Peeri (Rajouri), March 18
Underlining the urgency accorded by his government to the development of backward and far-off areas, Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad today said that Jammu and Kashmir was going through an era of unprecedented infrastructure expansion across the cities and hinterland.

Addressing a public meeting here in this backward village, still not connected by road, Azad who is the only CM to have visited this area, said that sectors like road connectivity, drinking water, education, healthcare and power were witnessing unprecedented development activities.

He said the significant aspect of the development offensive launched by his government was that building of critical infrastructure had, for the first time, been extended to remote villages where people had started harvesting the benefits.

Making a particular reference to this border district, the Chief Minister said that the area was going through a phase of development seen never before. He said lack of road connectivity in areas like this had been the main obstacle for progress.

Accordingly, he said, his government attached utmost priority to building of roads and providing connectivity to people, adding that the development travels through roads.

Giving the brief account of the road sector from the government's side, Azad said this district was poised for complete transformation. He said in 2007-08, an amount of Rs 22 crore was allocated in the road sector for Rajouri district which was five times more than the last year.

He said an additionality of Rs 5.30 crore had also been provided in the road and bridge sector. He cited figures to make the point since the time he took over as the Chief Minister, road construction in the district was receiving high priority.

Making a special mention of the Mughal Road and opening of the Poonch-Rawlakote cross-LoC road , Azad said while the former would provide the much needed alternate inter-province link between Kashmir and Jammu, the latter had met the aspirations of the people divided by the LoC.

He hoped that the dialogue process between India and Pakistan would resume soon and said that it would lead to the Poonch-Rawlakote road eventually being used for cross-LoC trade. He said the work on the Mughal Road was started on April 13, 2006 and would be ready as a fair weather road by the end of this year.

Apart from roads, Azad said construction of other projects was also apace in this district. He said the district hospital was under construction at a cost of about Rs 26 crore.

The first phase of the project was nearing completion while the second phase would be completed by March, 2009. He said a record number of 10 bridges in the district would be completed next month.

The Chief Minister also talked about his priority to develop tourism in Rajouri and Poonch. He said tourism development authorities were set up for the two districts and the Jammu-Rajouri-Poonch tourist circuit was being developed.

Doda, March 18
Decision of the state government to release funds for their salaries has revived hope among Village Defence Committee (VDC) members who are fighting a two way battle- one against militants and another against official apathy.

Although authorities had promised to release salaries of VDCs one month back, an official communiqué was received today by concerned police officers to open bank accounts of all members of VDC constituted in their respective areas.

The “valiant warriors”, who played dominate role in arresting migration of minority community from Doda, Kishtwar, Reasi and Ramban district, are at the verge of starvation due to non-release of their salaries for the last six months.

There are approximately 1,200 VDCs in the erstwhile Doda district working under the directions of security forces to eliminate militants active in this mountainous region of Jammu division.

“For the last 12 years VDCs are courageously resisting attacks of militants with the weapons which are far inferior to those used by ultras,” pointed out Anil Parihar, a resident of Kishtwar, but hastened to add that patience of these “warriors” were running out as their repeated demands for regular salary and improved weaponry have gone unheeded.

Newly appointed deputy inspector general Doda-Kishtwar zone, Himmant Kumar Lohia, who was instrumental in getting salaries released, admitted that VDC members have been playing very important role in anti-militancy operation.

“Due to non-availability of funds, salaries of VDC members were not released,” Lohia told The Tribune and assured that process would be streamlined to avoid hardship of VDC men.

He further said concerned police officers have been preparing lists of all VDC members of their areas to release their salaries.

It was in late 1992, when menace of militancy engulfed Doda district, concept of VDCs was mooted in this belt. Since 1992, VDC members have been bravely fighting with militants and it was all due to the efforts of these “warriors” migration of minority community was arrested.

Despite their commendable role, services of VDC were not properly recognised by the government and their demands were always ignored by the authorities.

They have many complaints and most important of all the poor and irregular pay for their services.

“We will effective step to ameliorate lot of the VDC members,” said DIG and assured that they would get regular salaries.

Srinagar, March 18
The Kashmir Bar Association struck work today and demanded disciplinary action against Kotbalwal jail, Jammu, officials as they did nothing while a right-wing group abused and roughed them up outside the jail yesterday.

A representative of the Bar had gone to jail to meet Kashmiris lodged there, but Bar president Nazir Ahmad Ronga said they had to come back due to hostile behaviour of the jail authorities, who were “behind” the crowd abusing them.

The jail officials from Jammu have denied the charge and said there was no attack on lawyers as alleged by them and they had restrained the crowd who were raising slogans against them.

Ronga said the gathering was assembled by right-wing Shivsena, which accuses the Kashmir Bar of having sympathy for Kashmiri militants and separatists.

