|
|
|
|
|
Cong leaders, Chidambaram discuss troop withdrawal
Residents protest against killing of sisters in Sopore
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
CIC’s appointment
Jammu-Udhampur-Baramulla Rail Link
BJP hailed for endorsing geo-political wishes of Kashmiri Pandits
Don’t target J&K residents, Centre asks states
Address problems of weaker sections on priority: Bhalla
Governor calls upon youth tobe ambassadors of
peace
Murder of 2 MES employees
4 villagers detained
Security beefed up for visit
Manhas supports agitating govt employees
Police remand for two in rape case
Man gives cops the slip
|
|
Cong leaders, Chidambaram discuss troop withdrawal
Jammu, February 3 The Congress leaders gave their suggestions to the Union Home Minister on the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and the demand for the withdrawal of troops from civilian areas. Chidambaram, after reaching Jammu this evening, went to the guest house, where the Congress leaders were present. Although the meeting with Chidambaram was convened to evolve a consensus among the Congress leaders regarding the solution to the Kashmir problem, they failed to present a united face, as both warring factions of the party met the Union Home Minister separately. Coming out of the meeting, Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chief Saifuddin Soz told the reporters that they discussed various issues with Chidambaram, including the demand for the revocation of the AFSPA and the withdrawal of troops. “The decision on troop withdrawal and the revocation of the AFSPA has to be taken by the Centre,” Soz said. He added that though the situation had improved in the state, the Centre had to take all aspects into consideration before taking a decision. Former Deputy Chief Minister and veteran Congress leader Mangat Ram Sharma said besides discussing the prevailing situation, the party leaders also demanded that a provision for the rotation of chief ministership should be made in the state. “We have demanded that the Congress should be given a chance to head the coalition government in the state,” he said. Soz, however, said the decision on the rotation of chief ministership had to be taken by the Congress high command. A senior Congress leader, who was present at the meeting, told The Tribune that some of the party leaders demanded a regional council for Jammu to end discrimination against the region. Some of them also complained about the National Conference and pointed out that the party leaders were not taken into confidence while taking important decisions. Meanwhile, Chidambaram held consultations with Governor NN Vohra at Raj Bhawan here. The discussions, lasting for over an hour, related to important security, development and governance issues, a Raj Bhawan press note said here this evening.
|
|
Residents protest against killing of sisters in Sopore
Srinagar, February 3 The two sisters, Akhtara and Arifa, were kidnapped from their house in the Muslim Peer locality of the town and shot dead on Monday evening.The police had said the Lashkar-e-Toiba outfit was responsible for the killings and had identified two local militants.However,the outfit has denied its involvement in the crime. In a statement to a local news agency, its spokesman condemned the killings. The protesters demanded that those involved in the crime should be identified and stern action taken against them. The protesters expressed concern about unabated killings in Kashmir, particularly of young women. They also referred to the killing of two women in Shopian in 2008, which had led to widespread protests and demonstrations across the Valley for about two months. Meanwhile,the moderate and the hardline factions of the Hurriyat Conference have condemned the killings and expressed sympathies with the bereaved family.The chairman of the hardline faction,Syed Ali Geelani, has also condemned the killings and demanded an impartial enquiry by an international agency. Geelani said killers had no religion and such crimes were against humanity and Islam. The Pakistan-based chief of the United Jehad Council, Syed Salahuddin, has also condemned the incident and described it as barbaric.
|
|
|
CIC’s appointment
Jammu, February 3 “The Law Department has nothing to do with the issue. The General Administration Department (GAD) has to do the needful and it might have been doing it,” Law Secretary GH Tantray told The Tribune over phone. However, when contacted, GAD Commissioner/Secretary Mohammed Syed Khan refused to say anything. In a major procedural lapse,the file recommending Sofi’s appointment was sent to the Governor without obtaining clearance of the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC). The file was returned by the Governor as it did not have the clearance,a prerequisite under the RTI Act. Official sources divulged that the state government was now doing the spadework to seek the clearance of the CVC before putting up the file again to the Governor for his assent. Last week, a three-member panel headed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand and Leader of the Opposition Mehbooba Mufti, had cleared Sofi’s name for the post of the CIC and moved the file to the Governor who had returned it with remarks to fulfil the formalities, said sources. A confidant of the Chief Minister initially feigned ignorance about the issue and then admitted it to be a lapse of the state administration. “Sofi being a public servant of the Centre, the clearance should have been sought by the state administration before forwarding the file to the Governor,” he said.
