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Selection of Anganwari Workers
High turnout may spring hung Assembly
Panun Kashmir leaders walk out of meeting
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Pak moves troops near LoC
High turnout forces separatists to introspect
Women’s panel to sponsor DD programme
Durbuk awaits telecom services
Teachers for timely pay panel report
Poll counting arrangements
Panthers activists demand repoll, hold protest
Mixed reaction to exam dates
30 students on educational tour
Gustong celebrated
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Selection of Anganwari Workers
Udhampur, December 26 Before the beginning of the election process in Doda district, “rejected” candidates had launched an agitation against the selection of “undeserving” candidates. As the electioneering picked up, they suspended the agitation following assurances from the candidates of various political parties, who promised to provide justice to them. As the elections have ended, the “rejected” candidates have decided to revive their agitation to bring their concern to the notice of the new government. Some highly qualified candidates, who were ignored in the selection process, have pointed to a number of candidates who were selected despite being having lesser qualification and experience. Keeping in view the brewing anger among these candidates, the chairman of the recruitment committee of anganwari workers has asked all “ignored” candidates to file objections. During initial investigations it had come to the notice of the committee that some genuine candidates were dropped while some lesser qualified girls got selected under political pressure. Official sources said 16 objections had been received so far from the “rejected” candidates against 20 posts. Despite repeated attempts, the CDPO was not available for comment. However, the department concerned has issued a notice in news papers in which all “rejected” candidates have been asked to file objections. The CDPO, Doda, had invited applications for the selection of 20 anganwari workers for the area. A large number of applications were received. As soon as the selection process was completed, a large number of candidates alleged that “undeserving” candidates had been selected ignoring qualified ones. Some candidates had pointed out that some “influential” persons had been appointed on posts reserved for weaker sections. |
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High turnout may spring hung Assembly
Jammu, December 26 At present three possibilities are dominating the debate - Congress-NC, Congress-PDP and BJP-NC alliance. Independents and smaller parties would also play a key role if any of these parties gets around 35 seats in the 87-member House, as 44 is the magic figure. About post-poll alliance, Mehboob Baig, NC Kashmir province president, said: "It would be too premature to comment. I think the people have suffered a lot and one-party rule would be in their best interests." He said barring a few seats nobody could guess the outcome in the remaining segments in the Kashmir valley, adding that the advantage of a high turnout could not be given to a single party. While the NC is keeping its cards close to its chest, the PDP is quite candid. Senior PDP leader Molvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari admitted that the Congress would be a natural ally in the case of a hung Assembly. About the bitter experience with the Congress in the previous coalition regime, he said if there were some misunderstandings these could be removed through a dialogue. Interestingly, RP Singh, BJP's J&K affairs co-in charge, has ruled out the possibility of an alliance with the NC. "We are looking at a possibility where we get 20-odd seats and can go ahead to stake a claim of forming the government. I see a lot of Independents winning and with the support of Ladakhi parties I think we can get the required numbers. However, if we get only 10-12 seats we will prefer to sit in the opposition rather than having a tie-up with the NC." Senior Congress leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Mangat Ram Sharma said: "We are hoping to emerge as the single largest party and we will forge an alliance with the like-minded individuals or parties to form the government." Noted political analyst Rekha Chowdhary said as of now she saw three possibilities — NC-Independents, NC-Congress and PDP-Congress. She said the NC would give the first preference to Independents and then the Congress, adding that it would go with the BJP only if it was "desperate" to form the government. Regarding the Congress, she said AICC chairperson Sonia Gandhi had a soft corner for the PDP and if the national leadership prevailed upon the state leaders the PDP would be the first choice of the party for an alliance. |
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Repoll at Chhamb booth today
Jammu, December 26 The Election Commission has ordered repolling at booth no 47-A at Dadoura village in the Chhamb constituency where reportedly 25 non-state residents had cast their votes during the polling on Wednesday, he said, adding that repolling would start from 8 am tomorrow. Non-state residents are not entitled to vote in the assembly poll, but can vote in the Lok Sabha elections, he said.
