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Delink religion from terrorism: Omar
Fire in Assembly complex
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Bid to stop Muharram procession
Remove corrupt MC officers: Councillors
People hope Omar keeps his word on RTI
Act
Unemployed pin hopes
on Omar
Omar Cabinet comprises
senior politicians
LS Polls
BSP threatens agitation
Farooq may vacate Hazratbal seat
BJP flays govt for‘Kashmir-centric policies’
Gujjars ask Aslam to quit as CLP leader
Students resume protest for ‘open choice’
Mattoo named ‘Kashmiri of the Year’
Music festival begins today
Symposium on road safety
Sheep breeders given claims
3 held in murder case
Panic in Buddhal area
as Army moves out
3 killed in mishaps
Ganai to be CM’s principal secretary
Kashmir highway closed
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Delink religion from terrorism: Omar
New Delhi, January 6 Citing Islam, which, “neither preached nor condoned the killing of innocent people”, Omar Abdullah said, “Those who kill in the name of religion are ignorant and misled. That’s why it is more important to defeat the ideology of terrorism by delinking religion from terrorism.” The Chief Minister, while admitting that there was no room for complacency in dealing with terror, stressed the need to understand the grievances of those within the country who had taken to militancy, and said such grievances must be addressed as best as possible. Addressing the Chief Ministers’ Conference on Internal Security, presided over by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here today, Omar Abdullah sounded reluctant - almost like his NDA counterparts - to part with the state’s prerogative over law and order and by implication the security apparatus. He called for a consultative mechanism to decide on a case-to-case basis whether investigation of a militancy-related crime should be taken up by the central agencies. “During the last few years, terrorism-related crimes have been constantly declining in Jammu and Kashmir. However, to facilitate investigation of such cases, we need a consultative mechanism to decided on a case-to-case basis if the Centre needs to investigate crimes,” said Omar, warning the Centre against the return of POTA and TADA like laws, and stressing “proper implementation” of the recently-amended Unlawful Activities Prevention Act. On the front of terrorism, Omar’s mantra was plain - change the mindset. “We must spread education not ignorance, dispense justice, not inflict injustice, to defeat the ideology of terrorism,” said the new-blood Chief Minister. Omar sought a centralised data bank to enhance the operational capability of the state’s intelligence gathering network, adding that such a bank should include data pertaining to terrorist outfits, their geographical areas of influence and actions. The Chief Minister also asked the Centre to expedite the implementation of Common Integrated Police Application (CIPA) project and review the progress of POLNET project started in 1983. Seeks more J&K slots for NSG training
Omar on Tuesday asked the Centre to increase the Jammu and Kashmir police’s slots per year at the NSG Training School, Manesar, saying the current three to four slots a year were insufficient. He also sought the Centre’s help to develop in his state capacities for polygraph tests, cyber forensics, DNA profiling, voice identification, brain mapping and narco-analysis. To track the inter-state movement of criminals, Omar said the Centre should bear the cost of augmenting highway patrolling. |
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Fire in Assembly complex
Jammu, January 6 The fire soon engulfed the adjoining Assembly hall but four to five fire tenders were immediately pressed into service and it was controlled within half an hour. State Legislative Assembly secretary Mohammad Ramzan attributed the cause of the fire to short circuit. He said the fire was extinguished in time and official records were safe. However, it has been learnt that an electric heater in the clerks’ room was the cause of incident.
