Jammu, January 28
The state Cabinet today deferred a decision on conducting panchayat elections following differences between Congress and National Conference (NC) ministers on the issue of incorporating the 73rd Amendment into the Constitution in the existing Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act.

The NC said the amendment would be incorporated after the elections. However, three ministers from the Congress took a tough stand and made it clear that the entire exercise would prove farcical without incorporating the 73rd Amendment.

The main agenda of the Cabinet meeting was to take a decision on holding the panchayat elections in the state, but due to the stand of the Congress ministers, the decision was deferred.

According to highly placed sources, Health Minister Sham Lal Sharma pointed out that during the last meeting of the Coordination Committee of the coalition partners on December 16, both parties had decided to constitute a team of experts to conduct a comparative study of the Panchayati Raj Act existing in the rest of the country and the Jammu and Kashmir Panchyati Raj Act.

He inquired about the fate of the report of the team. Sharma’s stand was also endorsed by the Minister for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation, Raman Bhalla, who demanded that without incorporating the 73rd Amendment, the entire exercise of conducting the panchayat elections would not yield any result.

However, ministers of the National Conference tried to convince their counterparts that the amendment could be incorporated after the elections, but Sham Lal Sharma, Raman Bhalla and RS Chib from the Congress were adamant.

The sources said the Minister for Agriculture, Ghulam Hassan Mir, also supported the stand of the Congress ministers and suggested that their point of view should be considered.

One of the Congress ministers regretted that on the one hand the National Conference had been demanding autonomy for the state while on the other hand, the party was hesitating to empower people at the grass-roots level.

He said without empowering the existing institutions at the grass-roots level, democracy could not flourish in the state.

As the ministers from the Congress were adamant on their stand, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah intervened and announced the formation of a Cabinet sub-committee to discuss the issue.

The sub-committee comprises Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather, Health Minister Sham Lal Sharma, Agriculture Minister Ghulam Hassan Mir, Law and Rural Development Minister Ali Mohammad Sagar and Revenue Minister Raman Bhalla.

As reported earlier, the state Cabinet at its meeting on December 10 had approved some amendments to the J&K Panchayati Raj Act, but the Congress was not satisfied with the proposed partial amendments.

It was in favour of incorporating the 73rd Amendment of the Constitution into the Panchayati Raj Act of the state.

Jammu, January 28
Taking a serious note of the alleged abduction and torture of a woman worker of the party from the Kashmir valley by some persons, the BJP today charged the Omar Abdullah-led government with promoting the agenda of Syeed Ali Shah Geelani and other separatists in the state.

Addressing a press conference here, state president of the BJP Shamsher Singh Manhas said the abduction and torture of the woman leader, Haleema Bano, a resident of Uri town in Baramulla district, was a serious matter. He added that she was tortured by the kidnappers for three days because she was leading a team of women activists to hoist the National Flag at Lal Chowk on Republic Day.

“The NC-Congress government led by Omar Abdullah crossed the limit when it picked up Haleema Bano from Kashmir, tortured and kept her in illegal custody at an undisclosed destination and released her after five days in unconscious condition,” Manhas said. He announced that the party would approach the Human Rights Commission as well as the court against the brutalities and illegal confinement of the party’s national and state leaders and youth activists.

Manhas reiterated that the party would continue its struggle in a peaceful and democratic manner for the abolishment of the special status granted to the state. “The mission of the abolition of a separate flag and Constitution still remains to be achieved and the party activists are committed to adopting all democratic means for the purpose,” he said, adding that “since J&K is an integral part of India, there is no need for a separate flag and constitution for the state.”

Jammu, January 28
The GOC-in-C of the Northern Command, Lt-Gen KT Parnaik, today laid emphasis on effective planning for state-of-the- art hospitals to meet functional needs of the future.

In his address at a two-day seminar on planning and project management, especially related to military hospitals at the garrison town of Udhampur, Lt-Gen Parnaik said with the construction of a new command hospital at Udhampur, a new military hospital at Bhaderwah and the modernisation of BH, Srinagar, “our servicemen as well as ex-servicemen could look forward to modern healthcare”.

This would also ultimately lead the civil administration to focus on government hospitals in the state, he added.

In his keynote address,Lt-Gen Jasbir Singh, Chief of Staff, Northern Command, focused on various issues regarding the modernisation of a large number of military hospitals.

