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Guru’s Parkash Utsav draws sea of humanity
Traffic takes a hit
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Democratic temper must to resolve Kashmir issue: FM
Govt turns ‘blind eye’ to couple’s dying son
Bias against Jammu: Panthers to take govt head-on
Azad goes for ministerial reshuffle
25 more reservoirs to augment water supply
Cold stat: Don’t walk on Dal
Fine for speaking local languages ?
Awareness schemes fail to take off
R-Day Function
Militants abduct woman
1 dead, 2 hurt in road accidents
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Guru’s Parkash Utsav draws sea of humanity
Jammu, January 3 The procession has been a regular feature in Jammu for the past many decades in which thousands of people participate. The procession started early morning from Chand Kaur Gurdwara where it was flagged off by the minister for higher education, Gulchain Singh Charak. It culminated at Gurdwara Singh Sabha, Nanak Nagar, Jammu. People sang religious hymns and the slogan of “Bole so nihal, sat sri akal” and “Raaj karega Khalsa” echoed in the air. “This is a tradition that we organise a procession from the memorial of Gurdwara Chand Kaur to Gurdwara Singh Sabha, in which people from all walks of life participate,” said Preetam Singh of Nanak Nagar, Jammu. Students from various educational institutions also participated in the procession. “Every year students from various schools participate in the event and perform cultural programmes wherever the procession stops,” said Preetam Singh. The main attraction of the event was the decorated Palanquin on which Guru Granth Sahib was placed followed by the Panj Pyaras (The Beloved Five). People in large numbers participated in the procession and showed respect to Guru Granth Sahib amidst singing of religious hymns. “Guru Granth Sahib is a holy book not only for the Sikhs but for people of various other communities. People from all walks of life have shown their regard and respect towards Guru Granth Sahib. This procession is a perfect example of communal harmony in the region,” said General Singh, a resident of R.S. Pura, Jammu. Many people from far-off areas had also arrived here to participate in the procession. |
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Traffic takes a hit
Jammu, January 3 Commuters had to face various hardships as the traffic inflow to the city had to be stopped for various hours. “ The traffic police completely failed to control the flow of the traffic and stopped all vehicles from entering into the city. This should not have been done and instead they should have diverted the traffic on to other routes,” said Manoj Kumar, a resident of Satwari. Commuters had to face various hardships as no alternative routes were provided to vehicles. “I was not able to reach my office in time, as the police stopped my vehicle from entering into the city without providing an alternative route for me to reach the office,” said Krishan Manotra, an employee at the State Bank of India. “What if an emergency takes place and somebody has to be shifted to a hospital? The police should have made arrangements so that people are not forced to suffer, said Parveen Sharma, a resident of Gandhi Nagar in Jammu. |
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Democratic temper must to resolve Kashmir issue: FM
Srinagar, January 3 Addressing a public meeting near here today, the minister said the PDP had created a space for the peaceful resolution of the Kashmir issue by piloting an achievable resolution formula addressing just concerns of all the parties. The party had not only put the Kashmir issue in a specific and rational political and economic context, but had also laid strong foundations for its peaceful resolution in the emerging scenario of the regional and global political realities, he said. The PDP leader, who also holds housing and urban development portfolios, said the party had contributed a great deal towards creating conducive environment in the sub-continent, particularly within the state, for a realistic and just resolution of the Kashmir issue. “The party, after putting Kashmir resolution on the government agenda, will not only continue but even escalate and expand its endeavors to mobilise public opinion for undertaking greater confidence building measures to reach a substantial solution of the problem,” he said. The minister added that right from its inception, the PDP, had advocated an end to violent and militant means for resolving the problem and campaigned for a process of dialogue and engagement for the peaceful settlement of the issue. “Unlike the traditional political class, who kept on changing their ideologies and stances to suit their interests, PDP leadership pursued its Kashmir-resolution agenda with great degree of consistency and wisdom and never allowed dilution of its agenda even while in power,” the leader rued. The then Chief Minister and the PDP Patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed even moved a resolution in the state legislature emphasising how the Indo-Pak dialogue and reconciliation process was vital for the peaceful resolution of the Kashmir issue, he said. He added the PDP leadership had been unequivocally speaking about the inevitability of resolving the Kashmir issue peacefully at various forums, both within and outside the state. Karra said, the PDP, as a partner of the coalition government, has pursued the goals and objectives set in the common minimum programme for finding a peaceful resolution to the problem of the state. “The PDP strongly believes that any solution to the problems of Jammu and Kashmir can only be found through democratic and political means and the use of force is no substitute for a policy of engagement and dialogue,” he commented. Karra added that the party would, with added dedication, pursue its agenda of encouraging the course of dialogue and reconciliation and translate its philosophy of healing touch into concrete measures for the general relief and betterment of the people who have suffered a lot because of the turmoil. The PDP leader said history has offered a momentous opportunity to India and Pakistan to make peace in Jammu and Kashmir and march ahead on the path of economic and social progress. He expressed hope that the leadership of the two countries recognised this historic reality and that the most crucial ingredient the leadership has to exhibit now. |
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Govt turns ‘blind eye’ to couple’s dying son
