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Legislative Council Poll
Iqbal Khanday new Chief Secy
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Govt unlikely to give Afzal’s body to family
Coming days crucial for tourist footfall in April, say hoteliers
Vaishno Devi Pilgrimage
A file photo of the Vaishno Devi temple complex Afzal Guru’s son wants to be a cardiologist
Kin await official word from govt
Balachandran takes over command of Srinagar Air Force Station
Cabinet committee recast for consensus on Sagheer report
Kashmiri writer presents his latest book to Governor
Siachen photo gets national award
A photograph of the Mushko valley which has been selected for a national award.
Six newborns abandoned in Srinagar this year
Accused denied bail in kidnapping case
Hike in honorarium for ReT teachers gets Cabinet nod
Charak demands direct train from Jammu to Chandigarh
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Legislative Council Poll
Jammu, February 18 Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) chief Saifuddin Soz said Parray was the official party candidate for the Kashmir seat. However, Amin Bhat is also claiming to be the Congress candidate. “It is all due to the directions of the high command that I have filed my papers,” Bhat told The Tribune and claimed that the final decision on the seat would be taken by the party high command on Tuesday morning. The JKPCC chief said Parray had the mandate of the party so he was the Congress candidate. “I don’t know how Amin Bhat is claiming to be the Congress candidate”, he asked. Incidentally, Bhat is a staunch supporter of Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad while Parray is a Soz loyalist. Meanwhile, 12 candidates today filed their nomination papers for the LC elections. Although one Independent candidate, Sardar Kaloo Khan Hamdard, has filed nomination, his papers are likely to be rejected during scrutiny because he does not have the support of 10 MLAs. One candidate each of the National Conference, Congress and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is likely to be elected unopposed after the scrutiny. Devender Singh Rana of the NC, Rani Baloria of the Congress and Yashpal Sharma of the PDP are likely to be elected unopposed from three seats of the Jammu region. There would be a contest for Doda seat as the Panthers Party has fielded its candidate Mohammed Iqbal against Naresh Kumar Gupta of the Congress. Meanwhile, Showkat Hussain and Abdul Majeed of the National Conference, Muzaffar Ahmad Parray of the Congress, Naeem Akhtar Andrabi of the PDP, Shuban Krishen Dudha (Independent) filed their papers for four seats of the Kashmir Valley. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand, Soz and senior leaders of the NC, Congress and the PDP were present at the time of filing of nomination papers. |
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Iqbal Khanday new Chief Secy
Jammu, February 18 Khanday is the 28th Chief Secretary since 1949 when MK Kidwai was appointed as the administrative head of the state. Khanday’s name was cleared by the state Cabinet, which met under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah at the civil secretariat here. He was holding the charge of the Finance Commissioner in the Finance Department. Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister BB Vyas would hold charge of the Finance Department in addition to his own duties till further orders. Khanday is from the J&K-cadre 1978-batch (IAS) and was appointed as the Financial Commissioner in November 2012. He was born on November 11, 1955, and has done his bachelors in English. A resident of Anantnag district, Khanday has served in the state in various capacities, the Principal Secretary to government, Finance Department, Principal Secretary to
government, Planning and Development Department, Forest Department, Agriculture Department, and the Director General of the Institute of Management, Public Administration and Rural Development. He served as the Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister from 2002 to 2004. Khanday is the 11th state subject (permanent resident of Jammu and Kashmir) to reach the top slot after Peerzada Ghulam Ahmad, PN Koul, Syed Muzaffar Aga, Noor Muhammad, Mir Nasrullah, Sheikh Ghulam Rasool, SS Bloeria, Vijay Bakaya, C Phunsog and BR Kundal. Khanday would retire from his services in November 2015.
