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Govt asks Pandits to give land location
Land controversy hits govt at crucial time
Amarnath yatra resumes after brief suspension
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Revive silk route for regional cooperation: Mehbooba
Time has come for me to hang up my boots: Sinha
Relations between Cong, PDP at lowest ebb
Towers to block Pak radio signals
Sufi festival mesmerises audience
Principal secy’s communal remarks draw flak
Morcha workers burn effigies of other parties
Probe reveals youth committed suicide
SPO commits suicide
4 ultras killed
Police to purchase bullet-proof jackets
Land price revision sought
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Govt asks Pandits to give land location
Jammu, June 20 "Has the land changed its position ever since we migrated from the Kashmir valley 18 years ago", asked R.L. Bhat national vice president of the Jammu and Kashmir Vichar Manch, an organisation of the displaced Kashmiri Pandits. Last month after the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh announced Rs 1,600 crore relief and rehabilitation package for the displaced community, the relief commissioner's office in the city had issued forms to be filled in by the migrant community showing their willingness to return and to give the details of the property. But the community blames that the forms issued have various discrepancies in it. "The information about the location of the land at the time of migration and the location of the same land at present shows the seriousness of the government in addressing our problems, secondly it's a plain form and no government department has placed its seal or header on it, so who is responsible no one knows", he said. The community alleged that both the state and central government playing a "mockery" with their "miseries" since more than 12,000 migrated pandits have retired from their services and with the announcement of providing only 6,000 jobs they are returning only the 50 per cent of what belongs to them. He says that the government has initiated the process of filling in the forms for jobs and return of the community at the time when the present government has only three months at its disposal. "During the previous NC government they collected 16,000 such forms and later they went out of power and after the PDP came into power the forms were disposed off in a dustbin, now the Congress government is repeating the same drama and they are playing with our sentiments", Bhat said. The government should start direct recruitment of the jobs as announced by the Prime Minister in
his package. |
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Land controversy hits govt at crucial time
Srinagar, June 20 Even as the government has come out with an explanation on the “diversion” of forest land to the SASB, it has come under severe criticism from the opposition and mainstream political parties. Senior PDP leader and deputy Chief Minister, Muzaffar Hussain Baig, had made it clear that 39.88 hectares of land was only diverted to the SASB for “raising pre-fabricated structures only for camping purposes of pilgrims.” The order issued on May 26 stated that the proposal had been cleared and approved by the advisory committee held under the chairmanship of the chief secretary on July 12, 2007. It stated that the proprietary rights were not changed, and “the land shall not be transferred to any other agency without approval from the Forest Department”. However, certain columns in the list of 14 terms and conditions laid by the government were believed to be of an ambiguous nature. “The user agency shall construct complete retaining/breast walls on the both sides of the road/railway line/earth work/tunneling etc., and take other necessary steps, so as to minimise soil erosion/land slips. In this regard the user agency shall seek technical guidance from the director, Soil Conservation Department”, it stated. Elaborating on the government order, Baig said the SASB in the past four years had at least communicated six times to the government and sought requirement of the land. There had been a continuous pressure and even its coalition partner, the Congress had pressurised by deferring an order on the construction of the Mughal Road, which had since been cleared by a Supreme Court’s order. The silence maintained by the government even after issuance of the order had created doubts among the public and the mainstream and separatist organisations. The copies of the government order were circulated among the mediapersons to make it clear that there was no violation of the Supreme Court’s guidelines or any violation of the special status under which the land could not be transferred to non-state-subjects. Baig said the government had not transferred land but only diverted it for the SASB and it was a non-state subject. The coalition government has been caught on a wrong foot by the opposition National Conference, as former chief minister Farooq Abdullah yesterday sought an immediate withdrawal of the order to save the situation from further worsening. Mirwaiz Umar Farooq while addressing a Friday congregation at the Jamia Masjid here today blamed the ruling parties for contrary statements on the issue. “These parties were using the issue to mislead public in the forthcoming elections,” Mirwaiz alleged. |
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Amarnath yatra resumes after brief suspension
Srinagar, June 20 The tracks to the 12,750-ft-high cave shrine had became slippery after a downpour in the morning which forced suspension of the annual yatra and left thousands of pilgrims stranded at various points, officials said. Official added that pilgrims were later allowed to move on the traditional 46-km Pahalgam and shorter 12-km Baltal routes with improvement in the weather. They said the sun shone bright in the afternoon and the yatra progressed smoothly after remaining suspended for a few hours. Pilgrims also headed for the cave shrine from Baltal and Nunwan base camps, but no fresh batch was allowed out of Jammu base camp, the officials said. Nearly 65,000 pilgrims have paid obeisance to the Shivalingam at the cave shrine.
