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State’s new recruitment policy has few takers
Oppn calls it cruel joke, Congress wants NC to take relook at plan
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Factionalism mars launch of BJP yatra
Congress presses NC for coordination panel meet
Farmers fume over fertiliser shortage for rabi crops
Belgian association has words of praise for CM
HC gets electronic facilitation centre
Surprise check at Leh hospital finds staff missing
PDP alleges bungling in distribution of solar lights
Army provides school uniform to students
CRPF jawan commits suicide
International meet on human resources in J-K
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State’s new recruitment policy has few takers
Jammu, November 2 The students and scholars were protesting against the new recruitment policy announced by the state government. An ABVP leader was also detained but was later released. Under the new recruitment policy, a fresh recruit will only get 50 per cent of the basic pay for the first two years and 75 per cent for the next three years without any allowances. Shouting anti-government slogans, protesters led by ABVP leader Raghav Sharma breached a barricade and clashed with policemen, who resorted to a mild lathicharge to disperse the mob. Two students and a policeman were injured in the process. Trouble erupted this morning when students of GGM Science College under the banner of Youth of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh -- an organisation of scholars, college students and unemployed youth -- and activists of the ABVP assembled outside GGM Science College. They staged a protest demonstration demanding immediate scrapping of notification regarding the fixed salary mode of recruitment. Led by ABVP leader Raghav Sharma, the protesters clashed with police personnel and also hurled stones at them. They also breached a police barricade, forcing cops to resort to mild canecharge. Angered by the canecharge, students regrouped and again hurled stones at the cops, which caused injuries to two persons and a cop. Students accused the police officers of resorting to “unprovoked” lathicharge and “illegally” arresting a student leader from the premises of GGM Science College. Meanwhile, hundreds of students and scholars from Jammu University also took out a protest march on the varsity campus and protested against the new policy. They also blocked the university road for nearly two hours, which led to a scuffle with the police. “This recruitment policy is against the interests of the youth of the state. It is discriminatory in nature,” said Suresh Ajay Magotra, chairman of Youth of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. He alleged the government had played a cruel joke with the unemployed youth and had tried to play with their future. “It would revive militancy in Jammu and Kashmir,” Sharma said. The New Policy
Lathicharge on students flayed
Jammu: Former convener of the Sangarsh Samiti, Leela Karan Sharma has condemned the police lathicharge on students, who were protesting peacefully against the new recruitment policy, outside GGM Science College here today. Demanding stern action against guilty police officers, he said the police brutalities cannot be tolerated. In a statement issued here today he said he will also file a PIL in the High Court against the “unwarranted” police action. |
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Oppn calls it cruel joke, Congress wants NC to take relook at plan
Jammu, November 2 State president of the Panthers Party and Udhampur MLA Balwant Singh Mankotia, while terming the employment policy as a cruel joke, demanded that the government should take some austerity measures to generate resources for providing employment to the youth. “We can save crores of rupees by abolishing institutions like the Legislative Council and by stopping the annual practice of shifting Darbar from Jammu to Srinagar and from Srinagar to Jammu every six months, Mankotia said while addressing a press conference here today. He added that the amount saved by taking such steps could be utilised to generate job avenues for unemployed youth. Expelled BJP leader and former Union Minister Chaman Lal Gupta has asked the government to reconsider the decision before it was too late. Interacting with a number of employed youth and students who called on him, Gupta observed that the state never had an effective policy to tackle the problem of unemployment. The existence of Article 370 granting special status to the state had been a major cause for the ever growing unemployment, he added. Because of the state government’s separatist outlook, the industrial growth had been hit, he said, pointing out that in the present situation the only major source of employment in the state was the government. Now finding itself in a ticklish situation because of the growing unemployment, the government was going back on the lofty promises it had made to provide jobs to unemployed youths. Its new stance about recruitment, he observed, was nothing but a move to put a stop to new recruitment. Youth Congress leader R S Pathania, while addressing gatherings at Hiranagar and Majalata, appealed to the government to defer the implementation of the newly formulated recruitment policy. He said before implementing such a drastic measure, it should be debated on the floor of the Assembly and an all-party civilian consensus should be formulated over it. |
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Factionalism mars launch of BJP yatra
