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House in session
Oppn walks out over ‘promised’ shelters to border residents
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Govt committed to making business activity hassle-free, says Rather
State emerging as North India’s smoking capital: Survey
Women outfits demand justice for Poonch ‘gang-rape’ victim
Teenager commits suicide in Kupwara district
Mismanagement of funds mars growth of Valley’s largest fruit mandi
Mirwaiz put under house arrest again
35,794 families of Jammu dislocated due to Kargil war
Quash rehab policy for militants, says PIL in SC
Assembly proceedings
PDP has launched a vicious campaign against NC, says Kamaal
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House in session
Jammu, April 1 The issue had earlier rocked the Legislative Council on March 26 when legislators of the ruling coalition were divided on the demand for constitution of a House Committee to hold a probe into the alleged irregularities in the PHE Department. The House was today adjourned for half an hour following a heated exchange of words between the legislators of both coalition partners. The Chairman said a House Committee to look into the “irregularities” in the PHE Department would only be constituted only if the House was not satisfied with the findings of the two committees already constituted for the purpose by the minister concerned. The Chairman rejected the demand of NC legislators saying the Minister for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Sham Lal Sharma had assured that two inquiry committees constituted by him to probe the alleged scam in the procurement of water pipes and communication and capacity development unit (CCDU) would submit their reports within a month’s time. “The constitution of a House Committee at this stage will only delay the inquiry by two committees and create confusion. If the House does not agree with the findings of these committees or if these committees do not submit inquiry reports within the stipulated time, a House Committee can be constituted by the Chairman at any time,” he said. Unhappy with the decision, NC legislator Devender Singh Rana pressed for his demand for formation of a House Committee and said: “The minister (Sham Lal Sharma) himself had raised a very serious issue (on March 26) and had favoured a probe from 1992 onwards. Then, this could be a Rs 25,000-crore scam.” The Chairman, however, didn’t consider his plea and asked the members to continue with the normal business of the House. While Rana relentlessly demanded for formation of a House Committee, Malhotra cautioned him not to play to the gallery. “You are not following the rules. I have already rejected the suggestion and if you are not satisfied, bring a fresh motion,” the Chairman said. Rana remarked: “You (Chairman) have closed all the options. You are trying to use your authority to put under the carpet a matter of Rs 25,000 crore.” In the midst of uproar, Congress legislators, including Ravinder Kumar Sharma, Naresh Kumar Gupta and Ghulam Nabi Monga were on their feet and had a heated exchange of words with Rana who was joined by NC leaders, including Javed Ahmed Rana and Shehnaz Ganai. Congress legislators questioned the wisdom of NC legislators and said if the Chairman had given his judgement on any issue, it was wrong to contest the decision. “It is not an issue of a minister or any individual as it is a matter of principles,” Rana retorted. Amid the pandemonium and chaos, the Chairman snubbed the senior NC legislator for resorting to “indiscipline” in the House and adjourned the House for 10 minutes. The House reassembled after half an hour but normal business remained disrupted as the NC members reiterated their demand. “It is a serious issue and we want a comprehensive probe into the functioning of the entire PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Department. The House is supreme and you can review your (Chairman) decision on our demand,” Rana told the Chairman. The Chairman then told the NC member to move a fresh motion for discussion on the issue which finally restored order in the House. |
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Oppn walks out over ‘promised’ shelters to border residents
Jammu, April 1 The MLAs accused the government of providing alternative shelters to inhabitants of only one tehsil (Akhnoor) in Jammu district. Replying to the main question of Jammu State Morcha (JSM) member Ashwani Kumar Sharma, Minister of State (MoS) for Home Sajjad Ahmed Kitchloo said there was no policy or proposal to provide shelter at safer places to the people living within the Pakistan shelling range. “However, as and when such incidents take place, people living within the Pakistan shelling range are temporarily shifted to the nearest safer places and provided shelter in the available government buildings and private houses till restoration of normalcy,” the minister said. Kitchloo’s reply irked Sharma, who reminded the House that the previous PDP-Congress government, in its Common Minimum Programme (CMP), had promised alternative shelters to all border migrants. “The Centre had sanctioned a huge package for the rehabilitation of border residents of the whole Jammu