Sheikh Nazir pulls up ministers
JAMMU, Nov 24 — The National Conference General Secretary, Sheikh Nazir Ahmed, a cousin and among the most trusted persons of the Chief Minister, has pulled up ministers and legislators for having failed to interact with the people, especially in the farflung areas.

ASI resumes repair of monuments
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Nov 24 — The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has resumed repair and preservation of six centrally protected monuments in the Kashmir valley. Due to insurgency repair of these monuments had been suspended. However, with slight improvement in the security situation work has been resumed on Tomb of mother of Budhshah, the historic Pari Mahal, Shiva temple in Baramula district, Shiva temple at Laduv in Pulwama district, Mughal arcade at Verinag in south Kashmir, and Shiva temple at Awantipura.

During the current year the ASI laid emphasis on conservation of seven protected monuments in Ladakh which include Leh Palace, Shey Palace, Alchi Monastery, Lamayaru Monastery, Thicksey and Hamis Monasteries.

Besides repairs chemical preservation work was carried out in the Shey Palace. At Leh Palace the damaged western wall including the retaining wall were dismantled and reset without allowing the historic grandeur and architecture lose shine. At Alchi proper apron was provided to the monastery and chortens to avoid seepage of water. In other monasteries walls, rooms were repaired and rebuilt and mud brick masonry was opened and reset as per the principle of conservation matching with the original colour and texture utilising the same building material which had been used centuries ago.

In the Jammu region the ASI has taken in hand the conservation of Akhnoor fort, Ramnagar Palace.

Sheikh Nazir pulls up ministers
From M.L. Kak
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Nov 24 — The National Conference General Secretary, Sheikh Nazir Ahmed, a cousin and among the most trusted persons of the Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, pulled up ministers and legislators for having failed to interact with the people, especially in the farflung areas of the region at a party function here yesterday.

Sheikh Nazir Ahmed addressing members of the Provincial Working Committee of the party here directed party workers to be with people and mitigate their sufferings.

The meeting was presided over by Mr Rattan Lal Gupta, Senior Vice-President, but Sheikh Nazir Ahmed issued guidelines to the party functionaries.

In the absence of Dr Abdullah, who has been convalescing in Delhi after a surgery, Sheikh Nazir Ahmed was seen visiting the secretariat, discussing people’s problems with ministers and directing them to clear the pending cases.

British MP arrives in Kashmir
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, Nov 24 — British parliamentarian Lord Eric Avbury arrived here today on a study mission of the situation in the state. Before arriving here he had also visited Jammu and met senior civil and police officers on the prevailing situation in the state.

Soon after arriving here this afternoon, Lord Eric Avbury visited the office of separatist leader and chief of Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) Shabir Shah at Rajbagh. A number of parents and relatives of the displaced persons during the eight-year-long militancy had converged on the office of Shabir Shah. They conveyed their agony to the visiting parliamentarian. Later , he met Shabir Shah.

The parliamentarian expressed his sympathies with the victims of the militancy and hoped that there "will be a solution to this problem". He added that the agony was equal among all those who had lost their young ones during the past eight years. He expressed the hope that peace returns to Kashmir after so much of bloodshed.

During his stay here, Lord Eric Avbury is scheduled to meet a cross section of the people and senior police and civil officials.