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Coalition govt not in state’s interest: Omar
Omar’s decision spurs resentment
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Mir forms team to select candidates
Power cuts lead to more demonstrations
Teachers under SSA without salary for 8 months
3 killed, 15 hurt in mishaps
Inspection panel formed
Sikh delegation meets political leaders
Soz forms manifesto, publicity panels
Panthers announce 3 candidates
Industry rues long power cut
Rice shortage hits Kishtwar
PPP chief serious, hospitalised
Gurta Gaddi Diwas celebrated
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Coalition govt not in state’s interest: Omar
Jammu, October 23 Addressing the media after welcoming former state BSP president Yashpal Bhagat into the party fold, Omar said: "Six years of Congress-PDP coalition in the state were an eye opener for the people when virtual non-governance had become the order of the day," he said, while adding that he was not thinking about forging an alliance with any party as of now. On the PDP's indecisiveness over contesting the poll, the NC chief said: "What the PDP is doing now is trying to make itself more relevant in the eyes of the people. I hope it contests the elections, as it has to answer the people's queries for what it did during its coalition rule." On the separatists' call for poll boycott, he said though they were free to give a call for boycott of the elections, they should not use force for implementing it. He said the Assembly elections would not lead to the resolution of the Kashmir issue but help address the people's day-to-day concerns. Responding to a query on poll observers, Omar said if foreign observers wish to visit the state they should be allowed to do so. He said the NC had full faith in the Election Commission which had taken suo motu notice of various activities, whether it be the recent transfers by the state administration or the "theatrics that the PDP tried to indulge in" over the cross-LoC trade. Declaring that Bhagat would be the party's nominee from Bishnah in the Jammu region, Omar said the party would come out with its manifesto within three or four days. Replying to a query on the party candidate, he said the list of party nominees would be a blend of the old as well as new faces. On the widening rift between Jammu and Kashmir regions in the aftermath of the Amarnath land row, Omar said it was the most tragic outcome of the land agitation and the government needed to take some steps to bridge the divide between the people of the two regions, particularly the trading community. |
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Omar’s decision spurs resentment
Jammu, October 23 Omar apparently announced Bhagat's candidature with an eye on nearly one lakh voters belonging to the weaker sections of society in the Bishnah constituency. Sources in the National Conference told The Tribune that Dr Kamal Arora, an old guard and NC candidate from Bishnah in 2002, had been made the sacrificial goat in this case. In 2002 Arora had given a close fight to the winning Jammu State Morcha candidate Ashwani Sharma. A party leader said Omar had picked up Yashpal Bhagat keeping in mind the considerable strength of poor and downtrodden people in the constituency. However, Dr Kamal Arora may part ways with the NC and contest as an independent as he did in 1996, he added. He said though Omar had taken a 'strategic' decision “I don't endorse such moves as it lowers the morale of other party workers, who after dedicating years of service, feel betrayed.” Sources in the party said that Bhagat's foray into the NC and then getting the mandate had already created a sense of resentment among the party rank and file. |
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Kuldeep Verma’s widow joins BJP
Jammu, October 23 Addressing a press conference in the presence of the party's J&K affairs' co-in charge R.P. Singh, state BJP president Ashok Khajuria announced that Shilpi had been given the party membership as a "tribute to the martyrs" of the land agitation. He said the party would welcome anyone from the families of other "martyrs" of the land agitation into its fold. When asked whether Shilpi would contest the elections on the party ticket, R.P. Singh said it would be too early to comment on the issue. However, he didn't rule out the possibility. He though made it clear that like any other BJP member she too would campaign for the party during the Assembly elections. R.P.Singh made it clear that the Amarnath land row would definitely be one of the electoral issues for the BJP, adding that other parties too would rake up the issue. To a query regarding the BJP "cashing in" on the land row, he said Shilpi believed in the party's ideology and therefore she joined it. He said the issues like Amarnath land and Ram Setu were not related to any particular state or community but to the entire country. Political observers feel that Shilpi's move to join the BJP would help the party woo women voters who constitute almost half the electorate. She may prove to be a crowd- puller, as women had participated in the land agitation in large numbers, they added. Kuldeep Verma had reportedly committed suicide by consuming a poisonous substance over the land row on July 23. |
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Mir forms team to select candidates
Jammu, October 23 Mir, a founder member of the PDP, was expelled from the party for his “anti-party activities”. Later he launched his own party - JKDP, which recently got the Election Commission’s nod. Mir said: “We have formed a seven-member committee to finalise the candidates for the first and second phases of the Assembly elections.” When asked to comment on how his party had been planning to woo voters in both the regions of the state, Mir said the poll slogan of the party would be “self reliance” of all regions of the state. Mir said: “Despite having so much potential, our state has become a consumer state. We are unable to exploit our own resources, so our party slogan for the Assembly elections will be self-reliance. Thus we can change our state from a consumer state to a
producer state”. He, however, did not rule out the possibility of his party entering into a pre-poll or post-poll alliance with any of the “like-minded parties”. “We are open for an alliance with like-minded parties but that will be done on the basis of merit,” Mir said.
