Jammu, September 21
Four members of the all-party delegation led by DMK leader TR Balu met jailed separatist leader and president of the Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) Shabir Ahmed Shah in Jammu this evening.

Shah, who has been booked under the Public Safety Act (PSA), was brought to Colonel Chopra Nursing Home located near Government Medical College Hospital for a special medical check-up this afternoon. After doctors advised him to stay at the nursing home for some time, Shah was taken to a special room on the second floor.

As soon as the all-party delegation reached Jammu, its members started meeting representatives of various organisations. Four members, namely, TR Balu, Babu Lal Marandi, Joseph Tota and Narhari Mahato, left for the nursing home to meet Shabir Shah.

Although officials are tight-lipped about the meeting, sources said members of the delegation spent over an hour with the separatist leader and sought his suggestions for restoring peace in the state. After the meeting, Shah was taken back to the Kot Bhalwal jail this evening.

One of the prominent separatist leaders of the Kashmir Valley, Shah was arrested in August 2008 under the PSA after the killing of separatist leader Sheikh Aziz. He was released for some months but rearrested under the PSA on February 3 this year. He has been lodged at the Kot Bhawal Jail in Jammu.

Meanwhile, the ruling NC and the PDP have applauded the decision of the all-party delegation to reach out to the separatist leader.

“It is a welcome step. Every section of the society should be involved in the process,” said leader of the NC delegation Ajay Sadhotra. He added the all-party delegation had taken a bold step by approaching separatists to bring them on table for initiating the dialogue process. “We appreciate this decision because without involving separatists in the dialogue process lasting peace can not be restored in the state,” said PDP leader Choudhary Zulfikar.

Srinagar, September 21
The BJP today distanced itself from the discussions some of the all-party delegation members had with the separatists as the team headed by Home Minister P Chidambaram wrapped up its visit to the Kashmir valley.

As the 36-member delegation moved to Jammu, BJP leader Sushma Swaraj said the discussion the three teams had with hardline Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, moderate faction leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and JKLF leader Yasin Malik was not part of its mandate.

“No, no, it was not a mandate. It was not discussed in the delegation. Some of the members expressed their desire to go there. Naturally, the delegation leader said you can go,” she said.

However, CPM leader Sitaram Yechury, who met Geelani, said that they put forward the desire to meet the separatists before the delegation and there was no opposition from the BJP.

He said the whole idea of being a part of the delegation was to tell the people of Kashmir that “we are not to discriminate with anyone and would like to meet everyone”. On the delegation members’ meeting separatists leaders, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said this was scheduled.

“We had only worked towards it to make it possible. I am happy that it worked and the delegation got views of every shade of opinion in the Valley.

“The delegation has come obviously to get a report about the ground situation here and we were accused of stage managing ...but we tried to ensure that the delegation meets as many people as possible,” he said expressing satisfaction over the delegation’s visit to the state. — PTI

Jammu, September 21
While meeting the all-party delegation, the BJP reiterated its demand of dismissal of the Omar Abdullah government. The party also demanded the setting up of provincial councils in both the Jammu and Kashmir provinces with adequate administrative and financial powers and also the authority to decide about the use/control of land.

The BJP also supported the demand of union territory status to Ladakh and citizenship rights for the West Pakistani refugees. It also demanded return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits back in the Valley and reservation of five Assembly seats for them there.

The state unit of the BSP blamed the Congress-National Conference government for the present crises and demanded sacking of the present government. The party observed that Omar Abdullah has failed to provide good governance.

Similar demand was raised by the PDP in the meeting. Meanwhile, some organisations staged protests at various places, as they were not invited to meet the all-party delegation. Activists of organisations of displaced Kashmir Pandits and refugees of the occupied Kashmir (PoK) and West Paksitan refugees staged demonstrations against discriminatory policies of the government in making the list.

The police resorted to mild lathicharge this afternoon to disperse the agitating activists of the Youth All-India Kashmiri Samaj (YAIKS), who were trying to take out a procession in the city. Some of the YAIKS activists were arrested by the police when they raised slogans against the state and the Central governments.

The YAIKS activists had been observing the arrival of the all-party delegation as “black day” since yesterday by wearing black clothes on their heads and shoulders.

Activists of the refugee community, led by chairman of the SOS International Rajiv Chuni, were taken into custody by the police at City Chowk here when they were proceeding towards the Chief Minister's official residence, the venue for meeting of the all-party delegation with different organisations. They were taken into custody as they had not officially been invited to meet the delegation.

The police also took into custody some displaced Kashmiri Pandits at Domana near here after they staged protest demonstration for not being invited to meet the all-party delegation.

