The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	Militant attack on Law Minister Our stand against AFSPA rollback vindicated: BJP Ravi Krishnan Khajuria/TNS Jammu, December 12 Following a militant attack on Law Minister Ali Mohammad Sagar at his ancestral house in downtown Srinagar yesterday, political parties here have suggested to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to stop opposing the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). “Yesterday’s incident has vindicated our stand on the AFSPA issue. The incident negates the foolhardy decision of the NC leadership and the Chief Minister’s argument that the AFSPA can be partially revoked from some districts, including Srinagar where the incident took place,” said chief spokesperson for the BJP Jitendra Singh. “The BJP is against the partial revocation of the AFSPA because we believe that this does not go well with the fight against Pakistan-sponsored militancy wherein the AFSPA serves as a protective mechanism for the armed forces, said Jitendra. He added, “One cannot expect a soldier chasing a militant to be suddenly deprived of the protective AFSPA cover once the militant enters another district where the Act is not applicable.” The BJP spokesperson reminded Omar that the decision on the AFSPA rollback was not his prerogative or of the political leadership. “It has to be decided with a consensus among all stakeholders, including the Army,” he said. Panthers Party president and MLA from Udhampur Balwant Singh Mankotia suggested to the Chief Minister to first discuss the issue with his Cabinet colleagues. “If his Cabinet colleagues are not safe, where is the guarantee of the safety of the life of common people. And he (Omar) still talks about the revocation of the AFSPA,” he chided. Mankotia said the Chief Minister every now and then raked up issues with an intention to divert the attention of the people from the real issues like corruption, unemployment and basic amenities. Jammu State Morcha leader and MLA from Bishnah Ashwani Sharma said, “It makes no sense to talk about the revocation of the AFSPA in the present scenario. The issue should be approached and tackled with maturity, that too only after proper feedback from security experts.” “If it is a militant attack, our stand has been vindicated once again,” said an Army officer. Meanwhile, Omar took a dig at those opposing the withdrawal of the AFSPA. He wrote on Twitter, “Why the present imposition of the AFSPA failed to prevent the attack. I was hoping someone would be an idiot enough to ask - why didn’t the AFSPA stop the attack?” Decision on AFSPA after consulting J&K, security forces: Antony New Delhi, December 12 The government today said the issue of the partial revocation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from Jammu and Kashmir was discussed at a meeting of the United Headquarters last month. He maintained that the decisions on security matters were taken after consultation with the states concerned and the security forces. In a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha, Defence Minister AK Antony said, “The issue of the partial revocation of the AFSPA from some districts of the state was discussed at the United Headquarters meeting held in Jammu on November 9.” The decisions on the matters relating to security are taken after the evaluation of the situation on ground and after detailed discussions among the Central and state governments concerned and the security forces, he said. — PTI
	Two-day poetry festival Concludes Daughter recalls Faiz’s love for India Ashutosh Sharma Tribune News Service Jammu, December 12 “The people of India and Pakistan are like waves of the same ocean and nothing can divide or cut apart the water in an ocean.” The message in the form of a verse came from the master of lucid poetry, Nida Fazli, at a mushaira here last evening, marking the conclusion of the two-day poetry festival, Jashn-e-Faiz. Similar sentiments were expressed by Nida’s Pakistan counterpart Aiyaz Izaz Azer. He recited a popular song, advocating the friendly bilateral relations between the two countries: “Yaari Zindabaad (long live friendship)”. A wave of myriad emotions swept over the connoisseurs of poetry in the jam-packed Zorawar Singh Auditorium, where at least 20 poets recited their poems amid shouts like ‘encore’ and ‘wah wah’. The poets were seen frequently quoting Sufi saints like Kabir, Guru Nanak, Bulle Shah, Laleshwari, Miyan Mohammad Baksh, besides legendary Urdu poets, who upheld humanity and compassion in their verses. The occasion was an emotional moment for Salima Hashmi, who recalled her parents’ bond with Jammu and Kashmir and India. “I still remember when I was a child how my father (Faiz Ahmad Faiz) would talk about his Indian poet friends like Firaq Gaurakhpuri, Hasrat Mohani, Majaz, Ali Sardar Jafri and others,” Hashmi said while expressing