— PTI |
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Panun Kashmir leaders walk out of meeting
Jammu, December 26 When the Governor refused to pay heed to the demands of Dr Ajay Chrungoo and Dr Agni Shekhar, leaders of the two factions of the Panun Kashmir, over separating the issue of employment from that of return to the valley, they walked out of the meeting. Though some 18 representatives of other organisations representing Kashmiri Pandits did not accompany them, they too echoed the same sentiment and were successful in eliciting a positive response from the Governor later at the meeting. H.L. Chatta, a veteran social worker and BJP leader, said: “The Governor has assured us that he will consider our suggestion of dealing with the issues of employment and return separately and send it to the government. Though it will largely depend on how the new government perceives the issue, the Governor’s recommendation will certainly have a positive impact.” Another member, Pyare Lal, a representative of the Muthi camp, also said, “If our children get jobs in the valley, the rest of the family is bound to accompany them sooner or later. So, there is no point in putting return to the valley as a precondition for giving employment to the Kashmiri Pandit youth.” Agni Shekhar, who was miffed at Governor’s attitude, said, “The meeting was just an excuse to impose the premeditated plan on us by the government. When we stirred the issue for a debate, they objected to it saying such a discussion was not part of the agenda. We had certainly not gone there to listen to their diktat, so we walked out.” According to Chrungoo, the return and rehabilitation issue was a wider social, political and human right issue, which should be settled as per international norms. “It cannot be treated on a par with other cases of national calamity such as fire, flood or earthquake. It amounts to atrocity to force people to return to the valley through the bait of employment. Both issues have to be dealt with separately,” he added. Ajay questioned the logic of talking about rehabilitation when the peace process between India and Pakistan had almost collapsed. Agni Shekhar said, “Why would we discourage youngsters from applying for jobs? But then it does not desist us from demanding the issue to be treated separately from our return.” |
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Pak moves troops near LoC
Jammu, December 26 Besides, a large number of heavily armed militants were also planning to sneak into the Indian side of the border, taking advantage of the ongoing tension between the two nations. “The Pakistan army has moved a large number of its troops and weaponry near the LoC,” a defence source said. “We have inputs that a large number of terrorists are waiting to sneak into our side of border. However, our forces have increased the vigil and will not allow them to succeed,” DIG, Jammu, Kathua range, AQ Manhas said. Though heads of both countries have reiterated that war was not the solution, but according to defence sources, the deployment of the Pakistani army near the LoC could not be “mistaken for normal exercise”. “Pakistan has moved its 10th Brigade to Lahore and has ordered its 3rd armoured brigade to head towards the Jhelum valley,” the sources said. As per the sources, the Pakistan air force has also stepped up its preparedness. Also an unarmed aerial vehicle of the Pakistan air force reportedly hovered inside the Indian territory along the LoC in Pooch yesterday. Jammu-based PRO of the Ministry of Defence SN Acharya said: “We don't have any information regarding the troop movement on the Pakistani side.” Meanwhile, panic gripped the forward areas along the India-Pakistan border in Samba sector today when people living near the border mistook the routine army fire as Pakistani strike. However, the residents were later informed that it was the routine practice firing by the Army and not the fire from Pakistani side. |
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Protesters stone security men
Srinagar, December 26 Scores of agitators clashed with security personnel deployed outside the Jamia mosque and at other places as they took out a procession after the prayers. The police and the CRPF fired tear gas shells at them and baton-charged the crowd. The crowd chanted anti-election and azadi slogans as Mirwaiz Umar Farooq left the mosque for his residence after his sermons. Locals said many in the crowd first accompanied him to his residence in Nigeen and then a procession started. They clashed with security personnel in the Nowhatta, Gojari and Rajouri Kadal areas. The police said it had no definite numbers about the injured. The whole area is rather volatile and has seen most fierce protests in the past few months. Locals said many youths in the area checked fingernails of fisherwomen to see if they had voted in the recent elections. They misbehaved with them accusing that their community had voted despite the boycott call. However, the intervention of elders helped these women. The Hanji community, which earns a living by rowing boats in waterbodies, was yesterday attacked by an anti-election crowd in the Gow Kadal locality, injuring several persons. The police had to fire in the air to control the
situation. |
