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CM: No pay panel benefits to staff of loss-making SRTC
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Monitor development schemes: CM
Kisan board to be set up soon: CM
Farmers fear rain may hit paddy
Showers indicate onset of winter: MET dept
Students meet Governor
Darbar Move
NSUI to organise conventions
Security forces kill LeT militant
3 killed in road mishaps
Noted Kashmiri singer Sofi dead
DGP meets senior officers
Hurriyat leaders play down Bhat’s remarks
ETT exam leak
Foot limb camp
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Pre-paid cellphone Connections
Jammu, November 9 Offering hope to the affected pre-paid phone subscribers, who are forced to pay for conversion to post-paid services, the Chief Minister said the state government had asked the Centre to reconsider the ban. Omar was addressing mediapersons on the first day of the government’s functioning in Jammu for winter months. Rain and the government arrived together in the city this morning, with a pleasant weather greeting visitors to the secretariat. The government started functioning from Jammu today onwards till April, when the darbar moves back to Srinagar. “The blanket ban did not include us. We were told about it when the ban was contemplated. We had advised that it was improper to punish genuine users for the fault of a few employees of private mobile service providers, who failed to
verify documents of subscribers properly.” Omar’s remarks come a few days after the GOC-in-C Northern Command, Lt-Gen BS Jaswal, had in response to a query on security and pre-paid phone connections said the Army had not sent any report on banning pre-paid phone connections. Home Minister P Chidambaram had on visit to the state recently said the ban decision was taken after much consideration. Interestingly, the private mobile service providers, 30,000 connections of which were cancelled a few months ago after a police investigation found subscribers’ documents fake or incomplete, have so far not informed about any action taken against any employee for improper verification. The Chief Minister accused private mobile service providers for the mess. “Due to laxity on the part of a handful people working with private service providers, a large number of people in the state are suffering. We had advised that imposing a blanket ban would make people suffer for the fault of the service providers,” Omar remarked. At the same time, Omar expressed displeasure at “singling out Jammu and Kashmir for the ban. “Why not they ban
pre-paid services in other violence-hit regions of the country?” he asked. Rejecting the reports that the Legislative Assembly could be dissolved to facilitate the participation of the Hurriyat Conference in running the government, Omar said the matter had not reached this level yet. “Even if it does, it will be a political decision to be taken by Farooq sahib and Sonia ji.” The Chief Minister also insisted that the Hurriyat leaders were free to visit Pakistan or any other country or talk to anyone
about the Kahsmir issue. “We don’t support anyone. We give passports. Hurriyat leaders have on their own cancelled their visits.” Omar also contested the claims of the Army that ‘agitational terrorism’ was a threat to the state. “I don’t think these words can be put together. There is a difference between a man carrying a stone and another an AK-47 rifle. Yes, there can be convergence of interests, but the two are separate things.” He also supported the use of ‘quiet diplomacy’ to resolve the Kashmir issue. “Quiet diplomacy ensures leaders don’t look for personal political gains by talking to media. This diplomacy has worked in other countries. We are hopeful it will work here too.” Omar admitted that the pace of work on the Prime Minister’s reconstruction plan was slack. “Yes, slackness is there in
the power sector. We are looking into it.” |
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CM: No pay panel benefits to staff of loss-making SRTC
Jammu, November 9 Omar went a step further saying loss-making PSUs, including corporations, were not entitled to the benefits of the pay commission. Talking to mediapersons here today, Omar refuted the accusations of his government being insensitive to the issues of employees. It may be stated here that approximately 4000 employees of the SRTC have been on strike for the past 76 days demanding the disbursement of salaries on time along with benefits of the latest pay panel. “We are ready to give them (striking SRTC employees) salaries, but the loss-making units are not entitled to the Sixth Pay Commission benefits till they start making profits”, he said. The Chief Minister said his government was ready to bail out the SRTC and had plans for restructuring it.”But they have to meet us the half-way and for this purpose we have kept a reserve”, he said. However, chairman of the SRTC Workers Union, Shakeel Ahmed Kuchay said the strike won’t be called off till all demands were accepted.” We are optimistic about a positive decision by November 11 ( the union’s deadline to the government)”, he told The Tribune. “We are not bothered about 16 other PSUs because they are governed by the Industries Act unlike the SRTC governed by the Road Transport Act of 1950”, he said, adding that till 1976 the SRTC remained a government transport undertakings. Kuchay said if the government didn’t want to give them the benefits of the pay commission, then it should release their salaries on time, but these should be on a par with what their counterparts in other states were getting. He said the SRTC till date had liabilities of Rs 389 crore compared to Rs 1224 crore losses being suffered by the Delhi Transport Corporation every year. |