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Bid to stop Muharram procession Ehsan Fazili Tribune News Service
Srinagar, January 6 (However, a PTI report said at least 150 persons were detained and nearly 80 others injured in clashes between the police and people. The protesters, who were chanting religious and anti-Israel slogans, were baton charged and tear gassed at several places between Budshah Chowk to Dalgate). The Muharram processions, however, were taken out at several places in the city and elsewhere in the Shia-populated areas in the Kashmir valley. In Srinagar these processions were taken out at Chota Bazar, Guru Bazar, Shaheed Gunj and Tankipora near the Lal Chowk area, and Alamgari Bazar, Hawal and Lal Bazaar on the city outskirts. The police prevented the Muharram procession as per practice in the Central Lal Chowk area when the mourners took out a procession from Abi Guzar to Dalgate. The police tried to stop them from proceeding towards Dalgate along MA Road. There was a ding-dong battle between security personnel and mourners near Polo Ground. The police resorted to a lathicharge and resorted to teargas shelling to quell the demonstrators.. At least 20 persons were injured in the dingdong battles as the protesters resorted to stone pelting on security personnel. A police vehicle was damaged in the stone pelting. Representatives of the Shia community expressed concern over the police action, describing it as interference in the religious affairs of the community. They claimed that over 24 persons were injured, some of them seriously, in the police action.
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Remove corrupt MC officers: Councillors
Jammu, January 6 All these demands were highlighted during a general house meeting presided over by mayor Kavinder Gupta. Deputy mayor Dharamveer Singh, commissioner Parshotam Kumar Sharma, joint commissioner JS Tandon and health officer KD Singh Sambyal were also present in the meeting. The members of the health and sanitation committee alleged that some officials of the administration were indulging in corrupt practices and were doing nothing for the welfare of masses. They said corruption in the corporation had peaked, as the authorities concerned were not taking action against the tainted officials. Highlighting places where illegal constructions have come up, the councillors said the authorities should demolish all illegal constructions within the municipal limits. Councillor Satish Sharma said, “The corporation should constitute a team to visit every ward for checking illegal constructions and action should be taken against the guilty.” Regarding poor sanitation, the councillors said the city drains always remained choked with garbage, resulting in overflowing drains and creating problems for common people. They demanded that at least a proper sanitation system should be maintained by the corporation by deputing more safai karamcharis. Replying to the queries, the mayor said the corporation lacked adequate sanitation staff and assured that corrective measures would be initiated to maintain cleanliness in the city. The councillors further demanded that the corporation should involve health and sanitation committee chairman Jaswant Singh Sooden in decision making and every councillor should be given five minutes to highlight his issues in the general body meeting.
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People hope Omar keeps his word on RTI
Act
Jammu, January 6 A Delhi-based NGO ‘Transparency International’ in its survey recently had rated the state as the second most corrupt state after Bihar during the tenure of the Congress-PDP coalition government. Talking to The Tribune, Central Chief Information Commissioner (CCIC) Wajahat Habibbullah said the state RTI Act had several lacunae, thereby defeating its purpose. “Leave aside other deficiencies, the J&K RTI Act 2004 has no clear definition of word ‘information’, has no information commission and no severe penalties for the guilty,” he said. Paradoxically, some government officials were not aware of the Act and these discrepancies made it impossible for people to get access to desired information, added Habibbullah. Though the previous government under Ghulam Nabi Azad had made substantive amendments to the Act, incorporating definition of ‘right to information’, no clear definition of ‘information’ was given, he said. Even some departments on security grounds had been left out of its purview, he added. However, the CCIC appreciated Omar for his assurance to bring the state Act on a par with the Central RTI Act. “I have been in touch with Omar and he knows about flaws. I have proposed amendments required to the state Act,” he added. Principal secretary, law, AH Kochak said though the state Act had been amended during the previous government, under the new alliance provisions of the Central Act would be incorporated in it. Congress spokesperson Ravinder Sharma said Azad had tried to give more teeth to the Act and made some amendments. “But it still remains inferior to the Central Act. Now, the NC-Congress alliance would accomplish the task,” said Sharma, while trying to convey that the Congress could not complete several things because of shortened tenure after the PDP pulled out of the coalition. Panthers Party legislator Harsh Dev Singh said unless the new government fulfilled its promises, such assurances were mere pronouncements. “The present Act amply conveys that the government wants to conceal more and reveal less,” he said. He added that if Omar really wanted to transform his dream of good governance into reality, the state Act must match with the Central Act. A RTI crusader said the preamble the state RTI Act did not clearly spell out its objectives. |