Jammu, January 3 Vipul Kaul (18) has been suffering from cryptoriturism, pan-hypopituratism, hypopituratism, thyroid, mental illness seizure, adunal and growth hormone deficiency. Vipin’s father, Ashok Kaul, a class IV employee of the Stores and Procurement Department told The Tribune that the state government had forwarded another letter expressing its inability to bear the medical expense for Vipin’s treatment. “After directions from the State Human Rights Commission, the then President of India, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and Union Ministry of Home Affairs, the state government failed to evoke a positive response, said Usha Kaul, Vipul’s mother. She said she had also written to the Chief Justice of India on August 29, 2007. Ashok added, “However, even the apex court’s intervention has failed to convince this government.” Finance Department’s letter vide number A/12(73)XXI-1024 dated December 27, 2007 reads, “This is with reference to your representation to the Supreme Court of India regarding treatment of your son suffering from hormone-deficiency disease.” “In this connection, the undersigned is directed to convey that the case could not be considered under the scheme of medical reimbursement under the J&K Medical Attendance/Allowanced Rules, 1990, and has been sent to the Medical Aid Committee for consideration at their end,” it adds. Ashok said, “If the Supreme Court’s directions have no say in this state then should I bring an order from Pakistan’s apex court?” Responding to a query, he said, “Vipul’s mother had dispatched a letter to the apex court and the latter in turn might have asked the state government to do the needful but this is what they have done.” “Time is running out and with each passing day my son moves closer to the jaws of death,” he said. The ailing boy needs Rs 20 lakh - an estimate prepared by doctors at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) New Delhi, for his fifth and last surgery. The couple has already spent nearly Rs 14 lakh on his treatment after the money was sanctioned in instalments by the erstwhile National Conference government. |
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Bias against Jammu: Panthers to take govt head-on
Udhampur, January 3 Addressing a press conference here today, Panthers Party leader and MLA Udhampur Balwant Singh Mankotia said, “We will not allow this dispensation to discriminate with Jammu people. In the coming Assembly session we would avail all opportunities to expose anti-Jammu attitude of the ruling coalition.” He said despite assurances, the government has not take any step to issue Dogra certificate and to remove disparities with the salaries of PHE employees. He recalled that during the last Assembly session, the state government had promised to remove these disparities but nothing has been done so far. “It is ironical that employees of Jammu have been getting just Rs 500 per month but their counterparts in Kashmir valley getting Rs 2,100 on same posts and positions,” he said, adding, “This disparity speaks about exploitive mentality of the ruling elites.” He further disclosed that issue of delimitation would also be forcefully taken up in the Assembly. |
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Azad goes for ministerial reshuffle
Jammu, January 3 Among the the two newly appointed ministers Mula Ram has been given the ministry of Rural Development and Panchayat, while Abdula Gani Vakil has got Social Welfare. The minister of state Gharu Ram has been given the charge of Housing and Urban Development, Agriculture, Cooperatives and R&B, while G.M. Saroori gets Forests, CAPD, Tourism, School Education and Social Welfare. Nowang Rigzin Jora has been appointed the minister for industries and commerce, while being relieved of the charge of power. Babu Singh has been appointed minister for power with independent charge. Gulchain Singh Charak has been relieved of the Roads and Buildings portfolio and made minister for higher education. R & B has been given to Jugal Kishore. Haji Nissar Ali has been appointed the minister for Technical Education and Youth Services and Sports. |
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25 more reservoirs to augment water supply
Jammu, January 3 Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA) would soon take up the construction work, said Mangat Ram Sharma, minister for health and medical education. The minister was speaking after inspecting the construction work of overhead tank in Krishna Nagar here today. Being constructed by the ERA, the overhead tank work comes at a cost of Rs 60 lakh and has a storage capacity of 1 lakh gallons that would serve the Krishna Nagar locality and other areas adjoining the canal road on its completion. Sharma disclosed that three multipurpose community halls would also be constructed in his assembly segment, Jammu West, one each at Sarwal, Dogra hall and Janipora localities. |
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Cold stat: Don’t walk on Dal
Srinagar, January 3 The night temperature recorded in Srinagar city was minus seven degrees Celsius. Other parts of the valley also recorded temperatures of identical nature, an official of the meteorological department said. He said Pahalgam recorded minus 6.8 degrees Celsius while North Kashmir border district of Kupwara saw the mercury dipping to 5.3 degrees below the freezing point. Tuesday night was the coldest this winter at minus 7.4 degrees Celsius, which is a record for the past 20 years. The official said the night temperature was more than five degrees below normal for this part of the year. However, the day temperature in the valley was five degrees above normal at 10.1 degrees Celsius, he said. The unusual day and night temperatures in the valley have caused an extended dry spell due to which residents have been suffering from many weather-related ailments like soar throat, cough, common cold and fever. The sharp dip in minimum temperature has resulted in freezing of the Dal Lake. Five to six inches thick layer of ice had frozen along the banks of the lake while the interiors of the lake also froze but the thickness of the ice was much lesser. There were also reports of frozen taps and water bodies from several parts of the valley including the city. The police has warned people against walking on the layer of ice in the Dal Lake. — PTI |
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Fine for speaking local languages ?
