Jammu, February 27
Pro-Jammu parties have decided to jointly take up various issues in the forthcoming Budget session of the Legislative Assembly. Leaders of the BJP, the Panthers Party and the Jammu State Morcha (JSM) have decided to take up the issue of the setting up of the Delimitation Commission.

“As far as discrimination against the Jammu region is concerned, we will jointly take up the issue in the Assembly ,” said Ashwani Kumar, JSM MLA.He pointed out that in the last session, which was held in Srinagar, all pro-Jammu groups had unitedly opposed the controversial statement of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on the accession of the state to the Union of India. “From time to time, the pro-Jammu parties have displayed unity and in future also, we will jointly highlight the step-motherly treatment meted out to our region,” he said.

The BJP, which has 11 members in the House, has already announced to bring all nationalist and pro-Jammu forces on one platform to oppose the “discriminatory” policies of the coalition regime.

“As far as discrimination against the Jammu region is concerned, we will take all like-minded parties into confidence,” Shamsher Singh Manhas, state president of the BJP said.

Meanwhile, the Panthers Party has made it clear that the issue of Jammu’s neglect and deprivation will be raised in the Assembly. “The party will highlight discrimination against the Jammu region in various sectors, including development projects, devolution of funds, employment opportunities,share in professional institutions, rural connectivity, power, health, tourism promotion, besides inequality in the number of Assembly and Parliament seats,” said Harsh Dev Singh, leader of the Panthers Party in the Assembly.

The parties would also oppose any move to grant greater autonomy or other concessions to the state.

“The youth of Jammu and Ladakh shall be given equal share in the employment package announced by the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh,” Singh added.

Jammu, February 27
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said that the state government would take a decision about the move of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) to discard the state flag and adopt the national emblem as its logo in place of the state emblem after examining the matter.

“We are examining the issue. After all,it is a local municipality.Even the Srinagar municipality has a different emblem,” Omar said.

Meanwhile,as the LAHDC is dominated by its coalition partner,the Congress, no leader of the National Conference (NC) is ready to speak on the issue. The Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chief, Saifuddin Soz, has also refused to react before getting “authentic” information in this regard.

“I have no information that the LAHDC has discarded the state flag and adopted the national emblem,” Soz said.

“As soon as I get the accurate information, I will react,” he said.

The PDP has termed the decision of the LAHDC as unconstitutional.

“Discarding the state flag is an unconstitutional act,” party spokesperson Naim Akther said.

The Panthers Party chief, Bhim Singh, has defended the decision. “What’s wrong if the LAHDC has adopted its own emblem or flag?” he asked, and said the LAHDC was an autonomous body.So, it had the right to choose its own flag and emblem.

However, Rigzin Spalbar, chairman of the LAHDC, staunchly defended his decision. “The Act of the LAHDC has given us enough power to adopt our own flag and emblem,” he told The Tribune over the phone.

However, he said the decision was a step towards total integration of the state with the rest of the country.

“The national emblem of our country is now our logo. The council has already adopted it and we are now giving it final touches,” he said.

Eminent historian and columnist Prof Hari Om has asked the state unit of the Congress to learn a lesson from the Ladakh Congress. “Instead of appeasing the separatists, the Congress should take a stand on the total integration of the state with the country,” he said, and added that there was nothing wrong in discarding the state flag and the emblem by the LAHDC.

Jammu, February 27
The state government has failed to take action against perpetrators of the January 13, 1989, anti-Sikh riots in Jammu and Udhampur. The riots left 14 persons dead, including two killed in alleged police firing, and several injured.

The failure of the state government to take action against the accused, inadequate compensation and non-disclosure of the Justice Ansari Commission Report into the riots have disappointed the families of the victims.

The Justice MM Ansari Commission Report, which was submitted in 1990, is yet to be released officially. A copy of the nearly 250- page report accessed by The Tribune revealed that the commission had held the police and the civil administration responsible for negligence, contradictory claims and improper intelligence as well as failure in scotching rumours.

The then SSP of Jammu is now serving as the DGP of another state. He defended himself in a hearing before the commission, but the then District Magistrate, PG Dhar Chakrabarti, contradicted him on the deployment of the police and intelligence inputs.

The riots broke out first during a procession taken out for celebrating the birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh on January 13, 1989. The atmosphere was surcharged due to the hanging of Satwant Singh, an assassin of Indira Gandhi, a week earlier. A number of Sikh youths carried posters of Satwant and raised anti-India slogans.

A police team seized the posters and stopped the sloganeering. Thereafter, violence broke out when a few persons threw stones and boiling water on the procession. The police claimed that they posted its personnel on roofs, but the District Magistrate told the commission that no cop was deployed there.

The commission came as a big hope for the victims, but they were disappointed as its report was never released. Dalbir Singh, whose brother Gurdeep Singh died of a gunshot allegedly in police firing, told The Tribune that the successive governments kept the report under wraps to help the police and the accused.

