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Vote Cong for secure future: Rahul
AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi takes a feedback on the poll scenario from Chief Minister Omar Abdullah during a public rally at Vijaypur (Jammu) on Tuesday. Tribune photo: Anand Sharma
Mufti: Scrap power pacts with NHPC
PDP focuses on Jammu region
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Drunk man kills wife
Baisakhi celebrated with traditional gaiety
Mehbooba scoffs at Farooq’s invite to separatists
Tributes paid to Ambedkar
A troupe presents a cultural programme on the occasion of BR Ambedkar’s 118th birth anniversary in Leh on Tuesday. Photo: Yangchan Dolma
Readmission Fee
BSNL mobile users rue poor service
Cong promises roads for Bhaderwah villages
Nod to relocation of polling booths
MIET holds cultural meet
Ensure ‘ration supply’ in Inderwal
Mock polls a top priority
Security tightened
Panchayat poll in Oct-Nov: Sagar
Tulip Festival concludes
Martyr cremated
Fire Service Week observed
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Vote Cong for secure future: Rahul
Jammu, April 14 It was in 1987 that Rajiv Gandhi and Sheikh Abdullah had come together. But after that the members of one of the most powerful political families did not address a common election rally. While Rahul Gandhi sought votes for Congress-NC candidate Madan Lal Sharma for making Manmohan Singh the Prime Minister of the country once again, Omar asked for votes for their unity. He specifically underlined the rally as a historical occasion, as they shared the dias. The Chief Minister said public wanted the pact between the two parties. We contested against each other. But people of Jammu Kashmir were more intelligent. They gave us only that number of seats with which we could form the government together.” He said they had got the message, the pact between the two parties was the best for the state and thus we came together. Now, it was up to the voters to decide if they wanted to vote for the future (Omar and Rahul) or for those elements who were hell bent on dividing the country. Rahul said he had brought a message of love from the Prime Minister and Congress president Sonia Gandhi. Taking a dig at the Left and the BJP for calling the Prime Minister a weak man, he said peace would not have returned to Jammu and Kashmir if the Prime Minister were a weak man. Omar promised that his government with the help from the Centre would channel water from the Tawi for the benefit of Vijaypur, Sambha and Kathua regions. The leaders did not fail to notice the sudden increase in temperature. People attending the rally had a tough time as tents were unable to provide respite from the scorching sun. “Please don’t remain inside because of heat. Vote in early hours,” the two leaders said. |
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Mufti: Scrap power pacts with NHPC
Udhampur, April 14 Addressing a public meeting at Doda in support of party candidate Balbir Singh, Mufti described the exploitation of state’s water and power resources as the worst kind of injustice. Mufti said water was to J&K as oil was to the oil-producing countries, but the NC had systematically sold out this most valuable resource for political power. The NC, he said, gave away rights over water to the Centre in 1952, which enabled it to sign away our interests through the Indus Water Treaty without any compensation. The PDP patron said, Dr Farooq Abdullah went a step ahead and sold the remaining potential literally for nothing in 2000. “The handing over of seven major projects to the NHPC was like the last nail in the coffin of the state’s economy”, he said. Mufti said it was a tragic that a state so rich in resources that it could be cash surplus was converted into a virtual begging bowl as a result of the NC’s lust for power. It was no wonder, he said, the party had been wiped out of the Chenab area like most parts of Kashmir and Jammu.” Reiterating his party’s resolve to ensure justice to all regions, Mufti said the self-rule proposal was about empowerment of all sections of society irrespective of cast, creed or religion. Regions like the Chenab valley would be given the institutions like Sub-Regional Councils to enable them to plan and execute development projects at local levels. |
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PDP focuses on Jammu region
Udhampur, April 14 Decision of the ruling NC that not to contest elections on two Lok Sabha seats of the Jammu region has provided appropriate opportunity to the PDP to consolidate its position in this side. Being a coalition partner, the NC has been supporting Congress candidates on the two seats of the Jammu province. The way former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed has been campaigning in the Jammu region is a clear indication that the party has not taken elections in this side of Pir Panchal casually. The party has given mandate to two senior leaders namely Trilok Singh Bajwa from Jammu-Poonch and Balbir Singh from Udhampur-Doda. After conducting whirlwind tour of twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri, Mufti has started campaign in Udhampur and Doda districts. Today Mufti addressed two rallies one at Doda and other at Bhaderwah-the hometown of former CM Ghulam Nabi Azad. Although the PDP has registered its presence by winning two Assembly seats from Poonch and Rajouri districts, party leadership want to consolidate its position in the whole region, especially, in the erstwhile Doda district where the party has the potential to grow. Due to the two-month-long Amarnath land agitation, the PDP could not achieved success in the Hindu belt as leader of this party continued to remain under the fire in this region due to raking up of passion of religious sentiments. During the agitation, PDP office at Jammu came under the attack of agitators a number of times. Not only this, residences of its various local leaders came under the mob attack. As the dust generated during the agitation has settled down and religious passions have cooled down, the PDP has made serious beginning in Jammu region. Mufti, who has earned appreciation of the people of Jammu for his three-year term as the CM, has himself taken the charge of reviving the party in the region.