Rajouri, January 3 Established to provide quality education to the students of the twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch, though the Army goodwill Public School (AGPS), Rajouri (from 6th to 11th standard), is serving its purpose, but the reports that students are penalised for speaking local languages on the campus, has irked not only the parents of the students but has not gone well with the certain cultural groups. The students enrolled in this school speak Pahari and Gojri languages, besides they also speak languages like Urdu and Hindi. Sources in AGPS revealed that school administration with a view to preventing the students from speaking local languages has started a practice of imposing fine of up to Rs 100. The fine is imposed on the student found speaking local language on the school campus, they added. Javed Rahi, national secretary, Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation (TRCF), said the Army should desist from making such attempts. "By preventing students from speaking local languages, they are not spreading goodwill but they are earning bad reputation". A few months back, responding to the strong exception taken by some locals about the non-inclusion of local cultural item during the inauguration function of AGPS on September last year, Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad had stressed on the school management to promote local culture and ethos amongst the students. "We have institutions in other parts of the world and we have good institutions in England and America. So while we would like our boys to compete the at international and national level, I would like that our children shouldn't forget our culture and ethos", Azad had said. Denying the allegations that students are fined for speaking local languages on the campus, Kamal Zamani, Principal, Army Goodwill Public School said "These are all
rumours". |
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Awareness schemes fail to take off
Udhampur, January 3 “What to say of creating awareness among people. We ourselves are at the verge of starvation,” said a junior health inspector in Majalata tehsil of Udhampur on the condition of anonymity. The official rued that lakhs of rupees had been spent by the department in organising health camps to appease the “political bosses” but regretted that the higher-ups were not sensitive to their problems. Chief medical officer (CMO) Dr B.B. Sharma admitted that salaries for the field staff had not been released for months. “Actually these schemes were earlier started under the Plan Sector but the same has been transferred to the Non-plan sector and budget has been released for these programmes,” Dr Sharma said. He assured that the staff would receive their salary shortly. Earlier, the authorities had initiated many programmes to minimise infant mortality and mother mortality in the far-flung belt. Udhampur emerged as the first district in Jammu division to implement such “revolutionary”schemes with the active involvement of locals. Village sanitary and health committees comprising panchayat members and officials of other related departments were constituted at the panchayat-level to monitor these schemes. For the effective implementation of these schemes, lady health visitors, female multipurpose health workers and junior health inspectors were appointed at the village-level. Initially these schemes yielded positive results but for the last seven months, activities came to a standstill. |
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R-Day Function
Srinagar, January 3 It was decided that the main function would be held at Bakshi Stadium where the Shahnai Wadan would start at 7.30 am. After unfurling of the tricolour by the VIP, contingents of JKP, JKAP, CRPF, BSF, Fire Services, NCC cadets and some educational institutions would take part in the march past. The highlights of the celebrations would be musical display by pipe and brass brands and scintillating cultural programme. All important buildings would be illuminated in the evening. It was decided that the Health Department would arrange ambulances and medical teams while SMC would ensure sanitation. The PHE, PDD and other departments would make necessary arrangements on the occasion. Diesel generator set would be kept as standby. Concluding the deliberations, the divisional commissioner emphasised need for greater coordination between the departments to make the programme a success. |
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Militants abduct woman
Srinagar, January 3 The police said some persons barged into the house of Abdul Salam Lone and forced his daughter Afroza, 27, to come along with them. What was the purpose behind her abduction remains a mystery to officials, but cases of militants abducting women on gunpoint for purpose of forced marriage have happened in the past and similar motives could not be doubted, police sources said. They said they were recording statements of family members and others to nail those who could be behind her abduction. Meanwhile, in another development a joint party of Baramulla police and 129 Battalion of CRPF recovered one AK 47 rifle, one AK magazine and 30 AK rounds of ammunition from a hideout near Nadihal Gujree road, falling under the jurisdiction of Panzalla police station. A police official said they received a tip-off regarding some arms and ammunition hidden by militants at the place. No militants could be arrested. |
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1 dead, 2 hurt in road accidents
Srinagar, January 3 The police said a load carrier turned turtle at Ganapora crossing
which left Rafiqa seriously injured. She was rushed to district hospital in Handwara but she succumbed to her injuries. The accused driver has been taken into custody, the police said. In another accident, one Tata Sumo collided with a Maruti car at Baramulla-Srinagar highway near TK College, in which two persons were injured. |
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