J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Family members of Juma Khan and Juma Ali Khan of Darriangan villlage wait after identifying the bodies which were exhumed in Chogam (Pathribal) village in Anantnag on Friday.
— Photo by Amin War

House witnesses rowdyism
JAMMU, April 8 — The Assembly witnessed a pandemonium for about half an hour when ruling National Conference and other Opposition members demanded at least a week for discussion on the report of the Autonomy Committee.

Gurdwara board chief assails BJP
JAMMU, April 8 — The President of the state Gurdwara Prabandhak Board, Mr S.S.Wazir, has questioned the suggestion of the ruling BJP leaders that the Sikhs living in the Kashmir valley be provided with guns to protect their lives.

J&K Bank zonal HQ inaugurated
JAMMU, April 8 — The Governor, Mr G.C. Saxena, and the Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, today impressed upon banks to help the state in rebuilding the infrastructure that got damaged in militancy-related violence.

Foreign army men meet Governor
JAMMU, April 8 — A team of senior officers of National Defence College called on the Governor, Mr Girish Chandra Saxena, here at the Raj Bhavan yesterday. The team comprises three foreign army officers, who are on a study tour of the state.

House witnesses rowdyism
Discussion on autonomy panel report
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, April 8 — The Assembly witnessed a pandemonium for about half an hour when ruling National Conference and other Opposition members demanded at least a week for discussion on the report of the Autonomy Committee.

The NC members, most of them known for being in the dissident camp, exchanged hot words with the Law Minister, Mr P.L. Handoo when the former blamed him for having tabled a motion for discussing the committee report at the fag-end of the Budget session.

Mr Mohd. Shafi Bhat (NC) used unparliamentary language while berating the Law Minister for “having taken the members on a ride over an important issue”. The Speaker, Mr Abdul Ahad Vakil, ordered that the unparliamentary words used by Mr Bhat be expunged.

Mr Bhat said: “We are not dumb cattle and enough time should have been kept for a discussion on this important issue in the House”.

He said restoration of greater autonomy was a cheap bargain by the Centre and in case the Centre refused to give the state the pre-1953 constitutional status it would lose Kashmir.

Another NC member, Mr Najib Sohrawardhy, said that there was no need for requesting the Centre to set up ministerial committee to discuss with the state government the issue of greater autonomy. “Whatever has to be done, will have to be done by us,” he said.

Other members, including Mr Sadiq Ali of the NC and Mr M.Y. Tarigami of the CPM, demanded a full discussion on the issue.

When the Law Minister moved the motion for a discussion on the report, 14 members of the Opposition, including those belonging to the BJP, the Congress, the Janata Dal and Panthers Party, walked out of the House. The four Opposition members who did not stage a walkout were Sheikh Abdul Rehman of the BSP and two PDP members.

The discussion will be resumed on Monday, the last day of the Budget session.

During question hour, the BJP members supported by Congress member Ashok Sharma, walked out of the House in protest against the “unsatisfactory” reply to their question regarding appointment of Class-IV employees in the State.

The members, including those from the NC, wanted constituency-wise figures on the appointment of Class IV employees. The Law Minister, Mr P.L. Handoo, informed the House that the government was tabulating information and whenever it was available, it would be revealed to the members.

At this point, Mr Mohd. Shafi Bhat pointed out that the government claimed during the past three years 1.20 lakh youths had been given employment, but there was no information from which area they had been recruited.

The BJP member, Mr Bali Bhagat, said had the government recruited 1,000 youths from each Assembly constituency, it would have meant jobs for 87,000 candidates. But in his constituency he had not found more than 20 youths having been given jobs.

In reply to another question, the state government informed the House that the Chief Secretaries of Kashmir and Punjab would meet shortly to take up with the Ranjit Sagar Dam authorities the issue of employees 355 youths who had been displaced with the construction of the dam.

Gurdwara board chief assails BJP
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, April 8 — The President of the state Gurdwara Prabandhak Board, Mr S.S.Wazir, has questioned the suggestion of the ruling BJP leaders that the Sikhs living in the Kashmir valley be provided with guns to protect their lives.

In a statement issued here yesterday, Mr Wazir said the Sikhs in Kashmir did not want guns as these would not ensure their safety. He said the only safety for the minority community was unity and amity between the Sikhs and Muslims.

