Jammu, September 3
Even as the state government has started talks with the agitating employees to persuade them not to go on strike from September 6, serious differences have cropped up among various employee unions over the strike call.

The Government Employees Joint Action Committee (GEJAC), a conglomeration of various employees associations, today disassociated itself from the strike call given by the Joint Consultant Committee (JCC) of the employees from September 6 to 8 in support of their demands.

It was decided at a day-long conference of the GEJAC, in which representatives from all the districts were present, not to participate in the strike as the JCC leadership had not consulted the GEJAC before giving the call.

“We have decided neither to support nor to oppose the strike call given by the JCC,” Suresh Sharma, a spokesman for the GEJAC, told The Tribune after the conference.

“The strike call has been given without the knowledge and consultation of the GEJAC. Therefore, the leadership has reservations about the future of the employees in such a situation when draconian Acts like the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA), court cases and court orders are still operative and any weak programme will prove to be suicidal,” Sharma said.

As the GEJAC has managed to garner support of a large section of the employees of the Jammu region, its leaders claimed that without bringing all the unions on a platform, it was not possible to take the ongoing agitation to a logical conclusion.

“Our today’s programme was aimed at bringing unity among the employees,” Sharma said. The GEJAC leaders said the state government had been trying to divide the employees by projecting only a section. The GEJAC after the conference also sent a message to the JCC that without its support the strike would not be successful, at least in the Jammu region.

“Our doors are still open for bringing unity among all the sections of the employees. We have asked the JCC leadership to start afresh efforts for forging unity after September 8,” Sharma said.

He hoped that the JCC leadership would also take the GEJAC into confidence before making any further announcement.

Over four lakh employees in the state have been agitating for the arrears of the Sixth Pay Commission. The employees are demanding that the arrears should be paid in cash in three equal instalments. They are also demanding that the retirement age should be enhanced to 60 years, besides regularisation of the services of daily wage workers and contractual employees.

Srinagar, September 3
Sheikh Abdul Rashid, Independent MLA from Langate in Kupwara district, who has submitted a resolution in the state Assembly seeking clemency for Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru, has said the Central government need not overreact if the state Assembly holds a discussion and passes the resolution.

Addressing a press conference here today, Sheikh said the people’s representatives had every right to discuss the issue in the Assembly. “If the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, J Jayalalithaa, can move a resolution demanding clemency for Rajiv Gandhi’s killers and if Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal can write to the President seeking clemency for Davinder Bhullar, why can’t we do it in Jammu and Kashmir,” the MLA said.

The people of Jammu and Kashmir could also do it but the major political parties in the state were not taking any initiative. The MLA said he was expecting either the NC or the PDP to bring in the resolution.

He said the Central government should not overreact if the state Assembly passed the resolution. “Delhi should not catch cold if the resolution for Afzal Guru is passed by the Assembly,” he said. Sheikh submitted a resolution in the Assembly yesterday seeking clemency for Afzal so as to give him (Afzal) an opportunity to reform himself. “Afzal’s hanging will not solve the Kashmir problem and there is no guarantee that such attacks will not take place, if he is hanged,” Sheikh said.

He asked the NC and the PDP not to “mislead” the people of the state in the name of their respective agendas of autonomy and self-rule.

On Anna Hazare’s anti-corruption campaign, the Langate MLA said he was with Anna’s mission. He said, “Abdul Ghani, a resident of Langate, has been detained under the Public Safety Act (PSA) on the charge of demanding regular power supply. We have an Anna Hazare in every street here.”

He also questioned the human rights record of the state saying no importance was being given to the State Human Rights Commission’s report with regard to the unmarked graves case. “I will show you dozens of such graves in my constituency,” Sheikh said.

