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PM may announce waiving of debts
PM to review law, order situation
Decision on J&K troops
ill-timed: Gupta
Panun Kashmir opposes troop |
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2 militants, Pak intruder killed in J&K
Thousands take part in peace yagya
Bansal is new Vaishno Devi varsity VC
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PM may announce waiving of debts
Jammu, November 15 It is learnt that nationalised banks have already apprised the Centre of the position of the bad debts in the Kashmir valley. The Jammu division has been left out in the exercise. Sources said that the waiver would be applicable not only to the tourism sector, but also personal loans that were advanced in the valley by different nationalised banks. The grouse here is that all economic packages and loan waivers announced by the Centre since 1996 were applicable only to the Kashmir valley although Jammu region was an equal sufferer of terrorism. The terrorism scenario particularly in the Poonch, Rajouri and Doda districts of Jammu is worse than that in the valley. But these districts are again likely to be denied the advantage of waiving of loans. Sources said in case the waiver is announced, it would be applicable also to the
willfull defaulters in the valley. A substantial amount of these loans relate to the pre-terrorism period before 1989. It is learnt that the bad debts of the Punjab National Bank in the valley were worth over Rs 19 crore, while those of other nationalised banks were more than Rs 90 crore. Several trade, industry and tourism related organisations here have described the reported move of the Prime Minister as yet another discrimination with Jammu region. Some activists of a trade union during the recent visit of a top officer of a nationalised bank had apprised him that the people here would not relish any such announcement confined to the Kashmir valley. The Centre had earlier announced loan waivers for the valley in 1996 and 2000. However, there were reports of such incentives having been misutilised. An official report has pointed out that certain beneficiaries grossly misused the soft loans provided by the state government for revival of tourism in the valley in 1998. As many as 185 persons transferred these loans into fixed deposits in the same bank and no steps were taken by the authorities even to recover the interest on these loans. |
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PM to review law, order situation
Jammu, November 15 The Prime Minister is visiting Jammu and Kashmir on November 17 and 18. Before the public meeting, the Prime Minister will pay a visit to the Kashmiri migrants camp at Muthi and will interact with them. The Prime Minister will also interact with leaders of the political parties of the state during his short stay at Raj Bhavan. Later, the Prime Minister will have a meeting of the Unified Command of the Army, the BSF, the CRPF, the JKAP and the civil administration. He will address mediapersons on the premises of Raj Bhavan in the evening. He will visit Srinagar on November 17. |
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Decision on J&K troops
ill-timed: Gupta
Jammu, November 15 Responding to complaints of village defence committee members about their neglect, Professor Gupta said the Vajpayee-led NDA government had provided all possible help for strengthening the VDCs and had reimbursed crores to the state as security-related expenditure. He claimed that the money was used in constructing bungalows for ministers and purchasing luxury items for certain politicians. He alleged that emoluments and allowances sanctioned for SPOs attached to the VDCs here not paid. Moreover, instead of encouraging villagers to defend themselves and extend a helping hand to the security forces, attempts were made to malign them. Members of the VDCs complained that in many cases no SPO was attached to the VDCs. Professor Gupta blamed terrorist violence on the policies and malfunctioning of the state government. Assailing the timing of the decision for a reduction in the number of troops, the former minister said ultras would now get breathing time for regrouping during winter months. About the dialogue, Professor Gupta said such moves should come from Pakistan to stop the proxy war instead of India opting for chasing a wild goose by risking the lives of innocent people who were getting killed daily. He expressed doubts about the capacity of the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre to tackle problems with Pakistan and pointed out that the so-called Kashmir problem was the result of the mishandling of the situation from the very beginning and always led to more problems whenever talks were held. He said after the 1971 war, India was in a position to settle pending issues with Pakistan from a position of strength. |
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Panun Kashmir opposes troop reduction move
Jammu, November 15 The Chairman of Panun Kashmir, Dr Ajay Chrungoo, told mediamen here today “plan to reduce the strength of troops in Jammu and Kashmir could prove counter productive.” He explained that the “security scenario in the state had not improved to the extent that warranted cut in troops deployment.” Dr Chrungoo said series of gun and bomb attacks on political