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Drunk man kills wife
Udhampur, April 14 Reports said Dharam Chand and his friends were consuming liquor at Salal. Around 10 pm, Lasho Devi went to the spot where they were drinking. Dharam Chand, who was drunk, got infuriated when his wife asked him to stop consuming liquor. After some heated exchanges, the husband gave a severe thrashing to his wife. As the woman resisted, he picked up a stone and reportedly attacked her repeatedly. Some of his friends also joined him in the act. The severely injured woman reached her house where she died after one hour. As the husband was under the influence of liquor till this morning, children called the neighbours for help, who informed the police. The police rushed to the spot and took the body in possession. During initial questioning Dharam Chand reportedly told the police that his wife was killed by his friends. The accused told the police that he had lost his senses last night after consuming liquor. He alleged as his wife entered into a scuffle with his friends, they might have killed her. The police has picked up a few persons but is awaiting the postmortem report to ascertain the real cause of the death. In another incident, Mohammad Hussain (70) died after he fell from a hill near Reasi while moving with his cattle. The police has registered a case.
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Baisakhi celebrated with traditional gaiety
Srinagar, April 14 “Baisakhi is celebrated on April 14 over the past two years as the Nanak Sahib calendar has changed and the festival is celebrated a day later than the earlier date. Some, however, celebrate it on the same date (April 13),” says Gurcharan Singh, a senior resident in Baramulla district. Thousands of people visited Mughal gardens yesterday and today as well. Bhangra and gidda are usual features of this festival in the gardens. In Kashmir valley Mughal gardens are thrown open on April 13. People, especially youth, in good numbers visit the gardens on this date. “Not only Nishat but Tulip garden also witnessed huge rush of people on eve of Baisakhi. The rush definitely provides a ray of hope for flourishing of tourism sector and normalcy in the valley,” says Ghulam Sarwar Naqash, director, floriculture, who had gone to inspect the arrangements at the Nishat garden. Hundreds of vehicles were parked outside the Mughal gardens. Even traffic movement on Boulevard road remained slow due to heavy rush. State Road Transport Corporation had deployed buses exclusively for the garden on the eve of Baisakhi. Jammu: The District Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (DGPC), Jammu, today celebrated the birth anniversary of Khalsa Panth (Baisakhi) at Gurdwara Chhati Patshahi, Talab Tillo, Jammu. According to a statement issued here today, Ragi Jatha Bhai Onkar Singh Unawale from Punjab recited Gurbani kirtan in the main function. Bhai Yoginder Singh Bangla Sahib DelhiWale highlighted the history of Khalsa Panth and sacrifices of 10th Guru Gobind Singh and his four sons for the cause of humanity and religion. The local ragi jathas of the DGPC comprising Bhai Gian Singh, Bhai Parvinder Singh, Bhai Jagtar Singh and Bhai Surjeet also recited shabad kirtan during the function. Guru ka langar was also served on the occasion. |
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Mehbooba scoffs at Farooq’s invite to separatists
Srinagar, April 14 Addressing party meetings in south Kashmir, she said the NC had virtually lost the character of a political party and it was only wishful thinking on the part of the former Chief Minister that somebody would respond to his call. She said Farooq Abdullah was fighting the fourth election in a span of three months now as he was unable to find any candidate who could have won the Srinagar LS constituency. Mehbooba added the party having lost its representative character was in power only with the blessings of New Delhi, where the father-son duo virtually begged for an alliance with the Congress. The party begged of the Congress to grant it the Ladakh seat which was not accepted by the junior partner, the PDP president said. “The sacrifices being made by the NC one after the other to its junior partner in the state government itself speaks volumes for the lust for power the party is known for”, she added. She claimed that the previous two elections had been lost by the NC in terms of seats and vote share. It was shrinking in its main areas of influence and had now reached a stage when it was afraid of even fighting elections from Kashmir. |
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Tributes paid to Ambedkar
Leh, April 14 Welcoming the mammoth audience at Polo Ground, LBA youth wing president Tsewang Thinless said: “celebration of the birth anniversary of Dr BR Ambedkar by the LBA is to convey an important message of the LBA which condemns the caste system in Ladakhi society, particularly among the Buddhist community.” Earlier, students and members of the LBA Youth wing organised a rally as part of the birth anniversary celebrations from Chowkhang Vihara to Polo Ground. Jammu (TNS): The Akhil Bhartiya Rachnatmak Samaj (ABRS) held a function here on Tuesday to pay rich tributes to Ambedkar Member of the J&K Public Service Commission RL Bharti presided over the function. Sushila Jamwal, Ashok Badyal, Mohd Gafoor Dar, Father Sohan Lal, Nirmal Padha, Gurcharan Singh and Jia Lal were honoured on the occasion with Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar Award 2008 for excelling in the field of social service. The Ambedkar Study Centre, Department of Sociology, Jammu University (JU), will hold a lecture on “Ambedkar as sociologist” tomorrow in Vice-Chancellor’s committee room.