|
|
Jammu-Udhampur-Baramulla Rail Link
New Delhi, February 3 A Bench headed by Justice DK Jain asked Additional Solicitor-General Parag Tripathi to produce the norms of the Railways for inter-zonal transfers. Tripathi said no norms had been laid down and transfers were guided by administrative exigencies. At this, the court wanted to know who decided Arguing for Verma, counsel Prashant Bhushan said his client was being victimised for holding a viewpoint different from that of Member (Engineering) of the Railway Board on the alignment of the Rs 20,000 crore project. Even E Sridharan, credited with executing the difficult Konkan Railways project, had held that the present alignment was not feasible, he said. As the Bench questioned the Railways for transferring Verma out of the zone instead of utilising his expertise for executing challenging projects, Tripathi sought four weeks’ time to explore the possibility of accommodating the engineer within The apex court also expressed its displeasure over the Railways not giving any work to the engineer all these months. The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) had quashed the transfer in May 2010 following which the Railways had approached the Delhi High Court. The High Court also upheld the CAT order, forcing the Railways to come to the Supreme Court. |
|
BJP hailed for endorsing geo-political wishes of Kashmiri Pandits
Jammu, February 3 At a party meeting here today, the Political Affairs Committee of the Panun Kashmir praised Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan and Home Minister Uma Shanker Gupta for their role in getting passed unanimously a resolution in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly wherein full support was extended to the Kashmiri Pandit community for their settlement in the Kashmir valley as per their geo-political aspirations. “The BJP’s resolve for endorsement of the political struggle of the community by passing similar resolutions in the BJP-ruled states will prove a milestone in saving Kashmir and ultimately saving the nation,” Dr Agnishekhar said. The members of the Panun Kashmir said the whole nation in the coming days would endorse the stand of seven lakh Kashmiri Pandits for a separate homeland in Kashmir. “The endorsement by the people of the nation will be a nationalistic and civilisational response to forces inimical to unity and territorial integrity of the country. Above all, it will be a civilised way of dispensing justice to the Kashmiri Pandit community who have been victims of genocide, exodus and religious persecution since the past 700 years,” he added.
|
|
Don’t target J&K residents, Centre asks states
New Delhi, February 3 The views of Omar Abdullah were reflected by the three interlocutors appointed by the Centre for finding a lasting solution to the Kashmir issue. In an advisory to all states and UTs, the Ministry of Home Affairs asked them to exercise utmost sensitivity while making inquiries about the residents of Jammu and Kashmir living in different parts of the country. “It has also asked the states to issue appropriate instructions to all police stations that they (Kashmir residents) should not be singled out unnecessarily for police reporting merely on the ground of they were Kashmir residents,” a statement issued by the ministry said. It asked the states and the UTs to report to it the action taken in such cases. The interlocutors visiting the state had received representations from the common people and various stakeholder groups that Kashmiri boys and girls were singled out by the police in other states and asked to report to police stations merely on account of the fact that they belonged to Kashmir. “This kind of treatment affects the sensibility of the residents of the state and they experience humiliation, leading to a feeling of alienation and injustice. The Indian Constitution and the law of the land does not permit discrimination on account of race, religion, caste and creed,” it said. The advisory comes close on the heels of the Mumbai Police issuing an unsigned notice to its police stations asking them to keep a close watch on Kashmir people. Omar Abdullah had raised the issue with the Union Home Ministry on several occasions and had also said that this was insulting for the residents of his state. He had also assured 24x7 assistance from the state police if there was any query from other states and the
UTs. — PTI
|
|
|
Address problems of weaker sections on priority: Bhalla
Jammu, February 3 Addressing a function at the Bahu Fort area on the outskirts of Jammu city, Bhalla asked the officers to reach out to the weaker sections and solve their problems on priority. He added that if any complaint in this regard was received from any corner, strict action would be initiated. He said solving the problems of the weaker sections must be the priority of the officers and the benefits of the poverty alleviation schemes, meant for the uplift of the poor, should reach the deserving lot. Bhalla impressed upon the officers to maintain transparency in the distribution of Central and state financial assistance among the needy, besides ensuring its timely disbursement. He said the state government was keen on addressing the concerns of the weaker sections on a priority basis and the administrative machinery needed to gear up for the purpose. He said the coalition government had distributed Rs 23 lakh as assistance among 23 homeless urban poor of the Bahu Fort, Qasim Nagar and Gangyal for the construction of dwelling units under the Basic Services to Urban Poor scheme. The beneficiaries under the scheme would get Rs 3.12 lakh in three instalments, which included Rs 1 lakh each as the second instalment and Rs 1.12 lakh as the third instalment. The minister asked the beneficiaries to use the money judiciously for the construction of pucca houses. He said after the first instalment was used, the second and third instalments would be given when the Housing and Urban Development Department inspected the site of the construction of houses of each beneficiary.
