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PDP’s self-rule proposes greater power for people
Congress in a fix over party MP’s allegations
My life an open book: Speaker
BSP: Increase quota in Vaishno Devi varsity
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Over 50 chickenpox cases detected
Custodial death Cops guilty, holds SHRC
Pak army helps retrieve body of Kashmiri
2 killed as Sumo falls
into gorge
Citizens lend support to youth movement
Sex Scam
PDP leader joins NC
NC patron Farooq Abdullah embraces Javed Ahmad Dar, who joined the party after quitting the PDP, in Srinagar on Wednesday. —Tribune photo by Mohd Amin War
SBI draws HC flak; mother gets pension rights
Board: Debar pilgrims at shrine till June 18
BJP wooing Muslims to brighten poll chances
Management clarifies school building was rented
Dowry forces girl to commit suicide
Mir launches Democratic Party
Ghulam Hassan Mir addresses a press conference at the launch of the Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Party in Srinagar on Wednesday. — A Tribune photograph
Hurriyat-Pak PM meet on cards
LeT ultra held
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PDP’s self-rule proposes greater power for people
New Delhi, May 7
Demands for an elected governor (Sadar-e-Riyasat), regional council for undivided Jammu and Kashmir and dual currency on both sides of LoC form the basis of PDP’s self-rule concept, whose modalities have been finalised. In the capital to discuss the concept with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti today told The Tribune that PDP’s self-rule was all about empowerment of people by way of further decentralisation of powers to them -- something for which the centre-state relations will have to be reviewed. “People are in a reconciliatory mood, but that should not be mistaken as surrender,” said Mehbooba, asking for measures to make the borders irrelevant as promised by the Prime Minister. “We honour the territorial status quo. But there are things that can be done within the status quo to give people a sense of belongingness. We want the old system of Sarad-e-Riyasat elected by the legislature to be restored; the creation of a council for Jammu and Kashmir, including the PoK, and acceptance of currencies of India and Pakistan across the Line of Control to facilitate trade and travel. All this should be made part and parcel of CBMs,” Mehbooba said in an exclusive interview to The Tribune, adding that PDP’s self-rule concept had been “hugely misunderstood” but would be seen in context when released. Advocating the need for dual currency and regional council with representatives from both sides of Jammu and Kashmir on board to facilitate the peace process, Mehbooba said “this was the only way to unify people across the state without changing the territorial status quo. “The separatists have an important role to play in context of Kashmir. It is time we had a policy in place for holding talks with them; this policy should be carried forward irrespective of who is ruling at the Centre,” Mehbooba said, categorically warning against complacency with respect to peace talks. PDP president also rued that Kashmir had been “caged” and sought the opening of old routes that once connected the valley to China and Central Asia.
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Congress in a fix over party MP’s allegations
Jammu, May 7 “Being election year it would be a big jolt to the party prospects if high command expels Sharma from the primary membership and if he was allowed to go scot-free then it would vindicate his serious accusations,” said a source close to the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chief and union minister for water resources Prof Saif-ud-Din Soz. However, it may be mentioned here that after kicking up a storm the Congress MP had accused media of distorting his speech. Sharma had recently stirred hornet’s nest at a public rally at Khour, reportedly accusing legislative assembly speaker Tara Chand and party MLA Peerzada Mohammed Sayeed of being involved in the infamous Kashmir sex scandal. Though PCC president Prof Soz has already issued a show-cause notice to the Congress MP giving him week’s time to clarify his position, yet a serious crisis haunts the PCC. A PCC leader said if Sharma failed to clear his position, he may be expelled. “Anything can happen to him under the constitution of the party,” he said, adding that hitherto he has not responded to the show-cause notice. Let him furnish a reply and then AICC President Sonia Gandhi in consultation with PCC president Prof Saif-ud-Din Soz and Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad would take a final decision on his fate, he said. Sources said Sonia had taken strong exception to Sharma’s utterances that he and Azad had sought clemency from her for the two party leaders (Tara Chand and Peerzada) after their names surfaced in the sex scam. Though the Congress pretends to be tightening screws on the party MP, yet it has been worried by the fact that any stern action against a popular leader like Sharma may cause serious ramifications on party prospects in upcoming assembly elections. They said PCC chief Soz had asked Sharma to reply within a week as to why disciplinary action should not be taken against him. Talking to The Tribune Sharma said, “No where in my speech I dragged my colleagues into the sex scam. Certain people with vested interests concocted the story to malign my image.” “Though I haven’t yet received the show-cause notice but I would respond to it as soon as I get it and then abide by the party decision like a true soldier,” he added. In the middle of a storm the Congress MP said he so far had not been able to meet AICC President Sonia Gandhi, Azad and PCC chief Soz due to their pre-occupations. “I am trying to contact them so as to make things clear,” he asserted. Azad has rebuffed party MP’s charges saying he has no time to respond to such baseless allegations. The infamous sex scam had rocked the state last year.
