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Forum Against Dixon Plan formed
8 months on, Central University of Jammu a non-starter
BJP hails PM’s statement on special powers Act
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Respond to PM’s talks offer, minister to parties
50,000 register for Amarnath yatra in four days
Amarnath Yatra
Irregularities in pension to widows
Demand to speed up work on colonies for ex-servicemen
Army recruitment rally in Kargil
Grenade attack on CRPF camp
State govt seeks additional Haj quota
Power Grid dedicates classroom to children
Educational tour
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Forum Against Dixon Plan formed
Jammu, June 9 BJP Vice- president Bali Bhagat, eminent columnist and Congress leader Hari Om, Panun Kashmir leader Ajay Charungoo and Rouf Lone of the Jammu State Morcha (JSM) addressed a joint press conference here and announced the constitution of a Forum Against Dixon Plan (FADP) to fight any move to divide Jammu on communal lines. “A sinister process seems to have been set into motion to divide the Jammu province along the Chenab on communal lines and facilitate the emergence of Greater Kashmir, comprising the valley and the Muslim-majority areas of Jammu and Ladakh”, Prof Hari Om said, and warned that people of Jammu would not accept any such formula which was earlier forwarded by Oven Dixon for the solution of the Kashmir problem. “We have authentic information that the Union Government has been discussing this formula with Pakistan, but any such attempt would prove disastrous”, he cautioned and aired apprehension that such a solution would further worsen the situation in the state in general and the Jammu region in particular. “The adoption of the Chenab Valley Autonomous Hill Council Resolution in the Legislative Council without any opposition from any party is a clear indication that the government is hell-bent on dividing this region purely on communal lines”, Bali Bhagat said, and pointed out that many other administrative measures taken by the state government in recent times had almost clearly established that concerted moves were afoot to implement the infamous Dixon Plan. “It is also now obvious that a significant section of the top echelons of Indian political class, cutting across party lines, is toying with the idea of a compromise with Pakistan to accommodate its sinister designs on Jammu and Kashmir. It is no surprise that the original Dixon Plan is being disguised in the garb of the Musharaf Formula, the Kathwari Plan, Greater Autonomy or Self-rule. The National Conference and the PDP have been making regular forays into various areas of the Jammu province to polarise communal opinion in favour of Greater Kashmir”, said Prof Hari Om. He further said the entire process had a bearing on the very survival of minorities across the length and breadth of the state. “The authority of the Union Government in the state and its commitment to protect secular imperatives stands undermined as never before since Independence .The situation is even worse than the era when the British rulers embarked upon carving out Pakistan in the Muslim-majority areas of the undivided India”, he observed.
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8 months on, Central University of Jammu a non-starter
Jammu, June 9 While Central University of Kashmir has got a Vice-Chancellor and the recruitment of the faculty and other staff is on, the Central university here is likely to miss the bus this academic session. Even the boards of Central University of Jammu have not been painted afresh. The university having a temporary office in a rented building in block-b/c in Gandhi Nagar still carries the board of “Central University of Jammu and Kashmir, Jammu Office”, instead of Central University of Jammu. These boards were installed when the Central government announced the setting up of a Central university in the state. Later, regional oneupmanship between Jammu and Srinagar over the location of the university in either Jammu or Srinagar, forced the Centre to set up two universities- one in Samba (Jammu) and the other in Ganderbal (Srinagar). That is where the status quo on Central University of Jammu stands. It has so far only one employee, Rajinder, an office attendant, who doubles as the guard of the rented building in Jammu. No wonder the building looks deserted. Its lawns have wild grass and the place presents a ghostly look. “Students come here daily to enquire about the status of the university and when will it start. Some had applied for different posts when there was one Central university in the state. They come to inquire about the posts,” the attendant said. Sources revealed that many youths belonging to Jammu had applied for the advertised posts in Central University of Jammu and Kashmir. They are now being interviewed for the Central University of Kashmir after two universities were announced. However, there was a less chance that people from Jammu would opt for a posting in Srinagar. They all are waiting for the Central university here. Even the land for the university is yet to be identified in Samba. Raman Bhalla, Minister for Revenue and Relief, who had installed boards declaring the setting up of the Central university in Samba, said the ball was in the court of the Central government. “It won’t take us much to give land. We are ready. It is the state government’s land. We can transfer it in one day. The Central government has to take a decision ,” he said. Enquiries revealed that the entire process of the university was supposed to begin with the appointment of the Vice-Chancellor. The government had formed a panel of three and reports said former Jammu University Vice-Chancellor Amitabh Mattoo was likely to be appointed. This triggered strong protests in Jammu as many organisations here wanted a local person, preferably a Dogra, as the Vice-Chancellor.With the deadlock continuing and the Centre unable to make an ad hoc arrangement, the university is eventually set to lose the academic session this year. Congress MP Lal Singh also aired anguish over the delay in the setting up of the university. “The session may not start or would be delayed. The Centre needs to take a quick decision on the issue,” he said.