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Govt unlikely to give Afzal’s body to family
New Delhi, February 18 A senior Home Ministry official said a final decision in this regard would be taken soon and the Jammu and Kashmir Government would be informed about it. The Home Ministry official said Afzal was buried inside the Tihar Jail complex in line with the prison manual and the government had no plans to hand over the body considering various aspects, including the law and order situation in the state. Various outfits, including main opposition party in the state PDP and separatist groups, have been demanding handing over the body of Afzal, who was hanged on February 9 after his conviction in the 2001 Parliament attack case. The Kashmir valley was agog with rumours yesterday that Afzal's body had arrived and was being buried in the cover of darkness. The news spread like a wild fire through social networking sites. Last week, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had expressed his displeasure to Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde over the delay in informing Afzal's family about his hanging. Singh told Shinde that Afzal’s family should have been informed in advance about the execution. Afzal was buried alongside Kashmiri separatist leader Maqbool Bhat, who was also interred in the jail complex after his hanging in 1984. The mortal remains of Bhat were not handed over to his family. The government has already said it will allow close relatives to visit Afzal’s grave, an offer rejected by the family saying they want nothing but his body. — PTI security concerns A Home Ministry official said Afzal was buried inside the Tihar Jail complex in line with the prison manual and the government had no plans to hand over the body considering various aspects, including the law and order situation in the state |
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Coming days crucial for tourist footfall in April, say hoteliers
Srinagar, February 18 The nine-day-long shutdown in the Valley has already caused losses to the tourism sector, but the stakeholders are hoping for an improvement in the situation so that visitors start arriving again as usual. “It’s a wait-and-watch situation for us. If the situation improves, we are hopeful that tourists will start arriving again," said Kashmir Hotels and Restaurant Owners Federation (KHAROF) president Faiz Bakshi. He said the coming days were “very crucial” for the success or failure of tourist arrivals this year. “Even though the main tourist season starts in April, visitors make railway, air and hotel bookings during this time of the year. They are keeping an eye on the situation and this period is very crucial,” Bakshi said. While other stakeholders too are hoping for the best, they say they have already suffered heavy losses. “Almost all bookings at our hotels got cancelled for February. Even as a trickle of tourists is currently in Kashmir, we are hopeful that visitors will start arriving again like the previous two years if the situation improves,” said Hoteliers’ Club chairman Mushtaq Chaya, who also owns a chain of hotels. On the recent travel advisory by the UK, he said: “Even though the tourism sector mainly depends on domestic visitors, the earlier lifting of advisories by some foreign countries had come across as good news. Now that the UK has again issued an advisory, it is unfortunate.” At the same time, some stakeholders are sceptical about the prospects of a tourism boom this year. “The execution has dented our economy severely. Right now, it is difficult to say what lies in store for the tourism sector,” said Kashmir Economic Alliance (KEA) spokesman and former Kashmir Hotel and Restaurant Association (KHARA) president Siraj Ahmad. He claimed that the Valley’s tourism sector was suffering loses to the tune of Rs 150 crore on a daily basis due to imposition of curfew for around a week plus shutdown calls after the execution of Afzal on February 9.
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Vaishno Devi Pilgrimage
Jammu, February 18 This increase has been allowed in view of the escalation in the cost of inputs, particularly fuel. Disclosing this, Dr Mandeep K. Bhandari, Additional Chief Executive Officer, SMVDSB, said both operators Pawan Hans Helicopters Ltd and Global Vectra Helicorp Ltd had for the past several months been asking for an increase in the helicopter fare. Their demand is based on the increase in the cost of inputs, particularly aviation turbine fuel. Incidentally, the current fare of helicopter tickets for the contract period from April 2011 to March 2014 is substantially lower than what it was earlier. Earlier, a one-way ticket for an adult passenger was Rs 1225; this came down to Rs 699 with effect from April 1, 2011. Bhandari said the decision to hike the fare was taken after due examination and appreciation of requests made by the heli service providers by a committee, which reached the conclusion that the rates needed to be rationalised in view of the overall inflationary trend in the market. It was noted that even the charges for travelling by pony from Katra to Bhawan were higher (Rs 700). The new rates shall be applicable from February 19. However, those who have booked tickets in advance need not pay any extra amount. |
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Afzal Guru’s son wants to be a cardiologist
