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Omar: I wish India shows spine while dealing with China
Chenab water to quench thirst of Greater Jammu
The proposed site for the Chenab water project near Akhnoor Bridge. Tribune photo: Inderjeet Singh
MLA to move court on rights violations
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10 injured as mourners clash with police
Policemen fire tear gas shells and use water cannons to disperse people during a Muharram procession in Srinagar on Sunday. Tribune photo: Amin War
Govt has eroded democratic institutions: Mufti
Expelled BJP legislators seek legal opinion
Police seeks public cooperation to curb increasing suicides
Sarpanches, panches and prominent persons of the area attend a police-public meet on suicides, at Majakta in Udhampur on Saturday. A Tribune photograph
Dev Anand will be sorely missed, says Omar
Play shows agony of survivors of twin bombings in Japan
Adventure sports to boost tourism
Tourists enjoy rafting in the Chenab at Reasi on Sunday. A Tribune photo
Mufti: Govt has eroded democratic institutions
Omar, Governor pay tributes to Sheikh Abdullah
Relatives protest over cop’s death
Teachers’ body reelected
Annual Day celebrated
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Omar: I wish India shows spine while dealing with China
Mumbai, December 4 “I wish India shows some spine while dealing with China,” he said. “At a recent event, the government stood up and said they would not postpone the Dalai Lama’s function in Delhi just because the Chinese were coming there to hold border talks. I wish this is a position we take more often. “China seems to have no problem in calling Kashmir a disputed region. But we are expected to follow a ‘One China’ policy and not call into question Taiwan’s status, or not call into question Tibet’s status,” Omar observed here last night while speaking at a function organised as part of a series of conversations with newsmakers. “Why is it that China wants us to follow ‘One China’ policy for them but it won’t follow a ‘One India’ policy for India,” he asked. “Why should they call into question Arunachal Pradesh’s status? Why should they call into question parts of Jammu and Kashmir? They are illegal occupants of parts of my state. They need to accept that,” he said. “I think that for far too long we have been apologetic, both in terms of our relationship with Pakistan and also China which we don’t need to be. I think we should deal with China on an equal footing. If they call into question parts of our sovereignty, we have every right to call into question parts of their sovereignty,” he asserted. His statement was greeted with thunderous applause from the gathering. Omar also spoke of the return of peace to the Valley, doubling of the number of tourists, problems in areas like power and infrastructure. To a query, he said his government was willing to render all possible help to make Kashmir a favoured destination for Bollywood once again. — PTI
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Chenab water to quench thirst of Greater Jammu
Jammu, December 4 Minister for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Taj Mohi ud Din said this here today. He said, “We have conceptualised the whole project and it will be materialised keeping in mind the growing needs of Greater Jammu (city and adjoining colonies). This will surely solve the water scarcity problem for the coming 50 years.” Lifting water from the Tawi alone was not sufficient to meet the requirement of the whole city at present, he said. Giving details of the project, he said, “The project will cost around Rs 800 crore and the amount has been approved by the Asian Development Bank. In all, 105 (million gallons per day) mgd water will be drawn from the Chenab. At present, only 39 mgd water is lifted from the Tawi.” One could well imagine how big a difference this three-fold increase in the quantity of water would make. Asked about the proposed site to set up the water-lifting plant, he said a spot about 1 km downstream the old Chenab Bridge at Akhnoor town had been identified. Taj further revealed, “Our thrust is to provide clean water and for that a filtration plant and a pre-settling tank would also be installed at the same spot.” To a question on unending silt trouble with the Chenab, he said, “Keeping the fact in mind we have already thought of the remedy. A huge silt-removing plant will be set up at the same spot.” He also said the water lifted from the source site would be carried to two major collection points at Roopnagar and Muthi and the points would again be connected to the already existing reservoirs of the Department of PHE at various locations, including Lohar, Manda and
Beli-Cherana. |
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MLA to move court on rights violations
Srinagar, December 4 “The state government has not implemented the recommendations of the SHRC…. On Human Rights Day (December 10), I will knock at the door of the high court to seek justice in cases of human rights violations,” Rasheed said while addressing a press conference here. “I will seek implementation of the SHRC proposals,” he added. Rasheed alleged the state government had “completely failed” to protect fundamental rights of the people.
