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Storm clouds hover over 9-day Assembly session
Pass shrine Bill, it has been pending for 2 yrs: Pandits
Govt defers introduction
of new VAT return forms
Geelani writes to UN chief to look into issue of unmarked graves
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Need to strengthen, fortify India: RSS chief
Kishenganga project: India can continue all works
One of four persons in state consumes tobacco
PoK ex-PM’s visit ruffles hardliners
Will bring all cultivable land under irrigation, says Minister
Kashmir’s fabled cricket bats may soon be history
Cultural academy cheated artists: Confederation
Red Cross Mela begins October 29
Youth held for rape in RS Pura
Four killed in road accidents
Of suppression & revolt by the masses
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Storm clouds hover over 9-day Assembly session
Srinagar, September 25 Fireworks are expected when the Assembly debates, on September 28, the resolution moved by Independent MLA Sheikh Abdul Rashid seeking clemency for Guru, who is on death row for his role in the attack on Parliament in December 2001. While the National Conference and the Congress are yet to clarify their stand on the resolution, the Opposition parties have already declared their intention to oppose any clemency to Guru. The BJP and JK Panthers Party, representing various constituencies in Jammu region, have also opposed any discussion on the issue, arguing that the state Assembly does not have the authority to deliberate on a central subject. The BJP has been gearing up its campaign against amnesty to the Afzal Guru and have been leading protest demonstrations in support of its stand in the winter capital. Main Opposition, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has already made it clear that it will support the clemency resolution. At a meeting of legislators here on Friday, the party discussed its strategy and various issues, including development and drug addiction, to be taken up during the Assembly session. PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said that the party was against capital punishment and would favour the resolution for clemency to Afzal Guru. Independent MLA Sheikh Abdul Rashid, representing Langate constituency of Kupwara district in north Kashmir, has submitted a resolution for clemency to Guru. The resolution along with six others would be taken up in the House on Wednesday. The issue of unmarked graves following the interim report given by the State Human Rights Commission, alleged human rights violations by the security forces are also scheduled to come up during the week-long session. The ruling coalition, National Conference and the Congress, have, however, maintained a studied silence on the resolution for clemency to Afzal Guru. This would be the fourth consecutive session in the new complex of the State Legislature, which was completed in 2008. The session in July 2008 had seen the then Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad step down following withdrawal of support by the PDP to the Congress led coalition government. In 2009, the speech by senior PDP leader Muzaffar Hussain Beig had prompted Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to submit his resignation to the Governor, which however, was not accepted. The session last year was also stormy following the summer unrest and in view of the Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah’s “controversial speech questioning accession” in the Assembly. The Opposition BJP had then boycotted the entire session. |
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Pass shrine Bill, it has been pending for 2 yrs: Pandits
Jammu, September 25 The passage of the Bill would be the biggest confidence building measure in encouraging Pandits to return to the Valley and resettle there with a sense of dignity and security, declared representatives of the organisations said at a media interaction here today. Alleging encroachment and desecration of over 500 temples and shrines in the Valley during the last two decades, community leaders said the Bill would help protect all such structures which are age-old symbols of their socio-religious and cultural identity. “Some of the shrines and temples are over a thousand years old and need to be declared as heritage sites,” said Dr RL Bhat of the J&K Vichar Manch. The issue acquired urgency since 2005 following reports that the land around a number of these temples, shrines and cremation grounds had been either encroached upon or sold by the land mafia operating in the Valley. The J&K Muslim Wakfs Act 2001 and J&K Muslim Specified Wakf (Management and Regulation) Act 2004 provide protection to religious places and properties of Muslims in the state and similarly, the Sikh Gurdwara and Religious Endowment Act 1973 provides similar protection to the religious places of the Sikhs, they pointed out. There should, therefore, be no opposition or delay in approving the pending Bill, the community leaders emphasised. “One wonders why the Bill has been put in the cold storage after it was initially tabled as a Private Member’s Bill in 2006 and later tabled by the ruling party,” said former District and Sessions Judge BL Saraf. |