— PTI |
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Revive silk route for regional cooperation: Mehbooba
Srinagar, June 20 Mehbooba said this in her address at the conference on “Cross-border cooperation between India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran”, at Berlin yesterday. At the conference, Mehbooba suggested that a regional silk route economic cooperation project could include oil and gas pipelines, a separate independent communication corridor, free trade by abolishing barriers, harmonisation of trade facilitation procedures, increased accessibility and regional-level capacity building. She suggested convening a “Silk Route Investment Forum” preferably in Jammu & Kashmir to kick-start
the process. This, she said, could also serve as an effective platform for resolution of ethnic, religious, interstate, and intra-regional conflicts and support political, economic, and security cooperation in Central Asia and the South Caucasus in the interest of fostering regional stability through economic
interdependence. She said the region could coordinate in developing indigenous defence capabilities, securing borders, and implement effective controls to prevent the proliferation and trafficking of weapons and narcotics. Mehbooba said energy could bring the cluster of region’s distant neighbours together. “Extensive trade relations with the energy-producing states of Central Asia will enhance the subcontinent's accessibility to diversified energy resources, thereby strengthening its energy security,” she said. Mehbooba said if the proposed gas pipeline between Iran, Pakistan and India worked out well, it could lay the foundation for a long-lasting energy cooperation in the region. She said the Central Asian oil and its demand in the Indian market could become another lifeline for peace and cooperation in the region which could build considerable economic stakes for the people of India, Pakistan and Afghanistan. Mehbooba said, “Through such cooperation, the region can become an energy cauldron, coordinating business community projects and promoting investment opportunities in trade as well as infrastructure for the production, transportation, and refining of energy and petrochemicals.” She said other areas included agricultural development, handicrafts, infrastructure planning, construction, democratic development, banking, finance and legal reform. Mehbooba added that the Silk Route held special significance for the state. She said the closure of traditional routes, connecting Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of the world, had acted as a severe constraint on the economic dynamism of Kashmir. “We will need an access to Mansarovar and China through Ladakh and a link to Central Asia with Kargil as the take-off point and restore Kashmir's only link through non-snow area to explore traditional markets beyond Pakistan with rest of the region,” she said. |
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Time has come for me to hang up my boots: Sinha
Srinagar, June 20 “Time has come for me to hang up my boots”, Sinha said at the farewell dinner hosted by Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad in his honour
here yesterday. Sinha recalled his association with the valley ever since 1947. He attributed his keenness of history to his stay in Kashmir. He said early days were difficult as no transistors or helicopters were available and he spent most of the time in pickets in different parts of Kashmir. Lauding the Army, Sinha said the Army had performed a commendable job in restoring peace in the state. He said he wanted to construct a museum at the Badami Bagh Cantonment in Srinagar to showcase the Army’s services in the state. He also praised the J&K Police for its excellent role and said it was the only force to have been awarded colours by the President. Calling himself as a policeman by birth and soldier by profession, he said he felt proud of both the Army and the state police. Earlier, the Chief Minister said that he was highly impressed by Sinha’s personality, who had a remarkable memory and amazing knowledge of history. The Chief Minister complimented the Governor for his keen interest in the development of education in the state and said convocations of various universities held during his tenure were far more than held during the past several decades. He said as the Chancellor, Sinha was actively involved in university affairs. Dr Karan Singh, former Governor and president, Indian Council for Cultural Relations, and leader of the opposition in the State Assembly, Abdur Rahim Rather, also spoke highly of Sinha. Dr Karan Singh said Sinha was a distinguished soldier, ambassador and Governor and hoped that people would continue to benefit from his wisdom. |
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Relations between Cong, PDP at lowest ebb
