Jammu, May 11
The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has announced the boycott of the tomorrow’s crucial all-party meeting that has been convened at Srinagar by Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad to discuss the contentious issues of increasing the number of the Assembly seats by 25 per cent and granting citizenship rights to the West Pakistani refugees.

The meeting has been convened with a view to evolve a consensus on these issues and also delimitation of the Assembly constituencies.

The working committee of the NCP that met here today under the chairmanship of Randhir Singh, state chief of the party, described the increase of the Assembly seats as an “unconstitutional” exercise with “bias” against the Jammu and Ladakh regions.

The NCP demanded that instead of arbitrarily increasing the Assembly seats, the government should set up a proper delimitation commission. The Assembly and Lok Sabha seats should be reorganised keeping in view the population and geographical area of the three regions of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh.

Randhir Singh pointed out that the number of Assembly and Parliamentary seats in the Kashmir valley, which was smaller in area and population, was more than the Jammu division, which was bigger in size and population.

With the Jammu-based political parties expressing annoyance with Azad’s move, consensus is likely to elude tomorrow’s meeting.

These issues already eluded a consensus in the Assembly, when a Bill was introduced for the purpose of increasing 25 per cent seats. The government first introduced the Bill, but later withdrew it.

However, a private member, Harshdev Singh’s Bill, Panthers Party, seeking to increase the number of seats from the existing 87 to 140 was rejected in the house. Besides, as many as 25 seats have been kept vacant for Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK). Delimitation of the Assembly constituencies was overdue in the state.

The ruling Congress had in its election manifesto promised the refugees that steps would be taken towards their permanent resettlement. The West Pakistani refugees here face a peculiar dilemma of not having citizenship rights of J&K. They can vote for the Lok Sabha elections, but not for the state Assembly. 

Udhampur, May 11
Resentment is brewing among residents of far-flung areas of the Udhampur and Doda districts, as work on various roads has been going on at a snail’s pace.

Foundation stones of these projects were laid with a promise to minimise hardships of people, but delay in their completion has further compounded the woes of locals.

Shockingly, on the one hand, the coalition regime of Jammu and Kashmir has been repeatedly wooing tourists to new destinations, on the other hand authorities seem to be non serious towards creating infrastructure in these areas.

Bhaderwah, also known as ‘Mini Kashmir’, is projected as an emerging tourist destination to attract locals as well as foreign tourists. As it is the home constituency of Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, huge funds are being pumped to popularise the valley, but nothing serious has been done so far.

Last year, after the first Bhaderwah festival, widening of 30 km of the Bhaderwah-Doda road was started and the project was supposed to be completed in a year. Eleven months have been passed, but only 10 per cent work has been done.

Similar is the story of the project, which was started two years back, to connect the famous pilgrim-centre Sudhamahadev with the Jammu-Srinagar national highway through Chennai. As it was projected that the construction of the road will boost tourism in this backward area, the Asian Development Bank came forward to fund the project, which was inaugurated in June 2005. As per the terms and conditions, the project should have been completed in two years, but only 15 per cent work has been done after 23 months.

Srinagar, May 11
The Jammu and Kashmir government has decided to have separate directors for the industry of the Kashmir and Jammu divisions to ensure a balanced growth and for the development of the industries.

Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad announced this on the inauguration of the 53rd Industrial and Handicrafts Exhibition at Kashmir Haat, here, last evening.

He said holding of industrial and handicrafts exhibitions played a vital role in enhancing trade relations between local entrepreneurs and those from outside the state besides providing opportunity to the visitors and tourists to know about the products manufactured in the state. These exhibitions also help to boost marketing through visiting tourists and provide amusement and entertainment to the people.

Azad said it was for this reason, he had suggested last year for holding these exhibitions in Srinagar and Jammu twice in the season instead of once, as was the practice in the past.

He emphasised the need for keeping the visitors informed about the time and venue of such exhibitions so that they can visit, purchase items of their interests and convey the message to the people in their states.

Thirty stalls have been installed at the exhibition by local entrepreneurs, apart from the stalls installed by the various government departments, including handicrafts, horticulture, agriculture, industries, horticulture, handlooms, information and animal and sheep husbandry.

Jammu, May 11
Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad today inaugurated another girls’ hostel in the University of Jammu.

The state of art hostel has 35 rooms with a modern kitchen and dining hall. This is the third hostel for girls on the campus.

Azad emphasised the need for the students to inculcate moral values that were very important for the country. He said the students on the campus should develop moral values for a bright career ahead. — TNS