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Unemployed pin hopes
on Omar
Srinagar, January 6 “The problem of unemployment has assumed alarming proportions in the state and it is imperative that he would have to address it. The method of employment is expected to be fair and transparent under this government. In the past, bungling have taken place in selection procedures and the same needs to be rectified,” says Imtiyaz Ahmad, a postgraduate student. The new Chief Minister has already said it may not be possible for him to provide jobs to all unemployed youth, but still a large section of the youth think that Omar could help them. “Omar has been a minister at the Centre and it is here that we believe his experience will come handy. He should motivate leading businessmen of the country to come to the state and set up their enterprises here so that jobs are provided to the youth in the private sector,” says Wasim Ahmad, an engineer. More than three lakh youth are registered with employment exchanges across the state and most of them hope that they would get a government job. “It is not fair to expect that the government would provide jobs to all. The youth should be prepared to set up their business units and above all people should change their perception. They should encourage the youth to take up jobs in the private sector and not harp on government jobs,” says Mohammad Maqbool, a businessman. |
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Omar Cabinet comprises
senior politicians
Srinagar, January 6 More old and new faces are expected to be inducted into the ministry. Four NC ministers are Abdul Rahim Rather, Ali Mohammad Sagar, Mian Altaf Ahmad and Surjeet Singh Salathia. AR Rather, who was Leader of the National Conference in the last Assembly, who was first elected from Charar-e-Sharief (Budgam) in 1977, has since been retaining the seat. He served as Speaker as well as a minister holding the portfolios of Finance, Agriculture and Rural Development. Ali Mohammad Sagar was elected to the Assembly in the 1983, 1987, 1996, 2002 and 2008 elections from Batamaloo and Khanyar Assembly constituencies of Srinagar district. He has served as a minister of state in 1989 and 1996 and later as a Cabinet minister till 2002. Mian Altaf Ahmad has been continuously elected to the Legislative Assembly in 1987, 1996, 2002 and 2008 from Kangan. He served as Cabinet minister in the Farooq Abdullah government and was also as a minister in the NC-Congress government in 1987 as a Congress member. Surjit Singh Salathia was first elected in 1996 from Vijaypur and served as a minister of state and a Cabinet minister in the Farooq Abdullah-led ministry. He has been again elected from this constituency in the 2008 Assembly elections. Five Congressmen who were sworn in as Cabinet ministers yesterday were all members of the last Assembly. Only one of them, Sham Lal Sharma, was first elected to the Assembly in a byelection in 2004 while the other four have remained ministers in the past. Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand was Speaker of the last Assembly and has been elected for the third consecutive term from Chhamb (Jammu) in 1996, 2002 and 2008. Two other members, Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed and Taj Mohiuddin, are re-elected from Kokernag (Anantnag ) and Uri ( Baramulla), respectively. Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed, was first elected to the Legislative Assembly from Kokernag in 1987. He was again elected from this constituency in 2002. He was also a Cabinet minister in the last Congress-PDP government. Taj Mohi-ud-Din, a Cabinet minister in the last coalition government, has been re-elected from Uri for the second consecutive term. Nawang Rigzin, who was elected unopposed to the Assembly in 2002 from Leh, became a minister in the Mufti Sayeed and Ghulam Nabi Azad-led governments. He has been elected from the same constituency for the second time consecutively.
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BJP asks state unit for panel of candidates
Dinesh Manhotra Tribune News Service
Udhampur, January 6 BJP candidates won Reasi, Hiranagar, Bani and Basholi segments for Udhampur-Doda Lok Sabha seat whereas party candidates secured good number of votes from Inderwal, Kishtwar, Gool-Arnas, Billawar, Ramban and Chenani seats. Party sources said state in charge of the BJP and former CM of Himachal Pradesh Shanta Kumar, while addressing a meeting, had suggested the BJP leaders to evolve consensus on both Lok Sabha seats. As party has made it clear to field strong and potential candidates for the Lok Sabha elections, names of some newly elected MLAs are also being considered. The party sources said the party had been considering the name of Prof Chaman Lal Gupta for the Udhampur-Doda Lok Sabha segment, despite being the fact that Gupta had last month won the Assembly elections from Jammu West Assembly segment of Jammu district.