Engineers, consultants, architects and medical professionals engaged in the development of the healthcare infrastructure in the country, both in the public as well as the private domain, participated in this seminar.

Speakers threw light on different aspects of planning, designing, users’ aspirations and the monitoring of mega hospital projects.

Maj-Gen DS Pathania, Commandant, Command Hospital, shared his views on “Hospital Planning in Service Environment: A user perspective”.Mala Mohan from E-in-Cs Branch stressed upon “Concept Evolution in the Face of Emerging Trends in Hospital Planning” while Prof SV Thakur from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University highlighted on “Architectural Initiative for better environment in Army Hospitals”.

The seminar spread over two days will have three technical sessions in which 10 speakers will present their papers covering wide ranging topics from architecture, eco-friendly construction, case studies of various hospitals and project management techniques.

Earlier in his address of welcome,Maj-Gen AK Chaturvedi said complexities in the construction of modern hospitals required an integrated approach and co-ordination among all stakeholders.

Jammu, January 28
Governor NN Vohra today emphasised the need for the restoration of the pristine glory of Jammu and Kashmir as an abode of peace, amity, communal harmony and brotherhood. He urged upon one and all to come forward in a big way to contribute towards achieving the goal. The Governor was addressing the 35th Peace Conference organised by the Jammu and Kashmir Peace Foundation here.

He expressed concern that all civilisational values had suffered a severe dent during the past 20 years of terrorism and turmoil. He asserted that no development and progress was possible without sustained peace and communal harmony.

Quoting extensively from history, he observed, “We have perhaps forgotten the past glory of Kashmir.” He said thousands of years ago Kashmir was at the crossroads of four great civilisations: the Indo-Gangetic civilisation; Afghanistan and beyond the West Asian civilisation; the Central Asian civilisation, including Samarkand and Bokhara; and the Chinese civilisation through Tibet. It was also a meeting point of the three vast empires “the Chinese, Indian and West Asian” and the meeting point of three great religions “Buddhism, Islam and Hinduism”. It was in Kashmir that there was a meeting of the Indo-European languages, the Dardic languages and the languages of Tibet.

For centuries Kashmir attracted merchants from all over the world. Besides, intellectuals, historians, travellers and others visited the Valley from all parts of the world in the centuries past. Kashmir had remained home for diverse religious and cultural influences, which deeply enriched its pluralistic ethos, he added.

Recalling the situation that prevailed in the Valley during the past three summers, the Governor said perhaps the sector that suffered the most was the education of the children, besides large human and economic losses. He emphasised that time had come when everyone needed to come forth and work for the restoration of lasting peace in the state to ensure a bright future for the younger generation and speedy progress of all regions of Jammu and Kashmir.

Referring to his interactions with the functionaries of the J&K Peace Foundation during the past about two years, the Governor complimented the chairman of the foundation, Fayaz Ahmed Bhat, members of his team and all associated activists for taking the highly laudable initiative of promoting communal harmony, peace and amity and wished them high success in their continuing endeavours.

The Governor presented awards to a number of prominent peace activists, students and others who had rendered valuable services on the occasion. He was honoured by the foundation in recognition of his contribution for the restoration of sustained peace and normalcy and encouraging initiatives aimed at promoting communal harmony.

Jammu, January 28
The state Cabinet approved the appointment of Madhav Lal, an IAS officer of the 1977 batch, as the new Chief Secretary. It also approved the summoning of the Budget session of the J&K Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council at Jammu from 
February 28.

In another decision, the Cabinet, while approving the draft forest policy, observed that action plans and projects to be prepared by the Forest Department would be subject to the normal process of consultations with the Planning and Finance Department for the allocation of resources and financial concurrence.

The Cabinet also approved the proposal of the PHE/I&FC Department regarding an increase in water-usage charges.

It also approved the establishment of a polytechnic, sanctioned for Rajouri district, under a centrally-sponsored scheme.

“Submission on Polytechnics under Coordinated Action for Skill Development”, on the campus of Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University, Rajouri.

The Cabinet also approved the establishment of six additional programme implementation units at Ganderbal, Uri, Handwara, Billawar, Ramnagar and Banihal under the PMGSY along with the creation of 24 posts of different categories.

