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Mufti openly opposes FDI in retail sector
Darbar Move staff yet to get govt accommodation
PDP propagating divisive politics, says NC
State almost polio-free, says minister
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Erring B.Ed institutions to face action, says minister
Multi-storied building at railway station
HC quashes bovine smuggler’s detention under PSA
Physically challenged observe ‘black day’ across state
Despite police efforts, abandoned newborn dies at hospital
Cop found dead with gunshot wound
Striking lawyers gherao Assistant Solicitor General
Inter KVS Basket Ball tourney ends
Seminar on cyber security
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Mufti openly opposes FDI in retail sector
Jammu, December 3 The NC, which is a coalition partner of the Congress, has supported FDI in the retail sector. While supporting the decision of the Union government, NC president Farooq Abdullah, on November 27, had flayed those who were disrupting Parliament on the issue. Mufti, while addressing a meeting of senior party activists today to chalk out a strategy to strengthen the PDP in Jammu city, cautioned that this “hasty” decision of the UPA regime would badly affect a large number of small and petty shopkeepers and would render millions of people jobless. As shopkeepers and traders of the Jammu region have already launched a stir against the decision, Mufti exhorted his party workers to take up the issue with the masses to “protect” the interests of the common people. The party decided to hold a series of meetings in Jammu and Mufti would himself address some of the meetings to “educate” the masses about the disastrous effect of the unilateral decision taken by the Union government. “There are apprehensions that FDI in the retail market will instantly kill all small and petty traders and it will affect the farming community in the long run. So, the government should look into such apprehensions,” he said and advised the government to take opinion of other political parties on the issue. “I don’t think that the government should make FDI an issue of prestige. It should rather evolve a consensus on the vital issue as this decision is directly related to a large number of people,” he said and asked the UPA government to shun its adamant attitude and show some flexibility. Coming out openly against FDI in the retail sector, Mufti asserted: “The retail market, which provides maximum employment after agriculture, should not be opened to big investors as the local traders would not be able to stand the competition.” |
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Darbar Move staff yet to get govt accommodation
Jammu, December 3 These employees blame the indifferent approach of the state government towards the issue for their plight. Talking to The Tribune, the employees said in the absence of a proper accommodation policy for employees, many flats and houses of the Jammu and Kashmir Estates Department had been illegally occupied by people, who were not entitled to the facility. President of the Civil Secretariat Non-Gazetted Employees’ Union Rauf Ahmad Bhat told The Tribune that their union had suggested a comprehensive accommodation policy to the state government to solve the problem. Bhat said, “The Darbar Move is a 128-year-old biannual practice in the state, but the employees, who move with the Darbar, still continue to face the accommodation problem.” He said, “We staged many protests in Srinagar in October and following which the government constituted a committee for framing a comprehensive accommodation policy. Instead of going for rented accommodation to adjust the leftover employees, the government can buy land and raise buildings.” he said. It would also lessen expenditure by the state on rentals, he added. Asked about compensation to the employees who have not been provided government accommodation, Bhat said, “Employees without government houses are given Rs 2,500 per month as house rent allowance (HRA), while hotels in Jammu city charge a minimum of Rs 280 per day.” “The non-availability of accommodation is not the sole issue. Even the employees who have been given accommodation are crying hoarse. Many non-gazetted and Class IV employees have been allotted one-room tenements, that, too, in a dilapidated condition,” said Abdul Majid Bhatt, president of the Lower Grade Employees Union. Both leaders alleged that many quarters of the Estates Department had been illegally occupied and the government had failed to get them vacated by November 30, despite an assurance to us. Khursheed Ahmad Shah, Director, Estates Department, told The Tribune that despite some hurdles the eviction policy was being implemented in letter and in spirit. He, however, admitted that illegal occupants were seldom willing to vacate government accommodation peacefully. Asked about the implementation of a comprehensive policy, Shah said, “We have acquired 100 kanals at Pampore in Kashmir and also identified about 150 kanals at Sidhra in Jammu. I hope if these projects are implemented in next two years, the problem of government accommodation will be resolved,” he said. About 17,000 employees, including 3,000 of the civil secretariat, shuttle between the twin capital cities of Srinagar and Jammu with the Darbar Move every six months. |
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PDP propagating divisive politics, says NC
Jammu, December 3 Addressing a meeting of party workers at Marh yesterday, senior NC leader Ajay Sadhotra alleged that the PDP had scripted a new chapter in the state by encouraging disruptive politics to divide Jammu and Kashmir on regional and religious lines. He added that it was during the regime of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed that Jammu and Kashmir had attained the status of being the number one corrupt state in the country. Highlighting the achievements of the present regime, Sadhotra said the pro-people policies adopted by the coalition government headed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had certainly frustrated and disturbed the PDP leadership. The successful holding of the panchayat elections and their empowerment has made the PDP stunted.
