The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	Mehbooba takes anti-Omar protest to the streets Asks party workers to be ready for ‘long battle’ to bring in a change Tribune News Service/ PTI Srinagar, October 5 The opposition PDP took out a protest march against the ruling National Conference and the government led by Omar Abdullah, seeking his resignation over the mysterious death of a ruling NC worker here last week. Led by the PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, several PDP legislators and hundreds of party workers marched from the party headquarters to Lal Chowk through Residency Road. They held a sit-in at Regal Chowk after the riot police stopped them. For the last few days, the party had been protesting in the Assembly over the issue. The opposition party demanded that the “killers” of NC worker Sayeed Mohammad Yousuf, who allegedly died in police custody after being handed over to the Crime Branch, be identified and brought to justice. “A person (Yousuf) goes hale and hearty into the Chief Minister's residence and comes out half dead. This is not only the question of Mohammad Yousuf, but an issue of the common man,” Mehbooba said, addressing her party workers. The PDP president was accompanied by party leaders Dilawar Mir and Nizam-ud-din Bhat. A large number of policemen had cordoned off the road leading to the Clock Tower. Several protesting party supporters were even injured in police action, leading to brief chaotic scenes. The PDP leader asked her party workers to prepare themselves for a “long battle” to bring in a change. Mehbooba alleged that there had been a breakdown in the system of governance in the state and accused Omar of leading a corrupt government. Mehbooba alleged that there were high levels of corruption within the government and the time had come to change the entire system in order to provide the state a “decent and accountable governance”. Asserting that corruption was rampant in the state, she held that that during the last three years, since Omar Abdullah’s government had taken over, it (corruption) had been institutionalised at the highest political level. She alleged that the rot was so common that the Chief Minister was comfortable discussing illegal transactions of money with his party cadre at his official residence. The opposition leader also accused Omar of ordering “eye- wash” investigations, and also raked up the issues of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru and disclosure of names of rape victims by the CM.
	Cross-voting Row BJP dissidents to step up stir against party leadership Dinesh Manhotra Tribune News Service Jammu, October 5 Encouraged by the decision of Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Mohammad Akbar Lone, rebel BJP legislators have decided to devise their future course of action to take on the party leadership on the cross-voting controversy. Despite the pandemonium created by Congress MLAs on the status of some BJP legislators who were suspended by their party for being allegedly involved in cross-voting, the Speaker repeatedly made it clear that he would not give any ruling on the issue because the matter was in court. Before the beginning of the Assembly session, the BJP leadership had expected that the Speaker would give a ruling on the status of six party legislators who were suspended by the party. But all hopes of the BJP leadership were dashed as the Speaker decided to maintain status quo on the issue. The autumn session of the Assembly ended yesterday amid pandemonium but the Speaker did not give his ruling on the status of seven BJP legislators, including the expelled MLA, Chaman Lal Gupta, who is still the BJP Legislature Party leader. “The Speaker has given his verdict of maintaining status quo, so Chaman Lal Gupta, who has been expelled by the party, is still our leader in the Assembly,” said Master Lal Chand, Bani MLA, who along with five other legislators of the party was placed under suspension after the April 13 cross-voting episode. “Despite his expulsion from the party, the majority of the BJP MLAs are with Chaman Lal Gupta so he has all the right to be the BJP Legislature Party leader in the Assembly,” Lal Chand told The Tribune. Sources in the rebel camp said the dissident BJP MLAs had called for a meeting on Saturday to devise the future course of action on the cross-voting controversy. The dissent MLAs would chalk out a strategy to counter the allegation levelled against them. “Although our supporters are going to launch a new party, we will keep a distance from the new party to maintain our membership in the Assembly,” a dissident MLA said, adding that they would launch a vigorous campaign in their respective assembly segments to educate the masses about the game plan of some party leaders to defame them. Meanwhile, sources in the BJP said the party leadership had received a severe setback as no decision had been taken on the status of the dissident MLAs.
	Intruder shot dead, Pak Rangers refuse to accept body Ashutosh Sharma Tribune News Service Jammu, October 5 The Pakistan Rangers today declined to take the body of an intruder, who was shot dead by the BSF in the Pragwal sub-sector at Rajpura village in the Akhnoor subdivision last night. Reports said a 50-year-old intruder entered the Indian side last night and the Pakistan Rangers opened fired at the Indian posts soon after the BSF gunned him down. “At a flag meeting between the Assistant Commander of the Pakistan Rangers and BSF Commandant Vipin Mohan Pal this afternoon, the former refused to accept the body saying the deceased was not of a Pakistan national,” sources said. The body was handed over to the police and a post-mortem was conducted at the Primary Health Centre, Pragwal. It was later buried at Pragwal in the evening. “The BSF recovered a sickle and Rs 515 of Pakistan currency from the slain intruder,” the sources said. They added the villagers were worried following the firing form the Pakistan side. “On spotting the intruder, our jawans first challenged him and then opened fire. The Pakistan Rangers targeted the Indian posts soon without any provocation and the firing continued for half an hour, but we exercised restraint,” said DIG, BSF, JS Oberoi. He added, “The Pakistan Rangers refused to take the body saying the dead was not a Pakistan national.” “No incriminating material was recovered from the intruder,” he said.
