Jammu, November 19
NC’s chief ministerial candidate Farooq Abdullah said today that if the party was voted to power the government would clear recommendations of the 6th Pay Commission in its first Cabinet meeting.

Farooq even named two former chief secretaries, Vijay Bakaya and Sheikh Ghulam Rasool, as members of his Council of Ministers.

Responding to media queries here, he said the accountability commission would have the Chief Minister and his (Farooq's) MLAs as members to rein in corruption.

He said the panel on dowry-related atrocities would have a woman member and it would ensure exemplary punishment to the guilty.

When asked whether people in the Kashmir valley had defied the separatists' boycott call, he said the separatists had their own agenda--- seeking resolution of the dispute involving Jammu and Kashmir and two parts of the erstwhile state-- and not good governance.

Referring to the recent Amarnath land agitation vis-à-vis the separatists' boycott call, he appealed to the media fraternity not to rake up any controversy." He ruled out any post-poll alliance at the Centre, saying that "the NC would not join hands with the NDA or the UPA. We would be joining people of the state."

However, he kept mum when asked about the party plans in the wake of a fractured mandate. Regarding enhancing the retirement age to 60 years, he said a committee under former chief secretaries Vijay Bakaya and Sheikh Ghulam Rasool would look into the matter.

He doled out promises to woo displaced Kashmiri pandits, saying that the NC would leave no stone unturned to bring an end to their miserable plight. Farooq felt the US couldn't push India on Kashmir as the new president-elect Barak Obama ccould only facilitate talks between India and Pakistan to find a solution acceptable to the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

Jammu, November 19
Even as the Congress boasts of being the party of 'aam admi', its manifesto is surprisingly silent on what it promises to the farming community in the state.

The only point where the farming community finds mention in the manifesto is where the party talks of making the state self-reliant. "The party will associate top experts from the country for carrying out a study as to how all three regions will contribute to the effort for self-sufficiency in producing commodities of mass consumption like dairy farming, poultry, bee-keeping, vegetable growing, floriculture and small-scale industries," says the manifesto. While it talks of promoting horticulture as an industry, it says nothing about the agriculture sector.

"The previous Congress government failed to provide us better irrigation facilities. The tubewells installed during its rule also became defunct after a few months. We don't have adequate water when we need it the most, resulting in losses to our standing crops," said Virender Kumar, a farmer from RS Pura, which is known for its premium basmati rice. He felt that the political parties should seriously contemplate crop insurance and cheaper credit to farmers.

"The Azad government had promised to provide compensation to strawberry farmers who suffered losses due to heavy rainfall in February-March last year, but failed to keep its word," rued Ramtirath, a strawberry grower from Samba. Had the Congress been serious about the plight of farmers it would not have delayed compensation to the rain-hit farmers, he added.

"Getting seeds and fertilisers on time was always a problem during Congress rule and the farmers also used to complain about spurious seeds," said Shamsher Singh, a farmer from Jourian. However, he admitted that a section of the farmers benefited from the Roshni scheme of the Congress-led coalition government.

State Congress spokesperson Ravinder Sharma said the previous Congress regime had taken a landmark decision regarding the allotment of 22 lakh kanals of land to small and marginal farmers for agriculture purposes and free electricity under the Roshni scheme. "Proprietary rights were also given to the farmers."

About the party's silence on agriculture sector in its manifesto, he said: "Everything cannot be mentioned in the manifesto. It is not necessary for a party to talk about all issues it wants to address on coming to power in its manifesto."

Srinagar, November 19
Two days after the first phase of polling, the CPM today released its manifesto. State secretary M.Y. Tarigami said New Delhi’s response to the Kashmir crisis had been knee-jerk and largely administrative.

Releasing the party manifesto at his residence in the Gupkar road here, Tarigami said: “We require not only dialogues between India and Pakistan, but within civil society of the state to solve the vexed issue. Whichever political combination comes into power should try to create a convivial atmosphere for dialogues.”

The party manifesto also stresses the need to dialogue with separatists and to strengthen ties with PoK. It also calls for empowering the State Human Rights Commission, which has no punitive power and lacks real authority, doing away with “draconian laws” like the Armed Forces Special Powers Act and the Public Safety Act, which give special powers to the Armed forces and the state in dealing with militants and separatists.

Tarigami, who was sitting MLA from Kulgam in the dissolved Assembly and is expected to win again, said the homecoming of Kashmiri Pandits was must to restore the pluralistic culture of the valley.

