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Assembly polls after Sept: Azad
Terrorism thrives in a sea of perceived injustice: Azad
Due to lack of infrastructure, schoolchildren are forced to study in the open in Gundla village in Jammu. Tribune photo: Anand Sharma |
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No stopping suicides in Army; now havildar shoots himself
Gujjars in state a neglected lot
Kundal to take oath as Cabinet minister
today
Woman ‘murdered’; in-laws claim she consumed poison
More posts: Traffic scenario may see some improvement
Workshop on ‘resolving conflict’
People await NC’s return: Leader
Dashmesh celebrates Raising Day
Geelani placed under house arrest
Loan of 1.60 lakh farmers to be waived off
Militancy: Police focuses on overground workers
Battery-operated carts power eco-tourism in Dachigam
Shrine board upgrades facilities
Air Force station conducts marathon
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Assembly polls after Sept: Azad
New Delhi, June 1 The term of the 87-member Jammu and Kashmir Assembly ends in mid-November. This is the only state in the country, which has a six-year tenure. Asked about the possibility of continuing the Congress’ alliance with the PDP in the polls, Azad said it was too early to say anything on it. “Let us see...it is too early to say...” he said. Despite bickering between themselves, the Congress and PDP have been running the government since 2002. As a rotational arrangement, in the first three years, PDP’s Mufti Mohammad Sayeed ruled the state as chief minister while Azad took charge of the office in 2005. Earlier, addressing the international conference on terrorism, Azad, without naming Pakistan, said there are some countries which sponsor violence to bleed another nation and this tendency needs to be checked through innovative strategy. “There are countries which support and sponsor terrorism and believe that they can bleed another country through a thousand terrorist cuts,” Azad said. He said terrorism brings glamour, power, prestige and access to wealth and women. “This is exploited by mentors who lure youths to become terrorists.” Talking of steps taken by his government to check incidents of human rights violation, Azad said several policemen, including a senior superintendent of police level officer, have been booked for their alleged role in custodial deaths of prisoners. “During the last two years, there has been no incident of custodial death in Jammu and Kashmir,” he said, adding, there were more cases of violation of human rights by terrorists than by security personnel. Azad said the most effective way of ensuring that terrorists were not able to exploit the sentiments of any section was by ensuring good and just and, above all, participatory governance. “The strategy against terrorism requires under-cutting the social base of terrorists by driving a wedge between them and their potential sympathisers,” he said. Azad said terrorists could be successfully destroyed only if public opinion, both at home and abroad, supported the authorities in regarding them as ruthless killers and criminals rather than heroes. “We must promote reconciliation and dialogue to resolve the tensions upon which terrorists feed. It is a matter of immense satisfaction that the state and Central governments have pulled-out all stops in tackling terrorism through political and economic measures, including rehabilitation and reconciliation,” he said. Observing that factors motivating terrorism are to be addressed in a holistic way, Azad said the government was committed to overcome it using political, diplomatic, humanitarian, economic, law enforcement, electoral reforms and counter-terrorism.
— PTI |
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Terrorism thrives in a sea of perceived injustice: Azad
Srinagar, June 1 Addressing the International Conference on “Terrorism: National & International" organised by the Jama Masjid United Forum in New Delhi, he said there were countries that supported and sponsored terrorism and believed in bleeding other country with a “thousand cuts”. He said the causes of real grievances were relegated to the background when terrorist groups took charge. “Thus what may have started of as a genuine campaign for justice becomes a hydra-headed monster that is divorced from the values of all civilizations”, he added. Terrorism brings glamour, power and access to wealth and women, and its mentors use it to lure youths. Quoting historian Sir Michael Howard, Azad said terrorism thrived in a sea of perceived injustice. He underscored the need to promote reconciliation and dialogue to resolve the tensions feeding terrorists, adding that the strategy against terrorism also required undercutting the social base of terrorists. He said the support to extremism and violence could be dried up by empowering the masses, involving them in the decision-making process and delivering justice to them. A large number of religious leaders, including Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama, SGPC president Avtar Singh, Archbishop of Delhi, Father Vincent M. Concessao and Shahhi Imam of Jama Masjid, Syed Ahmad Bukhari, took part in the conference. Chief Justice of Maldives, Muhammad Rashid Ibrahim, vice rector of Tashkent Islamic University, Shaislam Ikramovich
Akmalov, personal envoy of King Abdullah of Jordon, Muhammad Ali Daher, were among others who attended the meet besides, a number of political leaders. “We understand that the factors motivating terrorism are to be addressed in a holistic way and therefore we are committed to overcome it by taking political, diplomatic, humanitarian, economic, electoral initiatives and counter-terrorism measures. The results are inspiring for everyone to see in the state”, Azad said. |
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Does govt bother about its schools?