Jageer (Sopore), February 18 Ghalib’s maternal grandfather Ghulam Mohammad Bhuroo has been receiving visitors at a large tent erected in the front lawns of Afzal’s house in Jageer village, who drop in for condolences. Ghalib clearly remembers his last meeting with his father in Tihar Jail in August 2012 and the conversation they had. “Whenever I visited my papa in Tihar Jail, he used to ask me questions on science and would say ‘mehnat karo’ (work hard),” says Ghalib. “I still remember the questions he (my father) asked me when we met in August last. He asked me to define the ‘cell’ and name its discoverer,” said Ghalib. “When I gave him the correct answer, he then asked me to define the ‘nucleus’ and name its discoverer,” recalls Ghalib, occasionally sifting through newspapers during the conversation. While Ghalib was narrating his last meeting with his father, Afzal, Ghalib’s grandfather broke down. “The news about Afzal’s hanging was shocking and painful for us, particularly my wife and my daughter, Tabassum, who has suffered a lot during these years,” said Bhuroo. Pointing towards Ghalib, who sat besides him, Bhuroo said raising Ghalib and providing solace and confidence to his daughter Tabassum are the biggest responsibilities he would have to shoulder. “As Tabassum’s father and Ghalib’s grandfather, it is my responsibility and duty to ensure that they suffer no longer. I pray to Allah that he grants me some years so that I can look after them,” said Bhuroo, who used to accompany his daughter and Afzal’s wife Tabassum to Delhi all these years. “My moral duty is to provide good education to Ghalib. Afzal, who was like my son and dear to me, was concerned about his son’s education and would remind me about it as he was certain of his fate,” said Bhuroo, while patting Ghalib. Ghalib, like any other child has a dream. “I want to become a heart surgeon (cardiologist) like one of my uncles Dr Abdul Ahad Guru and serve the people,” said Ghalib, with a shy smile on his face. “Papa knew that I want to become a doctor and would always tell me to work hard. He used to repeat this whenever I visited him in jail,” said Ghalib, who loves reading science books and playing cricket. “When I visited him in August, papa gifted me a copy of the Koran and a book on science, which I have preserved,” he said. Ghalib broke down when asked how he got the news about his father’s hanging. Wiping his tears, he said, “That day I cried a lot as I loved him very much. My father was caring.” Ask him what he would like to tell boys of his age, he says, “They should work hard and excel in education. But they should not weep if their father dies. They should feel proud.” Ghalib says he often sees his father in his dreams. “He comes in my dreams and tells me to work hard,” he said as he again broke down. Ghalib’s friends and cousins, who are of his age, describe him as polite and patient. “He plays very good cricket. He never gets irritated even if someone taunts him,” said Juniad, Ghalib’s cousin and best friend.
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Kin await official word from govt
Jageer (Sopore), February 18 As the “shock” of Afzal’s hanging seems to have eased a bit, it is now a “wait and watch” situation for his family which is demanding that the authorities return Afzal’s body, who was buried in Tihar Jail. The Guru family says they are waiting for a “word” from the authorities and have not been contacted either by the state government or any official from Delhi so far on this issue. “So far, nobody has approached us from the government side on the issue, except an acknowledgement from the state government that our application has been forwarded,” said Yaseen Guru, cousin of Afzal Guru. He said the government should first handover Afzal’s body to the family and then they would take a decision on where to bury it. “If they want us to come to Delhi to receive his (Afzal’s) body, we are ready to go there on our own expenses. If they want to hand it over to us, let them. Afterwards, it is our decision where to bury him,” he said. On being asked why the family had not decided where to bury Afzal’s body in case it was handed over to them, Afzal’s father-in-law Ghulam Mohammad Bhuroo said let the government first decide about it. |
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Balachandran takes over command of Srinagar Air Force Station
Srinagar, February 18 “He (Balachandran) is highly experienced in fighter operations and has held many important positions in various fighter stations. The officer is also decorated with the prestigious Vayu Sena Medal,” the spokesman said. He said his wife, Preetha Balachandran, also took over the mantle of the president of the Air Force Wives Welfare Association (Local) from Vyjayanthi Choudhury, the spokesman said. — TNS
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Cabinet committee recast for consensus on Sagheer report
Jammu, February 18 The CSC, which was constituted in October 2010, was given its seventh extension up to April this year, following persistent disagreement within committee members who belong to both parties. The new CSC would comprise Minister for Finance and Ladakh Affairs Abdul Rahim Rather as the Chairman, Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Ali Mohammad Sagar, Minister for Sports and Youth Services Taj Mohiuddin, Minister for Urban Development and Local Bodies Nawang Rigzin Jora, Minister for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Sham Lal Sharma, Minister for CAPD and Transport Choudhary Mohammad Ramzan, Minister for Planning, Development, Labour and Employment Ajay Sadhotra and Minister for Housing, Horticulture and Culture Raman Bhalla as members. Two members of the committee, Qamar Ali Akhoon and SS Slathia, who were dropped from the recent Cabinet reshuffle, would no longer be its members. Justice Sagheer Working Group was among the five groups constituted by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in 2006 to address the dimensions of the Centre-state relations in the context of Jammu and Kashmir. The group had recommended ‘greater autonomy’ for the state. The CSC had been entrusted with the task of examining recommendations made by the Justice Sagheer report and to bring a consensus on the contentious issues such as autonomy, Article 370 and regional aspirations. Justice Sagheer had submitted his report to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah instead of the Prime Minister on December 2009, evoking sharp criticism from various quarters. Jammu-based groups had alleged the report was drafted on the National Conference’s agenda of autonomy. Ironically, Justice Sagheer, former Chief Justice of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court, died on January 31, 2011, but the CSC is yet to evolve a consensus on his report. |