region but the package was implemented only in one tehsil (Akhnoor) of Jammu district,” Sharma said while alleging that other border areas were totally ignored in the package. Sharma was supported by the Panthers Party member from Samba, Yash Pal Kundal, and the expelled member of the BJP from Hiranagar, Durga Dass. The members trooped towards the front row and resorted to shouting slogans. In the meantime, other members also joined the agitating MLAs. They demanded that all border residents should be treated equally. “The previous coalition government had promised five-marla plots to residents living close to the international border,” said Sharma. Kitchloo tried to pacify the agitating members but to no avail. All opposition members staged a walkout after raising loud protests against the government. |
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Govt committed to making business activity hassle-free, says Rather
Jammu, April 1 Speaking at the first of its kind post-Budget meeting with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI), Rather said the contribution of trade and industry was pivotal to the state’s economy, adding that every possible effort will be made to address their (traders) grievances. The Finance Minister said the traders and business community was the most respected and responsible segment of society and any misbehaviour with them would not be tolerated. The delegation of the CCI, which was led by its president, YV Sharma, urged the minister to also bring commercial and industrial power consumers under the ambit of power amnesty for domestic consumers as announced in the recent Budget for 2013-14 fiscal. They also pleaded to exempt taxes on blankets up to Rs 300. Rather assured the deputation that the rationalisation of taxes on various products and commodities was a continuous process and all issues of the trade and industry would be settled and resolved amicably through the process of dialogue and reconciliation. He assured the business community that random cross-checking at Lakhanpur Toll Plaza had been minimised and the stoppage had reduced to 2 per cent as it was important to check any possibility of tax-evasions by unscrupulous elements. He said the possibilities would be explored to stop vehicles at Lakhanpur for under valuation. He told the traders that the government would make every possible effort to further simplify the taxation procedures, but at the same time, traders should keep in mind the revenue interests of the government. He said the computerisation of the entire Commercial Taxes Department would go a long way in providing relief to the business community as e-transactions would bring a revolution in its working and would minimise direct interface with the traders and officials concerned. He said to bring in more transparency and accountability in the work, only those officers had been posted at key positions, who were men of integrity and honesty and were dedicated. The Chamber, while hailing the Finance Minister, for presenting a creative, comprehensive, and people-friendly Budget, urged the minister to exempt taxes on shoes, blankets, soaps, dry fruits, desi ghee and pipe fittings as these products were being used by the common people. They also demanded abolition of form 65 of the VAT Act, as it is already covered in form 58. Issues related to cooked food and gutkha were also discussed at the meeting. |
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State emerging as North India’s smoking capital: Survey
Addressing a press conference, VHAI district coordinator Muhammad Altaf Dar said as per the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) India 2009-10, released by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, 26.6 per cent of the population in the state is using tobacco products in one or other form. “The state has 12 per cent cigarette smokers, 3.8 per cent bidi smokers and 8 per cent smokeless tobacco users. State’s cigarette use prevalence (12 per cent) is almost double the nationwide prevalence of 5.7 per cent. It has also come to light that the highest proportion of adults (67.9 per cent) who are exposed to tobacco smoke in offices are in the state and the lowest (15.4 per cent) are in Chandigarh,” Dar said. He said to protect the health of people, the Centre had enacted The Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, commonly known as COTPA-2003. “Section 4 of the Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products Act 2003 protects people from second hand smoke. Creating smoke- free jurisdiction and declaring cities smoke- free are some of the conscious efforts of the health and other responsible authorities that take collaborative steps towards increased compliance,” Dar said. Dar said in Jammu district a monitoring committee on the enforcement of the Act (COTPA-2003) is working to make all public places smoke-free. He said efforts were also being made by the VHAI and the civil society network to generate awareness and build the capacity of the managers of public places, enforcement officials, sensitise the media and generate awareness among the common man on tobacco control issues. |
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Women outfits demand justice for Poonch ‘gang-rape’ victim