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10 injured as mourners clash with police
Srinagar, December 4 Undeclared restrictions on the movement of the people by the government to thwart the traditional Muharram procession paralysed normal life across Srinagar today. Clashes broke out between a group of Shia mourners and police at Hari Singh High Street and Jehangir chowk as they tried to march towards Abi Guzar in Lal Chowk, police said. Police used batons and water canons to disperse the mourners, who turned violent and started pelting stones at the law enforcing personnel, they said. Nine protesters and a driver of a police vehicle were injured in the clashes which lasted for couple of hours. Meanwhile, over 50 protesters were detained in various parts in the city,
the police said. Even as the religious procession taken out on the 8th of Muharram was banned after the eruption of militancy in the Kashmir valley, authorities deployed teams of the security forces at main city points to thwart the march attempts that used to be taken out from Guru Bazaar, the city's interior locality, and would finally culminate at Dal Gate before passing through Lal Chowk. However, despite the ban, several attempts were made to take out the processions forcing the security forces to resort to the use of cane-charge and tear gas shelling at Jehangir Chowk and the Maisuma area. The police also took several people into preventive custody, who tried to carry on with the march towards Lal Chowk despite the use of force. Eyewitnesses said protesters also threw stones at the security forces and the clashes continued till late afternoon. Due to undeclared restrictions, normal life was hit as it resulted in heavy traffic jams in various areas around the city centre. “The government should have announced beforehand that the movement in the areas around Lal Chowk will not be allowed today. Once the movement of the people at Lal Chowk is not allowed, the entire city gets paralysed. Moreover, the movement of the people in downtown Srinagar too was restricted,” said a local, who claimed he was stuck in a traffic jam at Raj Bagh for half an hour. Street hawkers at the Sunday market, which attracts huge crowds from all over the Valley, too were not allowed to set up stalls in and around Lal
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Govt has eroded democratic institutions: Mufti
RS Pura, December 4 Mufti, who was addressing a public meeting in this border town to admit former Municipal Committee chairman and eminent Dalit leader Bhushan Lal Dogra into his party, said the PDP had restored people faith in democracy but the present regime had undermined such institutions through its misdeeds and gimmicks. To substantiate his allegations, Mufti pointed out that inordinate delay in conducting local bodies’ elections spoke about the mindset of the government which, according to him, was not interested in decentralising the power to grassroots level. The last civic bodies elections were held in 2005, after a gap of 25 years, when Mufti Mohammad Sayeed was the Chief Minister of the state. “We not only conducted the civic body elections, but also empowered such bodies by delegating powers to the elected representatives,” he said. |
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Expelled BJP legislators seek legal opinion
Jammu, December 4 After expelling six MLAs from the primary membership of the party on November 18 this year, Jugal Kishore Sharma, claiming to be leader of the BJP Legislature Party, had asked Speaker to disqualify all of them from the membership of the Assembly as, according to him, they had violated whip of the party during the Legislative Council elections. The Speaker had earlier stated that he would give his decision in the first week of December, but later he deferred his ruling on the fate of expelled BJP legislators. Apart from waiting for the decision of the Speaker, the expelled MLAs have also sought legal opinion on the case. They had gone to Delhi to consult some eminent legal experts for approaching the Court of Law in case decision of the Speaker was not in their favour. “We have consulted some legal experts and sought their opinion on the whole matter,” Anil Gupta, son of expelled BJP leader Chaman Lal Gupta told The Tribune and added that expelled legislators had also decided to contest claim of Jugal Kishore Sharma as Legislature Party leader in the Assembly. “As par the Assembly record, Chaman Lal Gupta is leader of the BJP in the Assembly because out of total 11 MLAs of the party, seven are in his group. So, he enjoys majority,” Gupta claimed. He added that the rivals had called a meeting of their supporters on December 15 to decide on the future course of action. Trying to project themselves as victims of internal politics of the party, rival leaders have also started touring their respective constituencies to mobilise public support in their favour. Sources close to dissident leaders said expelled MLAs had been trying to get status of a separate group in the Assembly. Instead of joining any other political party, the expelled leaders would try to maintain status of a separate group under the leadership of Chaman Lal Gupta. |
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Police seeks public cooperation to curb increasing suicides
Udhampur, December 4 The first-of-its-kind initiative by the state police drew enthusiastic response from the people. Almost all sarpanches and panches of 17 panchayats of the area and many prominent persons, including retired officers, attended the meet. “This step by the police is really appreciable because many young lives are lost due to suicides. Incidentally, this was the first police-public meet in our area,” said Dina Nath, sarpanch of Majalta. Shakeel Ahmad Beig, SSP, Udhampur, told The Tribune that the problem caused by varied socio-economic reasons seemed to be acquiring huge proportions. “At least one such case a week is being reported in the area under my jurisdiction. The meeting was organised because public sensitisation and involvement is the key to minimise such cases,” said SSP Beig who also ensured presence of many officers from the civil administration, including Block Medical Officer concerned, and owners of chemist shops. Various reasons that generally drove people to take the extreme step, such as use of drugs, examination stress, economic crisis and dowry demand, were discussed during the interaction. “We had made the presence of chemists and druggists of the area a must. They were warned in the presence of all to ensure that drugs like Neauon and Tik 20 were not sold without authorised prescription, failing which strict action would be taken against them. It was also advised that the drugs should be kept out of the reach of children, teenagers and newly married housewives,” Beig added. The interaction threw up remedial measures like on-the-spot recruitment drive by the J&K Police etc. as economic despair was considered to be one of the major reasons among the youth for committing suicides. The participants were assured that their demands would be conveyed to the higher authorities concerned. Similar meetings will also be held in Chenani, Sudhmahadev, Latti and Dudu-Basantgarh areas in the district.
