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State unit of Janata Party dissolved
Leh’s geothermal energy potential lying untapped
This Kashmiri takes the battle to people’s court
Ultra’s Escape: Three policemen detained
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Allotment of Ticket
Cong claims on development
questioned
Militancy hits voter turnout
RKSP to contest 50 seats
Dumping ground a bone of contention
‘Jamia Chalo’ Today
Names of 23 Haj aspirants not cleared
Cong banks on development to garner support
Ceasefire Violation
Cong workers protest ticket distribution
1870 animals treated at vet camp
Vohra reviews poll arrangements
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State unit of Janata Party dissolved
New Delhi, November 5 "The dissolution has become necessary after a media sting operation which reported that state unit president Som Nath Dabgotra had unauthorisedly made an appeal in the name of the party's working president Vijay Mallya calling for applications from those wanting to be candidates of the party in the assembly elections," he said in a statement issued here. Quoting newspaper reports, Dr Swamy said Dabgotra had informed the media representatives posing as candidates that if they gave Rs 5 lakh for a ticket, he would ensure that they would get Rs 25 lakh worth of campaign support, a car, security cover from the government and even a house. "Upon inquiry from Dabgotra, he failed to contradict the reports," Swamy said. "Such gross commercialisation of the process of selecting candidates is unacceptable to the Janata Party. Even if the party has undergone a decline in voter support and has become small, those of us who are founder members and had fought against the state of Emergency declared by Indira Gandhi, are still committed to the values on which Jayprakash Narayan had founded the party," Dr Swamy said Swamy said party general secretary Jagdish Shetty had been authorised to select candidates, if any, from those who were genuine and had been part of the party for some time.
— UNI |
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Leh’s geothermal energy potential lying untapped
Leh, November 5 Experts with their informed guesses have put the potential of the area’s geothermal energy at 5 MW to 50 MW or even more, reports on which have filled up many official files over the years, but a real exercise to dig out the concrete evidence to quantify its power and tap it remains a dream for almost every Ladakhi,
almost fed-up with the delay and lack of result. LAHDC chairman Chhering Dorje told The Tribune that a group of IITians had visited the area and made an affirmative decision on Changthang’s geothermal potential but “bossy and recalcitrant” attitude of the state government remains a hindrance. The fight between the state and LAHDC is, it seems, is over their eagerness to adopt the potentially power-rich project. Dorje says the LAHDC’s act makes it clear that the council and not the state has legal right to pursue non-conventional sources of energy, which a geothermal project is. “The state wants its power corporation to start the pilot project which we are totally opposed to. We have been spending our resources to pursue this project. Why should we allow the state government to walk with credit and a say,” he said. The Ministry of Non-Conventional Sources had also made an expert group earlier to study the feasibility of the project and it has made positive statements in this regard. And as it got increasingly certain that the area is sitting over a power house, the tug of war between the LAHDC and state has deepened. A state government official said the LAHDC has been “immature” in its conduct and added the work has been hindered for several reasons. “It requires coordination of several agencies and we are hopeful,” he said. Power-starved Leh, which largely depends on diesel generators and solar energy for a few hours of daily electricity supply, had been looking to this project to feed its energy needs. However, the Central government has started two major hydel power projects in Leh and Kargil districts, with 44 and 45 MW potentials, on the Indus and Suru valley. In two years, they would begin generating power which would be much more than what whole Ladakh region require. The geothermal sources, it seems, would continue to
lie dormant. |
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This Kashmiri takes the battle to people’s court
