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NC leaders ask party workers to strengthen coalition ties
Okay if govt withdraws AFSPA from parts of J-K: BSF chief
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Right to Information Act
Lone college in Leh sans commerce teacher
Farooq’s remarks on Army provocative, says Gupta
PDP flays anti-farmer policies of government
Bar Assn calls for strike on Dec 1
Capital punishment for Kasab demanded
NC leader Bashir Lone dead
‘BJP youth wing not opposing new recruitment policy’
Lt Gen Ghosh on two-day visit to Jammu
28 years on, ten acquitted of digging cricket pitch
Leh records coldest night at -11.4°C
Art exhibition begins
Two killed in road accident
Kargil boys hostel to open in January
Ration cards sought for monks
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NC leaders ask party workers to strengthen coalition ties
Jammu, November 29 The NC leaders were addressing a one-day convention of party workers of Jammu (Urban) here today. Minister for Industries Surjeet Singh Slathia and political adviser to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Devender Singh Rana addressed the convention. They asked the workers of the NC to play their role in this direction at all levels and ensure working of the two political parties in a unified manner to address public grievances. The Minister for Industries said history bore testimony to the people-friendly policies nurtured by the NC in the state. The party stood for the state’s unity, amity and brotherhood. The NC had always worked towards public cause and its rank and file had always worked for the welfare of the people of the state, especially those belonging to weaker sections and living in far-flung areas, he added. Slathia announced the new initiatives taken by the coalition government led by Omar Abdullah during the last about three years and said that the commitments made by the government to the people would be fulfilled during its tenure. In his speech, Devender Singh Rana asked the NC workers to act as a bridge between the people and the government and disseminate information about the public-friendly initiatives taken by the Omar-led government. “Make people aware of the major decisions of the Omar government aimed at empowering people at the grass roots”. Rana asked the workers to play their role in getting public grievances redressed at the political and administrative levels, and ensure that the benefits of new initiatives taken by the government reached the people. “You represent aspirations of the people and your support is overwhelming in all three regions of the state,” he told party workers. Mohammad Aslam Goni, adviser to NC president; Bimla Luthra, MLA; Vijay Lakshmi Dutta, provincial president of the women’s wing of the party; and others also addressed the convention. The party leaders later facilitated Rakesh Chib, president of the students’ wing of the NC, who had recently joined
the party. |
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Okay if govt withdraws AFSPA from parts of J-K: BSF chief
New Delhi, November 29 Bansal, who till last month was the Secretary, Internal Security, said whenever paramilitary was involved in counter-insurgency operations, the AFSPA provided a level of protection. The BSF is posted in Jammu and Kashmir along the international border and also along the western frontier with Pakistan and the eastern frontier with Bangladesh. The Director General said the internal security situation in Pakistan had been changing over the past many months. “It is not something that we comment on extensively but we are watching the situation. We hope that the establishment in Pakistan would take care of it and would be allowed to impact the border security scenario,” the DG added. The BSF, meanwhile, is set to enhance its fleet of fixed-wing aircraft. The force is working on a proposal of the Union Home Ministry to procure about six new planes of various capacities. The new aircraft will add to the existing fleet of Embraer and Avro aircraft. “We are adding a considerable number of aircraft to our air wing,” Bansal said during a press conference here today. The BSF will also deploy a new set of helicopters in Naxal-affected states for assisting in reinforcements and casualty evacuation. The government had showed its keenness on hiring six MI-17 helicopters on wet lease in September this year. This will augment the existing fleet of nine helicopters. The BSF will deploy two new battalions in Chhattisgarh and Orissa in addition to 10 battalions in operation in these two states. |
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Right to Information Act
Jammu, November 29 The bank reportedly did not respond to a notice of the commission, stating that it did not fall under the purview of the Right to Information Act. However, the commission today slapped another notice on the bank warning that if it again failed to comply with the earlier notice, appropriate action would be taken against its management. The bank had reportedly refused to entertain the applications filed by noted RTI activists, Raman Sharma and Vilakshan Singh in May 2011. The applicants in a RTI application had sought the information regarding the appointments made by the bank during the last two years along with the advertisement notification numbers. The applicants had also sought the list of defaulters, who got a loan amount of more than 50 lakh from the bank over a period of time, besides the names of their guarantors. “The application was turned down by the Law Department of the bank, stating that it was a private sector undertaking and therefore did not fall within the RTI ambit,” said Raman. He added, “The reply was quite unconvincing.” “The Jammu and Kashmir Bank was established by the order of the then Maharaja of the state in 1938, deemed as the government. Moreover, the state government has 53.17 per cent share in the bank and operates all its transaction through it,” he added. “The commission had asked the bank to explain the reasons for denying the information under the RTI queries, but it did not send its representative to the commission’s office today,” said Chief Information Commissioner
