J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Hurriyat to discuss Centre’s talks offer tomorrow
Srinagar, November 18
A crucial general council meeting of the separatist Hurriyat Conference, led by Moulvi Abbas Ansari, to discuss the Centre’s offer of talks, is being held here on November 20. It has, however, not received any formal invitation from the Centre for holding a dialogue with Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani.

Visit to London a success, says Mehbooba
Srinagar, November 18
The PDP president, Ms Mehbooba Mufti has described the recently concluded London visit of a high-level delegation from Jammu and Kashmir as successful in allaying wrong impressions about tourism in view of prevalent situation in the State.

450 Pandit families to return to valley
Jammu, November 18
About 450 displaced Kashmiri Pandit families have voluntarily decided to return to the Kulgam and Handwara areas in Anantnag and Kupwara districts, respectively, a development which is likely to have a lasting impact on ensuring peace in the Kashmir valley.

Kupwara to have hospital underground
Srinagar, November 18
The Jammu and Kashmir government would construct an underground hospital in border area of Tangdar in Kupwara district in north Kashmir, official sources said today.

Army engineers’ role lauded
Jammu, November 18
The GOC-in-C, Northern Command, Lieut-Gen Hari Prasad, has complimented the Corps of Engineers which celebrated its 23rd Corps Day today. The hospital, being constructed at a cost of Rs.35 lakh, would be equipped with all facilities to save the lives of victims of Pakistani shelling, they said.

Gold worth Rs 20 lakh seized
Jammu, November 18
Gold ornaments worth Rs 20 lakh were today seized at the Lakhanpur check post while these were being smuggled here in a bus of Himachal Pradesh which was coming from Amritsar.

Hurriyat to discuss Centre’s talks offer tomorrow
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, November 18
A crucial general council meeting of the separatist Hurriyat Conference, led by Moulvi Abbas Ansari, to discuss the Centre’s offer of talks, is being held here on November 20. It has, however, not received any formal invitation from the Centre for holding a dialogue with Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani.

Another meeting of separatist political organisations has been called by a former APHC chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, here tomorrow. This will be the first such meeting of these organisations outside the Hurriyat Conference after he was entrusted with the job of negotiating to seek their return following the split. The APHC split following differences between senior Jamaat-e-Islami leader and former chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani and the APHC leadership over the issue of alleged participation of its constituent, the Peoples Conference, in the last Assembly elections. the APHC, led by Abbas Ansari, has been left with 17 constituents, while 13 others have joined the breakway group led by Mr Geelani.

The APHC chairman, Moulvi Abbas Ansari, told The Tribune here today that a general council meeting would be held here on November 20. The meeting would discuss organisational, financial and other matters, including the offer of talks by the Centre. Former chairman Abdul Ghani Bhat said any decisions taken at the meeting would be announced during Friday prayers at the Jamia Masjid.

Invitations have been extended to all seven executive committee members of the Hurriyat Conference, first time after the offer of talks was made by the Centre last month. Those invited include three important constituents, the Jamaat-e-Islami, the Peoples League and the JKLF, which have not been attending any meeting of the APHC after the split.

Visit to London a success, says Mehbooba
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, November 18
The PDP president, Ms Mehbooba Mufti has described the recently concluded London visit of a high-level delegation from Jammu and Kashmir as successful in allaying wrong impressions about tourism in view of prevalent situation in the State. She also accompanied the delegation led by her father and Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed to attend the World Tourism Mart in the UK.

Talking to The Tribune here today, a day after her arrival in Srinagar, Ms Mehbooba Mufti said that Kashmiris living in the UK were keen to invest in the State. But this was hampered by the adverse campaign over the possibilities of making investments here in view of situation, here, she added. Though a small number of people from the state live there they wanted to invest in educational institutions and hospitals in the state.

“There was a good response”, Ms Mehbooba said as she referred to the meetings with the heads of various delegations of the MPs and those associated with tourism. The delegation also stressed on the need of modifying the adverse advisories to the tourists from the UK against visiting Kashmir, she said.

On the National Conference criticism of her London visit, Ms Mehbooba Mufti clarified that she was not part of the official delegation, but only as president of the ruling party and an MLA. This, she said, was in response to various invitations and fellowships from different European countries. The NC, major opposition party, had alleged that the visit was misuse of her position, adding if she was on a private visit she had no business in joining the discussions with the British MPs.

The seven-member delegation led by Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed attended World Tourism Mart, in London on November 10. The Union Minister of State for Tourism and Culture, Bhavnaben Chikhalia inaugurated the Indian pavilion that was also attended by the delegation from Jammu and Kashmir. Focus of Jammu and Kashmir was to attract pilgrim tourists to Vaishnodevi shrine at Katra near Jammu. Tourist resorts of Gulmarg and Pahalgam in Kashmir valley were also projected as global resorts. The facilities at these spots are being expanded and upgraded.

450 Pandit families to return to valley

Jammu, November 18
About 450 displaced Kashmiri Pandit families have voluntarily decided to return to the Kulgam and Handwara areas in Anantnag and Kupwara districts, respectively, a development which is likely to have a lasting impact on ensuring peace in the Kashmir valley.

Talking to the UNI at the Secretariat here this morning, Revenue Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Hakim Mohammad Yasin said, so far about 450 Pandit families, residing in other parts of the country, have expressed their desire to return to their native places in the valley.

“So far 162 families, who were the original inhabitants of Kulgam in Anantnag district, have met me and pledged to give an affidavit to this effect. The remaining families are also keen to return to Handwara,” Mr Yasin said elatedly.

Soon after the affidavits are received, the government will begin a survey on the amount to be incurred to repair and construct the houses. A detailed asses ment on the inventories will also be taken. “‘The survey would be conducted under the aegis of an apex body to

be headed by Mr Yasin. The Deputy Commissioners of Anantnag and Kupwara districts have been asked to assist the apex committee in this connection,” he informed. — UNI

Kupwara to have hospital underground

Srinagar, November 18
The Jammu and Kashmir government would construct an underground hospital in border area of Tangdar in Kupwara district in north Kashmir, official sources said today.

The hospital, being constructed at a cost of Rs.35 lakh, would be equipped with all facilities to save the lives of victims of Pakistani shelling, they said.

The demand for an underground hospital gained ground after the success of underground bunkers constructed by the government for the safety of villagers in border areas.

The government plans to complete the construction of the hospital during the current year, they added. — PTI

Army engineers’ role lauded
Tribune News Service

Jammu, November 18
The GOC-in-C, Northern Command, Lieut-Gen Hari Prasad, has complimented the Corps of Engineers which celebrated its 23rd Corps Day today.

On this day in 1832, the three engineers groups, Madras, Bengal and Bombay Sappers, were amalgamated into the Corps of Engineers.

All these years, the Corps has seen unending action. In peace time as well the corps remained busy in the construction of roads, bridges, clearing improvised explosive devices and providing assistance to the civil administration during calamities.

Gold worth Rs 20 lakh seized
Tribune News Service

Jammu, November 18
Gold ornaments worth Rs 20 lakh were today seized at the Lakhanpur check post while these were being smuggled here in a bus of Himachal Pradesh which was coming from Amritsar.

In another incident, electric goods worth Rs one lakh were seized while these were being smuggled from the check post adjoining the Pathankot area of Punjab.

BRIEFLY

POWER TARIFF HIKE:
JAMMU: The Jammu and Kashmir government should withdraw the hike in power tariff, the state BJP (women wing) has demanded. The hike was burdensome on all sections, particularly the middle class, the women wing asserted.