Assembly for reviving cultural bonds in J&K
NEW DELHI, Sept 15 — The All Jammu and Kashmir Cultural Assembly has resolved to work for bringing the people of undivided Kashmir from both sides of the Line of Control together by stressing the age-old bonds of cultural affinity.

Farooq announces quota
for killed cops’ children
SRINAGAR, Sept 15 — The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, has announced reservation for children of policemen killed in militancy operations in professional colleges.

Shrine Act: VHP threatens stir
JAMMU, Sept 15 — The Vishwa Hindu Parishad has threatened to launch a countrywide agitation if the state government went ahead with its move to amend the Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board Act by the end of navratras.

Assembly for reviving cultural bonds in J&K
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, Sept 15 — The All Jammu and Kashmir Cultural Assembly has resolved to work for bringing the people of undivided Kashmir from both sides of the Line of Control together by stressing the age-old bonds of cultural affinity.

“We pledge to address to the causes of tension and conflict and to resolve them through message of Laleshawari, Nund Rishi, the Shekhul Alam” and other saints and sufis of Kashmir, according to a declaration adopted unanimously by the assembly at a two-day general body meeting here.

The general body meeting was attended by 113 members of the assembly which included former Lok Sabha MP, Mr Ghulam Rasool Kar, Mr Altaf Indrabi and Mr Bhim Singh.

Briefing newspersons about the meeting, the convener of the assembly, Mr Bhim Singh, said “unfortunately some members from the Pakistani side of Kashmir could not attend the meeting due to visa problems. But soon, a conference attended by representatives of all the regions of the undivided state would be held in the valley, he said.

However, the Union Home Ministry in a communication to Mr Bhim Singh has assured that the government did not intend to interfere in the holding of the conference.

Mr Bhim Singh said several messages have been received from J&K leaders residing in Muzfrabad, Gilgit, Mirpur, Europe and even Russia expressing solidarity with the noble cause to launch a movement for the cultural integration among the citizens of the undivided state.

The declaration further said: “We, the peace loving people of all the regions of Jammu and Kashmir irrespective of our ethnic connections, religions, regions or languages or political school of thought, do hereby solemnly pledge to put our heads and hearts together to promote, protect and strengthen the bonds of love and brotherhood.”

Shrine Act: VHP threatens stir
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Sept 15 — The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has threatened to launch a countrywide agitation if the state government went ahead with its move to amend the Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board Act by the end of navratras.

The convener of the Mata Vaishno Devi Sangarsh Samiti and a senior leader of the VHP, Mr Tilak Raj Sharma, told newsmen here today that the VHP had drawn a programme for a prolonged countrywide agitation against the government move to amend the Act.

Mr Sharma accused the state government of misleading the people by announcing that it had no plan to amend the Act when already an exercise had been carried out in the shape of constituting a six-member Cabinet subcommittee for examining the proposed amendment Bill.

He said the VHP and the BJP leaders called on the Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, in Srinagar recently he handed over a copy of the press note to them in which the government had denied the move to amend the Act. "And when we showed him the copy of the government order constituting the Cabinet subcommittee he simply procrastinated", Mr Sharma said.

The VHP leader said the BJP and the VHP activists, will protest against the government move during the navratras when more than 15 lakh pilgrims are expected to visit the shrine.

Mr Sharma alleged that the state government wanted full control of the board through baridars so that it could seek loan and other financial assistance from the board which has accumulated Rs 100 crore so far. He also alleged that bigwigs in the government had been paid over Rs 75 lakh by baridars for getting the required amendment to the board Act adopted by the state legislature.

Farooq announces quota
for killed cops’ children

SRINAGAR, Sept 15 (PTI) — The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, has announced reservation for children of policemen killed in militancy operations in professional colleges of the state.

"This is something we can do for the families of valiant police personnel who lay their lives for the people and the country", Dr Abdullah said without disclosing the quantum of reservation for the children of the killed policemen.

The bereaved families, he said at a function here yesterday, should not have the feeling of being ignored. "They must know they are not alone in facing the hard realities of life and there are people who care for them", he added.

The Chief Minister asked the Central Reserve Police Force and the Border Security Force to introduce similar facilities for the wards of killed soldiers.

The security forces and the police work in difficult conditions away from their homes and "whatever steps are taken for their welfare would be little considering the service they are rendering for the country", he added.