 |
|
‘Buy me for Rs 2,000’ Azad for consensus to resolve Kashmir issue
Rodrigues wants art forums to showcase country’s ethos
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
People protest against mid-night knocks
Several hurt in blast
Chinese tourist missing
|
|
‘Buy me for Rs 2,000’
Jammu, March 29 “I am on sale. Buy me for Rs 2,000.” This was one of the tags attached to over 30 children who were put on sale in Jammu today by their parents. These children along with their parents have come from migrant camps set up for those displaced from militancy-affected areas of Doda, Udhampur, Rajouri and Poonch at Talwara in Reasi. Piyar Singh, who has already mortgaged three girls four months ago, had come with his fourth daughter Ruchika Devi (10). He told mediapersons outside the Press Club here, where the sale was held, that “acute poverty had forced us to mortgage our children.” The sale of children could not materialise because of a scuffle between the workers of the Congress and the Panthers Party. When these 30 children were put up for sale, supporters of Mr Lal Singh, Lok Sabha member belonging to the Congress, and Mr Bhim Singh, chief of the Panthers Party, exchanged hot words, which led to a clash between the two
groups. The police had to intervene to stop the clash. Referring to the sale of three children earlier, Piyar Singh said, “I had mortgaged Puja Devi (19), Jyoti (13) and Meetoo (12) for Rs 3,000 each.” He and another camper Kamlesh Singh said, “When militancy related violence forced us to migrate from Thiloo village in Mahore area of Udhampur district in 1998 we were given free ration for three months. When it was stopped we started feeling the pinch.” They further said, “We had borrowed money from various sources and when the borrowers pressed for return of the money we had no other alternative but to sell our children.” The price of these children ranged between Rs 2,000 and Rs 7,000. Thirteen-year-old Babli Devi said, “The condition in our camps is very bad. For days we have to pass without food. I have come willingly to mortgage myself so that my parents do not die of starvation,” she said. Babli said, “I wanted to become a doctor but militancy has shattered my dreams. I feel my parents have the right to sell me because that way I too will get something to eat at the house of my buyer.” The issue of sale of children figured in the Assembly, now in session in Jammu, in the past two days. Members cutting across party affiliations expressed concern over the plight of the migrants and demanded that these displaced families too receive free ration and cash assistance. According to the government figures, over 2,200 families, comprising 11,884 souls, from Doda, Udhampur, Poonch and Rajouri have been registered as migrants and over 400 families are staying in the Talwara camp in Reasi. Till date the government has made no
commitment on the release of free ration and cash assistance. It, however, informed the Assembly that the matter was under examination and steps would be taken to mitigate the difficulties being faced by the migrants. |
|
Azad for consensus to resolve Kashmir issue
Jammu, March 29 Mr Azad addressing a special session of the two-day national seminar on building peace in Jammu and Kashmir in the Jammu university, said that for enduring peace, catchment area for stakeholders needed to be widened. A consensus for resolving the Kashmir issue to meet the aspirations of people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh regions had to be generated and natural and traditional links between both sides of Line of Control (LoC) re-established and strengthened for peace. He said bold initiatives and practical ideas propounded by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistan’s president Pervez Musharraf on making borders irrelevant without affecting territorial integrity of both countries had the potential to institutionalise peace and bid farewell to violence and confrontational approach forever. He said we needed to think about such issues as joint management of various resources and consultative institutions, be it agriculture, forestry, environment, tourism, water and power resources to strengthen these ideas. Important international developments such as economic and technological globalisation, international trade and necessities for attracting more and more investment have brought home the imperative for peace among people especially youth in both countries. Mr Azad congratulated Vice-Chancellor Amitabh Mattoo for organising the interaction on a topical issue and called for holding track-II interaction at Srinagar before the round-table conference in May. He said there was genuine aspiration in the state for lasting peace that was evident from the return of near normalcy and increase in tourist arrivals in the valley. There was decline in the level of terrorist infiltration and the incidents of violence had decreased. Dr Manmohan Singh has been spearheading the initiative to restore lasting peace in the state and his latest offer of a treaty of peace, security and friendship to Pakistan had the potential to transform radically Indo-Pak relations. The treaty could meaningfully start the process for institutionalising peace in the state, he said. Mr Azad said operation of bus and train services