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Kashmir traders suspend cross-LoC trade for week
Working Group’s Report
Report favours valley: Vision Kashmir
Drying springs a cause for concern
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Inclusion of Bhoti language in 8th Schedule demanded
Marks-sheet Tampering Case
Annual calendar of J&K Bank unveiled
Kashmir Issue
Coordinated ‘militant attacks’ near Sopore MLA’s house
PHE staff extend support to strike call
Justice Sagir’s report biased: JJSF
Farmers protest delay in supply of seeds
Eight injured in road mishaps
NC leader buried under avalanche
Bid on NCP leader’s life
Hideouts busted
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Kashmir traders suspend cross-LoC trade for week
Srinagar, December 29 The business community in the state, especially in the valley, had long been accusing the government of doing nothing to remove hurdles in the trade, and the volume of transactions through Kashmir had been coming down after the initial euphoria. However, the immediate provocation is the ban on trade of certain items by both countries. The Pakistan government had banned the export of “moong
dal”, which had been fetching J&K traders good profits due to its rising price this side, while the decision to ban the export of “kishmish” and “pista” by the government here had also not gone down well with the business communities. “We are fed up with the governments and the red tape governing the trade. What happened today was inevitable and symbolic as traders had lost interest long back,” Abdul Hamid Punjabi, senior vice-president of the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said. He said it would be incorrect to link the suspension of trade, which is scheduled twice a week and from Salamabad in Kashmir and Poonch in the Jammu division to the
PoK, to ban on trade of a few items as there were some “grave institutional” problems that both governments needed to address. The
cross-LoC trade was kicked off after a violent agitation in Kashmir, starting from “Muzaffarabad
chalo” call given by the separatists and the PDP on August 11, 2008. It soon fizzled out, more from the Kashmir side than Jammu, and there were days when not a single truck from both sides crossed the
LoC. Traders single out three major impediments for this flop show - lack of single banking facility, no interaction between traders from both sides and ban on trade of items by both governments in an arbitrary
way. Fayaz Ahmad Malik, president of the Sopore fruit mandi, said they had stopped exporting apples to the PoK since last year. “We exported apples worth Rs 20 lakh last year. We don’t know where it went and who received it. We have not received either money or any goods back. And we don’t know whom to complain,” he said. Traders say they often got goods like rice and almond from the PoK which were of poor quality and suffered losses. Punjabi said both governments should allow some bank of one country to open its branch on the other side so that traders could deposit money and their counterparts could withdraw it. For this reason, the
cross-LoC trade has been barter in nature, something which would hardly excite any businessman. The government recently had given some fixed phone lines to the J&K business chambers from which they could call their PoK counterparts, but it hardly served the purpose, traders say. Outgoing call to Pak is barred for security reasons, though incoming call is not. The bridge connecting both sides in Salamabad was so narrow that only small trucks could pass it, Shakeel
Qalandar, head of a traders’ body in Kashmir, said. “It means we can’t deal in big volumes because it will require many small trucks,” he says. |
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BJP, Panthers Party to wage ‘decisive fight’
Tribune News Service
Jammu, December 29 Harsh Dev Singh, vice-chairman of the Panthers Party, who described the report as pernicious, farcical and preposterous, today convened a meeting of the party legislators here to decide the further course of action. The Panthers Party resolved to wage a decisive fight against the biased treatment meted out to the Jammu region and the desperation of the ruling alliance to reverse the calendar by 57 years in the name of autonomy. “We criticise the obsession of the ruling alliance for the restoration of the pre-1953 position in the name of autonomy,” said Harsh. Any such attempt would face stiff resistance from all secular and nationalist forces, he added. The party has now decided that a delegation led by Harsh Dev Singh and comprising party legislators Balwant Singh Mankotia, Yashpaul Kundal and Syed Rafiq Shah along with others would leave for New Delhi to hold demonstrations in the National Capital. “We will apprise the Prime Minister about the biased, farcical and fraudulent report finalised by the NC in collusion with the chairman of the working group without holding consultations with its members,” said Harsh, one of the members of the working group. The unilateral finalisation of the report and abuse of the forum by the ruling NC for furthering its political agenda had made a mockery of the Prime Minister’s working group, he said. Political imbalance against the Jammu region in the form of an uneven number of Assembly seats, which has resulted in economic imbalances, would be conveyed to the national leadership, he added. The BJP’s leader of the legislature party in the Assembly, Chaman Lal Gupta, described the report as a part of the Union government’s ‘quiet diplomacy’ just to appease particular groups in the Kashmir valley. Gupta said the BJP would hold protests in Jammu and Kashmir and his party would also launch a nation-wide movement. Party leaders along with all 11 MLAs would stage a sit-in outside the Governor’s House here tomorrow, he said. Jammu having more population and more area has only 37 Assembly segments compared to the Kashmir valley, which has 46 Assembly segments despite the fact that its population and area is less in comparison to the Jammu region. The report also ignored issues like the abrogation of Article 370, tribal status to Gujjars and delimitation, said Gupta. Protests would be held on January 4 and the copies of the report would be burnt and if needed the party would also call for a complete Jammu bandh, he said, adding that a memorandum would be submitted to the Governor on January 11.