Srinagar, November 5 Iqbal Jan, who was arrested in New Delhi in November, 2006, for allegedly carrying hawala money for militants, has thrown his hat in the electoral ring, hoping to carry people with him while projecting him as a victim of India's alleged highhanded and biased policies against Kashmiris. Separatists are playing up similar charges against India and are channelising public anger for their election-boycott campaign, so Iqbal Jan's agenda, though confined to a small place and is more personal, is a bit of worry for them. "Fighting elections is not something we will like victims of state's brute power to do. But we can't stop people," Hurriyat (M) leader Javed Mir says. The participation of Iqbal Jan, who hails from an average family and was running a private business before he and a friend were arrested in Delhi, has made elections interesting in this north Kashmir district, more so as the present incumbent of the seat is also a militant-turned-politician, Usman Majid. Iqbal Jan is fighting on the Panthers Party's ticket, a Jammu-based regional outfit with little political base in Kashmir. Despite its nationalistic rantings, Bhim Singh-led Panthers Party has often expressed its displeasure over the arbitrary arrest of Kashmiri youths on subversive charges and has put up Iqbal Jan to register its presence in Kashmir, where it has no representation. "We wanted freedom for Iqbal from jail. We got no support from anybody and then Panthers Party leaders approached us, saying they would help in his release. We grabbed it," a family member said, not willing
to be quoted. As many as 19 candidates are in the fray in Bandipora, where the participation in elections has been much higher compared to urban Kashmir. It will go to the polls
along with nine other assembly seats, three in Poonch, four in Ladakh and the rest in Bandipora district, on November 17. |
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Ultra’s Escape: Three policemen detained
Srinagar, November 5 The detained cops are head constable Manzoor Ahmad and constables Mohd Rouf and Abdul Majid, official sources said. But it is not clear if they have been formally charged in abetting the escape of Kachroo, an expert in improvised explosive devices (IED) and behind the killing of over 20 Army personnel, including a major, and CRPF personnel in a series of blasts. Some woman suspects are also being questioned as, it is suspected, that a woman accomplice passed a pistol to Kachroo yesterday with which he fired at cops. One of them, Sonam Dorje, has suffered serious injuries. Heavy deployment of security forces has been effected across the Pulwama district, which is Kachroo’s operational area, to trace the fugitive. His escape is a major blow to anti-insurgence operation, especially in the south Kashmir, as he is likely to rally the fragmented network of HM and could carry out lethal attacks. |
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Allotment of Ticket
Jammu, November 5 Begum Akbar Jahan, wife of Sheikh Abdullah, was elected to the Lok Sabha twice, once from Srinagar in 1977 and then from Anantnag in 1984.She was followed by PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, who got elected to the Lok Sabha in a byelection from Anantnag in 2003.Earlier, she was elected to the Assembly in 1996 and 2002. The bias against the fair sex has been displayed in the forthcoming Assembly elections also. So far, the BJP has cleared the name of, Shilpa Verma, widow of Kudeep Verma, who committed suicide during the two-month-long Jammu agitation. Giving the party ticket to Shilpa was part of the BJP plan to cash in on the sacrifice of her husband because she was not a member of the party. The BJP had selected Nirmala Sharma from Kalakot but her name was dropped three days ago. As far as the Congress, the NC and the PDP are concerned they too have exhibited their bias against women. It may be just Mehooba Mufti who would contest on the PDP ticket. For the first time, the Panthers Party has given its mandate to four women candidates from Marh, Kishtwar, Poonch and one in Kashmir. Party general secretary Harsh Dev Singh said today that he had tabled a Bill in the Assembly last year, seeking reservation of some seats for women. He berated the NC, the Congress and the PDP for having opposed the adoption of his Bill. It was during the time of Sheikh Abdullah that two women were to be nominated to the Assembly. When compared to the Kashmir valley more women from the Jammu region have got elected from time to time to the Assembly and they included Ms Suman Bhagat, Kanta Andhotra, Swaran Lata, Gurbachan Kumari Raina and others. This time Kanta Andhotra, who was a member of the last Assembly, has been given the ticket from Basholi. Harsh Dev Singh said "we have 33 per cent reservation for women in the panchayat committee elections and the same quota needed to be introduced in the Assembly poll.”
