The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	Cong steps up demand for rotational chief ministership Omar Abdullah to complete three years as CM on Jan 5 Dinesh Manhotra Tribune News Service Jammu, December 6 Even as the Congress high command has not given any hint regarding the change of guard in the state after completion of the three-year term of Omar Abdullah, local party leaders have stepped up campaign for rotational chief ministership. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is going to complete three years as Chief Minister on January 5, 2012, and a group of Congress leaders which owes its allegiance to Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) chief Saifuddin Soz has intensified its demand on the issue. Unlike other parts of the country, the tenure of the Assembly in Jammu and Kashmir is six years so Congress workers have been demanding that their party should be given an opportunity to head the government for the remaining three years. “We have conveyed our feeling to the party high command. We have also made it clear to the high command that for strengthening the party in the state, it is necessary that Congress should be given an opportunity to head the coalition government,” veteran Congress leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Mangat Ram Sharma told The Tribune. Sharma, who has been vociferously demanding rotational chief ministership in the state, said that final decision in his regard would be taken by the high command but a majority of the Congress workers and leaders of the state were of the view that the party should be given the opportunity to head the government. The veteran Congress leader made it clear that the chapter of rotational chief ministership was not closed and the issue was still alive. With the date of January 5 drawing nearer, Congress workers have stepped up their campaign. Party workers have been exerting pressure on leaders to convey their feelings to the high command. Today, party workers at a meeting strongly supported the demand of rotational chief ministership and asked the high command not to ignore the wishes of the local party workers. Congress workers not only showed their resentment towards coalition partner NC, but they also expressed their anger against some party ministers who were allegedly ignoring genuine party workers. Sources said some loyalists of Soz have already devised a strategy how to intensify the campaign in support of rotational chief ministership during the next fortnight. They have decided to send a delegation of senior leaders to meet the party high command to convey the feelings of local party workers. Spokesman of the JKPCC Ravinder Sharma told The Tribune it was not possible for them to stop party workers from raising the issue of rotational chief ministership. “Although decision of the high command would be acceptable to all workers yet in a democratic system everyone has the right to express their views,” he declared.
	Ambedkar’s death anniversary BSP vows to take up Mandal panel, trifurcation issues Dinesh Manhotra Tribune News Service Jammu, December 6 To strengthen its base in the Jammu province and rope in people belonging to all communities, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has decided to aggressively pursue the agenda of the trifurcation of the state and emphatically take up the issues of Other Backward Classes (OBCs). The state unit of the BSP announced its new programme during a function here today to observe the death anniversary of Dr BR Ambedkar. A large number of people belonging to all communities were present at the function. To rope in the OBCs to make the BSP a dominant force in Jammu and Kashmir, state party president Tulsi Dass Langeh said they would force the government to implement the Mandal Commission report. For the last two decades, the OBCs in the state had been agitating for getting the Mandal Commission report implemented and the BSP had decided to take up the issue to expand its base among the OBCs comprising both Muslims and Hindus. Unlike other parts of the country, the Mandal Commission report has not been implemented in the state and the OBCs are getting only 2 per cent reservation despite the fact that their counterparts in other states are getting 27 per cent quota. Keeping in view the OBC votes in the Jammu region, the Congress has already initiated some serious steps to consolidate its base among the community members. It has been taking credit for the constitution of the OBC Advisory Board. “The problems of the OBCs cannot be solved just by constituting the advisory board. The government should immediately implement the Mandal Commission report in the state to remove injustice done to the OBCs for decades,” argued Langeh and termed the government actions as “cosmetic” meant to hoodwink the people. “Besides taking up the cause of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes, we have also decided to highlight the problems of the OBCs on streets,” Langeh said. He warned that the party would launch an agitation over the issue soon. Similarly, Langeh also announced that they would seriously take up the BSP agenda of the trifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir. “We have chalked out a number of programmes for the agitation,” he said. Political observers thought the BSP decision to pursue the trifurcation agenda was aimed at making inroads into the bastions of the BJP in the Jammu province. As the BJP is of late struggling due to infighting in the party, the BSP has decided to take up the discrimination issue to strengthen its base in the region.
