Jammu, June 23
The proposed Cabinet expansion in the state seems uncertain as both National Conference (NC) and Congress have failed to arrive at a consensus on the names of candidates. The Congress has earlier said the Cabinet expansion will be held soon after the completion of the panchayat elections on June 18 but it has failed to finalise the names of candidates for ministerial berths.

Olympic run: People take part in Olympic Run-2011 after it was flagged off by  Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in Srinagar on Thursday. — AFP

All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary Mohan Parkash, who is the in charge of party affairs in Jammu and Kashmir, told The Tribune over the phone that the process would take some time. He, however, refused to go into the details regarding the delay in the Cabinet expansion.

Sources said the Congress wanted its nominee to be made a minister as it had lost a ministerial berth following the sacking of former Roads and Building Minister GM Saroori. Saroori was sacked after his daughter was allegedly caught in the infamous MBBS impersonation case.

The NC, on the other hand, wants that instead of inducting more ministers a minor reshuffle should be done. “The Congress wants the Roads and Building Ministry back as after Saroori’s sacking, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is himself holding the charge of this all-important ministry,” they said.

The sources added that the Cabinet expansion had been delayed not only due to the lack of consensus between the coalition partners, but also due to the infighting in the Congress. While PCC chief Saifuddin Soz’s faction had been trying to get ministerial berths for its loyalists, the other group owing allegiance to Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad was working overtime to ensure that its supporters were accommodated in the Cabinet.

As Saroori represents the Inderwal Assembly segment of erstwhile Doda district, Congress MLAs from this belt, namely Mohammad Sharief Niaz and Abdul Majid Wani, have staked claims to ministerial berths. Saroori is also trying hard to make a comeback though investigations into the MBBS impersonation case are still going on. The CBI has been tasked to investigate this high profile case. Interestingly, all three legislators of erstwhile Doda district are Azad loyalists.

As per the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir, the maximum strength of the Council of Ministers shall not exceed 25. At present there are 22 ministers, including the Chief Minister. Two ministerial berths from the Congress quota and one from the NC have been lying vacant since long.

The sources said though a number of senior NC leaders were aspiring to become ministers, the party did not want to open the Pandora’s box by appointing anyone of them as a minister. That is why the NC was in favour of a Cabinet reshuffle instead of the expansion of the ministry.

Meanwhile, the party high command has summoned Soz to New Delhi to discuss the prevailing political situation in the state. Soz, who was in Srinagar for the past five days, left from Delhi this afternoon. 

Zero Line, Chamliyal, June 23
The border forces of Pakistan and India may start joint patrolling in the near future and may also be seen facing each other in the sports arena.

Addressing mediapersons here today after the Pakistan Rangers offered a “Chaddar” at the famous shrine of Sufi saint Baba Dalip Singh Manhas, popularly called Baba Chamliyal, the IG, BSF (Jammu Frontier), S Chattopadhaya, said the Union government was actively working on a proposal for having simultaneous coordinated patrolling by the BSF and the Pakistan Rangers on the border.

“Yes, we are looking at it and exploring the possibility of having joint patrolling on the border, but as of now no decision has been taken,” said Chattopadhaya.

Talking about the new sports diplomacy initiative by India, he said India was proposing to organise football, volleyball, hockey and basketball matches between the two forces to have closer ties, as such endeavours reduced misunderstandings.

India has been taking several initiatives to bring the two countries together but it is for the first time that a diplomatic initiative was being proposed to bring the security forces of the two countries to the sports arena. Earlier, tournaments between Indian and Pakistan’s Punjab were held in Punjab on the Indian side during Cap Amarinder Singh’s government.

“The matter (joint patrolling) came up for the first time at a meeting in Lahore last year and now we were examining and exploring ways to implement it on the ground,” said the IG.

If joint patrolling was put in place, the Pakistan Rangers and the BSF personnel would patrol the Zero Line together in the future, he added.

He termed the situation on the border “very calm” as compared to the last four years. “At the moment the situation on the border is very calm as compared to the last four years. There have been 28 incidents in 2007, 58 in 2008, 36 in 2009, 38 from January to July in 2010 and nine from August 2010 till date,” he said.

“There is a tremendous change because of close cooperation and better understanding between the two forces, but at the same time we cannot be complacent,” the IG said.

He said 300 to 400 ultras were waiting at training camps to infiltrate into India. On the Amarnath yatra, the IG said there was no specific input about a militant threat to the pilgrimage but still terror groups may try to target it.