Jammu, June 20 The deputy chief minister of the state and the senior leader of the People’s Democratic party has gone to the extent of saying that his party was “blackmailed” by the two ministers of the Congress party that they would stop the construction work on the Jammu-Srinagar Mughal road if the land was not transferred to SASB. Saying this was not enough, Beigh even filed a case against the Principal Secretary to the Governor who is the CEO of the SASB for passing remarks which were “communal in nature.” This was not for the first time when the relations of the two ruling alliance partners in the state have been at the lowest ebb, in the recent past both the parties have even come to snapping the ties with each other over the issue of demilitarisation in state. PDP patron and former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed had even threatened to snap the ties with the Congress party if its demand of demilitarisation were not met and it was only after Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh formed a high-level committee to look into the issues of demilitarisation in the state that the situation had come to normal. Even the BJP had advised the Congress to snap ties with the PDP over the land transfer controversy and had asked the government to stop the construction work on the Mughal road. “If such are friends, who needs the enemies,” A senior opposition National Conference leader said while commenting on the crisis between the two partners in the ruling coalition alliance. Experts comment that the coalition government was running on compulsions as both the parties that formed the alliance after the 2002 assembly elections as the policies of both the parties were “poles apart.” In the coming days the crisis over the transfer of forest land to SASB is expected to gain momentum following the statement of the deputy chief minister, saying that the land has not been permanently transferred to SASB, instead it was given on temporary basis. Meanwhile, opposition National Conference has started exploiting the issue to cash in on the valley-based voters. |
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Towers to block Pak radio signals
Rajouri, June 20 Sources in the district administration here and in Poonch districts divulged that a team of officers comprising Manager, AIR (broadcast), Northern India, an intelligence officer and a senior police officer of the state had toured the forward areas in these twin border districts in a defence ministry aircraft on last Monday for exploring sites for installation of jammers to block airing of Pakistani radios. The touring team had also met deputy commissioners of these two districts for discussing their agenda, the
sources added. "The government will get installed nine towers in these twin districts for jamming the radio signals from Pak. These jammers will block the radio signals from Pakistan Radio, Mirpur FM Station, Muzzafarabad FM Station, Kral Khal FM and Sada-e-Hurriyat Kashmir,” a highly placed source said. "Since the jammers will block the radio signal, the Pakistan's propaganda will not traverse to this side of LoC in these districts. A senior officer in the district administration confirmed that a team had toured the twin districts but refused to divulge much. |
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Sufi festival mesmerises audience
Srinagar, June 20 The Governor Lt-Gen S.K. Sinha (retd), as also chairman of the SASB, while highlighting the importance of music said it transcends all barriers and reached the hearts of people. He said Sufism linked the soul with the creator and spread the message of brotherhood, peace, amity and tolerance. The Governor said Amarnath pilgrimage was a symbol of Kashmir's rich pluralistic ethos, through which the message of togetherness and peace spread all along. Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad highlighted the initiatives taken by the Governor over the past four years for inviting different artistes and cultural troops from neighbouring countries and Central Asia for showcasing their culture. He said the aim for organising such festivals was to highlight the concept of love, peace
and patience. |
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Principal secy’s communal remarks draw flak
Srinagar, June 20 It also sought the Governor’s clarification on the issue of the offence committed by his principal secretary at a press conference held at the Raj Bhawan yesterday. Deputy Chief Minister Muzaffar Hussain Baig, who also holds the law portfolio, said Arun Kumar, a senior IAS officer and the chief executive officer of the SASB, had made “certain statements intended and likely to create communal disharmony” in the state. Baig added that Kumar had also criticised the role of the Cabinet and some ministers, for which disciplinary action should be taken. He said a report had been lodged in the court for disciplinary
proceedings. “This officer is a disgrace to the bureaucracy, the state and the SASB”, Baig said. This, he said, was for the first time that a senior bureaucrat had tried to communalise the situation. Baig said,” The IAS officer made certain remarks like “Muslim pollution and Hindu pollution” and compared Haj with littering of pollution in Baltal and Pahalgam.” “The issue does not concern one political party or the other or the separatist Hurriyat Conference. By accession we have not mortgaged our honour”,
Baig remarked. |
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Morcha workers burn effigies of other parties