He also negated the possibility of any third front, which was expected to rope in one-man parties run by influential leaders and former ministers like Hakim Yaseen and Ghulam Hassan Mir, and said they might come together after polls.

Tarigami said a political solution to Kashmir issue was also must to revive social and economical status of the state. He said his party would fight 10-odd seats in the elections.

Udhampur, November 19
To review the overall security situation for the peaceful conduct of polls, Governor N.N. Vohra today visited Reasi and Udhampur districts and had an on-the-spot appraisal of security scenario and developmental activities. Vohra held meetings with the senior officials of the civil administration, police, central police and the Army at Udhampur and Reasi district headquarters.

Vohra reiterated the vital importance of maintaining close and effective coordination between the district police, central police forces units deployed in the districts and the Army formations in the area.

The Governor also briefly reviewed the overall situation in the Udhampur and Reasi districts and emphasised on the District Development Commissioners to ensure the maintenance of the supply line and other essential commodities in the remote areas.

He exhorted them to direct all their officers to visit the village areas for monitoring the pace of various developmental works and mitigating the problems of people.

Vohra was accompanied by Dr Sudhir S. Bloeria, Adviser (Home and Security) and Principal Secretary B.B. Vyas, during his tour to the two districts.

Meanwhile, the districts of Udhampur and Reasi are witnessing unprecedented enthusiasm. Upbeat over the peaceful conduct of the polls in first phase, the political parties are organising large rallies and conducting door-to-door canvassing.

District election officer, Udhampur , Ajay Khajuria said 385 polling stations, including 35 auxiliary polling stations, would be set-up in the three constituencies of Uhdampur, Chenani and Ramnagar.

Srinagar, November 19
The Election Commission has announced re-polling in four polling stations, two each in Sonawari and Kargil constituencies, where elections were held in the first phase on November 17.

Voting in two polling stations of Pushwari in Sonawari constituency and Sailiskote and Apati polling stations in Kargil constituency would be held tomorrow between 8 am and 4 pm, an official spokesman here said.

According to EC secretary Standhope Yuhlung, re-polling has been decided on the basis of the reports of the returning officers and the observers and also taking into account all material circumstances.

He said the EC has, under sub-section (a) of Section 68 of the Jammu and Kashmir Representation of People's Act, declared the polling taken on November 17 as void and has fixed November 20 as the date for fresh polling.

Similarly, on the basis of reports of the returning officer and election observer of Kargil constituency, the EC ordered re-polling in polling station of Sailiskote (M) and Apati in Kargil Assembly constituency, which will be held on November 20 from 8 am to 4 pm.

Jammu, November 19
One hundred thirty eight people today crossed the LoC as the Poonch-Rawlakote trans-border bus service resumed after it was put off for a day due to first phase of Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir.

The weekly movement of cross-LoC bus service which takes place every Monday was put off for a day due to polling in Poonch district.

While about 91 people crossed Chakan-da-Bagh LoC point from India to Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), 47 others crossed it from PoK to Jammu and Kashmir to meet their relatives, official sources said.

Among them who crossed from this side to PoK, 42 were freshers from Jammu and Kashmir and 49 others were PoK dwellers, they said. Of the 47 people who came from PoK to this side included 20 fresh PoK dwellers and 27 Indians, who returned after staying with their relatives across.

Indian officers and Pakistani officers supervised the operation of cross over from 1030 hours to 1700 hours at the border point. — PTI

Srinagar, November 19
The police had to lathicharge a crowd of protesters near Nunar in Ganderbal when they tried to block the cavalcade of PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, who was on her way to Kangan for campaigning.

Officials sources said some locals were protesting against poor power supply in the area but began raising separatist slogans when they saw the PDP leader's caravan. They said the protesters started raising anti-election slogans and turned restive.

Ganderbal has witnessed some anti-election protest after the announcement of poll in the state but mainstream parties have got a major boost after a high turnout in the first phase of elections in Bandipora district on November 17.

Jammu, November 19
The National Conference has changed the candidate for the Suchetgarh Assembly constituency. The party, which earlier selected Naresh Choudhary, has now given the mandate to Taranjeet Singh Tony.

The NC is believed to have taken the decision out of fear that if Tony, who has served Suchetgarh constituency for the past over a decade, contests as an independent, it might lose the constituency.

Jammu, November 19
Various Sikh organisations in the state have demanded an independent probe into the role of the Sangh Parivar and the BJP in the ‘various untraced’ terrorist incidents in the country.