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Report favours valley: Vision Kashmir
Jammu, December 29 Addressing an executive committee meeting here, organisation convener of the organisation Sunil Fotedar said the Union government’s plan to carve out Telangana from Andhra Pradesh had rejuvenated the Vision Kashmir’s demand for a separate enclave (apana ghar) with an autonomous administrative and political region for the displaced Kashmiri Pandits. He, however, expressed regrets over the Union government’s ‘quiet talks’ on Kashmir saying the separatist leaders being engaged in the secret talks did not represent Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists, who constitute 40 per cent of the state’s population. Reacting strongly to the retired Justice Saghir Ahmed report, organisation secretary Sanjay Chowgami said it favoured the people of the Kashmir region and battered others. There was a profound unease over the working group’s report among the displaced community members and it seemed that the Centre was behaving like an arbitrator between nationalist and anti-nationalist forces. |
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Drying springs a cause for concern
Srinagar, December 29 “Most of the glaciers here have shrunk by about one-third,” Sheikh Shabeer, Chief Education Officer (CEO), Ganderbal, said, adding that he along with his friends witnessed melting and disappearing of the Thajbaj glacier, near Sonmarg, within 20 days in April this year. “The phenomenon was unusual and the glacier never melted so early,” shared Shabeer during one of the workshops organised by the Centre for Environment and Education (CEE) Himalaya and Welthungerhilfe (WHH-formerly German Agro Action) here. His views were echoed by Mohammad Jamal, headmaster, Middle School Hayan. “Gangbal glacier used to receive 30-40 feet snowfall every year and used to be under thick cover of snow all-round the year. But since 2000 there is less snowfall.” Jamal said this glacier was the origin and source of water for rivers Indus and Lidder. “Both rivers have just about one fifth of flow of water because of less snow at the source.” More climate changes witnessed from the valley have been put forth by Abdul Rahim Lone, Zonal Education Officer, Hariganwan. “In between 1965-90 about two-third of springs have dried up. The remaining ones have less flow of water and are no longer perennial. Quality of water has also declined.” Hailing from Gurez, Lone said about 100 springs used to flow in Gurez valley throughout the year. “Streams like Satruna, Kow Charwan and Thune, having their origin from Gangbal (glacier), used to have water flowing throughout the year. Areas downstream used to be irrigated and paddy was cultivated in the area giving good crop yield. Now, streams have dried up. Paddy cultivation is no longer possible in the area and cultivation of other crops also suffers,” he said. Mohammad Maqbool Wani, a teacher in Middle School Razen said Gurez valley had many swamps, wetlands, lakes and ponds filled with water all-round the year. “Now most of these have dried up,” Wani of Cheerwan in Gurez said. Wani said pollution level in rivers had gone up by several times and waters of none of these rivers could be used for drinking, washing and bathing. Miles away, Syed Rafiq Hussain, sarpanch Noorkah, Uri, said, “Flow of the Jehlum has reduced to one-third when compared with its flow in 1965.” He said crop yield had declined drastically, soil was no longer fertile and crop diseases had increased.