	Govt to ensure transparency: Minister Tribune News Service Srinagar, October 5 Asserting that the state government was endeavouring to provide a responsive, accountable and transparent administration to the people, Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather has said the promulgation of the Public Service Guarantee Act was a historical legislation, aimed to redress the grievances of the people in a time bound manner. “Public servants shall have to dispose of cases of the people in a specific time frame now or face disciplinary action as laid down in the Act,” Rather said while interacting with a large number of people and deputations during an Awami Mulakat at his official residence today. He said the Act would also help to eradicate corruption and make public servants accountable to the people. Rather said it was the government’s keen desire to reach out to the people of the state and assess their problems. The minister added the higher authorities had been directed to visit the far-flung areas to provide equal opportunities of justice, prosperity and development to the people.
	BJP welcomes CBI probe into Srinagar land scam Tribune News Service Jammu, October 5 Welcoming the Defence Ministry’s decision to get the Srinagar land scam probed by the CBI, the BJP said this vindicated the stand of the party on the issue. In a statement issued here today, BJP spokesman Jitender Singh, who is also the convener of the party’s state scam committee, said this was a compliment to the senior BJP leaders, including national BJP secretary Kirit Somaiya and state party president Shamsher Singh Manhas, who had led a party delegation to Defence Minister AK Antony and provided him the documentary evidence in the Rs 1,000 crore scam involving defence land in the vicinity of the Srinagar airport. “This is a breakthrough achieved due to the consistent efforts of the scam committee of the party,” he said. Jitender claimed that the BJP leadership had officially released a booklet giving the details of 200 acres worth Rs 1,000 crore having been split into 69 pieces and thereafter, without obtaining the mandatory no objection certificate (NOC), clandestinely sold in connivance with defence officials, state Revenue Department officials and private brokers. A report was also presented to Antony.
	Meerut Muslims’ tryst with Dasehra festivity in Jammu Ashutosh Sharma Tribune News Service Jammu, October 5 Mohammad Rehan and his 12-year-old son Mohammad Faizal, sweating profusely under the scorching sun, work along with 50-odd labourers and artisans to erect the effigies of Ravana, Kumbhkaran and Meghnath at the Parade Ground here, which is the oldest venue for Dasehra celebrations in the city. For the last 26 years, artisans from Meerut district in Uttar Pradesh have been coming here every year to make effigies for Dasehra. Today, on the eve of the festival, artisans under the supervision of Rehan are imparting finishing touches to the gigantic effigies at a hectic pace. The ground too is being readied for the event by the Sanatan Dharam Sabha and the district administration so that the event passes off smoothly. “Last year, I came to Jammu and Kashmir with 35 members and made 45 effigies but this time 55 artists are engaged in making 55 effigies, the orders for which poured from across the state,” Rehan says, adding that this is his 27th visit to the city. “We come here every year for 40-45 days. This time we got orders from Kashmir and Leh too but due to shortage of men, material and time, we had to refuse some orders from Samba, Kathua and Gura Slathia.” Rehan proudly declares that his forefathers were also into this business. “My forefathers were also associated with making effigies of Ravana, Kumbhkaran and Meghnath besides other material required during Ramlila. I have inherited the skill from them and now my son also wants to carry forward the family legacy,” he says, adding that at least 15 artisans in his group are Muslims. The business of effigy-makers may have increased, but price rise has impacted the spirit of Dasehra. “Last year we did business of nearly Rs 8 lakhs, this year it has grown by almost 50 per cent but the cost involved in the making of effigies has also gone up by 40 per cent. But I am hopeful that next year I will come with more artisans. This time we have had to hire labourers.” Jagdish Dogra, president of Sanatan Dharam Sabha, which organises the event every year, says: “Our organisation has been organising the event since 1947. Earlier, the festival had the patronage of the then Maharajas.” “To mark the celebration of Dasehra, the effigies of Ravana, Kumbhkaran and Meghnath are being burnt at Parade Ground for the last 200 years,” he says, adding that the event was organised with the help of voluntary contributions. “Last year, more than Rs 3.5 lakh were spent on the event but this time the budget has crossed Rs 5.5 lakh.” According to him, the Health Minister will be the chief guest at tomorrow’s function while Medical Education Minister RS Chib and MLA Ashok Khajuria will be the guests of honour.