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State almost polio-free, says minister
Katra, December 3“The state is finally going to be polio-free with just one case been detected so far in 2011, making it the longest polio-free period for the first time,” said Minister for Health and Horticulture Sham Lal Sharma at Katra today.
Sharma was here to inaugurate a two-day 14th free polio corrective surgery camp, being conducted by Radha Krishan Charitable Trust and the Rotary Club at Ghatkopar in Mumbai, in collaboration with the state Health Department and other social organisations, including the Shiv Khori Mandali at Katra. The Health minister added that the government had made serious efforts in the past three years to eradicate polio from the state and pumped billions of rupees in this effort, which had shown its results now. Earlier, thousands of children used to lose their childhood because of polio. The WHO is also observing December 3, as World Disability Day to make the world polio-free. The minister maintained that a series of new initiatives had been taken this year, including a new communication campaign personalising the message for polio immunisation from “har bachcha har bar” (every child every time) to “mera bachcha har bar” (my child every time). These measures are being taken in addition to intense efforts being made to ensure that children living in the high risk areas, especially newborns are rapidly protected. Over 210 patients were treated on the first day of the camp and nearly 1,600 people, including women and children have already availed of the benefits from previous camps in the past 13 years. The camp will conclude on December 4 and a team of doctors will visit the same venue on January 15 for a follow up treatment. |
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Erring B.Ed institutions to face action, says minister
Udhampur, December 3 The minister told The Tribune during his visit to Government Degree College (GDC) for Boys here today, that action against all such new institutions was under the consideration of the government. “We will take legal as well as departmental action against colleges for false representation to the Higher Education Department regarding the issuance of NOC. Such institutions will not be allowed to function merely for commercial interests,” said Malik. Reportedly, a large number of new B.Ed and ETT institutions had applied statewide for the NOC, but during the physical verification, the inspection team of the Higher Education Department found that more than 200 institutions lacked the basic requirements like proper building and staff. More than 50 such institutions were from Kathua district where growth of such institutions was linked to the potential flow of students from Punjab and Himachal Pradesh. To streamline the system of teachers’ education in the state, the minister said the government would reward the B.Ed colleges having a good track record, but would not hesitate to derecognise those playing with the future of the students. Meanwhile, Malik inaugurated a botanical Garden, a CCTV system and released a newsletter during his visit to the college. He assured full support to the college for meeting its infrastructure and other requirements. |
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Multi-storied building at railway station
Jammu, December 3 Ram Nath Meena, Divisional Traffic Manager, Jammu Division, while talking to The Tribune, said, “We had launched the project in 2006 on a land belonging to the Railway Department but the SRTC obtained a stay order from court restraining us from carrying out construction work on it without its consent.” “The SRTC says the Railways has given it the land for use. But the Railways had only a verbal agreement with the SRTC that allowed the latter to park few of its buses on the land earmarked for the building, if required. Now, the SRTC is misusing the agreement and the state government is providing it full support,” he added. Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Pawan Kotwal said, “Though the land belongs to the Railway Department, it should get the map of the building approved. And if it has no agreement with the SRTC, it should give explanation in the court.” According to Railway officials, the SRTC had used the rooms of the department for a long time but paid nothing for the facility. JS Tandon, Managing Director, SRTC, said, “We have nothing to do with the construction of the building and the court order as well. The Railways has some internal conflict. Why should we have any problem with the building? We had a problem with private taxi operators in 2006, for which we had approached the court for a stay order. But we are not concerned with the construction of the building.” |