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Cong claims on development
questioned
Jammu, November 5 Addressing a meeting of party activists here today, senior BJP leader and former union minister Chaman Lal Gupta said the pathetic state of basic amenities in various areas of the state belied the tall claims of development made during the previous Congress regime, especially when Congress leaders are seeking votes on the issue of secularism and development works carried out by their government. He alleged that the menace of terrorism and secessionism had assumed alarming proportions, but the Congress never had any clear policy on Kashmir as the Congress leadership was "always swayed under pressure from secessionists and other elements". In this connection, the BJP leader particularly recalled that on the issue of land allotment to the Amaranth Shrine Board, the Ghulam Nabi Azad government, including his ministers from Jammu, bowed before the separatists, including the pro-Pak Hurriyat Conference and the PDP, who joined hands to demonstrate unity of sentiments of separatism. "This had forced the nationalist people of Jammu to demonstrate their national will and to make it clear that Jammu would no more bow before any injustice, especially when faith is endangered for appeasing the separatists," he added. Referring to the problems of drainage and sanitation, Gupta pointed that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had announced a package of Rs 24,000 crore for the state in 2004. The package also included Rs 1470 crore for sewerage and upgrading sanitation in Jammu city but during all these years the coalition did not provide any funds to the corporation or spent a single penny out of this package. Similarly, Rs 580 crore was provided for augmenting water supply but no money was spent. The Prime Minister had announced at a public meeting at Parade Ground, Jammu, that the state would get surplus in power by 2007, but the actual position now was that power curtailment had gone up from three hours a day to over 10 to 12 hours, he
charged.
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Militancy hits voter turnout
Jammu, November 5 The poll participation figure for both men and women voters touched its lowest in the 2002 Assembly elections. The high point regarding women’s participation in the democratic exercise came in 1983 when their polling percentage touched the 70.48 per cent mark. Their polling percentage was again 70.36 per cent in 1987 but with the advent of militancy it decreased to 46.08 per cent in 1996. In the last Assembly elections it dipped to almost half of what it was in 1980s at 38.27 per cent. Militancy also took a heavy toll on the polling percentage of men voters as it reduced from 78.65 per cent to 60.57 per cent. In the case of men voters too, the highest polling was witnessed in the 1980s - 75.56 in 1983 and 78.65 in 1987. The gap between the turnout of men and women voters was also the lowest in the 1983 Assembly elections at a little over 5 per cent. As far as women contestants are concerned, though the number has gone up in the last few elections, their percentage still remains abysmally low. The last Assembly elections saw 30 women candidates contesting the battle for the ballot, which constituted a mere 4.23 per cent of the total of 709 candidates in the poll fray. The number was lowest in 1977 when there were only four women candidates among the total 409 candidates.
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RKSP to contest 50 seats
Jammu, November 5 The party had already selected 17 candidates, including Madhusudhan Bhat from Sonawari, Anil Zinsi (Amira Kadal), Vinney Verma (Haba Kadal); Ghulam Nabi Parray, Rafiabad (Baramullah), Shama Akhtar (Udhampur), Farooq Ahmed Khan (Dooru), Ghulam Qader Beng (Gandhi Nagar), and Variender Sharma (Nagrota). Babzada said the party's main poll plank would be development, providing employment to the youth, particularly to those who have remained ignored in the past.
He said the NC plank of greater autonomy and the PDP's self-rule, dual currency and shared sovereignty objectives were aimed at befooling the people. Hailing cross-LoC trade and the opening of routes for exchange of visitors as well as for trade purpose between two parts of undivided Jammu and Kashmir, Babzada said: "Our party is a strong votary of opening of the Jammu-Sialkot road for travel as well as for trade between the two countries, which will boost the economy of both countries, particularly of Jammu in India and Sialkot in Pakistan". Meanwhile, Babzada said the national president of the party, Gopal Rai, would visit Jammu on November 7 to issue authorisation letters for the party ticket to the
candidates.