	Sanitation drive on Vaishno Devi shrine route reviewed Tribune News Service Jammu, October 5 RK Goyal, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, accompanied by Dr Mandeep K Bhandari, Additional CEO, and a team of board officers, today reviewed the progress of the ongoing special sanitation campaign launched for removing garbage, which had accumulated over the years on the hill slopes along the yatra route between Banganga and the bhawan. The sanitation campaign has been launched on the directions of Governor NN Vohra as part of the board’s silver jubilee celebrations. Taking stock of the status of the campaign, Goyal said over 3,000 bags of solid wastes had been collected so far while the work was going on at a good speed to clear these slopes of waste material in the coming weeks. The sector-wise task forces set up by the board for the purpose had been supervising the collection of solid waste and garbage. Goyal, on his way from Katra to the bhawan, took stock of the progress of various ongoing development works aimed at facilitating the pilgrims. He said, “Measures were also being taken to augment the sanitation facilities. More toilets are being set up along the yatra route, while the existing ones were being renovated.”
	NASA astronaut shares her experiences with students Srinagar, October 5 National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) astronaut Marry Ellen Weber, who is on a visit to Kashmir, yesterday shared her experiences of space journey that ranged from “scary” to “responsible” with students. “I am here to share the experience of space with the students and the whole community here in Kashmir. I think going into space is so important and it touches everybody in the world, not just one country,” the NASA space shuttle astronaut, Marry Ellen Weber, told schoolchildren. Weber is here as part of a US cultural exchange programme. “When you launch into space, it is tremendous power that is needed to get you there. You are strapped in your spaceship, you have all of the forces going through you, like a guerrilla sitting on your chest. You have to work to breathe and everything is shaking and rumbling,” she said, recollecting her experience. Her lecture, “The Experience, Majesty and Future of Space”, delved into experiences of her two journeys into the space, her feelings, her worries, how the earth and the stars looked from there. “You feel a great deal of responsibility of not making a mistake, to do everything you can to make the mission successful and bring back the crew safely,” she remarked. “It is such an honour to be able to go into space. Apart from the honour, the actual feeling of going into space is very scary and risky,” Weber said on the sidelines of her interaction with the students. Weber, a veteran of two space shuttle flights, is among the youngest astronauts to be selected by NASA. She is also the 30th woman to travel into space, making 297 earth orbits and covering 2.8 million miles. — PTI
	Power Department registers 24% rise in revenue till Sept Archit Watts Tribune News Service Jammu, October 5 The Power Development Department (PDD) has claimed that it has achieved a sharp increase in revenue in the last nine months and it will also take some more steps to keep a check on power theft. Minister for Power Shabir Ahmed Khan said the PDD had realised a revenue of Rs 265.33 crore till September in the Jammu division. “During the corresponding period last year, the department had realised Rs 213.22 crore. This means revenue has risen by 24 per cent in the Jammu division,” Shabir said. Talking about the power scenario, the minister said he had directed the officials concerned to speed up the work of installing meters. “As many as 6,627 electronic meters have been installed in the Jammu division this year, besides some steps have also been taken to improve the power scenario,” said Shabir. Talking about power pilferage, he said Rs 2.38 crore had been recovered as fine during inspections by flying squads till September end. Shabir also appreciated the role of the PDD staff in improving revenue collection, he said. “Besides routine work, the PDD employees have provided uninterrupted power supply to the people of Katra during navratras. All possible arrangements, including additional transformers, were installed there.” Meanwhile, a senior PDD official said the department initiative to conduct raids at night had also given good results. “We are video-graphing the raids so that no one can point fingers towards us. So far, we have covered a few localities in cities and will soon go to villages where meters have been installed,” said the official.