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BSP threatens agitation
Udhampur, January 6 Addressing a public meeting at Katra, BSP general secretary Rakesh Wazir said opening of a degree college was a dire need to solve problems of the students. He criticised the previous government for opening colleges in less importance places due to political considerations. He said degree colleges were opened in small towns whereas important town like Katra, where 10+2 school, which was established 33 years ago, having strength of nearly 600 students in the Class XI and Class XII alone, had no degree college. Wazir said the new government should provide the college immediately so that long-pending demand of the people of Katra and around be met and suffering of the students be redressed at the earliest. |
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Farooq may vacate Hazratbal seat
Jammu, January 6 Party sources said as Dr Abdullah had won the Sonawar seat by just over 200 votes, he would not like the seat to go to the PDP after the byelection. PDP candidate Ghulam Qadir Pardesi had lost to Farooq Abdullah by a narrow margin. The sources said Farooq's performance from Hazratbal had convinced the party leadership that the National Conference candidate could win the byelection from Hazratbal more comfortably than from Sonawar. The National Conference, the sources said, would try to persuade the Election Commission to announce the schedule for the byelection as early as possible so that the party, which shares power with the Congress, could get one more seat in the Assembly. The National Conference has won 28 seats but for practical purposes it has only 27 MLAs as Farooq had won from two constituencies. In case Farooq decided to contest the Lok Sabha elections the National Conference will field him from Srinagar . In that case his success in getting elected to the Lok Sabha will leave both Sonawar and Hazratbal assembly seats vacant. Indications are that the Election Commission may fix the schedule for the byelection along with the Lok Sabha poll as by that time it will be known whether Abdullah is keen to enter the Lok Sabha. |
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BJP flays govt for‘Kashmir-centric policies’
Jammu, January 6 State BJP president Ashok Khajuria, while addressing media persons here today, said: “Omar Abdullah, being a young man, was expected to form the government with new faces, but he has repeated the same old tainted faces who faced serious allegations. How he can assure that he will provide corruption-free government?” The encounter between the security forces with the militants at Mendhar too was discussed at length. The leaders expressed concern over the recent increase in militant activities. “The presence of large number of militants has been noticed in hilly terrains of Jammu region. The recent encounter is an eye opener for the government. We need to curb the militancy with iron hands. If needed, even the Air Force should be used in the operations,” he added. He also targeted human rights organisations for being silent over the killings of innocents. Meanwhile, former state BJP president Daya Krishan Kotwal stressed on strengthening the Village Defence Committees (VDCs) and condemned the alleged misuse of the services of SPOs at the Kishtwar police station. |
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Gujjars ask Aslam to quit as CLP leader
Srinagar, January 6 Hundreds of Gujjars today assembled at the residence of Chaudhary Aslam in Gandhi Nagar, Jammu and advised him to stay away from the assignment of the legislature party leader as, according to them, the Congress party has hurt their emotions. The Gujjars marched towards the Residency Road and met former Chief Minister and Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad at his residence in Jammu and registered their protest against the party’s decision. The Gujjars said Chaudhary Aslam had rendered 50-year unblemished service to the Congress and he should have been inducted in the Cabinet as Deputy Chief Minister. |
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Students resume protest for ‘open choice’
Jammu, January 6 The students of GGM Science College, SPMR College for Commerce and MAM College boycotted classes and took out a protest rally that passed through various parts of the city. State secretary of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidayarthi Parishad (ABVP) Suresh Magotra, in a statement, said students gheraoed the director colleges, ND Wani, in GGM Science College for some time. They shouted slogans against the government for ignoring their demand and sought a decision in their favour immediately. Meanwhile, traffic was disrupted at several places in view of the protest rally that started from GGM Science College and passed through Dogra Chowk and converged at Vikram Chowk, where students from MAM College too joined them. Magotra said the ABVP would keep on pressing for their demand till it was fulfilled.