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Monitor development schemes: CM
Jammu, November 9 The Chief Minister was received at the Jammu secretariat by his Cabinet colleagues, ministers of state, Chief Secretary, DGP and other officers. Omar urged the officers to be responsive to public affairs and perform to the best of their capacities so that people were benefited by development schemes and policy plans initiated by the government. “You are the key to the development process,” he said. The Chief Minister inspected the Chief Minister’s Grievance Cell. He was informed that out of the 3,700 complaints received, 1,600 complaints had been disposed of to the satisfaction of the complainants. Later, the Chief Minister presided over the meeting of Council of Ministers. He also addressed a meeting of administrative secretaries of all departments. Omar laid stress on the quick disposal of cases and the monitoring of development schemes at all levels to ensure expenditure on works judiciously. “We have to gear up the administration at all levels to ensure the completion of works,” he said, emphasising the utilisation of available funds in full and timely completion of ongoing works. “The entire government machinery shall remain dedicated to the welfare of people to address their day-to-day problems and ensure infrastructure development with proper utilisation of large plan outlays to the tune of Rs 5500 crore,” Omar said. The Chief Minister said he was personally monitoring the daily implementation of all projects, works and programmes and he may accordingly be intimated about the daily progress. He also advised the Divisional Commissioners of both provinces to provide detailed reports about the damage caused due to drought as reported from certain areas of the state. |
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Kisan board to be set up soon: CM
Jammu, November 9 The Chief Minister told the party office-bearers and prominent workers that they should prepare themselves for elections to urban local bodies and panchayats to be held shortly. He urged them to take into confidence coalition partners at all levels to fight the elections successfully. “The state has lost an aid of Rs 700 crore earmarked by the 12th Finance Commission for elected panchayats in Jammu and Kashmir,” he said. Since the panchayats in the state were functioning, this amount could not be utilised, he added. Omar said the government had listed unemployment as an important problem and a policy to address the issue was coming on December 5. “About 5.5 lakh youth have registered themselves with various employment exchanges,” he said. Providing government employment to all of them was not possible, but every effort would be made to create job opportunities for them, he added. “How can you run a system where Rs 2,200 crore is being spent to buy electricity and supply it to people, while realising only Rs 700 crore from them,” he asked. Many power projects had already been launched and the government was keen on improving and upgrading power generation and distribution in the state. |
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Farmers fear rain may hit paddy
Jammu, November 9 Most of the farmers in the rice growing areas are sore over the rain. They believe the rain has cast a shadow over the quality of the produce. As it is the peak wheat sowing season, in most of the rain-fed areas people have been awaiting rain to sow wheat. “Now, soil has got moisture, and its the appropriate time for sowing wheat,” maintains Vinod Bala, director, Agriculture Development Department. “Almost 50 per cent of paddy harvesting has been completed. Most important, the duration of rain was small and the sky is clear today,” she added. On the other hand, Tajinder Singh, president of the J&K Kissan Council, said 80 per cent of the non-basmati varieties like Ratna, Chineese, 1920 had been harvested, whereas only 30 per cent of basmati varieties like Ranbir 370, 1121-30 had been harvested till now.” “After harvesting, the produce kept in fields and the direct contact of ripe crop with moisture can trigger a fungal attack. It may result in a poor yield as rice grain will be broken, fetching low prices in the market,” he added. However, Tajinder said the showers were beneficial for the cultivation of flowers like marigold and glandulous. “Rain is also beneficial for vegetables as it would control pests, besides endowing good colour and shape to flowers and vegetables.” Agriculture experts opined improvement in the moisture level would boost seed germination in rain-fed
areas. |
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Showers indicate onset of winter: MET dept
Jammu, November 9 Jammu city witnessed a brief spell of showers after which the people brought out their woollens. “It was chilling in the morning after the late night showers, so I decided to wear a sweater,” said a local resident. The officials of the MET department said, “Today’s showers have indicated the arrival of winter season in Jammu and the city might experience further drop in the temperature in the coming days.” |
