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Third Front formation still looks uncertain
No panchayats, no rural funds for state
Meanwhile, panchayati raj on state’s cards
Election Boycott |
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BJP rakes up ‘old issues’ to regain lost ground
We need no certificate from BJP: NC
Create 5 more districts in Jammu: BJP
Fake PRC racket hits job avenues
Update farming with latest techniques: Sinha
Cocoon growers hold protest
Power, water shortage draw protest
Hot water spring dries up after quake
HC provides relief to aspirants of prosecuting officer post
Share capital of SC/ST corporation enhanced
Govt’s claims
false: YNC leader
Gujjar advisory board members threaten to quit
Two armymen die in road mishap
Fire at CRPF camp
Hideout busted
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Third Front formation still looks uncertain
Jammu, March 28 A fortnight ago CPM leader and MLA M.Y. Tarigami had said by the end of the current month the Third Front would form. When he was asked about his commitment, he said, “Talks are still in progress. It may take more time but the front will be born.” MLA Ghulam Hassan Mir, who was recently expelled from the PDP, said today, “I cannot give any fixed date for the birth of the front. We are in the process of giving a shape to the Third Front and in this connection I am in touch with a number of political leaders.” He also hinted that those engaged in the formation of the front were in touch with some separatists. But he refused to name any separatist with whom he had interacted recently. Ghulam Mohiuddin Sofi, MLA and a former minister, who had won the 2002 election from Handwara constituency as an independent candidate, said, “I have not yet decided whether to join the proposed front or not.” He said, “Yes I have been approached by those trying to form the front. I shall wait and see what shape the front takes.” Another minister and MLA, Hakim Mohd Yasin, whose support to the Third Front could be valuable, also seemed indecisive. When contacted, he said, “We have had a number of meetings with those busy in forming the front but I have not yet made up my mind.” In reply to a question, he said, “Yes, I may give full support to the front. Let it be born first.” Usman Majid, another MLA from Bandipora constituency, said, “Yes Ghulam Hassan Mir had approached me for joining the proposed Third Front. I have not yet made up my mind. I shall decide only after I find what shape the front has assumed.” But despite all these hiccups, Ghulam Hassan Mir is optimistic. “Wait and watch. You will find a flood of people joining the front. Influential leaders from the PDP, Congress and National Conference would be joining when it will be formed,” he said. He said, “The front would be born several months before the next election, due in October 2008.” However, Deputy Chief Minister and senior PDP leader Muzaffar Hussain Baig has said, “There is no space for the Third Front in the state. Whatever political space is available in Jammu and Kashmir it has been occupied by the two fronts, the Congress-PDP combine and the National
Conference.” |
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No panchayats, no rural funds for state
Jammu, March 28 The central government turned down a request for rural development funds by the state government, saying the state had not held panchayat (village council) elections and hence did not qualify for the funds, officials
said here. The state rural development department had sought over Rs 2 billion for panchayats and upliftment of rural areas, according to the officials. The state has 2,701 panchayats out of which elections were held in about 1,900 in 2001. Panchayats in Kupwara and Baramulla did not go to the polls due to militancy. The 2001 polls, held when Farooq Abdullah was chief minister, took place after a gap of over 20 years. But the panchayats formed through the 2001 polls ended their five-year terms in 2006, and no poll has been held since then, on the ground that the situation was not conducive to hold panchayat elections. They were to be held in 2007 but were put off. Rural development schemes have been hit hard by lack of funds. The Assembly elections are also due this year. The new Assembly is to be constituted before November 20. The state government and parties in the ruling coalition government have repeatedly said the security situation in the state has improved remarkably and all is set for tourist season as well as elections.
— IANS |
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Meanwhile, panchayati raj on state’s cards
Srinagar, March 28 The government has drawn up a plan of Rs 1,200 crore to develop and beautify rural areas in Tandem. The plan, being implemented from next month, would help in speedy development of backward areas, he said. Four villages of Khanparun, Shalbugh, Tilar and Napora in Ganderbal are being developed as model villages involving an expenditure of Rs 4 crore, he added. Meanwhile, minister of state for rural development Javaid Mustafa Mir inaugurated two water supply schemes at Soiteng-Lasjan on the outskirts of the city and Wathura in Budgam district. While the Soiteng water supply scheme, completed at a cost of Rs 2.50 crore with a storage capacity of 10,000 gallons of water, would benefit a population of 27,900 in the area.