gratitude to the people of Jammu. Eminent poet Prof Waseem Barelvi got a thunderous applause when he recited: “Chala hai silsila kaisa ye raaton ko mananay ka, Tumhein haq de diya kisne diyon ke dil dukhanay ka.” “Nida Fazli and Barelvi are towering personalities who enjoy the same status among the poets as a patriarch does in a community,” said eminent poet Anwar Jalaalpuri, who was compeering the mushaira. Nida took almost everyone by surprise by reciting verses in the metre of saint Kabir and commented on the historic Urdu poet, Mir Taqi Mir by using the latter’s metaphors. After introducing ghazal in his unique prose-poetry style, his recitation of poetry was interspersed with bold comments on “dirty-politics.” He recited: “Naqsha le kar haath mein bachcha hai hairaan, Kaisay dhimak chaat gayi mera Hindustan.” Another stalwart, Nawaz Deobandi, who has written some unforgettable ghazals sung by Jagjit Singh, also mesmerised the audience. Poet, writer and director of Geo TV Ayub Khawar regaled the audience by reciting: “Saat suron ka behta daraya tere naam, Har sur hai ik rang dhanak ka tere naam. Jangal jangal udtay saaray mausam, sabz hawa ka aik dupatta tere naam.” With a promising note by Azer, “On the day when we meet again, it shall be a happy occasion like Eid”, the event came to a close. Other prominent poets were Anwar Masood, Kishwar Naheed, Ishrat Afreen, Sardar Panchi, Tahir Faraz, Fayaz Farooqi, Manzar Naqbi, Khushbir Singh Shaad, Farhat Ehsaas, Ali Akbar Nadiq and Ashok Sahil. Meanwhile, a member of the Jammu and Kashmir Civil Society for Art and Literature, Dr Liaqat Jafri, announced: “Salima Hashmi has agreed to come here every year along with poets from Pakistan. A similar function to celebrate the birth anniversary of Faiz Ahmad Faiz will be held here ever year now.”
	Ludhiana poets leave audience spell-bound Jupinderjit Singh/TNS Jammu, December 12 Poets from Ludhiana left a mark on the two-day poetry festival, Jashan-e-Faiz, which was seen as an effort to strengthen relations with Pakistan. Ludhiana-based poets, Sardar Panchhi and DIG FA Farooqui, left the audience at the jam-packed Zorawar Singh auditorium spell-bound. Farooqui was lauded for his ghazal: “Itna aasan nahin hota hai kisi ka hona, Seekhna padta hai banday ko bhi banda hona.” With a turn of the phrase in the same poetic metre, “Itna achcha bhi nahin hai itna achcha hona”, the young poet saw the audience saying encore. Another poet from Punjab, Panchhi, regaled all with his romantic poetry, in which he beautifully used allegories like wine, women and youthfulness. He recited, “Ghulrahi hai sharaab pani mein, jal raha hai shabaab paani mein. Khat ka meray yon jawaab aaya, Uss nay fainka gulaab pani mein.” The instant reaction from a poet on the dais, Anwar Jalalpuri, was: “Elderly people usually hide their feelings, but this poet irrespective of his age has the courage to say what people belonging to his age group hesitate to say. Panchhi has displayed the rare courage in admitting it in public.”
	Constable’s killing a cowardly act, says minister M Aamir Khan Srinagar, December 12 A wreath-laying ceremony to pay tributes to slain constable Gulzar Ahmad, who was killed in a militant attack on Rural Development Minister Ali Mohammad Sagar, was held at the District Police Line here today. Sagar has termed his killing as a “cowardly act of terrorism”. Gulzar was killed when militants attacked Sagar’s escort at his Nawab Bazaar residence in the old city last evening. Besides Sagar, Minister of State for Home Nasir Aslam Wani and DGP Kuldeep Khoda attended the ceremony to offer floral tributes to the martyr. Talking to reporters on the sidelines of the function, Sagar said, “It is a cowardly and inhuman act of terrorism?. I had gone there to attend a social function. They do not even spare social functions now?. It will send a wrong message.” “He (Gulzar) has four daughters and one of them is physically challenged?. One and all should condemn the killing,” he added. Asked who he thought was responsible for the attack, Sagar said he would not “point a finger at anyone” till the investigation into the incident was complete. While Sagar escaped unhurt, three others, including two of his security guards identified as Mohammad Yaqoob and Feroz Ahmad, were injured in the militant attack. Meanwhile, the NC convened a meeting here today and condemned the attack on Sagar. In a statement issued here, an NC spokesperson said NC provincial president Ali Mohammad Dar chaired the meeting. Dar termed the incident as a “conspiracy” against the ruling party. He appealed to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to ensure that the persons behind the attack were punished soon. Meanwhile, the security grid was tightened across the city following the incident with the police and paramilitary forces frisking pedestrians and checking vehicles at several places.
