J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Farooq’s assurance to Sikhs, Hindus
Srinagar, August 11
The J and K Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, yesterday discussed problems of the Sikh community in the Kashmir valley at a high-level meeting of the ministers, officers and representatives of various Sikh organisations.

Border Security Force men display a 60 mm mortar shell seized in Srinagar on Friday after busting a militant hideout. It is considered a major achievement in view of the forthcoming Independence Day.  — PTI photo

BJP blames Farooq for confusion
Jammu, August 11
The state unit of the BJP has blamed the Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, for creating confusion by raking up the demand for the restoration of greater autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir.

Polytechnic results worry minister
Srinagar, August 11
The Minister for Education, Mr Mohammad Shafi, on Thursday expressed concern over the poor results in polytechnics, saying that despite best efforts of the government the performance of these institutions was nowhere near expectations. 

Bhim Singh seeks Farooq’s dismissal
New Delhi, August 11
The National Panthers Party (JKNPP) President, Prof Bhim Singh, today demanded immediate dismissal of the Farooq Abdullah government saying that five years of his governance has only led to increased militancy and communalism in the state.

Farooq’s assurance to Sikhs, Hindus
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, August 11
The J and K Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, yesterday discussed problems of the Sikh community in the Kashmir valley at a high-level meeting of the ministers, officers and representatives of various Sikh organisations.

The issues discussed were representation to the Sikhs in democratic institutions, statutory bodies, professional educational institutions, promotion of Punjabi language, employment and various welfare measures, an official spokesman said.

The issues were raised by delegates of the Sikhs at a meeting with the Chief Minister here. In all, 253 representatives of various Sikh organisations had participated.

Chief Secretary Ashok Jaitley, senior civil and police officers were also present at the meeting.

Dr Abdullah favoured the formation of a committee for the upkeep of temples in the Kashmir valley.

Responding to a suggestion by representatives of migrants at a meeting convened by him, the Chief Minister said possibilities for a panel on the pattern of the sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee for the management of temples in the valley would be examined.

He announced that a three-member committee, with himself as Chairman, would take stock of the conditions of various temples in the valley and take immediate measures for their renovation and upkeep. Mr P.N. Taku, president, Durganagh Trust, would be Vice-Chairman and Prof Satish Raina, Adviser to the CM on Minority Affairs, the secretary.

Referring to the constitution of Shri Amarnath Shrine Board, Dr Abdullah said the step would greatly help in improving the facilities at the cave shrine and track from Pahalgam. He said offerings during the just-concluded pilgrimage had been worth over Rs 1 crore.

The Chief Minister gave on the spot instructions for mitigating the problems of the valley-based minority community and said all efforts would be made for redressing their grievances.

On the points raised by the migrants, the Chief Minister said that he would pursue with the Union Home and Finance Ministers the issue regarding enhancement of cash relief, already pending with the Centre.

He said the problems of essential services in various migrant camps would be redressed immediately and asked the Works Minister, Mr Ali Mohammad Sagar, to visit Jammu for the assessment of progress at various water supply schemes, especially at Batalballian camp.

Dr Abdullah noted with satisfaction the disposal of cases pertaining to the payment of ex-gratia relief to gutted migrant property in the valley. Over Rs 35 crore had been disbursed so far to 4453 families whose dwelling units etc were burnt during militancy. He asked the Divisional Commissioner to dispose of the remaining 253 cases also and said the issue pertaining to unauthorised occupation of migrants’ property would be looked into.

The meeting was attended by Minister for Finance Abdul Rahim Rather, Minister for Revenue Abdul Qayum, Minister for Works Ali Mohammad Sagar, Chief Secretary Ashok Jaitley, Adviser to CM on Minority Affairs Satish Raina, Financial Commissioner Revenue S.D. Singh, Commissioner/ Secretary Revenue, A. R. Parray, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Khursheed Ahmed, Relief Commissioner (Migrants) Dilip Singh and others.

Addressing Nambardaris here yesterday, the Chief Minister said they formed an important component of the village hierarchy and should perform their job with devotion. The Chief Minister said hike in their wages would be actively considered.

BJP blames Farooq for confusion
Tribune News Service

Jammu, August 11
The state unit of the BJP has blamed the Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, for creating confusion by raking up the demand for the restoration of greater autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir.