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BJP hails PM’s statement on special powers Act
Jammu, June 9 In a statement issued here today, Ramesh Arora, spokesman of the party, stated, “It is not the question of agreeing or disagreeing with the agenda of any political party. A clear stand about non-abrogation of the Armed Forced Special Power Act (AFSPA) and making stringent laws to control militancy has always remained the BJP’s top demands, besides establishing a fast track court to deal with militancy.” Hailing the statement of Prime Minister on the issue of AFSPA and terrorism, Arora appealed PDP and NC leaders to rethink about their demand of withdrawal of the AFSPA as it wasn’t in the interest of the state and that of the country. He hoped that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah would take all members into confidence for forming a proper law to deal with militancy as assured by the Prime Minister. He further said the BJP worked above the party line where the interest of nation was involved and this should not be considered as a victory or defeat of any individual but a victory of nationalistic forces. Arora further said the reports prepared by the working groups would confuse the present state of affair rather than solving it. He said it was painful that the present Chief Minister and other representatives had failed to raise the issue of refugees who had migrated due to wars and those who had migrated from the occupied Kashmir and West Pakistan. It was further emphasised that solution of the present turmoil in the state could only be possible if the representatives from Jammu and Ladakh were taken into confidence and people of different shades of opinions were involved in the discussion.
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Respond to PM’s talks offer, minister to parties
Srinagar, June 9 The Minister was addressing a public gathering at Machil-Kupwara today. He was accompanied by senior officers of the district administration, including Deputy Commissioner, Kupwara, Showakat Ahmed Mir, and ex-MLA Qaiser Jamsheed Lone. While maintaining the utility of talks for resolving various vexed issues, Sagar said even the Prime Minister of Pakistan had welcomed the offer of talks and the parties on the other side of political stream should also come forward for a lasting solution of all problems confronting the state. He said the government was committed to zero tolerance viz-a-viz human rights violations and the stand taken by it with reference to the killings at Machil testified the same. He said it was due to the personal intervention of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah that the Defence Minister promised prompt action against the alleged offenders and a Colonel was shifted from the command and a Major suspended. Referring to the recent visit of Prime Minister, the Minister said the government would carry forward the developmental programmes being undertaken under the Prime Minister’s Reconstruction Programme at a fast pace so that the funds earmarked for the same were utilised in full. |
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50,000 register for Amarnath yatra in four days
Srinagar, June 9 This was disclosed by R.K. Goyal, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) here today, an official spokesman said. Referring to special emphasis being laid by the board on the preservation of ecology and environment of the yatra route, Goyal said a detailed plan had been drawn up under expert guidance to maintain cleanliness at the base camps in Baltal and Nunwan and en route the holy cave. It had been planned to launch a concerted campaign to effectively prohibit the use of plastic material. Shredders were being installed at both base camps for shredding all plastic material collected by workers engaged by the board. In addition, arrangements were being made for the treatment of sewage on a scientific basis. The CEO also denied reports in a section of the press regarding the imposition of tax or additional tax by the board in the form of langar fee and reiterated there had been no change whatsoever since 2007 in the security fee of Rs 25,000 required to be deposited by organisations.
