[Reader-list] "Samata men rake up ' IB candidate' muck"

[taraprakash]

I am sure it is better to bribe people to make them contest in the elections 
for a democracy than to shoot them down for contesting.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Shivam V" <lists at shivamvij.com>
To: "sarai list" <reader-list at sarai.net>
Sent: Wednesday, December 24, 2008 6:25 AM
Subject: [Reader-list] "Samata men rake up ' IB candidate' muck"


> Mail Today E-Paper: Samata men rake up ' IB candidate' muck
>
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>
> November 16, 2008
> Samata men rake up 'IB candidate' muck
>
> By Parvaiz Bukhari in Srinagar
>
> SEVEN Samata Party ( SP) candidates in the Jammu and Kashmir elections
> accused on Tuesday their party leadership of " luring them with money"
> to contest the polls at the behest of " intelligence agencies". Their
> statement (MAIL TODAY has recorded it) adds fuel to the recent
> controversy that the huge voter turnout in the last six phases of the
> seven- tier polls was stagemanaged by intelligence agencies.
>
> SP has fielded 14 candidates in the state, 13 of them from Kashmir and
> one from Jammu ( Vijaypur).
>
> The seven, who made the allegation, are living in Royal Palace hotel
> near Dalgate under tight security provided by the government.
>
> The SP candidates said their mission was to bring out " committed
> voters", but they decided to blow the lid since the money promised to
> them was not delivered.
>
> The SP's state president M. Y. Naikoo approached Wali Mohammad Khan,
> who since 1978 was the chief organiser of the Congress Seva Dal in
> Kashmir until elections were announced. Naikoo " promised" Khan Rs 5
> lakh to contest from the sensitive Amirakadal segment.
>
> "He ( Naikoo) told me that half the money would be paid before filing
> the nomination and the other half immediately after that. But nothing
> has been given so far," Khan said on the eve of the last phase of
> polls.
>
> "Naikoo is absconding and I suspect he is also an IB ( intelligence
> bureau) agent, like those who have fielded so many independent
> candidates," he alleged.
>
> The allegations combined with others of direct and indirect coercion
> by Army in some areas during the six phases may not explain the record
> voter turnout. It is also a reality that people in Kashmir have defied
> the separatists' poll boycott call.
>
> National Conference president Omar Abdullah have indirectly raised
> doubts over the number of Independent candidates - 468 in total - in
> the polls. " Delhi is dividing people by putting up Independents from
> every nook and cranny in Kashmir," he said.
>
> "I wanted to stand in the election. But when I saw some people, who
> for years have been working for IB, jumping into the fray, I took a
> step back," said a young politician, corroborating Abdullah's fears.
>
> Khan is not alone in the confession box. There are three others in his
> group - Nazir Ahmed, Mohammad Altaf and Gurmeet Singh - who made
> similar damning revelations. But they differ in their approach to deal
> with their worries.
>
> Khan is now worried he too would be " perceived" by his supporters as
> an IB agent, which could spell trouble for him in Kashmir.
>
> The state's chief electoral officer B. R. Sharma said Naikoo should
> respond to the allegations. He said the party is not registered in the
> state but " the election commission has allowed these candidates the
> privilege to use the party symbol". The candidates said " Jitender
> Biduri, the SP general secretary, came to the hotel and promised Rs 5
> lakh to each of us in the presence of Naikoo". Biduri denied the
> allegations.
>
> "All of them have joined the party voluntarily," he said.
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