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Interlocutors’ report to be made public next year
Lawyers gherao Dy CM Tara Chand’s residence
HC notice to state, Bar Association
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Annoyed Health Minister stays away from office in protest
Governor stresses character-building among youth
Issue raked up to create confusion: Education board
Christmas peace procession
Resolve Kashmir issue on priority, says Mirwaiz
Central team raids gun factories
PM, CM urged to bring changes to PNDT Act
UPA govt pursuing anti-farmer policies: BJP
Paintings, sculptures at display at art exhibition
Govt plans to enhance relief to farmers: Chib
Pahari Translation of Koran
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Interlocutors’ report to be made public next year
Srinagar, December 22 The report of the interlocutors, Mr Ansari told The Tribune, is likely to be made public after the Home Ministry holds discussions with different political parties after the current session of Parliament. The team of interlocutors comprising Dileep Padgaonkar, Prof Radha Kumar and MM Ansari was constituted in the aftermath of the unrest in the Valley during the summer last year. They submitted their recommendations to the Central government in October this year. The Union Home Minister P Chidambaram had conveyed that the report would also be taken up for discussion with the all-party parliamentary delegation, which had visited the state in September last year in the wake of the summer unrest, said Ansari. “The salient features of the report have also been shared with the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) and the core group of the Congress,” Ansari said. He added that the government had asked the Union Home Minister to submit a detailed report after the Parliament session. The team of interlocutors ceased to exist after Padgaonkar expressed his inability to spare more time though there was a view that the interlocutors should continue doing the job they had initiated. The interlocutors were given a one-year term during which they visited all 22 districts in the three regions of Kashmir, Jammu and Ladakh every month. They had meetings with 700 delegations and scores of distinguished individuals. In view of reports that the practice has been result-oriented, held Ansari, the process of interlocution should have been taken forward. Regarding the recommendations made to the Centre, Ansari said many of them had been implemented. He added that the state, having a special status under Article 370 of the Constitution, required economic autonomy first before political autonomy for its prosperity. Enumerating various implemented recommendations, Ansari referred to the constitution of the Information Commission in the state, filling of vacancies in the state Accountability Commission and holding of panchayat elections as a way forward for strengthening the democratic set-up. He said on their recommendation Chidambaram had asked all states to take measures to check the harassment of Kashmir youth. “We took up many issues, including human rights violations, governance and Centre-state relations, in our recommendations made every month,” he added. |
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Lawyers gherao Dy CM Tara Chand’s residence
Jammu, December 22 A senior member of the Bar Association Jammu (BAJ) was also injured in a minor clash with the police when the latter tried to prevent the protesting lawyers from assembling outside the residence of the Deputy Chief Minister. Yesterday, the BAJ had resolved to gherao the residences of all Cabinet ministers in support of their demand for the revocation of the order. Led by BAJ president BS Slathia, lawyers assembled in Bakshi Nagar and marched towards the residence of the Deputy Chief Minister. The protesters were involved in a minor scuffle with the police when it tried to stop them from marching further. Baldev Singh, a senior BAJ member, was injured in the clash. However, the lawyers staged a protest outside the residence of the Deputy Chief Minister and raised anti-government logans. The protesters said a complete peaceful bandh on the call BAJ should be an eye-opener for the government. Slathia urged the Deputy Chief Minister to take up the issue of the lawyers as the Cabinet decision was not in the interest of the people. |
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HC notice to state, Bar Association
Jammu, December 22 In view of the urgency of the matter, the full Bench, after considering the report of the Registrar General, directed the Registry to list the case on December 23. It also directed the Registrar Judicial of the Jammu wing to ensure the same. In his note, the Registrar General said the matter was of public interest, as the litigants had been suffering as the lawyers were on a strike for the past 29 days. — TNS |
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Annoyed Health Minister stays away from office in protest
Jammu, December 22 The crisis is deepening as the Health Minister, who belongs to the Congress, is not attending office for the last three days as a mark of protest and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is out of the state. No other senior minister is in a position to pacify the annoyed minister. The rivalry between Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand, who is heading the government in the absence of the Chief Minister, and Health Minister Tara Chand is well known. Sources said some senior NC leaders, including the minister, visited Sharma’s house yesterday but to no avail. Even as the state government has ordered a high-level inquiry into the leak of the official document, the issue has snowballed into a political controversy as the Health Minister has toughen his stand and demanded punitive action against those responsible for sharing “confidential information” with the media. In the leaked document it was stated that the minister had threatened a police officer, who was investigating a land dispute case, of dire consequences. Highly places sources said the Health Minister took serious note of the leak of the “confidential” report filed by the SSP, Jammu, in which his name figured. He has reportedly brought the matter to the notice of Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Saifuddin Soz and alleged that the information was deliberately leaked to damage his image. The government has announced an committee headed by BR Sharma, Principal Secretary, Home, to probe into the circumstances leading to the SSP, Jammu, filing the report naming the minister. The committee will also inquire how an official communication was leaked to the Press. Furthermore, a Sub-Divisional Police officer (SDPO) has also been attached to the office of IGP, Jammu, to placate the annoyed minister. Meanwhile, no senior officer of the government was ready to speak on the issue. Despite repeated attempts the Health Minister was not available for comments. Spokesman for the JKPCC Ravinder Sharma said the matter was purely related to the government and hence it was not wise for him to give his reaction on the issue. |
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Governor stresses character-building among youth