Gundla (Dhansal) June 1 The high school at Gundla is a prime example of the careless attitude of the state government towards providing better and quality education in the region. Surrounded by thick forests, the Gundla school is the only high school that caters to students of several villages. The students have to walk for more than 10 to 15 km to reach the school. And as the school is situated in one of the remotest corners of the region, no government official ever goes on a visit. Taking advantage of this, the school administration runs the institution in a haphazard fashion. “The school administration believes that it’s their personal property. As no government official comes on a visit here, the staff here comes and leaves
on its own,” says a local resident. “If there is a little bit of rain, the staff declares holiday. Majority of the
staff here remains absent,” he adds. Even after 10 years of being upgraded to the level of high school, the institution lacks required infrastructure. For 10 classes, it has only five rooms; five classes are held in classrooms and the rest in the open under the scorching sun. “This banyan tree has come as a blessing for these students, as five classes are held under this tree,” a teacher of the school tells The Tribune on the condition of anonymity. Surinder Koul, the headmaster of the school, rues administrative failure for not providing proper accommodation to the students, but her fully
furnished office tell a different tale. Her office occupies space of two classrooms whereas her pantry could have accommodated another classroom. “We had requested the headmistress to take a smaller room but she preferred this one. This room would have accommodated two classrooms,” said a teacher. Despite being a co-education institute, the
school doesn’t have proper toilets. The female students are forced to attend nature’s call in
the open. “It is very embarrassing for us to sit in the open; our repeated requests have turned futile,” said a Class X student. The lack of infrastructure and careless teaching have taken a toll on the performance of students. This year the pass percentage in Class X stands at 38 per cent. Because of the “poor performance” of the school, the parents in the region are withdrawing their children from the school. The strength of the students have fallen from 400
to 200. However the headmaster of the school blames poverty persisting in the area for the “poor performance” of the school. “The people here are poor, that’s why the pass percentage is very low here,” said
Koul. |
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No stopping suicides in Army; now havildar shoots himself
Jammu, June 1 In the latest incident, a senior havildar in the Army, posted in
Aknoor, committed suicide by shooting himself with his service rifle. This is a second such incident in past three days. According to Army sources, havildar Jaspal Singh, resident of
Raigarh, Nabha in Patiala, presently posted at 14 Sikhli in Aknoor shot himself with his service rifle at around 10 pm last night. On May 28, Swapnil Badane of Usmanabad
committed suicide for reportedly denial of leave. In the present case too, domestic problems followed by denial of leave by the higher ups compelled havildar Jaspal Singh to take the extreme step,
said sources. Though the ministry of defence (MoD) had adopted various measures to de-stress the soldiers deployed in tough areas like Jammu and Kashmir and the North Eastern states, the “rigid attitude” of the senior officers is said to be responsible for the increased rate in such incidents. “Despite the instructions passed by the MoD, there is a visible gap between the officer and the jawan; the officer to maintain his superiority keeps a distance from the jawan and because of the difference the jawan is not in a position to disclose his problems to the officers, thus he finds no option but to commit suicide,” a retired Army officer told
The Tribune. He said, “The need of the hour is to lessen the gap so that the jawan could tell the officer all his problems without any
hesitation.” The MoD has initiated various programmes, like opening of a 24-hour telephone helpline service called
“Sathi”, besides liberalising the leave by introducing spilt leave scheme and giving travel concessions to the jawans proceeding for leave. The MoD has been helping the children of the jawan to opt for their career. It has also introduced Yoga and other traditional meditations to de-stress the jawans. Besides all these measures the Army has been holding regular counseling sessions of the jawans with psychiatrists. A recent research conducted by the MoD had revealed that majority of the incidents of suicide take place as and when the soldier comes to know about the prevailing domestic problem. “The domestic problem followed by the denial of leave added with the unsympathetic attitude of the senior officers leave the soldier with no other option but to commit suicide,” an Army officer said. When contacted, Jammu-based PRO of the ministry of defence Lt-Col S.D. Goswami said, “A court of inquiry has been ordered in the recent incident to ascertain the reasons behind the suicide. Further an FIR has also been lodged in the local