— PTI |
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Election Boycott
Srinagar, March 28 Though all separatists are unanimous in boycott call for elections, they disagree as to how they should go about it. Jamaat-e-Islami, the ideological fountainhead for separatists and the mother organisation of Geelani before they fell out, has turned down his demand that they should launch a door-to-door campaign to convince people into not casting their votes. Electoral participation of Kashmiris would give legitimacy to “Indian occupation” of Kashmir, said Geelani at a seminar organised by the high court, Kashmir division bar association here yesterday. Jamaat said electoral participation of people is not a reflection on separatists' cause. Geelani called for a public campaign to dissuade voters and asked JKLF chairman Yasin Malik, who shared the dais with him, to pitch in. Malik, who espouses the cause of an independent Kashmir and has often faced wrath of pro-Pakistan militant outfits, skirted the issue, and he is unlikely to agree with Geelani, a staunch votary of Pakistan's claim over valley. The differences of moderate faction of Hurriyat led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq with Geelani are almost irreconcilable. Hurriyat leaders in the past have said people cast votes because of their dependence on the government for their day to day work and it could not be wished away. But the biggest setback for extremists like Geelani has come in the form of crumbling power of militants in the valley, and they are no longer in a position to put gun to the head of a common man who cast his votes. During its hey days, in 1996 and, to a substantial extent, 2002 Assembly elections, it killed
several leaders and their local supporters to create an atmosphere where
people preferred keeping indoors. Hizbul Mujahideen, which has an ideological proximity with Geelani, has shed away so far from issuing any threats to common man participating in elections for this very reason. It has confined itself to a call
for boycott.
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Sonia dedicates tulip garden to nation today
Srinagar, March 28 Security arrangements have been tightened in and around Siraj Bagh, ahead of Sonia’s visit, who would be accompanied by central ministers and chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad. The garden would be thrown open to the public on entry tickets from Sunday, officials said. Last year, 30,000 nature lovers visited the garden, while this year about 2 lakh visitors are expected. “The opening of tulip garden has advanced the tourist season in Kashmir at least by one month, as it has been a great attraction”, said Sarmad Hafeez, joint director, tourism department. However, Siraj Bagh is yet to generate interest in the film industry. “We get enquiries from travel agents in Mumbai and Delhi for booking their tourist groups, but no such enquiries come from film producers”, said Dr Sarwar Naqash, director, floriculture department. The tulip garden has grown from a mere 3 lakh flowers last year to 12 lakh flowers this year, Naqash told The Tribune. “We have all colours, all shades and all heights”, he said adding, “Last year there were 16 varieties of flowers, but this year 60 varieties have been added”. These varieties of early, mid, late and very late blooming tulips will spread a rainbow of red, orange, purple, white, pink, parrot and yellow colours on the garden. The garden has come to life with white, red, orange and purple varieties of tulips, already in bloom. The works currently in final stages include four fountains, gate plaza, cemented paths, landscaping and a guest house. These have been completed in a record time, said Umar Jameel, executive engineer of the project. He said the entire garden had been given a Mughal look with terraces, pathways, slopes and fountains. Naqash added that a new garden would come up in the second phase of the development of the
Siraj Bagh. |
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BJP rakes up ‘old issues’ to regain lost ground
Udhampur, March 28 As BJP’s base has been considerably eroded in Jammu region, party leaders are not hesitating to take up the emotive issues. During a one-day conference of the party at
Kishtwar, party leaders touched the issue of discrimination with Hindus in the state and blamed the successive state governments for appeasing secessionists in the state. First time after many years, BJP leaders have touched these issues in communally sensitive areas like
Kishtwar. Former Union minister, Prof Chaman Lal Gupta minced no words in attacking the Congress for what he alleged, succumbing before the pressure of the separatists and anti-national forces. The BJP leaders blamed the Congress, National Conference and PDP for the Kashmir problem. They also raked up the issue of Article 370 and demanded that it be abrogated. “Article 370 is the mother of all problems in Jammu and Kashmir and its removal is must for bringing a solution to the Kashmir problem”, Bali
Bhagat, a former MLA and general secretary of the party said. Issues of the discrimination with members of the Village Defence Committees
(VDCs) also dominated the conference. The BJP leaders alleged that the state government had been deliberately neglecting VDCs to demoralise the nationalist forces in militancy-plagued areas to appease secessionists and anti-national forces. With the forthcoming Assembly elections in mind, the BJP has been raking up controversial issues to regain its lost ground. Party activists have been actively participating in all programmes of the Sangh
Parivar. As the issue of discrimination with Jammu region has been hijacked by the Panthers Party, the BJP is now concentrating on the Hindu agenda in the region. |
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We need no certificate from BJP: NC