Hiranagar (Kathua) November 2 State president of BJP Shamsher Singh Manhas launched the yatra from the Hiranagar area but the local MLA Durga Dass was not invited for the function. Dass, along with six other legislators, were suspended from the BJP after the cross-voting episode of April 13. Notwithstanding the claims of the party, a large number of party activists who owe their allegiance to sitting MLA Durga Dass and expelled party leader Chaman Lal Gupta boycotted the function which was held to mark the beginning of the yatra. Locals told The Tribune that supporters of the suspended BJP MLA had visited different areas during the last couple of days and asked people not to attend today’s function. Hiranagar is considered a BJP stronghold as party has always maintained a dominant position in this belt in the Lok Sabha as well as Assembly elections but after the cross-voting episode and the factionalism the image of the party has been dented. Similarly at Samba, the yatra failed to evoke the expected response. Jammu East MLA Ashok Khajuria kick-started the yatra in Samba district. Even though the party has been claiming that action against the erring party legislators who were allegedly involved in the cross-voting has been taken, people were not ready to believe the local leaders. BJP MLA from Nagrota Jugal Kishore started the yatra from the border town of Poonch while former president of the state unit of the party Nirmal Singh led the yatra from the Paddar area of Kishtwar district. Addressing the gathering at Hiranagar, BJP state president Shamsher Singh Manhas lambasted the coalition regime for its failure to address the problems of the common man. While referring to the mysterious killing of Syed Yousuf, he demanded a CBI probe into this incident and resignation of Omar Abdullah to ensure an impartial inquiry. He accused the Chief Minister of making anti-national and provoking statements on the issue of Afzal Guru and the Armed Forces Special Powers Act. He reminded the gathering that Omar Abdullah was known for his anti-national stand even in the past and during the 2008 land row agitation. “Though being the CM and having taken an oath to abide by the Constitution, Omar has no hesitation about challenging the accession of the state. He is, therefore, a security risk to the state as well as the nation,” he said. |
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Congress presses NC for coordination panel meet
Jammu, November 2 As Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) chief Saifuddin Soz heads the coordination committee, the party wants to corner the NC in the meeting for taking unilateral decisions on important issues. The coordination committee of both parties was constituted to run the affairs of the coalition government but this committee has so far failed to sort out any contentious issues since this regime took over in 2009. “Instead of taking the local Congress leadership into confidence, the NC has established a direct link with Delhi by ignoring the JKPCC,” a senior Congress leader told The Tribune on the condition of anonymity. Spokesman of the JKPCC Ravinder Sharma said the party had been demanding a meeting of the coordination committee to sort out many contentious issues. He argued that the aim of constituting this committee was to solve the controversial issues through dialogue instead of taking the same to public. While trying to downplay the widening rift between the two coalition partners, JKPCC chief Saifuddin Soz said the date of the meeting had not been fixed as yet. He, however, said the meeting of the coordination committee would be held soon. The committee members include Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Union Minister Farooq Abdullah, Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand, former Deputy Chief Minister Mangat Ram Sharma and Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather. Besides exerting pressure to convene the coordination committee meeting, local Congress leaders have reiterated their demand for having rotation of chief ministership despite national spokesman of the party Abhishek Singhvi announcing recently that Omar Abdullah would complete the full six-year term. “We will continue our demand of rotation of chief ministership in the state because majority of the party workers are of the view that the Congress should also be given the chance to head the government,” veteran Congress leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Mangat Ram Sharma told The Tribune. Meanwhile, general secretary and official spokesman of the JKPCC Ravinder Sharma has sharply reacted to the “uncalled for and unwarranted” utterances of NC leader Mustafa Kamal and asked him to stop issuing sermons to the Congress. Reacting to the statement of Kamal against the Congress, Sharma said Kamal was in the habit of issuing highly objectionable statements which harm the interests of the
coalition. Cong shouldn’t see an enemy in me: Kamal
Talking to The Tribune over phone, Mustafa Kamal, who has been lambasted by the Congress for his “unwarranted” statements, rebuffed all charges and claimed that none of his statements were against the coalition. “The Congress should not see an enemy in me. All NC leaders, including me, are working for strengthening the coalition,” said Kamal, who is uncle of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and brother of Union Minister Farooq Abdullah. Kamal said during a recent public meeting his words were twisted by some reporters. “Congress leaders should verify the facts from their sources before giving such irresponsible statements against me,” he said and added that such statements of Congress leaders were weakening the coalition. |