The board chief criticised a senior BJP leader, Mr Madan Lal Khurana’s statement holding Dr Farooq Abdullah responsible for the massacre of 35 Sikhs in Chatti Singhpora village. He said that those committing massacres, including the one in Chatti Singhpora, had entered Kashmir from across the border. It was the duty of the BJP-led NDA government to take in had suitable measures for halting infiltration from across the border. “It has failed and the onus of the Chatti Singhpora carnage fell on the shoulders of the BJP,” he said.

Mr Wazir alleged that by suggesting arming of the Sikhs, the BJP was trying to “implement its hidden agenda of creating misunderstanding among different minority communities.”

He said the Union Home Minister, Mr L.K. Advani, had announced, over a year go, at Barshalla in Doda district that if such massacres took place in future he would have no moral right to remain in office. Mr Wazir said that Mr Advani should ponder over it instead of allowing his party colleagues to malign Dr Farooq Abdullah.

He also criticised the SAD leaders for demanding abrogation of Article 370 of the constitution which gives to Jammu and Kashmir a special status within the Indian Union. He said on the one hand, Mr Parkash Singh Badal had been demanding more powers for the state, as per the recommendations of the Sarkaria Commission. On the other hand, his party colleagues were demanding scrapping of Article 370. He wanted Mr Badal to clarify his stand and in case he was not in favour of abrogating Article 370, he should take disciplinary action against those of his partymen who had opposed retention of Article 370.

15 flights to Vaishno Devi
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, April 8 — The Union Minister of Civil Aviation, Prof Chaman Lal Gupta, while talking to newsmen here today about the helicopter service to Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine, said Pawan Hans Corportation had kept three helicopters for carrying pilgrims from Jammu to Sanjichat from tomorrow.

In the initial stages the Pawan Hans would operate 15 flights from Katra to Sanjichat and two sorties between Jammu and Sanjichat daily. Besides, helicopter service on Jammu-Katra route would also be carried out. In each sector the number of sorties could be increased with the rise in the demand, he added.

Mr Gupta said that millions of pilgrims, including the NRIs, would be benefited by the copter service to the holy shrine.

He said that it would cost a pilgrim Rs 2,000 to fly from Katra to Sanjichat and Rs 5,000 from Jammu to Katra. In reply to a question he said that this was the minimum fare and that would meet only the cost of fuel.

Prof Gupta announced that the ministry was also finalising a plan to introduce helicopter service from Jammu to the holy cave of Amarnath during the annual pilgrimage in August.

J&K Bank zonal HQ inaugurated
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, April 8 — The Governor, Mr G.C. Saxena, and the Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, today impressed upon banks to help the state in rebuilding the infrastructure that got damaged in militancy-related violence.

Speaking during the inauguration of a Rs 10 crore zonal headquarters of Jammu and Kashmir Bank here this evening the Governor and the Chief Minister stressed upon the bank to open its branches in far-flung areas so that poor people could get the benefits of improved banking system.

The bank chairman, Mr M.Y. Khan received appreciation from the Governor and the Chief Minister for having upgraded Jammu and Kashmir bank to number one position in the country with a business turnover of Rs 13,000 crore. During the last three years the bank has been able to increase its yearly profit to Rs 91 crore which was expected to touch Rs 120 crore next year.

Mr Khan said that the bank had 404 branches out of which 113 branches had been fully computerised and 35 more branches were to be computerised shortly.

The bank has decided to set up more zonal and divisional headquarters not only in the state but also in other states, including Delhi and Mumbai, where provision for suitable residential accommodation would be made for the bank employees.

The Chief Minister conveyed his thanks to the bank authorities for helping the state to tide over the ongoing cash crunch by making available overdrafts.

Foreign army men meet Governor
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, April 8 — A team of senior officers of National Defence College called on the Governor, Mr Girish Chandra Saxena, here at the Raj Bhavan yesterday. The team comprises three foreign army officers, who are on a study tour of the state.

In his interaction with the officers, the Governor said the overall security situation had substantially improved in the state.

He said the local militants had now a marginal role which was primarily kept alive by foreign mercenaries. He said till date 11,000 militants had been killed and 3000 militants surrendered. Besides, three million of rifle rounds, 25 tonnes of explosives had been recovered from militants. During the period 2,500 wireless sets week also recovered from militants.

The Governor underlined the need for broader coordination among several security agencies as well as the civil administration.