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Jammu, January 31 A group of American officials have suggested to the hardliners in the separatist camp in Kashmir that they, too, should participate in the dialogue process initiated by the Government of India.
J&K to have finance panel, planning board
Suspended cop challenges inquiry
panel
Pakistan national gets 25 years RI
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Panthers Party panel for sharing of LS
seats
Jammu, January 31 The working committee of the Panthers Party today set up a 10-member committee to negotiate the sharing of Lok Sabha seats with the ruling coalition partners.
5.4 m visited Vaishno Devi in 2003
BJP prepares ‘white paper’ on govt’s
performance
Leprosy hospital to be upgraded
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US officials ask hardliners to join
dialogue
Jammu, January 31 Sources said during their recent visit to the state’s summer capital, American officials, most of them from the US Embassy in New Delhi, met the JKLF chief, Mr Mohammad Yasin Malik, President of the Jammu Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party, Mr Shahbir Ahmed Shah and some senior functionaries of the Jamait-e-Islami. These separatists were advised to join the dialogue process as there was no other way for resolving the Kashmir issue and the ongoing turmoil. The members of the American delegation had also met a Peoples’ Conference leader, Mr Sajjad Lone. Even though the Peoples’ Conference, as a constituent of the APHC (Abbas), is participating in the talks with the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr L.K. Advani, still the American officials discussed the political and security situation in the state with Mr Lone. Besides Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mr Malik, too, favours tripartite talks and opposes a dialogue with the Government of India. Mr Shahbir Ahmed Shah is in favour of settlement of the Kashmir issue through dialogue but wants involvement of Pakistan in the tripartite talks. It is in this connection that the American officials made an attempt to persuade the hardliners to accept the invitation, when-ever it is sent, from the Government of India so that the talks between the government and the separatists were broad-based. |
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J&K to have finance panel, planning board
Jammu, January 31 The decision was taken at a meeting of the Cabinet that was presided over by the Deputy Chief Minister, Mr Mangat Ram Sharma, as the Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, is currently in Mecca to perform Haj. The Congress, which is a partner in the coalition government, had in its election manifesto promised the setting up of the finance commission and the planning board to remove the feeling of neglect among people of the Jammu and Ladakh regions. The delay in setting up these statutory bodies had created resentment among the people and during her recent visit here, Ms Sonia Gandhi had reportedly directed Mr Sharma and other ministers of the Congress to ensure that the poll promises were implemented without further delay. Briefing mediapersons about the Cabinet decisions, the Chief Secretary, Mr Sudhir Singh Bloeria, said the finance commission would examine and suggest the criteria for distribution of plan funds between the district and the state sector so that every region got equitable share of resources for development. It would also identify and recommend new areas of resource mobilisation to increase the state’s income for minimising the revenue deficit and also reduce expenditure. The Cabinet constituted a committee, headed by the Chief Secretary, to work out the terms of reference for both the finance commission and the planning board. Other members of the committee will be the financial commissioners of Finance and Planning and the Secretary, Law. It was decided to set up a Cabinet sub-committee to suggest measures for comprehensive development of tourism in the Jammu and Ladakh regions and explore new tourist destinations in the Kashmir valley. Headed by the Minister for Tourism, Mr G.H. Mir, the sub-committee will include the Education Minister, Mr Harshdev Singh, the Agriculture Minister, Mr Abdul Aziz Zargar, the Power Minister, Mr M.S. Niaz, the Roads and Buildings Minister, Mr Madan Lal Sharma, the Revenue Minister, Hakim Yasin, the Health Minister, Mr Lal Singh, and the Science and Technology Minister, Mr Nawang Rigzin Jora. The Cabinet adopted a resolution, asking the Central Government to review the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the state and the Centre restricting the government wage Bill by not filling vacant posts. The Cabinet took the plea that the demand had been made so that employment opportunities were created for the unemployed youth. The resolution emphasised that the review was essential in view of the special problems of the state, which is coming out of the turbulent phase where employment opportunities were an important input. The Cabinet attached the Health Secretary, Dr Ved Gupta, to the General Administration Department and gave additional charge to Mr Amit Kushari, Financial Commissioner, Consumer Affairs. The Cabinet decided to set up a separate directorate of horticulture for the Jammu region. A committee, headed by the Chief Secretary, was set up to explore employment avenues for Kashmiri migrants and members of the minority community who stayed back in the valley during militancy. The Cabinet ordered pay parity between veterinary and allopathic doctors. The Cabinet approved the draft ordinance to provide for delay in holding elections for civic bodies. The Cabinet authorised the Power Development Department to entrust the job of installing meters on the premises of electricity consumers and connected work to prevent power theft to the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) on a turnkey basis. The Cabinet granted a no-objection certificate to Command Hospital of the Army at Udhampur to start post-graduate courses in medicine, surgery, anaesthesia, pathology and gynaecology.
