Jammu, June 11
As the stalemate between private transport operators and the state government completed the third day today, commuters in the region were worst hit as no party seemed to be ready to make any compromise.

Commuters in the state were worst affected as they were not able to find any means to travel from one place to another as hundreds of them got stranded.

The pilgrims to Vaishno Devi were hit hard as lakhs of them are stranded in Katra and other stations as they are not able to find any transport to return to their homes.

The hotel operators in the region have been taking undue advantage of the strike as they have been charging exorbitantly from these pilgrims.

“There is no one to care for us, we have been left stranded here and the hotel operators have also increased their tariff and have been charging us as per their wishes,” said Manoj Kumar, a resident of New Delhi who along with his family has been stranded in Katra for the past three days as he could not find any vehicle on his way back to Jammu railway station.

Many pilgrims had to cancel their railway reservations on phone as they were not in a position to make it in time to the railway station in Jammu.

Srinagar, June 11
Normal life was affected across the Kashmir valley on the third consecutive day of strike by private transporters, who were joined by traders today protesting against the fuel price hike.

Shops and other business establishments remained closed in the summer capital and other major towns of the valley in response to the call by the Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Federation in protest against price hike. It was also against the transfer of land by the state government to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board in Pahalgam and Baltal areas.

All the shops and business establishments remained closed and transport was off the roads. There was a thin attendance in many offices while the government offices, educational institutions and banks were closed in the valley on account of Khir Bhawani mela at Tulamulla in Ganderbal district near here today.

The Transport Welfare Association demanded increase in fare and freight.

Three wheelers continued to take undue benefit of the strike, charging more than double the normal rates.

The 'Chakka Jam' call was given by All Kashmir Transporters Welfare Association (AKTWA) in protest against the steep hike in diesel, petrol and other petroleum products.

The association demanded urged the government to restore subsidy on all petroleum products which had affected the people.

Meanwhile, the deadlock between the government and transporters continued even as the government had agreed to consider the demands put forth by the transporters. Now, the state government sought a meeting between its three-member committee and the representatives of the association on Friday.

Udhampur, June 11
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has started wooing activists of other political groups to create a space for the party in different belts of the Jammu region.

Like the Kashmir valley where party is concentrating on dissidents of the National Conference (NC), the PDP has been roping in grassroots level workers of the NC in the Jammu region also.

Last month, the PDP roped in about a half of dozen of sarpanches at Panchari in Udhampur district, which is considered as stronghold of the Panthers Party and the BJP. Today, the PDP organised a public meeting in this area in which more than 50 political activists of the NC and the BJP joined party.

In the function, Rajya Sabha member Trilok Singh Bajwa, minister of state for PHE and irrigation Manjit Singh and party general secretary Daman Bhasin were present.

Addressing the meeting, Bajwa called upon the party workers to spread message of the party in every part of the state. He pointed out that Jammu and Kashmir has been passing through a crucial face and it was high time to strengthen hands of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and Mehbooba Mufti to change fate of the people of this state.

He said due to its pro-people policies, the PDP has become voice of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and it was duty of party workers to counter malicious campaign launched by some vested interests against the party. Manjit Singh highlighted achievements of the coalition regime under the leadership of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.

Daman Bhasin cautioned the people against anti-peace forces and called for frustrating evil designs of these elements. Taking a dig at the BJP for launching a malicious campaign against the PDP, he reminded them that it was the BJP-led NDA regime headed by former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee who had supported the healing touch policy of the PDP coalition regime in Jammu and Kashmir.

Udhampur, June 11
Infuriated over derogatory remarks passed against Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh by a woman leader of the National Conference, activists of the Sikh Youth Federation today organised massive demonstration here. The enraged youth joined by a large number of women blocked Jammu-Srinagar national highway and demanded action against NC leader for hurting religious sentiments of the Sikhs.

The protesters lifted the blockade only after senior police officers rushed to the spot and pacified the agitating people. The police assured the protesters that action against NC leader would be taken if allegations proved true.

A senior police officer told The Tribune that the police had registered a case following a written complaint filed by the federation and started investigations to ascertain the real facts.

The women’s wing of the National Conference organised a demonstration against price rise on Tuesday. During the protest senior NC leader Madhu Verma allegedly passed some derogatory remarks against Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh while criticising economic policies of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government. She had allegedly passed some personal remarks against Dr Manmohan Singh.