Jammu, April 1 All India Women Conference (J&K branch) president Nirmal Padha, Viraj Kala Kendra president Raj Bharti, World Women Awakening Organisation president Sarla Kohli and two women activists, Prof Rita Jitendra and Kiran Bakshi, demanded justice be done to the 35-year-old victim from Kalaban village of Mendhar tehsil. The victim had alleged that she had been gangraped by three men, Tazeem Ahmed, Tariq Iqbal and Muzaffar, on December 28, 2012. Acting upon the victim’s complaint, the Mendhar police had registered an FIR and arrested one of the accused, but he was later released. The other two accused have not been arrested so far, Padha told mediapersons here today. “Shuttling from pillar to post, the victim had also sought the attention of the Chief Minister, Home Minister, DGP, NHRC, SHRC and J&K Commission for Women,” Padha said. The victim is now being forced to reach a compromise. She has also been told that her case file has gone missing from the police station. This is no way to treat a gang-rape victim, said Padha. We want the guilty to be arrested and punished as per law of the land, she added. The victim said she had been sexually assaulted by the three men while she was on her way home from Mendhar Hospital on December 28. However, Poonch SSP Shamsheer Hussain told The Tribune that no such incident had taken place on that “fateful” day. “An FIR was lodged on the complaint of the woman and investigations were initiated, but medical reports didn’t confirm rape,” said the SSP. He said it was a concocted story as there was a long-standing dispute between the two families of Kalaban village. |
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Teenager commits suicide in Kupwara district
Srinagar, April 1 The police has registered a case under Section 174 of the
CrPC. It is investigating the cause and circumstances in which Khan took his life. Khan is not alone who committed suicide this week. Six others attempted suicide, including two teenagers. While four survived, two succeeded in their attempt to end their lives. The latest spell of suicides and attempt to suicides began six days ago on March 26 when a 19-year-old Mohammad Ashraf
Ganie, a resident of Larson village in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district, ended his life by consuming poison at his home. A day later, on March 27, a 40-year-old woman attempted suicide by consuming poison in central Kashmir’s Budgam district. On March 28, a 65-year-old man consumed poison in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district and later died at a hospital. On March 30, Ishfaq Ahmad Wani (19), a resident of Banger Mohalla of north Kashmir’s Bandipora district, jumped into the Jhelum and ended his life. Wani was a student of Class XII. Suicides in Kashmir have picked up in recent years, which psychiatrists attributing the reason to a range of issues, including relationship stress, marital discord, family strain and
unemployment. Srinagar-based psychiatrist Mushtaq Margoob says the phenomena of suicides, which was largely an alien concept in the region, began to pick pace in 1995. He said suicides in Kashmir began to increase phenomenally from 1995. “Depression has become very prevalent here and there are also stress-related problems,” Dr Margoob said. Margoob blames crumbling social institutions such as families, snapping of communication between various generations within a family, psycho-social factors, growing materialism and dearth of moral education in schools as some of the reasons which have increased the suicide rate in Kashmir. A sociologist, who has studied suicidal trends in the region, said nearly 60 per cent of those who end their lives are women and most are in the age group of 15 to 35. |
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Mismanagement of funds mars growth of Valley’s largest fruit mandi
Sopore, April 1 The mandi, which generates a revenue of more than Rs 1,300 crore annually, lacks basic facilities such as drinking water and metallic road, said growers. The fruit growers alleged that their business had been affected due to the mismanagement and misuse of funds by Area Marketing Officer (AMO), Horticulture, Planning and Marketing Department Mohammad Ashraf Damnoo. They alleged that the official had embezzled lakhs of rupees in the name of upgrading the infrastructure and facilities at the fruit mandi. Following a written complaint by the Fruit Growers Association, Sopore, against the official, the vigilance organisation has registered a case of ‘misuse of funds’ against the AMO, sources said. The Crime Branch has also registered a separate case of embezzlement of funds against the official, they said. “We have also provided evidence of misappropriation of funds by the official concerned to the vigilance organisation but no action has been initiated against him so far. The fruit association was forced to pay Rs 1.75 lakh to the power division, Sopore, to ensure that the power supply was not snapped to the fruit market. The official still owes Rs 34 lakh power bills of the mandi to the power division concerned,” said Fayaz Ahmad Malik, president of the Fruit Growers Association, Sopore. The Association has also made written representations