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My life an open book: Speaker
Khour (Akhnoor), May 7 Without naming anyone in the wake of a controversy triggered by Congress MP Madan Lal Sharma, who reportedly accused him and party MLA Peerzada Mohammed Sayeed in the infamous Kashmir sex scandal, Tara Chand chose to highlight the development made in Khour block since 2002. Addressing a rally here today, Tara Chand said, “I still remember the day when this border area had just one road. However, in the past over five years, the area has not only got a network of roads but has better civic amenities,” he said “There has been tremendous development in the power, health and education sectors in this block and the credit goes to Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad who accorded priority to the Khour block,” he added. With utmost cautiousness vis-à-vis controversy raked up by Congress MP Madan Lal, Tara Chand urged his supporters to keep their cool. “I do respect your emotions but you shouldn’t get carried away like others. Since the matter (sex scandal) is sub judice before the court, I would not comment much on the issue,” he said. |
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BSP: Increase quota in Vaishno Devi varsity
Udhampur, May 7 Addressing a series of public meetings at Tirti, Sira Karkyal, Chak Bhagta, Panthal, Phagta and Reasi, BSP leaders demanded reservation for locals in various courses of SMVDU. The meetings were addressed by state vice-president Tulsi Dass Langeh, state general secretary and coordinator Udhampur-Doda Lok Sabha constituency, Rakesh Wazir and Ajay Singh district secretary, Reasi. The BSP leaders strongly demanded educational reservations in the SMVDU for local students of the Jammu province strictly on the pattern of Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University. The BSP leaders said all colleges in Maharashtra provided 50 per cent reservation to students of the state. Likewise many other universities all over the country provided similar reservations to the local youth with the aim to safeguard, protect and benefit their future prospects. The BSP leaders regretted that the authorities of SMVDU had altogether refused and deprived the backward and poor locals from their due share of benefits. The leaders said BSP would never tolerate this injustice because it was neither justifiable nor rightful on the part of SMVDU authorities. |
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Over 50 chickenpox cases detected
Kathua, May 7 Jasbeer Singh, director, health services, said the disease had been brought under control and there was nothing to worry. However, residents said with every passing day, new cases of the disease were coming to the fore. They said five to six new cases of chickenpox had been reported in Chann Khatriyan village, wherein five members of one family had been infected with the disease. Meanwhile, villagers seemed to be worried over the disease and blamed the “callous attitude” of the health authorities for its outbreak. “If the health authorities had acted swiftly the disease would not have spread on such a proportion,” Krishan Kumar, a resident of Mela village said. He added, “If they (health authorities) would have acted soon after they got the information about the disease, it would not have affected so many people.” The state health department said the disease would soon be brought under control and special teams comprising senior epidemiologists from the Government Medical College, Jammu, along with other doctors had been rushed to the spot. Jasbeer Singh said, “There is nothing to worry as we have already dispatched various teams led by specialist doctors to the affected areas. The disease would soon be brought under control.” Adding he said, “We have asked the local block medical officers and chief medical officers to remain alert as the disease is communicable and spreads from one person to other. So apart from curing the patient, people need to be educated on how to stop the disease from spreading further.” Meanwhile, parents had been advised not to send their children to the school so that healthy children did not get contaminated with the disease.
