J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Qazi’s resignation rejected
Srinagar, September 5
Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has rejected the resignation tendered by housing minister Qazi Mohammad Afzal, a senior PDP leader, who had been relieved of the Forest and Environment portfolio on Sunday.

Teachers’ demands go unheard

Srinagar, September 5 A mega event organised on the occasion of Teachers’ Day here today turned out to be a disappointment for teachers with their demands hanging in the balance. Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, however, called upon the teachers to be social reformists.

Teachers from Jammu and Kashmir listen to Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad during the Teachers’ Day celebrations at Sher-e-Kashmir Park in Srinagar on Wednesday.— Tribune photo by Mohd Amin War

Army chief on farewell visit
Srinagar, September 5
Chief of the Army Staff Gen J.J. Singh arrived here today on a two-day farewell visit to the Kashmir valley. He was received by Lieut- Gen H.S. Panag, GOC-in-C Northern Command and Lieut-Gen A.S. Sekhon, GOC, HQ 15 Corps on his arrival at the BB Cantt.

BSNL to recompense Rs 55,000 to lawyer
Jammu, September 5
The J&K State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission today ordered Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) to pay a compensation of Rs 55,000 to a local lawyer, K.N.Sapolia, whose telephone remained non-functional for six months.

Qazi’s resignation rejected
Ehsan Fazili
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, September 5
Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has rejected the resignation tendered by housing minister Qazi Mohammad Afzal, a senior PDP leader, who had been relieved of the Forest and Environment portfolio on Sunday.

“Since I do not find it a fault on your part, I find no reasons to accept your resignation”, the Chief Minister said in his letter to Afzal.

The Chief minister expressed surprise over Qazi’s resignation from the council of ministers. Recalling his meetings with the minister, Azad stated that Qazi himself had spoken to him about the conduct of some officers of the forest department and the state forest corporation (SFC).

“I had discussed this matter with you before and I had advised you to let me keep this portfolio with me for some time to clear the mess and then return it to you after some time. You had gladly agreed to this arrangement. Since the entire exercise was done after taking you into confidence and action has been taken with your consent, I don’t know what happened during the past 24 hours to make you change your mind”, the Chief Minister said in his letter.

Meanwhile, senior Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader and minister for finance and planning Tariq Hameed Karra has expressed dismay and anguish over the media reports alleging his involvement in a timber scam.

In a statement from London, where Karra has gone as a part of a delegation of the finance ministers from various states of the country, Karra said he had put his objections on record on the file disposed by him as the finance minister last month. This had been in connection with the constitution of a committee for exploring the possibility of importing timber by the state forest corporation, he added.

He said on his return to Srinagar, he would place all the facts before the public and file a defamatory suit against the news agency that floated the news item yesterday. 

Teachers’ demands go unheard
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, September 5
A mega event organised on the occasion of Teachers’ Day here today turned out to be a disappointment for teachers with their demands hanging in the balance. Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, however, called upon the teachers to be social reformists and take up the responsibility of their profession.

Addressing the massive rally here, the Chief Minister reminded the teachers of their role as architects of the society and said at a time when values were losing meaning they would have to come forward and prove true to their occupation. He said teachers were not merely government officials concerned with their salary, but were charged with the responsibility of developing human resource and shaping the future of the country.

The Chief Minister highlighted the need to impart value based education to students, saying that with improving literacy and living standards “our society is witnessing a corresponding degradation in the value system.” He said this indicated that there was something wrong with the way we were educating our children. However, he said he was encouraged by the support extended by the teachers’ association leaders and participating teachers in his war against corruption.

However, the teachers drawn from distant parts of the valley were disappointed for the government had allegedly failed to fulfill their demands.

“All, teachers are informed to attend the teachers day which is being held at Sher-e-Kashmir Park, Srinagar without fail. Matter may be most urgent. Defaulters will be personally responsible for consequences”, a directive from Kupwara said.

The Chief Minister felicitated teachers on the occasion.

Army chief on farewell visit
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, September 5
Chief of the Army Staff Gen J.J. Singh arrived here today on a two-day farewell visit to the Kashmir valley. He was received by Lieut- Gen H.S. Panag, GOC-in-C Northern Command and Lieut-Gen A.S. Sekhon, GOC, HQ 15 Corps on his arrival at the BB Cantt.

On his arrival General Singh called on Chief Minister Gulam Nabi Azad and discussed various issues pertaining to security forces in the valley. Besides addressing all officers at the BB Cantt, he will interact with troops of the 79 Mountain Brigade and the 9 Maratha LI which he had commanded during the peak of militancy.

General Singh, who took over on February 1, 2005, has been closely associated with the Kashmiri people. He played a leading role in rehabilitation of the earthquake victims, which struck on October 8, 2005, a defence spokesman here said.

The General visited the valley many times to supervise the relief and rehabilitation work undertaken by the Army.

His personal interest in Operation Raahat brought succour to thousands of affected families. Under his guidance, the Army adopted villages of Churunda in Uri and Tithwal in Kupwara. They have been developed into model villages reflecting the futuristic vision of the General. 

BSNL to recompense Rs 55,000 to lawyer

Jammu, September 5
The J&K State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission today ordered Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) to pay a compensation of Rs 55,000 to a local lawyer, K.N.Sapolia, whose telephone remained non-functional for six months.

Justice G.D.Sharma, chairman of the commission, and Khalid Hussain, a member, ordered BSNL to pay the compensation within two months failing which interest at the rate of 9 per cent per annum shall be payable.

The commission stated that the amount includes Rs 20,000 towards the mental and physical agony of the complainant, Rs 30,000 as compensation and Rs 5,000 as cost of litigation. — TNS