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Dev Anand will be sorely missed, says Omar
Srinagar, December 4 “The passing of an era, a void never to be filled. Rest in peace Dev Sahib. A legend in your own life time, you will be sorely missed,” Omar tweeted. In another tweet, Omar said, “Dev Sahib’s career spanned the best & the worst of Hindi cinema - from the highs of Guide to the lows of Swami Dada, but always entertaining.” Dev had shot several movies in the Valley and has got many fans here. Meanwhile, Bollywood actor of Kashmiri origin Anupam Kher has also condoled his death. “Just heard the sad news about Dev Saab. Somehow believed he will ALWAYS be there with us. My first hero. An institution of optimism. RIP,” he tweeted. Kher kept on tweeting on Dev throughout the course of the day. “Dev Saab was kind, passionate, courageous, forthright, charming, encouraging, contemporary, always a leader and a great human. Will Miss him…..Had once asked Dev Saab why did he speak so fast? His reply was “Life is too short Anupam. I don’t “ve time to speak slowly,” he said. Meanwhile, former Director Information Narinder Singh, who shared a close bond with legendary actor and film-maker, Dev Anand, today condoled his death. Singh said the news about the demise of the veteran actor had come as a shock and was a personal loss to him. “Right from 1950’s I was a big fan of Dev Anand. Later, when I was appointed as the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Jammu and Kashmir Government in Mumbai, I developed a very good relation with Dev Anand,” Singh recalled. He added, “Dev Sahab was very affectionate and committed as a person.”
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Play shows agony of survivors of twin bombings in Japan
Jammu, December 4
The play tells the story of the after effects of the bombings on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan during the World War II. Through the perspective of one of the survivors of that tragedy, the play presents the pain and agony of the war through powerfully woven words. It creates the images of heart rendering scenario, which was the outcome of the bombings which caused mass casualties and mass destruction. The survivors of the twin bombings had to live in difficult circumstances with crippled and burnt bodies. The play was presented in a solo narrative style. Dhanesh Dogra, an experienced theatre actor exhibited his versatility and brought alive every emotion on the stage. Lights were designed and executed by Gurav Jamwal and Vipin Gupta rendered the music. The show was coordinated by Sumeet Sharma, who also did the presentations.
