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Govt employees go on 3-day strike
Suspended BJP MLAs eye JMC elections
Proper management of water resources |
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Life hit in Valley on Geelani’s call
Defence Secy visits White Knight Corps
Foreign tourists flock to Ladakh for mountaineering
UK urged to lift adverse travel advisory
Kashmiri Pandits perform ‘maha yajna’ after 20 years
Teachers’ forum supports striking employees
ED team heads for state to fast-track probes
Rules violated in recruitment of constables: MLA
IGNOU holds 24th convocation
Villagers block highway over water shortage
Manual on Kashmiri language released
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Govt employees go on 3-day strike
Jammu, September 6 A three-day strike call, beginning today, was given by the Joint Consultative Committee of employee associations after their two rounds of talks with the government over the past two days failed to break the deadlock. Employees of various schools, colleges, the District Court, the Jammu Municipal Corporation and hospitals held rallies in the city in support of their demands. However, essential services, including health, power and water supply, were kept out of the purview of the strike. The JCC is also demanding an increase in the retirement age from 58 to 60 years. The employees across the Jammu region did not attend offices. Though some employee unions remained neutral to the strike call, employees under the banner of the JCC held protests against the “nonchalant attitude” of the government towards their demands. Raising slogans against the government for its “callous attitude”, the employees staged protests outside the offices of the Divisional Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner, Agriculture and Horticulture departments and various educational institutions. Addressing the agitating employees, JCC leader Ram Kumar Sharma warned the government that they would intensify their agitation in the coming days. “We will not budge unless our demands are met. We will continue our strike. The talks with the government have not yielded any result,” he said. Sharma asked the government not to ignore the genuine demands of the employees, who were bit by rising prices. “We have given enough time to the government, but it has failed to fulfil our demands. It has betrayed the employees. Though it had agreed in principle on regularising the services of ad hoc and contractual workers, it backtracked on its promise,” said Sharma. In Srinagar, there was a thin attendance in government offices. Most of the employees could not reach their offices due to the lack of transport. The demands n
The payment of the arrears of the Sixth Pay Commission in two instalments. n
A policy for regularising the services of daily rated workers, who have completed seven years of service after 1994. n
Increase in the retirement age from 58 to 60 years. n
The implementation of the DA order in favour of public sector employees. |
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Suspended BJP MLAs eye JMC elections
Jammu, September 6 On the one hand, the six suspended MLAs have been claiming that they are the real face of the BJP, on the other they have started preparations for the coming elections of the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) and other civic bodies, where the BJP has high stakes. The BJP high command had expelled Chaman Lal Gupta hoping that this would pressure the six suspended MLAs to mend their ways. However, its “pressure tactics” failed to yield expected results and instead of succumbing to the pressure, the suspended MLAs intensified their activities to give a befitting reply to the party leadership and display their strength during the civic body elections. Although the JMC elections were yet to be announced, dissidents had finalised a list of potential candidates. “We want to show our strength to the party leadership during the upcoming civic body poll,” a suspended MLA told The Tribune. He added that they were eyeing the JMC elections. Some former councillors of the JMC had already joined the suspended MLAs. The BJP leadership has reasons to worry as Gupta represents the Jammu West Assembly constituency, from where the maximum number of BJP councillors have emerged victorious in the last JMC elections in 2005. |
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Proper management of water resources
Srinagar, September 6 The task force will establish a mechanism for receiving regular reports about all water management-related issues and based on a valid data of groundwater and other water sources draw a well-considered approach for the utilisation of the water resources for irrigation, human, animal, industrial and various other requirements. They observed that in view of climate change and global warming, the setting up of such a task force was imperative for ensuring effective water management for the satisfaction of multiple demands and securing against loss and wasteful practices. The Governor and the Chief Minister were addressing the sixth meeting of the University Council of the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST), Jammu, at Raj Bhawan here today, an official spokesman said. The Governor, who chaired the meeting, referred to the vocational training courses being run by the agricultural universities and stressed the need for upgrading the skills of the unemployed youth and creating awareness among the rural population about the training facilities being provided by the varsities. Besides other routes for the dissemination of information, the Vice-Chancellors must make the full use of the Panchayati Raj institutions and the extension agencies of the government for the purpose. The Governor also stressed the need for well-considered initiatives for the promotion of organic farming in the state, particularly by availing the benefits available under various Centrally-sponsored schemes and generating awareness among the growers so that they get better economic returns for their produce. The Governor asked the Vice-Chancellor of the SKUAST, Jammu, to take the required steps so that new Krishi Vigyan Kendras could be set up in the Jammu division well before the close of the Eleventh Five Year Plan. The Chief Minister, who is the Pro-Chancellor of the university, highlighted the importance of the agriculture and allied sectors in the economy of the state. He said the agricultural universities had to play a specific role to secure a progressive increase in farm productivity and production by incorporating new techniques. |
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Life hit in Valley on Geelani’s call
