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Separatists divided on Afzal protests
Kashmir remains calm during shutdown called by Geelani
LPG on doorstep from today for Jammu, Srinagar residents
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LC Election
J-K wants coal block to meet energy needs
Students to evaluate MGNREGA assets
Need to check illegal agents, say arms dealers
Hizb posters threatening police informers surface in Anantnag
Civil society to take up citizenship issue of West Pak refugees
Ladakhi students protest
Itoo, Governor discuss schemes for differently abled
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Separatists divided on Afzal protests
Srinagar, February 20 The moderate faction of the Hurriyat Conference has expressed its “implicit” resentment over the protest calendar issued by their hardline counterparts and warned of “fatal” consequences for the separatist struggle. Without naming anyone, the Mirwaiz Umar Farooq-led Hurriyat Conference has said it “rejects the politics of domination”, an apparent reference to Syed Ali Geelani, whose faction has issued a fresh protest calendar to press for the return of Afzal’s remains from Tihar Jail, where he was buried after his hanging on February 9. Both Mirwaiz and Geelani are currently in New Delhi. The statement has come at a time when the possibility of both factions adopting a joint strategy was in the air, which however appears remote now. The High Court Bar Association had on February 18 claimed that Afzal’s “political will” was to see a “unified” Hurriyat Conference. “The Hurriyat strongly rejects the politics of domination on one another. It would prove fatal for the struggle,” the Hurriyat faction led by Mirwaiz said after a meeting of its executive body on Tuesday. Making an implicit reference to protests and shutdowns called by Geelani faction, the moderate Hurriyat said it “would be distancing itself from the politics of conflict since that won’t be in the common interest of Kashmiris”. “The Hurriyat leadership believes that aspirations are the property of public. Hence, its each facet should be taken into consideration to protect it at every level,” the spokesman said. However, discounting the moderate camp’s allegation of playing “politics of domination”, spokesman of Geelani’s Tehreek-e-Hurriyat Ghulam Mohammad Ganai said leaders must shun their “fat egos before talking of unity”. “They (moderate separatists) have their own views which we cannot question. But they must give up their egos first”, he told The Tribune. “No doubt that there was a unified strategy by the leaders during unrest of 2008 and 2010, but joint consultation is possible only when people shun their egos,” said Ganai, the only senior leader from Geelani’s Hurriyat who was available for comment as rest of them are either under house arrest or have been detained by the authorities. When asked if the Hurriyat had taken into consideration the negative aspect of long drawn protests and “growing resentment” against lengthy shutdown calendars, Ganai said “two or three days of strike once a week won’t lead to an economic breakdown” in Kashmir. “There is no alterative left except to opt for peaceful shutdown, as India has left no other option for Kashmiris”, he said. Accusing “others” of being “not sincere”, Ganai said the only option left with the people in Kashmir was to have a “peaceful” shutdown. |
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Kashmir remains calm during shutdown called by Geelani
Srinagar, February 20 Most of the shops remained open and buses and cabs were operating in the uptown areas of Srinagar and its outskirts. However, traffic was thin on the roads. Major markets around the city centre, Lal Chowk, and the adjoining commercial centres, Residency Road, MA Road, Karan Nagar and Batamaloo, remained completely shut. Today’s shutdown is the 10th Kashmir-wide closure in a series of government-imposed curfews and bandhs called by separatists in the last 12 days since Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru was hanged in Tihar Jail in New Delhi. The Valley went about its normal business on Monday and Tuesday this week since February 9. A complete shutdown was observed in the old city area of Srinagar and the situation remained calm. In north and south Kashmir districts, the impact of shutdown was more pronounced than in Srinagar. A south Kashmir resident said the shutdown was “95 per cent” in Anantnag and Pulwama districts. The shutdown is part of the three-day protest calendar issued earlier this week by chairman of the hardline faction of the Hurriyat Conference Syed Ali Geelani. The call to shutdown on Wednesday, Thursday and in the second half of Friday, coupled with protests, has been issued by Geelani to demand the return of Afzal’s body. A police spokesman said the day passed off peacefully without any protests. The spokesman said there were no restrictions on the movement of civilians anywhere in the Valley. |
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LPG on doorstep from today for Jammu, Srinagar residents
Jammu, February 20 Minister for Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Choudhary Mohammad Ramzan today chaired a high-level meeting
to review the implementation of the decisions taken in the previous meeting, including home delivery
of LPG, in Jammu and Srinagar. Representatives of LPG dealers of both cities
were present at the meeting and assured the minister that the government’s directions were being implemented in letter