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Govt defers introduction of new VAT return forms
Srinagar, September 25 "The introduction of new VAT return forms, which are computer compatible and trader-friendly, has been delayed to give some time to the traders, so that they should prepare themselves for adoption of the new form," Rather said at a joint meeting between traders' representatives and officials of the finance department held here
yesterday. Rather said the new form shall have to be adopted sooner or later, while emphasising on the need for computerisation of
the Commercial Taxes Department. "It would facilitate e-filing of returns, e-payments and ensure online availability of statutory forms like 'C' forms, thereby removing direct interface of traders with the departmental functionaries," Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather said. The minister said the computerisation of Commercial Taxes Department will bring in transparency in the functioning of the department. Rather said before the proposed Goods and Services Tax (GST) is implemented, the trader fraternity and representatives of industry shall be taken into confidence and their suggestions shall be brought to the notice of the Empowered Committee of State Finance Ministers. — PTI |
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Geelani writes to UN chief to look into issue of unmarked graves
Srinagar, September 25 Addressing a day-long seminar on the issue of unmarked graves in Kashmir here today, Geelani said he had sent letters to the UN Secretary-General and MPs of both India and Pakistan seeking their attention and lashed out at the “dual policies” of mainstream parties in the state. Geelani also expressed concern over the “vote politics”, saying that the Central government was misleading international opinion over the participation of the people of the state in elections. In his letter to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, the separatist leader has urged the UN to send a fact- finding team to Kashmir to ascertain facts about the unmarked graves. Geelani said that at least 6,500 graves had been identified in only five of the state’s 22 districts. He also referred to the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) report on 2,730 unidentified graves in 38 graveyards in these districts.
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Need to strengthen, fortify India: RSS chief
Jammu, September 25 Accusing the Centre of lacking the will to fight external and internal threats, Bhagwat said that China was threatening India and tampering with the borders. "China is threatening us. It is tampering with our borders. This is of concern," he said, addressing RSS workers at Ved Mandir here. His statement came against the backdrop of the China's threat to India against oil exploration in the South China Sea and reports of Chinese troops' intrusions into Indian territory along Sino-Indian border in Ladakh sector and destroying of Army bunkers in Ladakh last month. Referring to reports of Chinese incursion, Pakistan terrorism, infiltration, porous borders with Bangladesh, internal corruption, Naxalism and Maoism, he said all aspects should be resolved through one prism - a strong Hindu India. "We are sufferers of these issues which need only one solution - a united, strong Hindu India," he said. The RSS supremo emphasised on solving the problems rather than shying away from them in the form of unwarranted arguments. “Though no force inimical to India can disintegrate the country, we are unable to wipe off the weaknesses, which reflect through the political set up in the country, which is more obsessed with the power,” he said. Bhagwat felt that time had come for a social transformation to affect changes and at the same time recognise heroes of national character to make India strong. On the recent Communal Violence Bill, he said that it was rife with serious ramifications and had been mooted only to keep India divided along majority and minority lines. Its connotations are dangerous and aimed at breaking India, he said, adding that there was no need to bring in such a Bill, he said. Bhagwat also spoke on the Sachar Committee report, saying that the report was committed to the communal agenda, seeking sanction in a democratic country. |
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Kishenganga project: India can continue all works
