Sunder Bani, November 19
Residents of Madwal village have been facing inconvenience due to almost non-existent road between Rawarian Tala and Tala Nagara.

A person trudging for the first time on the rugged surface of the stretch can hardly believe that any road ever existed there. The road that was made some five years ago brought many promises for more than 5,000 people of villages like Madwal, Ghai, Tala Nagara and others. However, the road failed to bring any material change in their life since the quality of work was poor and most significantly, the road was not blacktopped. As a result, the road disappeared with time and made the pathway even worse for walking.

Now, even a tractor cannot ply over it. The work, according to locals, was conducted by the Roads and Buildings Department. The stretch from Sunder Bani to Rawarian Tala was blacktopped while here only cosmetic earth work was done.

As a result, people have to trek down to Sunder Bani for shopping and other work. The absence of transport facility adds to the problem. Worst sufferers are elderly people, patients, women and schoolchildren. While farmers take their produce on head to the market, children have to walk 5-7 km or more to reach their schools.

“Many people in the village like me have job cards but there is no work. We have harvested the crop and if government gives us employment, we will surely construct the road on our own,” said Kali Das, a local.

Another local, Joginder Pal said, “There is a requirement of a culvert at the nullah, near Rawarian Tala”.

“The work on the bridge over another nullah at Mudwal has been abandoned. We took up the demand for road and bridges with politicians many times, but to no avail,” he said and added, “Officials in the Rural Development Department and Public Works Department cite lack of funds as reason”.

“We have a lot of funds, but villagers are not very enthusiastic about MNREGA. Villagers should approach us and start work on the road,” said Sunder Bani Sukh Pal, block development officer, adding that the road came under the jurisdiction of the PWD.

However, officials in the PWD expressed ignorance over the road project. When asked if any project over the said report was submitted to the government, SK Khajuria, assistant executive engineer, and Rajiv Suri junior executive engineer, said details were with the main office in Nowshera.

An official in Nowshera, when contacted, denied information saying that the project report was at the Sunder Bani office.

Jammu, November 19
In the absence of formal sanction to village defence committees (VDCs) by the state government, a large number of VDC members have not been getting any honorarium for the past many years now. Keeping in view the resentment brewing among these VDC members, the BJP has decided to effectively take up this issue to regain its ground in erstwhile Doda district, which comprised three districts.

Ironically, 1,248 VDCs have been functional in erstwhile Doda district out of which only 817 have formally been sanctioned by the state government with the remaining VDCs functioning without any honorarium.

“It is a glaring example of discrimination as members of the non-sanctioned VDCs are doing the same job as of the sanctioned ones”, pointed out BJP leader and former Ramban MLA Bali Bhagat, who has now announced to take up this matter with the higher authorities to get this discrimination removed.

Smelling a deep-rooted conspiracy in not giving sanction to the left-out VDCs, Bhagat regretted that the present dispensation had been discouraging the forces that had been fighting militancy in the state all these years. “For years together, members of these VDCs have been agitating to get some honorarium but the government is just not interested in solving their problem”, he said, alleging that the government has been trying to create division among people on communal and political grounds.

“Irrespective of their religions, as VDC members have played an important role in containing militancy in their respective areas the government should encourage all VDC members for their role and there should not be any discrimination on the communal or political grounds”, he demanded.

After the eruption of terrorism in erstwhile Doda district, the authorities had started setting up VDCs in this mountainous belt because it was impossible for the security forces to provide security cover to all inhabitants of this belt with hamlets scattered over treacherous and thickly forest slopes.

Members of a VDC are inhabitants of a village which they have to protect. They are selected by the village elders and their names are later approved by the authorities, who provide each of them with a .303 rifle. Their duties consist of patrolling the village, defending it and providing the authorities with information on the militants’ movements.

Addressing a meeting of VDC members at Ramban, the BJP leader said he would take this matter to the court. “As the role of VDCs in fighting militancy has been acknowledged by the successive governments, there is no reason for discrimination with them”, he said.

Jammu, November 19
Alarmed by attempts to bring down the Gole Mahal here, the Jammu and Kashmir government has begun the process of declaring the heritage building as a state protected monument and ordered a probe. Located in the Hazuribagh belt of Jammu city, 150-year-old Mahal built by the Dogra kings is one-of-its-kind in the state.