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Separatists’ arrest triggers protests in valley
Srinagar, October 23 The arrests triggered protest demonstrations in the Maisuma locality in the central Lal Chowk area. Shops and business establishments in the area were forced to shut soon after they opened this morning. The youths protested and attacked a police party with stones. Normal life in the area remained affected throughout the day. Besides Malik, Ghulam Nabi Sumjhi of Hurriyat Conference and Showkat Ahmad Shah, president of the Jamiat-e-Ahl-e-Hadeeth were arrested. The leaders, representatives of the separatist coordination committee, led an anti-election rally at Hajan in Bandipore yesterday that coincided with the formal launching of an election campaign by NC president Omar Abdullah at Budgam in central Kashmir. The Mirwaiz-led APHC on Wednesday decided to launch a massive election boycott campaign describing the elections as a “futile exercise”. PTI adds: Malik and Showkat Shah were arrested in the wee hours today from their respective residences in Maisuma and Lal Bazaar areas of the city, the officials said. “The leaders have been booked under Section 13 of the Unlawful Activities Act,” Bandipora SP Shiekh Junaid said. Additional police and paramilitary forces have been rushed to the spot to bring the situation under control but pitched battles were continuing till last reports came in, the sources said adding so far there were no reports of any casualties. |
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Power cuts lead to more demonstrations
Srinagar, October 23 Meanwhile, a number of political, social and other organisations have strongly criticised the Power Development Department (PDD) chief engineer for calling consumers “electricity thieves” during a press conference here yesterday. People from almost all parts of the city and other areas of the valley alleged that for the past one week, they were facing power failure for hours without any prior information. The residents of Natipora, Batmaloo and Rainawari alleged that power supply in their areas was off for 20 hours daily for the past four days. Hundreds of people took to the streets in protest against the power cuts. Even residents of metered areas said frequent power failure had damaged costly electronic equipments. However, officials said there was about 30 to 40 per cent deficit in the generation and import of power against consumption in the state. They said the Centre had stopped excessive power supply to the state, leading to the present crisis. Several organisation have also demanded an apology from the chief engineer for his alleged remarks. Meanwhile, state secretary, CPM, Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, has expressed deep concern over the distress curtailment in power supply in the valley.
— UNI
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Teachers under SSA without salary for 8 months
Jammu, October 23 Now forced to raise their voice, around 3,000 teachers have decided to meet the Governor on October 29 to urge him to release their wages with immediate
effect. Gazi Abdul Aziz, president of Rehbar-e-Talim Teachers Forum, said they would also raise demands of
regularisation, payment of wages equal to the basic pay of the regular teachers. “The skyrocketing prices of essential commodities have broken our back. In such a situation, non-payment of salaries forced us to protest to ensure our survival,” said
Gazi. If the talks with the Governor fail, the employees would organise demonstration in Jammu at the opening of the Darbar next month, he added. He, however, said while resorting to demonstrations to highlight their demands, they would ensure that the education of children does not suffer. According to
Aziz, there are many cases of such ReT teachers who have died while completing five years of service required for their
regularisation. He demanded that SRO 43 may be extended to such families for providing employment to their legal heirs. Meanwhile,
G.A. Peer, Secretary School Education informed that A.K. Raina, project chief
SSA, has been instructed to address the problems of these employees and forward their case to the Government of India for regularisation of the
teachers. Raina did not say anything on the wages of ReT teachers. He said: “Wages have been paid to all regularised teachers. However, we are making a supplementary plan regarding the regularisation of ReT teachers, which we will submit to the Centre very soon.” |
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3 killed, 15 hurt in mishaps
Srinagar, October 23 Udhampur: Meanwhile, one person was killed and seven others were injured in a head-on collision between a tanker and a bus at Tikri near Udhampur on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway on Thursday. The deceased has been identified as Yashpal of Chenani. Police sources said a bus on its way to Srinagar from Jammu, collided with an oil tanker at Mand, Tikri on Wednesday night.