Islamabad, September 25 In an interim ruling issued on Friday, the court in The Hague, which was approached by Pakistan, said it was necessary to lay down certain interim measures in order to "avoid prejudice to the final solution" of the dispute as provided under the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960. While proceedings continued at the Court, the ruling said, it "is open to India to continue with all works relating to the Kishenganga Hydro-Electric Project" except "any permanent works on or above the Kishenganga-Neelum riverbed at the Gurez site that may inhibit the restoration of the full flow of that river to its natural channel" after the final verdict. The ruling stated that India "could proceed with the construction of the sub-surface foundations" of the dam, "erect temporary cofferdams and operate the by-pass tunnel it has said to have completed", "temporarily dry out the riverbed of the Kishenganga-Neelum at the Gurez valley" and "excavate the riverbed." — PTI
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One of four persons in state consumes tobacco
Srinagar, September 25 “More than two in every five adult males and one in every five adult females in Jammu and Kashmir uses tobacco,” Professor S Parasuraman of the International Institute of Population Sciences (IIPS) said after releasing the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) here yesterday. The survey was conducted by the Mumbai-based IIPS, a deemed university, in collaboration with the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The prevalence of smoking in the state at 27 per cent was much higher than the regional average of 19 per cent, but lower than the national average of 35 per cent, Parasuraman said. She said Jammu and Kashmir had the highest number of passive smokers, at 58 per cent, in the northern region. Addressing people at the workshop, Minister for Health Sham Lal Sharma called for a strong movement against the use of tobacco and its allied products. Expressing concern over the growing rate of smokers and drug addiction in the state, Sharma stressed the need for launching a massive awareness campaign at different levels against the use of tobacco products and other drugs. He said the government had initiated several measures to deal with the issue. — PTI |
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PoK ex-PM’s visit ruffles hardliners
Srinagar, September 25 Chaudhary was the first prominent ‘Pakistani’ leader from the PoK to visit the Valley in the last 64 years. But while he came on a private visit to attend the wedding of a friend’s son, the visit acquired political overtones when he took the opportunity of calling on several separatist leaders and had an ‘accidental’ meeting with the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on the sidelines of the wedding. On his return to Pakistan, the Barrister appears to have ruffled more feathers by declaring that he had been impressed by what he saw during his visit. He favoured more confidence building measures and addressing issues like trade, transport, cultural exchanges etc. between India and Pakistan without any delay, ignoring the rigid stand of the hardliner Ali Shah Geelani in the Valley, who favours no talk till the ‘political’ question of Kashmir gets settled. Indeed, Chaudhary spoke in glowing terms about his visit to Pahalgam and the golf course he saw there. In the Valley, meanwhile, a whisper campaign started over how Chaudhary accepted hospitality of the J & K Government and used a helicopter to visit Pahalgam. Questions were raised about why he entered India through the Wagah border and not through Uri. A section of the media wondered why he could not have taken the bus from Muzaffarabad. Others speculated on why he visited the Valley on an Indian visa rather than a route permit used by most visitors from PoK. Above all, Chaudhary became one of the rare leaders to be allowed to address a rally at Lal Chowk after a warm welcome accorded at the JKLF office in adjacent Maisuma locality. The hardliners reacted with disbelief and sarcasm, questioning why the guest from PoK was allowed the privilege when no political gathering is allowed at the chowk. The hardliners concluded that Chaudhary was here to carry forward track two diplomacy or back channel diplomacy on behalf of Pakistan. While the state government has maintained a dignified silence , barring a tweet from the Chief Minister debunking exaggerated reports of expenses in hosting the guest from PoK. A Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader, Chaudhary also met other sections of society , including the High Court Bar Association, Kashmir Traders and the delegation of the Kashmiri Sikhs led by Jagmohan Singh Raina of the All Parties Sikh Coordination Committee (APSCC). |
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Will bring all cultivable land under irrigation, says Minister
Srinagar, September 25 “All the karewas will be brought under irrigation network in the next five year plan for which necessary data collection is being done,” Minister for Irrigation and Flood Control Taj Mohi-ud-Din said on Friday at a public meeting in Shopian, 52 km from here. The minister said all efforts would be made to provide irrigation to orchards giving a boost to horticulture industry in the state till the irrigation network was set up. Mohi-ud-din said the government was making efforts to extend drinking water distribution network to every nook and corner of the state and in the coming three years, the scarcity of drinking water would be over. He said the government had embarked of an ambitious plan of strengthening infrastructure facilities and basic amenities in the state for which many schemes and programmes had been launched. The minister sought the cooperation from people for the successful implementation of the schemes. — PTI