and in spirit. The minister said on the spot delivery of LPG had been extended up to February 28 due to unavoidable circumstances. He gave directions to
all LPG dealers to do away with the spot delivery from February 28 and said any dealer found continuing with it would face strict action. He told consumers of Jammu and Srinagar to make bookings for LPG refill with their respective dealers in advance. The minister said cooperation of consumers was necessary for ensuring the distribution of cooking gas to legitimate consumers on their doorstep in a time-bound manner. He said the government was taking every step to bring uniformity in distribution of LPG among the consumers by taking the decision to stop on the spot delivery strictly. He hoped the consumers would be greatly facilitated in the due course of time. |
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19 Vaishno Devi pilgrims injured in road mishap
Katra, February 20 The bus, on its way from Jammu to
Katra, overturned at Moori area, 45 km from Jammu on Wednesday afternoon, the police said. Out of the 19 victims, five were referred to the Government Medical College (GMC) Hospital in Jammu. The injured have been identified as Jagdish Verma (42), Kanta Verma (30), Aditya Verma (6), Bankatesh (41), Amit Verma (24), Deepak (35), Sapna Verma (24), Dev
Dass, Tanu Chowhan (47), Vijay Bagwat (36), Sharda Verma (46), Arti Verma (21), Daljeet (30), Pankaj Verma (22), Mahesh, Naveen Kumar (31), Umesh Dubey (50), Deepak Ravat (35), Kamal (22) and Noor Mohammad (26). Governor NN Vohra has expressed serious concern over the incident. He prayed for speedy recovery of the victims. |
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Villagers protest over return of spy’s body
Jammu, February 20 Joined by villagers, widow of the spy Kamlesh Devi and her sons Deepak Singh and Dara Singh took out a procession in the village. Amidst sloganeering castigating Pakistan and India for what they called the “indifferent and inhumane attitude”, villagers demanded that the body of Chamel Singh should be sent to his native village at the earliest. Talking to mediapersons, Chamel’s son Deepak strongly criticised the Central government for not only over its lax attitude on the issue but also for asking the poverty-stricken family to bear the expenditure of transporting the body back to their native village in Akhnoor from Lahore. Following his death, Chamel’s body has been lying in Jinnah Hospital in Lahore since January 15 - the day he was allegedly murdered by jail staff over a trivial issue of washing clothes. “Both the state government and the Union government have shown utter disregard for the issue. We appeal to them to take up the matter with the Pakistan government to bring back my father’s body so that we could perform the last rites,” said Deepak. He said if the state government failed to take up the matter with the Centre on priority then the villagers would be forced to block the Jammu-Poonch highway. On February 11, Second Secretary in High Commission of India, Islambad, had sent an email to Chamel’s son Dara Singh via a BJP leader which says, “… in this regard the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been approached and several reminders have also been sent to them to expedite handing over of the mortal remains (of Chamel Singh) and also send a post-mortem report”. It further reads, “It is also mentioned that the expenditure of transportation including embalming, coffin, ambulance etc are to be borne by the next of kin. Kindly confirm whether your will be bearing expenditures or not. If not, kindly let us know so that the High Commission could make appropriate arrangements of handing over the body at Wagah/Attari immigration check post. Please liaise with the Ministry of Home Affairs for onward movement of body to your village in J&K. We are copying this email to MHA also.” On the very next day of receiving the email, the family, citing its acute penury, had urged the Indian High Commission official to hand over Chamel’s body to them at Wagah. Chamel, a small-time marginal farmer from Pargwal Molu, had been launched into Pakistan on December 22, 2008. |
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LC Election
Jammu, February 20 To placate the annoyed Congress leaders over the “wrong distribution” of party seats in the Legislative Council elections, the Congress high command had deputed Minister for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Sham Lal Sharma to hold an interaction with sulking activists and urge them to withdraw their resignations. On the directions of the high command, Sharma today met Ishfaq, sarpanches, panches, Mahila Congress leaders and party workers who had protested against the party for not giving representation to Central Kashmir in the Upper House. They had resigned from the party yesterday. The minister held detailed discussions with Ishfaq and other workers on the issue and conveyed the message of the Congress high command. He assured them on behalf of the party high command that their genuine aspirations regarding giving representation to their district would be meted out in the near future and Ishfaq would be accommodated suitably. |
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J-K wants coal block to meet energy needs
