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

[Shivam V]

Who shot who down for contesting? Please clarify

On 12/25/08, taraprakash <taraprakash at gmail.com> wrote:
> 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
> >
> > This page was sent to you by: mail at shivamvij.com
> >
> > 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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