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Kashmir issue
Surrender Policy
Workshop on stress management
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Non-compliance
of Norms
Revocation of Cong leaders’ suspension
Valentine’s Day
Arrangements for Milad reviewed
Sagar asks all to join hands for Kashmir solution
6 extortionists arrested
VC stresses on improved agro-techniques
Protest against youth’s arrest
Govt earns Rs 12 cr from timber sale
One killed in accident
2 killed in valley mishaps
Army holds medical camp
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Kashmir issue
Jammu, February 14 Addressing a seminar on self-rule in Poonch today, Mehbooba said a holistic approach to resolve the Kashmir issue could not be delayed anymore. She said with the Indo-Pak dialogue again on the track, it needed to be complemented with action on the internal front too as envisioned in self-rule to induce confidence among people of the state. “Without perceptible relief on these fronts to people who have suffered for decades, credibility will elude the peace process,” she stressed. Mehbooba said the fact of the matter was that we could not solve the Kashmir issue through a piecemeal attitude or isolated legislative action. “Neither can a partisan approach to score points against each other lead us anywhere,” she said, adding that the PDP’s lead role in changing the attitudes on Kashmir is well- known. She said the party under the leadership of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed had set a new trend by channelising political aspirations of people even while in power and mainstream, which made it easy for others like NC to toe the line. “This historic shift in the state politics has had a profound impact and it is no more a taboo for any leader to talk of resolution,” she said. The PDP president said it was time for all political forces in the state to strive for relief to people who were once again the victims of wanton government power, apathy on developmental front and employment. She said instead of trying to capitalise on small progresses registered on the strength of people’s sacrifices, the government should try to improve governance and set its own house in order. Referring to the salient features of the self-rule, Mehbooba said the regions like Poonch and Rajouri, which had become a geographical, social and economic dead end as a result of the Partition, would be most significantly impacted by the proposal for virtual unification of two parts of the state. She said though trade and travel across the LoC was not growing along the expected lines because of lack of serious follow-up, it showed how full of opportunities it could be with modern trade backup. “The state will one day have to become a free trade zone in conformity with the spirit of our times,” she said, adding that economy will play a great role in sorting out political discord in South Asia. |
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Surrender Policy
Jammu,February 14 Addressing a press conference here today, president of the refugee organisation, Rajiv Chuni said: “Strange are the policies of the Congress-led UPA government as it has not bothered to rehabilitate PoK refugees. It is overenthusiastic to rehabilitate terrorists in PoK who waged a war against the sovereignty of India.” “During the past over 20 years, the Pak-trained terrorists have wreaked havoc in our country. On the other hand, the PoK refugees who sacrificed their lives and properties for India have been insulted and humiliated by the successive governments.” Expressing surprise over the statement of Home Minister that PoK was part of India, he asked: “If PoK is part of India, then why our property is not being restored to us.” Besides asking him to include the demand for the vacation of occupied Kashmir during his talks with his Pakistani counterpart, he urged the Home Minister to tell the nation how many times the Indian government had asked the Pakistan government for vacation of PoK as in 1994 the
Indian Parliament unanimously passed a resolution claiming PoK to be part of India. “The ground reality is quite different and if the Prime Minister of India and Chidambaram himself cannot enter
PoK without proper permission of the Pak government, how it could be part of India,” he said. Endorsing the statement of the senior Congress leader and Union Minister for Health Ghulam Nabi Azad that
such an amnesty to militants could pose a challenge to the security set-up,
Chuni expressed surprise that the central government was not considering the minister’s
suggestion who belonged to the state. He said that it was unfortunate that the India government had
extended help to Sri Lanka for rehabilitation of Tamils and Haiti for rehabilitation of earthquake victims, but had failed to see the plight
of PoK refugees. “The state Revenue and Relief Minister Raman Bhalla is also a PoK refugee but he too has utterly failed to project the plight of PoK refugees,” he alleged that asked the minister to resign on moral grounds. He also appealed to all the “refugee” ministers, including RS
Chib, Sham Lal and MP Madan Lal, to resign as they had failed to impress upon the state and central
governments to “rehabilitate” the militants. Meanwhile, the BKJNSS in a meeting demanded a similar amnesty for Sikh youth who left the country during Operation Bluestar. Chief organiser Mohinder Singh said that such youths had neither killed anyone nor they were militants.