— Agencies/TNS
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Inspection panel formed
Udhampur, October 23 The team headed by assistant commissioner (revenue) R.S. Tara would also conduct surprise checking in the outlets to check the record register as well as stock available in there. The team is also authorised to check ration stock in the main CAPD stores. Local residents of Ramban have alleged that depots holders with the connivance of some officials of the CAPD Department have been pilfering the ration meant for poor and BPL families. The entire Ramban district is facing a shortage of ration in government-run depots due to the supply of half of the allotted quota. After large-scale complaints about selling of CAPD ration in the open market, Ramban deputy commissioner A.S. Shanas inspected outlets at Kundi, Maligam, Pogal and other areas. |
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Sikh delegation meets political leaders
Jammu, October 23 The delegation was in Kashmir on October 18 to 22 they took up the rights of minorities in Kashmir with Governor N.N. Vohra and political outfits. Jaswant Singh said: “We submitted a memorandum to the Governor in which we enlisted the grievances of Sikhs residing in the valley.” The delegation also met separatist leaders in the valley including Yaseen Malik and aides of Syed Ali Shah Geelani. Mann said: “We also met Omar Abdullah and BJP state president Ashok khajuria and discussed the issues pertaining to the minorities in the state.” Mann further said that they would hold an international convention at Delhi in the second week of January where all these political groups of Jammu and Kashmir have agreed to come. |
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Soz forms manifesto, publicity panels
Jammu, October 23 The manifesto committee comprises chairman Mangat Ram Sharma, co-chairman Amrit
Malhotra, Krishan Amla, B.R Kundal, Bashir Ahmad Magrey, Mohammad Muzaffar
Paray, Sham Lal Sharma, Shah Mohammad, Rigzin Jora, Amreen Badr, Mohammad Maqbool and Ghulam Nabi Mir
Lasjan. The publicity committee comprises chairman Peerzada Mohammad
Sayeed, co-chairman Gulchain Singh Charak, Thakur Hari Singh, Ghulam Nabi
Monga, Yashpal Khajuria, Ravinder Sharma, Abdul Majid Padder, Amolak Singh, Farooq Indrabi and Chenni Singh. |
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Panthers announce 3 candidates
Jammu, October 23 Meanwhile, Jagdev Singh, vice-president, District Congress Committee, Kathua, today joined the Panthers Party. |
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Industry rues long power cut
Jammu, October 23 At the meeting last evening, CCI members expressed resentment against the the PDD authorities for enforcing long power cuts in Jammu and other areas in the region. People are facing hardships and feeling deceived as the department and the government had repeatedly asserted that after the installation of a new transformer at Gladni, there will be no curtailment and the consumers will get relief, the members said. Unfortunately, the PDD authorities had again started making excuses for enforcing a 13-hour power cut which was hitting every section of society, the members noted. The CCI members urged the state government to look into the matter and review its decision.
— UNI |
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Rice shortage hits Kishtwar
Udhampur, October 23 Since the past three months, the Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD) department has not supplied rice to its outlets, due to which poor and BPL families have been facing hardships. A deputation of the residents of Kishtwar yesterday brought the matter to the notice of Mehboob Iqbal, commissioner secretary, CAPD, who visited Kishtwar to review the stock of ration and other essential commodities in the district for the winter season. |
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PPP chief serious, hospitalised
Srinagar, October 23 Doctors attending on War said he had lost his right eye and his left eye would also lose vision if immediate treatment was not given to him. A PPP spokesman said War was shifted to the hospital after he complained of acute pain in the abdomen on October 17.
However, he was later shifted to SMHS hospital where doctors detected a 5 mm stone in his
left kidney. War was arrested on July 26 after blasts took place at Gulmarg on July 20 and Batmaloo on July 21 in which several people were killed.
War also participated in a demonstration during the Amarnath land row despite being in jail that time.
— UNI |
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Gurta Gaddi Diwas celebrated
Srinagar, October 23 Renowned littérateur Mohammad Yousuf Teing, Punjabi writers Sewa Singh, G.S. Gulshan and Ajit Singh Mastana and academy secretary Zaffar Iqbal Manhas were also present on the ocassion. Speaking on the occasion, Sewa Singh said Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th Guru, affirmed the sacred text Adi Granth. He said from then onwards, the text not only remained the holy scripture of the Sikhs, but for all who believe in peace and prosperity. |
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Maintaining that his father, Farooq Abdullah, would be the party's chief ministerial candidate, NC president Omar Abdullah said today that coalition governments were not in the state's interest and only a stable government under his party was better placed to address concerns of the people here.