“The work to dismantle the heritage monument by some people has been stopped by our team, which visits the prized heritage monument from time to time,” Mohmmad Ashraf, deputy director, state Archaeology and Museum Department, said, adding that they have recommended that the building be declared as protected.

Rehana Batool, additional district development commissioner (ADDC), said a probe had been ordered into the issue. “A three-member high-level committee had visited the site and a report is being finalised,” she said.

The report would be submitted to the government for further action on its preservation and declaration as state protected monument, she said.

Armed with hammers and shovels, labourers allegedly hired by a builder attempted to dismantle the monument to build flats in Hazuribagh mango tree and flower estate, which was sold by Joyti Singh, granddaughter of Maharaja Hari Singh, to a business house two decades ago. The Maharaja had gifted her the estate, including the heritage building.

“The (dismantling) work has been stopped and we have asked them not to touch the building,” the deputy director said, adding that the action was initiated on the complaints to the divisional commissioner by the local residents, who wanted the monument to be preserved. “The official process to declare the monument as state protected has begun and is underway,” Ashraf said. He said the damage has been caused to the monument’s roof. “We have submitted the report to the ADDC for declaring the monument as protected heritage monument under the state government. The monument can be converted into a heritage museum,” Ashraf said.

The three-storeyed heritage building is round in shape and resembles a clock with 12 big pillars and four main entrances.

There are Dogri carvings with lotus leaf motifs, paintings, numerous brick designs and hand sketches on its pink plastered walls inside and outside the building. “It has a big majestically designed central hall and four other halls and kings would use the Gole Mahal as a guest house,” Ashraf said. Sheikh Abdullah, former Chief Minister and grandfather of the present Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, and Bakshi Gulam Mohammad were kept in detention in Gole Mahal besides other top leaders of the state during Emergency. — PTI

New Delhi, November 19
About 105 security personnel and civilians were killed in terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir till October this year as against 123 during the same period last year, the government has said.

“In Jammu and Kashmir there were 432 incidents up to October 31, 2010, in which 66 security force personnel and 39 civilians were killed as compared to 437 incidents during the corresponding period of 2009 in which 52 security force personnel and 71 civilians were killed,” Minister of State for Home Affairs Ajay Maken told the Lok Sabha.

He said available reports indicated that Pakistan or ISI-sponsored terrorist outfits based in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir had been involved in a number of terrorist incidents. — PTI

Jammu, November 19
For the past over five centuries, the annual weeklong Jhiri mela from November 19 has been attracting thousands of people from across north India to converge on Jhiri and Shama Chak villages, 15 km from here.

This year being no exception, devotees from states like Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan and Delhi have reached Jhiri and Shama Chak villages to attend the festival.

All these years, the mela has not been affected or influenced by a wave of so-called modernism. It continues to provide the same ancient and primitive look while upholding cherished values, customs, traditions and culture of Indians.

While the mela provides marketing outlets to local artisans to sell items like earthen decorative wares, vases, utensils, pottery items toys, knives and farming tools, youths flex their muscles on wrestling courts bedded with crude clay. Singers continue to sing rhythmic hymns and ballads in the praise of Baba Jittu, a revolutionary local farmer of the 15th centaury (1426-1474) who had scarified his life while restricting landlords from taking his produce.

It is actually in reminiscing of Baba Jittu’s sacrifice for the liberation of the farming community that the Jhiri mela is being organised every year here on Karthik Purnima.

While devotees and descendents of Baba Jittu, as a custom, have to register their presence every year near a samadhi where the revolutionary farmer and his daughter, Bua Kauri, had sacrificed their lives, the mela has been providing a platform for the government departments, mainly associated with culture, farming or rural development, to showcase their performance. Politicians seize an opportunity to become social while addressing corner gatherings.

Some of the records available with the State’s Archives Department suggest that Jhiri mela had always been a priority for the governments and even the rulers of the erstwhile princely state. They would ensure proper security around the historical Jhiri village that houses a sacred pond “babe da talab”, where devotees take a dip with a belief that its water has miraculous powers for curing skin disorders.

Even for the present government, the mela is a priority. Sanjeev Verma, deputy commissioner, who is also chairman of Jhiri mela committee, recently took stock of arrangements made by various departments for the benefit of visitors.