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Custodial death
Cops guilty, holds SHRC
Srinagar, May 7 The commission also directed the government to investigate the custodial killing and book the guilty police officials involved in the crime. The commission gave the order on a petition filed by Umer Uddin, resident of Khaned Morha, Ramnagar tehsil in Udhampur district. The petitioner alleged that on November 5, 2000, the security forces and the local police conducted a joint operation in the area. Later, the security forces entered his house, he said adding when they found no militant or any objectionable thing inside, two special police officers Manzoor and Uresh Paul took away his son Mohammad Urfan Umer. The petitioner said his son, who was to appear in the matric examination three days later, was tortured and later killed in a fake encounter. The commission rejected the police claim that the victim was an informer of the militants and was killed in an encounter. The SHRC in its judgement said the inquiry conducted by the police was only to cover up the misdeeds of the accused SPOs. Rejecting the police claim that Umer was killed in an encounter, the Commission said on the basis of evidence and statement of witnesses he was killed in a fake encounter. It said the police report was not only one sided, blind folded but also a cover up for misdeeds of the local police, particularly two SPOs. Rejecting the police report, the commission recommended to the government through chief secretary that a result-oriented inquiry should be conducted in the killing. It also recommended a monetary relief of Rs 2 lakh to the victim’s father and relief to his other son. — UNI |
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Pak army helps retrieve body of Kashmiri
Srinagar, May 7 A defence spokesman said one Mohammad Ilyas Ahmad Khan, 30, from Chandanwari village near Uri, fell down in Jhelum while working at his tripper on April 27. His body could not be traced because of the fast flow of the river. Brig N.P.S. Hira, Commander Uri Brigade, approached the Pakistan Army officials on April 28 to help in search of the drowned body. A passport size photo of the person was also given to authorities. The body was fished out from Jhelum by the Pakistan Army near Muzaffarabad, approximately 30 kms down the stream, the defence spokesman said. Under command of a Pakistan army officer, the body was handed over to Brig Hira on May 4 at Kaman post. It was later handed over to the next of kin of the deceased for last rites and burial. |
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2 killed as Sumo falls
into gorge
Udhampur, May 7 According to the police driver of a Tata Sumo bearing registeration number 3388-JK02A lost control of the vehicle while negotiating a curve near Katra town this morning. The ill-fated vehicle fell into Balni Nullah and rolled down 800 feet down in the gorge. Two persons, Neelam Kumari, wife of Sanjay Kumar of Reasi, and Rakesh Kumar, son of Sham Lal, were killed on the spot. Rakesh Kumar was driver of the ill-fated vehicle. Two passengers- Sanjay Kumar, son of Krishan Lal, and Luv Kumar, son of Ishar Dass, both residents of Reasi, sustained serious injuries. Senior police officers rushed to the spot and started rescue operations. The injured were first shifted to Katra Hospital and later referred to the Government Medical College Hospital for treatment. |
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Citizens lend support to youth movement
Basantgarh (Udhampur), May 7 Meanwhile, large number of youths continued with their protest for the second consecutive day today and took out a demonstration in town and shouted slogans against the authorities for adopting ‘biased’ attitude towards local youth. Lending support to these youths, traders and students took out a joint procession. Prominent citizens in a meeting today decided to launch an indefinite strike from May 8 to force the authorities to conduct fresh recruitment for the youth. It was decided that all business establishments and educational institutions would be shut down from May 8 for an indefinite period. Youth Congress leader R.S. Pathania said after the massacre of the minority community in 2006, the state government had promised to conduct the on-spot recruitment in the whole area but the police authorities conducted recruitment in just Dodu and two other villages. “It is nothing but a cruel joke with the local unemployed youth,” he said.
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Sex Scam
Srinagar, May 7 Abdullah said an impression had been made that Kashmir was a haven for prostitution and blamed lawyers for shifting the case to Chandigarh. Abdullah, in an interaction with mediapersons at the party headquarters, sounded rather forgiving towards the Congress when asked what his party was planning after a Congress MP’s alleged that Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad let two high profile party leaders off the hook in the sex scam. “The MP (Madan Lal Sharma) has retracted from his statement. It is for media, which reported the matter, to seek clarification from him and the Congress party to inquire into the role of its members,” he said. Only after persistent media queries as to whether he wanted a probe into the charges levelled against speaker Tara Chand and former state Congress president Peerzada Sayeed, he said his party legislatures would demand a probe. He cited reports that the BJP was planning to use a CD of Madan Lal Sharma's speech in the Karnataka Assembly elections and said it was not good for the state's image. Abdullah said when the sex scandal was first reported, rival parties had attacked the NC for its alleged patronage of the scandal, though it was never proved that the case had any organised political protection. The CBI had investigated the scandal. The apex court had shifted the case to Chandigarh after the Kashmir Bar Association said they would not defend the accused. Things became worse when militant organisations said they would target the accused.