Zero Line, Chamliyal, June 23
Offering a “chaddar” at the tomb of Baba Chamliyal, the Pakistan Rangers took part in the mela at the shrine on the Zero Line in Samba district today.

“A group of Pakistan Rangers led by their sector commander, Brig A Masood, had come to the Indian side to take part in the mela. They offered a chaddar (holy blanket),” IG, BSF, Jammu Frontier, S Chattopadhaya told reporters here.

“Brig Masood, along with 13 officers and nine civilians, was received by the BSF officers led by DIG, BSF, D Vasudevan,” said Chattopadhaya.

As per the tradition, the Indian side offered them shakker (holy earth) and sharbat (holy water) of the shrine for devotees of Pakistan, he said. “These melas help in developing cooperation and forging understanding,” the IG added.

However, the Pakistan side did not interact with the media as it continued with the decade-old tradition of paying obeisance at the shrine.

The border line separating India and Pakistan virtually diminished, as the famous mela symbolising the common cultural heritage of the two countries was celebrated with enthusiasm on both sides of the border.

Over 40,000 people converged on the two sides of Zero Line at Saidawali in Pakistan and Chamliyal in India to celebrate the 319th anniversary of Dileep Singh Manhas, popularly known as Baba Chamliyal.

While the mela on the Indian side is held for three days at the shrine complex in Chamliyal village, 50 km from Jammu, it is held on the Pakistani side for a week at Saidawali village of Sialkote district.

Till 1965, Pakistan nationals were allowed to come to the Indian side of the border to pay obeisance at the shrine. However, the practice was stopped after the 1965 war, as intelligence agencies argued that spies and infiltrators could misuse the opportunity.

Baba Chamliyal, after whom the village is named, lived about 300 years ago and is revered by the people because of his saintly qualities and spiritual powers.

A popular belief is that the soil and the water from the shrine cures skin diseases. The shrine draws devotees from parts of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana. — PTI 

Jammu, June 23
The All-J&K Plus 2 Lecturers Forum organised an educational conference at Koteranka in Budhal tehsil of Rajouri district here today. A large number of delegates participated in the conference.

HD Qureshi, president of the forum, assured the delegates that the forum would intensify its efforts to get the process of regularisation of the service of the lecturers completed within a short period.

He appealed to Education Minister Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed to intervene for the regularisation of the services of the cadre, which had already been cleared by the state Cabinet. 

Doda, June 23
Education and Public Enterprises Minister Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed has directed the Director, School Education, to issue promotion orders to 1,500 teachers at the earliest for the effective functioning of schools.

The minister gave the direction at a meeting at Patnitop today. The meeting was attended by Chief Education Officers, Zonal Education Officers, principals and other senior officials of Udhampur, Reasi and Ramban districts.

The minister also directed that the promotion orders be withdrawn, if any teacher was unwilling to join his new place of posting after promotion.

MLA, Chenani, Krishan Chander Bhagat; MLA, Banihal, Vikar Rasool; MLA, Ramban, Ashok Kumar; District Development Commissioner, Udhampur, Baseer Khan; District Development Commissioner, Ramban, Shabir Ahmed Bhat; and Director, School Education, GA Qureshi were also present at the meeting.

The MLAs highlighted the issue of an acute shortage of teachers, particularly subject specialists, in their areas.

Peerzada deliberated on various issues and suggested measures for improving results and asked the participants to follow the new guidelines issued in this regard.

He stressed upon the DIET to organise a teacher-training programme in every district during summer vacation. Regarding the construction of school buildings, he assured that these would be completed in a time-bound manner.

The minister also gave directions for ensuring a timely recruitment process of the Rehbare-e-Taleem teachers (ReTs) as per the guidelines. The vacancies of the ReT should be publicised by involving panchayats and village heads concerned so that deserving candidates could avail of the maximum benefit, he added. — TNS

Jammu, June 23
A three-member committee, constituted by the authorities of the University of Jammu (JU) to inquire into the incident of a clash between a teacher and a PhD aspirant, failed to submit its report within the stipulated time here today.

On June 18, after a scuffle between Prof Dipankar Sengupta, who was officer on special duty (OSD) to conduct the entrance examination of PhD in Buddhist Sciences, and a PhD aspirant, Lovejeet Singh, alias Jimmy, in the examination hall, the university authorities had constituted a committee under the leadership of Prof Rajnikant, assisted by Prof RK Ganjoo and Dr Shailender Jamwal, to look into the matter.