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Amarnath Yatra
Udhampur, June 9 Besides officers of all the departments, owners of private banquet halls also attended the meeting., which deliberated upon various arrangements related to the stay of pilgrims in the town and between Tikri and Patnitop. The adequate availability of drinking water, power supply, medicare, sanitation, construction of temporary toilets, transport, traffic regulation, security and accommodation were the important issues that also came up for discussion. It was decided that in case of bad weather or blockade of the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway during the yatra, the pilgrims might have to stay put at Udhampur for which the arrangements to accommodate them should be made jointly by the district administration, NGOs and banquet hall owners of the town. The meeting also identified educational institutions and private banquet halls as the places of possible stay. After enquiring from the banquet hall owners and the Chief Education Officer regarding provision of space in the halls and educational institutions, the DDC directed the officials of the Municipal Council (MC), Public Health and Engineering (PHE) Department, Power Development Department (PDD) and Public Works Department (PWD) to ensure foolproof arrangements of sanitation, drinking water and power supply and construction of temporary toilets well in advance. He also asked the district police to ensure security and traffic regulations during the yatra. Instructions were issued to the Civil Defence Organisation, Udhampur, to put services of 40 Civil Defence volunteers at the disposal of the SSP, Udhampur, for the smooth conduct of the yatra. The DDC informed that a control room was being set up in the town which would function round the clock for assistance of the pilgrims. Besides, the Assistant Commissioner (Revenue) has been designated as a nodal officer to oversee the yatra arrangements. To render emergency services, the officers were asked to have inter-department mobile phone numbers. |
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Irregularities
in pension to widows
Jammu, June 9 Sakina, while addressing the gathering, said there had been repeated complaints against the District Social Welfare Officer for adopting a pick-and-choose policy while sanctioning and releasing pension and benefits under various welfare schemes. She said aged people were compelled to visit the office again and again to get pension. “They are sent back every time on the excuse of paucity of funds, while any one carrying a slip from a minister or a leader of the NC, Congress and the PDP, is treated as a VIP and enough funds are available for such persons,” she alleged. Sakina added that fresh applicants were also treated the same way. “The applications of common people keep lying for months together, while those of influential ones are cleared within minutes,” she alleged. Sakina took to the task the staff posted in the district office for not giving respect to old people visiting them. She demanded a hike in pension from Rs 200 to at least Rs 1,000 considering price rise. She also demanded the release of pension on a monthly basis. Mahila Morcha general secretary Priya Sethi declared that if irregularities, malpractices and favouritism were not stopped immediately the morcha would intensify its agitation. She also urged the minister concerned to intervene into the matter. Raj Rani Jamwal, Kamla Gupta, Neena Gupta, Vijay Raina, Sangita Gupta, Priya Jral, Meera Sarmal, Parveen Arora, Renu Khajuria, Usha Sharma, Reva, Saroj Gupta, Vidya Devi, Anju Bala, Geeta Singh, Bimla Padha, Chanchla, Geeta Devi, Sharda Devi and Shama Devi were prominent among those who took part in the protest.
