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Second column of troops withdrawn
APHC wants invite for talks
Dwellings for Kashmiri Pandits in Jammu opposed
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Funds aimed at making state power surplus
300 kg of RDX seized
Colourful start to film festival
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Second column of troops withdrawn
Jammu, November 20 Sources said about 3,000 troops were withdrawn from the forward location in the Sunderbani sub-sector this afternoon. Earlier, troops were withdrawn from Anantnag district in Kashmir on Wednesday during the visit of the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh. The troops from Sunderbani left for various locations in Punjab in a convoy. The third column of troops will leave Bari-Brahmanan, near here, tomorrow morning. These troops are likely to be sent to Himachal Pradesh. As a confidence-building measure with Pakistan, Dr Manmohan Singh had unilaterally announced reduction in the strength of troops in the state. |
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APHC wants invite for talks
Jammu, November 20 A senior APHC leader told this correspondent today, “We had not imposed any precondition. We had simply demanded permission for visiting Pakistan, which we found was a requirement for carrying the peace process forward.” To a question, he said “We will have no hesitation in having a dialogue with Mr Manmohan Singh provided we receive a formal invitation from his office.” The APHC leader said, “Even if Mr Manmohan Singh has announced that his doors for talks are open, we are not prepared to beg for an audience.” He said when the dialogue with a former Union Home Minister, Mr L.K. Advani, was started “we received a formal invitation letter from him in which the date, time and venue for the meeting had been mentioned.” Asked if the APHC leadership was ready to hold a dialogue with the Union Home Minister, Mr Shivraj Patil,the Hurriyat leader said, “No, not this time.” He said, “We shall meet the Prime Minister of India first. At the meeting, we will raise the demand for permission to Hurriyat leaders to visit Pakistan and the occupied Kashmir.” “After our return from Pakistan, we are ready for resuming the dialogue with the Indian Home Minister and other government functionaries,” he said. Inside reports say the APHC leadership has been insisting on a visit to Pakistan.They believe that the visit, besides enabling them to discuss the options for the resolution of the Kashmir issue, can secure them against any rebel attacks. They fear that if they accept the offer for a dialogue with the Government of India without securing a firm nod from Delhi for “our visit to Pakistan,we may be doing it at the risk of our lives.” Rebels have demonstrated their anger against the resumption of talks between the Centre and moderate separatists by attacking houses of some leaders of the APHC. |
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Dwellings for Kashmiri Pandits in Jammu opposed
Jammu, November 20 Mr Bhim Singh, who was talking to mediapersons here, said the decision to settle Kashmiri migrants here was against the letter and spirit of the CMP. He pointed out that the CMP provided that the government would seek cooperation of all elements to create an atmosphere conducive for the safe return of migrants and take steps to ensure their safety and devise effective measures for their rehabilitation. Mr Bhim Singh said the settlement of Kashmiris here would mean that the government was not interested in their return to the valley and the Panthers Party would oppose any such move. This would result in the creation of an Islamic state in Kashmir valley to fulfil the agenda of the Jammat-e-Islami and other fundamental organisations. He said the Panthers Party favoured the Kashmiri Pandit migrants return to the valley. Mr Bhim Singh expressed anguish over the “deliberate” attempt to mislead the Prime Minister about the ground situation and the promise made in the
CMP. Meanwhile, the Bhai Kanahiya Jee Nihkam Seva Society has demanded that instead of spending a huge amount of money for constructing two-room dwellings for the Kashmiri Pandits here, the government should take steps for their return to the Kashmir valley. Mr Mohinder Singh, chief organiser of the society, in a statement, said when the government claimed that the situation in the state had improved, why then were the migrants not being sent back to the valley. |
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Funds aimed at making state power surplus
Jammu, November 20 The emphasis in the plan is to turn the power deficit state into a power surplus one so as to attract industry here. There are several other components in the plan for development of all the three regions of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. The plan envisages providing liberal grants for central power projects on which work was going on at a snail’s speed for the past several years. This has not only resulted in steep price hike, but also electricity shortage in the state. However, the biggest challenge before the state government while implementing the plan will be check on corruption, that is rampant here, and fixing fiscal responsibility. Dr Manmohan Singh’s worry during his meeting with the state Council of Ministers was to provide a corruption-free administration here. Dr Manmohan Singh has clarified that the Rs 24,000-crore development and reconstruction plan for J&K is not a package but a plan to reconstruct economy, reform the government, regenerate entrepreneurship, revitalise the institutions of civil society and redefine the political paradigm and context in the sub-continent. The aim of this plan will be to convert the J&K economy into a normal and well-functioning one. The plan will revitalise the state’s ailing tourism industry, create new capabilities and generate self-employment opportunities as well as new avenues for salaried and professional employment. The successful implementation of the plan will require improved governance, transparent and corruption-free