Govt announces relief for border residents The Government today announced a relief ranging between Rs 15,000 and Rs 40,000 for residents of border villages of Jammu whose houses were damaged in shelling by Pakistani troops. The Cabinet gave consent for repair and restoration of 4,529 such buildings. The Chief Secretary said these houses belonged to border migrants of Akhnoor, Bishnah, R.S. Pora, 21 villages of Poonch district and 11 villages of Nowshera tehsil. The Chief Secretary said the owner of fully damaged pucca house would get Rs 40,000 while Rs 20,000 would be given in case of a partially damaged house. In case of kutcha houses, Rs 25,000 would be given for each fully damaged house and Rs 15,000 for each partially damaged house. The scale of relief would be Rs 8,000 for a fully damaged hutment and Rs 4,000 for a partially damaged hutment. In case of pucca shops, the rates would be Rs 20,000 for a fully damaged one and Rs 10,000 for a partially damaged one. In case of kutcha shops, it would be Rs 10,000 for a fully damaged one and Rs 5,000 for a partially damaged one. The Chief Secretary said the Cabinet also approved Rs 40,000 for fully damaged temples and Rs 5,000 for partially damaged ones. The Cabinet ordered identification of land for allotment at the scale of five marlas to each border migrant family for construction of shelter houses. The Cabinet decided to extend the relief package for border migrants of Akhnoor, Jammu and Nowshera tehsils till March 31. Earlier, it was available till September, 2003. The Cabinet also approved the market intervention scheme for providing support price for low-grade apple. According to the scheme, the government will provide a support price of Rs 3 per kg. Low-grade apple will be supplied to fruit processing units at a subsidised rate of 50 paise per kg. The government will procure and supply 15,000 tonnes of C grade apple to the JK HPMC and private processing units for juice concentrate. |
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Suspended cop challenges inquiry panel Jammu, January 31 Mr Justice Permod Kohli of the high court, after hearing the counsel for the suspended SSP, today issued notices to the Chief Secretary, the Secretary of the one-man commission of Pathribal inquiry headed by retired Justice G.A. Kuchchai, the Commissioner, General Administration Department (GAD), and the Financial Commissioner, Home Department of the state government. Additional Advocate-General K.S. Johal, who was present in the court, accepted notices on behalf of state respondents except the commission of inquiry. After hearing Mr Khan’s counsel on the question of grant of interim-relief, Mr Johal said the state would not proceed further in the matter till the next hearing. The court observed that in view of the statement made at the Bar, there was no necessity to pass any interim order at this stage and directed the registry to list the case in the week, commencing February 9. According to the petition, the commission was appointed to inquire whether samples of those killed in Pathribal village in Anantnag district on march 24, 2000, which were sent for DNA test to Kolkata were fake and spurious and inquire into circumstances under which the said samples came to be collected and fix responsibility of persons directly or indirectly involved in commission of such acts. —
PTI |
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Pakistan national gets 25 years RI
Jammu, January 31 Principal Sessions Judge Subhash Chander Gupta yesterday awarded 25 years’ RI and imposed a fine of Rs 20,000 on Mohammad Qasim alias Abu Bakar in different offences. This is the first time that a court has awarded 25 years’ RI to a Pakistan national. Qasim, a resident of Kotli in Pakistan, was nabbed by the Army on December 19,1995, while trying to cross into India from the Line of Control at Dharati village and was injured in a fire. The Army recovered an AK-47 rifle, 2 magazines, 72 rounds of AK 47 and an IED to be supplied to the Lashkar-e-Toiba. After hearing the prosecution, Judge Gupta observed that the offences had been proved against the accused. He further observed that viewing the gravity of the offence the accused deserved to be sentenced for life under Section 3 of the Enemy Agent Ordinance. However, as the accused was young and not able to cause any damage after crossing over, Qasim was awarded 10 years’ RI and fined Rs 10,000 under Section 3 of the Enemy Agent Ordinance, the Judge observed. Under Section 14 of the Foreigners Act, the accused was further awarded five years’ RI and for offence under Section 7/25 of the Arms Act, the accused was awarded 10 years’ RI and fined Rs 10,000. —
UNI |
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Panthers Party panel for sharing of LS
seats
Jammu, January 31 The decision to set up the committee was taken at a meeting of the working committee under the chairmanship of Mr Bhim Singh, chairman of the party. Among others, the committee has Mr Harsh Dev Singh, Education Minister, Mr Yashpal Kaundal, Minister of State for Animal Husbandry, and Mr Balwant Singh and Mr Faqir Nath, both MLAs, as members. |
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5.4 m visited Vaishno Devi in 2003
Jammu, January 31 The Governor said a record number of pilgrims, 5.4 million, visited the shrine during 2003. To augment accommodation for the devotees, a multi-storeyed dormitory complex, Saraswati Dham, was opened in 2003. A “sarai” with 700 beds was near completion at Katra, the Governor said. The board had engaged artisans from Rajasthan for Darshani Deodi at Ban Ganga, which was an important project for the shrine, he said. To encourage Vedic studies, the board had envisaged a project, Shri Vidya Sanskrit Gurukul Shiksha Kendra, at Charan Paduka. Steps for environment conservation, like the plantation of two lakh saplings and minimising the use of plastic, had also been taken. |
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BJP prepares ‘white paper’ on govt’s
performance
Jammu, January 31 The ‘white paper’ will be discussed at a two-day meeting of the executive committee of the party. Mr Sanjay Joshi, general secretary, and Mr O.P. Kohli, in charge of the party affairs in Jammu and Kashmir, will attend the meeting. The meeting, according to party sources, has been convened to prepare a brief for the BJP leaders and workers to equip them with the “tools” for enabling the party to win the maximum number of Lok Sabha seats in the state. Senior BJP leaders have already conveyed to the party workers that if the BJP candidates could lead in 32 out of the 37 Assembly segments in the Jammu region in the 1999 Lok Sabha poll, there should be a better chance for its candidates to repeat the 1999 feat when it bagged both the seats in the Jammu region, in view of the changed political scenario in the country. |
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Leprosy hospital to be upgraded
Jammu, January 31 At a launch ceremony for a campaign to eradicate leprosy, Mr Lal Singh said the hospital would cater to the needs of the city’s adjoining areas, thereby reducing pressure on other local hospitals. |
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