He said his brother was shot at the back of the head when he was saving children trapped in a bus near Gurdwara Nanak Nagar.

“No action was ever taken against the cops who shot him. The FIR mentioned that the injury was caused by a sharp-edged weapon,” he said.

Dalbir Singh has still kept the turban of his brother, which bore the gunshot mark. “Will anyone get us justice? The police officer who shot him retired from a senior post ,” he said, adding that his job application file was also misplaced and till date he had not got his brother’s death certificate.

The report held activists of a religio-political party for starting the riots, who later became prominent leaders. It stressed that it was only the unity among the Hindu-Sikh population that prevented more killings and the stories of Hindus who saved Sikhs.

Noted columnist Balraj Puri set an example of Hindu-Sikh brotherhood, when he stood for the cause of the Sikhs.

He has been seeking justice for the victims through dharnas, press conferences and seeking the release of the report and the action taken on it.

Jammu, February 27
Demanding special allocations in the state’s Budget for providing food security to nomadic tribes along with a rehabilitation package, Gujjars today urged the state government to adopt a sustainable approach to boost the tribal economy.

The Gujjars observed that the tribal economy was on the verge of collapse due to poverty, illiteracy and globalisation.

At a seminar which was held on ‘Tribal Economy of Jammu and Kashmir’, organised by the Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation here today, speakers pleaded for immediate steps to revitalise the nomadic financial system as it was under tremendous pressure.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Javaid Rahi, secretary, Tribal Foundation, said a substantial chunk of the nomadic population of Gujjars,Bakerwals and other tribes was facing acute food insecurity in the state and help was required for a majority of the tribal people.

Sustainable food security to the nomadic Gujjars and Bakerwals with a programme to eliminate poverty, illiteracy and proper rehabilitation of the tribes could help a lot to improve the tribal economy of the Gujjars.

Quoting reports of the "Economic Survey of Jammu and Kashmir 2010", he said that more than 42 per cent of the Scheduled Tribe population, majority of whom belonged to Gujjars and Bakerwals, lived under the Below Poverty Line (BPL), but the nomads could not take the benefits of BPL schemes.

Dr Zabeer Bajjar, a scientist, said that "the equitable growth of the country and the state could not be achieved without guaranteeing food security to hitherto marginalised and isolated sections of our society, mainly the Gujjars of the state.”

Besides food insecurity and poverty, the tribe also suffered due to discrimination and neglect, unhygienic living conditions, lack of literacy, basic amenities and healthcare in the state, the speakers said.

Srinagar, February 27
The Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Dr Asgar Samoon, has constituted a committee headed by the Additional Commissioner, Kashmir, to monitor the functioning of doctors. The committee shall have representatives of the Sher-i-Kashmir-Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Soura, the Director, Health Services, Kashmir, Government Medical College (GMC), Srinagar, and the Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar.

The functioning of the committee will be monitored by the Divisional Commissioner through the Director, SKIMS, the Principal, GMC, Srinagar, and the Director, Health Services, Kashmir.

It was observed at the meeting that doctors of SKIMS could not do private practice under rules. Similarly, the Principal, GMC, the Medical Superintendent, the Deputy Medical Superintendent, Registrars, demonstrators, those doing postgraduation courses and other doctors were barred from private practice.

However, members of the teaching faculty of medical education could do private practice beyond duty hours, but not on the days they were on emergency duty.

The meeting was informed that instructions had been issued to private nursing homes not to entertain any government doctor for consultation during duty hours.

Jammu, February 27
Highlighting the importance of good Indo-Pak relations for peace and development, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, during his visit to border areas of the RS Pura sector, here today reiterated that friends could be changed, but not neighbours.

“We are always for better Indo-Pak relations and have taken many initiatives in this regard,” Omar said, and called for a positive and visible response from the other side of the border. He addressed separate gatherings of the residents and the BSF Jawans near the Zero Line in the RS Pura area of Jammu division this afternoon. The Chief Minister, along with the Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, and the IG, BSF, inspected many villages and interacted with the people to get a first-hand appraisal of their difficulties.

He said that the violations of the ceasefire created a lot of problems for the people on both sides of the border and even resulted in the loss of human lives and damage to property.

“While we are taking every care from our side not to indulge in the violation of the ceasefire, Pakistan should also exhibit its responsibilities in this regard and help maintain truce on the border,” he said, adding that peace at the border was for the mutual interests of the two neighbours.

“In the tranquil and peaceful atmosphere on the border, farmers can take part in agricultural activities across the border and carry on their normal routine,” he said.

Omar Abdullah told the residents of the border area that the government had worked out an arrangement with the BSF for providing rent for the land utilised by the BSF for fencing till the time it was properly acquired by the forces. “Papers for acquiring the land were being finalised and the Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, was on the job,” he said. Speaking to jawans, the Chief Minister lauded their services for protecting the border.

“Your valuable duty during severe winters and hot summers is commendable and we are aware of the sacrifice you make for safeguarding the border,” he told the jawans, assuring them of all the facilities from the state and the Centre.