Although the protest against price rise was passed off peaceful on Tuesday, this morning activists of Sikh federation took out a protest demonstration against NC leader for her derogatory remarks. A large number of women also joined the protest and sat in dharna on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway.

Addressing the people, Ranjeet Singh, a leader of the Sikh Youth Federation, took strong exception to the remarks passed by the NC leader and demanded action against her.

Srinagar, June 11
The strike by transporters in the state did not deter the devout Kashmiri Pandits from converging on the occasion of Jesht Ashtami festival (also known as Khir Bhawani festival) at Tulamulla. More than 50,000 pilgrims arrived in Ganderbal district near here today.

The festival concludes tomorrow after special prayers. Like in the past, it turned out to be a reunion of the migrant and local Muslim population. Besides, Jammu and Udhampur, devotees have also poured in from different parts of the country.

More than two lakh Pandits, who celebrate the festival with religious gaiety, migrated from Kashmir in the wake of militancy about 18 years go.

Though the number of pilgrims was stated to have crossed 50,000 since it started, the officials held that the number of pilgrims had been lesser than the last year.

It was a time to rejoice for many local Muslims as they offered their services and were seen busy in selling out various requisite items for the pilgrims around the place of worship over the past many days.

They were selling out “pooja thalis” and others for the pilgrims and found elated while talking to their Pandit brethren on the occasion. On the other hand many young pilgrims, who happened to visit the shrine at Tulamulla for the first time in their life, rejoiced to be in Kashmir and offer special prayers.

Separatist Hurriyat Conference leader Shabir Ahmad Shah was among the ministers, political leaders and senior civil and police officers who greeted the Pandit community members on the occasion.

The ministers and legislators included Qazi Mohammad Afzal, Mula Ram, Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed and Raman Mattoo. Director General of Police Kuldeep Khoda also visited the shrine and supervised the security arrangements on the occasion.

Jammu, June 11
Two days ago when 87-year-old Pandit Bhushan Nath boarded a bus, full of the Kashmiri Pandit pilgrims, to observe the annual Mela Khir Bhawani in Kashmir, it was an emotional moment for him.

This is for the first time that he is going to visit his ancestral Tullamula village in Ganderbal near Srinagar since migrating from the valley 18 years ago.

“I don’t know how many years I have, but my last desire is to bow my head in front of Maa Khir Bhawani at my birth place,” Nath had told The Tribune while embarking on the holy journey.

The annual Mela Khir Bhawani is considered to be one of the major festivals for the displaced Kashmiri Pandit community. This year too thousands of displaced Kashmiri Pandits had left for the Kashmir valley.

“This would be my first visit to Kashmir and to my birthplace after we were forced into exile 18 years ago when the armed insurgency erupted in the valley,” he said.

He said, “As the situation in Kashmir is slowly but steadily becoming conducive the Kashmiri Pandit community too would like to return back and lead a happy life there.”

The government had made elaborate security arrangements en-route the yatra for Mela Khir Bhawani where thousands of Kashmir Pandits had thronged to take part in the annual mela.

The group of pilgrims who had left for the valley also consisted the younger generation of the community who were going to the valley for the first time.

Seventeen-year-old Anamika Bhat, who was born a year after her family left the valley to lead a life in exile, was overjoyed to know that she was going to visit the Kashmir valley for the first time.

“I had only heard about the beauty of the valley from my elders or had only seen it either in pictures or on television, but I am really excited to know that I am actually getting a chance to visit the valley along with my parents,” Anamika had said while leaving for the day-long journey for the valley.

For thousands of Kashmiri Pandits who today paid their obeisance to their deity Mata Khir Bhawani, it was a dream come true as it gave them a hope of returning back to their roots.

“Our roots are in Kashmir and we are hopeful that with the blessing of the deity we would once again get connected with our roots,” Nath told The Tribune over the phone from Tullamula after performing the rituals there.

Katra, June 11
Even as there is a record increase in the number of pilgrims visiting the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine, the authorities concerned have failed to provide basic amenities to the pilgrims. More than 60 lakhs pilgrims visit this shrine every year.

The 15-km road stretch which connects Katra town with the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway through Domail is a glaring example of the apathetic attitude of the authorities towards providing facilities to pilgrims.