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Demand to speed up work on colonies for ex-servicemen
Jammu, June 9 A delegation led by officiating president of the organisation Brig SS Sambyal (retd) and joint chairman Col Dr Virendra K Sahi (retd) met Divisional Commissioner Pawan Kotwal yesterday and apprised him
of the issue. During the meeting, the leaders said that the work on colonies at Patti and Baran villages in Samba and Jammu districts, respectively, was delayed due to hurdles put up by the land mafia. They said a major chunk of land was nonagricultural and the irrigated land had not been procured for the development of colonies. Sambyal and Sahi requested Kotwal to make sure that the work got speed up as aged widows and ex-servicemen were suffering. |
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Army recruitment rally in Kargil
Srinagar, June 9 The rally was inaugurated by the CEC and Chairman, Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Kargil. The Army Recruiting Office, Srinagar, under the aegis of the Headquarters Recruiting Zone organised the rally for soldier(clerks), storekeepers, soldier( technical) and soldier (nursing assistants) from all districts and for soldier (general duty) from Leh and Kargil districts, a defence spokesman said. Young aspirants from the region were guided and groomed in advance about the procedure and preparations required. They participated in the rally with zeal and enthusiasm. Approximately 2500 youths availed the opportunity. Those found fit would appear in a Common Entrance Test on July 25. |
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Grenade attack on CRPF camp
Srinagar, June 9 The police said militants hurled a grenade towards 162 Bn CRPF F-Coy stationed at Firdous cinema hall, which exploded on its premises. However, no loss of life or injury to anyone was reported in the incident. Jaleel Ahmad Baharwal, who was injured in a firing incident by unidentified gunmen in Rangwar forest near Handwara in Kupwara district yesterday, died today, the police said. The body of a physically challenged man was recovered from the Water Channel National Highway at Nambal, Awantipora, in south Kashmir. The police has registered
a case. An overground worker of the Lashkar-e-Toiba, Showkat Ahmad Sheikh, was apprehended at Channad on the Srinagar-Baramulla road by police and 52 RR personnel. Five grenades were seized from his possession, the
police said. |
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State govt seeks additional Haj quota
Srinagar, June 9 The information was given by Minister for Haj and Auqaf Aijaz Ahmad Khan while discussing various issues with regard to Haj-2010 at a meeting here today. He directed the authorities concerned to ensure the verification and other formalities for the issuance of passports to the selected pilgrims before June 30. He also directed that the necessary arrangements be made for the pilgrims and added that no inconvenience should be faced by anyone regarding board and lodging in Srinagar. The minister directed the officials concerned to tie up with the JKTDC and Hospitality and Protocol Department for arranging accommodation at Srinagar for pilgrims from Jammu, Ladakh and the remote areas of the Kashmir valley. The meeting was assured that passports to the pilgrims would be issued in time. |
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Children’s theatre camp begins
Jammu, June 9 The event is being organised by Natrang in collaboration with the Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi, and conducted by Sumeet Sharma, a postgraduate in Dramatics from Indian Theatre Department, Chandigarh. Aarushi Thakur, who is pursuing BA from St. Stephen’s College, New Delhi, is assisting in the camp, besides Mohit Sharma and Rohit Verma. Natrang claims to be the first theatre organisation of the state that had introduced children theatre in Jammu and started the tradition of Children’s Theatre Camp in year 1990. This is the 21st annual camp being conducted in Natrang. The popular plays like “Mere Hisse Ki Dhoop Kahan Hai”, “Aap Hamare Hain Kaun”, “Charandass Chor”, “Bhag Beta Bhaag”,“Beauty is the Beast” and “Ek Tha Gaddha” have been the products of these camps which were staged in almost all major cities of India on repeated requests. This 45-day camp will be a production-oriented training programme, which will cover many aspects of child’s personality development in addition to the production of a full-length play that will be staged at the Abhinav Theatre, Jammu, on the culmination of the workshop. On the occasion, Natrang director Balwant Thakur stressed the need for introducing theatre as a compulsory activity among children in schools. The children, who are participating in the camp, include Bhagyashree Kotwal, Shriya Sudan, Sanyam Gupta, Shreya Gupta, Abhi Bargotra, Chander Pratap Singh, Srijan Gupta, Aarushi Fotedar, Isha Singh, Ishan Singh Manandeep, Harsh Vardhan Singh, Manasvini Oswal, Rhythm Misher, Vasu, Utkarsh, Rashika Kaul, Karan Kaul, Bhabika Singh, Divyansh, Dhairya Aggarwal, Devashish, Divyan, Gauri Thakur, Gopi Sharma, Sohi Sharma, Ojusvini Kotwal, Gursimran Singh, Kritika Bhau, Tanya Dogra and Arjun Gandotra.
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Power Grid dedicates classroom to children
Jammu, June
9 The school is managed by an organising committee of the Kalyan Kendra and is supported by grants received from the public and sometimes from the government. The school is meant for deaf and dumb and presently there are 85 children undergoing education in different classes. In addition to regular classes, vocational training is also imparted to students there. |
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Jammu, June 9 Head of the department Prof B Labh and Dr Sonia Jasrotia intimated the students about the historical significance of the site. This is the only Buddhist site of the Jammu region excavated so far. Ambaran has proved beyond doubt that the region was a stronghold of Buddhism in the early centuries of the Christain Era. — TNS
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