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Efforts on
to repair, widen Srinagar-Muzzafarabad road
Muslims want Pandits to return |
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BJP condemns militants’ rehabilitation J&K appoints
137 teachers 
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Efforts
on to repair, widen Uri (Kashmir), February 14 Union Minister of State for Defence Chaman Lal Gupta, who was here to inaugurate a bridge at Chandanwari on the Srinagar- Muzzafarabad road said today that although efforts were on to repair the road, the final decision on the issue of the opening of the road would be taken at the forthcoming Indo-Pak talks. “The
ball is now in Pakistan’s court. We are prepared for the opening of
the road and efforts are on from our side,” he told reporters at a
function to inaugurate the 30-metre span bridge built by the BRO, 85
km from Srinagar. Chief Minister Mohammad Sayeed also inspected various sites in this border town for setting up customs, immigration and other passenger facilities today. He was accompanied by five ministers and top civil and Army officials during the inspection during which it was tentatively decided that the customs and immigration facilities would be set up at Urusa village, about 3 km from the LoC. Asked if the customs and immigration facilities would be along the lines of arrangement between India and Nepal, the Chief Minister said the modalities would be decided at the forthcoming talks between New Delhi and Islamabad. Mr Gupta, meanwhile, said security, peace and development would be the main plank of the BJP during the elections. In reply to a question, he said he would seek re-election from the Udhampur seat if the party allowed him to. The other candidates would be named by the BJP high command after consulting the local leadership of the party, he said. He
rebutted media reports that the state coalition government was going
to take up the issue of “non-fulfilment” of promises made by the
Prime Minister to provide 1,00,000 jobs in the state. He said a
railway project from Udhampur to Srinagar alone had generated more
than 40,000 jobs. The Prime Minister had fulfilled his promise as the
other projects financed by the Centre, including a four-lane
Kashmir-to-Kanya Kumari super highway, had generated employment. —
PTI, UNI |
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Muslims want Pandits to return Jammu, February 14 The Action Committee for Return of Migrants, an NGO, brought intellectuals, academics, retired bureaucrats and political leaders of the two committee under one roof to discuss ways and means for facilitating the return of displaced people to the valley. The chairman of the committee, Mr Jatinder Bakshi, said in his keynote address: “Our aim is to ensure the return of the displaced people with the goodwill of the majority community to highlight the failure of the state and Central governments in taking realistic steps for bringing back the minority community to Kashmir, and to arrest the process of communal polarisation.” The interactive session, which was presided over by Mr Ved Bhasin, a veteran journalist, was devoid of the participation of senior separatist leaders, especially those from the Hurriyat conference, the JKLF and Pandit organisations, including the Panun Kashmir andthe All-State Kashmiri Pandit conference. Mr Bhasin said senior Hurriyat and JKLF leaders could not attend the session because of personal problems. The chairman, APHC (Abbas), Molvi Abbas Ansari, whose grandson had undergone a surgery in Delhi, had sent his emissary, Mohammad Shafi of the Itihadul Musalmeen, who read out a message from the Molvi supporting moves for the return of Kashmiri Pandits to the valley. Prominent leaders and intellectuals who took part in the deliberations included Mr Shabir Ahmed Shah, president of the Democratic Freedom Party, Mr Salim Geelani, who heads a rival faction of the Democratic Freedom Party, Mr Balraj Puri, a columnist, Mr Teja Singh, a former senior bureaucrat, Prof H.L. Misri, Prof A.N. Sadhu, Prof Ashok Aima and Mr Tabir Huztar. It was resolved at the conference that the brigades between the two communities “have to be built not by political gimmickery but through people-to-people contact.” The word from the Kashmir Muslim participants was “Muslims and Pandits are inseparable.” Many a speaker blamed bureaucrats and leaders for blocking the return route for the migrants. Mohammad Shafi opposed the plan of rehabilitating displaced people in separate clusters. “We want them to live with us in our vicinity and villages they had left,” he said. However, Prof G.K. Mujoo wanted to know whether it was possible for the displaced people to return to their homes, which had been either grabbed or purchased by members of the majority community. Committee leaders announced thatsuch interactive sessions would continue so that a conducive atmosphere could be built for the return of the migrants. |
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7 Hizb militants surrender Jammu, February 14 The militants laid down their arms before their parents in the presence of the Director-General of Police, Mr Gopal Sharma, and the Inspector-General of Police, Jammu zone, Mr P.L. Gupta. Those who surrendered were identified as Mohammad Farooq, Liaqat Ali, Mushtaq Ahmed, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Hussain, Parvez Khan and Riaz Ahmed. The weapons deposited by the militants included six AK rifles, four wireless sets and grenades. |
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BJP condemns militants’ rehabilitation Jammu, February 14 Dr Hari Om criticised the Congress and the Panthers Party leaders for launching a “vicious campaign against the BJP-led NDA government. He said the NDA government had not supported any move of the state government to release detained militants. He cited a recent statement of the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr L.K. Advani, in which he had said that those in jail under charges of serious crime would not be released. The BJP spokesman said Mr Advani had turned down the demand of the APHC chairman, Molvi Abbas Ansari, for the release of 10 militants lodged in a Delhi jail. |
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J&K appoints
137 teachers Srinagar, February 14 The appointment letters were handed over to the candidates by Minister for Roads and Buildings Syed Bashir Ahmed in Pulwama yesterday. Mr Ahmed said the government had decided to reduce the age for admission to schools from six to four.
PTI |
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Budget session from Feb 16 Jammu, February 14 On the opening day, Governor S.K. Sinha will address a joint session of the two Houses. |
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Moderate quake rocks Srinagar Srinagar, February 14 The quake, lasting about 10 seconds, shook the city around 4 pm. There was no immediate report of loss of life or property. Weather and seismology officials said they were ascertaining the epicentre and the exact intensity of tremor.
— PTI |
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