Jammu, March 28 Gupta had castigated NC patron Farooq Abdullah for equating Tibet with Kashmir, allegedly in a bid to distance the state from India. In a statement issued here, Sadhotra termed Gupta’s statement as an election stunt to shift people’s focus. Sadhotra said, “The NC is the mainstream political party of the state and it does not need any certificate from the BJP.” “While accusing the NC for conspiring against the country, the BJP has probably forgotten that the NC is not a political party but a movement closely associated in the process of upholding the honour and dignity of the people of the state,” he said. “The NC has never made false commitments or raked up emotional issues for petty political gains,” he said. Referring to the instrument of accession, Sadhtora said accession was vetted by the constituent Assembly under the leadership of late Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah and perhaps the BJP leader had forgotten it. He advised Gupta to go through history before issuing such statements. |
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Create 5 more districts in Jammu: BJP
Jammu, March 28 State BJP vice-president Prof Hari Om said this would surely go a long way in removing animosity between Kashmir and Jammu and would harmonise inter-regional relations. “It would send a signal that the Chief Minister’s policies are state-centric and not Kashmir-centric,” said Prof Om in a statement issued here. He also drew Azad’s attention to the fact that compared to Kashmir region, Jammu had much bigger area and
population. Justifying his demand for more districts in Jammu province, he said, “The region is far more treacherous, mountainous and inaccessible as compared to the valley.” “The BJP is not opposed to the creation of four more districts in Kashmir, as against one recommended by the Wazir Commission but preponderant share to Kashmir at all levels. |
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Fake PRC racket hits job avenues
Jammu, March 28 After managing fake PRCs, a considerable number of non-state subjects have not only succeeded in getting jobs in different state government departments but also have acquired immovable property in the state. It may be mentioned here that under Article 370, only permanent residents of the state can acquire property in Jammu and Kashmir and are entitled for state government jobs. However, despite initiating measures on war footing, the state government has been unable to check the malady. Talking to The Tribune, a senior official of the Revenue Department didn’t rule out the possibility of involvement of some disgruntled revenue officials in remote areas of the state. However, he said, “It seems that a well-knit racket is operating in the state. Leave aside others, even my aunt, who is married in Himachal Pradesh, managed to get a fake PRC for just Rs 300.” “There are standing rules and sufficient checks to ensure that deserving residents of the state get PRCs,” he said, adding, “But some racketeers are involved in the scam. A non-state subject property dealer in winter capital and a native of Bihar, who has constructed a big shop and property in Bakshi Nagar, are glaring examples.” He said, “Such fake PRC holders definitely cast a negative impact and candidly admitting government so far has failed to check the problem.” Minister of state for revenue Aijaz Ahmed Khan said, “As far as official procedure is concerned, we have several provisions and checks to ensure that only state residents get the PRC.” “However, there is a need to effectively check counterfeit PRCs,” he said, adding, “Wherever the government comes across any fake PRC, stern action is taken.” “I admit that it is not only a serious issue but a serious crime as well and various government departments have been asked to get doubtful cases verified from the Revenue Department,” said Khan. |
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Update farming with latest techniques: Sinha
Jammu, March 28 He was addressing farmers and agriculture scientists at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology here this morning. He said sustained research in the field of agriculture and hard toil of farmers had steered India from food deficit to food surplus country. “In mid 40s, India with three times lesser population than the present and more landmass under cultivation was a food deficit country,” he said, adding, “Due to technological development the country became self-reliant.” He exhorted scientists to transfer their research and knowledge to the farming community for further growth in agriculture development. “We wish our farming community to prosper and progress so that we have no instance of farmers committing suicides,”
he said. He said he felt elated to interact with farmers in Kathua, Rajouri and Bhaderwah through
e-connectivity. “This holds great promise for future,” he maintained. He also complimented vice-chancellor Prof Nagendra Sharma for his dynamic stewardship and innovative Land Health Card system, which was launched today. “These initiatives will go a long way in establishing India as a super power of future,” he said, while stressing upon the
need for further improvement in agricultural productivity. |
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Cocoon growers hold protest
Udhampur, March 28 Shouting slogans against the authorities, the cocoon growers also brunt effigy of the state government and charged the coalition regime with meting out step motherly treatment with the farmers of this region. Speaking on the occasion, speakers lambasted the state government for not taking their problems seriously. They pointed out that the cocoon growers have been agitating for the last six months but authorities have not taken any step to heed their woes. Farmers further said despite being the second largest producer of cocoon in Jammu and Kashmir, the government was not serious in solving their problems. |
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Power, water shortage draw protest
Rajouri, March 28 The protesters said the state government had failed to supply them clean drinking water for the past more than two years making the villagers to suffer. The villagers further said there was no electricity in their villages for days together and the government was least concerned about supplying them the same. "A few years back, the water supply department stopped supply to our villages and they never supplied the same,” fumed Tufail Ahmed, a shopkeeper of Banwat village. It was only after SHO N.H.Shah and executive engineer Jaswant Singh reached the spot and assured the villagers that their demands would be met. |
