Jammu, April 13
The BJP today faced embarrassment as seven out of its total 11 MLAs in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly voted in favour of its archrivals, the National Conference and the Congress, to ensure the victory of coalition candidates in the Legislative Council elections. Three BJP MLAs voted in favour of the NC, which has been advocating for restoration of pre-1953 position in the state while other four voted for the Congress.

BJP candidate Thakur Ranjit Singh got only four votes despite the fact that the party has 11 members in the Assembly. With an ‘active support’ of the BJP, the ruling coalition of the Congress and the NC has managed to win five out of six seats of the Legislative Council, the elections for which were held today. One seat was won by the Peoples Democratic Party.

Incidentally, a BJP parliamentarian delegation is currently visiting different parts of the state to conduct a study on the Kashmir problem. JP Nadha, national general secretary of the party, who has been accompanying the delegation, described this development as unfortunate.

“The party has taken serious note of the cross-voting by the party MLAs in favour of the NC and the Congress,” Nadha told The Tribune adding that a strict disciplinary action would be taken against those who would be found involved in violating the party’s whip. “It is difficult to identify the black sheep, but we will adopt some modus operandi for it,” he said. Although party leadership is finding it difficult to identify those who have violated the party’s whip, two veteran leaders are under the scanner.

Interestingly, all eleven BJP MLAs voted in favour of its candidates for the Kashmir and Poonch seats, where coalition candidates were already in a comfortable position and don’t required the saffron party’s votes. But for two Jammu seats, party MLAs indulged in a large-scale cross-voting. MLAs of all parties had to vote separately for the seats of different regions because separate election notifications were issued for all regions.

Although all senior BJP leaders, including party’s national general secretary and in charge Jammu and Kashmir state, Prof OP Kohli, switched off the cellphones as soon as the results were announced, annoyed party workers alleged that their MLAs had voted in favour of Congress and NC candidates in lieu of money.

Later, some BJP workers reached party headquarters at Kachi Chowni, but no senior leader was available at the office. Some of the annoyed workers demanded that all erring MLAs should be expelled from the party and also demanded the resignation of state BJP president Shamsher Singh Manhas.

Srinagar, April 13
The BJP has sought to solve the Kashmir problem through “Insaf and Insaniyat” (justice and humanity), as a high level delegation led by its former national president, Rajnath Singh, began its Kashmir visit, meeting various delegations here today.

Rajnath Singh is the head of the five-member delegation to study the situation in this trouble-torn state. Others in the delegation include senior leaders and former Union Ministers, Ravi Shankar Prasad and Shahnawaz Hussain. The five members of the BJP had already met at least 28 delegations representing cross sections of society in the Jammu region. So far at least 15 delegations had expressed their desire to meet the BJP delegation here. The group will also visit the Ladakh region, after which it will submit its report to the party president, Nitin Gadkari.

Talking to mediapersons here today, the former BJP president said the senior party leaders would meet all those people, who wished to interact with them. He added the party would not “knock on anybody’s door”. Rajnath Singh ruled out any meeting with the separatist leaders, even as a number of parliamentarians had met the senior separatist leaders here during the summer unrest last year.

Reiterating the party’s stand on Jammu and Kashmir as an integral part of the country, Rajnath Singh said the sufferings of people pained everybody and the purpose of their visit was to know the cause of these sufferings.

Bangalarh (Samba)/Wusan, April 13
With a hope that the local self-government will accelerate development activities in their respective areas, villagers turned out in large numbers for the panchayat poll, ignoring separatists’ call for boycott.KK Sidha, Assistant Commissioner Development, Samba, told The Tribune that over 85 per cent voters had cast their votes in the first phase of the panchayat elections in Samba. Similarly, more than 86 per cent voters exercised their right to franchise in the Bishnah block.

More than 2,800 candidates are in the fray for the first phase of the 16-phase panchayat elections held in eight blocks, including Bishnah, Samba and Udhampur in Jammu district, and Kangan, Budgam, Qoimoh and Kupwara in the Kashmir region.

Pawan Kumar, a college student, who was casting vote for the first time, said he was happy to participate in the process of setting up of the local self-government. “Panchayat elections are more important than the Assembly or Lok Sabha elections, as these elections are directly related to us,” he said.

At another border village of Sapowal of Samba district, people were seen standing in long queues and waiting for their turns. “The way people turned up to participate in the panchayat elections is the victory of the democratic forces in the state,” said Mani Ram, who is contesting for the post of sarpanch in the area.

“I have voted for strengthening the democracy at the grass-roots level as the development of my backward village is directly related to the empowerment of the local self-government,” said Rashpal Verma, a research scholar of Jammu University, who came from Jammu to cast vote in his village at Sarna.

The second phase of the polling will be held on April 17, third on April 21, fourth on April 25, fifth on April 30, sixth on May 4, seventh on May 8, eighth on May 12, ninth on May 16 and 10th to 16th phases will be held on May 21, May 25, May 29, June 2, June 6, June 11 and June 18 respectively.