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HC quashes bovine smuggler’s detention under PSA
Jammu, December 3 “The grounds of detention do not indicate anything about the petitioner’s activities after his last objectionable activity on May 11, 2009, when a case was registered against him at police station, Rajbagh, under Section 188 of the RPC,” held the court. District Magistrate, Kathua, had ordered the detention of Nazir Ahmed to prevent him from indulging in criminal activities, detrimental to the maintenance of public order, when the District Magistrate, justified the petitioner’s detention for his activities of smuggling bovines on June 7, 2008, February 24, 2008 and May 11, 2009. The High Court while allowing the habeas corpus petition observed that, “The jurisdiction and power under Section 8 of the J&K Public Safety Act (PSA), 1978, is contemplated for its exercise only on the basis of recent activities of the person or on the basis of some apprehension that the person sought to be detained may indulge in activities prejudicial to the security of the state, maintenance of public order or in smuggling of timber or liquor. The District Magistrate’s order, which directed the detention of Nazir Ahmad was based on stale grounds and without any material available with him, indicating that the detainee was likely to indulge in activities for which his detention in preventive custody may be warranted, cannot, therefore, be sustained.” |
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Physically challenged observe ‘black day’ across state
Jammu/Srinagar, December 3 In Jammu, the All Jammu and Kashmir Handicap Welfare Association held a rally this morning. The rally started from the Press Club and after passing through many areas of the city culminated at Indira Chowk. President of the association KK Verma said, “The rally was held to highlight the plight of physically challenged persons. We have submitted memorandums of demands to the government a number of times but it has been indifferent to our issues.” In the Kashmir valley, physically challenged persons staged protests against the non-fulfilment of their demands. At least 40 protesters were taken into preventive custody. A large number of physically challenged persons under the banner of the All J&K Handicapped Association (AJKHA) gathered in the Press Enclave area in Srinagar and raised slogans against the government. “We are observing “black day” today as the government has failed to fulfil our demands. During our meeting with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in May, we were assured that our long-pending demands would be met within 45 days, but nothing had happened,” a protester said. Later, the protesters attempted to march towards the Chief Minister’s residence. However, the police thwarted the march at the Sher-e-Kashmir Park and detained the protesters. Talking to The Tribune over the phone, AJKHA president Sajad Anwar said at least 40 members of the association had been detained. “Around 40-50 members have been detained and lodged in different police stations of the city,” he said. The demands of the AJKHA include the enhancement of monthly remuneration from Rs 400 to Rs 1,500, free education for their children up to the university level, loans at low interest rates, reservation in government jobs, similar facilities as given to the Scheduled Castes (SCs) and the Scheduled Tribes (STs), setting up of a handicapped advisory board, 50 per cent concession in electricity bills, besides other benefits.
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Despite police efforts, abandoned newborn dies at hospital
Jammu, December 3 The baby had an underdeveloped rectum and its father abandoned it in the Ward number 8 of the GMCH as he did not have money for its treatment. The police had admitted the baby to the SMGS Hospital, besides arranging money for its surgery, which was scheduled for today. The father of the baby, Ayub Khan (26), a Myanmar national, was arrested by the police last evening. He works as a labourer at construction sites and lives in the Railway Colony here. “I did not have money for the treatment of my newborn son and hence I left him in the hospital in the hope that doctors would treat him,” said Ayub at Bakshi Nagar police station. “The supervisory doctor at the SMGS Hospital had assured us that all efforts would be made to save the life of the newborn. We had arranged the money required for the surgery that was to be performed today. But the baby died last night,” said SHO, Bakshi Nagar, Sameer Jeelani. “We have arrested the father of the baby under Section 317 of the RPC,” he added.