	Bhalwal residents hold protest, block traffic Varun Suthra Triune News Service Jammu, December 12 Residents of Bhalwal on the outskirts of the city today blocked the main road for about two hours in protest against the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) for using a tract of land at Kangryl for dumping garbage. About 300 persons gathered at Bhalwal Chowk around 10.30 am. The protesters raised anti-government and anti-JMC slogans, burnt tyres and blocked the road. They were demanding a complete ban on the dumping of the municipal waste at Kangryl, which is connected to many villages of the Bhalwal panchayat. Raj Dev Singh, sarpanch of Bhalwal, said, “We have already opposed the move of the JMC. It is unacceptable that the JMC collects waste from the city and dumps it in our area. Although the land belongs to the JMC, it cannot use 156 kanals to create nuisance for the local residents.” He added if the JMC again tried to dump waste at Kangryl, they would intensify their agitation. Gurbachan Singh, sarpanch of Mishriwala, told The Tribune, “The foul smell emanating from the dump is creating problems for us. You can see our houses filled with flies, mosquitoes, bugs etc., and the situation turns worse when wind blows in the evening.” Later, officials of the Pollution Control Board reached the protest site along with local people to resolve the issue. The people filled the trench dug up for dumping garbage with earth. Meanwhile, women from the adjoining areas also staged a protest. They alleged that the dumping of waste at Kangryl would affect their livestock. “It feels like hell now. The gravel excavation from the nearby nullah is our only source of income, but we could not carry out excavation work for the past one week due to the foul smell emanating from the dumping site,” said Poli Devi, a resident of Kullain village. However, the protesters denied that they were demanding jobs for the local youth in the proposed solid waste management project at Kangryl to allow the dumping of waste in the area. Surya Prakash, a social activist from Bhalwal, said, “Some touts of the JMC are spreading rumours. We will never go for such a petty negotiation.” The administration has deployed police at the spot and the JMC has not dumped garbage there for the last two days. Showkat Chowdhary, Regional Director, J&K Pollution Control Board, Jammu, said, “We sent a team to the spot for inspection today. The issue is under consideration and we have to see whether there is any violation of the Municipal Solid Waste Rules.”
	Harisa: Kashmir’s winter delicacy sells like hot cakes M Aamir Khan Srinagar, December 12 Despite bone-chilling cold in the early hours, people from all over the city can be seen thronging eateries, which dish out harisa -- the Kashmir valley’s special winter delicacy that is usually taken for breakfast. Though shops selling harisa can be found at several places across the Valley, the most popular joints are in the Aali Kadal, Gow Kadal and Sarai Bala areas. These shops open before dawn and within no time are choc-a-block with customers. Many prefer to get the winter delicacy packed for home but harisa lovers say it can be relished only when it is eaten around the traditional big oven from which it is served. “The real taste of harisa can be relished only when it is eaten sitting next to the oven. It is hot and steamy when eaten right out of the oven and the heat emanating from the oven adds to the taste,” said Imran, a local. While harisa is now also sold at some bakeries but the people still prefer buying it from the old-time shops. “Yes, now even the bakeries have harisa but for me nothing matches the harisa sold at Aali Kadal ,” said Rayees Khan. The high cost of mutton has shot up harisa prices (sold at Rs 400 per kg) but this has not deterred its fans. Due to the high demand of the delicacy, some harisa sellers keep their shops open till afternoon. “We open just after morning prayers and due to the high demand, remain open till 2 pm,” said Ghulam Mohammad, a harisa seller at Gow Kadal. However, the harisa sellers at Aali Kadal and in the old city areas shut their shops by 8.30 am.
	Cold wave intensifies in Valley M Aamir Khan Srinagar, December 12 Even as the Kashmir valley witnessed sunny days lately, Srinagar city and the skiing resort of Gulmarg recorded the coldest nights of the winter season so far. A Meteorological Department official said the minimum temperature recorded in the city was minus 3.2°C that is two degrees below normal. However, the maximum temperature was recorded at 10.4°C and the day remained sunny. Gulmarg in Baramulla district too recorded the coldest night of the season at minus 10.2°C. The night temperatures across the Valley have plummeted due to clear skies over the last few days. Last week a fresh spell of snowfall in the upper reaches along with rain at other places had ended the dry spell and also given respite from the cold wave. However, the Meteorological Department has forecast that the temperatures will decrease further and the weather will remain dry and clear across the Valley during the next 24 hours. The tourist resort of Pahalgam in Anantnag district recorded the minimum temperature of minus 6.6°C while the maximum temperature was 8.8°C.