The Bar also demanded that all Kashmiris detained under militancy charges should be lodged in Srinagar so that their families could meet them more often.

“It’s their democratic right. The government has lodged them in far away jails in Jammu, Delhi and other places and they are treated very badly by the authorities and other jail inmates,” he said.

The Bar, which overtly supports the ongoing separatist struggle in the valley, also made yet another appeal to both factions of Hurriyat to unite, saying that it was their last chance. Meanwhile, Hurriyat (M) in a statement today condemned the alleged attack on the lawyers yesterday.

The Bar would move High Court to inform it about the shabby way they were treated with, he said.

Jammu, March 18
Their sharing a common platform might be rarest of the rare moment. NC president Omar Abdullah, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, Hurriyat Conference chairman Maulvi Umar Farooq and Peoples' Conference leader Sajad Gani Lone would discuss the issue of regional stability at the Pugwash International Conference being held at Islamabad, Pakistan on March 28 and 29.

While Mehbooba had already confirmed here participation, there were doubts about Omar attending the conference. However, the National Conference today clarified that he would be attending the conference this time also.

Earlier he had attended the Pugwash Conference in 2005 and also met Pakistan President Pervez Musharaf. Mehbooba would be attending the conference for the first time.

All the four main participants in the Pugwash Conference from Kashmir have a strong political lineage. While Omar Abdullah and Umar Farooq are third generation leaders, Mehbooba and Sajad are second generation leaders in their families. And all of them are thoroughly involved with the Kashmir situation.

While Omar Abdullah’s represents the strong political lineage that started with his grand father Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah and continues through Farooq Abdullah, Umar Farooq also represents the influential religio-political family of Kashmir.

It started with Maulvi Yousuf Shah, his father's uncle, followed by his father Maulvi Farooq, who was assassinated by militants in May 1990 that propelled him (Umar) to political centrestage.

Similarly Mehbooba is the daughter of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, a former Union home minister and Jammu and Kashmir chief minister, while Sajjad is the son of Abdul Gani Lone, who also was gunned down by the militants in 2002.

Their getting together to deliberate on an issue with which they have been so thoroughly involved, rather have grown up with, holds lot of significance as the ideas emerging from such conferences certainly influence the policy making on the particular issues.

According to the Pugwash, “The purpose of the Conferences is to bring together, from around the world, influential scholars and public figures concerned with reducing the danger of armed conflict and seeking cooperative solutions for global problems.”

The meeting in private as individuals, rather than as representatives of governments or institutions, Pugwash participants exchange views and explore alternative approaches to arms control and tension reduction with a combination of candor, continuity, and flexibility seldom attained in official East-West and North-South discussions and negotiations.

Yet, because of the stature of many of the Pugwash participants in their own countries (as, for example, science and arms-control advisers to governments, key figures in academies of science and universities, and former and future holders of high government office), insights from Pugwash discussions tend to penetrate quickly to the appropriate levels of official policy-making.

Jammu, March 18
A Division Bench of Jammu and Kashmir High Court issued notices to the secretary, ministry of health & family welfare, Govt of India, commissioner/secretary, Health & Medical Education Department, Govt of J-K, regarding the implementation of Cigarettes & Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement & Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003.

Amit Chouhan, a social activist, had filed a public interest litigation (PIL) in which he sought mandamus to law enforcing agencies to take immediate meaningful and concerted steps and measures to implement provisions of the act in letter and spirit.

Advocate Anil Sethi appearing for the petitioner submitted that though the Government of India with a view to educate people about ill-effects of smoking and tobacco products has promulgated Act of 2003 and Cigarettes & Other Tobacco Products (Packing & Labelling) Rules, 2006 with effect from February 1, 2007, proper implementation remains a distant dream.

Sale of tobacco is important contributor to economy of India but the same is overshadowed by its deleterious effects on health, environmental, social aspects and total costs being incurred on treatment of tobacco related diseases, he said.

Fundamental right to life and liberty guaranteed to every citizen of country includes right to get sufficient knowledge and information including education about ill effects of tobacco consumption, argued Sethi

He further said the right to life is being seriously jeopardised by open sale of tobacco products by unscrupulous elements having no value for human life.

Udhampur, March 18
To create employment avenues for educated youth, the state government has formulated a comprehensive plan in this regard.

Minister for higher education Gulchain Singh Charak, while addressing an annual day function of General Zorawar Singh Memorial Degree College at Reasi, said the government was contemplating to introduce more job-oriented courses, besides using modern technology like e-networking, online education and virtual classrooms in colleges of the state so that quality-human resources were produced.

