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Foreign Secy-level talks with Pak
Drenched in colours, jawans celebrate Holi
PDP soft towards Cong; NC smells a rat
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Crime File
PowerGrid DGM among Indians killed in Kabul
Kashmiri Pandits allege rights violations
Protest against Union Budget
Governor greets people on Holi
Id celebrated with fervour
Imtiyaz lost life trying to save colleague, says Army officer
Environment awareness rally
Hurriyat leaders detained
JJSF to continue stir
Curfew continues in Pattan
Ammunition seized
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Foreign
Secy-level talks with Pak Tribune News Service
Jammu, February 27 In a statement here today, he said such hollow and purposeless engagement would only fuel cynicism and help negative forces. The Mufti said while it was becoming clear with every passing day that there was no alternative to dialogue for the resolution of issues, the zero sum game defied logic. “If we talk, we have to do it with clear objectives, a sense of purpose, political will and an open mind,” he said, and stressed the current stalemate had damaging implications for Jammu and Kashmir. The PDP patron said we did not add either to our growing stature as a global player, nor help the socio-economic development of the region by shying away from discussing all serious issues, including Kashmir. The off-now on-now attitude had only piled up problems and when the country was making new strides on every front, the festering sore in Kashmir acted as a moral impediment, he added. He said after trying all other options, including war, threat of war, coercive diplomacy, it was obvious that the dialogue was indispensable and it had to be pursued to its logical conclusion without staking the interests of any more generations of people especially in J&K. The Mufti said the deterioration in the general situation in the state owed itself partly to the inability of the two governments to evolve a sustained dialogue process around Kashmir. But he regretted that the present dispensation at the state level too had contributed to the drift by its non-performance. The Mufti said the coalition government was unfortunately being seen as working at cross-purposes with the people’s interests and this perception was harming the entire political structure. He said people, who had defied all apprehensions to vote in the last elections, were getting disillusioned by the inability of the government to deliver either on development or political front.
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Drenched in colours, jawans celebrate Holi
Suchetgarh, February 27 The octroi border outpost (BOP) near international border in the Suchetgarh sector, which, otherwise, witnessed an uneasy calm in the recent times because of Pakistan’s misadventures, wore a festive look today. Amid a riot of colours, the BSF jawans exchanged Holi revelries and danced to the tunes of popular Holi-related Bollywood numbers. Company Commandant, 135 battalion, Akram Khan greeted BSF personnel and celebrated Holi with them. He asked the troopers to keep up the good work on the border so as to thwart the nefarious designs of the enemy. The jawans also exchanged sweets to mark the occasion. Such festivals not only bring joy to us, but we also get an opportunity to de-stress ourselves from the tense daily schedule, said BSF trooper MS Shekhawat. “We come from different parts of the country having different cultures, but such festivals fill the air with joy, happiness and bonhomie,” he added. Irrespective of caste, creed and religion, we celebrate festivals in their true spirit and jawans from various parts of the country add to the joy and happiness to the atmosphere, said another trooper completely soaked in Gulal. However, celebrating the festivals did not mean that we lower our guard, he added before joining his colleagues again. There had been 19 intrusion bids and nine ceasefire violations this year so far. |
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PDP soft towards Cong; NC smells a rat
Jammu, February 27 Though the NC is running the government in the state with the Congress, the PDP, while pinpointing the failures of the government, has been targeting only the bigger partner and deliberately avoiding attack on the Congress. In the ongoing Budget session of the Legislative Assembly, PDP MLAs have adopted an aggressive posture towards the NC leaders, but they avoided attacking the Congress. During the first four days of the ongoing session, the PDP seized all opportunities to clash with the NC in the House, but their attitude towards Congress ministers was by and large soft and cooperative. Interestingly, the Congress has also been ‘enjoying’ the fight between the two arch rivals. Whenever the NC and PDP members clashed in the House, Congress MLAs maintained silence. Not only inside the Assembly, even outside the House, the PDP’s attack on the government revolved only around the NC while highlighting the ‘failure’ of the government. During the last one month, the PDP has started praising the six-year tenure of the Congress-PDP government while listing achievements of the previous regime. It earlier used to focus on the three-year period of the government headed by the PDP. “It may be part of its strategy. The PDP leadership has realised that it is impossible to form a government in the state without the Congress. So the party leaders have devised this strategy,” said a senior Congress leader. “There is no question of the Congress supporting the PDP in the coming days,” reacted Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Ali Mohammad Sagar when his attention was drawn towards the PDP’s soft attitude towards the coalition partner. “These are only speculations as the Congress-NC coalition is running smoothly,” Sagar said. PCC chief Saifuddin Soz is of the view that whenever the PDP attacked the NC, the Congress, being a coalition partner, was the natural target. “It is better to ask PDP leaders why they are avoiding a direct attack on Congress ministers,” he said while talking to The Tribune. |
