|
|
|
|
|
Union Budget
Not ‘people- friendly’, say economists
Valley neglected, say residents |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Address to joint session of both houses of Legislature
Protesters damage hospital property
Resolve issues through talks, says Omar
Impasse over new Legislative Council Secretary ends
Sufi takes oath as CIC
Amendment to MC Act sought
Decision to curtail duration flayed
School celebrates Annual Day
Ladakh students express gratitude for relief
Residential houses destroyed in fire
Three hurt in grenade attack in Valley
Refresher course in languages
JCO booked for sodomising boy
|
|
Union Budget
New Delhi, February 28 Responding to a recurring complaint of bias towards the Valley by the two divisions of Jammu and Ladakh, Pranab today set aside Rs 100 crore for Ladakh and Rs 150 crore for Jammu, much lower than what a committee constituted for infrastructure development in these regions had earlier proposed. The recommended allocation for Ladakh was Rs 416 crore and Rs 497 crore for Jammu. The Finance Minister said today that he was, to begin with, addressing certain concerns of the people of these divisions. The Ladakhis and Jammu residents had long been complaining about the continued Central funding of various schemes in Kashmir, where questions had been raised over the efficacy of the implementation of such schemes. Consequently, Pranab sufficed to state in his Budget speech the ongoing financial benefits, which the Kashmir valley enjoys. “The government’s special support to Jammu and Kashmir is anchored in the Rs 28,000 crore Prime Minister’s Reconstruction Plan. In addition, for the current year (2010-2011) about Rs 8,000 crore has been provided for the state’s developmental needs,” Pranab said. Much of this money has been pumped into the Kashmir valley.
Not ‘people- friendly’, say economists
Jammu, February 28 Sharma added: “Though the government has proposed to increase the income tax exemption limit from Rs 1,60,000 to Rs 1,80,000, it is far less than expected. When there is inflation, there should have been an increase of at least Rs 1 lakh in the exemption limit.” Another noted economist, Nirmal Kamal said: “I feel the Budget was not prepared with caution. No sop has been given to Below Poverty Line (BPL) families, which puts a big question mark on the Budget.” “The Union Finance Minister has announced Rs 100 crore for Jammu and Rs 150 crore for Ladakh, which is eyewash. This is nothing compared to the amount of money spent on the beautification of the Dal Lake.” Another well-known economist, Prof Dipankar Sengupta, said, “Though the Finance Minister tried to give relaxation to the common man, he failed in his effort.” He added, “The inflation in the food and oil sectors has disturbed the economy and no steps have been taken to check it.”
|
|
|
Valley neglected, say residents
Srinagar, February 28 Pranab, in his speech, said the Central Government would earmark Rs 8,000 crore for the development of the state. He also provided Rs 100 crore for the Ladakh region and Rs 150 crore for Jammu as special funds for projects. However, no such funds were provided for the Kashmir valley. “This is discrimination against the people of Kashmir. The Union Finance Minister has tried to divide the state into three regions. While the Jammu and Ladakh regions have been sanctioned special funds, no such allocation has been made for the Kashmir region,” a member of the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KCCI) said. He said he was hopeful that the state government would also convey its disappointment to the Central Government over the neglect of the people of Kashmir. Meanwhile, government employees and the business community in Kashmir have welcomed the proposed increase in the income tax exemption limit.“We welcome the proposal to increase the exemption limit. Employees will be able to save Rs 2,000 more now,” said Imtiyaz Ahmed, a carpet dealer in Srinagar. Senior citizens have also welcomed the addition of a new category of very senior citizens (above 80 years of age) and the reduction of age from 65 years to 60 to become a senior citizen. “This is a welcome step as very senior citizens (above 80 years) won’t have to pay tax on the income up to Rs 5 lakh. Also, the reduction of five years in the age to 60 years for senior citizens is remarkable,” said Abdul Khalid, a senior citizen and resident of old Srinagar city. The people in the Valley have also expressed hope that the promise made by Pranab Mukerjee to check inflation would provide some succour to the common man. “The rise in the prices of all items has hit the common man. We hope that the government will fulfil its promise and bring the inflation under control,” said Manzoor Ahmed Kakroo, a local resident.
