J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Separatist leaders keen to visit
quake-hit areas in Pak
Jammu, October 26
After the JKLF chief, Mohammad Yasin Malik, visited earthquake-affected areas in Pakistan and occupied Kashmir recently, the race is on among Kashmiri separatist leaders for crossing the border for an on-the-spot assessment of the situation.

Separatists call for ‘black day’
Srinagar, October 26
Various separatist political and militant organisations have called for a general strike tomorrow as a mark of protest and observe the day as “black day” when the Army landed in Kashmir on this day in 1947.

Strong aftershock in J&K
Srinagar, October 26
A strong aftershock rocked Jammu and Kashmir today but no damage or casualty was reported. The earthquake, measuring 5.5 on the Richter scale, was recorded at 7.12 am, the Met Department said.

Sonia may visit quake-hit areas tomorrow

‘Darbar move’ is on schedule
Srinagar, October 26
The Civil Secretariat and related government offices will close here tomorrow to reopen in the winter capital
— Jammu — on November 7.

Dogri writers for state cultural policy
Jammu, October 26
The need for writing stage-worthy literature in Dogri, which was recently included in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, has been stressed at a five-day workshop for playwrights under way here.

Separatist leaders keen to visit quake-hit areas in Pak
Our correspondent

Jammu, October 26
After the JKLF chief, Mohammad Yasin Malik, visited earthquake-affected areas in Pakistan and occupied Kashmir recently, the race is on among Kashmiri separatist leaders for crossing the border for an on-the-spot assessment of the situation.

When the All-Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC) leadership announced its plan of sending a team to Pakistan and occupied Kashmir, its main rival Syed Ali Shah Geelani, who heads a rival Hurriyat conference, declared that he, along with 16 party leaders, will visit Pakistan and occupied Kashmir for distributing relief material to the tremor-hit. Mr Geelani has applied for passport and permission for visiting Pakistan.

The president of the National Front, Mr Nayeem Khan, in an attempt to score a point over other separatists, marched from Srinagar, along with 15 party activists yesterday to cross the border. He, however, was arrested along with his party colleagues at Mirgund, about 20 km north of the summer capital.

The race is the result of two considerations. First, the leaders want to earn goodwill of their brethren across the border.

Secondly, they are upset over the way the Pakistan Government, especially President Parvez Musharraf, granted recognition to the APHC when its leaders visited Pakistan three months ago. Now they wish to meet political leaders in Pakistan so as to secure some recognition.

Syed Ali Shah Geelani had criticised Islamabad for according preference to trade and travel instead of discussing the Kashmir issue with India. He had repeatedly stated that he would not visit Pakistan.

As Mr Geelani has now realised that he has been isolated, both by Delhi and Islamabad, he thinks it prudent to visit Pakistan and mend fences with political leaders, including those belonging to the ruling party.

The sources said Mr Geelani and others had been tempted by the welcome Mohammad Yasin Malik had been given in Pakistan and occupied Kashmir.

Separatists call for ‘black day’
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, October 26
Various separatist political and militant organisations have called for a general strike tomorrow as a mark of protest and observe the day as “black day” when the Army landed in Kashmir on this day in 1947. These organisations include the Hizbul Mujahideen and Democratic Freedom Party (DFP). Several other separatist organisations have extended support to the call.

Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh arrived on a two-day visit here today to commemorate the sacrifices made by the infantry from the Sikh Regiment, who were among the first batch of the troops to reach here to stop the advance of Pakistani raiders on the outskirts of Srinagar. He also visited the Ibadat-e-Shahadat museum, a defence spokesman said. He also visited the Sikh Regiment at Lokut Bangas, near Chowkibal.

During his stay, Capt Amarinder Singh would be meeting the J&K Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, and the Governor, Lt-Gen S.K. Sinha (retd).

Strong aftershock in J&K

Srinagar, October 26
A strong aftershock rocked Jammu and Kashmir today but no damage or casualty was reported. The earthquake, measuring 5.5 on the Richter scale, was recorded at 7.12 am, the Met Department said.

Its epicentre was close to Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, which was also the origin of the massive quake on October 8 that killed thousands of people in India and Pakistan.

Several aftershocks have hit the region since then. — PTI

Sonia may visit quake-hit areas tomorrow

Jammu, October 26
Congress President Sonia Gandhi is likely to visit the quake-hit areas in Jammu and Kashmir again on October 28 and monitor the progress of relief and rehabilitation there.

“Ms Sonia Gandhi is likely to visit Teetwal, Tangdar, Uri and Poonch in Jammu and Kashmir on October 28 to monitor the progress of relief and rehabilitation of the affected people till now,” Congress sources said here.

Ms Gandhi is scheduled to distribute relief among people in the affected areas.

The Congress has further sent over 100 truckloads of relief material which would reach these places tomorrow. — PTI

‘Darbar move’ is on schedule

Srinagar, October 26
The Civil Secretariat and related government offices will close here tomorrow to reopen in the winter capital — Jammu — on November 7.

The Jammu and Kashmir Government has ruled out any delay in the biannual “darbar move”, saying it would take place as per schedule on October 27.

Tomorrow is the last working day in the Civil Secretariat here and other offices which come under ‘darbar move’.

The state government has finalised all arrangements to shift the offices from the summer capital to Jammu.

Principal Secretary, General Administration Department (GAD), Naeem Akhtar said there was no change in the schedule of shifting the Civil Secretariat and the related offices from Srinagar to the winter capital of Jammu.

“The offices will close here on October 27 and reopen in Jammu on November 7. There is absolutely no change in the Darbar Move schedule,” he added.

Mr Akhtar said the advance parties had already reached Jammu.

However, he said the employees of the Kashmir division could avail two days of casual leave on November 7 and 8 in view of Eid-ul-Fitr. — UNI

Legislative Council seat goes to PDP
Tribune News Service

Srinagar October 26
Mr Nizam-ud-din Bhat of the PDP was elected as member of the Legislative Council, polling for which was held on Sunday last. The electorate comprised the members of various local bodies of Kashmir Division, for which elections had been held after a gap of 27 years early this year.

Mr Bhat, who secured 198 votes, defeated Chowdhary Mohammad Ramzan of the National Conference by a margin of 51 votes.

Dogri writers for state cultural policy
Tribune News Service

Jammu, October 26
The need for writing stage-worthy literature in Dogri, which was recently included in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, has been stressed at a five-day workshop for playwrights under way here.

It has been organised by the Sahitya Akademi and the Dogri Sanstha. Several prominent and budding Dogri writers are participating in the workshop.

According to Dr Lalit Mangotra, president of the Dogri Sanstha, prominent short-story writers and theatre artistes at the workshop are trying to find a solution to the problem of very little stage-worthy Dogri plays

He expressed anguish over the lack of a state cultural policy. Culture has been put on the backburner and everything was being done on an ad hoc manner, he said.

Teachers of Dogri are not being appointed in schools whereas the language has been introduced at college and university levels. Around 200 students of a government school at Akhnoor, desiring to opt Dogri, opted for Sanskrit as the government failed to appoint a teacher of Dogri, he added.

He said the Academy of Art, Culture and Languages had also failed to take effective steps for promoting Dogri.

The writers resented the shabby treatment the Doordarshan was giving to the Dogri culture and literature.