The records reveal that competitions in wrestling, archery, kabaddi and singing were held every year to the amusement of one and all. Even during the computer age, this arrangement continues till date. During the ensuing festival, Natrang Theatre plans to stage a series of plays depicting life and teachings of Baba Jittu. Local dangal committees have already contacted some famous wrestlers of the region.

The records say farmers would every year bring to makeshift Jhiri market their best produce. They would also put on display their healthy animals like horses, cows, buffalos, sheep and camels, besides fowls. Hefty ones were suitably rewarded by the administration.

The then departments of Press Information Bureau and Field Publicity used to show cinema on projectors and the then Information and Broadcasting Ministry used to distribute books, pamphlets and other counter-propaganda material. Such kind of activity was more in vogue during 1947 to 1953 Jhiri festivals when people were being informed about India’s factual position on Jammu and Kashmir in the backdrop of vicious Pakistani media propaganda.

During 1949 Jhiri festival, books like “Hum Ne Pakistan Mein Kya Dekha”, “Khutb-e-Sadarat”, “Kashmir Aur Hind Naqabil Taqseem Hain”, “Kashmir Kahan Se Kahan”, “Hindustan Ki Aklatein”, “Bapu Aur Kashmir” and “Kashmir Ki Jang-e-Azadi” were sold to people, fetching Rs 24 and some annas to the state exchequer, reveal the records.

Even as the authorities had pressed into service its might to check the sky-high prices of essential commodities, eatables, particularly the sacrificial sheep and goats on the eve of Eid-ul-Azha celebrations, all these efforts failed to make a mark at the ground level. This has happened mainly in view of the fluid situation that was witnessed in Srinagar and elsewhere in the Valley over the past several months.

Despite its tall claims to check the prices, the government failed to do so as the essential commodities continued be sold at high prices. The sale prices of sheep and goats had been fixed at 10 sale centres or mandis across the city to maintain a check on the prices but this could not be done. There was an steep rise in the prices a couple of days before the Eid at many places.

Jammu, November 19
Buoyed over the appointment of Prithvi Raj Chavan, who was in charge of the party affairs in the state, as Chief Minister of Maharashtra, the pro-Ghulam Nabi Azad faction in the PCC has stepped up its activity to bring back leaders of those groups which had shifted their loyalties to the rival camp.

The faction held a press conference recently to express its gratitude to its leader and Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad for announcing the setting up of an ayurvedic college at Jammu and a unani college at Kashmir.

Deputy Chairman of the Legislative Council Arminder Singh Micky, a loyalist of Azad, praised the Union Minister for taking revolutionary steps for improving the health infrastructure in the state. “Azad’s contribution to the development of the state in his two- and- a- half- year tenure is acclaimed by everyone and his efforts as the Union Health Minister to enrich our health infrastructure have won appreciation of the entire population of the state”, he said.

When asked whether he was addressing the press conference as leader of the Congress or the Deputy Chairman of the Legislative Council, Micky replied said he was doing so as a citizen of Jammu.

Insiders in the dissident group told The Tribune that the faction had decided to intensify its activities before the appointment of a new general secretary in charge of the state party affairs. Leaders of the group have asked their supporters to organise functions in their respective areas.

Srinagar, November 19
Following the centuries old tradition of Kashmir, special prayers “Khatmaat-Muazmaat” were offered after every namaz at the holy shrine of Hazrat Bulbul Shah at Bulbul Lankar, Nawakadal, last Sunday. These prayers are offered on the seventh day of the holy month of Zilhaj every year.

A large number of devotees participated. Islamic scholars and clerics too offered obeisance at the shrine. The contribution of Hazrat Bulbul Shah and Hazrat Shah-e-Hamdan, popularly known as Amir Kabir, were highlighted by scholars and ulemas gathered on the occasion.

The shrine is the first Islamic shrine of the Valley. On this occasion, devotees highlighted the spiritual contribution of the great saint who played a vital role in reforming society and strengthening the pillars of love, brotherhood and Kashmiriyat.