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Students meet Governor
Jammu, November 9 During their 14-day tour, organized by the Army’s 52 Rashtriya Rifles, the students visited Jammu, Chennai, Bangalore and Delhi. In Chennai, they visited the Mahabalipuram beach, the Officers’ Training Academy, the Egmore Museum, the Vandaloore Zoo, and the Spencer’s Shopping Complex and sailed for some time in a Coast Guard ship in the high seas in the Bay of Bengal. In Bangalore, they called on the state Governor. They also visited Lal Bagh, Cubbon Park, Vidhan Soudha, the Karnataka High Court Complex, the Vishveshvariya Museum, the Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium and Wonder La, the country’s biggest amusement park. They also interacted with students of the Bangalore Military School. In New Delhi, the children visited India Gate and other places of historic and educational interest. They also interacted with their counterparts at the Army Public School, Dhaula Kuan. Interacting with the children, the Governor enquired from them about the places they had visited and the experiences they had gained during the tour.For many of the students, it was their first visit to any place outside Jammu and Kashmir. They thanked the Army for organising the visit.The Governor presented gifts to the students and wished them a bright future. Meanwhile, the Governor’s Secretariat in Raj Bhavan, reopened in the winter capital, here today. The Secretariat had closed in Srinagar on Darbar move on October 30. Governor NN Vohra went round the various wings of the Raj Bhavan Secretariat. He also inspected the upkeep of the Raj Bhavan Complex. |
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Darbar Move
Jammu, November 9 The traffic congestion was the worst during morning and evening hours, which caused great inconvenience to people. In some areas, the police diverted traffic, but that did ease the snarls.Earlier,people were facing lot of problems due to the dug-up roads.Now, VIP movements have increased their problems tremendously. During the morning hours, a majority of
people like schoolchildren, college students and employees faced lot of problems due to the long traffic jams at various places. “These regular traffic jams have increased our worries.The Darbar Move has added to it. Today it takes me more than two hours to reach my college from Talab Tillo to Parade”, said Ritu Manhas, a collage student. “With the starting of the darbar move , the number of vehicles has increased which will definitely
add to the ongoing problem of traffic jams in the city in coming days. The traffic police needs to be more vigilant in order to regulate movement of vehicles”, said Manoj Khajuria, a resident of Rehari. “In order to mitigate the sufferings of the common man, the government should change the office and school timings”, said Praveen Gupta, a resident of Indira Chowk. |
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NSUI to organise conventions
Jammu, November 9 Addressing a press conference, at Congress Bhawan, Jammu, state president NSUI, Rashid Choudhary said, “In the first phase conventions would be organised in the 47 blocks of ten districts of Jammu province.” “Later, the same process would be carried in valley during March-April next year. After the completion of both the phases, a grand state convention would be organised at Jammu, in which NSUI delegates from the state would deliberate upon the burning issues of the state and nation,” he added. He said conventions would be organised under the supervision of respective block and district presidents in co-ordination with the state in-charges. “The aim of organising such conventions is to strengthen the organisations at grass roots level and to provide a platform to the youth of the state to put their point of views forward,” he said. “It would further train second line of leadership and by organising the conventions, achievements, programmes and policies of the UPA Government would be highlighted so that general public can be sensitised about the opportunities extended by the UPA Government,” he said. He further revealed that the NSUI would engage some intellectual and professionals of high calibre to address the NSUI activists on various social, political, national and scientific issues. |
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Security forces kill LeT militant
Jammu, November 9 Defence sources said based on intelligence inputs regarding the presence of a militant in Kethinala,10 km from Doda, the security
forces launched an operation and killed the LeT militant, identified as Mohd Hussain,a resident of Kethi, Doda. He was responsible for throwing a grenade in Mandirwali Gali, Doda and other violent
activities. A UBGL, two UBGL grenades and a Chinese grenade were recovered from his possession. |
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3 killed in road mishaps
Jammu, November 9
The police said Kherati Lal of Devipur Beasa Chack was killed while his wife Chandal Kumari, daughter Santosh and two grandsons were injured when their car collided with a truck at Devipur in Akhnoor subdivision. The injured were admitted to the Akhnoor subdistrict hospital. However, the truck driver fled after the mishap.