Jammu, February 20 Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, on whose directions the State Power Development Corporation (JKSPDC), has initiated action on the initiative, today received a detailed brief on the proposed project at the 68th meeting of the Board of Directors of the JKSPDC, which he chaired here. Managing Director of the JKSPDC Basharat Ahmad Dhar informed the meeting that with the Chief Minister’s approval, the corporation had sought allocation of a coal block out of the eight suitable blocks notified by the Union Ministry of Coal, in Chattisgarh, Odisha, West Bengal and Jharkhand. He said eight papers have been submitted by the JKSPDC for the allocation of a coal block. The initiative would help augment power supply by 1000 MW and meet the generation needs, especially during the winter, when the generation of hydro electric projects recedes and the demand increases. Underlining the necessity of a coal-run thermal power plant to generate 1000 MW electricity round the year, the Chief Minister said Jammu and Kashmir would get greatly benefited by such power project and help mitigate the difficulties on the power supply count in the peak demand periods. The Chief Minister said his government was determined to transform the state from power deficit to energy sufficient and relieve the people from the constant burden of load shedding and power cuts. He said the availability of sufficient power was also necessary for the growth of industry and trade activities. The Board approved the proposal of placing the recommendation of the JKSPDC before the Cabinet for award of EPC contract for the construction of 48 MW Lower Kalnai and 21 MW Patnazi Bunjwah HEP through IPP route to successful bidders. With these two projects, the number of projects approved for award during the current financial year will increase to 13 with a capacity of 712 MW. The Board also approved the road map for capacity addition of about 9036 MW in the state during the 12th and 13th Five Year Plan periods comprising 7357 MW in state sector, including JV and IPP mode projects. Ten projects with an aggregate capacity of 3824 MW would be constructed by the JKSPDC. The meeting discussed matters relating to the funding of power projects, construction of an external access road to Sawalakot, financial closure of 9 MW Dah and 9 MW Hanu HEPs, setting up of 5 MW TDP-cum-resource assessment geothermal project at Pugah in Leh, status of implementation of projects, setting up of football academy, action taken on decisions taken in previous meetings and issues pertaining to the administration and management of the corporation. |
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Students to evaluate MGNREGA assets
Srinagar, February 20 Senior government functionaries of the Rural Development Department have held talks with officials of the University of Kashmir and the Islamic University of Science and Technology, Awantipora, Kashmir, and the government is awaiting their reply. “In the past we used to engage retired officers of the rank of the additional secretary and above, but this year we want to involve postgraduate students to monitor the programmes under the government’s rural employment guarantee scheme. We are waiting for the reply from the two universities,” said Farooq Ahmad Peer, Commissioner Secretary of the Rural Development Department. “Once the university submits the list of students, we will hold a brief capacity building programme for them so that they have a fair idea about how to inspect assets created under MGNREGA,” Peer said. In Jammu and Kashmir, MGNREGA was introduced in three districts in the first phase, Kupwara, Doda and Poonch, on a trial basis in February 2006. It was later extended to all districts. MGNREGA aims at enhancing the livelihood security of people in rural areas by guaranteeing 100 days of wage-employment in a financial year to a rural household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work. The scheme also helps rural economy grow by boosting rural connectivity, irrigation and agriculture productivity. The scheme has, however, failed to yield desired results. To evaluate the implementation of the scheme, the government appoints the SQMs every year to inspect MGNREGA assets. The reports of the SQMs are later uploaded onto MGNREGA website regularly and they are also tasked to map the assets created under the scheme. “The assessment and evaluation study gives the government a real picture of MGNREGA implementations at the grass-roots level,” said an official. |
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Need to check illegal agents, say arms dealers
Jammu, February 20 Addressing a press conference yesterday, president of the association M L Sharma said there were 32 units in Jammu and Kashmir manufacturing more than 60,000 arms annually. There were also more than 150 shops selling arms and ammunition. “Besides providing jobs to over 20,000 skilled and unskilled workers, this sector contributes approximately Rs 100 crore annually towards state exchequer,” he said, adding that the trade thrives on issuance of individual arms possession licence to citizens with all-India validity. |
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Hizb posters threatening police informers surface in Anantnag
Anantnag, February 20 The police said the posters, which also appealed to the people to respect the protest calendar given by separatist leaders, seemed to be an outcome of some personal rivalry. Reports said the posters, in Urdu, were pasted at several places across Bijbehara town. They named four locals, including two people associated with the ruling National Conference (NC), and said they have been working as police sources. “They have been informing the police about youths, who have been protesting against the hanging of Afzal Guru,” read the poster. “They should immediately mend their ways or face the wrath.” Terming the hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru part of India’s nefarious design to suppress Kashmiri people, the poster read, “Every Indian hand occupying Kashmir will be cut down.” “The NC and the PDP stooges, working on the behest of India, will be defeated and it will be
