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| Tuesday, January 16, 2001, Chandigarh, India   
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Innocent being killed despite truce: Farooq
Army Day celebrated Reserve assembly seat for us: Gujjars |
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Governor for
capsule courses in IT 5 handloom projects for J&K 4 killed as Matador
overturns
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Innocent being killed despite truce: Farooq JAMMU, Jan 15 — The Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, is apparently dissatisfied with results of the ceasefire. He has questioned its utility in view of the continued killing of innocent people by militants. Dr Abdullah, talking to newspersons here today, said “Mujhey ceasefire sey taluk nahin, mujhey inhey maarney sey taluk hein (I have nothing to do with the ceasefire, my purpose is to kill them, (i.e. the militants)”. “Is it right that they kill innocent and unarmed people while the ceasefire is in force,” he asked and added that the ceasefire was of no use in light of reaction of the militants. Two days ago, he had told a group of mourners at the residence of an NC MLA, Mr Dilawar Mir, whose brother was killed by the ultras, that he had directed the police to kill militants on sight. He said the ceasefire was enforced only on the border where the rate of Pakistan firing had come down. But within the state, the militants had continued with their killing spree and had been targeting camps and convoys of security forces and innocent people, besides activists and supporters of the National Conference. In reply to a question, the Chief Minister said, he was not against the Hurriyat leaders visiting Pakistan, but he was sure that Pakistan would not support any peace process in Jammu and Kashmir. Earlier, the Chief Minister had suggested that India should hold direct talks with Pakistan. He favoured a summit meeting between Gen Pervez Musharraf and the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, on the plea that the strings of peace in Kashmir were in the hands of Islamabad and not the Hurriyat Conference leaders. |
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Army Day celebrated JAMMU, Jan 15 — At an impressive ceremony held here today in connection with Army Day, soldiers and officers pledged to maintain territorial integrity of the
country and Jammu and Kashmir state. Describing Jammu and Kashmir as “param bhoomi” for the troops to preserve and protect its integrity and security the GOC-in-Chief, Northern Command, Lieut-Gen H.M. Khanna, said though the ongoing turmoil in the state needed a political solution, the troops were ready to meet any threat from across the border. He announced that his men were prepared to defeat Pakistan’s proxy war with full strength. Lieut-Gen Khanna presented the Vishisht Seva Medal to Brig Devinder Singh for gallantry and distinguished services. As many as 68 armymen were presented Sena Medals, out of which 24 were awarded posthumously.
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Reserve assembly seat for us: Gujjars JAMMU, Jan 15 — The Gujjars United Front, which claims to represent the interests of 25 lakh Gujjar and Bakerwal people in Jammu and Kashmir, has threatened to boycott the next assembly elections if seats were not reserved for the ethnic group which has been declared by the Central Government as a Scheduled Tribe. According to the front president and secretary, Mr Anwar Chowdhary and Mr Shah Mohammed Chowdhary, respectively more than 40 per cent Gujjar and Bakerwal people inhabit 25 assembly segments and despite being a Scheduled Tribe community, not a single assembly seat had been reserved for them. They told newsmen here that by denying concessions to the ethnic group under the Scheduled Tribe Provisions, the state government was “discriminating against people belonging to our ethnic group.” They said that the state government was trying to do away with the main provisions of the Scheduled Tribe Act and an abortive bid was made to erode this special status by getting the Autonomy Committee report implemented. The Gujjar leaders said that if the state government was not prepared to redress the grievances of this backward community, there was no alternative for them but to demand statehood for the Gujjars and the Duggars of the Jammu region. They said let six districts of the region be given a separate state status so that the Gujjars, Bakerwals and the Duggars were spared of the raw deal which they have been given by the valley-dominated political leaders and bureaucrats during the past 50 years. Referring to the ongoing peace initiatives, Mr Anwar Chowdhary demanded that the representatives of Gujjars and Bakerwals be included in the proposed talks for settlement of the Kashmir issue on the plea that “we have a population of 25 lakh in the state.” They also berated the ruling National Conference for having encouraged issuance of fake Scheduled Tribe certificates which
facilitated admission of no-Gujjars in professional colleges at the cost of genuine Scheduled Tribe youths. In the matter of employment again, the Gujjars were being given a raw
deal and the Cabinet subcommittee constituted to look into the promotions of employees belonging to the Scheduled Tribes did “nothing positive”, with the result that the Gujjars were at a receiving end. They demanded separate a census to determine the population density of the ethnic group. |
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Governor for
capsule courses in IT JAMMU, Jan 15 — Governor G.C. Saxena has called for introducing capsule courses in information technology (IT) and other computer programmes in colleges to help students face new challenges. Presiding over the Jammu University council meeting here today, the Governor said special attention should be given to initiate various programmes under the UGC guidelines which would improve the academic atmosphere in the university. He stressed the filling of vacant posts to reduce unemployment. Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah, Pro Chancellor of the university, urged the authorities concerned to introduce the latest technology programmes in educational institutions for the benefit of the student. The Vice-Chancellor, Prof R.R. Sharma, said various courses were being introduced, including a degree in composite languages. |
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5 handloom projects for J&K JAMMU, Jan 15 (UNI) — The Centre has sanctioned five handloom development projects for Jammu and Kashmir in a bid to provide direct employment to handloom weavers. In the first instance, 750 weavers will be provided employment under the projects. Official sources said here yesterday that the projects had been established at Shankerpora, Sumbal Panjar, Basohi and Sani (Poonch) and would be completed by the end of the current fiscal year. Under the projects, 375 looms would be procured by the Jammu and Kashmir Handloom Development Corporation and given to weavers on 75 per cent subsidy. In addition to this, 375 looms would be modernised by providing accessories to the weavers. The sources said the sales turnover of the corporation was expected to touch a high of about Rs 10 crore during the current fiscal year as compared to a sales of Rs 7.10 crore during the past fiscal year. The corporation had produced handloom products worth Rs 6.39 lakh metres during the last fiscal year and had fixed a target to produce 8.254 lakh metres during the current year. The increase in sale turnover and production had been due to the introduction of some innovative measures to modernise the handlooms and by launching eight development projects in various areas of the state. The corporation has established handloom development projects in Kanihama, Pampore, Bandipore and Leh in Kashmir division and Udhampur, Samba, Rajouri, Poonch and Doda in Jammu division. About 2795 modern fly shuttle looms were distributed among weavers under the projects. Under the projects the corporation has established common facility centres to provide pre-loom and post-loom facilities to 480 weavers, approximately 60 weavers at each centre. The raw material after being procured by the corporation is distributed among the weavers in the shape of prepared warps. Yarn is also provided to the handloom weavers to ensure income generation activities. The grey fabric is distributed among the weavers in these centres and sent for finishing and marketed through the outlets owned by the corporation. The weavers are paid wages on a weekly and fortnightly basis and are also provided technical knowhow and design inputs. |
4 killed as Matador
overturns BARAMULA, Jan 15 (UNI) — At least four persons were killed and six injured in a road accident at Goolgaran in north Kashmir last evening. Sources said a Matador
(station wagon) in which they were travelling turned turtle at Goolgaran. They were going to Karnah from Kupwara. Abdul Hamid, Noor Hussain, constable Vikram, and driver Mohammad Shafi died on the spot. The injured have been admitted to hospital.
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