Srinagar, April 6
Hundreds of government employees held a protest in support of their demand for the release of arrears of the Sixth Pay Commission here today.

However, the police arrested more than 100 employees and used water canons to prevent them from marching towards the office of the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir.

The protesters were stopped near Jehangir Chowk, where they had gathered in a large number for taking out a procession towards the office of the Divisional Commissioner. The police used coloured water cannons to disperse the agitating employees. The entire stretch of the road from Jehangir Chowk to Budshah Bridge was drenched in violet colour.

The scene was a replica of Holi, as a number of employees, policemen and vehicles were drenched in violet colour.

The traffic movement in the central Lal Chowk area, including Jehangir Chowk and Budhsah Chowk, was disrupted, leading to a jam. The traffic police had a tough time clearing the jam.

Jammu, April 6
The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India has pulled up the state government for its failure to ensure the supply of quality ration to the people.

In its annual report, the CAG said there was no testing laboratory or trained manpower for conducting quality inspection of the foodgrains supplied through the Public Distribution System (PDS) in the state.

“The PDS (Control) Order, 2001, envisages that the representatives of the Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Department (CAPD) and the Food Corporation of India (FCI) should conduct a joint inspection of stocks intended for the PDS to ensure that the quality of the foodgrains confirmed to the prescribed quality specifications,” the report said.

It said there was no system to check the quality of foodgrains. “Neither had any joint inspections been held nor any samples lifted,” it added.

The report stated the CAPD Department had collected 43 samples of the PDS atta and got the quality checked by the public analyst, Jammu, during 2009-2010. However, the quality checking was stopped without any reason.

“Viewed from the fact that the department had issued 1.73 lakh metric tonnes of wheat/atta on an average annually from 2007 to 2010 through the PDS in the Jammu division, the quality check of the foodgrains by an outside agency for only seven months during the past three years indicated non-seriousness on the part of the department to supply quality foodgrains to the consumers through the PDS,” the report added.

“In the absence of testing facilities and trained manpower, there is a risk of supply of contaminated or substandard foodgrains to the public,” it said, adding that no such checks had been conducted in the Kashmir division.

The CAPD Department said instructions would be given to obtain samples of foodgrains to be issued under the PDS regularly. It added that quality tests would be conducted, as required.

The CAG suggested to the government that a strong internal quality control mechanism should be put in place in the department.

Jammu, April 6
On the occasion of 32nd foundation day of the party, the BJP organised various functions all over the state today. Party leaders and MLAs addressed the gathering at the functions in their respective areas.

The BJP has announced to organise various programmes from April 6 to June 23 to create awareness among people about the issues of price rise, corruption, black money, discrimination and delay in holding delimitation of constituencies.

Chairing a programme in the Vijaypur constituency at Sarore, Shamsher Singh Manhas, state president of the party, stressed on circumstances that led to the formation of the BJP in 1980.

Though the Congress had ruled the country for the maximum period after Independence, people still consider the six-year rule of the BJP-led NDA government as the golden period. This was testimony enough that the objectives for which the BJP was formed had been achieved to a great extent, he said.

Ashok Khajuria, MLA, along with Rajesh Gupta, also chaired another such programme in the Company Bagh area of the Jammu East constituency. Khajuria stressed the need for bringing all patriotic people under one roof, as he felt that developments taking place in the state were not beneficial for the nation.

Jammu, April 6
As the Congress fears party MLAs will resort to cross-voting in the Legislative Council elections to be held on April 13, the Congress high command has assigned the job of keeping the flock together to the newly-appointment AICC general secretary and in charge of the state affairs, Mohan Parkash. Parkash has summoned all Congress MLAs on April 11 to devise a strategy for the elections.

Party sources said the Congress high command was taking the Legislative Council elections very seriously and had made it clear to the state leadership that party candidates must emerge victorious.

Of the total six Legislative Council seats, the Congress has fielded two candidates for the Jammu and Poonch seats.

As the National Conference-Congress coalition government has fielded only one candidate for the Poonch seat, it will be a cakewalk for party candidate Jahangir Mir, as the government has adequate strength in the electoral college of 89 votes. But the fight is on the two seats of Jammu, where the coalition has fielded two candidates, Yashpal Khajuria (Congress) and Noor Mohammed (NC).

There is apprehension of cross-voting by members of various parties as the PDP has given ticket to a heavyweight candidate, Bharat Bhushan Gupta. However, the PDP, which has 21 members in the Assembly, required at least six additional votes to ensure the victory of its candidate.