for everybody to see,” read the poster. The posters thanked the people for their commitment and solidarity with the fight against oppression. “Unfortunately, some people don’t seem to understand the dynamics of the situation and tend to defy the shutdown calls,” read the poster. “These people are advised to stick to the protest calendars issued.” Meanwhile, the police said it doubted the authenticity of these posters. “These can very well be the outcome of some personal rivalries and that is what it looks like,” said Bijbehara SDPO Sreedhar Patil. He said the police had seized the posters and an investigation had been initiated. “It will not be long before we unearth the real motive behind these posters,” said Patil. |
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Civil society to take up citizenship issue of West Pak refugees
Jammu, February 20 The civil society has decided to vociferously take up the issue because the Congress has virtually taken a “U” turn on the issue due to pressure from its coalition partner, National Conference (NC), and threats by separatists. The NC, opposition PDP and all separatist groups are opposing grant of basic fundamental rights to the refugees because of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. Camping in Jammu since 1947, 20,879 registered families of West Pakistan refugees have been struggling to get citizenship rights but the successive state governments have ignored their demands. At the time of Partition, refugees from West Pakistan had come to Jammu and Kashmir with a hope that they would be given all democratic rights. Even after more than six decades, the refugees have no voting rights for the state Legislative Assembly, no citizenship rights, no ration card and no permanent resident certificates so they cannot apply for government jobs nor purchase any land in the state. During a seminar on “plights of West Pakistani refugees” organised today by an NGO, Universal Foundation, members of the civil society countered arguments of the NC and the PDP that Article 370 was a hurdle in granting citizenship rights to the refugees. Quoting some clauses of the Jammu and Kashmir Constitution, BL Kalgotra said the state government had the power to grant citizenship rights to these stateless refugees without diluting Article 370. “Those who are claiming that granting citizenship rights to these Dalit refugees would dilute Article 370 are actually trying to make the issue more complex,” Kalgotra said. He said the state and the Central governments were violating the universal conviction of human rights by depriving the refugees of their basic rights. Dineshwar Jamwal, a social activist, said Kashmir-centric parties had been politicising the issue which was purely human in nature. “Denial of citizenship rights to West Pakistan refugees is a glaring example of the human rights violation,” he observed. He regretted that proclaimed human right activists had maintained a criminal silence over the plight of the refugees. BJP Rajya Sabha member Avinash Rai Khanna assured full support to the refugees on behalf of his party. State president of the Bahujan Samaj Party Tulsi Dass Langeh also reiterated the commitment of his party to support the West Pakistan refugees. Some Congress MPs and MLAs were also invited by the organisers but they skipped the function to avoid embarrassment. Local Congress leaders had earlier taken up the issue but later distanced themselves from it apparently due to pressure from the National Conference. |
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Ladakhi students protest
Jammu, February 20 The rally, which started from the Jammu University, culminated in front of the Press Club where the protesting students staged a demonstration against the killing of Shias in different parts of Pakistan. Carrying placards and banners, Shia students from Ladakh shouted slogans against the Pakistan Government over the killing of innocent Shias. Association president Asgar Ali said a large number of Shias had been killed in the Quetta area of Pakistan recently. “It was yet another terrorist attack that claimed the lives of more than 90 innocent people, including women and children. More than 200 people have been killed in the recent past,” he said. He said the Pakistan Government had always failed in providing security to the people of Quetta. “The Pakistan Government always backs terrorists which results in killing of innocent persons. So the only option left is that Pakistan should get out of Quetta and Shias should take over Quetta. Shias can protect Shias as well as Sunnis of Quetta and only Shias can bring peace in Quetta,” he said. — TNS |
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Itoo, Governor discuss schemes for differently abled
Jammu, February 20 They discussed matters concerning the welfare of less-privileged sections of society. The implementation of various schemes and programmes for the welfare of differently abled persons was also discussed. Itoo briefed the Governor about the obtaining status of the implementation of various Centrally sponsored schemes in the state. |
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Srinagar, February 20