across the borders as also connectivity of the LoC had enhanced greatly cultural, people-to people contact and other linkages that bind nations and people in peace. He said both countries had moved forward a great deal in their engagements on many vexed issues, including J&K, which had resulted in more and more diplomatic and informal engagements that were constructive and innovative. The Pugwash conference at Islamabad recently generated many important ideas that could be used constructively for further progress in bilateral dialogue. Mr Mattoo pointed out that Mr Azad’s vision of peace and development encompassed all aspects of economic development. His vision had been acclaimed widely by intellectuals, scholars, strategists, administrators and people at large because it was the only unanimous goal for every one. He pointed out that no institution could grow without taking strength from civil society. |
|
Rodrigues wants art forums to showcase
Jammu, March 29 He was presiding over the 20th meeting of the governing body of the North Zone Cultural Centre (NZCC), here. He called upon members of the participating states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and the union territory of Chandigarh to adopt new techniques and methodologies in different art and culture forms suiting the changing pattern of society. Emphasis must be to make creative and educative programmes available to each and every citizen especially in remote areas. Underlining the need for attracting youth to the programmes of the NZCC, General Rodrigues said that they were instruments of change and protectors of rich cultural heritage. Apart from inculcating in themselves interest for preservation and conservation of our heritage, the youth should also give importance to human and secular values. Stressing the need for concerted efforts for the revival and promotion of traditional Indian and regional cultures and giving impetus to verbal and spoken art forms, he emphasised the need for greater support and appreciation for creative works and to recognise the effort of artists at different forums. Special attention must be given to explore artistic talent of the disadvantaged. Lauding role of art in strengthening forces of unity and national integration, General Rodrigues said different art forms played powerful and constructive role in educating people and influencing their thoughts and aspirations. He said that the Kalagram in Chandigarh was fast emerging as a focal point for the promotion of art and culture in the region. It is being remodelled by equipping it with state of the art facilities to ensure that the younger generation imbibed rich culture. He said that the Tagore Theatre in Chandigarh was also being renovated by making state of the art additions for the display of performing arts.
|
|
People protest against mid-night knocks
Baramula, March 29 They said hundreds of locals took to the streets raising slogans against the Jammu and Kashmir Police task force and the security forces. The demonstrators alleged that the task force and security force personnel visited a number of localities in the downtown late last night and harassed residents. The security personnel in civil dress were knocking at the doors and windows, the residents alleged and said they were demanding money. However, a senior police official brought the situation under control after he assured that the incident would be properly investigated. He said that night patrolling in the area would also be intensified to prevent such incidents in future. Similar situation was witnessed last week when people of the area alleged that the security forces in civil dress beat up residents for refusing to provide them money and food. Later, a senior officials of the security forces and police assured to investigate the incident. The residents said mid-night knocks had almost stopped during the past four years after the Special Operation Group (SOG) of the police was disbanded. Expressing concern, the residents demanded a high-level probe to bring the culprits to book.
— UNI |
|
Several hurt in blast
Srinagar, March 29 They said a security force vehicle was damaged in the blast. The injured were admitted to hospital, they said. A Hizbul Mujahideen spokesman, however, claimed that seven jawans were killed after two vehicles were damaged. This was the third IED blast in the valley during the past two weeks. Last week, a blast took place on the high security airport road at Sanant Nagar causing injuries to six soldiers and a woman pedestrian. Another blast took place on the Srinagar airport road causing damage to an electric pole. However, no one was injured in that blast.
— UNI |
|
|
Chinese tourist missing
Srinagar, March 29 A report to this effect has been lodged at Nehru Park police station where her belongings have been shifted from the houseboat. Police sources said efforts were on to trace the tourist and they were looking for her at other tourist spots like Gulmarg and Pahalgam. “We are looking for her at different places, particularly the tourist spots,” a police officer told The Tribune here today. Contact had also been established with her family members, the police sources said. |
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Mailbag | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