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Pvt schools warned
Sunaina Kaul Tribune News Service
Jammu, April 14 The director issued these instructions acting upon complaints from parents about exorbitant fees and selling of books and uniforms by private schools at exorbitant prices. A special committee has also been constituted by the Directorate of School Education to ensure that the instructions are complied with in letter and in spirit. Zahida Khan said she had warned all principals that strict action would be initiated against those who violated these instructions. She said: “We also asked them to adhere to the government instructions while charging the admission fee during a meeting held with representatives of private schools recently”. She added it was compulsory for every private institution, including CBSE institutions, to notify the fee structure chargeable at the time of admission. The private schools had also been strictly instructed not to sell textbooks, uniforms and other unnecessary things in school premises. She said if any school charged exorbitant fee or readmission dues, parents should come along with the fee cards or fee slips so that action was taken against the principals concerned.
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BSNL mobile users rue poor service
Rajouri, April 14 Subscribers of BSNL’s pre-paid and post-paid services allege that its mobile services are so poor that it takes hours together to make a call. They add that most of the times they get messages like “connection error”, “network busy” while dialling a number. “The services of BSNL mobile are poor in Rajouri and Poonch districts. Whenever you wish to call your friends or relatives from here, it takes hours to get connected to them. Messages like “connection error”, “network busy” appear on the screen before a call matures”, rues Nissar Ahmed Choudhary, a resident of the DC Colony. “Most of the times one gets connected to some other number”. BSNL customers say services are poor in Old City, Thanamandi, Darhal, Manjakote and Nowshera areas. They add that the BSNL mobile services are not also poor in adjoining Poonch district and Poonch town, while Surankote and Mendhar have the worst services. “BSNL’s mobile services are too poor. Most of the times services remain disrupted. It is difficult to make a call,” complained Ramesh Kumar, a resident of Mohalla Bus Stand in Poonch. Meanwhile, senior BSNL officers could not be contacted despite repeated attempts.
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Cong promises roads for Bhaderwah villages
Udhampur, April 14 Addressing a public meeting at Gandoh, Niaz said he would complete the unfinished tasks for former Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, who had reposed faith in him by giving him ticket from this Assembly segment. He said Azad had formulated a comprehensive plan for the overall development of Bhaderwah and he would fulfil the task. Niaz called upon people to strengthen the Congress for the betterment and development of the state. He hoped that the UPA would retain power and developmental activities in the state would accelerate. He cautioned people against the “evil designs” of the BJP, which had been trying to create division in society for votes. |
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Nod to relocation of polling booths
Jammu, April 14 The polling stations of Jammu East Assembly segment for 9-Pacci Dhaki-A at Munsiff Court, Pacci Dhaki and 11-Pacci Dhaki-C at Court Sub-Judge Pacci Dhaki will now be set-up at the Information Department Building, Mubarak Mandi. The polling stations of Bishnah Assembly segment for 47A-Laswara B1 located at Veterinary Dispensary Building, Laswara will now be at Co-operative store, Laswara. The location of polling stations of RS Pura Assembly segment for 29-RS Pura E and 61 Finder- A, will now be located at Government Higher Secondary School in RS Pura and Primary School, Finder, respectively. Likewise, the four polling stations of Marh Assembly segment for 19-Gajansoo A, 50-Tarlokpur-A, 3A-Jhiri A1 and 40-Gho Manhasan C will now be located at GPS Nai Basti, GPS Kharian, GPS Chano Chak and GPS Bhagatpur,
respectively. |
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MIET holds cultural meet
Jammu, April 14 Vikrant Joshi, a 4th semester MCA student, displayed stunts in taekwando, Divya Ghai played sitar, Priyanka Misri and Shefali Tickoo sang songs on the occasion. “Sevaram Di Seva,” a Dogri play, was also enacted by students of the second semester. Vikrant also recited a poem that was highly appreciated by the gathering. Second semester students won the cricket match and Veer Bhaskar was declared man of the match, Ujjwal- a student of fourth semester, won the first prize in carom, Sunil Sharma of second semester won the first prize in chess and Vikrant Joshi bagged first prize in table tennis. Similarly, Monika Saini was judged best in
Rangoli.
