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Governor hails thaw in Indo-Pak relations
Rs 100 cr sought for relief operations
IAF planes provide relief material in valley
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Rs 1 lakh ex gratia for avalanche victims
Bullet scars too deep for them to reap bus link benefits
Sonia to visit J&K today
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Governor hails thaw in Indo-Pak relations
Jammu, February 22 He said the relationship between India and Pakistan, which has a direct bearing on the situation in the state, was thawing. He said the composite dialogue process and the confidence-building measures would create an environment for the two countries to free themselves from the prejudices of the past. Public yearning for peace on both sides is increasing which would give impetus to the lasting peace and harmony in the sub-continent. He described the decision to reopen the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road as “historic” and a “landmark” step that would help in promoting peace and normalising relationship between the two neighbouring countries and hopefully lead to opening of the Suchetgarh-Sialkot, Kargil-Askardu and other road links also. The people want the hostilities to melt and peace and brotherhood to be strengthened. He said the state government would urge the Center that the confidence building measures that have already been proposed to Pakistan should stress among other things, easing of travel restrictions, organising sports events, exchange programmes for students, meetings between legislators and free flow of information. The people-to-people contact, though incipient at this stage, will grow in course of time and demolish numerous myths and stereotype images that we have of each other, he added. On terrorism, General Sinha said the state government had consistently been maintaining that militancy could not be curbed by military might alone and it needs to be combated on many fronts, including political and economic. This approach had been endorsed by the Centre as well and was reflected in its decision to reduce the presence of armed forces in the state. The new surrender-cum-rehabilitation policy has succeeded in motivating more local militants to surrender. In response to the changing situation, the government has released 209 detainees after getting clearance from the screening committee, he added. The Governor urged the security forces to avoid collateral damage while carrying out anti-militancy operations. The atmosphere of peace and security was reflected in the free and fair manner in which the elections were recently held. In spite of the militants’ threats, people participated in the electoral process enthusiastically and the voters’ turnout was as high as 89 per cent at some places, he added. He said the government was determined to resettle Kashmiri Pandits in the valley to preserve the pluralistic ethos of the state. Construction of cluster accommodation for them had been initiated at Sheikhopra, Budgam and Harang. While rejecting the protests of traders against VAT, the Governor said the government would introduce the new system from April 1. While elaborating on various development schemes that have been taken up by the state government, the Governor said highest priority was being accorded to the power sector. The government was committed to reform and restructure the sector to make it financially self-sustaining. Later, when the House assembled, obituary references were made to P.V.Narsmha Rao, Syed Mir Qasim, Abdul Qayoom, Sadar Ali Beg, Sonuallah, Ghulam Ahmed Bhat, Thakur Rajinder Singh and Chuni Lal Khajuria. |
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Rs 100 cr sought for relief operations
Jammu, February 22 According to the Relief and Rehabilitation Minister, Mohammad Hakim Yaseen, since the state government faced financial stringency, we have requested the Centre to release Rs 100 crore as the first instalment so that we can carry out relief operations. The state authorities have informed the Centre that many electricity towers and transmission lines in several areas have been uprooted and snapped under snow, requiring sufficient amount of money for repair. Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, has refuted the allegation levelled by the leader of the Opposition in the Assembly that the state government had failed to carry out immediate rescue and relief operations in areas affected by avalanches. The Mufti told media persons here today that after the rescue and relief operations were completed, a special team of revenue and other agencies would carry out a survey of the affected areas for assessing loss to the government and private property. The same report would be submitted to the Centre for financial assistance.