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Kashmir’s fabled cricket bats may soon be history
Hulmulla (Kashmir), Sept 25 The industry, with around 300 small and big manufacturing units, provides direct and indirect employment to nearly 15,000 people in the Valley and is estimated to have an annual turnover of over Rs 10 crore. Dwindling willow plantation amid allegations about the incapacity of the government to introduce an upgraded breed of the willow, which grows faster to the required girth, may lead to the demise of the industry sooner than expected. Abdul Hameed, who has been manufacturing bats for the last 35 years at a factory in this village on the highway in South Kashmir, said the industry may soon shut down. "This industry is in its last stages and will soon collapse," Hameed said. He said the biggest handicap of the industry is the willow itself, which takes decades to grow to the size required for making bats. "There are not many trees left. No one plants them anymore because the government has failed to introduce English Willow here. No one will keep his land in use for a plantation which takes 30 years to grow," he said. At the Gateway Sports Factory where Hameed works, there are thousands of stacked bat clefts. Saw dust covers the ground. The factory manufactures 2,000-4,000 bats annually, depending on the market demand. The state’s "bat-hub", comprising the seven villages of Charsoo, Hulmulla, Bijbehara, Sangam, Sethar, Pujteng and Mirzapor in South Kashmir, also faces another problem. Widening of the National Highway will displace 99 bat-making factories and the government seems to have no plans for their relocation. "Some people associated with this industry are facing difficulties because of the road widening, let them come and meet me," State Minister of Industries SS Slathia told reporters while inaugurating a common facility centre for cricket bats. Ironically, a facility with boiler-based wood seasoning chambers — which speeds up the processing of bat clefts — has been constructed alongside the highway without any planning or consultation with the Roads and Buildings Department. Parts of the facility constructed at a cost of Rs 6 crore are also getting bulldozed on account of widening of the National Highway. "Road widening is about national interest, but we also have to see what steps should be taken to help those who will be displaced by the action. I will ask the deputy commissioner to provide them proper compensation," Slathia said, adding that the bat makers will be settled in a "cluster" at a single place. Cricket Bat Manufacturers Association of Kashmir president Nazir Ahmad Salroo seemed more pessimistic about the prospects of the industry. "Not even 10 years," he said, "The end of this industry will begin in the next two years." Salroo blamed the consecutive state governments for the decline in industry. "We had once submitted a proposal for introduction of hybrid willow and asked the government to provide us land for plantation, but it was never allotted," he said. He said the government has also failed to notify the use of willow exclusively for bat manufacturing. — PTI On a sticky wicket Kashmir’s cricket bat industry provides employment to nearly 15,000 people in the Valley and is estimated to have an annual turnover of over Rs 10 crore The problems n
The existing variety of willow trees takes up to 30 years to grow to the size required for making bats n
Consequently, farmers don’t want to plant willow trees any more n
Ninetynine bat-making units will also be displaced by widening of the National Highway. The government has no plan to relocate these The solution n Introduction of the hybrid English Willow, which grows faster to the girth required for making bats
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Cultural academy cheated artists: Confederation
Jammu, September 25 Ridiculing Bakshi’s statement, the UAC said had they not approached the Academy Secretary, Zaffar Iqbal Manhas, with an offer to receive the payments after the Drama Festival, the lone big annual event of the Academy, too, would have gone down the drain. UAC also said it was through the efforts of the confederation only that the annual drama festival could be envisaged, without which there would have been no judgement and no judges. “We had approached the Secretary, Zaffar Iqbal Manhas, with a written assurance that we would be receiving the payments when the Academy gets the funds for the same with a mutual consent that the Academy would release the same in first priority to artists of the drama festival, who had to bear the entire expenses of the festival,” said Vikram Sharma, president of the UAC, in a statement issued here yesterday. “The Academy has once again cheated on artists. While huge amount is disbursed monthly as salary of the Academy employees, its staff seems to be enjoying the privileges, doing nothing except finding ways and means to derail the cultural procedure,” said Kumar A Bharti, General Secretary of the