They belonged to migrant camps of Purkhoo and Mishriwala on the outskirts of the city.

Panun Kashmir under the leadership of Dr Agnishekhar, expressed its indignation over the “discriminatory attitude” demonstrated by the Central and State governments towards the Kashmiri Pandit community, which once again became vividly evident to everyone by not inviting Panun Kashmir for talks with the all-party delegation, currently on its special visit to the state.

Dr Agnishekhar termed it as a brazen negation of the Kashmiri Pandit community.

Jammu, September 21
The Chamber of Commerce and Industry today apprised the visiting all-party delegation members of losses suffered by the Jammu region due to violence in the Valley and the need to understand and acknowledge the aspirations of the people of the Jammu region.

The chamber delegation claimed losses suffered by trade, industry and service sectors were more than Rs 25,000 crore, Satish Gupta, secretary-general of the chamber, told the media.

Stressing that the trade and industry could flourish only in an atmosphere of political stability, the chamber leaders said the continuing turmoil had reduced many businessmen to the brink of bankruptcy.

The chamber delegation said the three regions of the state -- Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh -- should get their due share of the Central grants and the government should ensure that no region was discriminated against. The Central government should put in place a permanent mechanism to allot funds for development.

They informed the delegation about the fate of traders whose stock payments were held up due to frequent strikes, curfew and bandh calls in the Valley and who failed to pay the instalments of bank loan and their dues to income tax, sales tax and other departments.

Many new units, which started production from May 2010 with an investment of crores of rupees and financial support from banks and other financial institutions, have incurred huge losses due to the turmoil and are on the verge of closure.

The local industry is in a shamble because about 70 per cent of the locally manufactured goods are supplied to the Kashmir valley and the Ladakh region. Goods worth Rs 3,000 crore produced before the eruption of violence in the Valley are blocked in the factories in Jammu. The production of most of the industrial units has dropped by more than 75 per cent. In addition to the production losses the cash losses to industry and business are more than Rs 6,000 crore during the last three months.

Jammu, September 21
A team of the all-party delegation visited a camp of displaced Kashmiri Pandits at Muthi and assured them that aspiration and wishes of all sections of the society would be accommodated while arriving at a solution to the vexed Kashmir problem.

Keeping in view the resentment shown by some organisations of the Kashmiri Pandits for not being invited to meet the delegation, four members of the delegation led by CPM leader Sitaram Yechury this evening went to Phase I and II of the Muthi migrant camp. Interacting with camp dwellers, Yechury said the delegation had taken up the issue of displacement of the minority community during its meetings with Kashmiri leaders.

The Kashmiri Pandits expressed resentment over the decision of the delegation to meet separatists. They said separatists like Sayeed Ali Shah Geelani were responsible for their displacement and there was no reason to meet such leaders. The displaced persons also demanded that economic package announced by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for the migrants should be properly implemented.

A team which visited migrants camp included Sitaram Yechury, Narinder Kashyap, S Saddiqui and Assadullah Owaisi.

Srinagar, September 21
Chairman of the hardline APHC faction Syed Ali Geelani held detailed discussions with Lok Janshakti Party leader Ram Vilas Paswan, who called on him at his Hyderpora residence here today. A five-member team of the visiting all-party delegation had visited Geelani at his residence here yesterday.

During an hour-long meeting with Paswan today, Geelani dwelt upon the historical background of the Kashmir issue and stressed on the need to resolve it in accordance with the aspirations of the people of the state. Meanwhile, leaders of various political parties and organisations met the all-party delegation led by Union Home Minister P Chidambaram here yesterday. Welcoming the decision of the delegation to reach out to separatist leaders, Muzaffar Sah, senior vice-president of the Awami National Conference (ANC), conveyed his party’s displeasure over the recent happenings in Kashmir in which 107 persons have been killed during the past three months.

A deputation of the All-Party Sikh Coordination Committee (APSCC), which met the delegation here today, alleged that the state and the Central governments had failed to understand the problems faced by the majority community in the Valley. “If the majority community is not safe how can the people belonging to minority community (Kashmiri Sikhs) live in peace. The majority community is always at the receiving end as compared to other minority communities living in the state,” the APSCC deputation, led by its chairman Jagmohan Singh Raina, conveyed to the parliamentary delegation.

Srinagar, September 21
A day after an all-party delegation reached out to separatists here, the moderate faction of the Hurriyat Conference today accused the Centre of not making a serious effort to address the Kashmir issue saying the talks were not possible in a coercive atmosphere.