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Inclusion of Bhoti language in 8th Schedule demanded
Jammu, December 29 Minister for Tourism and Culture Nawang Rigzin Jora was the chief guest on the occasion, while Dr Jitendra Singh, author and popular columnist, presided over. Dr Nirmal Singh, a former BJP state president and member of the national executive, MLA Balwant Singh Mankotia, SAYSS convener Brig Suchet Singh (retd), political analyst and Congress leader Prof Hari Om were the main speakers. In his address, Jora said the demand of the association for the inclusion of the Bhoti language in the 8th Schedule was genuine. He assured the association that he would take up matter with the Union
government. “As far as development is concerned, Leh and Ladakh have witnessed development during the past six years. Our government is committed to the overall development of Leh and Ladakh. There is no discrimination at all with Leh and Ladakh,” Zora said. Dr Jitendra Singh said the country owed gratitude to Ladakh and its people who had always protected the countrymen against military aggressions from China and Pakistan. He said Jammu shared a special relationship with Ladakh and this relationship was based on shared pain and agony of discrimination and injustice meted out by New Delhi’s Kashmir-centric approach. He extended support to their struggle for an equitable treatment and particularly for their demands for the inclusion of the Bhoti language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution and the provision of the Kailash Mansarovar yatra through Ladakh. Dr Nirmal Singh said Ladakh had been facing discrimination at the hands of successive state governments. Their language had not been included in the Eighth Schedule till date. He extended his party’s fullest support to the struggle of people of Ladakh. Others who spoke on the occasion were Balwant Singh Mankotia, Brig Suchet Singh (retd), Prof Hari Om, Tashi Targis and Dr Anil Kumar, HBCA president and convener, respectively. |
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NSF, scholars’ panel seek probe
Tribune News Service
Jammu, December 29 The demand has come in the face of allegations levelled by Tarsem Raj Sharma, an employee of the university who was suspended for the alleged involvement, at the examination section of the varsity. Tarsem said he was being harassed and made a scapegoat in the complete episode whereas the real culprits were being shielded by the varsity administration. “I have been under suspension for the past five months waiting for the further orders,” he rued. Addressing a media conference, JURSEA president Rakesh Chib said: “Nothing has been done so far by the administration to punish the real culprits in the case and their nexus is still very much functional.” He also urged the authorities to revoke the suspension order of Tarsem and restore his official position in a dignified way. “The report of the inquiry committee should be made public and legal proceedings be initiated against the guilty without any further delay,” he said. Meanwhile, activists of the NSF, who have been protesting over the issue for the past 10 days, today gheraoed the Dean Academic Affairs, Prof NA Ganai. Coincidentally, Registrar Dr PS Pathania and Dean Students Welfare Prof JS Tara and Director Colleges Development Prof Rajiv Gupta were also present in the office of Dean Academic Affairs. President of the NSF Vikas Sharma asked the acting Vice-Chancellor to come clean over the issue of B.Ed mass copying and tampering with marks. He further demanded that the suspended employee be immediately restored to his official position.
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Annual calendar of J&K Bank unveiled
Jammu, December 29 ‘Contemporary artists of J&K: Changing colours’ was the theme of the calendar for 2010, a press handout issued here said. The calendar and other associated stationary offerings like diaries, pens and pads have been dedicated to contemporary and young artists of the state. Lauding the role of the bank for its initiatives regarding preservation of cultural heritage, Rather said, “J&K Bank has set a remarkable example. I feel truly delighted to know how the bank has been engaged in the protection and preservation of the rich cultural and crafts legacy of the state.” Earlier, speaking on the occasion, chairman and chief executive of the bank Dr Haseeb A Drabu informed the gathering about various initiatives taken in this direction and their impact on the cultural economy of the state. “The sales of Kashmiri shawls saw a surge in sales when we came up with calendar displaying various types of Kashmiri shawls and their unique design work,” he added. A small exhibition was also organised on the sidelines of the launch ceremony. At the exhibition, calendars and diaries of previous years, greeting cards, ad campaigns, bank stationery, button and buddies were at display.
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Qureshi’s party for involving people, Pak
Ehsan Fazili Tribune News Service
Srinagar, December 29 A spokesman for the PPF said this after a front’s meeting was held under the chairmanship of Mohammad Mussadiq Aadail here today. He said the party stood by the views of its leader Qureshi and it would not allow any backtracking by the Central government on resolving the Kashmir issue. A staunch supporter of the dialogue process, Qureshi was injured in a murderous assault on him near his house here on December 4. He was operated upon for a serious injury in the head and is now gradually improving at the SKIMS here. According to the doctors attending upon Qureshi at the SKIMS, his condition was ‘much better’, and he would be discharged from the hospital soon. There was a ‘remarkable recovery’ in Qureshi’s condition, after he underwent an optimal surgery for repairing the head injury, said Dr Abdul Hameed Zargar, Director of the SKIMS. Though the right side of his body was still showing weakness, the treatment by way of physiotherapy would be given and it would be monitored properly, he said. The treatment would take about six months for an optimal recovery, the doctor said. Though some leaders within the moderate faction of the Hurriyat Conference were averse to the dialogue process, the APHC was yet to come out with a strategy when Qureshi was seriously injured in the attack early this month.
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Coordinated ‘militant attacks’ near Sopore MLA’s house
Srinagar, December 29 Mohammad Ashraf Ganai, NC MLA from Sopore, a hotbed of militancy, said two grenades were launched from a rifle by militants and they blasted after hitting a chinar tree, about 200 metres from his security officials’ quarters. Ganai said the militants then fired two bullets into the air and chanted Islamist slogans. An IED blast soon followed at a deserted road, which is over one kilometre from his house. The police, however, said no grenade blast and firing occurred and confirmed only the IED blast. Ganai, though, added that the militants must have fired grenades and pistol shots so that the Army or paramilitary forces would rush there and then they could inflict more damage on them by triggering the IED. The attacks, which occurred on the Sopore-Dangerpora road, is believed to be the handiwork of Lashkar-e-Toiba’s Pakistani commander Abdullah Uni.