GR Sofi. Sofi added, “The information commission has sent another notice to the bank and warned that if none of its representative appears before the commission on December 2, appropriate action would be initiated against it as per the norms.” “As per Section 2 of the State Act, any organisation that is formulated under the constitution or legislation or owned by the government falls within the ambit of the RTI Act,” he added. |
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Lone college in Leh sans commerce teacher
Leh, November 29 Ghulam Abass Abidi, Executive Councillor, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution, Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Leh, who is also the in-charge of higher education, said, “All vacant posts in the arts and science streams have been filled while the LAHDC has taken up with the government the issue of the creation of posts of commerce teacher several times.” Abidi added, “An internal arrangement of teaching has been made to make up for the shortage of teachers. Principal of the college Yoginder Singh, who is also from the commerce stream, is at present taking classes. As qualified candidates are not available locally and candidates from outside the district are not willing to take up the job of teacher in the college for Rs 150 per lecture due to the high cost of living in Ladakh.” However, Abidi claimed the examinations were conducted and the results of the previous academic session were declared in time. This saved the students an academic year, especially those who wanted to take admission to postgraduate courses in any university. Even after 17 years of the establishment of this college students from the remote areas of Ladakh are still unable to avail of higher education here. Several posts of teacher and administrative staff, including of the physical education director, are yet to be created. At present, the college teaches 10 subjects in the arts stream and some subjects in the science stream. Besides, the LAHDC is also pressing the government to introduce new subjects like geology and geography as the topography of Ladakh is a major source of study and research for scientists all over the world. |
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FDI in
Retail Sector
Jammu, November 29 In a joint meeting of the executive committee of the JCCI and representatives of different trade associations, which was held at Chamber House here today, it was unanimously decided to observe a complete bandh on December 1. Members were of the view that if the FDI was allowed in the retail sector, it would result in closure of business of small and petty traders, farmers, wholesalers, commission agents and the small-scale industrial sector. “The track record of MNCs shows that whenever and wherever the FDI has been allowed, it has resulted in closure of local businesses by flooding the market with cheap foreign products,” observed the JCCI members. “Their modus operandi is to provide cheap goods in the initial stage and then they charge exorbitantly in the absence of any local competition,” they maintained. The meeting requested the business community across the Jammu province to observe a complete bandh on December 1. Activists of the Shiv Sena and the Dogra Front have also condemned the Union government for allowing the FDI in the retail sector. The activists of the two outfits today took out a joint protest march under the leadership of Shiv Sena state president Ashok Gupta from Raghunath Chowk to Press Club. Addressing the activists, Gupta drew a parallel between the present government and the East India Company. He recalled how the East India Company, under the garb of trade, had established British Rule in India, forcing Indians to become slaves. “Already over 200 MNCs have inundated the Indian market because of the wrong policies of the government. The recent decision to allow 51 per cent share to foreign investors in the retail sector under the FDI will open a Pandora’s box,” he said. Gupta felt that the decision of the Union government will not only have an adverse effect on the local market but will also increase the gap between the haves and have-nots. Threatening to intensify the agitation, Gupta asked the government to take back what he described as a “draconian” decision. However, amidst stiff opposition against the government decision, the Citizens Forum, a social organisation, has appreciated the government move. President of the Forum RK Chadha has described the protests by traders as totally uncalled for and unjustified. |
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Farooq’s remarks on Army provocative, says Gupta