It will encourage militants: Samiti
Jammu, February 14 Addressing mediapersons here, Suchet Singh said giving amnesty and then rehabilitating the terrorists under the new policy would turn the borders irrelevant. Via the new policy, the Pak-trained militants would easily enter the country to carry out their nefarious activities, he said, adding that it would be like legitimising their entry to the state. The retired Army officer justified the apprehensions expressed by Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad. Already a strong network of the Pakistan-based militant outfits existed in the country, and offering amnesty to the militants would destabilise the country further, he said. Suchet Singh strongly castigated the Union Home Minister P Chidambaram for announcing amnesty to the ultras, saying that by doing so the Centre has surrendered before the forces inimical to the sovereignty of the
country. The Sangharsh Samiti urged every right-thinking individual and social, political and traders’ organisations to reach out to the people and acquaint them about serious repercussions of the policy, he added. He said in the coming few days, all associations under the aegis of the Sangharsh
Samiti would organise protest rallies in the temple city. |
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Workshop on stress management
Jammu,February 14 The workshop included complementary medicine techniques derived from acupressure/ acupuncture, magnetic/ electro-magnetic therapy and stress management through transcendental meditation. During the workshop, Dr Ranjeet Kumar Kaushal from an NGO, Eurotel Health Organisation, elucidated Chinese medicinal techniques to the CRPF jawans to manage stress. Various acupressure instruments and gadgets were also made available to the troopers. Speaking on the occasion, Jaidev Kesri, Commandant of the CRPF’s 6th Battalion, told the audience that there was no match to allopathy in emergent and grave cases, but the traditional oriental medicinal practices achieved good health on a long-term basis without any side-effects and were more useful as preventive measures to diseases. Given the rigmarole regular stressful duties performed by the CRPF jawans, the practical workshop on stress management through meditation was especially useful for jawans in rejuvenating the mind and the body with sure after-effects of a stress-free performance of highly demanding duties at Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine, he said. Devender Singh, SK Dey and Ranjeet Kumar, Assistant Commandants, also attended the workshop. |
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Pvt nursing homes may face closure
Raju William Tribune News Service
Udhampur, February 14 Sources said the government move was the need of the hour as a majority of private nursing homes were functioning in gross violation of the directions of the apex court on the issue. Most of the nursing homes were allegedly money minting shops which besides charging the patients exorbitantly failed to provide proper treatment due to lack of required equipment and other facilities. Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Kuldeep Kesar informed that a warning would be issued to all nursing homes in the district to ensure the compliance of all norms within the period of the government’s ultimatum. The Deputy CMO,Dr Santosh Sharma, said a meeting of health officials would be held on Monday. A team would be constituted to conduct checking of all the nursing homes for the purpose. At a high-level meeting on Monday, health minister Ram Lal Sharma had issued a five-day ultimatum to all the nursing homes in the state to comply with the norms failing which they would not be allowed to operate. The tough stand adopted by the government came in the wake of inspection of 29 nursing homes in Jammu division which showed that only four were complying with the norms. During the meeting, the minister was reportedly of the view that the erring nursing homes should not allowed to play with the lives of patients though the government was encouraging private medical facilities in the state. The government had already given them sufficient time to meet all the norms in terms of providing required facilities to patients. For instance, the private hospitals are required to have a two-bed intensive care unit, besides multi-channel monitor, suction apparatus and ventilator. Lack of proper space is another glaring violation.