Of the total 89 members in the state Assembly, the NC has 29 legislators, the Congress 18, the PDP 21 and the BJP 11, while the Panthers Party has three members and there are seven Independents.

Sources in the Congress said due to factionalism in the party a few MLAs were annoyed over the party decision to give ticket to a candidate belonging to a particular group. “The Opposition has been trying to exploit the brewing discontent among a section of party MLAs,” they said.

The Congress sources said to avoid cross-voting, the Congress had started surveillance of its MLAs.

The Congress has a reason to take effective measures to avoid cross-voting, as in the 2005 Legislative Council elections, a party candidate, Shiv Dev Singh, lost due to a large scale cross-voting by the party MLAs. In 2005, the Congress was running a coalition government with the PDP, but despite being in power and having enough numbers, the Congress candidate lost the council election due to factionalism in the party.

Jammu, April 6
The Panthers Party has taken a serious note of a malicious campaign launched against the Dogras by some anti-social elements by asking the government to provide Dogra certificates to them.

In the Provincial Committee meeting, the party leaders discussed the prevailing political situation in the state and expressed concern over the vicious campaign launched for some vested interests against the Dogras.

They pointed out that some leaders were not supporting the decision of the state government to issue Dogra certificates to the residents of the Jammu region. They asked the government to take action against those who had launched the campaign.

The forthcoming panchayat elections in the state were also discussed at the meeting. Raghubir Singh Biloria, Maqbool Malik, Shanker Singh Chib, Kamal Singh Jamwal, Sunil Sharma, KS Bedi, Rakesh Gupta and others addressed the meeting.

Jammu, April 6
The Citizens Forum has expressed solidarity with Anna Hazare for his crusade against corruption. Hazare has resorted to a fast-unto-death at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi to press for the appointment of a joint committee comprising members of society and Union Cabinet ministers to draft a comprehensive Jan Lokpal Bill.

A meeting of the forum held here today under the leadership of its president RK Chadha demanded the constitution of a Lokpal with powers to take action against all those indulging in corrupt practices, including the Prime Minister and all Cabinet ministers, besides other higher officials. The forum demanded the drafting of a similar Bill for the Jammu and Kashmir state .

It assailed the state government for rendering the Jammu and Kashmir Accountability Commission as non-functional after its former chairman, late RP Sethi, resigned in protest against undue interference in the functioning of the commission by the government.

The forum has also criticised the 100 per cent hike in the salaries and perks of the Chief Minister, ministers, legislators and pension and other benefits to the former legislators by the state legislature in the recently concluded Budget session.

It observed that while pension and relief of a few hundreds of rupees per month were provided to the poor widows and the physically challenged, the ministers and legislators were pocketing up to Rs 1 lakh every month.

While poor widows and disabled persons had to run from pillar to post and make several rounds of the Social Welfare Office to get pension, the legislators had got an exorbitant hike in their emoluments in a single go, felt the Forum.

The meeting was attended by senior advocates DK Khajuria and Sham Sunder Anand Lehar, former Advocate General of Jammu and Kashmir Anil Sethi, retired Chief Engineer Vikram Gour and SK Gupta and retired Conservator of Forests Khursheed Kazmi.

Meanwhile, the National Secular Forum (NSF) today supported the crusade launched by social activist Anna Hazare against corruption in the country. Hazare is on a fast-unto-death at the Jantar Mantar in New Delhi since yesterday.

Activists of the NSF assembled at the University of Jammu under the leadership of its president Vikas Sharma this morning and raised slogans against corrupt politicians and bureaucrats, who, according to them, were manipulating the Lokpal Bill.

Addressing the protesters, Vikas said Hazare’s demand for a stronger Lokpal Bill to check corruption in the country was genuine and every citizen should support the idea.

He levelled some allegations of corruption against the university authorities and announced that the NSF would follow the call of Hazare and accordingly intensify their agitation in the Jammu region.

Jammu, April 6
Though Chief Minister Omar Abdullah refused to comment on the issue Anna Hazare is fasting over, he appreciated the path adopted by the social activist.

In an informal chat with mediapersons here, Omar said Anna Hazare had adopted a democratic method of protest to press for his demand. He added that it was the Union government that would take a decision on the issue raised by him.

Replying to another question regarding a statement given by Pakistan cricket team captain Shahid Afridi, Omar termed his utterances as painful, but hastened to add that such statements would not derail the ongoing dialogue process between the two countries.