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Kashmiri writer presents his latest book to Governor
Jammu, February 18 Briefing the Governor about his book, Gauhar said he had originally written the novel in Kashmiri, titled, “Argi Ashud”, which he later recreated in English. The book is about the history of Jammu and Kashmir in the 20th century through the medium of fiction. During the past six decades, Gauhar has written 12 books each in English and Kashmiri and three in Urdu. He has written novels, poetry, research and Kashmir mystic thought. The Governor wished Gauhar good health and continuing success in his literary pursuits.
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Siachen photo gets national award
Jammu, February 18 Clicked by officiating Defence PRO SN Acharya, the photograph from ‘Green India: Environment Stories’, was selected in the professional category by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. “The Army had embarked on a plantation drive in the highest battlefield to maintain ecological balance and save the glaciers,” said Acharya. He said the vision of ‘Clean Siachen — Green Siachen’ conceived by the Army has almost been achieved. Acharya has ample experience of covering the northern theatre of the Indian Army. He was also awarded the Vice-Chief of Army Staff’s instant commendation certificate. Soldiers have so far planted 1,17,538 saplings in the Siachen sector. The award is likely to be given at a function in New Delhi in March. |
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Six newborns abandoned in Srinagar this year
Srinagar, February 18 Of the six abandoned babies, five were reported in GB Pant Hospital, of which three are girls. Doctors say the rise in cases of abandonment of babies in the Valley was pointing towards a negative trend of these babies being born out of wedlock. “I don’t see any other reason for their abandonment than the babies being born out of wedlock. At a time when our female sex ratio is on a decline, with 859 female children to 1,000 male children, (Census 2011), why would any family abandon its child, especially daughters, like this,” said Dr Muhammad Salim Khan, Deputy Medical Superintendent of GB Pant Hospital. The doctors at GB Pant Hospital said the baby was brought in by an unidentified person, who did not register with the help desk of the hospital. “The baby was found by attendants and medical assistance staff in the ward, who reported the same to the hospital authorities. The baby was pre-term (born only after 7 months of pregnancy) and is in a critical state. There are not many chances of his survival. His organs are still developing and he may need ventilator support,” said the Deputy Medical Superintendent. The doctors say although such cases are being reported in major city hospitals such as GB Pant and Lal Ded Hospitals, there are many Sub-district Hospitals and primary health care centres in the city outskirts, especially villages, where such cases are common, but are rarely brought into the public domain for fear of outcry by the moral police. “This is certainly becoming common now. Every month few babies are abandoned here. Fortunately, we are able to find families for them (mostly childless couples) who adopt them after going through legal procedures. But the way in which these babies are deserted on the hospital premises, sometimes even without adequate clothes, is worrisome,” said Dr Naheed Malik, a senior gynaecologist at Lal Ded Hospital. Doctors say they are compelled to report such cases to the media so that interested parties turn up for adoption. “We cannot keep these babies here for long. The baby boy, who was abandoned at Srinagar’s Sufi shrine Makhdoom Sahab on January 29, is still here. But a family will soon adopt him,” Dr Khan said. However, the issue of the babies being born out of wedlock, according to doctors, is what the state government, moral police and the civil society need to address. “There should be strict moral policing by local religious leaders and stringent measures should be adopted by the state Health Department to regulate entry and check registration at these hospitals which could curb such practices,” said Nighat Banday, Prof of psychology at the Central University of Kashmir. |
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Accused denied bail in kidnapping case
Jammu, February 18 On December 15, 2012, the petitioner along with his sons had barged into the house of the complainant, Mohammad Sharief, a resident of Sunjwan, Rajbagh. They forcibly took away his daughter and kept her at some unknown destination. After being rescued, charges under Section 376 of the RPC were added to the case on the girl’s statement. The girl alleged she was raped by the accused, Fareed, at Amritsar for 45 days against her will. The Kathua Principal Sessions Judge, while rejecting the bail plea of the petitioner, observed that, “A minor girl is alleged to have been kidnapped by the sons of the petitioner who raped her for about 45 days. It will be an irony of justice if the petitioner is released on bail at this stage.”