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Cop found dead with gunshot wound
Jammu, December 3 The deceased policeman has been identified as 24-year-old Shahid Mehmood Bhat, a resident of Rajouri. He was serving in Meeran Sahib-based IRP 11 Batallion as driver of DSP Daljit Singh. Last evening, he allegedly had an argument with his adjutant, DSP Mahinder Singh, over the issue of leave for his marriage. The incident took place around 11:45 am at House Number 58 (residence of DSP Daljit Singh) in Sector G of Sainik Colony. The jawan had received a gunshot wound in the left temple. There, however, wasn’t any gun or suicide note at the spot. After the incident, the police did not wait for an ambulance to remove the body, which was carried away in a regular police bus. The relatives of the deceased cop claimed that Shahid was not issued any weapon by the police and was murdered. “Last night, Shahid told me that he was given leave for only 15 days for his marriage and he wanted the leave to be extended. This led to a tiff between him and his senior officers,” said Tariq Bhat, elder brother of the deceased constable. Tariq is also in the police force and was living with Shahid in a rented accommodation in Bakshi Nagar. “My brother had told me that his seniors were demanding bribe for extending the leave,” Tariq alleged and added, “Recently, he got some loan documents cleared for purchasing a plot of land only after giving a bribe of Rs 10,000 to his seniors.” “Today, he had his breakfast and was quite normal. We had plans for shopping in the afternoon. On December 5, there was a niyaz at home as part of his marriage ceremony but he was not being relieved by his officers. Also, he did not have a weapon when he went to DSP Daljit’s house. He has been murdered,” Tariq alleged Outside the mortuary at Government Medical College and Hospital Jammu, DSP Mahinder Singh created a scene after he reached there in an inebriated state and entered into a verbal duel with relatives of the deceased cop. Pacifying Shahid’s family, the commandant of IRP 11 Batallion, SSP Ravinder Singh, said: “It’s a case of death under mysterious circumstances. We will minutely investigate every aspect of the incident and the truth will come to the fore sooner than later.” “Two senior police officers and an FSL team visited the spot. The inquest proceedings had begun under Section 174 of the CrPc, a police official said. A postmortem would be conducted on the body by a board of doctors tomorrow. |
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Striking lawyers gherao Assistant Solicitor General
Udhampur, December 3 The members of the YLA, led by its vice-president Amit Gupta and general secretary Nitin Gupta gheraoed the ASGI, KK Pangotra, and the Central government standing counsels in their office. The agitated young lawyers urged him to respect the decision of the general house of the Bar Association, Jammu, to continue the strike and to press the government to accept its demand. The association has taken a strong note of non-cooperation in the strike by law officers working under the ASGI in the state. Divesting judicial officers of their powers of registration of documents was being opposed by the lawyers because in their view it was an ill-advised move. The lawyers have maintained that vesting the registration powers with the executive officers was replete with serious repercussions on the interests of the lawyers in particular and public in general. Vikram Sharma, general secretary of the Bar Association, Jammu, said the ASGI was asked to take up the matter with the authorities concerned in the Central government for their intervention to facilitate an early resolution of the issue. The Assistant Solicitor General assured the members of the Bar Association of cooperation, said Sharma. The Bar Association also urged Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to take immediate remedial measures to sort out the issue and cautioned the government that any laxity on its part to further delay the resolution on the issue was bound to lead to an avoidable situation for which the government will be responsible. Meanwhile, the lawyers abstained from work in courts to press the government to accept its demand. The Bar Associations of Reasi, Udhampur, Katra, Bhadarwah, Kishtwar, Ramban, RS Pura, Samba, Kathua, Poonch, Rajouri and all the Muffasil Bar Associations supported the resolution of the general house of the Bar Association and decided to continue with the strike till December 7. |
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Inter KVS Basket Ball tourney ends
Jammu, December 3 Commissioner, KVS, Avinash Dikshit was the chief guest on the occasion. Eighteen regional teams of KVS from various parts of the country participated in the tournament. The final match was played between Hyderabad and Guwahati. Hyderabad won the match by 16 points and lifted a gold trophy while Guwahati lifted a silver trophy and Bangalore got a Bronze trophy. Cash rewards and certificates of merit were also given to players. Speaking on the occasion, Dikshit highlighted the significance of the sports in the overall personality development. — TNS
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Seminar on cyber security
Jammu, December 3 The seminar was organised by the BCA Department of the college and attended by the final-year students. During the programme, discussions were held on introduction to ethical hacking, foot printing and reconnaissance, scanning network, enumeration, system, trojans and back-doors, viruses and worms, sniffers, social engineering, denial of service and session hijacking. Besides, Bhanu also threw light on “what is hacking and how it can be prevented”. However, the main attraction of the seminar was call spoofing, session hijacking, SMS bombing and how it could be prevented. — TNS
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The NC and the PDP took divergent positions on the decision of the Congress-led UPA government to allow foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail sector as PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today came out openly against the decision and termed it “anti-people”.
Jammu, December 3
Jammu/Srinagar, December 3
Jammu, December 3
