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BJP seeks special package for Jammu
PM busy, rail line opening
has to wait
J&K Govt to seek scrapping
of MoU on jobs
Security steps for PM’s visit
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Sikh leaders spell out demands in valley
AWWA’s unique gesture to patients
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BJP seeks special package for Jammu
Jammu, November 16 Dr Nirmal Singh said the people of the Jammu region had no say in the political and economic processes of the state resulting in widespread resentment and dissatisfaction among people of the Jammu region, barring the members of ruling elite. He said the plight of the border migrants and those living in the rural areas was all the more miserable as they had been deprived of even the basic facilities. He said that people of the Jammu region had voted overwhelmingly in favour of the Congress in the Assembly and Parliamentary elections with the hope that the Congress would end the 57-year-old discriminatory policies towards the Jammu region. He said it was unfortunate that the Congress had not done anything worthwhile in this regard. He alleged that on the contrary, the Congress had become a party to the rabidly anti-Jammu policies being evolved and pursued by the valley-based PDP. The BJP chief urged upon the Prime Minister to announce a special package for the region so that it could redress its grievances and make an allround progress. He also urged upon him to abandon the idea of any kind of dialogue with the “sectarian” Hurriyat Conference and reject Pakistani President Gen Musharraf’s divisive proposals regarding Jammu and Kashmir. |
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PM busy, rail line opening
has to wait
Jammu, November 16 It is about nine months now that the Rs 510-crore project, which is complete in all respects, is lying idle as no VVIP has so far found time to inaugurate it. Initially there were reports that the Prime Minister would inaugurate the 55-km-long rail link during his visit here on November 18. However, the event does not figure in his itinerary now. The Director-General of the Railway Protection Force, Mr S.K. Suri, was here last week to look into the security aspects and it was certain that the PM would signal the run of the first passenger train during his visit. Although the exact reason for the postponement of the ceremony is not known, it is learnt that it has been put off because of the busy schedule of Dr Manmohan Singh. He is scheduled to visit a camp of Kashmiri Pandit migrants, address a public meeting, meet delegations of various political and social organisations and also preside over a meeting of the unified command of the Army, the BSF, the CRPF, the state police and intelligence agencies during his one-day visit to Jammu. Moreover, the Congress leadership here is not keen that the public meeting of a Congress Prime Minister, that is being held here after 17 years, should get overshadowed by the inauguration of the railway line. The last public meeting addressed by a Prime Minister belonging to the Congress was in 1987 when Rajiv Gandhi visited the state. It is learnt that the Railway Minister, Mr Laloo Prasad Yadav, might later inaugurate the project. A senior officer of the Railways said they were ready for the ceremony any time as the safety certificate for running passenger trains on the line had already been issued by the Commissioner for Railway Safety. Work on the rail link was completed in 21 years during the previous NDA regime when Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee was expected to inaugurate it. However, the ceremony could not be fixed as the code of conduct came into force following announcement of the Lok Sabha elections. |
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J&K Govt to seek scrapping
of MoU on jobs
Jammu, November 16 Addressing pharmacists, medicos and prominent citizens at a function organised for distributing pharmacy registration certificates to 300 unemployed youths of Jammu district here this morning, she said the Congress had already demanded scrapping of the MoU and the same would be raised with the Prime Minister during his meeting with the Council of Ministers. Ms Bhagat said in view of limited openings in the public sector, such skilled professions like the one of pharmacists was a potential employment provider. Apart from commanding respect, one could also serve the humanity through the noble vocation. She advised the candidates receiving registration certificates to open chemist outlets in the remote and far-flung areas where the need for medicines and specialised medicare was even greater. |
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Security steps for PM’s visit
Jammu, November 16 Besides metal detectors, sniffer dogs were pressed into service to ensure that no explosive material, especially IEDs, had been planted. Repeated drill was carried out for making the police and the paramilitary forces aware of the spot where they had to be on guard. The two grounds stand almost sealed, prohibiting the entry of people prior to the start of the public rallies. Gun-weilding security personnel would remain on guard in the areas adjoining the two grounds. Interest in the Prime Minister’s visit to the state increased soon after the Chairman of the APHC, Molvi Umar Farooq, announced that in case they were formally invited for talks they would accept the invitation. Till yesterday the APHC leaders had not made up their mind. People’s interest has grown as they want to know whether Dr Manmohan Singh will invite the separatists for talks since he was scheduled to interact with various political leaders and those heading trade and industries. |
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Sikh leaders spell out demands in valley
Jammu, November 16 The chairman of the Bhai Kanhiya Nishkam Sewa Society, Mr Mohinder Singh, in a statement here today, urged the Prime Minister to accept several demands, including release of Sikh youths who have been
languishing in jails since 1984. Mr Mohinder Singh has demanded that these Sikh youths be treated at a par with those youths who had been released in Kashmir by the coalition government. He said it was high time Mr Manmohan Singh announced an employment package for Sikh youths. The society chief also demanded inclusion of representatives of Sikhs in the Indo-Pakistan talks which could also result in the permanent settlement of the 1947 refugee problem. He called for a CBI probe into the massacre of Sikhs in Chitti Singhpora and Mehjoor Nagar so that justice was given to families of victims of the carnage. He also favoured reservation for the Sikh minority community so that they could benefit while applying for government jobs. The Sikh leaders also demanded reservation of seats in the two houses of the state legislature. As expectations of people belonging to the various ethnic groups, have started rising on the eve of the Prime Minister's visit members of the displaced Kashmiri Pandit families, too expect a package from Dr Manmohan Singh. The migrants have decided to show to the Prime Minister the condition of the camps where they have been living for the past 14 years. Dr Manmohan Singh is scheduled to visit the Muthi migrant camp on November 18. Members of the displaced families have demanded better living conditions in camps, a separate employment package, and hike in the monthly allowance till the scheme for their permanent rehabilitation is taken in hand. Dr Manmohan Singh will be the second Prime Minister after Mr I.K. Gujral to visit migrant camps. This is the cause of excitement among the migrants who do not seem to be prepared to get sidelined and ignored again. |
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AWWA’s unique gesture to patients
Jammu, November 16 She not only distributed sweets to all the patients admitted, but also organised special tambola session for them during Divali and Id-ul-Fitr. Apart from the normal tambola sessions that she sponsors every month, these festivals saw special musical sessions with an array of prizes being distributed to the winners. She personally conducted the tambola and also announced
surprise gifts on the spot thus enabling maximum patients to win prizes. It was an emotional occasion for Ms Hari Prasad to see the patients with smiles on their faces and forgetting their pains. She wished them well and also announced that similar tambolas would also be played on other festival occasions. |
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