It also approved the Master Plan for the Kokernag Development Authority and the transfer of state land measuring 100 kanals, situated in Birpur village in Samba district, to the J&K Health and Medical Education Department for the construction of a Government Ayurvedic College and Hospital.

The Council of Ministers also approved the establishment of an irrigation and flood control subdivision at Khaltsi with corresponding reduction in subdivision 1 of irrigation division, IgoPhey under the administrative control of the irrigation division, Leh, along with the supporting staff.

It also approved the enhancement of the duty allowance of Volunteer Home Guards from the existing Rs 45 per person per day to Rs 60 per person per day during the call-up duty of 90 days in a year.

The Cabinet also approved the creation of two posts of joint controller — one for Jammu and another for Kashmir division — in the pay band of Rs 15,600-39,100+ grade pay of Rs 6,600 by corresponding reduction of equal number of posts of deputy controller and creation of seven posts of deputy controller, legal metrology, by corresponding reduction of equal number of posts of assistant controllers.

Jammu, January 28
The first meeting of the Cabinet subcommittee on the Working Group on Centre-State Relations headed by Justice Sageer Ahmed (retd) was held under the chairmanship of Minister for Finance and Ladakh Affairs Abdul Rahim Rather here today.

Rather highlighted the importance and sensitivity of the Centre-State relations and asked his colleagues in the subcommittee to have an in-depth study of the recommendations of the Working Group so that a holistic and realistic report was prepared at the earliest.

The other members of the subcommittee are Minister for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Taj Mohi-ud-Din, Minister for Rural Development Ali Mohammad Sagar, Minister for Tourism Rigzin Jora, Minister for Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Qamar Ali Akhoon, Minister for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation Raman Bhalla and Minister for Health and Horticulture, Sham Lal Sharma.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had constituted five Working Groups, including the Working Group on Centre-State Relations, on various issues related to Jammu and Kashmir to address the urges and aspirations of the people of the state.

The Working Group after an exhaustive exercise involving the maximum number of political and social leaders a few months ago, presented its report to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah recently. The Centre had sought the state’s views and observations on the recommendations of the Justice Sageer Working Group.In view of this,the state government had constituted the Cabinet subcommittee.

Srinagar, January 28
At least seven persons, including two policemen, were injured in clashes in Baramulla town, while protests were also held in Sopore after Friday prayers today.

However, the situation elsewhere in the Kashmir valley remained peaceful, according to reports. The protests in Baramulla district were held in response to a call given by hardline Hurriyat Conference faction leader Syed Ali Geelani against the alleged excesses being committed by the police on its detained leaders.

Groups of agitated youths held protests in the district headquarters town of Baramulla after the Friday prayers. The police resorted to a lathi-charge and fired tear-gas shells to disperse the demonstrators. At least, seven persons, including two policemen, were injured in the clashes. Tension gripped the town while a shutdown in old parts of the town affected normal life.

Jammu, January 28
Ridiculing Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s call to separatist leaders to come forward for a dialogue, the PDP said without creating a conducive atmosphere for the talks, the government had been making such offers only to hoodwink the people.

The PDP leaders, while discussing the existing political situation in the Legislative Party meeting yesterday, expressed serious concern over the uninterrupted use of draconian methods by the present dispensation to establish its authority. All MLAs and MLCs were present in the meeting. They demanded the release of political prisoners and “innocent” youths, who were languishing in various jails, to create an atmosphere conducive for establishing peace in the region.

Srinagar, January 28
While the Valley has been witnessing a slight improvement in the temperature over the past few days, there is little respite from severe cold conditions. The Met Department has forecast rain or snow across the Valley in the next two days.

The night temperature here was -3.2°C, showing a slight rise, while the day temperature today came down due to overcast skies to 6.5°C, about five degrees below the temperature recorded yesterday.

The health resort of Gulmarg in the north Kashmir recorded -8.5°C while Pahalgam in south Kashmir recorded -8.1°C and a maximum of 5.0°C today.

The Leh area of the frontier cold desert region of Ladakh continued to reel under severe cold conditions where the minimum temperature was recorded at -18.6°C.

Moderate snowfall in the Valley recently coupled with freezing temperatures below the zero degree has led to intense cold conditions.

The Srinagar-Jammu highway was open to one-way traffic from Srinagar to Jammu. No vehicle was being allowed to move in the opposite direction due to slippery conditions on the road in the Banihal sector of the over 300-km highway, traffic officials said.