to Minister of Horticulture Sham Lal Sharma, apprising him of the misappropriation of funds by the official. “In connivance with a contractor, he (AMO) issued works without following proper tendering procedure for monetary benefits. In a brazen violation of recruitment rules, the official has engaged at least 10 casual labourers in the mandi,” said Malik, adding “The roads leading to the fruit mandi are dotted with potholes and the mandi is devoid of drinking water facility.” “Against the requirement of at least 37 sites, only 240 growers can auction their fruit at the mandi as there are only 13 auction platforms. There are 950 fruit growers in Sopore town,” said Director, Horticulture, Planning and Marketing, Atta-u-Rehman Nutnoo. “I ordered a departmental probe today into the allegations against the AMO. Deputy Director, Planning and Marketing, Kashmir, will head the committee, which will investigate the matter,” Nutnoo said. “After the investigations, allegation against the official of misuse of money earned from licences at the first instance proved wrong. It has been alleged that he spent money above the approved limit. If the official is found guilty, the law will take its own course,” the Director said. |
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Mirwaiz put under house arrest again
The authorities had lifted the siege around the Nigeen residence of the Hurriyat leader on March 28 and subsequently allowed him to take out a procession on Friday and also permitted him to offer Friday congregation prayers at Srinagar’s Jama (Grand) Mosque. However, early this morning, the authorities detained Mirwaiz at his house and did not permit him to visit Jageer village in north Kashmir’s Sopore area, as a day before Mirwaiz had announced his visit to Afzal’s residence to show “solidarity” with his family. “Mirwaiz and other Hurriyat leaders, including Aga Syed Hassan and Shahid-ul-Islam, were put under house arrest to prevent them from visiting north Kashmir,” a Hurriyat spokesman said while criticising the government for not allowing the separatist leaders to express their condolences with the family members of Afzal. Besides, Mirwaiz, chairman of the hardline faction of Hurriyat Conference Syed Ali Shah Geelani continues to be under house arrest at his Hyderpora residence in Srinagar ever since he returned from New Delhi on March 7. Preventive detention
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BJP stages protest over state party chief’s suspension
Katra, April 1 Addressing the demonstration, the BJP leaders said they would not allow anybody to challenge the unity and integrity of the country and the party would stand like a rock against them. Terming Sharma’s suspension from the House unfortunate, Manhas said suppressive and oppressive measures of the coalition government against the opposition was an indication that democracy was under threat in the state. Nanda, while condemning Sharma’s suspension, said giving a long rope to an Independent MLA to spill venom against India, Village Defence Committees and Kashmiri migrants showed the double standards of the coalition government. |
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35,794 families of Jammu dislocated due to Kargil war
Jammu, April 1 The relief and cash assistance was provided to 35,794 families of four districts comprising Jammu, Kathua, Rajouri and Poonch,” Minister of State for Home Sajjad Ahmad Kichloo told the Legislative Council during a question hour today morning. Giving a break-up of migrated families, the minister said: “As many as 26,579 families of Jammu district, 3,891 of Kathua, 1,834 of Nowshera, 38 of Sunderbani and 3,452 of Poonch district were provided relief and cash assistance.” He, however, said there were no reports of the
left-out families which have not been paid compensation yet. To a question on whether some of these families were served with electricity bills at flat rates for their original places of residence during the period of their stay on various campuses of displaced families, the minister admitted that the electricity charges were billed on flat rates where meters were not installed. “The metered installations were billed on minimum charges. However, as per the decision taken at a meeting chaired by the Principal Secretary, Power Development Department, on August 29, 2012, the migration period was deleted from the bills and regular billing started after the migrants returned to their respective places. Thus the migration period has not been billed as such,” Kichloo said. |
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Quash rehab policy for militants, says PIL in SC
New Delhi, April 1 Citing the recent arrest of Liyaqat Ali Shah, whose case has been handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) at the instance of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, the PIL said this policy had benefited more than 4,000 militants whose “whereabouts and activities” were not known. The policy “is illegal, improper, unconstitutional and endangers the security of the state.” The 2010 policy is the modified version of the 2004 policy, which has already been challenged in the SC and is pending. The PIL contended that the new policy amounted to enactment of a fresh law as it had deviated from the scope of the criminal law, Indian Penal Code and the Ranbir Penal Code which was applicable in Jammu and Kashmir. “This policy has interfered with the authority of the legislature as well as Parliament,” it said. Further, “the Nepal route chosen by the respondents (Centre and the state) to import foreigners into the Indian territory is violative of the Indo-Nepal protocol in connection with the movement of their