Jammu, November 29 In a statement issued here today, Gupta recalled that the Army had come to the state only after the Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir signed the Instrument of Accession with the Indian Union. It was backed by even Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, Farooq’s father. As part of its Constitutional duty to defend the state as an integral part of India, the Army during all these years had fought many a battle to defeat the enemy’s designs, he added. He said during the past 64 years 20,000 brave soldiers and officers of the Army, including over 7,000 during the past 20 years, had sacrificed their lives. Paying tributes to the Army for the valour with which it had tackled cross-border terror in Kashmir, Gupta said the NC made the situation difficult for the forces to tackle as in early 90s it skirted its duties and left the state in a dire state. Recalling his association with the Army as a minister at the Centre, Gupta said, “The Indian Army is the best force in the world on many counts, including bravery, discipline and its approach towards human values.” |
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PDP flays anti-farmer policies of government
Jammu, November 29 Addressing a series of public meetings in the Suchetgarh Assembly segment, Bajwa regretted that the present regime headed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was non-serious towards mitigating the woes of the farming community. He said the cost of the fertilisers had increased manifold during the last some months and the government had failed to increase the Maximum Support Price (MSP) of the farmers’ produce. He added that the failure of the government to set up procurement centres to purchase the paddy from the farmers spoke about the anti-farmers’ attitude of the present regime. Bajwa regretted that due to the non-availability of the procurement centres, the farmers were forced to sell their produce on lower prices. He said the price of the world famous Basmati of RS Pura was less this year as compared to the last year, despite the fact that the cost of the fertilisers had increased. |
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Bar Assn calls for strike on Dec 1
Srinagar, November 29 The decision to go on strike was taken at a general body meeting of the JKHBA, presided over by its president Mian Abdul Qayoom here, sources in the lawyers’ body said. On November 23, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had in his efforts to allay the fears of the armed forces for operating in various areas of the state, said the government could consider restoring two provisions of the RPC to make them applicable to the state so that the security forces had a legal protection. “They (security forces) have pointed out that in all other states of the country, the Army and the paramilitary forces enjoy a protection under the CrPC, which is not applicable to Jammu and Kashmir,” Omar had said. He added that the government may include the omitted Sections of the RPC to make the law on a par with the rest of the country. The sources said the lawyers would stay away from the courts on the day of the strike to press for the restoration of the lawyers’ quota in High Court judges. They said the JKHBA also demanded the restoration of the registration powers to the courts instead of revenue authorities.
— PTI |
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Home Guards stage protest
Jammu, November 29 Under the banner of the J&K Home Guards Welfare Association, the protesters flayed the government for its adamant stand. Addressing the protesters, association president Kamla Sharma questioned the working of the state government, which had failed to provide justice to the Home Guard jawans. Leaders and workers of different parties today joined the protest and urged the government to redress their long-standing grievances. Nearly 1,300 Home Guard jawans were being paid a paltry wage of Rs 545 a month. The chain protest of the Home Guard jawans had completed five years and still the state government had been indifferent to their plight. The protesting jawans are demanding better wages and their absorption in the Police Department. |
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Capital punishment for Kasab demanded
Jammu, November 29 Even after three years of the Mumbai attack, the lone surviving terrorist, Ajmal Kasab, is not being hanged to death. The Maharashtra Government is spending a huge amount of money on his security and the delay in handing out the capital punishment to him defies all logic,” read a statement issued here. “We demand that Kasab be hanged without further delay. The near and dear ones of the victims of the 26/11 attack are eagerly awaiting justice. Besides, the policy of the Pakistan Government in protecting the perpetrators of 26/11 is also condemnable,” it added. |
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NC leader Bashir Lone dead
Jammu, November 29 Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed grief over Lone’s death and described him as a political stalwart, who always worked for the betterment of society and the state. He conveyed sympathies to the bereaved family and prayed for peace to the departed soul. Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah also expressed sorrow over the demise of the party leader and recalled his (Lone’s) association with Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah. He said Lone always rendered selfless service to the people. The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, ministers, advisers to the Chief Minister, legislators, political activists and others also mourned Lone’s death. Minister for Industries SS Slathia, Chief Minister’s political adviser Devender Singh Rana, MLA Ajaz Jan and NC provincial president Rattan Lal Gupta visited the house of the late leader in Rajouri and conveyed condolences to the bereaved family. Minister of State for Power Shabir Ahmad Khan also expressed sorrow over Lone’s death.