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PDP leader joins NC
Srinagar, May 7 Dar, son of a former Congress MLA, said he was attracted by the pro-people policies of the National Conference. “The PDP is a party of the rich and not the (political) workers,” he said. Dar unsuccessfully contested the 2002 elections as a PDP candidate from Rafiabad constituency in Baramulla district and supported PDP candidate Mohammad Dilawar Mir in 2006 byelections. NC patron Farooq Abdullah, who welcomed the leader into the party fold, said, “We want youth to come forward for reconstruction of the state.” Attacking the coalition government, he said solving the problems, like lack of development, unemployment, created by the coalition government during the past five years, was an “uphill task.” The senior party leadership could guide the youth in the party’s developmental agenda, he said. When asked about his son and NC president Omar Abdullah being the party’s chief ministerial candidate, Farooq said it would be the party’s decision at an appropriate time. The former chief minister said the Central and state government have accelerated initiatives on political and developmental fronts in order to cash in on the upcoming Assembly elections. He expressed concern over the approach taken by the Centre and the state towards the implementation of the Working Groups’ recommendations. Four of the five Working Groups, constituted by the Prime Minister during second roundtable in Srinagar on resolving Kashmir issue two years ago, have submitted their recommendations to the government. Farooq held that though the recommendations of the Working Groups had been made about a year ago, there were no progress on these so far, but were being overplayed when the elections are coming closer. Replying to a question on the visit of his brother, former minister and senior party leader, Dr Mustafa Kamal to the family of a slain militant of Hizbul Mujahideen, Farooq said there was nothing “wrong”. |
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SBI draws HC flak; mother gets pension rights
Jammu, May 7 Giving out an order in favour of one Maha Lakshmi Tikoo, the high court held, “Rules framed by the respondent-bank under the family pension scheme, so far as these relate to non-inclusion of 'mother' in the list of legal heirs for the purpose of family pension are held to be violative of Article 14 of Constitution of India.” Allowing a writ petition filed Tikoo, Justice Nirmal Singh of the high court held her entitled to family pension and other retiral benefits which were directed to be paid within a period of two months, from the date a copy of order was made available to the respondent, State Bank of India. Maha Lakshmi Tikoo lost her son Virender Kumar Tikoo, who served as a senior manager in the SBI and remained unmarried on December 28, 2002. It was submitted that the petitioner being the sole legal heir was dependent upon him. The claim of the petitioner for grant of family pension was rejected on the ground that under the SBI rules, only a widow/widower or the surviving children of the deceased employee was entitled to this benefit. The SBI in their counter affidavit pleaded that in terms of said bank rules, the mother of a deceased employee is not entitled to claim the benefit of family pension. The deceased Virender KumarTikoo had not even nominated the petitioner for grant of terminal benefits like Provident Fund and Gratuity. The high court observed, “Pension is not a bounty payable on the sweet will and wishes of the employer but it is just like a property to be governed under the pension rules.” Justice Nirmal Singh said, “In my view, there is no rational in excluding the mother from the said list and denying her the benefit of family pension when she is Class I legal heir under J&K Hondu Succession Act, 1955.” “Thus the rule framed by the respondent-Bank in this regard is held to be discriminatory and violative of Article 14 of Constitution of India and the provisions of the Act and Schedule attached thereto.” He further said, “The mother shall be included in the rules as one of the legal heirs for the purpose of family pension."
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Board: Debar pilgrims at shrine till June 18
Srinagar, May 7 Dr Arun Kumar, principal secretary to the Governor and chief executive officer of the shrine board said pilgrims would also desist from undertaking the pilgrimage before the scheduled day. This was decided at a meeting with the police at the forward base camp at Baltal today. Dr Arun called for close synergy between various agencies to ensure smooth and regulated pilgrimage. A team of the Anantnag police also reached Baltal to regulate the pilgrimage. Dr Arun along with a team of engineers also inspected work on temporary pre-fabricated huts and toilets going apace at Baltal. He said the helipad was being given a facelift and a covered approach passage was being made before the yatra took off. A ticketing counter and a reception centre were also being set up for convenience of the pilgrims intending to go by helicopters. For the first time, 50 European style toilets had been added in the camp, while a modern frisking point had also been raised in the periphery, he added. |
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BJP wooing Muslims to brighten poll chances
Udhampur, May 7 Veteran leader Ghulam Qadir Wani has influence in some pockets of Doda district and his joining would encourage the BJP to attract some more Muslim leaders before the Assembly elections. The BJP, which always concentrate on Hindu votes in this belt, has realised that without the support of the majority community it is not possible to open an account in the elections. Though total Hindu votes in these two districts are slightly less than the majority community, the BJP has started campaign to woo prominent Muslim leaders to further strengthen its position. Finding it difficult to remove its anti-Muslim image especially due to Gujarat riots, party leaders have been repeatedly visiting localities of majority community to garner some support there. Local BJP leaders have been assigned the job to identify the potential Muslim leaders who will be convinced by the party leadership to join the BJP. Some months back, former Union Minister and Lok Sabha member Shah Nawaz Hussain visited Doda district. During his stay, Hussain, who is president of the Minority Morcha and Muslim face of the BJP, interacted with some local youth of the majority community and tried to convince them to join the party. BJP leadership had deliberately made Hussain’s visit a low-key affair. However, during his visit a local Muslim youth Ishtiq Wani was made national secretary of the Minority Morcha. A senior BJP leader said the party high command had realised that without support of Muslims it was not possible to win even a single seat from erstwhile Doda district. “Keeping in view the ration of minority and majority votes in mind, we are planning to give party mandate to at least one Muslim candidate each from Kishtwar and Doda district,” he said. He did not rule out the possibility of nominating Ishtiq from Doda assembly seat and another Muslim candidate from Inderwal of Kishtwar. The sources in party said the BJP had decided to depute prominent Muslims leaders in Doda and Kishtwar districts to woo members of the majority community before the Assembly elections.