respective citizens into each other’s territory,” said the petition filed by Bhim Singh. |
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A first: All-girl batch completes journalism course
Srinagar, April 1 “In a small place like Kashmir, there is not much scope for journalism and the space shrinks further for girls. I’ll try my luck in Delhi. I have my parent’s support,” said Atoofa Zaeem, who has topped her class from the first year and has set her eyes on being a TV news anchor. “I have interned with ETV channel in Delhi and I already know the fundamentals of reporting for a news channel. Being a news anchor isn’t an easy job, but I am all for it,” said Atoofa. Since all the major television news channels have male reporters in the Kashmir Valley, Atoofa will start her career in Delhi. The girls who celebrated their graduation ceremony on February 28, cannot wait to start working as reporters, news readers, radio jockeys and film producers. Most of the batch members have already published articles in various local, national and international journals, few shows on the FM channels and documentary films to their credit, while studying at the Government College for Women which started the bachelors in mass communication in 2010. However, it is not easy for Shireen Hamdani, who is an ambitious writer. Her articles have been published in India Real Time (New York Times) and local news site Kashmir Dispatch. “My parents are skeptical of my career in journalism. But I want to prove them that being a woman journalist in Kashmir is not impossible. I will slog it out in newsrooms, apply in quality newspapers and hopefully write good stories too,” said Shireen. Riffat Rathore, another student of the batch, has already carved out a name for herself by writing for the Indian Express as an intern. “Although journalism for girls is still in its infancy stage in Kashmir, we have to struggle on personal front to get through media houses. It is challenging, but telling stories has always been my passion and I will do it,” said Riffat. The girls draw inspiration from their teacher Danish Nabi, who was the visiting faculty of the college and is a journalist. “These are the winds of change in Kashmir, if you ask me. Five years back, there were no girls in newspapers, television channels and radio industry of Kashmir. Now you have a full- fledged batch of girls, who are determined to make it big in a male dominated news industry of Kashmir.” |
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Assembly proceedings
Jammu, April 1 He gave this statement while reacting to the reply of Urban Development and Urban Local Bodies Minister Nawang Rigzin Jora to a question regarding the sanitation condition in Sopore town. “People are on the path of confrontation to get basic amenities like sanitation, but the government is not serious,” he quipped when the minister gave his reply. “We are representatives of the people here and we have the right to raise people’s issues,” said Ashraf. He was supported by Independent MLA Abdul Rashid Engineer. He alleged that the government was claiming sanitation work was going on properly in Sopore, but the situation on the ground was entirely different. He appeared assuaged only after the minister assured him he would depute Director Urban Local Bodies Kashmir in Sopore to inquire about the ground situation. Earlier, while replying to the main question put by Ashraf, the minister said the sanitation work in different wards of Sopore town was being carried out properly and there was no shortage of sanitation staff. He further said the development, improvement of drainage system in Sopore town had been taken up under the state sector and this year, an amount of Rs 42 lakh had been made available for the purpose.
— TNS |
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PDP has launched a vicious campaign against NC, says Kamaal
Jammu, April 1 Kamaal, who was addressing a meeting at Bakhta village in Kathua district, recalled that Mufti was part of the governments from 1953 to 1975, which was the worst period in the post-1947 history of the state. He said the parties such as the PDP and the BJP were hell-bent on dividing people on the regional and religious lines. He exhorted the people to gear up to negate the “unholy communal nexus” of the BJP and the PDP as they had done during the 2008 Amarnath land row, which resulted in the death of dozens of innocent people. Kamaal said PDP leaders had launched a vicious campaign against the NC just to mask their true face of deceit, treachery, jealously and malice towards the NC. He said the 2014 Assembly elections would prove a waterloo for the PDP and the BJP in the state. |
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Jammu, April 1
Srinagar, April 1