J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Farooq hopeful of ceasefire extension
SRINAGAR, Dec 6 — Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah today expressed the hope that the unilateral ceasefire offered by the Prime Minister in the state would be extended beyond Ramzan.

Hurriyat leaders stunned
NEW DELHI, Dec 6 — Stunned by India’s rejection of tripartite talks on Kashmir, Hurriyat leaders will hold an emergency meeting of its executive committee in Srinagar in the next few days to chalk out their future course of action.

Aid sought for J&K hospital
JAMMU, Dec 6 — The state government has approached the Centre for financial assistance for the Rs 164-crore project meant to upgrade and rebuild hospital buildings at the district level in Jammu and Kashmir.

Farooq hopeful of ceasefire extension
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, Dec 6 — Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah today expressed the hope that the unilateral ceasefire offered by the Prime Minister in the state would be extended beyond Ramzan.

Talking to a group of newsmen after the inaugural function of the Pushto programme on Kashir Channel at the Doordarshan Kendra here, the Chief Minister said talks with Pakistan would be held only when “trans-border terrorism is stopped”. He said that the Central Government had made it clear repeatedly that unless the support to Kashmir militancy was stopped, no talks would be held with that country. He also hinted at the possibility of the talks between the Central Government and the Kashmiri separatist leaders.

“The only solution to the Kashmir problem is that maximum autonomy be given to the state and autonomy is granted to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Mr Farooq Abdullah reiterated his stand. He said final settlement would be around the Line of Control. He categorically stated that the role of the ruling National Conference was vital in any talks for the restoration of peace in the state.

When asked about the role of the state government in the ongoing ceasefire, the Chief Minister clarified that “no action would be taken against militants unless fired upon”. If we have the information about the presence of a militant somewhere, we will watch his activities. Action will be taken only when any problem is created”. Mr Farooq Abdullah said.

Earlier, the Chief Minister formally inaugurated the 45-minute inaugural programme at the Doordarshan studio that went live in 45 countries on Kashir Channel. He lauded the role of the Doordarshan Kendra, Srinagar for coming to the expectations of the multi-cultural and multi-lingual state of Jammu and Kashmir. He said with this the long-pending demand of the Pushto speaking people was fulfilled. He stressed the need for more inputs into the varied programmes of Kashir Channel.

The Director, Doordarshan, Srinagar, Mr Ashraf Sahil, said the launch of Pushto programme was part of its activities to develop and fulfil the aspirations of different linguistic minorities of the state. He announced that Balti programmes would also be launched in the near future. The kendra has already launched similar programmes in other languages of the state, including Dogri, Ladakhi, Pahari, Gojri and Shina. It was Shina programme that was launched here last month only from the Doordarshan Kendra.

The Chief Minister and the Director, Doordarshan, lauded the role of the Information and Broadcasting Minister, Ms Sushma Swaraj and Director-General, Doordarshan, to enable the local kendra to launch multi-lingual and multi-cultural programmes for the audience in the state as well as outside the country. The inaugural programme included several songs in Pushto language ranging from patriotic songs to ghazals and other cultural events.

Hurriyat leaders stunned

NEW DELHI, Dec 6 (UNI) — Stunned by India’s rejection of tripartite talks on Kashmir, Hurriyat leaders will hold an emergency meeting of its executive committee in Srinagar in the next few days to chalk out their future course of action.

The Hurriyat leaders, who were taken by surprise by India’s rejection of their demand for holding tripartite talks between India, Pakistan and the representatives of Jammu and Kashmir, said they would give appropriate response to the latest development. They will leave for Srinagar in a day or two.

A Hurriyat spokesman said today that it was also not clear from the government’s stand whether they would be allowed to travel to Pakistan for talks with its leaders.

The spokesman said the leaders were in touch with Prof Abdul Ghani Lone who is currently in Pakistan. Mr Lone who had gone to attend the wedding of his son on November 19, met Pakistani Chief Executive Gen Parvez Musharraf and Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar on the Kashmir situation.

He is expected to come here in the next few days.

Aid sought for J&K hospital
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Dec 6 — The state government has approached the Centre for financial assistance for the Rs 164-crore project meant to upgrade and rebuild hospital buildings at the district level in Jammu and Kashmir.

As a result of the financial crisis, the government has not been in a position to take in hand this ambitious project when scores of hospital buildings in rural areas and towns were in a bad shape, causing a lot of inconvenience to the people.

This was stated by the Health Minister, Mian Altaf Ahmed, during meet-the-press programme here today. He said that despite the fact that liberal financial allocations had been made for the health sector, there was need for adequate central assistance for removing basis problems that confronted the patients, hospitals and medical centres.

He said in the current financial year, Rs 87 crore had been allocated in the Plan sector and Rs 234 crore in the non-Plan sector. He said that the amount was not sufficient to meet the requirements of 3,190 hospitals and medical centres, besides Soura institute, two medical colleges and 437 ayurvedic and unani centres in the state.

Mian Altaf said equipment, including CT scans, MRI facilities and laparoscopy gadgets had been made available to the two medical colleges and Soura Medical Institute. He said the government’s priority would be to make available doctors and equipment in hospitals and medical colleges so that patients were not forced to go to Delhi for Chandigarh for treatment.

Referring to the development of the health care system in the remote areas, he said that health centres and dispensaries in Poonch, Rajouri, Kupwara, Baramulla and Ladakh had been brought under the purview of the Border Area Development programme.

In reply to a question, Mian Altaf Ahmed said private nursing homes in the state would be asked to display the rate list for services offered to avoid overcharging and other malpractices. The government, he added would carry out gradation of the nursing homes.

He announced that the sewerage and other problems in Jammu Medical College would be tackled on a war footing and hostel facilities for medical students will be expanded.