leaders, security personnel and civilians in recent weeks “clearly indicated that the level of violence had not registered any marked decline.” He said, “had the situation improved the displaced families would have returned to Kashmir by now.” He said the Prime Minister should keep in mind the rebel attacks on the Chief Minister, Mufti Mohd. Sayeed, the Deputy Chief Minister, Mr Mangat Ram Sharma, Dr Farooq Abdullah and his son, Mr Omar Abdullah, despite a security cover they have been enjoying.” Referring to the Central Government’s plan to resume dialogue with the Kashmiri separatists, especially leaders of the Hurriyat Conference, Panun Kashmir Chairman said, “it is amazing that those affected by militants and those having been victims of the turmoil are being sidelined.” He demanded that representatives of the displaced Kashmiri Pandits be involved in the proposed talks. He said if it was not done “we can construe that nationalist elements are being ignored.” As far as the cut in the strength of troops in Jammu and Kashmir people living in border villages in Akhnoor, Poonch and Rajouri are against the move. Reports from the Pallanwala sector in the Akhnoor area said that majority of people were opposed to the reduction in the deployment of troops. According to Ram Lal “after the enforcement of ceasefire 70 per cent migrants had returned to their villages but we cannot trust Pakistan. And any decision to withdraw troops could encourage infiltration from across the border.” Many in the Akhnoor sector said “our houses may be shelled again forcing us to migrate to safer places.” Reports from Poonch and Rajouri said people feared increase in the level of infiltration once additional forces were withdrawn. Harbhajan, of Poonch said, “even after the ceasefire infiltration of militants continued from across Poonch and Rajouri. These militants had, in recent days, killed a number of civilians.” |
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2 militants, Pak intruder killed in J&K
Srinagar, November 15 Two militants were killed in an encounter with security forces during search operations at Hanoora village in Baramula district last night. Two AK rifles, three magazines and 30 rounds were recovered from them. The Pakistani intruder was killed near the Indo-Pak border in Kathua district last night after he refused to yield to Border Security Force personnel, who asked him to surrender. A self-styled sector commander of the Hizbul Mujahideen Nazir Ahmad, alias Abu Sapra, surrendered in the Lohie Malhar area of Kathua district today. He handed over an AK rifle, four magazines, seven grenades, one radio set and some explosive material to the troops. Another militant, identified as Nazir Ahmad, hailing from Awoora village, surrendered to the police along with an AK assault rifle, five magazines, 100 rounds, two hand grenades and a wireless set today. Ahmad had been active in the district for the last couple of years and his surrender had dealt a severe blow to the outfit in the border district of north Kashmir. Two Bangladeshi nationals were arrested by BSF personnel near the international border in the R.S. Pura sector of Jammu while they were trying to cross over to Pakistan last evening.
— PTI |
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Thousands take part in peace yagya
Jammu, November 15 Thousands of devotees throng the yagyashala in the Tawi, to take part in the yagya performed by Sant Balak Yogeshwar Dass Ji Maharaj. More than 2,000 Pandits from all over the country chanted hymns for establishing peace in the state. According to scriptures such yagyna was organised after Mahabharata in which millions of soldiers and kings were killed. Addressing the devotees, Sant Balak Yogeshwar said that in the Hindu scripture, the yagya was considered as a supreme sacred ritual with certain articles offered to the fire in oblation to propitiate God to seek protection from natural calamities and diseases, improvement in environment and attain universal happiness and prosperity. |
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Bansal is new Vaishno Devi varsity VC
Jammu, November 15 Lieut-General S.K. Sinha (retd), Governor today issued the orders in this regard. He said the appointment would be for a period of three years from the date Mr Bansal takes the charge. Dr Bansal succeeds Dr Bharat B. Chattoo, who completed his tenure in August. The Vice-Chancellor, University of Jammu, Prof Amitabh Mattao, is currently holding the additional charge of SMVD University. Dr Bansal (60) is credited with specialisation in renewable energy, energy conservation, energy planning and economics. He is a guest professor at the University of Applied Sciences, Aachen, Germany, University of Essen, Germany, Arizona State University, USA, visiting scientist of Cranefield Institute of Technology Reading University, UK, Nuclear Research Centre, Karlsruche, Germany, besides a visiting Fellow at International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Trieste, Italy. Dr Bansal has co-authored 17 books, mostly on energy. |
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