The minister said the government with its sincere endeavours had already started market friendly and job-oriented courses in the colleges, including fisheries, journalism, BBA, tourism, biochemistry, biotechnology, information technology, computer science, video editing and sericulture courses. He said such courses would be introduced in all colleges of the state.

He said expansion of higher education in the state was almost complete by setting up of 40 new colleges and new university campuses in far-flung areas.

The Buddhists organised a peace march in the town to share and extend sympathy with the Tibetans.

Starting from Katsaks, the march passed main markets and culminated at Polo ground. — PTI

He was also behind two mine blasts in Hamzapora and Panjpora in 2006 and firing on security forces in Panjpora.

Jammu, March 18
Praja Parishad headed by Chander Mohan Sharma has given up its plan of forging a pre-poll alliance with the state unit of the BSP after the latter announced its plan of fielding party candidates in all 87 Assembly constituencies in the state.

Sharma here today said, “There is no sense in joining hands with the BSP because it has left no scope for an alliance with us. Instead, we are exploring the possibility of forging a pre-poll alliance with the rival faction of the BSP headed by Dr Sat Pal. I am in touch with Dr Sat Pal and his party colleagues.”

Dr Sat Pal, who is credited with having laid the foundation of the BSP in Jammu, was expelled from the party. Soon after his expulsion, he revolted against the party leadership and started nursing a rival faction of the BSP.

Several senior BSP leaders, including two general secretaries Sushil Gupta and Raj Kumar, who were recently expelled from the party, and Sagar Chand, a former MLA have already joined his camp.

Sharma said, “If the plan of forming an alliance with the BSP faction headed by Dr Sat Pal materialised, it would hit hard the BSP unit headed by Yashpal Bhagat and the BJP. We have decided to contest the next election on our own in case our plan of forging a pre-poll alliance with Dr Sat Pal failed.”

Jammu, March 18
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has expressed concern over the inordinate delay in the completion of the guest house building in the Government Medical College complex.

The chief minister expressed shock over the slow pace of work going on the guest house as the construction work had started in 1997.

Azad who today formally laid the foundation stone of the multi-storeyed attendants’ sarai adjacent to the GMC sanctioned Rs 1 crore for the time- bound completion of the guest house which would have 12 rooms and a dinning hall.

While laying the foundation stone of the multi-storeyed attendants’ sarai, the Chief Minister was told that the sarai would be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 3 crore.

The work on it had already started in November last year and the construction work is expected to be completed two months prior to its scheduled date of completion in November, 2008.

The Chief Minister was informed that the sarai would comprise 15 dormitories to facilitate a number of attendants of patients who visit the hospital from far-flung areas and do not have any place to stay in the winter capital.

Pertinent to recall that the Chief Minister has made it a policy to lay the foundation stone of development projects only after the scheme was properly sanctioned, money made available and work actually started.

This was being done with a view that once the work commenced on a project it was completed within a fixed time frame without hiccups so that benefits accrued to the people speedily.

Jammu, March 18
A meeting of the youth wing of the Peoples’ Democratic Party was held today under the chairmanship of youth president Basharat Bukhari.

MLA Shanti Devi, state secretary and media in charge Renu Azad, district president, Jammu (rural), Baldev Singh Slathia, Ramesh Koul and other senior leaders addressed the meeting, which was attended by all districts and zone presidents of the youth wing. Issues related to the youth were thoroughly discussed in the meeting.

Youth wing president and MLC Bukhari threw light on the ‘youth development programme’ formulated by the party.

He said the formulation of the youth development programme was a revolutionary step towards solving problems being faced by the younger generation in society. He said points incorporated in this historical document reflect visionary approach of the PDP leadership.

Meanwhile, state secretary and spokesperson of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) Renu Azad has appreciated the statement of union minister of state for commerce Jai Ram Ramesh regarding opening of the trans-LoC trade on both
sides of border.

Jammu, March 18
The Minister for Health and Medical Education today said that the government had decided to shift slaughter houses from Dogra Hall and Gujjar Nagar besides fish market Gumat to outskirts of the city.

Sharma said this would meet long pending demand of people, especially the residents of Dogra Hall, Gujjar Nagar and Gumat.

The minister said he raised this vital issue with Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad during a meeting held to review arrangements of the Jammu festival.

MLA, Jammu East, Yogesh Sawhney also advocated this long pending demand of the people during the meeting.

He said the Chief Minister issued the instructions to the authorities concerned for initiating necessary steps in this regard in consequence of which these slaughter houses besides fish market would be shifted outside the city within a period of one month.

He said these slaughter houses and fish market had negative impact on the surrounding environment as well as on tourist inflow from outside the state.

Sharma said all necessary steps would be taken to maintain a pollution- free and unhazardous atmosphere in the city.

The proceedings of the event were conducted by Talib Kashmiri, general secretary of the organisation.