Jammu, June 20 Expressing resentment over the statements of NC and PDP leaders, district BJYM president Rajesh Gupta alleged it was the Congress which was encouraging the Kashmir-based leaders to utter such provocative words that hurt the sentiments of crores of Hindus all over the world. He said if the Congress was not hand-in-glove with the NC and the PDP it should snapped its ties with the latter. He said "Repeated statements from PDP and NC leaders and no reaction from the Congress is a clear proof that the Congress is compromising on the communal agenda of the valley-based leaders
for remaining in power." BJYM mandal president Sanjiv Gupta warned the parties like the Congress, the NC and the PDP to desist from hurting the
sentiments of Hindus for their political gains, adding that the Yuva Morcha will take to roads if the Kashmir-based
leaders didn't not stop playing the communal card. |
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Probe reveals youth committed suicide
Rajouri, June 20 Sources in the district administration who accessed the inquiry report submitted by the inquiry officer to the state government confirmed that youth Abdul Rasheed arrested by the police on charges of murder who died inside a police station had committed suicide and was not murdered by the police. However, the inquiry officer has reportedly found that the police personnel deployed at the police station as also its SHO were negligent since they couldn't prevent the incident to happen, they added. Rasheed along his two brothers Sakhi Mohd and Muneer Hussain, was picked up from his village on May 8 last year in connection with the killing of Kashmir Singh and Chain Singh, of the same village, who were beheaded by unidentified gunmen, while cutting wood in Kala Gawa forests in the Daryal area on April 21 last year. After the police had arrested them following their alleged established involvement in the murder of the two, Rasheed had asked the cops to open the lockup as he wanted to use the washroom. "Before entering the washroom, he managed to take along a knife from the kitchen just close to the washroom. After some time a police constable went inside the washroom where he found Rashid lying in a pool of blood", sources had said. Later, Rashid was shifted to local hospital from where doctors referred him to district hospital at Rajouri. He died on way to the hospital, the sources added. The then SSP, Rajouri, Farooq Ahmed Khan, had ordered the immediate suspension of in charge of Budhal police station and the guards on duty. The deputy commissioner, Rajouri, Sheikh Rafiq, had ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident. Confirming that the district administration has received an inquiry report from investigating officer, a senior officer told The Tribune that the district administration would recommend action against the then SHO, Buddhal Police Station. |
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SPO commits suicide
Poonch, June 20 Sources in the police department said Ashfaq Ahmed, son of Muhammad Latief (bearing registration number-61) of Ghambir Muglan was having strained relations with his wife over frequent visits of her cousin to their residence. "The SPO on many occasions had objected to frequent visits of cousin of his wife to their place but the wife was relentless. Depressed by this behaviour, the SPO brought the matter to the notice of family elders and a meeting was convened on Thursday to discuss the issue, police sources claimed. On Thursday when no one from couples families turned up for the meeting, the depressed SPO after offering night prayers, went inside his room after informing his wife that he should not be disturbed, sources added. In the morning, sources said when the SPO didn't come out of his room, the wife got suspicious and informed landlords who informed the police. After reaching the spot, the police broke open the door and found the SPO dead. |
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4 ultras killed
Srinagar, June 20 In another operation in Handwara, security forces killed a Lashkar-e-Toiba commander who was running the LeT operation
in Sopore. The police said it learnt that militants were hiding in the house of Ghulam Mohiuddin Lone. When the joint party approached the house the militant opened indiscriminate fire. Militant Mehboob Ahmad Afraidi alias Jugnu was killed.
— TNS |
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Police to purchase bullet-proof jackets
Jammu, June 20 Official sources said that this step was being taken to keep the police ready for meeting any eventuality during the election due in October.The police has also decided to procure 40,000 woollen blankets,15000 khaki ‘jersies’,20,000 barret caps,15000 pairs of hand gloves,20,000 woollen vests and 50,000 woollen socks for the force. In addition to this,the police plans to purchase 50,000 metres woollen khaki cloth for perparing uniforms for the cops. |
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Land price revision sought
Jammu, June 20 The occupants have been asked to pay Rs 30 lakh to Rs 1.5 crore per
kanal. "Many farmers associated with the ruling class and occupying hundreds of kanals of the government land have been charged at the rate of Rs 100 per
kanal," stated the release. The morcha asked the government to revise its decision and fix reasonable price of the government land in the city. |
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