Conveying the party’s displeasure over the demand the BJP MP Mr Vishnu Dutt, told newspersons here today that while Dr Abdullah was asking for greater autonomy the separatists were demanding “azadi” and the Chief Minister should know that a thin line divided the two demands.

Mr Dutt said the demand for greater autonomy lent indirect support to the separatists. He said the extension of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act and the Disturbed Areas Act to Jammu would have no impact unless the state administration was overhauled and anti-national forces were active in the state administration and the Chief Minister needed to weed out such elements.

He also wanted Dr Abdullah to avoid making “irresponsible” statements and in this context he referred to the Chief Minister’s suggestion that the LoC be converted into a permanent border.

Mr Dutt said on the one hand India claimed the entire Jammu and Kashmir state, including the area held by Pakistan, was its integral part and the Parliament resolution favoured liberating PoK while on the other hand Dr Abdullah talked about the need for converting the LoC into a permanent border.

While expressing concern over the step-up in militancy related violence in the state, especially in the Jammu region, Mr Dutt said sections of separatists and agencies across the border were not in favour of the peace process initiated by the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, to reach its logical conclusion.

The BJP leader also castigated the Census authorities for having prepared a wrong Census report. He said it was strange and unbelievable that despite migration of over four lakh people and death of several thousand people in militancy related violence, the Census figures indicate higher birth and population rate in the Kashmir valley than in the Jammu region. He said it was part of the design to have more Assembly seats from the valley than in the Jammu region.

Polytechnic results worry minister
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, August 11
The Minister for Education, Mr Mohammad Shafi, on Thursday expressed concern over the poor results in polytechnics, saying that despite best efforts of the government the performance of these institutions was nowhere near expectations. The minister was addressing a meeting with the heads of polytechnics to analyse the factors responsible for the poor performance of polytechnic students.

Mr Shafi said the technical institutions should produce quality professionals who were competent enough to be absorbed in jobs immediately.

Pointing mere 20 per cent pass percentage of the civil, mechanical and electrical engineering diplomas from polytechnics, he said the stagnant position of results must change now. He stressed the need for projecting polytechnics as standard institutes of learning in the state. He said miracles were not expected but a beginning must take place by analysing the factors responsible for the lack of performance of the students. Periodical inspection of the institutions was essential in this regard, he added.

Mr Shafi said the failures should be treated with concrete positive efforts and not with mere justifications. The minister discussed with the heads of the polytechnics the problems being faced by them and the reasons behind the dissatisfactory performance. He said it was the responsibility of the government to ensure quality results from educational institutions and for that all possible efforts would be made.

The minister assured the provision of infrastructure and other facilities to the polytechnics to modernise and diversify technical education. He added that the whole procedure of admissions and conduct of examination had been streamlined. Besides, regular studies in the educational institutions had been ensured. With the new schemes adopted by the department the time lag had been completely eliminated during an academic session.

Mr Shafi said the quality input of students in polytechnics was essential to achieve better results. Administrative failures must be completely eliminated from the system. The schools should provide strong foundation to the students so that they successfully carry on with their graduation courses and compete in competitive examinations. Mr Shafi stressed the need for creating educational atmosphere for which the involvement of teaching staff in ensuring good results was essential.

He further said the polytechnics must concentrate on attendance and should make it a practice to conduct the exams only after completing the syllabus. He said the lack of proper facilities for students in private polytechnics would not be tolerated. They were bound to spend 60 per cent of their earnings on salaries and at the same time must not charge the students excessively, the minister added.

Curriculum analysis, career counselling of students, introduction of semester system, need for moderation of question papers, remedial teachings and some other similar issues were also discussed at the meeting, an official spokesman said.

Bhim Singh seeks Farooq’s dismissal
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 11
The National Panthers Party (JKNPP) President, Prof Bhim Singh, today demanded immediate dismissal of the Farooq Abdullah government saying that five years of his governance has only led to increased militancy and communalism in the state.

He reiterated that the Governor’s rule in Jammu and Kashmir with the consensus of all political parties was the only solution to this problem.

He wanted free and fair elections under independent observers of international repute to be held in Jammu and Kashmir to elect “genuine and legitimate” representatives of the people.

On the decision of the government to declare Jammu, where more than 70 per cent of the population are non-Muslim, as a disturbed area, he said.