|
|
Governor calls upon youth tobe ambassadors of
peace
Jammu, February 3 The Governor was addressing the valedictory session of the seven-day youth leadership training programme organised by the Art of Living Foundation at Nagrota yesterday. Two hundred and twenty youth from various parts of the state participated in the training programme aimed at building stress-free individuals and a violence-free society. The Governor observed that such training programmes should be organised regularly in various parts of the state. He added that Jammu and Kashmir had suffered a great deal during the past over two decades and “all of us need to work tirelessly for restoring sustained peace and normalcy so that the state can march ahead resolutely on the path of progress and prosperity”. He said the boys and girls of the state were smart and highly talented and given an orderly and encouraging environment, they could excel over others in their chosen fields. He asked the participants of the training programme to propagate what they had learnt during the training so that others could also benefit from their experience. He said in view of its usefulness, a comprehensive training programme should be prepare for all areas in the state. He urged the Art of Living Foundation to organise the programme for the staff of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board. He observed that the Chief Executive Officer of the Shrine Board would also discuss with the foundation the possibility of providing it support for carrying out its activities. He lauded the foundation for the valuable work it was doing in the state. A memento was presented to the Governor on behalf of the foundation. In his keynote address, the Chief Executive Officer, Government Executive Programme, Art of Living Foundation, Sanjay Kumar, gave the details of such programmes organised by the foundation in the state and those planned for the future. He added that 17 such programmes had been organised so far in which 2400 youth had been trained. |
|
|
Murder of 2 MES employees
4 villagers detained
Udhampur, February 3 Sources said the police detained four persons from Round Domail and Jib villages for questioning. Since the crime took place in the complaint cell of the MES power house, where the two employees were on night duty, the police also questioned some employees in this regard. Additional SP Bhupinder Singh told The Tribune that the police had not yet achieved any breakthrough, but all angles, including personal enmity, were being investigated. Some history-sheeters of the area were being questioned. The assailants had slit the throats of the two employees. Forensic experts had lifted samples, including fingerprints, from the spot and these were being examined at the Forensic Science Laboratory. The police had seized the mobile phones of the deceased and their call details were being examined, said sources. Meanwhile, the authorities have said an ex-gratia aid will be paid to next of kin of the two employees as they died while on duty. They have also assured the bereaved families that the formalities pertaining to the payment of the provident fund, gratuity and family pension will be completed soon. |
|
|
Security beefed up for visit
Jammu, February 3 Chidambaram, who arrived here today,will leave for Kishtwar tomorrow to hold a meeting with senior security and civil administration officers of Doda, Udhampur, Kishtwar, Ramban and Reasi districts to review the situation. DGP Kuldeep Khoda directed the officers to provide a foolproof security to the VVIP. Keeping the recent developments in mind, the state police has ordered all district SSPs to personally monitor the security arrangements in their respective areas. A senior police officer at the police headquarters here told The Tribune that “all border districts have been sealed and vehicles entering or leaving the state are being thoroughly checked. Policemen in mufti have been deployed in and around the places the Union Home Minister is scheduled to visit.” “Besides, delegations of people may not be allowed to meet the Union Home Minister ,” he added.
|
|
|
Manhas supports agitating govt employees
Jammu, February 3 In a statement issued here today, Manhas flayed the authorities for using force against the employees who were agitating in a peaceful manner. He regretted that instead of fulfilling the commitments made to the employees, the government was brazenly using oppressive measures to gag their voice. “A government which cannot meet the genuine demands of its employees can’t be expected to mitigate the sufferings of its people,” he said, and alleged that the National Conference-Congress coalition was serving the interests of only a particular section of society. “The democratically elected government in the state has miserably failed. In order to shield its failures, undemocratic means are being adopted against those seeking justice or demanding what they deserve,” he added.
|
|
|
Police remand for two in rape case
Jammu, February 3 According to the police, Sumit Bhat and Rakesh Raina, both residents of Migrant Camp, Nagrota, were produced in the court that sent them to five-day police custody. It added that the accused would be interrogated to ascertain whether they had made any obscene video of the girl or not. Both accused were arrested yesterday following a complaint lodged by the victim’s father. |
|
|
Man gives cops the slip
Jammu, February 3 Sources said the Narwal police arrested Binny Kumar, a resident of
the Resham Ghar colony, two days ago and tortured him. “When he was released today, he came to the hospital. At the same time, a party from another police station reached there to arrest him, as he was wanted in a theft case. But Binny slipped away,”they added. However, the Narwal police said it had not arrested Binny Kumar. |
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
Union Home Minister P Chidambaram, who reached Jammu this evening, held detailed discussions with Congress leaders on the prevailing situation in the state and sought their views on a solution to the Kashmir problem.
While separatists have condemned the killing of two sisters by gunmen in Sopore, residents held a demonstration here today in protest against the crime and demanded that those responsible for the crime should be identified and action taken against them.