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PHE staff extend support to strike call
Jammu, December 29 Addressing reporters in Jammu today, the leaders of the PEUF said the Minister for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control had agreed to fulfil the demands of the PHE employees to enhance the wages of need basis workers from Rs 500, Rs 700 and Rs 800 to Rs 110 per day, release of one-and-a-half day’s ex gratia pay, relaxation in transfer policy, new vehicles against condemned vehicles, extension of the benefit of SRO-149/59 to all PHE technical employees and the regularisation of the services of workers who had completed seven years, but nothing had been done so far. The employees appealed to the minister concerned to resolve all agreed issues within a week, otherwise the PEUF would be forced to resume the suspended strike shortly. |
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Justice Sagir’s report biased: JJSF
Jammu, December 29 The protest was held under the leadership of Rakesh Sharma, president of the ITI students’ unit. The protesting students boycotted classes and demonstrated on the college premises. “The report submitted by the working group neither favours Jammu nor India. The JJSF totally rejects any recommendations of the report that question the sovereignty of the country,” said Sharma. “The report says that the working group found no discrimination against the Jammu region in any aspect. It is indicative of the fact that the report is biased against the people of Jammu,” he added. Partap Singh Jamwal, state vice-president of the JJSF, demanded separate statehood for Jammu to end discrimination against the people of the region. |
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Farmers protest delay in supply of seeds
Jammu, December 29 Demanding the timely supply of fertilisers and seeds, the protesters sought a provision of the distribution of fertilisers and seeds through cooperative agencies. He also demanded the implementation of the crop insurance scheme, four per cent interest on farm loans, issuance of passbooks regarding land records of farmers and subsidy on life saving drugs. Kishore Kumar, president of the organisation, while addressing the protesters, said: “Farmers despite being the backbone of the country have been suffering immensely due to neo-liberal economic policies of the successive governments.” He exhorted the state government to ensure the timely supply of fertilisers and seeds to the farmers, preferably through cooperative agencies. |
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Eight injured in road mishaps
Jammu, December 29 Man found dead
Kartik Kumar of Malni Chattisgarh, at present working at Odhamal Factory, has been found dead under suspicious circumstances in the factory. The body was handed over to his legal heirs after post-mortem. Boy consumes poison
Vivek Sharma of Azad Colony was admitted to the GMCH after he consumed some poisonous substance here on Tuesday. Illicit liquor seized
The Kathua police arrested Man Singh of Kathua and seized 60 pouches of illicit liquor from his possession on Tuesday. The police has registered a case against him. Man goes missing
Nadeem Ahmad of Rakna Palmar has reportedly been missing from his home since December 23. The police is trying to trace his whereabouts. |
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NC leader buried under avalanche
Jammu, December 29 Police sources said Nazir Ahmed Sheikh, block president of the NC, was buried under an avalanche when he was returning home. A police officer said a team was rushed to launch a rescue operation in the area, but the chances of his survival were dismal. Girl shoots
herself dead
A young girl allegedly committed suicide today by shooting herself with the rifle of her father in the Budhal area of Rajouri district. As per police sources, 20-year-old Safina Kousar, daughter of a VDC member, after some heated arguments with her father snatched his gun and shot herself to death.
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Bid on NCP leader’s life
Jammu, December 29 According to the police, NCP district president Parvez Ahmed Tak was on his way to Patnazi when suspected militants opened fire at him from a hilltop in the Bonhwa area of Kishtwar district. The personal security officer of Tak retaliated and the cross-firing lasted for some time. However, the militants managed to flee. The police said there was no loss of life or injury to anyone in the attack. Meanwhile, the police and security forces have launched a manhunt to catch the militants behind the attack.
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Hideouts busted
Jammu, December 29 Meanwhile, a joint column of the Army and the state police busted a militant hideout and seized a large quantity of ration and other materials in the Thathri area of Doda district on Tuesday. A police spokesman said on specific information, the troops raided the hideout and seized 160 kg of rice, 10 kg of flour, potatoes, tomatoes, spices, tea bags, cooking utensils, eight blankets, torches and polythene sheets. He said the militants managed to escape. A manhunt has been launched to nab the militants who had taken refuge in the hideout.
— TNS |
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No-trust motion against MC chief set aside
Jammu, December 29 According to a statement issued here, the director has suspended the motion as the proceedings conducted on December 14 by the Municipal Council were in violation of the provisions prescribed in Section 25 of the J&K Municipal Act 2000. |
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Vohra prorogues Legislative Council
Jammu, December 29 |
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