“The Indian government is making no serious attempt to address the (Kashmir) issue. It is not in any serious manner even acknowledging our sufferings, but continuing to use more and more force and structured repression to suppress our movement,” chairman of the faction Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said in a letter to the embassies and high commissions of several countries in the National Capital.

While the Hurriyat was for a meaningful dialogue for the resolution of the Kashmir issue, the talks could not be held in a coercive atmosphere, the Mirwaiz said in the letter written to foreign diplomats in New Delhi on the occasion of World Day for Peace. “We believe that a dialogue can be an alternative way for the resolution of the issue. However, a dialogue can be possible only if conditions are created for it. A dialogue cannot happen with a gun pointed at us,” he said.

“Due to extreme repressive measures being used by the state forces, a humanitarian crisis is fast developing here and in many parts of Jammu with unprecedented day and night curfew, acute shortage of medicines, milk, and even baby food, obstruction in the movement of ambulances, doctors, medical staff and shortage of blood and life saving drugs in hospitals,” he said in the letter.

The Mirwaiz claimed that the “repressive measures” of the government were fuelling anger among the people of Kashmir and increasing the danger of the situation getting out of hand. Seeking the intervention of the international community, he urged the foreign diplomats to use their good offices to influence the Centre to put an end to the use of “brute force” and address the issue through a political initiative in line with the aspirations and sacrifices of generations of Kashmiri people. — PTI

Srinagar, September 21
The situation across the Kashmir valley was peaceful today after the curfew was relaxed for four hours in phases in different areas.

The restrictions were strictly enforced, particularly in Srinagar city during the stay of the all-party delegation which arrived here yesterday. While the delegation held a series of meetings with leaders of parties, oganisations of students, trade union leaders and NGOs at the highly guarded Sher-e-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) here,the entire Valley was under the curfew.The restrictions were lifted in phases from 3 p.m. and 4 p.m this afternoon after the delegation concluded its visit to the Valley.

A police spokesman said the curfew was relaxed in the East, West and South zones in the city from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. while in the North and Hazratbal Zones, the restrictions were relaxed from 4 p.m to 7 p.m. Similarly, the restrictions were relaxed in Kangan, Anantnag Awantipora, Pampore Tral, Bandipora, Kulgam and Sopore.

Shops in markets were open and people in large numbers purchased essential commodities like milk, vegetables and other food items.

Chandigarh, September 21
The long wait of Central government employees and pensioners residing in Jammu and Kashmir for a Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) dispensary in Jammu is finally over.

Till now, around 102 CGHS cardholder pensioners and their family members residing in the state had to come all the way to Chandigarh for treatment or had to pay for it locally, as there was no dispensary in the state. It would be a boon for most of the Central government employees and retired officials of Jammu and Kashmir. A retired DGP, J&K Police, AC Chaturvedi, who is a beneficiary of this service, said it had been more than a year that the CGHS cardholders in Jammu and Kashmir were struggling to get a dispensary in Jammu.

“More than 500 persons will be benefited from this dispensary as every cardholder includes the spouse and children. Earlier, we had to travel all the way to the nearest dispensary at Sector 45, Chandigarh,” Chaturvedi said.

According to some beneficiaries, the location of the dispensary was well connected by bus and train.

The dispensary is yet to become functional but the post of a doctor and other staff have been sanctioned. A senior official of the CGHS said several steps had to be taken to open the dispensary. After getting permission from the Director General of Health Services, accommodation for running the dispensary is to be finalised. The probable site is likely to be the Jammu exhibition ground.

“The work to get the accommodation finalised and getting the infrastructure ready for the dispensary is going on. We are expecting the dispensary to be functional in a fortnight,” said Dr SC Anand, Additional Director of the CGHS, Chandigarh, who has the additional charge of the Jammu and Kashmir dispensary.

“We expect a large number of people to get CGHS cards made at this dispensary. Some people did not avail of this facility as it was more convenient to go to some other doctor than travelling to Chandigarh,” said a beneficiary.

Jammu, September 21
The Kashmiri Pandit community took part in the ‘Vitasta Triyodesi’ celebrations organised by the Kashmira Vahini on the banks of the Chanderbaga at Rajinder Park today.

Besides members of the community, saints, singers, musicians, theatre personalities and people from other walks of lives participated.

The programme began with a ‘deep prajevalan’ by Kashmiri Pandit saints Shri Kumar Ji, Shri Pran Nath Bhat Garib, Jyotshi Man Mohan Shastri and Dada Jee and they threw light on the religo-cultural importance of the Vitasta river. Child prodigy Sheen recited shalokas from Neelmat Puran in the praise of river Goddess Vitasta.