	Home Guards demand absorption in police Tribune News Service Jammu, December 12 With the government maintaining a discreet silence over their plight, agitating Home Guard jawans today staged a protest outside the Press Club here and flayed the government for not paying heed to their long pending demands. The J&K Home Guards Welfare Association had also planned to take around 1,000 jawans to Delhi in a day or two, where they would stage a protest, said Kamla Sharma, president of the association. She criticised DGP Kuldeep Khoda for dubbing their service as “Nishkam Seva” (voluntary service) recently. “If so then why are we being forced to perform duty for 10 to 12 hours,” she asked. Sharma said the services of the remaining 1,300 Home Guard jawans should also be regularised and they be absorbed in the auxiliary force like the first batch of jawans. Nearly 1,300 Home Guard jawans are paid a paltry salary of Rs 545 a month.
	Shrine board CEO refutes VHP remarks Tribune News Service Jammu, December 12 RK Goyal, Chief Executive Officer of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board, while referring to a statement of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) appearing in a section of the Press, said Dr Surinder Jain, national secretary of the VHP, accompanied by Dr Rama Kant Dubey, state president of the VHP, and others had met him on December 9 and presented their views about the schedule and duration of the Amarnath yatra next year. He said they had a nearly two-hour meeting with him. He added it was unfair to level unfounded and baseless allegations that Governor NN Vohra refused to meet them, particularly when the representatives of the VHP and the Baba Yatri Niyas had been holding discussions with him over the past few weeks. Goyal said the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board, at its meeting in July under the chairmanship of the Governor, had set up a subcommittee headed by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, with Swami Giananandji of Vrindavan; YV Sharma, president of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Jammu; RL Bharti, a former member of the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission; Prem Gupta, a retired IGP; Dr Chandra Mouli Raina, Assistant Professor, Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan, Jammu, besides him (Goyal) as its members. This committee was to hear all interested parties and advise the Shrine Board regarding the duration and schedule of the Amarnath yatra from 2012 onwards. Goyal said the representatives of the Baba Yatri Niyas presented their views before the subcommittee in Jammu in September. He added the subcommittee would finalise its recommendations in the due course.
	Held for misbehaving with woman officer, DSP freed on bail Devinder Thakur Reasi, December 12 A senior police officer, arrested on the charge of allegedly misbehaving with a woman police officer during a public rally at Parade Ground here last morning, was freed on bail today. Mohammad Aslam Choudhary, DSP, was placed under suspension and arrested yesterday. A court in Reasi town granted bail to Choudhary on a guarantee of Rs 10,000 and ordered him to cooperate with the investigation. Aslam’s lawyer argued in the court that the police officer’s arrest was “politically motivated”. On Friday last, the complainant, than Additional SP, Reasi, Anita Sharma, in her complaint, had alleged that Choudhary while in uniform had passed unpleasant remarks against her and when she objected to these, he tried to misbehave with her. Coming out of Reasi police station, Choudhary said “my arrest was politically motivated” and there was no truth in the complaint. SHO, Reasi, Jatinder Singh Samyal said there was no need for any government order in the case as the written complaint was enough to log an FIR and arrest the accused. Meanwhile, according to the government order issued yesterday, Atul Goyal assumed the charge of SSP, Reasi, Mohammad Sharief Chouhan of ASP and Ajitha Begum of ASP, Headquarters, Reasi, today.
	Governor inaugurates seminar on bio-terrorism Tribune News Service Jammu, December 12 Governor NN Vohra inaugurated a seminar on “Bio-Terrorism and its Likely Impact on Maritime Security Strategy,” organised by Goa University at the Mandovi Hall, International Centre in Goa today. The Governor, who was the chief guest, spoke extensively about varied aspects of bio-terrorism, its likely impact on the maritime security strategy and the measures required for effectively dealing with it. Earlier, in his welcome address, Prof Dileep Deobagkar, Vice-Chancellor of Goa University, expressed gratitude to the Governor for inaugurating the seminar. The topics discussed during the three working sessions of the seminar were Bio-Terrorism, Maritime Strategy and Disaster Management. Those who attended the seminar included Gen NC Vij (retd), former Chief of Army Staff, Admiral Arun Prakash (retd), former Chief of Naval Staff, and senior medical scientists. Prof Gautam Sen presented a vote of thanks.