Srinagar, September 6 Shops, schools, business establishments and petrol stations were closed due to the strike, while public transport remained off the roads, officials said. However, some private vehicles could be seen plying on the roads in the city, they said. Geelani had called for a two-day strike beginning today demanding an end to the arrests of youths and the release of those already arrested. He also demanded the release of all political prisoners. The effect of the strike was felt more due to the three-day strike of government employees. There was a thin attendance in government offices, as the three-day strike by the state government employees also affected working in these offices. Many educational institutions and banks here were also closed. However, hospital and other essential services were not affected due to the strike. Life was also disrupted in other major towns of the Valley, including Baramulla, Kupwara and Sopore in north Kashmir, Budgam and Ganderbal district headquarters in the central Kashmir and Anantnag, Pulwama and Shopian in south Kashmir. All the shops and business establishments in these areas were closed and there was a thin attendance in government offices. Many private schools in the towns also remained closed in response to the bandh call. There was no passenger transport on the roads, adversely affecting the movement of people throughout the Valley. |
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Defence Secy visits White Knight Corps
Jammu, September 6 The General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the White Knight Corps, Lt-Gen JP Nehra, gave a detailed account of the security situation in the areas south of the Pir Panjal range. The Defence Secretary and the Vice-Chief of the Army Staff later visited the forward areas in the Bhimber Gali sector. They were briefed about the counter-infiltration operations on the Line of Control (LoC) by Maj-Gen KH Singh, GOC, Ace of Spades Division. They were also told about the recent ceasefire violations by Pakistan, spurt in infiltration attempts by militants and measures adopted by the Army to counter such attempts. The delegation later visited the Maniyarwala-based Counter Insurgency Force (Romeo), where Maj-Gen GS Shergill, GOC, Romeo Force, gave an overview of the prevailing internal security situation in the Rajouri and Poonch sectors. Maj-Gen Shergill apprised the delegation about the multifarious activities being undertaken by the Rashtriya Rifles to combat militancy in the region. The delegation expressed satisfaction over the alertness of the Army on the LoC and the relentless operations in the hinterland by the security forces. Later in the afternoon, the officials flew back to New Delhi. |
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Foreign tourists flock to Ladakh for mountaineering
Leh, September 5 The number of expeditions has also increased from 297 last year to 430 this year. Due to easy accessibility and a few regulations, Stok Kangri in the Zangkar Range and Mentok Kangri in the Korzok valley, among other peaks, have been popular with mountaineers. Stok Kangri is famous among the mountaineers for viewing Nanga Parbat, Mount Kailash and the Nun Kun peak. The chairman of the Adventure Tour Operators Association, Tsewang Mutup, said a total of 23 expeditions had been conducted till now in the restricted areas of Ladakh. However, three expeditions had visited the Karakoram Range in the Nubra valley. In Ladakh, which is the number one destination for adventure tourists in India, mountaineering is divided into three categories for security reasons. The Indian Mountaineering Foundation issues permits for the expeditions to be conducted in the open zone areas. Foreign mountaineering expeditions in the inner line zone and to the restricted areas require a permit from the Defence Ministry and the Union Home Ministry and an X-visa issued by the Indian Embassy in the country of origin of the members of the expedition. Despite the opening of additional peaks with the grant of security clearance for mountaineering last year, Ladakh still remains the second unexplored place in the world. Mutup said the regulations for mountaineering were stringent and many foreign expeditions were cancelled at the eleventh hour. “There should be an equal number of Indians in the foreign expeditions and a liaison officer as the representative of the Indian government. The expenses of Indian members should be borne by the foreign expedition,” Mutup added. Dr C Rangarajan, who headed an expert group on Jammu and Kashmir, has mentioned in his report about the scope of mountaineering in Ladakh. He has recommended the formulation of tourist-friendly policies to encourage tourism by reviewing various security restrictions. |
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UK urged to lift adverse travel advisory
Srinagar, September 6 Minister for Tourism and Culture Nawang Rigzin Jora made a strong plea to British Deputy High Commissioner Jullan Evans, who along with a team of senior British Embassy officers, is on a three-day visit to Kashmir, an official spokesman said. Jora reminded Evans that Germany had lifted its adverse travel advisory on Jammu and Kashmir and following which a large number of foreign tourists were visiting the state. He said the lifting of the adverse travel advisory by the UK would also encourage tourists from Commonwealth countries like Australia, New Zealand, Canada etc., to visit Kashmir. He added tourism was the mainstay of the state’s economy and the state government had launched a vigorous tourism promotion campaign across the country as well as abroad. The minister said a team of Tourism Department officials, along with the representatives of tour and travel trade, shikarawallas and houseboat owners, visited Malaysia to showcase the state’s rich tourism treasure. Malaysia is considered one of the few potential foreign countries from where tourists visit the state in a large number. He added the tourism promotion campaigns were also launched in Kolkata, Jaipur and Mumbai this year to attract domestic tourists. The Tourism Minister apprised the British Deputy High Commissioner about various tourism promotion measures undertaken by the government. He told him that the main focus was on bringing the virgin tourism places on the world tourism map. The creation of a world-class tourism infrastructure was also the government’s priority. Jora said the government had established 20 tourism development authorities to exploit the vast tourism potential of the state. “Our motto is to diversify the tourism itinerary to newer and virgin tourist places like Bangus, Gurez, Doodpathri, Verinag, Kokernag, Aharhbal, Wullar and Mansbal, besides the main tourist destinations of Gulmarg and Pahalgam,” he said. He also apprised the visiting British team about the vast pilgrim tourism potential of the state. He added that the number of Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrims could touch the one crore mark while the Amarnath yatris had touched the all time high of over 6.35 lakh this year. |