	Death of Woman in In-law’s House Victim’s family launches campaign on Facebook to gather support M Aamir Khan Srinagar, December 6 Family and friends of Shazia Majid, who was found dead under suspicious circumstances at her in-laws’ place here last month, have started an online campaign urging the locals to join a protest march here tomorrow. Shazia, mother of a three-year-old girl, who was working as a librarian at the Islamic University of Science and Technology, was found hanging at her in-laws’ place at Bagh-e-Mehtaab here on November 6. Even as the police has stated that it is awaiting her post-mortem report, Shazia’s family alleges she may have been murdered. Her family has made a page on social networking site Facebook, “Justice For Shazia Majeed”. It has urged the locals to assemble in the Press Enclave area here at 4 pm tomorrow to join a protest and so far 2,165 followers of the page have confirmed their participation. Shazia’s father, Abdul Majid, claimed that his daughter was either murdered or was subjected to mental and physical torture by her husband. “It is the moral responsibility of society to ask who murdered her, and if she was not murdered, why was she pushed to such a level that she decided to end her life. She had a long pending marital dispute with her husband Javid Ahmad Wani right from the day of the inception of the marriage. She was married to Wani five years ago and he would invariably beat her up and hurl invectives on her. She was repeatedly subjected to severe mental and physical torture by her in-laws, particularly by her husband,” he said. Alleging that “pressure” was being exerted on the police, Majid had urged the authorities concerned to release Shazia’s post-mortem report at the earliest. Meanwhile, DSP, Saddar police station, Shabir Ahmad Shah said an FIR under Section 306 of the RPC had been registered in the case and Shazia’s husband had been detained. “The investigation in the case is underway and the law will take its own course,” he added. A lot of locals have pledged support to the aggrieved family and assured it of their participation in tomorrow’s protest. “I protest and every Kashmiri should protest against such kind of brutality,” wrote a local, Muzafar Wani, on Shazia’s Facebook page.
	Hate censorship, tweets Omar Srinagar, December 6 Hours after Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal expressed concern about the objectionable content on a social networking site, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has said that he hated the “idea of censorship”. He, however, admitted that dangerous inflammatory content was coming up on social networking sites. “I hate the idea of censorship but have seen for myself how dangerous inflammatory content on Facebook and Youtube can be,” Omar tweeted. “We want the luxury of free speech but not the burden of responsibility for how we use that freedom. Something will have to give.” — TNS
	Muharram observed across state Tribune News Service Jammu, December 6 A large number of people observed Muharram in the Jammu and Kashmir regions today even as restrictions were imposed on processions in some areas of the Valley to avert any untoward incident. In Jammu, a procession was today taken out from Imam Bargah at Pir Mitha under the banner of the Anjuman-e-Imamia, Jammu. Several other Anjumans also took part in the main procession. The Muharram procession passed through its traditional and designated route. All along the route, the people belonging to various religions accompanied the procession and showed their respect to the martyrs. The procession culminated at Karbala, Wazarat Road, Jammu, in the evening, where the Majlis-e-Sham-e-Ghariban was addressed by Moulana MS Hussaini. Meanwhile, appropriate and elaborate security arrangements were made by the authorities to avoid any untoward incident. Mobile medical units were put in place and services were rendered to seriously injured mourners. In the Kashmir valley, while Muharram processions were taken out in the Shia-dominated areas, the authorities, apprehending trouble, imposed restrictions in some areas of the capital city, including the central Lal Chowk area, here. The restrictions were in place in the central Lal Chowk area under Section 144 to avoid any trouble at the hands of “miscreants”, a senior police officer said. These restrictions were being imposed in the area during Muharram days for the past more than 20 years, since the eruption of armed militancy. The Shiites have been expressing concern over the restrictions on the main Muharram procession from Lal Chowk to Zadibal. The restrictions were also imposed in the Nowhatta area in the interior city today following some stray incidents of violence. Some incidents of violence had taken place in some downtown localities yesterday. “Preventive measures were taken in the Lal Chowk area while mourning processions were taken out peacefully in other areas,” AG Mir, DIG, central Kashmir range, said. He added the processions in Srinagar and Budgam areas passed off peacefully.
	Rashid, Geelani slam Farooq for favouring liquor shops Ehsan Fazili/TNS Srinagar, December 6 Various separatist and religious organisations have reacted sharply to the statement of Union Minister for New and Renewal Energy and NC president Farooq Abdullah seeking the opening of cinema halls and liquor shops in Kashmir to promote tourism. During a function to celebrate the founder’s day of the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) here yesterday, Farooq had stressed the need for creating more infrastructure to attract more tourists to the state. Terming Farooq’s statement as “unwanted and illogical”, Independent MLA from Langate Sheikh Abdul Rashid said the NC president had hurt the sentiments of the people of Kashmir. He held that Farooq should not give such “wayward” statements, which went against the religious and cultural sensitivities of the people of the state. “Farooq’s advocacy for opening liquor shops in a religious and culturally-sensitive state is utterly irresponsible. As a senior politician he is expected to think twice before vouching for such devastating suggestions,” he said. Criticising Farooq’s argument that the opening of liquor shops and cinema halls would boost tourism, Rasheed said, “Tourists do not come to Kashmir to drink liquor and visit cinemas halls. They come to enjoy the natural beauty of the place. While every effort should be made to promote tourism, any action, which goes against our religious and cultural sensitivities, should never be allowed.” The hardline faction of the Hurriyat Conference led by Syed Ali Geelani has also condemned Farooq’s statement and blamed the NC for introducing the un-Islamic culture of cinema halls and liqour shops in the state.