On the occasion, Dr Agnishekhar, convener of the Panun Kashmir, laid emphasis on the importance of celebrating festivals like Vitasta Triyodesi. “It keeps us connected to the roots and inculcates the resolve in the people in exile to return to the cherished homeland.”

Agnishekhar condemned the state and the Central government, for not inviting the mainstream political party Panun Kashmir of Kashmiri Pandits to the all-party delegation meeting.

Kalyani Kaul, vice-president of Oracle Financial Services, addressed the gathering and impressed upon the Kashmiri Pandit women to strive to preserve and promote the Kashmiri Hindu culture.

Eminent artists like Kailash Mehra, Dilip Langoo, Deepali Wattal, Ram Krishen Kitchloo and Tej Krishen performed on the birthday of river Goddess Vitasta. A musical tribute in the form of “Vitasta Dhun”, specially composed by renowned music director Kuldeep Saproo and sung by Deepali Wattal was also be played on this occasion.

An album of Kashmiri songs composed and sung by Dileep Langoo was also released on the eve of Vitasta Day.

A special theatrical performance by the Vomeed group of Rohit Bhat was one of highlights of the programme. Vijaya Khoda, a prominent activist of Kashmira Vahini, was felicitated on the occasion for showing exemplary courage in saving human lives while performing her duty. The programme was graced by eminent poets Prem Nath Shad and Mohan Lal Aash. The programme concluded with Vitasta Pujan and Deep Visarjan.

The programme was conducted by Dr Khema Kaul, national spokesperson for the Kashmira Vahini, and a vote of thanks was presented by Sudesha Kaul, chief area coordinator of the Kashmira Vahini.

Udhampur, September 21
Now onwards the details of all ongoing government schemes should be displayed on boards all over the district by the officials concerned for the purpose of bringing about more transparency in their work as well for the information of general public.

District Development Commissioner (DDC), Udhampur, Baseer Ahmed Khan gave directions to this effect at a public darbar organised at the tehsil headquarters of Chenani, 25 km from here, on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway. He directed the tehsildar and other officers concerned of various departments to display all ongoing schemes with cost and expenditure on the boards at panchayat, block and tehsil levels for the information of general public.

Besides, the agriculture, horticulture, sericulture, sheep husbandry, social welfare, animal husbandry, banks and rural development departments would hold three awareness camps at the tehsil level every month.

After listening to the problems and demands of the area people, Bashir directed the officers concerned to address the problems of the people on priority. He asked them to initiate immediate action and submit the report to him.

He also asked people to keep him informed whether their grievances had been redressed by the department concerned within the time frame or not. He added that he would review the progress of all works at the next public darbar.

Necessary instructions were issued to the tehsildar, Chenani, for the early assessment of the houses damaged due to heavy rains by organising area-wise camps. While giving references of previous public darbars at Chenani, the DDC intimated the general public that out of 38 pending demands, 34 had been met and the rest would be taken up shortly.

The demands of people included the establishment of a potato farm, a vegetable mandi, collection of vegetables at Gourikund, Tomater Morh, allotment of venues to vegetable sellers of the Chenani area at Udhampur and Narwal Mandi, preventive measures for monkey menace, a special power line for the Chenani hospital, construction of a road from Bashti to Bain, providing proper staff in the Education Department, upgrading of middle schools and high schools to higher secondary schools, blacktopping of the Chenani-Pattangarh road, adequate supply of timber at the Chenani forest depot, a taxi stand, expansion of the Chenani bus stand and the construction of a shed at the local graveyard with road connectivity.

Jammu, September 21
Though the district administration lifted curfew from Poonch town today, it was relaxed for two hours in the violence-hit Mendhar town.

“The curfew was relaxed in Mendhar from 3 pm to 5 pm today,” SSP, Poonch, Manmohan Singh told The Tribune. If the situation warranted, the curfew would be relaxed further from 5 pm to 7 pm, he added.

The curfew was imposed in Mendhar town last week after three persons were killed in the police firing to disperse a mob trying to set ablaze a missionary school in protest against the alleged desecration of a holy book in the USA.

Meanwhile, the curfew had been lifted completely from Poonch town where normalcy returned.

To instill a feeling of communal harmony among the people of Poonch, Congress MLC Jehangir Mir took out a peace march in the town today. The rally went around the city and various schools where speakers urged the people to maintain communal harmony.

Jammu, September 21
A delegation of the National Secular Forum (NSF), led by its district president Surjit Chowdhary and working president at University of Jammu Rohit Sharma, met the Dean Student Welfare(DSW) and asked him to enforce the smoking ban on the campus of University of Jammu.