They have also demanded a through and independent probe into the massacre of 36 Sikhs, who were killed in Chitisinghpora during the NDA regime.

Addressing a press conference, Sudershan Singh Wazir, former president of the state Gurdwara Parbandak Board, along with other Sikh organisations, today raised questions on what they termed as the pseudo nationalism of the BJP and various other organisations associated with the RSS, VHP, Bajrang Dal and others.

“The real face of the Sangh Parivar stands unmasked after starling revelations made by the ATS of Maharashtra during the investigation of the Malegaon blast case,” Wazir said.

He said the involvement of Army intelligence officers like Lt Col Purhoit had not only tarnished the image of the Army, but has also raised doubts about the real intentions of the BJP and the RSS.

He demanded a judicial probe by a sitting Supreme Court judge into the role of the then NDA government when Chitisinghpora massacre took place especially at a time when L.K. Advani was the home minister of the country and was in control of the intelligence agencies in the state.

Jammu, November 19
It is right to say that public memory is short, but plebeians in Jammu who witnessed and participated in the 62-day-long Amarnath land agitation are still sentimental about the issue.

The traders who bore the maximum brunt of the agitation in terms of financial losses are all prepared to vote for the issue. Bitu Puria, chemist, says: “We have not forgotten even a single day of agitation. It has united Jammu people in one thread. At least I will certainly vote for the issue.”

Reiterating Puria’s stand, Yash Pal Gupta, Federation of Retailers Association, avers, “We traders will cast our ballot for the candidate who will fight for the cause of Jammu.”

The Amarnath land issue touched the chord of hearts of common people. The sentiments seem all set to be translated into votes for the candidate who will be able to cash in on the issue.

Says Sanjeev Pradhan, Principal, Guru Hrikrishan Public School, “We all know that initially this matter was stirred by political outfits for their personal gain. But then it became a very serious issue, beyond our expectations. Now, whosoever participated in the agitation will vote for it.”

Youth undoubtedly spearheaded the protest from front. Sandeepa, an MSc student from Jammu University, who also hit the streets, says: “The fire of agitation is not as hot as it was but it is still smoldering and will fetch votes for all those who stood up against the discrimination of Jammu vis-a-vis Kashmir via this dispute.”

Neeru Sharma, general secretary of teacher’s association, Jammu University, who led the students and teachers in the stir, complains, “Jammu people feel cheated by the Amarnath Yatra Sangarsh Samiti who drove people into agitation and, now after several months passed, it has become silent. Nevertheless despite disappointment, we will vote for cause and the honest and upright person who will stand for this issue.”

Reacting to the angst expressed by people over the Sangarhsh Samiti’s cold attitude in election days, Samiti spokesperson Jitender Singh clarified, “Being a non-political party, we directly cannot jump into election fray. Since none of the political parties is keen to share our agenda, we cannot campaign for any candidate. Rest there is no point pushing people in chaos of strikes once again. What we are doing is pursuing our case with the government strongly.”

Jammu, November 19
The Jammu University Research Scholars Executive Association (JURSEA) has called a bandh on the campus in support of its demand for appointment of a new vice-chancellor from within the varsity.

Claiming support of the Jammu University Teachers Association, the Non-teaching Employees Association and the Class IV Employees Association, president of the association Vikas Sharma maintained that functioning of the varsity would remain affected tomorrow.

Addressing a press conference here today, Sharma said G.K. Chadda, chairman of the search committee and economic adviser to the Prime Minister, had been apprised of the demand. He claimed only a local professor could understand the problems of JU students.

Jammu, November 19
The station house officer (SHO) of Gandhi Nagar police station aided by his personal security officer mercilessly beat up two of The Tribune staffers in Jammu late last night, when they refused to give the cops some gift items.

The staffers --- Gurinderjit Singh (platemaker) and Vijay Kumar (senior messenger) --- were roughed up when they were discharging their duties in The Tribune sub-office here.

“Last night we were unloading the gifts items, which arrived from the Chandigarh office. The items, including bags and pen sets, were to be distributed to our subscribers. A police gypsy came and stopped near the office and the officer inquired about our work,” said Gurinderjit Singh.

“When we told them about the gifts items, SHO Sultan Mirza asked us to give bags to him and his PSOs. When we refused, he got angry and ordered his men to beat us up. They slapped us and started beating us with fists,” he said.

Gurinderjit and Vijay alleged that the officer was drunk.

Gurinderjit sustained leg injuries. Their phones were also damaged.