	Sixth Pay Panel Recommendations J&K Minerals employees face pressure to end agitation Varun Suthra Tribune News Service Jammu, December 6 Employee leaders of Jammu and Kashmir Minerals Limited (JKML) have alleged that they are facing immense political pressure to end their ongoing struggle for the implementation of the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission. While talking to The Tribune here today, Rajesh Gupta, working president of the Bharatiya Coal Khann Mazdoor Union, said, “We are being pressured to end our agitation. I don’t know what wrong are we doing. We are just demanding what the Central government has recommended for us.” “But let me make it clear that the employees will not succumb to any pressure. Rather, such a move will further stoke our agitation,” he added. Om Prakash, general secretary, J&K Chapter of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions, said, “Employees of JKML are working at various coal and gypsum units. We are struggling for the past many years to get our genuine demands implemented, but the JKML management and the ministry concerned have always ignored us.” He said as a mark of protest the workers had halted the lifting of coal since October but continued with the extraction of coal and gypsum. “The JKML and the minister concerned had held five meetings with us, which proved futile,” he rued. Om Prakash also protested the claim of the JKML management that it was suffering losses and this was the biggest hurdle in the implementation of the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission. He said, “Mismanagement in the JKML was responsible for its losses. We are working without mining engineers and surveyors. Moreover, there is an acute shortage of essential materials, including pump motors.” He added, “How can you expect profits without requisite manpower, technical assistance and equipment?” The other demands of the JKML employees included no break in the service of casual workers who had been working for the last 14 years, minimum wages according to SRO 304 and the settlement of the pending demands according to the agreement of March 15, 2010. Minister for Industries and Commerce SS Slathia, who is also the chairman of the JKML, said, “They should end their agitation as I have met them twice and explained to them that, according to a Cabinet decision, all corporations will be entitled to the Sixth Pay Commission award only when they start generating income for themselves.” “I am getting a budgetary support of Rs 1.20 crore only for the JKML. How the things could be managed,” he said. The minister said if the employees did not perform their duties and continued with the agitation, they would not be entitled to salary even. “Corporations can survive only when their workers perform their duties,” he added.
	CIC urged to direct J&K Bank to make public selection lists Tribune News Service Jammu, December 6 Working chairman of the Panthers Party and MLA Ramnagar Harsh Dev Singh today appealed to the Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) to direct the J&K Bank to publicise the merit list of selected candidates for the posts of banking associates, clerks, financial executives, RE’s, assistant managers, besides other selections made by it during the last three years. Singh said various selections being made by the J&K Bank were being concealed as the final lists of selected candidates were not being published. He added that only individual call letters were being sent to selected candidates. He said the practice of the bank was in violation of the Right to Information Act. He added that the bank had refused to entertain the RTI applications moved by the affected candidates, thus necessitating the indulgence of the Information Commissioner to uphold the laws pertaining to information. Singh regretted that several selections had been made by J&K Bank without observing the procedural formalities and without complying with the statutory as well as constitutional requirements. He said the bank had been making appointments at various levels in violations of the constitutional guarantees available to the citizens of the state and the country and in violation of the numerous judgements given by the apex court of the country. Singh said the issuance of individual call letters to the selected candidates and the deliberate concealment of the list of selected candidates was indicative of fraudulent intentions on part of the management of the bank.
	Pak troops violate truce in Poonch Tribune News Service Jammu, December 6 Pakistan troops again violated the ceasefire on the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district last night when they resorted to unprovoked heavy firing on forward Indian posts. An officer of Brigadier General Staff Media 16 Core today said the Pakistan troops fired rocket projectile grenades on two Indian forward posts in the Gotriyan area along the LoC in the Krishnagati sub-sector of Poonch district. “The troops of 816 Mujahid at Mochi Mora and Jora Drakhat posts of Pakistan started firing at Indian forward posts manned by jawans of 15 Jat Battalion around 9:45 pm yesterday. The Indian soldiers also retaliated with small arms and the exchange of fire continued till 11:30 pm,” he added. The rockets fired by the Pakistan troops reportedly exploded in isolated areas and no damage to life or property had been reported.