The counting of votes would be taken up immediately after the polling process was over and the results would be announced immediately thereafter, officials said.

Election for the post of sarpanch at Ratnal village has been cancelled due to some technical problem. As 10 candidates were in the fray for the post of sarpanch in the village, but the symbol allotted to a few of the candidates were not printed on the ballot papers.

Meanwhile, the scene in Wusan is like any other elections to the Lok Sabha or the state Assembly, as scores of people from all walks of life thronged the polling stations since early morning in their respective villages and hamlets to elect their panches and sarpanches.

“I have been voting ever since I got enlisted as a voter and have great expectations from this (election) as well,” said Hakeem Shah, a youth from the village. However, he lamented the apathetic attitude of the government, ministers and the civil administration.

He showed a paper on which the name of a voter in his neighbourhood was written. Pointing towards the name written on the paper, Hakeem said his neighbour was not allowed to vote. “This man (whose name is written on the chit), figures in one of the lists, and did not figure in another list. Therefore, he was not allowed to vote,” he said.

For another educated youth, a daily wager in the state government’s Department of Agriculture, there is a little hope as the government has not been able to address the problem of unemployment despite making tall claims. “Recruitments are made through the Recruitment Board and other procedures, but no attention is given to the already suffering lot,” he said.

He alleged favouritism and nepotism in the process of recruitments and added that the deserving were being neglected. “There has been a good response and people came out with enthusiasm,” said officials who were engaged in the preparations for today’s elections since it was announced on March 16 last.

Udhampur, April 13
In the first phase of polling in the panchayat elections in this district today, the Udhampur block registered higher percentage of polling than the national average. This showed enthusiasm of rural voters in the elections and this was earlier reflected in hectic campaigning by the candidates. Mansa Ram (100) of Dhanu panchayat turned out to be the oldest one in the block to cast his vote.

As many as 46 panchayats of the Udhampur block went to poll today in which Ramesh Kumar Attri of Rount panchayat became the first one to be declared elected as sarpanch at the office of the Block Development Officer (BDO) of the Udhampur block. He defeated his rival by a margin of 122 votes. In all, the results of 10 panchayats had been declared till the filing of this report.

According to district election officials, the entire block witnessed the brisk polling since beginning. In the first three hours, 50 per cent polling was recorded. The block registered 81.49 per cent polling against the national average of 63 per cent. It remained peaceful and smooth. Long queues were seen in front of the polling stations even an hour before it started. Besides 46 sarpanches, the voters sealed the fate of 332 panches, including 115 women under the reserve category.

The District Panchayat Election Office, Udhampur, had appointed 16 returning officers, 30 assistant returning officers, 366 presiding officers and 732 polling officers. To ensure better coordination, the Udhampur block was divided into eight zones and 16 sectors for which equal number of zonal and sectoral magistrates were deployed. The total number of voters was 65146, including 34334 males. The Chenani block is the next to go to poll on April 17 in the district.

The highlight of the election process was almost cent per cent polling at the Malangar Bail polling station of Malarh Panchayat. Here, 205 voters out of the total 206 voters, cast their votes. The 86.19 per cent polling in Jib panchayat turned out to be the highest in the entire block. Of the total 1600 voters, 1379 cast their votes here.

Interestingly, the lowest percentage of polling (67.09%) recorded in Barian panchayat turned out to be 4 per cent higher than the national average. Of the total 1407 voters, 844 cast their votes.

Udhampur, April 13
Governor NN Vohra visited the Siar Dabri village near Katra last evening and inaugurated a Rs 5.15 crore scheme for the augmentation of water supply to Adhkuwari.

As per an official release this scheme executed through the PHE Department is supposed to immediately provide an additional 2 lakh gallons of water per day to Adhkuwari. On the occasion, the Governor also reviewed the work of Rs 13.65 crore water supply scheme for lifting water from Pai Nallah near Siar Dabri to Bhawan, to meet the future water requirement for the pilgrims of Mata Vaishno Devi.

He impressed upon BR Dogra, Chief Engineer, PHE Department, Jammu, to ensure that this project was commissioned on time as scheduled in August 2011.

The Principal Secretary to the Governor and Chief Executive Officer of the Shrine Board RK Goyal, Additional CEO Dr Mandeep K Bhandari, Deputy Commissioner Reasi PK Pole, SSP Reasi Keshav Ram Chaurasia, Director Spiritual Growth Centre Katra, SM Sahni, Superintending Engineer PHE NK Rohmetra and senior officers of various departments were present on the occasion.

Jammu, April 13
A sexagenarian from the PoK arrived in Poonch district via Chakkan-Da-Bagh aboard “Carvan-e-Aman”, a trans-LoC bus service, and met his cousin and cherished memories of their childhood. However, the old man from Hajira village in the occupied Kashmir could not take home the sweet memories to share with his family.