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Revocation of Cong leaders’ suspension
Jammu,February 14 The anti-Soz faction which owes allegiance to Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand has alleged that only loyalists of a particular group were taken back while appeals of other leaders were rejected. A senior dissident leader on condition of anonymity told the Tribune that the PCC chief had taken the decision to demoralise his detractors as the suspension of only those leaders had been revoked who had joined the Soz faction. The dissidents pointed out that the cases of some prominent leaders,namely Balwan Singh, Ashok Sharma and Babu Singh,were pending, but no decision had been taken. The three leaders who had contested assembly elections as rebel candidates were known for their loyality to Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad.So, their suspension had not been revoked yet. Balwan Singh had contested the election as a rebel candidate from Marh, Ashok Sharma from Kalakote and Babu Singh from Kathua. They too had worked in favour of Congress candidates in the Lok Sabha elections, but their cases were ignored by the PCC chief. It is pertinent to mention here that a large number of Congress leaders had contested assembly elections as rebel candidates when they were denied the ticket by the party. After the elections, the PCC chief constituted a disciplinary committee headed by Hari Singh to take a decision on their fate. A majority of these rebels candidates had worked in favour of the party’s official nominees in the Lok Sabha elections to ensure their re-entry into the party. After the completion of the Lok Sabha poll, Hari Singh as convener of the disciplinary committee had issued a show cause notice to rebel leaders. As soon as notices were served on these leaders, their entry to the party headquarters was banned. While those known for their allegiance to the anti-Soz faction were not allowed to attend official functions, some of the rebels who joined the Soz lobby were seen attending all functions. After going through the replies of these leaders, the PCC chief has revoked the suspension of eight of them and kept a decision on others in abeyance. |
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Separatists’ threat mars celebrations in valley
Tribune News Service
Srinagar, February 14 In the past too, activists of the Dukhtran-e-milat led by its firebrand leader Aasiya Andrabi had indulged in ‘moral policing’ by disrupting and attacking young couples who were celebrating the day together. The separatist organisation had termed the celebrations as an aggression on the Kashmiri culture. The activists had blamed that the youth indulged in ‘immoral activities’ in the garb of celebrations of the Valentine’s Day. However, youth in the Kashmir valley say that they are educated and mature and were aware about what was right and what was wrong. They say that they should not be policed by some organisations as they can differentiate between good and bad. “These organisations only want to show that they are the guardians of the Kashmiri culture and the only followers of Islam. They are against the Valentine’s Day celebrations. Can they tell us that how gifting a rose to someone could harm our rich culture and tradition?” Amir Ali, a postgraduate student of Kashmir university, questioned. “If someone is breaking the law by indulging in immoral activities, there is the police and a proper system to control them, but how can you justify that some masked men and women attack the couples sitting together in a restaurant and enjoying a cup of coffee?” Khalid Nabi, an employee with a private company, said. However, the change in the mindset of the Kashmiri youth is quite visible as for the past few days shops selling gift items and greeting cards for Valentine’s Day saw a huge rush. “Last year, the activists of the Dukhtran-e-milat had attacked my shop and burnt all cards that were on display. However, this year I have done a brisk business as there were a huge rush of youngsters who came to purchase gifts and cards,” a shopkeeper at the Lal Chowk said.
