The Hindu : Govt. offices reopen in Srinagar

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, May 07, 2002

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Govt. offices reopen in Srinagar

By Shujaat Bukhari

SRINAGAR MAY 6. Amid tight security, Government offices reopened here today for six months of summer in the routine darbar move. These offices closed in the winter capital of Jammu on April 26. The Civil Secretariat, which houses the offices of the Chief Minister, Ministers and other top officials is the nerve centre of activity.

The reopening of the offices lacked the usual hustle-bustle with the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Farooq Abdullah, holidaying in London. "It is a dry day as the man who gives news and makes it is absent'' said a journalist. Dr. Abdullah is expected to return by May 25.

The acting Chief Minister, Mohiuddin Shah, went around the secretariat without the traditional guard of honour. His "ill-health" was cited as the reason for not presenting the guard of honour. Mr. Shah was received warmly by his Cabinet colleagues, the Chief Secretary, Inderjit Singh Malhi, and the Director-General of Police, Ashok Kumar Suri.

In an informal chat with mediapersons, Mr. Shah, the seniormost Minister in the National Conference Government reiterated his party's stand on autonomy and said it would be achieved through a dialogue with the Centre. He denied that the demand had anything to do with the coming elections to the State Assembly and said it was the "political Bible of the National Conference.''

On when the Union Minister of State for External Affairs and Dr. Abdullah's son, Omar Abdullah, would take over as the president of the National Conference, he said "a decision in this regard will be taken by the party working committee.''

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