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Dumping ground a bone of contention
Recently the dumping of garbage at Achan snowballed into a major controversy when residents of the area carried out protests against the alleged use of force by the government, while dumping garbage at the site. This was followed by large-scale protests and 65 persons were also detained. The residents rue that the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) was dumping garbage in their area since the past many years. Taking cognisance of the situation, Governor
N.N. Vohra, issued instructions for construction of an alternate approach road, including a bridge between Dr Ali Jan road and
Achan. Informed sources said 18 months back, an agreement was signed between the residents and the government regarding identification of alternative sites for dumping garbage. However, the agreement became a bone of contention between the two, with the government considering it as “no agreement” and the residents considering it a “valid document.” The agreement read: “The SMC would temporarily dump garbage at Achan for a period of 18 months (from 10-04-2007 to 09-10-2008). However, if the Achan garbage dump is not closed by the due date, the SMC would pay compensation to the residents of nine villages for their agricultural and residential land and super structure. The SMC would also compensate for dislocation and loss of source of livelihood to residents and nine villages consisting 55,000 persons”. The residents, while quoting the agreement, said the government had promised to stop dumping garbage at the site from October this year. Differing on the status of the agreement, municipal commissioner Showkat Ali, said: “The agreement is no entity. The former mayor who signed it, is not competent enough to do the same. This is the only dumping site earmarked by the master plan.” City mayor Salman Sagar, said the agreement was “invalid”. Sagar said “It has to be approved by the Cabinet.” Meanwhile, legal experts say if the document was not to be honoured by the government, then why was it ever signed. Aijaz Ahmad, an attorney, said: “The government has deceived the
people.” |
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Mirwaiz put under house arrest
Tribune News Service
Srinagar, November 5 Hurriyat (M) head Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has been placed under house arrest, his party colleagues said while a large number of cops and CRPF personnel have been deployed across the sensitive downtown area, where the Jamia mosque is located, to prevent people from any unlawful activity. The authorities are unlikely to allow the Jamia march to succeed and sting has anyway been taken out of separatists' call following a large-scale arrest of most of their senior leaders. Firebrand Hurriyat (G) leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani is ailing and currently recuperating in Delhi following a surgery. With little apprehension of any untoward activity on the streets of Srinagar, it was business as usual. However, security officials apprehended clashes tomorrow at some places in the valley.
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Names of 23 Haj aspirants not cleared
Srinagar, November 5 The court on Wednesday fixed the cases for further hearing on November 10 and 11. Ghulam Ahmad Parray, who was to go to Haj with his mother, has been denied permission on two grounds; one affiliation with the Geelani faction of the Hurriyat Conference and other that his name appeared in an FIR lodged at Sumbal police station in Bandipora. Haji Abdul Rashid Mir, chief executive officer (CEO) of the State Haj Committee, said: “Twenty-three people have been denied permission out of a total of about 8,000 pilgrims. The same is there on account of adverse report from the CID.” Ashok Bhan, DGP, CID, said: “We have denied permission to those involved directly in terrorist or separatist activities.”
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Cong banks on development to garner support
Leh, November 5 Union Water Resource Minister and state Congress chief Saif-uf-din Soz and former chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad have been on a two-day tour in the region. Addressing a rally at Polo Ground here today, Azad highlighted the development activities in the region undertaken by the Congress-led government. He highlighted the grant of ST status, empowerment of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council which included financial power, transfer of land allotment from state to hill council, sanctioning of Tehsil for Khalsi and Nobra and opening of nine higher secondary schools. A large number of people participated in the rally. Soz praised the unity, honesty and communal harmony of the region. Appealing the people to vote in favour of the Congress, he said the party is secular and takes along every community in progress.
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BSF lodges protest with Pakistan
Tribune News Service
Jammu, November 5 During a company commander-level meeting with their Pakistani counterparts, BSF officers lodged a strong protest against the continuous shelling on the Indian post with rockets from across the border, injuring two BSF jawans. However, the Pakistani side refused any role in the ceasefire violation and the infiltration bid. BSF deputy commandant S. Balasubramanium said: "We provided them with ground proofs of the infiltration bid and firing of grenades and rockets on our territory which is barely a few hundred meters from the Pakistani post of Chota Chak near Makwal." The Pakistani side was told to refrain from indulging in such activities. Pakistani troops had helped in facilitating infiltration by a large number of armed militants into the Indian side from the Chota Chak post by firing rockets, grenades and small arms fire on Dugra Post Naka 11 near Makwal sector. The 36th ceasefire violation since January, the BSF has requested a flag meeting in the connection.