	US holds cultural event in Kashmir after 22 years Srinagar, October 5 The US government yesterday organised a cultural event in Kashmir after a gap of nearly 22 years to promote people-to-people exchanges. “It is for the first time in 22 years that the American Centre is doing a cultural event in Kashmir,” the Cultural Attache at the American Embassy in New Delhi, David Mees, told reporters here. The US government had issued travel advisories on Jammu and Kashmir and limited its activities in the state in the early 1990s after the eruption of militancy. The reappearance of the US cultural activity in Kashmir was marked by an interaction of US astronaut and two-time space traveller Marry Ellen Weber with students af Girls’ Higher Secondary School at Kothibagh here, where she shared her experiences about the space travel with the students. “This is also the first time that the (US) State Department has asked Mary Allen Weber to be a speaker for us,” Mees said. He said the focus of the event was to promote “people-to-people” exchanges and create a contact between Kashmiris and Americans. “She did not speak as a government official. She does not work for NASA any longer... We did bring her (Weber) here to represent the American people,” the US official said. Mees said the security situation in Kashmir had improved. “There is hunger for a contact with the outside world and the exchange of ideas,” he added. — PTI
	Pallam Raju applauds BRO Tribune News Service Jammu, October 5 Union Minister of State for Defence MM Pallam Raju today visited the project Sampark headquarters here. The minister is on a two-day visit to the state. The Director General of Border Roads Organisation, Lt-Gen S Ravi Shankar, welcomed the minister and briefed him about the ongoing as well as future projects being undertaken by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) in the state. The minister interacted with officers, engineers, workers and jawans of project Sampark and appreciated their hard work and dedication in the construction and maintenance of roads and bridges in the state. “The entire nation is proud of the BRO for their contributions towards making excellent road communications in the border areas,” Raju said.
	People urged to disclose names of power pilferers Archit Watts Tribune News Service Jammu, October 5 To check power theft and minimise the losses of the Power Development Department (PDD), the state government has started wooing people to disclose the names of the offenders. Minister for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation Raman Bhalla, on a visit to Langer village, near the Kunjwani area here, today asked the people to come forward and disclose the names of the offenders to help the PDD eradicate the menace of power theft. “The department will honour those who will name the power pilferers,” said Bhalla. He also advised the people to use power judiciously, avoid illegal hooking, pay electricity bills on time and get the load sanctioned according to genuine consumption. Bhalla directed the PDD officials accompanying him to install 17 poles in the uncovered areas of the village within three days so that better power supply could be provided to the people. He assured the villagers that their development-related issues would be addressed in a phased manner. “The government is fully aware of the hardships being faced by the weaker sections of society and making all-out efforts to mitigate them on priority. There was no constraint of funds for the purpose,” said Bhalla. The minister impressed upon the officials concerned to maintain transparency in the distribution of Central and state funds among the needy, besides ensuring their timely disbursement.
	Cultural programme organised to attract pilgrims Tribune News Service Jammu, October 5 The state Tourism Department in collaboration with the District Administration organised a religious-cum-cultural function at Har-ki-Pauri, as part of its campaign to attract pilgrims to places of religious importance in the city. The congregation also marked the concluding event of the eight-day Navratra Festival-2011, organised by the department every year to promote pilgrimage tourism in this region of the state. The congregation witnessed a huge rush of devotees at the Har-ki-Pauri on the banks of the Tawi where a series of special prayers, including pooja archna and arti was performed, amid chanting of hymns. The highlight of the programme included a devotional song by Ghulam Mohammad and party and a devotional song with dance by Vijay and party, besides one-hour cultural programme by Bharatiya Lok Sangeet Kala Sansthan. Deputy Director Tourism, Ajay Sharma and Assistant Director Tourism, Ashima Sher, were present on the occasion.
	Gusty winds hit Kashmir Srinagar, October 5 Strong winds blew across the Kashmir valley, uprooting trees and electric poles at many places today, an official said here. The Srinagar-Baramulla national highway was blocked at Hyderbaig in the Pattan area, 30 km from here, after winds uprooted trees. The Power Department snapped electricity supply at many areas as a precautionary measure, he said. — PTI
	Nobra delegation calls on CM Tribune News Service Srinagar, October 5 A deputation from Nobra in Leh district of Ladakh region, led by MLA, T Namgyal called on Chief Minister Omar Abdullah here today and presented a memorandum of demands to him. The deputation brought to the notice of the Chief Minister various issues, pertaining to the development of the Nobra area. The Chief Minister said the government had underlined the speedy development of far-flung and remote areas as a priority concern and measures had been initiated in this direction. Omar assured the deputation of sympathetic consideration of their demands.
	CIC calls on Governor Srinagar, October 5 Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) GR Sufi called on Governor NN Vohra here last evening. During an hour-long meeting, the Governor and Sufi discussed several important matters relating to the role of the State Information Commission in furthering the interests of good governance. — TNS
	Youth commits suicide Jammu, October 5 An unemployed youth allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself from a hook in the ceiling of his room at Garkhal village in Akhnoor subdivision, under mysterious circumstances yesterday. The youth identified as Arjun Kumar was cremated after a postmortem in sub-district hospital at Akhnoor today. The family members of Arjun said he had gone to his room after having dinner with the family. Later, when they went to his room, they found him hanging from the hook. He was rushed to the hospital where doctors declared him brought dead. The family added that Arjun was a farmer and was not under any kind of stress. Meanwhile, the police has registered a case and has started the investigations. — TNS