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Mattoo named ‘Kashmiri of the Year’
Jammu, January 6 Prof Mattoo had studied at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi, and the University of Oxford, UK. He was selected to the IPS in 1988, but he preferred a career in academics. He has been a visiting professor at Stanford University, USA, the University of Notre Dame and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He has been the chairperson of the Centre for International Politics, Organisation and Disarmament at Jawaharlal Nehru University. For six years, he was the vice-chancellor of Jammu University. He is at present a professor of international politics at the JNU and also a member of the National Knowledge Commission. Prof Mattoo was awarded Padmashree last year for his contribution to education.
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Music festival begins today
Jammu, January 6 As per a press note, as many as 30 concerts will be organised at various educational institutes, cultural centres and auditoriums of Jammu. These institutes include Abhinav Theatre, KL Saigal Hall, Institute of Music and Fine Arts, Jammu University, Government College for Women, Gandhi Nagar, Government College for Women, MAM College, KC Public School, KC International School, Heritage School, Jodamal School, Army School, Government School, Lawrence School and DBN School. Conceived by Santoor maestro and composer Abhay Rustum Sopori, the festival is especially youth-oriented and a step toward taking music to the masses. The festival will also feature an analytical presentation of Kashmiri and Dogri folk music like Karak, Baar and Dastan. Workshops will also be conducted, especially for music students and professionals. SAMAPA, under the aegis of its chairman Santoor legend and composer Padmashri Pandit Bhajan Sopori, has been recognised globally in the field of music and culture.
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Symposium on road safety
Jammu, January 6 MM Khajooria, former DGP of the state, was the chief guest, while MK Mohanty and transport commissioner Dalip Singh were the guests of honour. The function was presided over by director, school education, Zahida Parveen Khan. The theme of the function was “To carefully drive, reach alive”. Nine participants from various schools, colleges and the PTU learning centres of the city spoke on the “Role of Traffic Management”, “Use of Technology in Traffic Management” and the “Role of Law Enforcing Agencies”. |
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Sheep breeders given claims
Jammu, January 6 The claims were distributed under the Sheep and Wool Improvement Programme (SWIS). SDM, RS Pura, Sheetal Gupta was the chief guest at the function. The chief guest appreciated the role of SAHYOG for encouraging sheep rearing in far-flung villages in border areas, where it was the main source of livelihood. The veterinary doctor of SAHYOG, Dr Ajeet Pal Singh, in his keynote address, spoke over disease management, while secretary and nodal officer of the project Mahesh Kinth delivered the vote of thanks. |
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3 held in murder case
Udhampur, January 6 Udhampur SSP Surinder Gupta claimed the police had earlier arrested Somraj, alias Shallu of Shakti Nagar, Udhampur, and Pawan Sharma, alias Pappu of Sial Sallan, Udhampur, near the airport area. Following interrogation of both, the police raided the Arnas area of Reasi district and arrested Sulender Singh of Baldanu Khuldi. One double-barrel ‘desi katta’ along with five cartridges was seized from him. The SSP claimed the accused had confessed their involvement in the murder.