|
|
|
Address to joint session of both houses of Legislature
Jammu, February 28 In his Address to the joint session of both Houses of the state Legislature here, the Governor said confrontation could not resolve outstanding issues and people of the state should participate in the dialogue process initiated by the Centre. “People of all shades of opinion in Jammu and Kashmir should seize this historic opportunity of participating meaningfully in the ongoing dialogue process for resolving all outstanding differences,” he said. He called upon Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to translate into reality the vision of ‘Naya Kashmir’, which his grandfather, Sheikh Abdullah, had for the state in 1930. He welcomed the appointment of interlocutors, the establishment of task forces for the Jammu and Ladakh regions and hoped that these would help address the internal dimensions of the Kashmir problem. The Governor said the internal security situation had improved progressively in the past few years. However, the continuing terrorist activities and extremist ideologies were a cause for concern, he added. “The past two years have witnessed a significant improvement due to the pressure maintained by the security forces. My government records its gratitude to the officers and men of the security forces,” he said. The Governor reiterated zero tolerance of human rights violations.“All security forces have been directed to strictly observe the Standing Operating Procedures while carrying out anti-terrorist operations in any part of the state”. He expressed sympathies with those who had lost their near and dear ones during last year’s turmoil in the Valley. “I urge all segments of society to ponder over the factors that led to the turmoil. There cannot be any justification for ruining the academic prospects of children in Kashmir.” Meanwhile, BJP MLAs staged a walkout during the Address and those from the Panthers Party boycotted it. The 11 MLAs of the BJP, led by Prof Chaman Lal, entered the House singing “Vande Matram” and wearing straps bearing the colours of the National Flag around their heads and the National Flag tagged on their shirts. They raised slogans against the Omar Abdullah government for the alleged insult to the National Flag when the BJP’s Ekta Rally was stopped from entering the state. They also raised slogans decrying the treatment meted out to BJP leaders Arun Jaitley and Sushma Swaraj who were detained at the Jammu airport and deported on January 25. The MLAs left the hall before the Governor started his Address and staged a dharna outside the House. The lone member of the Jammu State Morcha, Ashwani Sharma, also accompanied them. The three MLAs of the Panthers Party, led by Harsh Dev Singh, boycotted the Governor’s Address,while the PDP members, led by Mehbooba Mufti, did not come in a group as they did last year and sat through the Address even though Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was anticipating trouble. Before entering the hall, he wrote on the Twitter: “Heading to the Assembly. I am sure some of my ‘friends’ have some drama planned.”
|
|
Protesters damage hospital property
Jammu, February 28 Sources said Sonam Sharma, wife of Rakesh Sharma, a resident of Bhour Camp, was admitted to hospital yesterday after she developed labour pains and died after giving birth to a boy today. But Sonam’s family members alleged that she died due to the negligence of the doctors. Amrit Bali, a neighbour of Sonam, said the doctors told them to arrange for blood as it was urgently required. He said, “When all family members were busy arranging blood, the doctors declared Sonam dead. The body was also removed from the hospital, thus aggravating the situation.” Following Sonam’s death, a large number of people, including her family members and relatives, gathered outside the hospital and held a protest. They also blocked the road and raised slogans against the authorities. The protesters clashed with the police when the latter tried to prevent them from damaging the hospital property. Sources said three policemen were injured during the clash. The mob dispersed following the intervention of Minister for Revenue and Relief Raman Bhalla, who also called the Deputy Commissioner to the spot. Bhalla assured the protesters of a magisterial probe into the incident. Dr Romesh Gupta, Medical Superintendent of SMGS Hospital, said, “A board of doctors is being constituted to conduct the post-mortem.” He added that he was busy and could not comment on the incident. Meanwhile, the police detained six protesters, including a woman, for damaging the hospital property and causing injuries to policemen, sources said.