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Adventure sports to boost tourism
Reasi, December 4 Rafting on the Chenab waters is taking place after 22 years. The last time when an Indo-American team led by Ken Warren went rafting down the river was in 1989. For villagers of Reasi district, this is a novel sight, for they are finally getting a glimpse of the lighter side of life. Robin Singh Mehta, Director, Department of Tourism, said, “The socio-economic growth here has been retarded and in order to boost it, tourism is the only way out. The Tourism Department is training 20 local persons and has roped in tour operators to promote adventure tourism.” Gurjeet Singh is one of them. He has now raised his own company under the name “Eco-Adventures”. He said, “We are the first to come and explore the possibility of rafting here. We will document it, for 22 years is a long time.” Avinash Baloria from New Delhi, who was on tour to the Vaishno Devi shrine, spared some time to go rafting down the Chenab. “I’m returning home by the evening train, but the next time, I would specially come for rafting in the Chenab here,” he said. |
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Mufti: Govt has eroded democratic institutions
RS
Pura, December 4 Mufti, who was addressing a public meeting in this border town to admit former Municipal Committee chairman and eminent Dalit leader Bhushan Lal Dogra into his party, said the PDP had restored people faith in democracy but the present regime had undermined such institutions through its misdeeds and gimmicks. To substantiate his allegations, Mufti pointed out that inordinate delay in conducting local bodies’ elections spoke about the mindset of the government which, according to him, was not interested in decentralising the power to grassroots level. The last civic bodies elections were held in 2005, after a gap of 25 years, when Mufti Mohammad Sayeed was the Chief Minister of the state. “We not only conducted the civic body elections, but also empowered such bodies by delegating powers to the elected representatives,” he said and added more than two years have been passed, but the government had not taken any step to conduct elections of civic bodies. |
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Omar, Governor pay tributes to Sheikh Abdullah
Jammu, December 4 “Sheikh Sahib denotes the state’s high traits of pluralistic ethos and communal harmony. He nurtured and strengthened this characteristic and cemented the bonds of love between various sections of society and different regions of the state,” he added. “The slogan of ‘Hindu-Muslim-Sikh-Ithad’ raised and practised by the Sher-e-Kashmir throughout his life, still reverberates in the Valley. The universal harmony cultivated by Sheikh Sahib has become an integral part of the state’s quality,” he said. The Chief Minister said Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah was the epitome of sacrifices and he always fought for the cause and dignity of the people. “His target was the empowerment of the common man and the holistic development of the state. His vision of ‘Naya Kashmir’ embedded an equitable and comprehensive development of all the sections and all the regions,” he elaborated. Omar said the establishment of a powerful panchayat system in the state was our tribute to Sheikh Abdullah and our determination was to realise the dream of prosperous Jammu and Kashmir dreamt by Sheikh Sahib. Meanwhile, Governor NN Vohra paid rich tributes to Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah on his birth anniversary and recalled his significant contribution to the development of Jammu and Kashmir. In his message, the Governor said Sheikh Sahib was among the notable leaders of his time, who had worked closely with many national leaders, particularly Mahatma Gandhi and Pt Jawaharlal Nehru. The Governor added that Sheikh Abdullah was a farsighted person, who was committed to safeguarding the pluralistic traditions and strengthening the democracy. He said he had launched several path breaking initiatives to secure the rapid and all round development of the people of the state.
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Relatives protest over cop’s death
Jammu, December 4 They were demanding that a case of murder be registered against senior officers of deceased cop, Shahid Mehmood. The protesting relatives of the deceased constable said his immediate senior officers were responsible for the death of Shahid. However, the posters left the premises after Minister of State for Power and Transport Shabir Ahmed Khan assured them that the case would be properly investigated into. Earlier, a board of three doctors conducted a post-mortem examination on the body and later handed it over to the relatives.
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Teachers’ body reelected
Jammu, December 4 As per a press release, Satesh Bhan from GGM Science College was elected as the general secretary, Anjali Mahajan from SPMR Commerce College and Ranjit Singh from Government Degree College, Kathua, were elected as vice-presidents and Chanchala Khajuria was elected as a treasurer. The other elected members included Khadam Hussain, Mohammad Farooq Mirza, Naresh Kumar Gupta, Janak Singh Andotra, SK Magotra, Udhey Banoo, Attar Singh, Vijay Sharma and Javed zargar. The elections were conducted under the supervision of Zaman Choudhary, Principal of Government Degree College,
Surankote.
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Annual Day celebrated
Jammu, December 4 Earlier, Ritu Beri, Principal of the School, read out the annual performance report of the school.
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With an aim to meet the growing water needs of the consistently expanding city, the government for the first time is mulling to exploit water of the Chenab for household use.
At least 10 persons were injured when Shia mourners clashed with the police after they were prevented from taking out a Muharram procession in restricted areas in the city, the police said.
Undeclared restrictions on the movement of the people by the government to thwart the traditional Muharram procession paralysed normal life across Srinagar today.
The Udhampur district police authorities organised a police-public meet to create awareness on suicide deaths at
Majalta, about 40 km from here, yesterday. The first-of-its-kind initiative by the state police drew enthusiastic response from the people. Almost all sarpanches and panches of 17 panchayats of the area and many prominent persons, including retired officers, attended the meet.
Reasi, December 4