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Ensure ‘ration supply’ in Inderwal
Jammu, April 14 In a press statement, RKSP’s state unit president Tanveer Hussain Babzada said the public distribution system of the government had failed to cater to the needs of people. “Ration card holders are being given only 25 per cent of the quota of ration allocated for them,” he maintained. He alleged that despite several complaints lodged with the authorities concerned, including the District Development Commissioner,
Kishtwar, no action had been taken. Babzada urged the higher authorities to restore the supply of the required ration items to these distribution centres immediately. |
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Mock polls a top priority
Jammu, April 14 The mock drill would be an indispensable part in five other LS constituencies of the state before they also go to polls on different dates. “Before actual polling starts in various booths, mock polls would be conducted by respective presiding officers on the day of polling wherein polling agents of all 21 contesting candidates would cast at least two to three votes and thereafter the results would be tallied so as to remove their apprehensions, if any, about efficacy of the EVMs, said Chief Electoral Officer BR Sharma, while fielding media queries here this evening after releasing a handbook on ‘LS elections 2009’.
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Jammu-Poonch LS seat goes to polls tomorrow
Tribune News Service
Jammu, April 14 Security forces have been deployed in all 2210 polling stations in Samba, Jammu, Rajouri and Poonch districts of the Jammu-Poonch parliamentary constituency, official sources said. Special security grid has been put in place for sensitive and hypersensitive polling booths, they said. A senior police officer said 450 companies of Central police forces would assist the state police. Jammu zone IGP K Rajendra Kumar said each single booth in both Jammu-Poonch and Udhampur-Doda LS constituencies stood covered. “We are combing the entire area and special focus is being given to vulnerable booths,” he added.
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Panchayat poll in Oct-Nov: Sagar
Jammu, April 14 Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Ali Mohammed Sagar said if everything went according to the plans the state might have its panchayat elections in October and November. Sagar said the state had nearly 5,000 panchayats and hence at least five months were needed for doing the spadework for holding the elections. The 2001 panchayat poll was held after over two decades when Dr Farooq Abdullah headed the state government. Sources said after the five-year term of panchayats ended in 2006, no elections were held to these bodies.
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Tulip Festival concludes
Srinagar, April 14 Director, tourism, Farooq Ahmad Shah, said that the department had taken a host of measures to promote tourism in the valley. Infrastructure was being developed at tourist destinations to attract more tourists. He announced that Kashmir festival would be celebrated in June. The Information Department presented a cultural programme on the occasion.
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Martyr cremated
Jammu, April 14 His last rites were performed amid heartrending scenes in his village, 20 km from Jammu city. Villagers did not celebrate Baisakhi to mourn his death. He is survived by his wife Rajni Devi and two sons Arun, a class VIII student, and Ankit, a class IV student. The family was dependent on the martyr for survival. His father late Harbans Lal Sharma was also an ex-serviceman. |
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Fire Service Week observed
Srinagar, April 14 It began with wreath laying to the martyr column and a two-minute silence to pay homage to gallant jawans, who sacrificed their life for the noble cause “We Serve to Save”. Syed Shakeel Ahmad, deputy director, Fire and Emergency Services, inspected the parade and took salute. The slogan of the year “Install Smoke Alarm, Assure Life Safety” was conveyed to the general
masses.
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For the first time since 1987, scions of the Gandhi and Abdullah families came together to seek votes for Congress candidates in Vijaypur and Kathua today.