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Record number of pilgrims visit Vaishno Devi this year
Katra, November 2 As per officials of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB), the number of pilgrims till November 1, 2010, was 87,49,326. The number increased to 87.5 lakh by November 1, 2011. It is expected that by December 31, 2011, the yatra would cross the magical figure of 1 crore pilgrims, the highest since the constitution of the SMVDSB in 1986. The total number of pilgrims in 2010 was 87.2 lakh. Deputy Chief Executive Officer, SMVDSB, Rashpal Singh attributed the phenomenal increase to the facilities being provided to the pilgrims at the base camp, Katra, and on the entire yatra route to the Bhawan at the cave shrine. “In view of the record rush of the pilgrims as was being indicated annually, the SMVDSB has already accelerated work on
various ongoing projects undertaken to ensure a smooth and hassle-free yatra for the pilgrims
coming to pay obeisance at the shrine,” said Rashpal Singh. Official data showed that 8.72 lakh pilgrims offered prayers to pindies of the Mata Vaishno Devi in October, 2010, as compared to 7.84 lakh in the corresponding month last year, which showed an increase of 88,000. Local traders here observed that the number of pilgrims used to decline after Diwali, but picked up after a lean period. However, this time, there was a noticeable jump in the number of pilgrims, said Ram Kishore, a hotelier and a dry fruit trader. Interestingly, at the time of the creation of the SMVDSB, 25 years ago, the number of pilgrims was 14 lakh, but it went on increasing every year since then. A record was set in 1999 when 50 lakh pilgrims visited the shrine. |
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Farmers fume over fertiliser shortage for rabi crops
Various farmers’ associations have started holding meetings to chalk out strategies to deal with the situation. “Sown wheat, potato and other vegetable crops require fertilisers, which are not available in the market. The government should take some steps to provide fertilisers or, otherwise, the farmers will have to adopt some forceful method,” said Tejinder Singh, a progressive farmer and leader of a farmers’ association. Officials of the Agriculture Department also admitted that there were problems in the timely supply of fertilisers. “We are making sufficient arrangements for the easy availability of fertilisers, but some dealers are indulging in hoarding, creating shortage in some areas,” said Ajay Khajuria, Director, Agriculture Department. Khajuria added, “We have told the dealers to make fertilisers available to the farmers and warned them that all those found indulging in hoarding would be dealt with strictly. They have also been directed to sell fertilisers at the prices printed on the bags.” He said the department had already started a drive in this regard and one wholesaler in the Bishnah block had been found indulging in hoarding of fertilisers. However, the farmers complained of lack of coordination between various departments. “The sowing season has started but the departments concerned are simply saying the problem of the shortage of fertilisers will be resolved in a few days. Most of the farmers in the kandi areas have sown the wheat crop, which requires fertilisers immediately and their shortage will effect the crop yield,” said Sohan Singh, a farmer in Kathua district. According to a fresh survey conducted by the Agriculture Department, 15,000 tonnes of DAP (di-ammonium phosphate) and 25,000 tonnes of urea are required for the current rabi season in the Jammu region. |
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Belgian association has words of praise for CM
Srinagar, November 2 Describing Omar as a young leader, the association has said he had a vision, was hardworking, honest, listened to the demands of the people and paid attention to their basic needs. The report said the Chief Minister was facing multiple challenges, including the eradication of corruption, improvement in the functioning of the administration, upgradation of the educational system and health care, besides tackling terrorism. A team of the association led by Paul Beersmans during his recent visit to the state had met a cross section of the people here, including separatist groups, mainstream political parties and other leaders of different shades of opinion. Giving this information, an official spokesman said today that the initiatives taken by the Chief Minister in the educational sector to upgrade the skills of the youth and enhance their employability were being appreciated widely. The creation of 32 polytechnic colleges, 23 degree colleges and 50 ITIs across the state to give new dimension to the educational sector, besides strengthening the primary education system were the measures taken by the Omar-led government in the state. Similarly creation of the J&K Information Commission under the Right to Information Act, strengthening of the Accountability Commission and making it functional, besides measures taken to convert vigilance organisations into a Vigilance Commission and initiating e-tendering and e-procurement in public service departments were seen as befitting measures to tackle corruption in the state by the analysts. Enactment of the Public Service Guarantee Act, holding of the panchayat elections and empowering the panchayats to participate in development, were also the right initiatives to reduce the chances of corruption and enhance public participation in plan formation, the spokesman said. |