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Former CM Shah dead
Srinagar, January 6 Shah remained the Chief Minister for 23 months between July,1984, and May,1986. The former Chief Minister had been ailing for the past few months and was operated upon at the hospital. Shah was admitted to the hospital yesterday after he developed some complications. The ailing leader breathed his last at 5-40 pm at the Cardiology ICU of the hospital. His wife, Khalida, Farooq Abdullah’s elder sister, was by the side of her husband when the end came. Shah was a close associate and son-in-law of the NC’s founder Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah. Shah, whose party contested the 1987 elections, had been out of active politics for over 22 years. However, his party, Awami National Conference (ANC), contested over 70 seats in the recent Assembly elections but failed to get any seat. After the Indira-Abdullah accord of 1975, GM Shah was inducted into the Cabinet by Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah. After the death of Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah in September, 1982, Farooq Abdullah took over as his successor. Farooq returned to power after in May, 1983, but was dethroned by his brother-in-law, GM Shah, in July, 1984, with the support of 15 NC MLAs and the Congress. He headed the government for 23 months before the Congress pulled out, paving the way for the Rajiv-Farooq accord and fresh elections in 1987. Governor NN Vohra expressed grief over Shah’s death. In his message to Begum Khalida Shah, the Governor recalled the contribution of the departed leader towards the uplift of people and development of the state. “This is an irreparable loss to the state, to the family in particular. May the Almighty grant eternal peace to the departed soul”, the Governor said in the condolence message. Three-day state mourning
All government offices and educational institutions in the state shall remain closed tomorrow as a mark of respect to the departed soul, an official spokesman said. A three-day state mourning from January 6 to January 8 would be observed, with the national and state flags flying at half mast on all buildings and places. The former Chief Minister would be accorded state funeral, an official notification said. |
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Panic in Buddhal area
as Army moves out
Rajouri, January 6 Area residents said after the infantry brigade of the Army moved out of the area they became soft targets for the militants. They added that the Army’s movement out of the area inhabited by about 40,000 people had created panic among them. “Since militants are very active in the area, we fear for our lives,” said Bhagwan Singh, local BJP leader and an area resident. “We urge the Army authorities to reconsider their decision in view of militant threats”. Another resident and social worker Maulvi Fareed told The Tribune that the Army had done a lot to bring a sense of security among people here and had been successful in thwarting evil designs of the militants. “The Army authorities should immediately rush in replacement so that people don’t fear for their life.” Army sources confirmed that the infantry brigade had been moved out of the area. However, they added that the same would return to the area within next 20-25 days. “Troops of one of the infantry brigades in Nowshera have gone to Rajasthan for practising firing. They will be back within next 20-25 days. The brigade from Buddhal has temporarily replaced this brigade”, the sources said.
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3 killed in mishaps
Srinagar, January 6 An Army vehicle, which was part of a convoy from here to Baramulla, hit and injured Ghulam Nabi Malik, a pedestrian, at Tapper on the highway. He was rushed to the hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. Later, people took to streets and protested the incident. Demanding arrest of the Army driver, demonstrators also blocked the highway. In another incident, a vehicle turned turtle injuring father of the driver at exhibition crossing, near here. The injured was rushed to the hospital, where he was declared brought dead. A tractor hit and critically wounded Hilal Ahmad at Jagerpora in Kupwara. However, he died on the way to hospital. Meanwhile, a house was gutted in a fire at Shah Mohalla Harwan, while a shop was damaged in fire at Frastbal, in Pulwama district. |
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Ganai to be CM’s principal secretary
Jammu, January 6 A 1982 batch IAS officer, Ganai has been secretary, rural development, food supplies and transport, agriculture and cooperative and general administration department. He has also served as the divisional commissioner, Kashmir, and resident commissioner, New Delhi. |
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Kashmir highway closed
Srinagar, January 6 Sources said traffic on the 300-km-long highway was suspended following heavy snowfall between Banihal and Ramban. It was still heavily snowing on the highway. Hundreds of vehicles, including those carrying passengers that left for Jammu this morning were stranded on the highway. However, no vehicle was allowed from Srinagar to Jammu this afternoon.
— UNI |
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New Delhi, January 6
A fire reportedly broke out in the clerks’ room of the state Legislative Assembly complex in the civil secretariat here around 3.40 pm, creating panic among employees.
The police resorted to a lathicharge and tear gas shelling to prevent the Muharram procession in violation of the prohibitory orders in the Civil Lines area here today, resulting in
injuries to more than 20 persons, including four policemen. A police vehicle was damaged in stone pelting by agitated mourners who were stopped on MA Road this afternoon.
Jammu, January 6