police station.” |
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Gujjars in state a neglected lot
Udhampur, June 1 After a long struggle, the nomadic Gujjars of Jammu and Kashmir were granted Schedule Tribe (ST) status in 1991 by the then Prime Minister Chander Shekher. Despite enjoying ST status for the past 17 years, members of the Gujjars community alleged that they had been discriminated by the successive state governments for the past 60 years. “The Scheduled Tribe status, which was granted to the Gujjars during the Governor's rule in 1991, was of no benefit to us”, alleged Dr Javid Rahi, national secretary of the Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation (TRCF). He added, “The ruling elites in the state are biased with Gujjars so the ST status has not been properly implemented”. Echoing a similar viewpoint, another Gujjar leader Haji Shamsher Ali said “Till political reservation is not provided to the community, there is no meaning of ST status. Being a ST community, political reservation is the constitutional right of Gujjars”. He added that Gujjars had been facing starvation, poverty, illiteracy and unemployment. Master Tassadiq Hussain, member of the Gujjar-Bakerwal Advisory Board, was of the view that ruling elites in the state never tried to implement ST status properly. "Even the funds meant for tribal population have been diverted towards other sectors", he alleged. A survey conducted by TRFC, an organisation working on tribes with special focus on Gujjars, revealed that the representation of Gujjars in seven major institutions and government departments was almost nil. |
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Kundal to take oath as Cabinet minister
today
Srinagar/Jammu, June 1 Conforming reports of his resignation as chief secretary, Kundal said he would be administered oath at the Raj Bhawan by the Governor at 12.30 pm in Srinagar tomorrow. When asked what motivated him to take a plunge into politics, he said, “Social commitment to serve the people.” He has been tipped to get either the power or revenue portfolio, both of which don't have a minister of Cabinet rank. A 1972 batch IAS officer, Kundal after a brief stint as a Cabinet minister, may also get the Congress mandate to contest the next elections from Bishnah or R.S. Pura Assembly
constituencies, said party sources. Kundal, who belongs to the Scheduled Caste category, was to retire in February next year. Sources said Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad had been convincing Kundal to bid adieu to his government service and join the Congress. The Chief Minister believes that his party has a real chance of returning to power on its own and joining of Kundal would help consolidate crucial Dalit votes in his favour, the sources said. Besides, he enjoys a good equation with Azad. When he had appointed him as the chief secretary, Azad had projected it as a part of his effort to empower weaken section of the society. Meanwhile, S.S. Kapoor, a 1974 batch officer and home secretary, is likely to be the new chief secretary, official sources said. The state Cabinet will meet tomorrow morning and conform the appointment of Kapoor as the new chief secretary. Kundal will take oath after it, the officials said. Kapoor is the senior most IAS officer. A senior official refuted reports that Kapoor has already been appointed as chief secretary. “As of now Kundal is the chief secretary and any decision on his replacement will be taken only by the Cabinet,” he said. Jammu and Kashmir has a history of senior government officials, including retired civil servants, plunging into politics, but this is for the first time when a serving chief secretary decided to taste political waters and relinquished top bureaucratic assignment. Vijay
Bakaya, a Kashmiri Pandit and chief secretary during the previous National Conference governance, joined the NC last year and his party is likely to field him from Habba Kadal in Srinagar. |
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Woman ‘murdered’; in-laws claim she consumed poison
Rajouri, June 1 Earlier also, Mirza used to beat her. Even their neighbors had heard her cries, said the sources. This time he allegedly beat her up so mercilessly that she died, they added. The in-laws of Rasheela claimed that she died after consuming some poisonous substance in the morning. Meanwhile, Mirza was allegedly desperate to perform her burial but the parents of the deceased pushed for a police probe into the matter. They lodged a report with the Chingus police post. The sources said the police has brought the body to the district hospital Rajouri for postmortem. They added that it has also recorded the statement of the six-year-old daughter, who is said to be the eyewitness to the incident. The police sources said that there were no marks of external injury on the body of the deceased. The police has initiated inquest proceeding under section 174 CRPC and is also questioning her husband. Confirming the incident, DSP Headquarter, Rajouri, Kulwant Singh Jasrotia said the facts would come out only after getting the postmortem report.