|
|
Resolve issues through talks, says Omar
Addressing a public meeting at Magam in Baramulla district today,Omar said he had stressed the need to resolve the political issues of the state through talks during meetings with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi.“I told them categorically that financial help to the state is a welcome gesture for which we are thankful to the Central Government, but the political issues should be addressed politically,” he said, and added giving weightage to this aspect, the Central Government had appointed the three interlocutors. “I have always advocated that the political issues should be addressed in a peaceful and conducive atmosphere through the process of dialogue,” he said, and added “We are hopeful that the dialogue process would be result-oriented.” On the rehabilitation policy, the Chief Minister said that his government had provided a legal mechanism for those youths who had crossed over to the other side of the LoC during militancy and wanted to return. “Nearly 600 applications have been received from such youths so far and these are being scrutinised,” he added. “Our endeavour is to create a peaceful atmosphere and safeguard the future of the state,” he said.
|
|
Impasse over new Legislative Council Secretary ends
Jammu, February 28 Neither the choice of the Acting Chairman of the Legislative Council, Arvinder Singh Micky, for the post nor the state government’s selection was considered while making the fresh appointment. Senior National Conference and Congress leaders helped resolve the issue. As reported earlier, the Legislative Council Secretariat and the State Government were at loggerheads after the latter issued an order to appoint Mohammad Sayeed Shah, Registrar, State Information Commission, as the Secretary of the Legislative Council on February 8 while the Council had already appointed Mohammad Ashraf Shah, Deputy Secretary,as the Secretary after giving him promotion on December 31 last year. In view of the Budget session, which started today, senior Congress and National Conference leaders intervened and solved the issue after consulting legal experts as well as Governor N N Vohra. Mohammad Sayeed Shah was retained on his earlier post while Mohammad Ashraf Shah was posted as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the Law Department to solve the crisis. “The matter has been resolved with the unanimous decision to appoint Mohammad Ashraf Mir as the new Secretary of Legislative Council,” the Legislative Council Deputy Chairman told the Tribune.
|
|
Sufi takes oath as CIC
Jammu,February 28 Born in Srinagar on April 13, 1951,he was selected to the IRS in 1977. He held various posts in the Income Tax Department and was promoted Chief Commissioner of Income Tax in January,2010. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand, the Speaker of the State Assembly, Mohammad Akbar Lone, and senior civil officials attended the oath-taking ceremony. |
|
Farm technocrats detained
Jammu, February 28 The protesters, who were demanding permanent government jobs, had been on a chain fast for the last few days and when they moved towards the Civil Secretariat today, a police party tried to stop them at Dogra Chowk. But when the protesters did not stop, the police detained a large number of them. A protesting agriculture technocrat said as the government was not ready to listen to their demand, they had planned to gherao the secretariat. . He said when they staged a similar protest last year, they were assured that their demand would be fulfilled, but nothing had been done so far.
|
|
|
Amendment to MC Act sought
Jammu, February 28 RK Chadha, president of the forum, demanded that the powers of the commissioners of the two corporations,who were nominated by the government, should be vested with the Mayor and members of the corporation. He also demanded that the Mayor should be elected directly for five years. The forum appealed to all parties to evolve a consensus on elections to the municipal corporations, municipal councils, municipal committees and other local bodies being held on a non-party basis. |
|
|
Decision to curtail duration flayed
Jammu, February 28 The Shri Baba Amarnath and Shri Baba Buda Amarnath Yatri Niyas yesterday held a meeting with some organisations and decided to seek the support of various parties for opposing the decision. The shrine board has decided to commence the yatra on June 29 this year and conclude it on August 13, making it a 45-day affair instead of the two-month-long pilgrimage Surinder Mohan Aggarwal, who chaired the meeting,said the decision to start the yatra from June 29 instead of the traditional Jaishth Purnima, which fell on June 15, was taken without seeking their opinion. He said:“It was resolved to launch a campaign to inform more people about the decision taken by the SASB to reduce the period of the Shri Amarnath Yatra, so that pressure could me put on the board to reconsider its decision”. He added: “In this regard, a delegation of the niyas will also meet different political parties and seek their support for the purpose”. However, board officials said the decision was taken after taking into consideration last year’s snow, security arrangements and other factors.