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Management clarifies school building was rented
Jammu, May 7 “The building was not the school’s personal property but was a rented property. There is no question of selling the school property. The students were shifted to safer places when the agencies of the state government declared that the building was unsafe to house a school”, managing committee of the school said here today. Referring to last week’s protests by students and staff of the school, the school management said the reported protest was stage-managed by some unscrupulous elements who were not employees, but posed as employees of the institution, without any valid appointments. It may be mentioned that the state roads and buildings department had earlier declared that the school building was “unsafe” and had advised immediate repairs and renovations. Following this, chief education officer (CEO), Srinagar, personally visited the school and recommended immediate shifting of the school. On the recommendations of the CEO, director of school education, directed to shift schoolchildren along with the staff to Jawahar Nagar, in order to avoid any mishap. The managing committee said the school building was vacated by the staff with the connivance of an expelled joint secretary without informing the management. The management also clarified that on account of various constraints and lack of funds it was not in a position to reconstruct and renovate the buildings. |
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Dowry forces girl to commit suicide
Jammu, May 7 She was immediately rushed to the Government Medical College Hospital, Jammu, where she died today, a senior police official said. Bharti had entered into a court marriage with one Dimple Singh Sambyal, a resident of Mandi Kotli in Samba district in July, 2007. “Bharti was in love with Dimple Singh and they got married against the wishes of their parents,” the police said, adding, that she later stayed at her in-laws’ house.
However, after six months of their marriage, her husband along with other family members started harassing her for dowry and used to assault her physically, the police said as told by Bharti’s parents. “The deceased left her in-laws’ house and was living with her parents for the past one month. Despite her several attempts to return to her in-laws’ residence, she was not allowed to enter without dowry. This forced her to take the extreme step,” the police added. “On the complaint lodged by Bharti’s parents, Dimple Singh has been arrested for abetment to suicide and cruelty towards his wife,” a police official said. —
UNI |
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Mir launches Democratic Party
Srinagar, May 7 According to the founder, the party would follow the politics of peace, hard work and progress. “It pledges to work as a facilitator for a non-violent and dignified solution of Kashmir issue,” he added. Mir, who is also the president of the party, said at a time when friendly relations were developing between India and Pakistan, the people of Jammu and Kashmir could benefit. “We believe that killings in Kashmir during the past 20 years, has brought realisation in India and Pakistan that they cannot live as foes but as friends and good neighbours,” the president said. The people of this state became the victim of the confrontation between the two countries, he added. He claimed that during the past 60 years only the policy of pro-India and anti-India prevailed in the state and added that his party now offered a “pro-people agenda.” Referring to the issues before the new party ahead of the Assembly elections, Mir held that the youth were the most exploited lot in the state for the past six decades at the hands of mainstream and other parties. He lamented that the promises made to them were not fulfilled at any time adding that various employment avenues were not being created. He pointed out that hydropower was one of the major sectors that could be exploited. “We do need to get funds from the Centre,” Mir said and added that there was need to make the state self-reliant. Mir, representing Tangmarg constituency, who was expelled from the PDP earlier this year, is supported by another senior MLA Sarfaraz Khan and former National Conference member G.M. Bawan. The party’s office was also formally launched in Kursoo, Rajbagh on the occasion. |
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Hurriyat-Pak PM meet on cards
Srinagar, May 7 The invitation from the Pakistan side was expected to come any time and the team will be led by Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umer Farooq. The decision to meet the Hurriyat leaders was taken by the Pakistan Government after Gilani visited the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and met leaders of the amalgam across the border. —
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