	Police refuses to file complaint against Arundhati Roy Directs complainants to approach DM with charges of sedition against author Sonika Raina/TNS Jammu, December 6 The police today refused to file the complaint of Kashmiri Pandits against noted writer and social activist Arundhati Roy, saying that the matter did not come under its jurisdiction. The complainants had accused the writer of sedition. Three Kashmiri Pandits -- Vir Jee Saraf, Vijay kumar Kashkari and Ajay Bhat --- under the banner of Roots in Kashmir, a non-registered Kashmiri Pandit organisation, had approached the city police station with the direction of the division bench of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court. “We had approached the city police station after the directions of the division bench of the high court. But the police did not file any complaint and advised us to approach the District Magistrate with the complaint,” said Veer Jee Saraf, spokesperson of Roots in Kashmir. “Now we will again approach the court as the high court had advised us to file the complaint with the police,” he added. The PIL filed in the Jammu and Kashmir High Court by the three Kashmiri Pandits had sought the impounding of the passport of Arundhati and wanted the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of External Affairs and the state government to restrain her from making “offensive” speeches and statements about Jammu and Kashmir. At a panel discussion on Kashmir in New York on November 12, Arundhati had said: “I want to say unambiguously that I do not think any country that calls itself a democracy has the right to force people to remain in it in a militaristic way, the way that India is doing in order to prove that it’s a secular country. ” On November 24, the division bench of the high court had disposed of the PIL with the directions to the petitioners that they should first approach the police, file a criminal complaint and then approach the court.
	Freezing nights, sunny days in Kashmir valley Our Correspondent Srinagar, December 6 Even as the Valley continues to witness sub-zero temperatures during the night, the city saw a sunny day today with the temperature remaining two degrees above normal. A MeT official said while Srinagar recorded a maximum temperature of 14.9 °C, which was two degrees above normal, the minimum temperature was recorded at -1.8 °C. The lowest night temperature in the Valley was recorded at Qazigund in Anantnag district at -2.8 °C. The maximum day temperature was recorded at Kupwara at 17.3 °C. The tourist resort of Pahalgam recorded a maximum and minimum temperature of 15.0 °C and -1.0 °C, respectively.
	Raising Day of Home Guards celebrated Tribune News Service Jammu, December 6 DGP Kuldeep Khoda, who is also the Commandant General of the Home Guards and the Civil Defence today said the Civil Defence and the Home Guard Organisations had assumed great importance in the present global scenario. Khoda was speaking at a function organised to mark the annual Raising Day of the Home Guards and the Civil Defence Organisations at the Home Guard and Civil Defence headquarters here today. He said, “They have been playing an excellent role in the aftermath of natural and man-made calamities.” The DGP recalled the Chinese aggression in 1962, which had led to the raising of Home Guard and Civil Defence personnel to deal with the internal security of vital installations in the country. “Being a multi-disaster prone state and falling in the seismic zone 4 and 5, it requires more attention from volunteers, who are the first responders. It is because of this background, the department has created two companies within the Auxiliary Police as the State Disaster Response Force, which is fully trained with the modern and sophisticated equipments,” he added. He said the recently purchased six rescue vehicles with modern and sophisticated equipments had been procured for the six districts of the state like Doda, Rajouri, Srinagar, Anantnag and Baramulla to meet any eventuality. On the occasion, a parade and a mock drill was presented by the contingents of the Home guard, the Auxiliary Police and the Civil Defence wardens and volunteers. The function was witnessed by a large number of people from all walks of life. Earlier, ADGP Home Guards and the Civil Defence Dr Ram Lubhaya read out the raising day messages of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram, Governor NN Vohra, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and DGP Kuldeep Khoda on the occasion.
	Chaman Lal Gupta supports agitating lawyers Tribune News Service Jammu, December 6 Expressing concern over the problems being faced by the people because of the strike by the Bar Association, Jammu, expelled BJP leader Chaman Lal Gupta has impressed upon the government to address the demands of lawyers, which seemed to be quite genuine and justified. The silence of the government over the issue is not right because any such issue could be settled in a democratic manner. In a statement issued here, Gupta said it was intriguing that even small issues were not being settled while there were claims of good governance. “Due to the apathy of the government, the public, especially litigants, are facing a serious situation and the high-ups concerned are not taking the initiative to sort out the issue for which the lawyers are agitating,” he said. He said the situation demanded the intervention of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, as the high-ups concerned had failed to find out any solution to the issue for which the lawyers were agitating.
	Awareness camp on college courses Tribune News Service Jammu, December 6 An awareness programme was organised at Government Degree College, Rajouri, yesterday in connection with the recently started additional courses in the college. Speaking on the occasion, Mushtaq A Lone, principal of the college, in his keynote address underscored the demand and the significance of the additional courses, including journalism and functional English. He, however, expressed discontent over the poor response of the students to the courses. Lone said, “Such courses should be introduced by all the colleges of the state.” He urged the students to take up the courses as per their interest and learn as much as they could.