They were asked to submit the report till June 23 after to enable the university to take the final decision on the issue. However, the committee failed to submit its report today.

“I am out of the city, so we will submit the report likely by tomorrow. So far I can’t tell you anything about our findings,” said Prof Rajnikant.

“We had received a few complaints that some candidates were using unfair means in the examination. I went there and found some students talking to each other. I first stopped them from doing so, but they used an abusive language against me, resulting into a scuffle,” said Sengupta.

On the other hand, students had been demanding the immediate suspension of Prof Sengupta alleging that he had slapped the student.

“Our delegation has gone to Srinagar to apprise the Chief Minister about the matter, as a teacher can’t slap any student and that too when the student has not committed any mistake,” said Kapil, a student leader and Jimmy’s friend. He added that during the scuffle Jimmy was injured and got three stitches in his chest.

“This is the admission time in the university and any further delay in taking a decision with regard to the matter may lead to a major trouble, as students have threatened to go on a strike,” university officials said. 

Poonch, June 23
Landmine blasts have maimed hundreds of border residents here, but the prolonged psychological effects of the injuries, coupled with economic hardships they suffer and the government’s apathetic attitude, has led to psychiatric diseases in many of them.

Sardar Keekar Singh (90), a resident of Khardi Karmarda village, close to the Line of Control (LoC) here, is a living example of such a tragic condition. The state government has compensated him with a monthly pension of Rs 21.

“I used to carry huge boxes of ammunition to the forward posts and the Army would engage me in the construction of pickets,” he claims, adding that, “I could easily climb up hills with huge logs”.

Though Keekar has agricultural land, he says he does not have the strength to cultivate it now. The old age pension of Rs 400 that he gets from the Department of Social Welfare is his only monthly income.

Kulwant Kaur, wife of Keekar Singh, claims that the trauma of losing a limb left her husband mentally disturbed. Keekar lost the lower part of his right leg in an anti-personnel landmine blast near his home on August 1, 1976.

“My husband is dependent on sleeping pills and other medicines, as his condition has remained miserable after he lost his leg,” she says. She adds, “If he does not sleep, I remain awake throughout the night to ensure that he does not go out of the house. There is always a fear that militants or the Army might shoot him or he might stray on a landmine again.”

Kulwant says, “The government has never enhanced his pension. It costs us Rs 50 to go to the city to collect the paltry pension from the post office. For the last seven years, we have not even collected it.”

At this age when people enjoy their lives post-retirement, Keekar Singh, despite an amputated leg, works in the scorching sun in his fields to feed his family. Besides having a poor eyesight, the wound in his amputated leg has worsened over the years.

Last year, the old couple lost their only son, Inder Singh, for want of medical treatment due to financial constraints. “Our son was a need-based worker in the Public Health Engineering Department. He used to get Rs 500 per month as salary,” says Kulwant. “He received serious internal injuries in a road accident, but he never agreed to go to a hospital. He knew that we did not have money for his treatment. He died a couple of weeks later.”

Keekar may be mentally disturbed, but when he speaks randomly, his sense of loss becomes self-evident. 

Samba, June 23
The free langar providing organisations keep date with the Amarnath yatra every year. One such group, Shiv Sewa Mandal Trust from Fatehabad in Haryana, has crossed Samba town on its way to the holy shrine. It is one of the first groups among the advance parties, which will set up its base in the Valley before the commencement of the yatra.

“It is our eleventh consecutive year. We spend Rs 30 lakh on an average for providing langar to the devotees,” said Mohinder Madaan, head of the langar group.

Carrying ration, woollens and quilts in two trucks, the advance party will reach its base near the cave on June 27. “As we are based close to the cave shrine, the devotees will spend more time in our camp,” he said.

Madaan said the arduous yatra as well as boycott calls and threats from terrorists had failed to dampen their spirits all these years. “It is almost peace in the Valley now. We used to offer langar services to the devotees when militancy was at its peak in the Valley. It is the faith that keeps us going.”

“We started modestly. We never take money from the devotees at the langar camp. Those who want to donate are requested to help us in providing langar services next year. That way our cycle of contributions continues and grows bigger.”

However, the advance parties follow the route earmarked by the state government. They take a Jammu bypass route, which connects Samba on the highway with Udhampur, skipping Jammu.

Jammu, June 23
On the occasion of the 58th death anniversary of Dr Shyama Prasad Mookerjee, the BJP organised a number of programmes at the district level in the memory of the leader, who was also the founder of the Jan Sangh.