— TNS |
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‘BJP youth wing not opposing new recruitment policy’
Jammu, November 29 He said after maintaining silence for days, the party was not staging protests merely to grab media attention. Puri condemned the policy, terming it as a “bonded labour policy”. It was a cruel joke on the unemployed youth of the state, he added. Puri questioned the motive behind the silence of the BJP over the issue when students protesting against the recruitment policy were being beaten up by the police. He said a mere symbolic support and protests by the BJP had exposed its
true face. |
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Lt Gen Ghosh on two-day visit to Jammu
Jammu, November 29 Lt Gen SR Ghosh and his wife were received at the airport by Lt Gen AK
Choudhary, General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Rising Star Corps and Maj Gen Surinder Singh, General Officer Commanding of the Tiger Division, said SN
Acharaya, officiating Defence PRO of Jammu. In view of the importance of the Tiger Division and the sensitivity of its area of responsibility, Lt Gen Ghosh will review the operational preparedness of the Tiger Division during his visit. He will visit the forward areas and interact with troops, said the PRO. Soon after his arrival Lt Gen Ghosh was briefed by the GOC of the Tiger Division on the operational, training and administrative matters, he added.
— TNS |
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28 years on, ten acquitted of digging cricket pitch
Srinagar, November 29 Democratic Freedom Party president Shabir Ahmad Shah, Muslim League chairman Mushtaq-ul-Islam and JKLF leader Shoukat Ahmad Bakshi were among those let off. District and Sessions Judge, Srinagar, Kaneez Fatima acquitted the accused as the prosecution failed to produce evidence against them. The police had registered a case against 10 persons for allegedly digging up the pitch at the Sher-i-Kashmir Cricket Stadium here on the eve of the match on October 13, 1983. Despite the digging of the pitch, the match between the West Indies and the newly crowned world champions India went ahead. The West Indies won the match.
— PTI |
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Leh records coldest night at -11.4°C
Srinagar, November 29 Leh town in the remote Ladakh region recorded a freezing -11.4°C last night, while the adjoining Kargil town recorded -6.2°C, a MeT official said. Srinagar city recorded a minimum of -1.9°C. The Met official said the night temperature in the south Kashmir tourist resort of Pahalgam was -5.1°C, while the skiing resort of Gulmarg froze at -4.6°C. The gateway township in south Kashmir, Qazigund, recorded -3.8°C and north Kashmir's frontier Kupwara district settled at -1.5°C. The official said the weather was expected to remain dry and cold for the next few days.
— PTI |
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Art exhibition begins
Jammu, November 29 About 60 painters from different parts of the country had showcased their works at the exhibition. MLA MY Taing inaugurated the exhibition and it would remain open to public till December 4. Others present at the inaugural function included Director, J&K Centre for Creative Arts, OP Sharma, general secretary of the Press Club, Sohail Qazami and additional secretary of the J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages Savita
Bakshi. — TNS |
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Two killed in road accident
Jammu, November 29 The bodies were brought to the district hospital at Reasi for postmortem. An FIR has been logged at the Jyotipuram police station. |
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Kargil boys hostel to open in January
Jammu, November 29 The minister visited the site and took stock of the work on the hostel, which is coming up at a cost of Rs 7 crore. He said the work on the hostel complex was nearing completion and it would be made available to the students in January next year. Akhoon said 230 students pursuing higher education in the educational institutions in Jammu would be accommodated in the hostel. The hostel complex has 78 bedrooms, three community halls, a library room, besides a kitchen and a dining hall. |
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Ration cards sought for monks
Leh, November 29 The councillor said the ration cards at present were being issued at the monastery level due to which monks did not get the individual quota of sugar and Kerosene oil and were facing difficulties. Nyantak added that there were no mass kitchens in many monasteries of Ladakh where hundreds of old and young monks lived. |
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