Jammu, September 3
Stepping up its campaign against Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for making a statement with regard to Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru’s death sentence, activists of the BJP Mahila Morcha organised a protest in the heart of the old city today. Omar had tweeted a few days ago that if the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly had passed a resolution against the death sentence given to Afzal as was done by the Tamil Nadu Assembly for Rajiv Gandhi’s killers, the reaction would not have been as muted as it was now

Led by state president of the morcha Sakina Bano, a large number of party activists held a demonstration at Kachi Chawni Chowk against Omar for advocating clemency for Afzal. The protesters were carrying placards with slogans advising the Chief Minister to “remain in senses” and stop making such statements.

Sakina said various courts of the country had held Afzal responsible for the Parliament attack and the Supreme Court as well as the President had endorsed his conviction, but, unfortunately, Omar was playing a communal card to appease a particular section of society. “Such a statement by the Chief Minister is against the spirit of the Constitution and by doing so he has committed a crime,” she said.

Sakina reminded Omar that Afzal was the mastermind of the Parliament attack. “Anyone who indulges in such an act cannot be pardoned just because he was born in a particular faith,” she added.

“The Chief Minister should tell can one who commits a crime be spared just because it might help him (Omar) consolidate his vote bank,” Sakina said.

Suresh Jamwal, Usha Choudhary, Purnima Sharma, Dr Nirmal Kamal, Raj Rani Jamwal, Priya Sethi, Sudarshan Kour, Santosh Bhagat, Pushpa Wazir, Sureshta Jamwal, Anju Devi, Sangita Gupta, Parven Arora, Saroj Gupta, Vidhya Devi, Poonam, Shashi Bala, Sweety Koul, Renu Khajuria, Suresh Kumari and Chinta Dogra were among those who took part in the protest.

Srinagar, September 3
Governor NN Vohra has emphasised the need for collaborative efforts by government agencies, NGOs and parents for the development of differently-abled children to enable them to lead productive lives. He also stressed the need for effectively utilising all the available resources for the welfare, education and vocational training of such children.

The Governor was addressing the inaugural session of the two-day workshop on ‘Mental Retardation’ organised by “Parivaar”, the National Confederation of Parents’ Organisations for Persons with Intellectual and Development Disabilities and sponsored by the National Institute for the Mentally Handicapped, Secunderabad, here today. The Humanity Welfare Organisation Helpline NGO, Bijbehara, is hosting the Regional Parents’ Meet.

Referring to the abilities of the special children, the Governor said they possessed special talents, which needed to be optimally developed. He added during a recent visit to Raj Bhawan special children played a cricket match and solved mathematical problems like other talented children.

The Governor said because of the difficult terrain and geography of the state and the people living in far-flung and remote areas, significant efforts were required by governmental functionaries concerned to reach out to the special children. He hoped that the workshop would help in generating greater awareness among all the stakeholders and society at large about the issues relating to the differently-abled children.

Referring to the suggestions made by various speakers on the occasion for the implementation of the provisions of the National Trust Act, 1999 in Jammu and Kashmir, he said he would discuss the matter with Sakina Ittoo, Minister for Social Welfare, and with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah so that the state had adequate legal, administrative and financial provisions for the development, growth and proper care of the special children.

Srinagar, September 3
Shammi Kapoor shared a special bond with Jammu and Kashmir giving memorable hits like “Kashmir Ki Kali” and “Junglee” and to honour that connection his family immersed his ashes in the Jhelum today.

“We have immersed his ashes in the Jhelum because he romanced Kashmir. The river flows into Pakistan also, the land of his forefathers,” his son Aditya Raj Kapoor told PTI. The actor died on August 14 at the age of 79.

Aditya said though it was not a special wish of his late father, they wanted to honour the love that the actor shared with the state.

“No, but it was his love for Kashmir. So, we decided to immerse his ashes here.” Besides family members, which included daughter Kanchan and Aditya’s wife Preeti, the veteran actor’s friends from the film industry like Asha Parekh, Vinod Khanna, Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Shabana Azmi, Tina Ambani, Poonam Dhillon, Kunal Goswami and others were present on the occasion.