Similarly, the contribution of saint Hazrat Amir Kabir, who arrived from Khatlan to Kashmir 50 years after Hazrat Bulbul Shah, was also highlighted as Amir Kabir also followed the same school of thought which was propagated in a high spiritual manner. People’s love for both these saints and their contributions are inscribed in the hearts of every person who lives in Kashmir.

Among others who offered obeisance at the shrine included Ali Mohammad Sagar, Minister for Rural Development and Panchayats.

Jammu, November 19
A contingent of 40 students of Jammu, which includes students from three government colleges and various departments of the University of Jammu, today left for Bundelkhand University, Jhansi, to participate in the 26th North Zone Inter-University Youth Festival “Shaurya”. The festival is being organised by the All-India University.

Teams from all over the country will participate in the festival and the teams securing first and second positions will qualify for the national competition, which is scheduled to be held in the first week of January, 2011, at Andhra Pradesh.

The contingent moved today under the supervision of Prof Lalit Sen Gupta of the Computer Science Department, University of Jammu; Gagan Sharma, secretary of the Student’s Cultural Council; and three joint secretaries of the council.

While talking to The Tribune, Gagan said they were hopeful of bringing laurels for the University of Jammu by securing first position in the zonal round and qualifying for the national competition as well.

“Such festivals/competitions provide an opportunity to the students to display their talent to the people of the country. At the same time, they also provide an opportunity to know the culture of other states and regions besides showing our culture to them,” Gagan said.

He said: “We are going to show the culture and unity of three regions - Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh”.

“The students of the University of Jammu will display their talents in different fields like fine arts which includes painting, clay modelling, collage making, rangoli, poster making and cartooning; literary events like elocution, quiz and debate; music items like western group songs, western vocal, group songs, Indian and light vocal solo and theatrical items which include skit, mime and mimicry,” he said. Most of the candidates are going for the second or third time, whereas a few candidates are going for the first time to display their talent.

Kanwar Iqbal, final-year MBBS student of Government Medical College, who was on the top position in this year’s first phase of Inter-College/University Display Your Talent-2010, said: “I am going outside the state for the second time to display my talent in the 26th North Zone Display Your Talent Programme. Earlier, I had been to Kanpur in 2007 when I participated in the North Zone Display Your Talent Programme”.

Iqbal, who has been on the first position in the fine arts category for the past few years continuously, said: “We have less scope of fine arts in our state as we have only one institute of fine arts here and that too provides only regular courses. We do not have part-time courses in fine arts available here”. He further said the government should take steps to encourage the talent of fine arts students by opening more such colleges in the state.

Shafali Gutpa, 3rd semester student of The Business School, University of Jammu, and joint secretary of the Students’ Cultural Council, said she was also going for the second time outside the state to show her talent.

She said: “In 2008, I had been to Chandigarh where I won third prize in the mime category in the North Zone Youth Festival. This time, I will present a skit based on the theme ‘three idiot babas’ who befool people to gain personal profit”.

Showing full confidence to stand first in the competition, Pallavi Gupta, BA final-year student of Government College for Women, Gandhi Nagar, said: “I am going for the first time outside the state to show my talent in mime which is based on the theme ‘population explosion’”.

Jammu, November 19
Buoyed by the success of one auto gas (LPG) filling station in Gandhi Nagar here, the authorities have planned to set up another such filling station at Nagrota on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway.

A senior official told The Tribune that the second auto gas station was to be set up on the outskirts of the city. It would start shortly, he said.

He added that one more such filling station was needed as vehicles fitted with LPG kits had been on the rise.

Giving reason behind the increase, a car dealer said rise in fuel prices had led to an unprecedented rush for cars with LPG kits. It is also learnt that the number of car owners switching to LPG/duo models have almost doubled in the city in past one year alone.

Keeping this in mind, the authorities have also given a no objection certificate (NOC) for the setting up of second gas filling station in the region.

Cars running on dual fuel are popular as they run on both petrol and LPG and the running cost for LPG is less at nearly Rs 1.75/km.

A sales executive at a car showroom said, “People are more interested in duo model cars and they approach us to get more information. Currently, over 10,000 LPG-run cars are plying on the city roads”.

He added that they had been receiving at least 20-25 inquires every week.

Confirming the setting up of another gas station at Nagrota, Virender Singh Salathia, RTO, Jammu, said, “The second LPG station of the region would start functioning in the coming few days”.