administration, peace, security and the rule of the law, fiscal responsibility and economic pricing of public utilities. The plan includes lifting of ban on recruitment to government jobs, electrification of all villages by 2007, power connections to all households by 2009, as many as 1000 micro hydroelectric projects across the state, Srinagar airport to be made international airport, 5000 jobs across the state by raising five additional battalions of the India Reserve Battalion and salary support for 8,000 teachers or teaching English in primary schools. To give a thrust to tourism, 50 tourist villages are envisaged in the plan with assistance to travel agents to participate in trade fairs and tours. The key features of the plan for the Jammu region are early completion of Salal, Dulhasti, Baglihar and Sewa II hydroelectric projects to generate 1302 mw of electricity. Work on the Bursar project (1020 mw) would be speeded. The plan also envisages further improving the agriculture, horticulture and tourism potential of Jammu. Eight new degree colleges will be opened at Akhnoor, Ranbirsinghpura, Samba, Hiranagar, Billawar, Kathua, Thanamandi and Mendhar. It also envisages to conserve Mansar Lake under the national wetlands conservation plan. In the Kashmir valley, the Uri (240 mw) and Kishenganga (330 mw) projects will be covered under the plan and the Srinagar-Uri road to link the Line of Control will be taken up. Among other things, stress will be on protecting the water bodies of Kashmir that are of great tourist importance. These include the Dal and the Wullar Lakes. Six new degree colleges will be opened at Budgam, Beerwah, Pattan, Bandipora, Sopore and Dooru. Besides, five women’s colleges will be opened at Srinagar, Anantnag, Pulwama, Kupwara and Baramula. The plan has some good news for the Ladakh region where the Srinagar-Leh 220 KV transmission line will be strengthened and the Srinagar-Leh road via Kargil will be double-laned. A drive for total literacy in the Ladakh region will be launched and the frequency of flights increased. Untied grants will be provided to the Autonomous Hill Development Councils of Leh and Kargil. Steps will be taken for conservation of Lake Tsomoriri and an expert group will be set up to study issues relating to Shahtoosh, that has been banned. |
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300 kg of RDX seized
Srinagar, November 20 A Defence Ministry spokesman said troops, on specific information, conducted searches in the South Kashmir district of Anantnag early this morning. During the operation, 300 kg of RDX was seized from the shop of Mushtaq Ahmad Dar, a resident of Chee village, who had been arrested. The explosive was enough to make more than 75 powerful improvised explosive devices (IED) which could have caused much damage to life and property. He said the explosive could have been used to target security convoys top officials of the state government and security officers on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway and South Kashmir. An official spokesman said the body of a LeT Militant Abu Dindyan was found at Baba Muqam in the frontier district of Kupwara today. Security personnel arrested a militant and seized two hand grenades. Two posters of the Hizbul Mujahideen were seized from his possession. Militants set on fire the house of Abdul Rehman Najar at Kawoosa in Badgam
district late last night. JAMMU: A Pakistani infiltrator was apprehended by the Border Security Force in the Akhnoor sub-sector near here. He was identified as Zahoor Ahmad (20) of Sirkhuda in Sialkot, Pakistan. Zahoor was taken into custody by a BSF patrol near the Nikowal BSF outpost.
— UNI |
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Colourful start to film festival
Srinagar, November 20 The classic Indian movie evoked a tremendous response from the audience. Senior civil and paramilitary officers besides a galaxy of film-makers, intellectuals and writers watched the movie at Broadway Cinema. Filmmaker Satyajit Ray’s critically acclaimed Bengali film “Agantuk” and Tituparno Ghosh’s “Bariwali” and several hit movies of the mainstream cinema form part of the schedule of the weeklong festival organised by the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in collaboration with the Department of Information and Public Relations. Six award-winning Iranian movies are being screened over the next seven days at Broadway and Neelam Cinemas in the summer capital of the state. Three shows will be held everyday at both theatres. Films like “Kashmir Ki Kali,” “Laat Saheb,” “Professor,” “Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon,” “Dil Deke Dekho” and “Mere Mehboob,” which had been great hits in the sixties, besides new-generation movies like “Chandni,” “Dil Chahata Hai” and “Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam” have been included for the screening. Iranian films being screened in the foreign segment include Mohsen Makmalbaf’s “The Actor” and “Once Upon a Time Cinema,” Abbas Kairostami’s “Close Up” and “Where Is My Friend’s Home?,” besides “Cease Feud” and “Sara”. The seven-day festival was inaugurated by Financial Commissioner Vijay Bakaya on behalf of the Chief Minister. Divisional Commissioner (Kashmir) Khursheed Ahmad Ganai was also present on this occasion.
— UNI |
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BJP dharna against Kanchi seer’s arrest
Jammu, November 20 The president of the state unit of the BJP, Prof, Nirmal Singh, led the protest. Mr Manohar Lal, BJP leader, alleged that the manner of arrest of the Shankaracharya and his police remand was aimed at lowering the prestige of the math. Addressing the protesters, Dr Nirmal Singh said it was shameful on the part of the DMK and the AIDMK to hail the arrest of the Shankaracharya to “garner non-brahimin votes.” The complicity of the Congress-led UPA government was evident. This unprecedented action to “humiliate” the Hindus had been initiated for political gains alone, he said. |
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In video: First feature film
festival begins in Srinagar.(