Being considered as a vital road link to boost tourism in the region, work on widening the 15-km road started in 2004 on a war-footing.

Later, the job of widening the road was handed over to the Border Road Task Force (BRTF) to complete it within a stipulated time frame. “Almost four years have passed but there are remote chances that the road will be completed by the end of this year”, Ramnesh, a shopkeeper said. He added that work on the road had been going on at a snail's pace.

The non-seriousness of the authorities can be gauged from the fact that even after four years, only 12 km of the road stretch has been completed.

It is pertinent to mention here that on February 1, 2003, chief engineer, SAMPARK, Brig S. Pangat had assured the then chief minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed that the road would be completed by the end of December, 2007.

It was only after his assurance that the job of widening the road was allotted to the BRTF. Furthermore, the Central government had allotted adequate funds for completing the road work.

The project was also enlisted in the Prime Minister's special package for the economic reconstruction of Jammu and Kashmir.

While as the local administration and the BRTF authorities are giving excuses for the inordinate delay, it is the pilgrims who are facing hardships. It takes nearly 45 minutes to cover a distance of 15 km as the stretch is bumpy and there are potholes all over the road.

“I am surprised to see the condition of the road which is so important as far as the pilgrimage is concerned”, regretted Satish Ahuja of Delhi, whose vehicle broke down near Katra.

Despite repeated attempts, officers of the BRTF refused to give comment over the inordinate delay in the completion of the road.

Udhampur, June 11
Deepa Bhardwaj, president of the Army Wives Welfare Association (AWWA), Northern Command, today flagged off an excursion of Veer Naris to Dalhousie and nearby places of interest. A total of 18 Veer Naris of Udhampur district- comprising widows or mothers of brave soliders who laid down their lives while fighting with militants, formed part of this trip organised under the aegis of the Northern Command, AWWA.

The trip is the outcome of requests made by the Veer Naris to Deepa Bhardwaj during their interaction with her.

According to Northern Command PRO Col D K Kachari, during this five-day trip, the Veer Naris besides visiting Dalhousie will also be visiting Panchpulla, Khajjiar, Chamba and other nearby places within the splendour and charm of the Dhauladhar ranges.

Badoi (Jammu), June 11
A progressive farmer and a pioneer in strawberry farming, Shyam Singh has added another feather in his cap by taking lead in raspberry cultivation in the Jammu region.

President of the Jammu and Kashmir Strawberry Growers Association Shyam Singh took to raspberry farming on one and a half kanal of land after getting its seeds from Uttar Pradesh.

He reaped a harvest of 1.5-2 quintals in his very first attempt and supplied 200-300 boxes of raspberry in the market that fetched him a price of Rs 15 per box. Encouraged with the result, he now intends to increase the area under raspberry cultivation to four kanals. “I had cultivated raspberry in summer this time. However, now I would go for it in winters too, as it could fetch impressive returns during that period,” he told The Tribune.

Shyam Singh said raspberry has more shelf life as compared to strawberry and it could be held back for two weeks after harvest and up to four weeks in winter season. “Strawberry has to hit the market within 24 hours of it being picked from the fields. The strawberry farmers could ill afford laxity. However, its not the case with raspberry, meaning that the farmers could hold back its supply to the market and release it when they are getting a good deal for it,” he averred.

Also the raspberry crop largely remains unaffected by weather. “A four-hour spell of rain is enough to devastate strawberry crop. But, raspberries could not be harmed by weather conditions so easily, as hufk (a sort of cover) provides the fruit a protective shield,” he said.

Next on this progressive farmer’s list are fruits like Noni and Papino, seeds of which he has procured from Andaman and Nicobar and Karnataka, respectively.

Prof R.M. Sharma of the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Jammu, said he had provided raspberry seeds to seven-eight farmers, including Shyam Singh. However, others failed to take the fruit to the market.

He said the weather conditions in the region are conducive for raspberry cultivation and the varsity would encourage the farmers to get its harvest twice in a year - May and November. He opined that November harvest could benefit the farmers a lot, as there are very few fruits available in the market during that period.

He said the raspberry crop could particularly benefit the farmers with small landholdings. “We’re setting up nurseries at the farms of a couple of farmers,” he added.