UAC. |
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Red Cross Mela begins October 29
Jammu, September 25 Anil Padha, honourary secretary, IRCS, Jammu zone, said, “The annual fair was not organised last year, but this year it was the biggest challenge for us to organise the event. So, we decided to organise it in October, which otherwise takes place in February. The student community is not much busy with studies in October and weather also remains pleasant during this period.” Padha further said the purpose behind organising the mela was to raise funds for the suffering humanity. “In the mela, our volunteers not only spread awareness about the Red Cross among the people, but also make new volunteers,” added Padha. Giving further details about the event, Padha said the event was very popular among the people from all walks of life, so the IRCS was organising a number of cultural events, games, dance competitions, magic show and general knowledge quiz. “Various cultural troupes, representatives of NGOs, educational institutions, students participate in the mela with great enthusiasm. Some government departments also set up their stalls to display their products in the mela, which also proves helpful to attract the people,” said Padha. He added, “This year we will not organise a raffle draw in the mela. It will be a separate event, which will take place in February.” Padha said the preparations were on and in a week’s time, banners would be displayed on all rotaries of the city to get a huge participation. “We have approached all the departments concerned to take their permission to conduct the mela,” said Padha. He added, “As the Governor is the president of the IRCS, he will be the chief guest on the occasion. It was also a direction of Governor NN Vohra to organise the mela at a time, when students are not much busy with their studies.” |
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Youth held for rape in RS Pura
Jammu, September 25 The youth, Rajesh Kumar (22), is a resident of Chak Alawal in Miran Sahib area of RS Pura sub- division. The police has registered an FIR against the accused under section 376/452 of the RPC. However, Rajesh’s father, Asha Ram, said that the woman had levelled false allegation against his son due to an ongoing family feud.
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Four killed in road accidents
Srinagar, September 25 The driver and conductor of a truck on way from Sonmarg to Leh, died when the truck overturned near Ranga Morh yesterday. The police said the duo was seriously injured in the accident and succumbed to their injuries while being shifted to a hospital. Sartaj Ahmad Lone died after he fell from a truck at Srigufwara in Anantnag district. He died at the SKIMS hospital here. A speeding vehicle hit and injured Mohammad Ismail Chechi near Kichahama in Baramulla district. He was shifted to the SKIMS where he died.
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Of suppression & revolt by the masses
Jammu, September 25 The play written by Shiv Ram reveals that whenever the people revolt against oppression and raise voice for their rights, those in power dismiss the voice, saying ‘janta pagal ho gayi hai’. The play advocates that those in establishments always snub and suppress the common masses to fulfill their vested interests. The play brings to fore the exploitation, the public faces from politicians, bureaucrats, industrialists and others powerful quarters. The characters in the play are very symbolic. They don’t have names of their own, they have the names of the class they represent as ‘Sarkar’, ‘Police’, ‘Punjipati’, ‘Janta’ and ‘Pagal’. In the play, ‘Sarkar’ wakes up from a deep slumber of five years as this is the election time and the people are to be coaxed for votes. Politicians use different tools for alluring, mesmerising and even threatening voters to ensure their victory in the elections. All this results in the everlasting exploitation of the masses and whosoever motivates the mob to revolt is considered mad and is treated unfairly. At the end, people are helpless, they resolve to revolt till they die or till they get what they are supposed to get as their genuine right. Those who acted in the play include Rahul Singh, Sajra Qadir, Mohammad Yaseen, Balwinder Singh, Abhinav Vimarsh, Uplaksh Singh, Shazia Batool, Syed Fardeen and Syed Dildar. The lights were operated by Neeraj Kant and the show was coordinated by Sumeet Sharma. Pawan Verma did the presentations. — TNS |
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Srinagar, September 25
Hulmulla (Kashmir), Sept 25