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Arrangements for Milad reviewed
Srinagar, February 14 Lankar also directed the chief engineer (PHE) to install additional public posts in and around Asar-i-Sharief and Hazratbal, besides keeping water tankers available in case of any exigency. She asked the NBCC, LAWDA and the R&B authorities to complete the repair works on Nigeen and the Lal Bazar road immediately so that people coming in vehicles do not confront any traffic jamming. Among others, vice-chairman of the Muslim Wakf Board, Prof MY Qadri, chief engineer of the R&B, PHE, Power, UEED, Srinagar Deputy Commissioner Mehraj Ahmad Kakroo, director (Tourism) Farooq Ahmad Shah, Srinagar SSP Javaid Reyaz Bedar, director (CA&PD) Mehraj-ud-Din Kenu, SSP (Traffic) etc. were also present. |
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Sagar asks all to join hands for Kashmir solution
Srinagar, February 14 Echoing Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s stand, he said the government believed in zero tolerance towards human rights violations and asserted that such violators, irrespective of their associations, would not be spared. “The government is essentially for the welfare of the people and how can it tolerate innocents getting killed”, he said. The minister was addressing a public meeting after inaugurating a model village in Tailwani. He dedicated various facilities constructed in the village to the people, saying that the government was trying to improve the quality of life by improving the social infrastructure. It was informed that the total money spent on various facilities in the model village amounted to Rs. 1.20 crore. The new facilities in the village include a community facility centre,a rural information centre,a shopping complex,a park, solar lights, lanes and drains, culverts, link roads and other facilities. |
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6 extortionists arrested
Srinagar,February 14 A case has been registered against them at Sopore police station and further investigations are on. Five mobile phones have also been recovered from the arrested. Meanwhile, the police on Sunday arrested a drug peddler and recovered 600 bottles of Recodex, a cough syrup used as an intoxicant. A police spokesman said Bilal Shah of Bidder in Kokernag was arrested with the intoxicants. A case has been registered against the accused at Kokernag police station and further investigations into the matter were on. In another incident, the police in Anantnag has arrested Ghulam Ahmad Mir, a storekeeper with the CAPD, posted at Kashvan and Kheerpora in Anantnag, and recovered 200 bags of CAPD rice from him. A can has also been seized from the spot. |
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VC stresses on improved agro-techniques
Srinagar, February 14 Prof. Alam, while chairing the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) meeting of the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) of Budgam district yesterday, here said there was a need for proper and optimum use of inputs, methods of application and plant protection measures to harness the benefits of improved varieties and hybrid seeds. The Vice-Chancellor further laid emphasis on production and multiplication of maize and said by increasing the production of maize, the feed and fodder scarcity for live stock husbandry could be addressed for augmenting meat and poultry requirement of the valley. “Rice-wheat rotation can also be beneficial increasing food and feed requirements,” the Vice-Chancellor said. Citing example of innovative methods adopted in other parts of the country, Prof Alam quoted Rahuri, Maharashtra. According to him, such practice has taken place at Rahuri, Maharashtra in 1973. “Nowadays, the place is famous for GANESH pomegranates,” Prof Alam said. He said the same was necessary in Jammu and Kashmir, keeping in view the arability of land, which is presently seven per cent as against 54 per cent at the national-level. Some progressive farmers, while speaking on the occasion, expressed satisfaction over the assistance offered by the varsity. However, they demanded that more interactive sessions with scientists should be encouraged so that they were able to gain more scientific inputs about the increasing production and productivity. |
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Protest against youth’s arrest
Srinagar, February 14 The police arrested some youths after they attacked the vehicles of the security forces and the police plying from the area on Friday with kangris (traditional firepots) and stones as they were protesting after the Friday prayers. “The police swung into action and arrested some of the youths who were indulging in stone throwing and attacking the vehicles of the security forces,” a local youth said. He said the police arrested them and put them behind bars. The residents alleged that the youths were beaten up mercilessly by the police and it was not releasing them. The protesters also tried to stop the traffic on the national highway, demanding the release of the arrested youths. However, their attempt was foiled by the police. The protest demonstration has been going on for the past two days. |
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Govt earns Rs 12 cr from timber sale
Srinagar, February 14 The meeting was informed that against the target of dumping 12 lakh cubic feet of timber and 88 lakh cubic feet had so far been stocked and the process was going on. Nearly, 1.8 lakh quintals firewood had also been provided and a revenue of Rs 1.19 crore received. Meanwhile, 1100 hectares had been brought under fencing, plantation and other engineering works involving an expenditure of Rs 4 crore. The minister also impressed upon the authorities concerned to take all measures for the conservation of forests so that natural wealth could be preserved and timber smuggling could be checked. Ahmad made it clear that every deserving consumer would be provided timber and directions in this behalf had already been given to the authorities concerned to make the distribution system more effective. |
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One killed in accident
Udhampur, February 14 Basantgarh SHO Sukhbir Singh said the deceased was identified as Somraju (43) of Gandhtop, while the injured included Vikas Dogra (24) of Ramnagar, driver Girdhari Lal (30) and Desraj (47) of Gandhtop. |
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