“Students of various departments like Punjabi, Dogri and Buddhist studies have many a time reported that smoking has not been abandoned on the campus despite a ban on it. Therefore, we met the dean to ensure the ban is imposed immediately,” the delegates said.

Expressing its concern over the defacement of the campus, the delegation also asked the university administration to ensure strict action against those who were found violating the rules by plying their vehicles on the lawn and playing cricket there.

Jammu, September 21
A two-day long national seminar, “Conflict in Jammu and Kashmir: Its Impact on Society, Polity and Economy”, being organised by the Department of Strategic and Regional Studies (DSRS) and University of Jammu in collaboration with the Centre for Security Analysis (CSA) Chennai, began at General Zorawar Singh Auditorium of the varsity here today.

In his keynote address, president of the CSA Lt-Gen VR Raghavan (retd) explained how did international conflicts impact the state and society by resulting in social, political and economic disruption.

“Long-lasting conflicts create an embittered generation whose perspectives on all aspects of life are adversely affected. Internal conflicts also impact the relations with the neighbouring countries as the movement of refugees gets restricted and trade and commerce are disrupted,” he said.

“In Jammu and Kashmir, the impact of the conflict on minorities like Gujjars and Bakerwals, relations among the Jammu, Ladakh and Valley regions, centre-state relations and and civil-military relations are examples of consequences assuming a greater prominence,” he added.

Prof Varun Sahni, Vice-Chancellor, University of Jammu, said, “Kashmir is a conflict not a dispute and it must be resolved not solved.

He highlighted three issues to resolve the Kashmir conflict - maintenance of the internal balance, good relations between the state and the Government of India and change in the status quo with a focus on good governance. Former chief secretary Dr SS Bloeria highlighted the security situation in the last 20 years and stressed on limiting the military causalities and infiltration.

“Autonomy must be given at regional, state and district levels,” he said and stressed on an equitable development.

Dr Balraj Puri explained how since the Partition inter-provincial relations had been affected. The regional tension was one of the major causes for the ruptured relation with the Government of India since 1953.

“Militancy has further accentuated the regional tension. Differences over how to deal with the militancy threat tend to divide people on religious and ethnic lines,” he said.

Dr Arun Joshi said the Kashmir issue had a religious root and the future of the two communities co-existence forced by the political map was gradually looking untenable. Vikrant Kuthiala spoke on the impact of conflict on local commerce and industry. Prof RL Bhat said overseeing the economic problem resulted in the slower growth of the state economy, lack of infrastructure and private capital, heavy dependence on government sectors and political uncertainty.

Dr Ashish Sexana explained the connection between religion and politics. He analysed the successful execution of democratic decentralisation in the state. He focused on the relief and rehabilitation for the victims of violence.

Jammu, September 21
Hundreds of agitated students of Government High School, Broh, in the remote Kalakote area, along with their parents staged a protest at the tehsil headquarters today in support of their demand for sciences and mathematics teachers.

Reports said the high school that caters to at least seven middle schools in Gharat, Dhangiote, Mangrote, Fali-Saleri, Manma and Sadda had a strength of more than 400 students, but had only three teachers.

This school that had been facing the shortage of teachers for the past several years had only three rooms and conducted some classes in the open. “Last year, only two of the 27 students of Class X passed the annual exams,” the protesting parents told The Tribune over phone. However, there were 72 students enrolled in Class X of the school this year.

Even last year the school did not have any teacher for subjects like sciences, English, social sciences and Urdu. “We held a protest last year also. All we got was assurances,” the protesters said.

They raised slogans against the Education Department and staged a dharna for three hours at the tehsil headquarters.

Jammu, September 21
Kartar Public School today introduced adventure training as a subject in its curriculum.

The school today invited Col JS Dhillon (retd), Director of the Indian Institutes of Skiing and Mountaineering, to give a motivational lecture to students on adventure training.

Colonel Dhillon (retd) briefed the children on various aspects of adventure activities and how they could help develop their personality.

He said certain traits of one’s personality, which are very essential to succeed in life, couldn’t be developed in the protected environment of school or college.

To succeed in life, children required an all-round education and adventure was a very important part of it, he said.

Kartar Public school had taken a special initiative to start such activity in the region, which would benefit children of rural areas as well, he said.

Initially, paragliding and water sports are being introduced in the region. Gradually, the children will be sent to to national institutes to pursue higher courses.

Chairman of the school Nirmaljit Singh thanked Colonel Dhillon (retd) for taking such an initiative in rural areas.