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HC gets electronic facilitation centre
Srinagar, November 2 Speaking on the occasion, Justice Kalifulla said this was the latest technology like a bank ATM where the lawyers and litigants would be able to see the status of their pending cases by a simple finger touch of a screen without the assistance of any person. He said with the help of this technology the litigants would be benefited as it would save them time and cost. A similar electronic facilitation centre would also be opened at the Jammu complex of the High Court soon, he added. Earlier, a round-the-clock interactive voice response system was installed at both complexes of the High Court for the benefit of the people wherein information about the case status could be sought through a telephone call. With the adoption of the latest technology, the High Court has marched ahead in computerisation and is ranked one among the five High Readiness High Courts of the country. Justice Kalifulla said under the E-Courts Project, 20 district courts and 13 tehsil court complexes had been computerised so far. Judicial Registrar Abdul Rashid, Registrar, Rules, Raja Shujat Ali and Registrar General Janak Raj Kotwal and members of the legal fraternity were also present on the occasion. |
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Surprise check at Leh hospital finds staff missing
Leh, November 2 The check was conducted as part of the ongoing surprise checks being conducted in Leh district to ensure punctuality in government departments. The SNM Superintendent, Dr P Tsering, informed the Deputy Commissioner that five doctors were on duty in the casualty section and three were on night duty. According to the official press release, 50 per cent of the OPD staff of the hospital were also not present during the surprise check. The Deputy Commissioner has sought an explanation from the absentees. Additional Deputy Commissioner Tsering Murup also conducted surprise checks in four departments, including Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution, ICDS and District Industries Centre. Two employees of the CAPD, three employees of the ICDS and two from DIC were found absent from duty. The ADC said the absenteeism of government employees was not only a hindrance to the smooth conduct of developmental activities but also caused a lot of harassment to the public. Warning that the district administration would not tolerate such irresponsible practices, the ADC said the administration would continue with the drive to keep tabs on the punctuality and regularity of the staff in government departments. |
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PDP alleges bungling in distribution of solar lights
Jammu, November 2 In a statement the chief spokesman of the PDP said many people from Gurez had complained of unfair distribution of solar lights in various villages of Gurez subdivision. Bungling has particularly been reported from Achoora, Churwan and Markoot. The complainants had reported that the list of eligible beneficiaries was being ignored to accommodate favourites of the ruling National Conference (NC), while some people had alleged corruption in the distribution of solar lights. Calling for a probe into the allegations, the PDP spokesman said the government assistance to the people was handed out as a personal favour to beneficiaries by the NC. This trend, he said, must stop and the government must ensure a fair and transparent distribution of solar lights and other officially supplied material to the people under proper guidelines. |
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Army provides school uniform to students
Jammu, November 2 The ceremony was organised at Government Middle School, Saryah, as part of Operation Sadbhavana, in which more than 325 poor students were provided stationery and school uniform. On the occasion schoolchildren presented a cultural programme, which was appreciated by parents, teachers and the civil administration officials. “I am touched by this noble gesture,” said Naresh Kumar, a resident of Saryah. |
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CRPF jawan commits suicide
Jammu, November 2 The jawan had fired two to three rounds from his weapon-an AK-47 rifle, he added. However, no suicide note was recovered from the spot, said the officer. After hearing the gunshots, police and CRPF personnel rushed to the spot and saw the jawan lying in a pool of blood. He was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital where he was declared brought dead. A CRPF spokesperson said Rakesh was posted at the CRPF’s Group Centre in Ban Talab here. |
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International meet on human resources in J-K
Srinagar, November 2 “Over 500 HR professionals from across the country and abroad are likely to attend the conference in January 2012,” NGO 'Greentech Foundation' president, Kamleshwar Sharan said. During the meet, companies will be recognised for their strategies in HR, training excellence, innovation in recruitment technology, excellence in HR and innovation in employees’ retention, he said.
— PTI |
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Even as the Congress leadership has sharpened its attack on National Conference (NC) stalwart Mustafa Kamal, the latter blamed Congress leaders for weakening the coalition by giving “irresponsible” statements.
Jammu, November 2