Arun of Sector 7 Rashtiry Rifles. “However the allegations of beating up the youth are baseless”, he added.

Meanwhile, a top police officer in Handwara on conditions of anonymity revealed to VOS that the civil administration of Handwara and Kupwara didn’t cooperate with police after the incidents like that of Zachaldara today. “We pacified the protesting civilians toady in Zachaldara today, and it is surprising that not a  single civil officer visited the spot,” he said adding police’s job is to help civil administration in restoring law and order while as it is job of administration to reach out to people and listen to them. “There was a firing incident in Rajwar are last week and few encounters between security forces and militants, and now that incident at Zachaldara. But the civil administration plays ostrich and does not co-operate with police to help bring situation under control. This is precisely what happened in Zachaldara today,” the top police officer bemoaned.

Engineer submits

“This State has passed through decades of sufferings and pain, and at this stage the people of the State expect from New Delhi a compassionate approach towards the issues. I have been maintaining that hanging Muhammad Afzal Guru will have disastrous consequences for the strife-torn State which will further hurt the psyche of people”, it added

Engineer wrote, “After assuming office of the President of India, which is obvious, the mercy petition of Muhammad Afzal Guru may be accepted. This gesture of yours will surely help bridge the gap between New Delhi and Kashmir”.

PDP supports

Speeking to the media Mufti said he knew Pranab Mukharjee for decades as an able, mature and talented colleague. He said he expected Mukharjee to win comfortably and remarked that he would make one of the best presidents of the country.

Mukharjee in his half an hour meeting with Mufti was accompanied by the JKPCC chief Shri Saifudin Soz,Shri Rajive Shukla MOS Parliamentary affairs, Shri Madan Lal Sharma  MP.

Senior PDP leader and Former Deputy Chief Minister Muzaffar Hussain Beig told Mukharjee that the party was sure that he would win to the prestige of the institution of the president of India. Besides him senior party leader Molvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari, General secretary Mohd Dilawar Mir and Chief Spokesperson of the party Naeem Akhtar were present on this occasion.