The officer wanted to take Gurinderjit and Vijay to police station, but couldn’t do so after the other staff members of The Tribune arrived on the spot.

K. Rajendra, IG (Jammu range), was informed about the incident and was asked to conduct a medical test on the police officer concerned to confirm that he was in an inebriated condition.

The IG assured that proper action would be taken against the officer if found guilty.

Jammu, November 19
To commemorate the World Heritage Week, the Directorate of Archives, Archaeology and Museums today announced free entry at Dogra Art Museum at historic Mubarak Mandi Complex wherein several artifacts and things of historic value have been put on display.

The weeklong event will stay till November 25 and the museum remains open for public viewing from 10 am to 4 pm.

Director Khurshid Ahmed Kadri says the major attraction of the exhibition are the world famous miniature paintings of Jammu, Bhasoli and Kangra Schools, terracotta heads from famous Kushan site, Ambaran Akhnoor, the weaponry of Dogra rulers, ethnic jewellery and dresses, the royal bow of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan and numismatic collections dating back to the Kushan period.

Srinagar, November 19
Early spell of snow on last Friday damaged and uprooted apple trees in upper areas of Shopian, Kulgam, Kupwara and Baramulla districts.

The most affected villages include Pinjora, Panew, Tranz, Chitargam and Turkwangam.

In two districts, the snow has reportedly damaged over 30 per cent of apple trees. “Damage to branches and stem of fruit trees would affect production next year,” said Shahid Ashraf, an orchard owner in Turkwangam in Shopian.

“Late varieties of apple like maharaja etc were harvested. Due to absence of pruning, fruit trees suffered the damage,” said Shahid.

As trees were full of leaves, branches and stems received maximum damage, said Bashir Ahmad Beigh, President Buyers Union Sopore.

Fruit growers had yet to cut branches of trees, normally done during the last week of November or early December.

Beigh said damage to fruit trees is mainly in Shopian and Kulgam district. In Baramulla, the loss is 10 to 20 per cent, he added.

Mir Mohammad Amin, president, Fruit Growers Association, Shopian, said, “Many orchards suffered damage due to unexpected snow. Pruning is generally done after November 15,” said Mir.

“Once apples are plucked, they are kept in open in heaps for some days. Unexpected snowfall caused minor damages but freezing temperatures can increase damage. Labour charges have increased,” said Mir.

Agreeing on same lines, Wani Mohammad Amin, President Fruit Growers Association, Handwara, said, “Seventy per cent of fruits were in open when there was a snowfall and 35 per cent of fruits [in open] suffered damage. In general, there has been 40 per cent of loss to fruit trees in Kupwara district.”

Poonch, November 19
As all major political parties claim to reunite the divided families and has made it a major issue in the elections here, there have been several cases where people after waiting for travel permits had applied for a visa and even returned, but were yet to get the permits.

Nargis Khatoon Rizvi, wife of Haidar Sheikh of Mandi, applied for a permit in 2005 to travel through the Uri-Muzaffarabad road to meet her cousin, Murtaza Hussain Rizvi, who went to live in the Baag tehsil of PoK in 1965. After waiting for the travel permit for more than six months, she applied for a visa in March, 2006, and got it 
within a month.

“After getting the visa, my mother crossed over to Pakistan through the Wagah border on April 13, 2006, and after staying there for about five months, she returned”, her son, Syed Zaffar Yaseen, said.

“She again applied for a visa in September, 2008, and got it within 10 days. She crossed to Pakistan through the Wagah border on October 12. Even as she has travelled to Pakistan twice on a visa, she is yet to get the permits she had applied for. This speaks volumes for the problems in getting a travel permit”, he added.

This case indicates that though political parties may claim uniting the divided families by “pushing” the government to make travel procedures on permit through cross the LoC easier, but getting a permit is still the most difficult thing.

In fact, a large number of people who have their relatives across the border, after the roads between the two countries were opened, were hoping that permits will make their travel to PoK much easier, but that never proved to be the case.

A few of them who kept on waiting for months together for travel permits have finally applied for Visa. They, after getting the Visa, crossed over to PoK and have returned, but were yet to get the travel permits.

Sources reveal that getting permission for travelling across through the opened border points is not an easy task as it involves innumerable verifications done by both Indian and Pakistani agencies. Poonch and Mendhar Assembly constituency in this frontier district have highest number of divided families in the state.

Line of Control (Neeru), November 19
Love for the country makes the soldiers, guarding the border, feel proud; despite being cut off from their families for months, that too fighting against all odds in freezing temperatures.