Earlier while addressing a function, the Chief Minister emphasised on greening of tourism to avoid jeopardising of eco-balance in the state. “We should be driven and guided by the greater ideal of transferring the Earth and its resources to our future generation in a manner where lifestyles and the use of resources will complement the cycle of nature,” he said and stressed the need for cultivating this spirit among the people universally. He was speaking at a two-day workshop on ‘Practising Responsible Tourism’ organised by the Eco-Tourism Society of India and the World Wildlife Fund in collaboration with the state Tourism Department here.

The Chief Minister said the world was at present at a crucial juncture of history where a comprehensive and well thought out strategy had become essential to preserve and conserve natural resources. He expressed satisfaction over the increased interest towards eco-tourism in the last few years. A large participation in today’s workshop was indicative of the shift in the mindset vis-à-vis environment concerns, he added.

“Over the decades it was normal to believe that natural resources were unlimited and inexhaustible and damage to these would be taken care of by the nature itself,” he said and reminded of the punishment the present generation was receiving for the degradation of environment in the past.

Jammu, April 6
Chief Secretary Madhav Lal yesterday asked the agencies concerned to remove bottlenecks coming in the way of the timely completion of Rs 262.15 crore worth of sewage treatment projects in Jammu and Srinagar cities.

Chairing a review meeting in this regard, the Chief Secretary expressed concern over the delay in the completion of the projects, which, he said, were the vital components of future urban infrastructure. He asked the Principal Secretary, Housing and Urban Development, to convene a meeting of all executing agencies like the PHE, UEED, BSNL, NBCC etc., and work out a comprehensive plan for the realignment of supply lines and cables.

The Chief Secretary also reviewed other works being executed by the NBCC in the state which included the construction of Degree Colleges, Solid Waste Management plants at Bhaderwah, Doda, Sunderbani and other works under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).

Among others, those present at the meeting were Principal Secretary, Housing and Urban Development, Suresh Kumar, Chairman-cum-Managing Director, NBCC, VP Das and other officers.

Jammu, April 6
Burglars broke into a temple in the Akhnoor area and decamped with cash from the donation box of the temple last night.

Reports said the burglars fled with Rs 5,000 to Rs 6,000 from the Kali Mandir in Bazigar Basti. Jewellery adorning the idols of the deities, however, was recovered by the locals from the premises of the temple in the morning.

Earlier, a theft had taken place in the Hanuman Mandir on the link road, the Shiv Mandir and the shrine of the Peer Baba. The SHO concerned declined to comment on the issue. — TNS

Srinagar, April 6
While heavy rain in the plains and moderate snowfall on the upper reaches continued today, at least 22 structures, including residential houses and several orchards, had been damaged due to landslides in Baramulla district since yesterday.

The Srinagar-Jammu National Highway, which was closed to traffic due to snowfall and rain leading to slippery conditions and landslides at many places, was reopened to traffic this morning. The highway, which is the only surface link between the Kashmir valley and the rest of the country, was closed to traffic yesterday morning following incessant rain and snowfall along the 296-km highway.

According to officials, at least 11 residential houses, 11 cowsheds and several orchards were damaged due to landslides caused by heavy rain in Checki Khudpora, Lateefabad and Kawhar villages in the Sheeri area of Baramulla district. However, there were no reports of any loss of human life.

Tourist resorts of Gulmarg and Pahalgam received moderate snowfall over the past few days while it had been raining in the plains. The incessant rain has caused water-logging in many areas of the capital city. The bad weather conditions have disrupted the early activities of farmers in Kashmir who had started gradual work in connection with the agricultural season this spring.

Jammu, April 6
The state government has received over 7,500 polling boxes from Punjab for use in the forthcoming panchayat elections. The boxes have been distributed in various blocks figuring in the first phase on April 13, official sources said.

Approximately 14,000 ballot boxes will be required for the smooth conduct of polling, which will be done in 16 phases and these ballot boxes have to be requestioned from the neighbouring state.

Jammu, April 6
Two persons were killed in road mishaps yesterday.

Reports said Anil Kumar, a resident of Jatwal village in Samba, was killed when a tipper hit his motorcycle yesterday. The driver of the tipper fled after the accident. The police has impounded the tipper and launched a manhunt for the fleeing driver.

In another accident, Ragveer Singh, a resident of Panjgrain, was killed when he was knocked down by an Army school bus in the Nagrota area, near here, yesterday. The driver of the Army bus fled. Cases have been registered in both incidents. — TNS