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More posts: Traffic scenario may see some improvement
Jammu, June 1 In a state where 30,000 to 40,000 new vehicles add to the fleet every year, the traffic police was still on crutches with a small strength of 921 personnel. Talking to The Tribune, IG, Traffic, Mohammed Amin Shah said they had put up a proposal of sanctioning 1600 more posts before the government so as to ensure proper regulation of traffic in the state. He said in the first phase 600 posts would be created. The order is pending with the government and it may be issued shortly, said Shah. It may be mentioned here since 1982 the traffic police department has not been reorganised. “Certainly, with the strengthening of traffic police department frequency of road mishaps would come down,” said the IG, Traffic. He said being a mountainous state where roads are not only in bad shape but disproportionate to population of vehicles as well, road accidents could not be checked completely but strengthening the department with more manpower would certainly bring down their frequency. But it is easier said than done. Sources said the pitiable condition of the traffic police department could be gauged from the fact that it has just 350 odd personnel for the winter capital, which has nearly 4 lakh vehicles. “After Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad had taken strong exception to recent spurt in road mishaps in Kishtwar in which several people were killed, the finance department was asked to expedite the process of reorganising the department,” said an official of the finance department.
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Workshop on ‘resolving conflict’
Jammu, June 1 The workshop was conducted by renowned peace activist and consultant, WISCOMP, Ashima Kaul. Basant P. Tolani, Rashi Bhatia, Shahnawaz Choudhary and Augastya Bhatia were part of the workshop team from Yakjah. The workshop involved students and research scholars from the university and students from colleges as well. Students belonging to all regions of the state, including Turtuk, Leh, Kargil, Kashmir and Jammu, participated. Students said they had come to attend the workshop to understand the cause of conflict, differences in ideologies, lack of communication among people. They also worked in groups and discussed various kinds of conflicts. |
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People await NC’s return: Leader
Jammu, June 1 Addressing a rally here today, Sadhotra said, people of Jammu still remember the Kandahar episode and dubious role of the BJP that aggravated militancy in the state. He also described militancy and unemployment as babies of the Congress and lashed out at the PDP for what he claimed “giving sentimental slogans to the people.” “The PDP has always raised hollow slogans to befool the people. The latest slogan of allowing Pakistani currency in the state smacks of ill-conceived plans of the PDP and hence people should frustrate evil designs of such forces,” he said. These parties, he said, are power hungry and hence have no soft corner for the people. He claimed that the National Conference was the only party, which can ameliorate the condition of people in the state. |
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Dashmesh celebrates Raising Day
Rajouri, June 1 Speaking on the occasion, Col Ajai Sharma, leader of the Battalion redeemed their pledge and said, “Trust shown by the nation and the Regiment on our capabilities are a constant motivating factor for the troops and we are ready to take on any challenge”. TNS
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Geelani placed under house arrest
Srinagar, June 1 Party spokesman Aiyaz Akbar said a large number of police personnel had been deployed outside Geelani’s house to prevent him from going out. He said a senior police officer informed the Hurriyat Chairman that he had been put under house arrest, following orders from the higher
authorities. “We cannot do anything as we have orders not to allow you to leave the house till further orders,” the officer told Geelani. However, he said, Geelani was to attend a religious seminar at Barzulla in the uptown where 10 top students of all tehsils of Srinagar district were to read their papers on the life and teachings of Prophet Mohammad. Describing the house arrest of Geelani as direct interference in religious matters, Akbar said the seminar had nothing to do with politics or the on-going freedom movement in the state. He said such seminars were being held in Kupwara, Baramulla, Kulgam, Anantnag and other places for the past three months.