It is not the money which bring the soldiers to these heights but their love for the country and its people, said a group of BSF men, ready to leave for forward post from this base camp.

“We have to cover the entire snowbound hilly distance of six km on foot to reach the Haathi post,” said the soldiers, who were wearing warm cloths and carrying weapons and other essentials.

In reply to a question, the soldiers said money was also important, but one can earn more money by joining other fields available in this computer age.

But, joining the force and guarding the country from the enemy gives a very different satisfaction, which cannot be replaced by any amount of money or profession, they said.

A BSF officer said it took about nine to 12 hours to reach other posts on the LoC.

Only those people would join the force who love their country, he said adding, despite facing freezing temperatures during winter, the jawans do their duty with dedication and determination.

A jawan, making call only through STD facility available in the base camp, informed that his family he was leaving for forward post and would not be able to talk to them till he returns back.

“There is no phone facility at the post, which is only 300 metres away from the Pakistan Army post, on the other side of the LoC,” he said.

However, in case of any emergency they were getting information through wireless. The soldiers said it took about one month or more to get a letter from the house. Helicopter was the only transport during winters, when the Razdan Pass closes down due to heavy snowfall, they said.

They said the temperature dips to minus ten to 15 degree Celsius during winters, near the LoC and other areas in the Tulail sector.

“We have to cover the distance on foot from the base camp to forward post only during the day as it is impossible to walk when the track becomes slippery during the night,” they said adding that last year, two jawans were injured after they slipped down the tracks.

Besides freezing temperatures, there was breathing problem, they said, adding one cannot eat stomach-full as that also causes discomfort. There was no cellphone facility because no mobile company had set up their towers in the area, the soldiers said.

They said if everybody in the country thought about leading a comfortable life in their homes, who would guard the borders.

Again, he said: “It is the patriotism which forced the people like us to join the force so that borders are safe.”

However, they refused to talk about the political parties and their role and said their only job was to make the border safe. Let the politicians do their job, they said adding people were watching their activities very closely and they (politicians) would have to face the music if they did anything wrong.

The officer said before the ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan, this base camp was often made the target by the enemy soldiers, who are located at a distance of five to six kms. During the Kargil war in 1999, this was the main target of the enemy shells, he said adding luckily we did not suffer any casualty or damage.

Drass, the second coldest place in the world after Siberia, was connected with this base camp through Kabul Gali, he said adding it also witnessed heavy clashes during the Kargil war.

“We had to shift along with the locals during Pakistan shelling in 1999,” he said, adding “now things have changed and we are living peacefully.”

However, he said sometimes small arms exchange of fire takes place between the soldiers of two countries.

It was normal as no damage takes places in such exchanges, he added. He said: “In case of any bad news we arrange helicopter service for the soldiers. But again, it depends upon the weather which plays a main role in operating helicopter service from here to Srinagar.”

He said there was no incident of any infiltration from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) from this side.

The village remains peaceful and people were very patriotic, he added. — UNI

Jammu, November 19
In view of the Assembly elections, the Progressive Students Association, an apolitical outfit, organised an open debate, ‘Should we exercise our franchise,’ at Jammu University here yesterday.

Students from various departments and colleges participated in the debate and expressed their concern over issues ranging from degeneration of democracy, passive administration, corruption etc.

Speakers stressed upon the reforms in the institution of the democracy and an accountable and transparent system wherein elected members be answerable to their electors. They demanded laws ensuring impeachment of the elected candidates at any point of time during his /her tenure, if the latter fails to deliver as per the election manifesto.

A student of the Department of Dogri, Tarsem, while expressing concern over criminalisation of the politics pointed out that only money and muscle power is ruling the roost in politics.

Sounding optimism, Abrar Khan, an economics student said, “Though the system has got rotten, it can be rejuvenated by creating awareness among the masses and the students can play a key role in it.” Manoj, an engineering student, expressed the similar views. He said: “There is a need to enthuse confidence in the people.”

Gurjinder Singh, a student of MAM College, was concerned over the influence of the first world countries on the government policies. He also denounced dynastic politics and rued that virtue did not matter in the democracy, wherein, everyone is treated equally vis-à-vis right to vote.

Anil, a student of Mahant Biachiter Singh College of Engineering, favoured participation of students in political affairs. He added: “If students will not take care of the political system, then who will?

Meanwhile, president of the association Rahul said a debate would be organised over the election manifestos of all political parties.