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Hike in honorarium for ReT teachers gets Cabinet nod
Jammu, February 18 The ReT teachers had been demanding issuance of a formal order regarding enhancement in their honorarium from Rs 1,500 per month to Rs 3,000 per month as announced during the Assembly session in March last year. The government also ordered enhancement in honorarium for lambardars and chowkidars of the Revenue Department. The proposal to this effect was approved by Minister of State for Revenue, Relief & Rehabilitation, Ajaz Ahmad Khan here today. The honorarium for lambardars has been hiked from Rs 501 to 751 and that of chowkidars has been raised from Rs 500 to 750 with effect from April, 2012. The Cabinet has also approved revised financial delegation of works to be allotted to the Jammu Kashmir Projects Construction Corporation. “Now all civil works costing more than Rs 700 lakh as against 100 lakh shall be allotted to the JKPCC Ltd in respect of all government departments and corporations,” a spokesperson said. Further, the Cabinet has approved adjustment or absorption of surplus staff of the Integrated Rural Energy Programme (IREP) of the Science and Technology Department in some other departments. The Cabinet has also approved the establishment of the State Bio-diversity Board. |
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Charak demands direct train from Jammu to Chandigarh
Jammu, February 18 Charak said it would give a big relief to pilgrims coming to Mata Vaishno Devi as well as patients going to the PGIMER, Chandigarh. Charak also demanded one Rajdhani Express from New Delhi to Katra and an express train from Jammu Tawi to Kota. He said the express train running between Jammu Tawi and Barauni should be extended upto Bhagalpur. He also demanded that one train should be started from Anantnag to Pahalgam in Kashmir. Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad had already taken up the Jammu-Chandigarh train issue with the Railway Minister. — TNS
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Senior IAS officer Mohammad Iqbal Khanday was today appointed as the new Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir. He replaced Madhav Lal, who has been appointed as the Secretary in the Union Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.
Khanday is the 28th Chief Secretary since 1949 when MK Kidwai was appointed as the administrative head of the state.
After witnessing booming tourist seasons during the last two years, the situation that has emerged in the aftermath of execution of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru has pushed the Kashmir's tourism stakeholders into a wait-and-watch situation.
The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) today approved a marginal increase in the helicopter fare on the Katra-Sanjichhat sector from the existing Rs 699 to Rs 800 for one-way ticket per passenger with immediate effect.
This increase has been allowed in view of the escalation in the cost of inputs, particularly fuel.
Ghalib Guru, 15-year-old son of Afzal Guru, is sifting through newspapers, carrying news related to his father. He turns to his maternal grandfather and says, “Dada now all the newspapers describe Jageer as the native village of papa.”
Ghalib’s maternal grandfather Ghulam Mohammad Bhuroo has been receiving visitors at a large tent erected in the front lawns of Afzal’s house in Jageer village, who drop in for condolences.
Ghulam Nabi Gauhar, a renowned writer of the state, presented to Governor NN Vohra a copy of his latest book, “Torch Bearer in Dark Circle”, at Raj Bhawan here today.
Briefing the Governor about his book, Gauhar said he had originally written the novel in Kashmiri, titled, “Argi Ashud”, which he later recreated in English.
A photograph on tree plantation in the world’s highest battlefield — Siachen Glacier, from the Army’s “Green Siachen campaign”, has been selected for the National Photo Award.Clicked by officiating Defence PRO SN
Acharya, the photograph from ‘Green India: Environment Stories’, was selected in the professional category by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