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People throng Jama Masjid
Srinagar, December 26 The Mirwaiz was released today and he took up his traditional seat after a long gap as residents living in the downtown area turned up in large numbers. The city bustled with traffic and business on this Friday after going through a virtual shutdown due to a protest call by separatists and restrictive measures imposed by the authorities. As the Mirwaiz was confined to his house, no prayer was offered at the mosque. His supporters blamed police' restrictions for it while police accused them of deliberately not allowing people to offer namaz there to protest his arrest. "I am delighted that normal life has returned and we can get on our daily chores and prayers. I never thought I would ever be unable to offer prayers at Jama while staying so close," Javaid Alam, a Nowhatta resident, said. |
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High turnout forces separatists to introspect
Srinagar, December 26 This is what was hinted by Sajad Lone, whose party Peoples Conference has influence in north Kashmir, as he said today “the sanctity and indispensability associated with the concept of poll boycott needs to be re-examined”. He said the ultimate legitimacy rests with the people and the separatist leadership should respect their sentiments and plan accordingly. “A fair proportion of the people have voted. There is a dire need to introspect and understand the mood and message of the people,” he said, adding that “the people have conveyed a message and a capable leadership should decipher the message, rather than shoot the messenger”. “In a political struggle, no option is off the table, neither is any option on the table perpetually,” he said. He also asked the separatists to resist the temptation of seeking legitimacy from non-Kashmiri actors or institutions, an apparent hint at Pakistan that has long been the pied piper for the separatist herd in the valley. Taking a dig at the present leadership, which many said is particularly aimed at his bęte noir Syed Ali Shah Geelani, he said the leadership was in a desperate need to take recourse to the adage, “either lead, follow or get out”. Many moderate separatists also think that parties like the PDP, which does not differ much with them in its stand on the Kashmir issue, could make them irrelevant if they keep away from hustings. Sources said if Sajad’s statements were read into context, it appeared that the moderate faction of separatists, who always advocated talks, had found a fresh life with the people clearly rejecting the boycott call and wanted to corner Geelani and to some extent Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who toed Geelani’s line. “We made a grave error of judgement. There has to be some accountability”, a senior leader close to Mirwaiz Umar Farooq told The Tribune. Mirwaiz was released from house arrest today and he addressed a gathering from his traditional seat in Jamia Masjid and met his colleagues for the first time since the election process started. Lone enjoys a close proximity with other significant and young separatist leaders like the Mirwaiz and Yasin Malik, the JKLF chairperson, who is in jail, but has little regard for ageing veteran Geelani. |
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Women’s panel to sponsor DD programme
Srinagar, December 26 Hafiza Muzaffar, secretary of the commission, offered the sponsorship while taking part in one of the phone-in programmes ‘violence against women’. The commission has assured support to Doordarshan Srinagar in highlighting issues confronting Kashmiri women. Hafiza said programmes like “Sitaroon Say Aagey” were the need of the hour and a public broadcaster like DD could play a great role in bringing awareness among women about their rights. Expressing concern and disappointment as well, Hafiza said there was little response from women, who suffered on account of domestic violence. “Most of the women in the state have no idea about the existence of the commission working to safeguard their rights. It is due to this that cases of violence against women at home and at public places go unnoticed,” says Hafiza. She said the commission had received few complaints of violence against women and these came from women living in urban areas. “Rural women are less aware about their rights, while some urban women turn up with complaints,” says Hafiza. Welcoming the sponsorship offer, Nazir Nazar, producer/director of the programme, says, “It is due to the hard work put in by the production team that the commission has offered to sponsor the programme. It also goes to show that the programme enjoys credibility among the masses.” |
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Durbuk awaits telecom services
Leh, December 26 Tangste, which is the headquarters of the block, is even not connected with the village public telephone, which is made obligatory to every rural area under the universal service obligation fund of Bharat Nirman. Situation turns miserable when surface connectivity gets paralysed due to closure of Changla pass, which is the only gateway to the Durbuk block, because of the inclement weather that . Councillor of LAHDC, Leh, Dorjai Stanzin said: “Representatives of the block met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh few months back in Delhi and urged him to look in to their demand of telecommunication services.” Executive councillor of LAHDC, Changthang, Droje Mutup said: “Though installation of mobile towers at Changthang has been started, due to some technical problem people have to wait for the services.” |