|
|
|
School celebrates Annual Day
Jammu, February 28 She said global warming and climate change were major challenges before people and everyone should work to meet these challenges. The First Lady praised the students for presenting a cultural programme on the theme, ‘Save the Earth’. Emphasising that excellence in academics as well as extra-curricular activities was imperative for a balanced personality development, she impressed upon the students to work hard and face the world. Later,she gave away the prizes to the students who had excelled in academic and extra-curricular activities during the last academic year. Sangiv Asthana, principal, in his address of welcome, dwelt on the growth of the school during the past six years. |
|
|
Ladakh students express gratitude for relief
Jammu, February 28 The function was held at University of Jammu,where Minister for Tourism Nawang Rigzin Jora was the chief guest and the Vice- Chancellor of the university, Prof Varun
Sahni, was the guest of honour. In his keynote address, the minister appreciated the gesture of those who helped residents of Ladakh in the wake of the disaster. He also appreciated the Ladakhi students for their initiatives. |
|
|
Residential houses destroyed in fire
Srinagar, February 28 Meanwhile, on the night of February 27, a fire broke out in SD Colony in Batamaloo, Srinagar, in which a single-storeyed residential house of Nazir Ahmed Khan and Showkat Ahmad was gutted.
|
|
|
Three hurt in grenade attack in Valley
Srinagar, February 28 Militants also gunned down a truck driver in Pulwama district last night. A police spokesman said that the militants shot dead the driver,identified as Muhammad Ayub Wani, who was returning home after offering prayers at a local mosque in Kakpora town in the district. “He died before being taken to hospital,” the spokesman said,and added two brothers of the victim were working with the state police. No militant outfit has claimed the responsibility for the killing. Meanwhile, militants gunned down a shopkeeper,Nazir Ahmad Lone, a resident of Thindum Kreeri, near Kreeri Market, here today. In another incident, Rameez Ahmad Tantray,a resident of Lolpora Kunzar, injured his hand while fiddling with an explosive device. He was admitted to hospital.
|
|
|
Refresher course in languages
Jammu, February 28 Prof Abdul Aziz Butt, former Registrar of the university, inaugurated the course in the presence of Prof IV Mallan, Director, Academic Staff Colleges, Prof MA Wani, and Dr Ranjeet Kalra, Assistant Director. Speaking on the occasion, Prof Aziz called upon the teachers to perform their duties with dedication and devotion. Hindustan Times journalist Arun Joshi, who was the chief guest,highlighted the role of renowned scholars of the sub-continent like Iqbal and Harivansh Rai Bachchan, in the uplift of the Indian languages. He claimed that the scholars in the sub-continent were no less than the Western scholars. Dr Mallan spoke on the common vocabulary used in different languages. |
|
|
JCO booked for sodomising boy
Jammu, February 28 “An FIR under Section 377 of the RPC has been registered against the accused while the medical examination of the boy has also been conducted,” Deputy Commissioner,Doda, Farooq Khan, told The Tribune over the phone. The JCO was identified as Dilbagh Singh of the 10 Rashtriya Rifles. The Deputy Commissioner said that the medical report of the victim was awaited while the Army had also instituted a court of inquiry. An Army spokesperson said nothing was found against the JCO in the preliminary inquiry. However, the statements of the civilians to the police were being looked into,he said. Angry villagers had resorted to a protest in the area, forcing senior police officers to rush to the spot.
|
|
| 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 | |
Jammu, February 28
Srinagar, February 28