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IAF planes provide relief material in valley
Jammu, February 22 The operation was continuing and the total number of sorties was expected to reach around 80 by this evening, Station Commander of the Jammu Air Force Station, Group Captain Radha Krishnan Shankar, told TNS today. He said 40 tonnes of essential commodities, including fresh vegetables and milk, were carried to the valley yesterday. Over 2000 defence and security personnel were also flown between here and Srinagar last night. The IAF helicopters flew over the snow-hit areas of Kishtwar this morning and dropped blankets and foodstuff for the affected people. Gp Capt Shankar said about 28,000 troops had been flown across the Banihal pass by the IAF since last month. Transport aircraft, including IL-76 an AN-32, from the Chandigarh Air Force Station have reached here to provide succour to the beleaguered population of the valley. Helicopters of the local air force station were also engaged in providing relief. About 15,000 troops, casualties and stranded persons have been airlifted during the operations that started in the first week of this month.
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Rs 1 lakh ex gratia for avalanche victims
Jammu, February 22 He said efforts were being made to reach the worst-affected area of Kund in the Anantnag district which was under 15 feet of snow. He said 60 deaths had been confirmed in the Nigeenpora village near Qazigund where the police had managed to reach after braving the inclement weather for eight hours. The damaged electric towers at Banihal could not be repaired, as the engineers could not reach there because of snow. Avalanche free areas would be identified to rehabilitate those whose houses were buried under snow. Standing crops were badly damaged in certain areas. |
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Bullet scars too deep for them Suchetgarh Border Post (R.S. Pura-Jammu),
February 22 The proposed Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus does not enthuse the residents of this village to demand a similar rail link between this village and Sialkot. This is despite the fact that the elders of this village used to board the Jammu-Sialkot train as the fare was just 25 paise before Partition. Experts say this is, perhaps, the only place in Jammu and Kashmir which could benefit the most from a rail link between Jammu and Sialkot, which is just 11 km from the village. The skepticism of the villagers who had been under Pakistani fire and shelling has been so damaging that at least one member of each of the 365 families has got bullet injuries. But just 5 km away from the village, the residents of Ranbir Singh (RS) Pura see a great business opportunity in the rail link with Sialkot. The elders there are nostalgic about crossing the international border. They are keen to see how Pakistan looks like and how the people of Pakistan behave with their immediate and cultural neighbours. The infrastructure for a train link exists in this area. The old railway station at this village is now used as a Border Security Post. The milestone at the border post-cum-octroi post reads: “Sialkot 11 km and Lahore 141 km.” The border post was earlier known as the octroi post of the railways. The post now bears signs of Pakistani shelling with bullet marks on the building and even on the gates on the Zero line. If the two countries decide to open the rail link, it would take only a couple of months to re-lay the tracks. The Sialkot-Jammu route was so popular that there are several inns built on the route by the Maharaja of Kashmir. Before partition, this route was generally covered astride horses. One of the elders in the village, Jagatram, who turned 70, fondly remembers the days when he used to take wheat and rice to Sialkot and bring back from Pakistan ‘chana daal’. The journey cost 25 paise those days. As Jagtaram was recalling those journeys, a UN vehicle crossed the Pakistani post and entered India for buying provisions from the Raghunath Temple market in Jammu. People here feel that if the border is opened, the Jammu market will have a great demand from the Sialkot region. Mr Chhajju Lal of R.S. Pura expresses the same sentiment saying he had been to a famous gurdwara in Sialkot region twice and if the rail link is re-established, he will be the first to board the train to make a third trip to the gurdwara. He recalled that the road used to be good when he was young. However, a 90-year-old mason says he will not go to Pakistan. He is angry at the constant shelling that had affected his cultivation. Ramesh Lal, whose farm adjoins that of a Pakistani, says he has not even talked to the Pakistani farmer even once as the security forces see such a gesture as unfriendly. Ms Sansaro Devi, who got a bullet on her right leg, on January 26, 2003, showed this reporter hundreds of used cartridges that were showered on her house and described how her life was saved by the soldiers. |
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Sonia to visit J&K today
Jammu, February 22 Accompanied by Chief Minister, Mufti Sayeed and Deputy Chief Minister Mangat Ram Sharma, Ms Gandhi would fly to Qazigund, Anantnag and Poonch where more than 140 persons have so far died due to unprecedented avalanches. She would also review the situation at a top-level meeting here and address mediapersons.
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