“We also went to Srinagar’s Dal lake in a shikara...considering the love of the legend for it. We planted a sapling at Lalit Hotel in Kashmir as my father used to stay there whenever he was in the state,” Aditya said.

He dismissed the reports that the legend’s ashes were immersed in the Dal Lake, saying, “You immerse ashes in a river not in a lake.” — PTI

Jammu, September 3
Maj-Gen TPS Waraich, General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Tiger Division, felicitated gallantry award winners here today. At a special felicitation ceremony, Maj-Gen Waraich welcomed the gallant and meritorious soldiers, who were awarded commendations and gallantry awards on August 15.

The soldiers of the Tiger Division were awarded two Sena Medals, four Chief of the Army Staff Commendations, one Vice-Chief of the Army Staff Commendation, 10 General Officer Commanding in-Chief Commendations on Independence Day.

The JCOs of the Tiger Division had been decorated with the ranks of 10 honorary captains and 27 honorary lieutenants.

While interacting with the officers and the jawans, Maj-Gen Waraich said such awards motivated other soldiers to emulate the gallant deeds of the award winners. 

Jammu, September 3
The Army, as part of its social commitment, has dedicated a community centre to the residents of remote Jaran Wali Gali village in Mendhar tehsil of Poonch district. Ranjeet Singh, SDM, Mendhar, inaugurated the community centre yesterday.

The community centre has been constructed under the Border Area Development Programme (BADP) by the Rashtriya Rifles (RR). The function was attended by a large number of villagers and officers of the civil administration, including Aniruddh, BDO, Surankote, Deepak Dubey, BDO, Mandi, KL Bangotra, secretary of the Gandhi Seva Centre, Mendhar, and Mohammad Nazir, sarpanch, Jaran Wali Gali village.

Residents of Jaran Wali Gali village had approached the nearby Rashtriya Rifles Battalion with a request for the construction of a community centre where they could hold meetings, religious ceremonies and social gatherings. To help the people of this remote border village the construction of the community centre was undertaken by the Headquarters Romeo Force.

Applauding the Army’s initiative, the SDM said, “The Rashtriya Rifles is playing a vital role in cementing the bonds of communal harmony in the border areas.” He asked the villagers to ensure the proper maintenance of the community centre.

Aniruddh, BDO, Surankote, appreciated the efforts of the Rashtriya Rifles, which, besides fighting anti-national elements, also contributed to developmental activities. He also appealed to the residents of Jaran Wali Gali village to extend cooperation to the RR for welfare and development activities in their areas.

Jammu, September 3
Government College for Women, Parade, today organised two workshops on “Emerging Trends in Information Technology” and “Career Counselling Job Skill Development”, sponsored by the Department of Science and Technology and the UGC, respectively.

Minister for Higher Education, Labour and Employment Abdul Gani Malik was the chief guest while Dr Sham Lal Gupta, Director, Colleges, presided over the function.

In her welcome address, Dr Kiran Bakshi, principal of the college, extended a warm welcome to the chief guest and other dignitaries.

The minister said besides academics, co-curricular activities were important for the overall development of the students. He appreciated the college administration for taking the lead in conducting such events.

Srinagar, September 3
Minister for Agriculture Ghulam Hassan Mir has said the state government is taking holistic steps for the growth of the food industry in the state as it has a huge potential for expanding economic opportunities.

Mir said this while addressing a conference on “Food and Drink Industry” organised by the Indo-British Trade Council at Leicester, UK, yesterday.

The minister said the food and drink industry was an ever-growing economic activity and had a preeminent role in expanding employment opportunities. “This sector has to grow, if prosperity in the world has to grow. That is how I see them — mutually inclusive,” he added.

Mir said in India the sector had seen one of the fastest transformations. The Indian food and drink market was at present witnessing the entry of a large number of supermarkets, hypermarkets, shopping malls and fast food chains.