In another incident, cyclist Parkash of Krishna Nagar was killed when a car hit him at Miran Sahiba. The victim was an employee of the MES. The car driver was later arrested and a case registered against him. Devinder Kour of Patel Nagar in Kathua was killed when two cars collided at Plah Morh in Samba district, while four others were injured. The injured were admitted to the Government Medical College here. Mohammad Chandyal of the Housing Board Colony in Udhampur was killed when a bus hit his car at Chopra Shop in Udhampur district. Chandyal was a manager with J&K Bank posted at Poonch. Another occupant of the car was injured. A minibus, on its way to Bhaderwah from Doda, skidded off the road at Seri injuring 10 passengers. The injured were admitted to hospital. Youth arrested
The Government Railways Police (GRP) last evening nabbed a youth from the railway station and recovered nearly Rs 2 lakh stolen money from his possession. Giving details, SHO, GRP, YPS Jamwal told The Tribune that last evening the police nabbed an 18-year-old youth Vijay Kumar Pandey of Basti in Bihar near the railway station and recovered Rs 1,97,730 from his possession. He was trying to board a train to escape to his native place, he said. The youth confessed to have stolen the money from the house of his employer, Parshotam Kumar of Paloura,an owner of a cigarette agency, said the SHO. Blind murder
case solved
With the arrest of a tailor from a village in Miran Sahib, the police today claimed to have solved the blind murder of a 32-year-old woman, who was found dead in a deserted place near Lehar village in Akhnoor subdivision on September 20. The decomposed body was found eight days after she was strangled on September 12. The victim, Rani Devi, wife of Subhash Chander of Baina Garh village near Kotli Mian Fateh of Miran Sahib area, allegedly had illicit relations with her husband’s cousin, Deepak Kumar of Baina Garh, a tailor by profession, ASP Rural Mohan Lal told The Tribune. On September 20, a villager, Ganesh Dass of Lehar village, had informed the police about a decomposed body tied to a tree at a deserted place. Subsequently,the police took up the investigations and solved the blind murder case, he said. |
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Noted Kashmiri singer Sofi dead
Srinagar, November 9 Sofi remained associated with the Kashmiri music world for over four decades, mostly with Radio Kashmir, Srinagar. He had a great passion for the Kashmiri music and was known as the king of Kashmiri ghazals. Sofi’s death was widely mourned with all sections of society remembering him. He was known for many compositions, particularly “Afsoos Duniya Kansi Na Loub……” and other duets with several prominent singers over the past four decades. A large number of people, especially from the music world, relatives and friends participated in the special prayers as Sofi’s body was laid to rest. Several ministers, including Minister for Rural Development, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Ali Mohammad Sagar and Minister for Agriculture Ghulam Hassan Mir mourned the death of the veteran singer. Describing Sofi as an epitome of Kashmiri culture and language, Mir said the renowned vocalist through his performances kept the Kashmiri language alive and relevant. Sofi would long be remembered for his philosophical and mystic recitals, he said. Sagar, while describing him as one of the leading singers that the state had produced post Independence, said Sofi through his melodious rendering of songs created a niche for himself in the annals of the history. J&K Bank chairman Haseeb A Drabu expressed condolences to the fans and the family of the dead singer. “It is a collective loss for the people of Kashmir and nobody can fill the void created by his demise. Sofi was not just a great singer, but an institution in himself. He did not merely sing songs, he vocalised the cultural philosophy of the Kashmir valley. Not only his style, but also his sensibilities were deeply Kashmiri,” he said. |
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DGP meets senior officers
Jammu, November 9 He asked the heads of police training institutions to come up with their suggestions in this regard. IGP Armed Dilbag Singh was also present in the meeting and briefed the activities of armed personnel and their deployment in various parts of the state for anti-insurgency duties. |
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Hurriyat leaders play down Bhat’s remarks
Srinagar, November 9 Bhat had said in a seminar in New Delhi on Saturday that his conglomerate could sit with the NC and the PDP leaders to push a common agenda for Kashmir. His colleagues today were unanimous that they could sit with the NC and the PDP only when both parties leave “power politics” and join Hurriyat for the “azadi” of Kashmir. Moderates have long been oscillating between options of “azadi” and talks depending upon current mood and they today swung to “azadi” again to reassure their supporters, including many Hurriyat leaders, who have been increasingly wary of late. “If the NC and the PDP were serious about solving Kashmir issue, then they should merge with the Hurriyat,” intoned Zafar Akbar Bhat and Maulana Abbas Ansari said in their statements. Shabir Ahmad Shah, another Hurriyat leader, also dismissed Bhat’s suggestions and said the NC and the PDP were “pro-India” parties and would protect its interests in any such talks. |
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ETT exam leak
Jammu, November 9 The state police apprehended four Punjab youths from the bus stand last evening and seized handwritten question paper of English. “After getting the information about the paper leak from the police, I sent the joint secretary along with them. When they reached the examination centres, they found the paper similar to the seized question paper”, said Prof Deshbandhu, Chairman of the school board. “Though we do not have any complaint about the involvement of any official, yet we have started our internal investigation process. If anyone is found guilty, he or she will be punished under law’, added the Chairman. Prof Deshbandhu said he called a meeting of subject experts and other officers in this regard. |
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Foot limb camp
Jammu, November 9 The Viklang Chhatra Trust, Akhnoor is organising the camp in collaboration with the JRC Home for handicapped, Udheywala and Bhagwan Mahavir Viklang Sahayata Samiti, Jaipur. Chib announced Rs 1 lakh out of his CDF for procuring artificial limbs and other materials for the needy people.
— TNS |
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