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Hot water spring dries up after quake
Jammu, March 28 Investigations carried out by the Department of Geology and Mining soon after the tremor measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale rocked the state had revealed that hot water spring dried up in the area as one of the post- earthquake effects. The popular legend bathing in spring water in Tatapani is believed to cure many bone and joint ailments and skin diseases. The spring water contains a lot of minerals, principally amongst them is phosphorus. The investigations carried out by Raj Kumar and Rajinder Singh of the department had concluded that the internal configuration of the lithological units in the area under investigation comprises of great limestone, Eocene and Murrees, showing north west-south east trend having fault plane at the contact of the great limestone. Subathu formation has brought Murrees formation with the great limestone, resulting there by oozing out of hot water springs through the fault and fractures of this great limestone. The study conducted by the department also revealed two sets of joints, one parallel to the strike, the other one across the strike, dipping in the North West, North East directions, respectively. These joints are accompanied by strike fault and played a significant role to gush out the hot water spring on the earth surface through weaker zones/thrust plane. |
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HC provides relief to aspirants of prosecuting officer post
Jammu, March 28 Justice Y.P. Nargotra of the high court further directed respondents that “if applications of such candidates have not been entertained, selection agency shall notify a date within which they may submit their application forms so as to afford them an opportunity to offer their candidature for selection.” The counsel for petitioners argued that prosecution officer is a police prosecutor as contained in Rule 671 (1) of Police Rules providing that at district headquarter there is an officer of rank of inspector appointed as senior prosecutor, therefore expression police prosecutor would mean senior prosecuting officer and not prosecuting officer. Thus age limit of 30 years could only apply to direct recruitment of legal practitioners to post of senior prosecuting officer and not prosecuting officer. B. S. Slathia, AAG appearing for respondents argued that prosecution officers enjoy rank of Inspectors and in performance of duties have to prosecute cases of police, therefore, are police prosecutors and age limit prescribed by advertisement notice is in accordance with Rule 176 of Police Rules. |
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Share capital of SC/ST corporation enhanced
Jammu, March 28 The board, which met here yesterday under the chairmanship of social welfare minister Abdul Gani Vakil, also released 17 installments of cost of living allowance (COLA) in favour of its employees that would be remitted to them prospectively from April 1. In another significant decision, the board of directors also approved enhancement of subsidy component from Rs 10,000 to Rs 25,000 per beneficiary per unit under different schemes. Subsidy component for other backward classes has also been raised from Rs 3,000 to Rs 10,000. Managing Director of the Corporation has been asked to prepare a proposal for securing additional grants from the government for the purpose. In a bid to improve financial health of the corporation, the board also agreed in principle to provide budgetary support to the corporation in a phased manner. It was also directed to open district offices of the corporation in all the newly created districts. Under bank tie-up scheme an action plan, envisaging establishment of 1,460 income- generating units with the involvement of subsidy component worth Rs 1.17 crore for 2008-09 was also approved. |
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Govt’s claims
false: YNC leader
Rajouri, March 28 |
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Gujjar advisory board members threaten to quit
Rajouri, March 28 These members alleging irregularities in the utilisation of the tribal sub-plan even held a massive protest in the Mandi area here yesterday and blocked the vehicular traffic for more than an hour. President of the Jammu and Kashmir Gujjar Conference and a member of Jammu and Kashmir Gujjar and Bakkarwal Advisory Board, Choudhary Inam-ul-Hasan told The Tribune that the deputy commissioner during a meeting in November last year had asked the members to give their recommendations for utilisation of the funds under Tribal Sub Plan (TSP) for various activities. He said within a week's time the members submitted the recommendations. |
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Two armymen die in road mishap
Srinagar, March 28 An Army vehicle of 16 Bihar Regiment skidded off the road near Nawagabra Karnah, Kupwara, causing death of naib subedar Satinder Yadav, sepoy Naval Kishore and injuries to seven person of this unit and a civilian porter. The police said the driver of the vehicles lost his control and the vehicle slipped down the road and turned turtle. Two soldiers are serious but cops added their situation was stable. In another accident, A Tata vehicle hit Wasim Ahmad Dhobi of Anantnag. He died on the spot. |
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Fire at CRPF camp
Srinagar, March 28 He said the fire in Shivpora, where its 172 battalion is camped, caused material damages but no human injuries. Earlier, a number of fire tenders, civilians as well as those of the Army, were rushed to the place. The fire was controlled in a little time and remained confined to the first floor where some jawans were staying. |
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Hideout busted
Rajouri, March 28 |
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