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Teachers for timely pay panel report
Jammu, December 26 Addressing mediapersons, federation president Balwan Singh Jamwal highlighted the demands of the employees, particularly of the teaching community, and stressed upon the state government to make sure that the Pay Panel Committee submits its report to the government in time. The report pertains to the Sixth Pay Commission, besides the pay anomalies. He sought removal of anomalies of master grade from Rs 6,500-10,700 to 7,450-11,500 with restorative effect on the analogy of SO's grade before the submission of the panel report by December 31 as per the commitment of the state government. He also urged the government to enhance the retirement age from 58 to 60 years. Meanwhile, the members of the federation expressed concern over the disinformation campaign/propaganda launched by some elements against “broader unity” in the Joint Consultative Committee's fight for the 6th Pay Commission and appealed the employees to remain alert from such forces, who are working against the interest of 4 lakh employees and trying to mislead them for their vested interest. They appeal Governor NN Vohra to implement the Pay Panel Committee Report after considering the anomalies prior to the set deadline. |
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Poll counting arrangements
Jammu, December 26 Bhandari said the counting of votes of six Assembly constituencies of Jammu east, Jammu west, Gandhinagar, Chhamb, Akhnoor and Bishnah would take place at MAM College, while the counting of votes of five Assembly constituencies of Nagrota, R S Pura, Suchetgarh, Marh and Raipur-Domana would be held at Government Polytechnic College. He said special passes were being issued to the counting supervisors, counting assistants and counting agents of the contesting candidates. Two media centres have been put in place at MAM College and Government Polytechnic College with Internet facility to provide updated information regarding counting of votes to the media. |
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Panthers activists demand repoll, hold protest
Jammu, December 26 The party leaders also handed over a memorandum and a CD to the CEO containing the alleged video of violations of the code of conduct during the final phase of the Assembly polls on December 24. “We, the leaders, workers, and candidates of the Panthers Party have come to inform the EC through the CEO that the last phase of elections demonstrated a shameful and corrupt face of the administration as the elections were rigged, particularly in Samba and Jammu districts,” reads the memorandum submitted by the Panthers Party. |
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Mixed reaction to exam dates
Jammu, December 26 In the aftermath of the Amarnath land agitation, the session started in November and the exams are scheduled for mid-January. The two and a half month long semester recorded ‘more than 30 holidays’. Now, the university administration has announced 10 preparatory holidays for students from January 1 to 10. With some exams scheduled to start on January 8, the tentative date for first and third semester examinations, most of the students can be seen studying in library. Confusion grips the mind of students as their syllabus is still not complete. "Preparatory holidays have come as a reprieve to us. At least now we can prepare our complete syllabus in view of the exams,” students said. “Some of our friends are asking for open choice but it is not a long-term solution. The semester should be a little delayed so that we can cover the entire syllabus,” Vivek Mahajan, an arts student, said. However, Dean Academic Affairs BPS Sehgal refuted the claims of students and maintained that the teachers had completed the syllabus. Meanwhile, a section of students continued with the protest in support of demand for ‘open choice’. A protest rally was also carried on the campus. |
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30 students on educational tour
Jammu, December 26 The 13-day tour was flagged off at a ceremony that was attended by parents and various dignitaries at the Tiger Helipad. The team comprising 20 boys and 10 girls in the age group of 13 to 17 years from various schools of border villages would be visiting various historical and religious places in Amritsar, Chandigarh, Dehradun, Delhi, Agra, Jaipur and Ajmer. As per the Jammu-based PRO of Ministry of Defence, S.N. Acharya, these children would also get an opportunity to interact with various dignitaries, including Governor of Punjab and Chief Minister of Uttarakhand. |
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Gustong celebrated
Leh, December 26 Gustong is celebrated on the 5th day of the 15 day-long Losar (New Year) celebrations by offering prayers for a prosper year ahead by illuminating traditional lamps. The occasion is also celebrated as a family gathering with fervour. |
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