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Cong workers protest ticket distribution
Udhampur, November 5 Congress workers under the leadership of Ashwani Khajuria, who was denied the ticket for Udhampur, today took to the streets to lodge a strong protest. Ashwani Khajuria, Congress councillor from Udhampur, minced no words in attacking union minister and PCC chief Saif-ud-Din Soz and former Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad for backstabbing him. Amidst the shouting of anti-Congress slogans, party workers vowed that they would work overtime to ensure the defeat of official candidates. Ashwani Khajuria said that he would announce his future course of action on November 10 but made it clear that he would not support the Congress candidate at any cost. Supporters of Congress leader R. S. Pathania also expressed anguish over giving the ticket to an "outsider". While the Majalata, Ramnagar, Ghordi and Dadoo Basantgarh units of the NSUI and the Youth Congress have resigned en masse, party workers have decided to hold a demonstration in New Delhi. |
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1870 animals treated at vet camp
Udhampur, November 5 The camp was inaugurated by Ajay Khajuria, deputy commissioner, Udhampur. The animals were dewormed with modern veterinary drugs and provided best possible treatment. Additional attractions at the camp included various stalls established by Military Farms, Department of Animal Husbandry, Sheep Farming and other Agriculture and Rural development agencies. They exhibited their schemes and programmes for the benefit of the local population. Army exservicemen helpline, ECHS Poly Clinic and Zila Sainik Welfare Board officials were present to address grievances, help and guide ex-servicemen and civilians. |
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Vohra reviews poll arrangements
Srinagar, November 5 Continuing his visits to various districts to review the security situation and the arrangements for seven-phase polling, Vohra today vistied Pulwama and Kulgam and held meetings with the senior officers. Addressing the officers, Vohra emphasised the need for ensuing close and effective coordination between each of the various agencies engaged in the conduct of polls. He called for creating a safe and conducive atmosphere for the contestants to undertake election campaigns and, later, for the voters to turn out in the largest numbers to exercise their franchise. At Pulwama, the Governor was briefed about the security related issues and the election preparedness in the four Assembly constituencies, which will be going to the polls in
Phase-V. — UNI |
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Army to play ‘vital role’
Jammu, November 5 Though the Army won’t be directly involved in any sort of poll duty, it has been assigned a vital role to play to keep the region free from any sort of militancy related activities, said Colonel D.K.
Kachari, Udhampur-based PRO of the Northern Command, told The Tribune. “The role of the Army being apolitical, we would be providing the security apparatus for the elections. We would strengthen the vigil on the LoC,” Kachari said. |
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Homage paid to Sahir Ludhianvi
Jammu, November 5 Litterateurs appreciated Sahir Ludhianvi’s poetic genius and class. Those who recited their verses and read out short stories included Adbi Kunj president Sham Talib, Zeenat Firdous, Nirmal Bhardwaj, Talib Kashmiri, Maharaj Krishan, Rajeshwari Bhakri, Jaswant Singh, Babli Zutshi and Rajeev Kumar. |
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16 observers deployed
Jammu, November 5 "So far 16 election observers have been deployed in 16 assembly constituencies in Poonch, Rajouri, Kargil, Leh, Bandipora and Ganderbal districts, which go to the polls in the first and second phases on November 17 and 23," state Election Department said. Among those deputed are Sunil Porwal in
Poonch-Haveli, Ashok Kumar in Leh, Prem Chand in Kargil and Mohmad Iftakharuddin in Ganderbal, where NC leader Omar Abdullah is in the fray.
— PTI |
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Mishra named VC of Sher-e-Kashmir farm varsity
Jammu, November 5 |
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Cong names Kohli for Kalakote
New Delhi, November 5 With this, the Congress has so far announced the names of 41 candidates for the 87-member State Assembly.
— UNI
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Srinagar, November 5