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Kashmiri Pandits perform ‘maha yajna’ after 20 years
Srinagar, September 6 Minister of State for Roads and Buildings Javeed Ahmad Dar and District Development Commissioner, Baramulla, Bashir Ahmad Bhat were present on the occasion, an official spokesman said. The minister said Kashmir was incomplete without the Kashmiri Pandits and appealed to them to return to the Valley. He added that the government was committed to facilitating their safe return. Congratulating the Pandit community and others on the occasion, Dar hoped that the auspicious occasion would prove to be the harbinger of peace and prosperity in the state. The devotees demanded the renovation of the temple, construction of an approach road, a provision for permanent water and electricity facilities. They also called for developing the Venkuri area as a tourist destination. The minister assured the Kashmiri Pandits that their demands would be met in a phased manner. He said the construction work under several mega and minor road projects in the Rafiabad constituency was apace. He added that a survey for the construction and development of the Venkuri road, including a link road to Shri Ganga Mata Asthapan, was also under consideration. Swami Poshkar Nath and other prominent Kashmiri Pandits appreciated the contribution of the Muslims to the yajna and stressed the need to strengthen communal harmony and brotherhood. They also appreciated the administration for making elaborate arrangements for the function. |
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Teachers’ forum supports striking employees
Jammu, September 6 Rajinder Gupta, president of the forum, said they had decided to assemble on the Exhibition Ground tomorrow to stage a protest against the state government. He said they would also participate in a Secretariat Gherao programme on September 8 in which a large number of employees would assemble under the banner of the Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) in favour of their demand for the payment of the arrears of the Sixth Pay Commission. Meanwhile, the forum staged a protest at Government Girls Higher Secondary School, Satwari. |
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ED team heads for state to fast-track probes
Srinagar, September 6 This is possibly the first time that the ED has deputed its senior officials to the Valley for investigations in such cases, official sources said. The move comes after Union Home Secretary RK Singh chaired a high-level meeting recently in which officials from the ED, Income Tax, intelligence agencies and paramilitary forces, besides police officers from the Jammu and Kashmir regions participated. During the meeting, sources said, the ED and the investigative wing of the Income Tax Department raised the question regarding the security of their team members while pursuing the cases against hawala operators and separatist leaders. The state police gave a complete assurance in this regard. The ED had been talking to various security agencies and the police to gather more details about the cases and would decide as to in how many cases the PMLA could be invoked, the sources said. — PTI |
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Rules violated in recruitment of constables: MLA
Jammu, September 6 He said the recruitments were held in contravention of the constitutional guarantees, as stipulated in the Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution for the purpose of public employment. In a statement issued here yesterday, Harsh Dev, who is the working chairman of the Panthers Party, said the Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution envisaged a provision for wide publicity to the selection process through the issuance of advertisement notices in leading newspapers, an opportunity of selection to the maximum eligible youth and the holding of the selection process on the basis of the established criteria and the stipulated norms. He said all the norms were violated and the selections were made in the most arbitrary and clandestine manner recently. He added such selections were made purely on extraneous and political considerations. Harsh Dev said no law permitted the recruitment of police constables in such a way. |
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IGNOU holds 24th convocation
Jammu, September 6 The convocation was held at Government College for Women, Gandhi Nagar, here and Prof RNK Bamezai, VC of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, was the guest of honour. Bamezai awarded degrees and diplomas to the eligible learners. A total of 792 learners from the Regional Centre, Jammu, were declared eligible to receive diplomas and degree certificates. About 234 learners were awarded degrees and diplomas at the function. Two special students of IGNOU, namely Labhu Ram Sehgal and Vishal Koul, were felicitated on the occasion for their achievements. — TNS
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Villagers block highway over water shortage
Jammu, September 6 Reports said the Gujjars and the Bakerwals from Raguda, Dabbar, Majheen and Palpard villages, falling in the Sidhra panchayat segment, blocked the highway in protest against water shortage. They also shouted anti-government slogans. The protesters gave a two-day ultimatum to the government to improve water supply. However, they lifted the blockade after some senior officials of the Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department assured them that immediate measures would be initiated to redress their grievances.
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Manual on Kashmiri language released
Srinagar, September 6 “The manual is significant from the research point of view. It will go a long way in helping students and scholars of Kashmiri language and literature,” university’s Vice-Chancellor Talat Ahmad said after releasing the manual. The “Kashmiri Style Manual”, the first of its kind, has been prepared by Mysore-based Central institution of Indian languages in collaboration with the Linguistics and Kashmiri departments of the University of Kashmir. — PTI
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Jammu, September 6