Jammu, February 27
The ongoing Census in Rajouri district is creating a controversy as it is being alleged that enumerators have registered the Pahari language as the mother tongue of Dogri-speaking people.

Activists of at least seven organisations of Sunder Bani tehsil, including the Dogri Sahitaya Sabha, Dogri Sanstha, Nami Dogri Sanstha, Duggar Kala Manch, J&K Social and Cultural Council and the Dogra Brahmin Pratinidhi Sabha, alleged yesterday that some “biased enumerators” were recording the Pahari language as the mother tongue of Dogri-speaking people. “It is likely to sabotage the cause of youths of the district who wish to join the armed forces, as they are entitled to certain relaxations subject to the Dogra certificate,” said Madan Mohan, an activist of the Dogri Sahitya Sabha, maintaining that elders and illiterate people of the state were unaware of it.

“In the last Census, people here have recorded the Dogri language as their mother tongue. How can the language change within 10 years?” asked Amarjeet, president of the J&K Social and Cultural Council. He added, “Some people have started a propaganda that the status of backward district will be given to Rajouri on the basis of the language, but that is not true. If Rajouri gets the status, it will be due to economic, and not linguistic, reasons.”

Udhampur, February 27
Under Operation Sadbhavna, the Command Hospital of the Northern Command, in association with the Sky Archer regiment organised a composite medical camp at Nagrota Gujroo village, near here, today.

Though medical camps are routinely being organised by the Northern Command, this camp was special as it provided services of specialists in medicine, surgery, ENT, gynaecology, dental and skin problems, besides laboratory and vaccination facilities to patients. As per an official release, more than 1000 patients were treated at the camp. Those suffering from cataract and chronic ear diseases, requiring surgery, were given appointments for surgery at the Command Hospital. Besides, children with cleft lip and palate will be operated free of cost at the Command Hospital in March.

Udhampur, February 27
The district unit of the Youth Congress (YC), Kishtwar, urged the state government to start the construction work of the proposed Vailo-Sangpura Tunnel to give a boost to tourism and business in the Kishtwar area. The work on the tunnel was approved two years ago.

In a release issued here today, Youth Congress leader Sheikh Nasir said the people of Kishtwar and the surrounding areas were unhappy with the way the tunnel project was progressing.

The proposed tunnel would not only connect Kishtwar district with the Kashmir valley but also reduce the 155-km distance between Kishtwar and Anantnag to half.

Nasir added that the existing road connecting Kishtwar with the Valley via Sinthon Duksum, which was in bad shape, remained closed during winter.

“Due to this, the entire region gets cut off for more than six months after the first snowfall of the season every year. In such circumstances, the existing link via Sinthon-Duksum becomes useless,” he said, adding that the construction of the tunnel would create all-weather connectivity.

He urged the Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, to issue directions to the authorities concerned to start work without any delay.

Jammu, February 27
The Natrang Theatre group presented the golden jubilee performance of its internationally acclaimed Dogri play, “Ghumayee”, at the Zorawar Singh Auditorium, University of Jammu, today.

“Ghumayee” has been successfully presented at over 20 national and international theatre events, including the Frankfurt International Theatre Festival in Germany, the Experimental Theatre Festival in Moscow, Russia, Hungary and Poland and the Commonwealth Games.

The 50th show of the play was sponsored by Aircel. Chief Secretary Madhav Lal was the chief guest on the occasion. He was honoured with the golden jubilee memento of “Ghumayee” by the Natrang director, Balwant Thakur.

Later, the chief guest honoured the participating artists. Prominent among those present on the occasion included AK Angurana, Principal Secretary, Public Health Engineering, and KB Aggarwal, Principal Secretary, Roads and Buildings.

Srinagar, February 27
The security forces today busted a hideout of militants and recovered arms and ammunition from there.

A police spokesman said the Sumbal police and the 29 RR recovered the arms and ammunition from the hideout at Sherbugh Naidkhai.

“The recoveries included one AK assault rifle, two AK magazines, two 9 mm pistols, six pistol magazines, 553 Pika gun rounds, 155 AK rounds, two pistol covers, 120 UBGLs, 20 RPG rounds, 37 explosive rods, 66 all types of rockets, a binocular, one wire cortex, 13 religious books, two AK bayonets, two radio sets, two radio set chargers, one IED battery, seven all types of grenades, 30 IED circuits,12 high explosive fuses and Pakistani currency,” the spokesman said.

Jammu, February 27
To draw a strategy for the forthcoming Budget session of the Legislative Assembly, National Conference legislators held a meeting here yesterday under the chairmanship of the party president, Dr Farooq Abdullah.

The meeting was attended by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Cabinet ministers belonging to the party, members of the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council.

The session of the Assembly will start tomorrow and the budget is scheduled to be presented on March 7.

The PDP also convened a meeting of its legislators to draw a strategy for the session.