J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Inquilabi pays price for meeting Pant
Srinagar, June 1
Former militant leader, Azam Inquilabi was today expelled from the patronship and basic membership of his party “Mahaze Azadi” (freedom front) for meeting the Centre’s interlocutor, Mr K.C. Pant, here yesterday. He, however, denied the violation of the party discipline and said talks with Mr Pant had become necessary in view of the prevalent situation in Jammu and Kashmir.

Jammu-Srinagar highway to be upgraded
Srinagar, June 1
An ambitious Rs 2500-crore project has been drawn up to upgrade the Jammu-Srinagar national highway into four-lane. The Jammu-Udhampur and Qazigund-Srinagar sectors of the proposed project will be taken up on priority.

Students’ trip flagged off
Srinagar, June 1
A group of 34 schoolchildren was flagged off for a tour of India by the GOC of Dager Division of the Army at Baramula this morning. The children and some of their teachers have been drawn from the remote area of Rampur in the district.

Vacation in Jammu schools
Jammu, June 1
According to Director, School Education, Jammu, all institutions falling in summer zone of Jammu Division shall observe summer vacation for 60 days from June 6 to August 4.

Inquilabi pays price for meeting Pant
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, June 1
Former militant leader, Azam Inquilabi was today expelled from the patronship and basic membership of his party “Mahaze Azadi” (freedom front) for meeting the Centre’s interlocutor, Mr K.C. Pant, here yesterday. He, however, denied the violation of the party discipline and said talks with Mr Pant had become necessary in view of the prevalent situation in Jammu and Kashmir. He claimed that he had taken his party into confidence.

In a statement issued by the Mahaze Azadi, after having an emergency meeting under the chairmanship of its publicity secretary, Haji Abdul Rahman Sofi, the party took strong exception to the “secret meeting” of its patron Mr Azam Inquilabi with Mr Pant. The two had a meeting here yesterday afternoon. The statement claimed that Inquilabi had gone against the decision of the party and violated the party discipline by meeting the Centre’s chief negotiator. The spokesman claimed that Mr Inquilabi had been expelled from the basic membership of the party.

Mr Inquilabi was spotted by mediapersons while meeting Mr Pant here yesterday. Mr Pant later told mediapersons that he had given an assurance to Mr Inquilabi that they would not be informed about the “secret” meeting. Mr Pant has been giving out the names of persons and organisations of all those with whom he had been holding meetings. During the past five days he has toured Leh, Kargil and Jammu and had a series of meetings with various Kashmiri groups in Srinagar. These individuals include mostly the mainstream political parties and the top state government functionaries.

Mr Inquilabi, a former militant leader, had also set up Quami Mushawarati Council along with the former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Ghulam Mohammad Shah in October, 1999, and had been working as the chairman of the Quami Mushawarati Council (national executive council). He had shared the platform with the former Chief Minister, Ghulam Mohammad Shah at a number of occasions since October, 1999.

Jammu-Srinagar highway to be upgraded
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, June 1
An ambitious Rs 2500-crore project has been drawn up to upgrade the Jammu-Srinagar national highway into four-lane. The Jammu-Udhampur and Qazigund-Srinagar sectors of the proposed project will be taken up on priority.

The main features of the project were discussed at a high-level meeting here yesterday with the Chief Secretary, Mr Ashok Jaitly, an official spokesman said. The Chief Engineer, Project Beacon, and Brig K.S. Rao briefed the meeting about the project.

The road would be improved and a large number of shelter sheds are proposed to be constructed on the highway.

The Chief Secretary asked the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) to complete a detailed project report expeditiously so that the land acquisition proceedings could be initiated without delay.

The meeting was informed that the Union Ministry of Surface Transport has also sanctioned the scheme for improvement of the Batote-Kishtwar and Dul-Galhar-Sansari roads.

Students’ trip flagged off
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, June 1
A group of 34 schoolchildren was flagged off for a tour of India by the GOC of Dager Division of the Army at Baramula this morning. The children and some of their teachers have been drawn from the remote area of Rampur in the district.

The students will tour Delhi, Jaipur and Ajmer for a period of 15 days from today. The trip is sponsored by the Army and aims at making students aware of Indian secularism.

The children will visit the Rashtrapati Bhavan, Parliament House, India Gate, Teen Murti Bhavan, Jawahar Lal Nehru Platenarium and Rajputana Rifles Regimental Centre.

The group will also interact with important dignitaries, including the President, the Prime Minister, the Defence Minister and others.

Vacation in Jammu schools
Tribune News Service

Jammu, June 1
According to Director, School Education, Jammu, all institutions falling in summer zone of Jammu Division shall observe summer vacation for 60 days from June 6 to August 4.

Similarly, a summer break of 10 days will be observed by the institutions falling in the winter zone of the division from June 6 to June 15.