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Five consume poison
Tribune News Service
Jammu, February 27 Illicit liquor seized
The Bishnah police on Saturday claimed to have seized 15 litres of illicit liquor from the possession of Ramnik Singh of Deoli. The police said the accused was arrested and a case had been registered in this regard. Meanwhile, the Kathua police seized 60 pouches of illicit liquor from the possession of Jeet Raj of Chak Drabh Khan. A case has been registered in this regard. |
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PowerGrid DGM among Indians killed in Kabul
Jammu, February 27 Gupta though hailed from Pathankot, he had settled in Trikuta Nagar here. He was sent to Kabul in connection with the construction of 220-KV single circuit transmission line from Phoolkumari to Kabul, sources close to the family told The Tribune. Before moving to Kabul, Gupta had served in various capacities in the state for over 10 years at Kishenpur, Manwal, Kathua and other places, they added. He is survived by his wife, a son and a daughter. His daughter is pursuing her graduation studies, while son is in class VIII. We are expecting the body to reach Jammu tomorrow morning and the cremation would take place at the Shastri Nagar cremation ground around 1 pm, the family sources said. It may be stated here that several professionals from the state are working in the war and militancy ravaged Afghanistan. The suicide bombers, believed to be three in number, had struck at the guest houses, particularly at Park Residence, rented out by the Indian Embassy for its staffers and those linked to India’s developmental work in Afghanistan. |
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Kashmiri Pandits allege rights violations
Jammu, February 27 While addressing a press conference here, Saraf said India was a signatory to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which was adopted and proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly on December 10, 1948. He said this declaration contained 30 well-defined Articles to stop human rights violations by any country and its organs. Referring to the relevant articles, Saraf said Article 3, 4, 9, 13 and 17 were being violated by the Central and state governments in case of Kashmiri Pandits. “Article 21 - clause I says that every one has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives, but the displaced community is being deprived of this right as well,” he said. While criticising the government for its failure to provide jobs to displaced people during the past 20 years, Saraf said: “Article 23 clause I of this declaration says everyone has right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.” Saraf said the solution to all these ills could be possible only by rehabilitating Kashmiri Pandits in a compact way with political empowerment. “The government must pass the Temple and Shrine Bill without further delay as an initial confidence-building measure and to restore its lost credibility,” he demanded. Speaking on the occasion, V. Sathu, a member of the council, said the government must immediately announce relief enhancement to the tune of Rs 100 per day per person, as this was the responsibility of the government to take care of its citizens. Meanwhile, the United Kashmir Welfare Society (Udhampur) joined the UKPC under the leadership of Ashwani Bhat, its president. |
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Protest against Union Budget
Jammu, February 27 While addressing the gathering, Dimple alleged that the Budget was anti-poor and the state. He said the rising prices had broken the backbone of the common man, but the Centre and the state government were watching the situation like a mute spectators. Dimple appealed to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to take effective steps to exempt sale tax on the sale of LPG gas, petrol and diesel to relieve the common man of the state. |
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Governor greets people on Holi
Jammu, February 27 He expressed hope that Holi would spread happiness and joy all around and further promote harmony and brotherhood. Wishing a happy Holi, the Governor prayed for peace, progress and prosperity in the state. |
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Id celebrated with fervour
Srinagar, February 27 Devotees also thronged various other mosques across the valley to offer the prayers. The devotees held night-long prayers in different mosques and shrine across the valley last night to commemorate the auspicious occasion of the Prophet’s birth anniversary. Elaborate arrangements were made by the government to provide transport facility to the devotees who had come from different parts of the city to offer prayers at the shrine. Special buses were arranged for pilgrims’ transportation to and from the Hazratbal shrine on the occasion. The administration also monitored electricity supply and drinking water facility was provided to the devotees visiting the mosques and the shrine. Security arrangements were also kept in place to avoid any untoward incident from taking place. Devotees were shown the holy relics of the Prophet, that is houses in the Hazratbal shrine. People from far off areas of the Kashmir valley had arrived to have a glimpse of the relic that is shown on some special occasions, including the Id-i-Milad-un-Nabi. Meanwhile, members of the Sikh community also conveyed their greetings to their Muslim brethren on the auspicious occasion. |