The state BJP president, Shamsher Singh Manhas, while paying tributes to Mookerjee at a programme organised at Hiranagar, said Mookerjee sacrificed his life for the cause of the nation. “After Independence, while any citizen could visit any part of the country without any restriction, Jammu and Kashmir state had a permit system. Anyone willing to visit this border state had to obtain a permit to gain entry into the state,” Manhas said. He added that, “Mookerjee launched an agitation against this system and entered Jammu and kashmir without a permit.”

He said soon after his arrest in the state, Mookerjee died under mysterious circumstances in Srinagar.

Asserting that the BJP would complete Mookerjee’s unfinished agenda, Manhas expressed concern over the attempt on part of the Central and state governments to grant concession to the separatists through the recommendations of the Justice Sagheer Ahmed Committee and the Centre’s interlocutors.

He also condemned the attitude of the US Embassy in refusing visa to a nationalist leader like Dr Jitendra Singh.

A similar programme was organised by the BJP Jammu district unit under party president Rajesh Gupta. A veteran leader, Daya Krishan Kotwal, while paying tributes, said Mookherjee was a brave, intelligent and patriotic Indian.

Kotwal added that Mookerjee’s wisdom and commitment to the nation was unmatchable and the nation needed personalities like him in the present situation.

The BJP chief spokesperson, Dr Jitendra Singh, said Mookerjee will always be remembered for his vision and foresight. 

Srinagar, June 23
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has assured the cross-Line of Control (LoC) traders that he would take up the issue of easing restrictions on the trade with the Central government, advocating banking and communication facilities for the traders.

“This Confidence Building Measure (CBM) requires to be strengthened by removing all bottlenecks and nurturing it for the benefit of the traders on both sides of the LoC,” he said at a meeting on the LoC trade held here yesterday.

Omar added that the issues within the jurisdiction of the state would be addressed by the state government on a fast-track while those requiring Central government’s approval would be thoroughly taken up at the right forum.

He announced that the state government would consider VAT concession on items to be exported by the traders from here to the other side of the LoC.

“The Finance Department has already finalised a proposal in concurrence with the Law Department to this effect,” he said. He added that in order to allow VAT concession to the LoC traders an amendment to a sub-clause of the VAT Act was required. 

The traders’ representatives also presented a list of demands to the Chief Minister for his consideration for making the trade smoother. They identified the areas, which required the attention of the Central government for making this CBM more viable and strong.

Jammu, June 23
A Lashkar-e-Toiba militant was killed in an encounter with the security forces in Poonch district today.

Talking to The Tribune, SSP, Poonch, Ashkoor Wani said the encounter took place in the Chamrer forest in the Bafliaz area of the district this morning.

He said, acting on a tip-off, the 16 Rashtriya Rifles and the police had launched a joint search operation yesterday and this morning one of the two suspected ultras were killed. An AK-56 rifle, some magazines and other arms were recovered from the encounter site. Meanwhile, official sources said the second terrorist, who was injured in the encounter, escaped.

Jammu, June 23
The Department of Posts, New Delhi, has selected Swarna Devi, working with the Rajouri Head Post Office, for Megdhoot Award, being the best postwoman, this year.

This is the first time that somebody form the state will get the award at the all-India level. Swarna will be conferred with Megdhoot Award in New Delhi on June 28.

John Samuel, Chief Postmaster General, J&K Circle, said in a press note issued here today that “this is a special tribute to the Jammu and Kashmir Postal Circle and we are proud of this achievement”.

There are about 5,00,000 employees working in the Department of Posts across India. The staff members with an excellent performance are selected every year for Meghdoot Award. Swarna is more than just a postwoman. Besides the distribution of mails, she has been involved in the marketing of postal services by introducing new postal products to the public. She is quite popular among the people of Rajouri.

John said Dak Seva Awards would be presented to the best postal staff members in Jammu and Kashmir next month. There are more than 10,000 employees working in post offices in the state.

He said seven new post offices would be opened in Jammu, Samba, Srinagar and other places. A new post office would also be opened at Agriculture University, Jammu, next month and it would a fully computerised and modern post office for the benefit of university students.

John said the department had introduced an overnight mail service between Jammu and Srinagar. Consequently, speed posts would be a major initiative to benefit businesses, especially banks, insurance companies and traders.

He said there had been an overwhelming response to the scheme of sale of quality gold coins started in Jammu in March. The scheme would now be extended to Srinagar, Udhampur and Kathua.