	Nagot Cultural Festival ends Devinder Thakur Reasi (Bakkal), December 12 The three-day Nagot Cultural Festival, organised by Natrang, Jammu, concluded here today. A record number of 920 artistes participated in the festival held on the Dhol Devta ground in Bakkal village of Reasi district. The festival was inaugurated by Minister for Technical Education and Sports RS Chib with the presentation of the popular Kud dance by 300 artistes. All major performing arts and traditions of Jammu and Kashmir were featured in the festival. The prominent dance forms performed included Kud, Geetruu, Soiyan, Bhakhan, Gorian, Chann, Masade, Jagarna, Karkan, Dafle, Mahia, Rouf, Gojri, Pahari, Dogri and various other rare ethnic forms. A record number of over 50,000 people from over 200 villages attended the festival. Slathia brothers mesmerised the audience with their powerful singing on the concluding day of the festival. Natrang performed its highly acclaimed Dogri play “Suno ek Kahani”, written and directed by Balwant Thakur. Speaking on the occasion, Thakur said more such events should be held so that the age-old traditions and culture were revived.
	Employment fair begins at Mahore Devinder Thakur Reasi December 12 With a view to spreading awareness among the rural unemployed youth of Reasi district to enable them to start income generating ventures in their respective areas by availing of the schemes sponsored by the state and Central governments, a three-day employment fair being organised by the Reasi district administration began at Mahore today. Minister for Higher Education and Employment AG Malik, who was the chief guest on the occasion, inaugurated the fair on the premises of the Mahore teshil headquarters. Mailk said the main aim of such events was to spread awareness regarding various state and Centrally-sponsored schemes among the people, especially the unemployed youth of rural areas. He added all major departments had put up stalls at the fair for providing on-the-spot registration facility. He exhorted the officers of different departments to put in sincere efforts to educate the people at every nook and corner of the state regarding the self-employment schemes so that they could get the benefits of different schemes by setting up income-generating ventures. Earlier, the minister had a round of stalls put up by different departments and inquired about various schemes of different departments available for the unemployed youth. Later, Malik also distributed 40 appointment letters of teacher under the Rehbar-e-Taleem scheme.
	Deficient rain to hit wheat output, say experts Varun Suthra Tribune News Service Jammu, December 12 Due to deficient rain in the Jammu region this year, agronomy experts fear a drop in wheat production. Dr MK Khushu, chief scientist and Head of the Department of Agronomy at the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agriculture Sciences (SKUAST), Jammu, told The Tribune, “We did not receive good rain this year as only 10 mm of rainfall had been recorded since October 22. Although it rained a few days ago, that was insignificant for sowing crops.” Khushu said last year normal rain received was 22 mm in October, 12 mm in November and 24 mm in December, which was not the case this year. He said if the dry spell continued it could prove to be a big hurdle in sowing the wheat crop. “The majority of our rain-fed areas cannot be cultivated and the farmers have no option but to wait for significant rain. Our wheat growing belt, including Samba, Udhampur and Akhnoor, will be affected if it does not rain,” he added. Khushu said if the same situation prevailed till December end, the wheat production would fall. “Still, if we get rain by December 25, the late sown varieties of wheat can be cultivated,” he said. Tejinder Singh, president of the Jammu and Kashmir Kisaan Council, said 70 per cent of the areas in Jammu were rain fed and the unprecedented delay in rain was increasing the threat of fall in wheat and vegetable production. He said, “We have apprehension that if the rain occurs at December end, the Agro-metrology Department may not be able to procure the late sowing varieties. It will also affect the quality of wheat.” Tejinder alleged that the authorities concerned were not organising awareness programmes for the farmers. “In Himachal Pradesh, special programmes are organised every 15 days,” he added. Climate experts said day temperatures recorded during the past few weeks were above normal. They added the climatic conditions in the region were mostly dependent on the western disturbances, which originated from the Caspian Sea and the Black Sea and reached Jammu and Kashmir after taking their course through various countries in Central Asia. The agronomists hoped that if there was an alteration in the course or depth of the western disturbances, the region may receive significant rain.
	No major intrusion attempts this year, says Lt Gen Hasnain Ehsan Fazili/TNS Srinagar, December 12 Lt Gen SA Hasnain, GOC of the Srinagar-based 15 Corps of the Army, has said with the help of modern facilities, fencing at the Line of Control (LoC) and intensified vigil by the Army, there have been no major attempts of infiltration from across the LoC this year. He was talking to mediapersons on the sidelines of an interaction with them at the Badami Bagh Cantonment here today. He said there had been no change in the terrorist infrastructure across the LoC, adding that the strength of terrorists was intact. Lt Gen Hasnain said infiltration attempts by armed militants from across the LoC were continuing with less snow on the high mountain peaks, through which the LoC passes.