Sixty-five-year old Akhtar Hussain, a native of Hajira village in the PoK, died last night at the house of his cousin Syed Mohammed Asmat Geelani in Sanai village of Surankote in Poonch district.

Ever since he migrated to Hajira in the occupied Kashmir in 1965, Hussain along with his nephew Naveed Hussain Shah, had come on permit to meet his cousin, said police sources.

He had come via the trans-LoC bus service on April 4 on a permit of 28 days and on May 2 he had to return to his native village in the occupied Kashmir, the sources added.

However, late last night he died of cardiac arrest.Last night Hussain’s health suddenly deteriorated and he was taken to a hospital in Surankote, but he died on the way, said the sources.

“He was not well when he arrived here on a permit because of bouts of asthma. But despite his ill health, he had come to meet his cousin here and at the same time wanted to know about his small land holdings in the village,” said the police, adding that the old man had also brought his nephew along with him.

Perhaps, he was aware of his death, but his intense desire to meet his cousin and other family members brought him here, it said.

The opportunity to see his ancestral village and meet his cousins came to him after a long wait of over 45 years, the police added.

The Poonch district administration sought the help of the Army to hand over his body to their counterparts from a forward post in Poonch. 

Jammu, April 13
Anant Ki Aur, a book of Hindi poems by distinguished writer Shashi Padha, was released here today by the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Jammu, Prof Varun Sahni, at a function here this evening.

The function, which was largely attended by a galaxy of writers, poets, cultural activists and members of civil society, was organised by Yuva Lekhak Sang Jammu at KL Sehgal Hall. Noted poet and critic Ashok Kumar presided over the function.

In her keynote address, the poetess who is presently living in America, recited some couplets from her book and said: “My poetry has its roots in Indian culture and ethos and whatever I have written is a reflection of my longing for Indian life.”

While presenting paper on the book, noted critic, Sharda Sahni said: “The book contains poems, songs and dohas, which are rich in scent of soil.”

Prof Varun Shani appreciated the poetess for her work despite being in a time consuming profession of teaching. “We need to emulate the output-obsessed attitude of teachers at the educational institutes of the United States as far as writing is concerned,” he remarked and added that the writers settled overseas exhibit have a significant outlook about the country and its identity in their written works.

“I see two countries in India. One that is shining and other that is pockmarked with corruption, poverty and many other evils,” said Ashok Kumar and added, “I hope the poetess also takes the second image of country into consideration while writing her poems.”

On the occasion, noted singers like Sham Sajan and Pratima Sharma regaled the audience with melodious songs of poetess that had a beautiful blend of nature and human relations. 

Jammu, April 13
Two persons were killed and another sustained critical injuries when a shell exploded in the Jourian area of Akhnoor sub-division yesterday.Reports said that an unexploded shell went off when a scrap dealer flanked by two others was melting scrap in a furnace.

The scrap was reportedly purchased by one of the deceased scrap dealer, Jang Bahadur (40) of Toshkyian village from some locals, who had collected it from a nearby Army firing range. Another person who was killed in the explosion had been identified as Pritam Lal (40) of Thok Khalsa village while Gurdyal (35) of Toshkiyan village sustained injuries and was undergoing treatment at the GMC hospital. — TNS

Jammu, April 13
A group of 48 children of the Viraj Bal Bhawan, Khanpur, Nagrota, run by the Viraj Kala Kendra, Jammu, for the education of children from the slum areas, visited the Raj Bhawan here today and met the First Lady, Usha Vohra.

The First Lady had invited these primary school students, belonging to under-privileged sections of society, to go around the Raj Bhawan lawns, which has a variety of flowers in full bloom. The children were shown around the lawns by the Raj Bhawan staff.

The schoolchildren were delighted at this memorable opportunity of being hosted by the First Lady and to be able to play around in the Raj Bhawan lawns. She interacted with the children, presented them gifts and wished them a bright future ahead. In return, the children greeted her on the eve of the Baisakhi festival.

Speaking on the occasion, she advised the children to work hard for a promising future. Referring to the cultural programme presented by the schoolchildren on this occasion, she lauded their talent and appreciated the encouragement and guidance provided to them by their teachers.

On behalf of the Governor, she presented a cheque of Rs 50,000 to the management of the Viraj Kala Kendra as a token of help in providing education to children from the less advantaged families.

The General Secretary, Viraj Kala Kendra, Raj Bharti, expressed her gratitude to the First Lady for providing an opportunity to the children to visit the Raj Bhawan lawns and conveyed her thanks to the Governor for providing financial support to the Viraj Bal Bhawan.

The vice-presidents of the Viraj Kala Kendra, Prof Sarla Kohli and Ritu Ram Sahay, members Nirmal Padha and Usha Chuni, Headmaster of the Bal Bhawans, Pooja Abrol, and teachers were present on the occasion.