— UNI
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Loan of 1.60 lakh farmers to be waived off
Srinagar, June 1 A total of Rs 140 crore would be waived off under the scheme to improve the economy of farmers being considered the backbone of the economy, an official spokesperson said today. He said this was the second successful move after signing and implementing the Vaidynathan Committee Report in the state and hoped for positive results. This, he said, would not only improve the financial strength of the cooperative institutions, but also the farmers’ economic condition
in the state. Meanwhile, Dr G.N. Qasba, registrar Cooperatives, said the ADWADRS would definitely change the socio economy of
the farmers. He asked the bank managers to adhere to the rules and guidelines of the scheme strictly in order to derive better results. The landholding criteria under the scheme would be based on the total extent of land owned by the farmers either singly or as joint holder or the total extent of land cultivated by the farmer at the time of the loan’s sanction irrespective of any subsequent changes in ownership or possession. He said direct agricultural loan taken under Kisan Credit Card scheme would also be covered under ADWADRS subject to certain conditions, the scheme explains. There would be one time settlement option in the scheme under which the farmer would get rebate of 25 per cent of the eligible amount,
he informed. Dr Kasba said the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) would be the nodal agency for the scheme’s implementation in respect of scheduled commercial banks, urban cooperative banks and local area banks, while the NABARD in respect of regional rural banks and cooperative credit institutions.
— UNI
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Militancy: Police focuses on overground workers
Jammu, June 1 In some of the militancy-infested areas the JKP has already started focusing on OGWs, the 'backbone'
of militants. Official sources said the JKP had decided to concentrate on OGWs in the militancy-infested areas of the state because they were the ones who provided all sorts of logistical support to the militants. Under surrender policy of the state government, the police has decided to first convince these OGWs and then ask them to bring local militants back into the national mainstream,
they added. Since they are considered to be the backbone of militants, the JKP would ask OGWs to stop supporting militants and instead convince them to surrender, said a police officer. In the absence of any support, things would become harsher for militants, who in turn would have no option than to surrender before security forces or run for their lives,"
he added. He said in Rajouri, Poonch, Doda and Udhampur the JKP had already started concentrating
on OGWs. The OGWs prepare misguided youth for the 'freedom struggle' encouraging them to undergo arms training and join
militant ranks. Sources said besides logistic support to militants, which also includes movement of security forces, the OGWs also deliver messages, arms and at times become guides
of militants. Constantly devising strategies to crush militancy in the state, the JKP last year had experimented with laxatives to bring down militants from
upper reaches. It may be mentioned here that the gun-wielding militants quite often take shelter and food from people living in the upper reaches in militancy-infested districts.
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Battery-operated carts power eco-tourism in Dachigam
Srinagar, June 1 The minister said people all over the world were becoming more and more inclined to visit areas of wilderness in their quest to come close to nature and enjoy the tranquility and serenity of the nature. “Introduction of these carts in the national park is to offer undisturbed conditions to the wild animals and to cut on vehicular movement in the park,” he said. He said the carts would make visits to Laribal trout hatchery, bird
watching trekking, nature drive, safari drive etc. Meanwhile, Qazi disclosed that the government had notified about 16,000 sq km under the Protected Area Network (PAN) comprising five national parks, 14 wildlife sanctuaries and 35 conservation reserves. With a view to have a proper management plan for eco-tourism, jungle lodges and resorts, a Government of Karnataka undertaking has been assigned the consultancy services for survey and preparation of eco-tourism plan for Jammu and Kashmir.
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Shrine board upgrades facilities
Jammu, June 1 Official sources said in a bid to avoid inconvenience to the visiting pilgrims and to meet the demand of potable water, the shrine board had installed 250 drinking water points. “Everyday nearly 10 lakh gallons of water is being distributed through a well-designed water supply scheme,” they said. Following a huge influx of pilgrims, the shrine board has also been trying to maintain hygiene on the 22-km-long track leading to the cave shrine. Around 250 toilet blocks with more than a 1,000 employees had also been deployed to maintain round-the-clock hygienic sanitation, an official of the the shrine board said. Since the influx of pilgrims is increasing with
each passing day, the board has deputed additional staff at its seven eateries and 11 other refreshment points. Sources said the board had also arranged for free accommodation at different locations en route the track and at the Bhawan where 10,000 pilgrims would be accommodated. Similarly, 2,300 beds in dormitory accommodation, too, had been arranged. |
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Air Force station conducts marathon
Srinagar, June 1 The run was flagged off by Air-Vice Marshal R.D. Limaye (retd), who was a former Air Force Officer Commanding of the station. A large number of Air Force personnel, including their wives and children, participated in the run. Attractive prizes were distributed to winners by the chief guest. The run was preceded with a performance by the “Akash Ganga” skydiving team of the Indian Air Force nicknamed “Air Devils”. The celebrations would end with various sports activities planned for the personnel and their families from June 1 to 8, followed by a community lunch. |
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Rajouri, June
1
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