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Imtiyaz lost life trying to save colleague, says Army officer
Chana Marg (Shopian), February 27 “Though the void created cannot be filled, my son attained martyrdom while fighting the motherland and that is what makes the entire family proud,” Nazir told The Tribune. Despite militant threats three sons of Nazir opted to join the Army, while one is serving in the state police. “From his early childhood, he had a fascination for the Army. He refused to join any civil department,” Nazir said, adding that, “after Class XII, Imtiyaz joined the CRPF. But later he was selected in the Army.” “After completing 15-month training, Imtiyaz was selected for the coveted commando training for nine months, which he successfully completed.” he said. “He subsequently joined the 1 Para, which is the elite commando force for counter insurgency operations in Kashmir,” said Altaf Ahmed, elder brother of Imtiyaz, who serves in the 5 Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry. The family says that though the loss is irreparable, we feel proud as Imtiyaz fought bravely. “Though nobody wants to die, for a soldier attaining martyrdom like Imtiyaz is a big thing. He has made us proud,” said Shakeel Ahmed, who was on leave when the incident happened. Thousands of people from the area gathered to offer condolences on the fourth day ritual of Imtiyaz at his house in this remote village today. A senior Army officer, speaking to The Tribune, said, “On their first contact, Imtiyaz and his colleagues succeeded in eliminating three terrorists. But the hiding militants managed to catch hold of Capt Davinder Singh Jass, who was Imtiyaz’s good friend, and to save Capt Davinder Imtiyaz attained martyrdom,” The 30-hour long encounter in Sopore town claimed lives of four Army personnel, while five top commanders of various militant outfits were also killed in the gun battle. “My son attained martyrdom and did not die like a coward. He had told me that one day he would make me proud and today I am a proud father. He had picked the gun to fight for the motherland,” Nazir said. |
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Environment awareness rally
Jammu, February 27 The students raised slogans on the need of quality education and clean environment. They also brought out factors responsible for the climate changes, besides global warming caused due to massive deforestation, burning of fossils, vegetables, coal mines, excessive use of fertilisers. The campaign was appreciated by the locals, who volunteered to send their children to schools and keep them neat and clean. |
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Hurriyat leaders detained
Srinagar, February 27 Khalil Mohammad Khalil, Abdul Rashid Antoo, Shabir Ahmad Andrabi and Mohammad Yousuf Naqash were deputed by the Hurriyat to visit Chankipora to assess destruction caused by the gun battle, during which 32 houses were damaged. The police detained them outside the Hurriyat headquarters at Rajbagh in the city as they tried to proceed to
Chankipora. |
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JJSF to continue stir
Jammu, February 27 While addressing a press conference here today, Jamwal said due to political interference in the university, the education system was getting damaged, which was affecting the careers of students. He said though the university had published the date sheet of BSc, BA, BCom, BBA-III, the syllabus had not been completed and the assessment tests were yet to be taken by colleges. |
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Curfew continues in Pattan
Srinagar, February 27 The police said today the situation in the town was under control, but curfew continued in two villages of the town as a precautionary measure. Meanwhile, no untoward incident was reported from the town as an uneasy calm prevailed in the entire township today. “We have asked the village elders to come out. They have formed peace committees to ease tension between the two sects,” a senior police officer said. |
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Ammunition seized
Srinagar, February 27 He said a plastic box containing one kg of urea, three kg magdum, pieces of glass and an electronic bell was also seized. |
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Taking some time off their arduous duties, but without lowering the guard at the border, BSF jawans
today drenched themselves in colours and danced to the tunes of music to
celebrate Holi.
The Jammu West Assembly Movement (JWAM) today held a protest against the Union Budget proposals and decided to start a mass movement against the failure of the Central government to control inflation on March 5.
According to a statement issued here, under the leadership of Sunil Dimple, president of the
JWAM, protesters burnt the effigy of the Budget and criticised the Centre for its failure to control the price rise.
Srinagar, February 27