Jammu, December 22 The Governor was addressing a gathering at the annual day function of Maharaja Harisingh Agricultural Collegiate School, Nagbani, near here, today. The Governor, who was the chief guest on the occasion, emphasised the importance of the education system, focusing on character building and imparting ethical values to the youth along with excellence in academics for ensuring harmonious functioning of society. He congratulated the school for taking initiatives for the balanced personality development of its students. Referring to the report presented by the principal of the school, he said by all accounts the institution had continued to do well both in academics and extra-curricular activities year after year. He added due to its achievements, the school was bringing credit to late Maharaja Hari Singh, after whom the school had been named. The Governor appreciated the turnout and smartness of the boys and the girls, who participated in the parade and presented a spectacular cultural programme on the occasion. He also felicitated the students, who received prizes for excellence in academics and extra-curricular activities. The Governor was presented a guard of honour. He inspected the parade and took the salute at a march past in which several contingents of boys and girls took part. First Lady Usha Vohra gave away prizes to meritorious students, who had excelled in academics and sports. She interacted with them and wished them a bright future. The Governor and the First Lady were presented bouquets by the Head Girl and Head Boy of the school. They were also presented with mementos. In his welcome address, Capt Dewan Singh, manager of the school, congratulated the Governor for being conferred with the Degree of Doctor of Laws by Panjab University recently. He gave details of the objectives, evolution, history and growth of the institution and its contribution to promoting education in the state. Principal of the school Yogesh Khosla in his report threw light on the achievements of the institution. The function was attended by the management, staff, students and their parents and prominent citizens. |
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Issue raked up to create confusion: Education board
He said this in reference to the registration of a case by the police against the board authorities earlier this week over the “provocative” depiction of a policeman in a Class I Urdu textbook. The case had been registered for alleged sedition, criminal conspiracy, defamation and provocation with intent to breach peace against the education board authorities for publishing the image of an “oppressor” that, according to the police, resembled a policeman. However, Sheikh said the image did not necessarily resemble a policeman. “The image is that of a hooligan. It can resemble anyone. There was no intent to malign the image of the police or hurt anybody’s sentiments,” he said. While the board authorities sealed the textbooks yesterday, Sheikh said they would fully cooperate with the police in investigation in the case. |
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Christmas peace procession
Jammu, December 22 People dressed as Santa Claus, angles, a chariot with King Herod and soldiers of the Roman cavalry were the special attraction in the procession.The inauguration ceremony was performed by senior priests of churches of the Jammu region, who participated in the procession along with church members and choirs. The Jammu and Kashmir Joint Churches Association thanked the administration, the Police Department, the Traffic Department, the Jammu Municipal Corporation, shopkeepers and traders of Jammu for their cooperation. |
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Resolve Kashmir issue on priority, says Mirwaiz
Srinagar, December 22 “India and Pakistan should exhibit farsightedness and resolve the Kashmir issue on a priority basis that would ensure peace in the region. We are willing to offer positive support if steps are taken in this regard,” a Hurriyat spokesman said here after a six-hour meeting of the executive council of the conglomerate. The amalgam warned that the situation in the Kashmir valley could go from “bad to worse” if preference was given to the economic issues facing the region. “Political issues cannot be sacrificed for economic interests. if this is done, the situation can go from bad to worse,” the spokesman said. — OC
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Central team raids gun factories
Jammu, December 22 “The team scrutinised the documents, including licences and inquired about the manufacturing process,” they said. The police, however, downplayed the raids saying “it was a routine affair. A similar visit by a team was conducted around six months ago.” — TNS
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PM, CM urged to bring changes to PNDT Act
Jammu, December 22 Gurdeep Singh Sasan demanded that punishment under the Act should be increased. At present the punishment under the Act is imprisonment up to 5 years and a fine of Rs 5,000 only. In a letter to the Prime Minster and the Chief Minister, Sasan wrote that female foeticide was a clear-cut murder, criminal conspiracy, barbaric and in human act. He said there was a need to bring the perpetrators of the heinous crime under Sections 302, 120B and other relevant sections of the IPC. — TNS |
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UPA govt pursuing anti-farmer policies: BJP
Jammu, December 22 Addressing a press conference here, Chandel said because of the anti-farmer policies of the UPA government, farmers’ source of income had come down. “The discriminatory economic policies of the government have placed the farmers on the last step of the income pyramid. Their economic prosperity has touched the zero level. That is why their tolerance level has also become zero,” he said. He added it was the result of the anti-farmer policy that a large number of farmers had committed suicide in different parts of the country. These deaths did not occur suddenly, but due to economic factors in the agriculture sector, he said. “Even today the farmers are committing suicide in Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Orissa,” Chandel said. He added income had gone up in the service, trade and industrial sectors. “Wages have also gone up in the country, but the income of farmers has declined,” he said. “A slight change in weather not only destroys crops, but also forces farmers across the country to commit suicide. The agriculture insurance scheme has practically failed to give any relief to the farmers,” he said. — TNS
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Paintings, sculptures at display at art exhibition
Jammu, December 22 Paintings and sculptures by artists from across the state are on display at the exhibition, which is being organised by the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages. It will conclude on December 27. An untitled portrait of a furious stone thrower by Mubashir Niyaz or paintings like “Wailing Valley” by Tariq Hamid and “Burning Paradise” by Sabina Gul highlighted the ongoing political turmoil in Kashmir. While paintings like “Waiting for Peace” by Azim Hussain and “Freedom from Darkness” by Qazi Ashiq Hussain portrayed the hope for the return of peace and normalcy to the Valley. The exhibition also showcased the artwork by artists from Jammu and Ladakh. Their artworks were based on various themes ranging from nature, religion to countless human sentiments. The minister awarded the artists who had excelled in the 46th state art exhibition (2009) and the 47th exhibition this year. The first prize of Rs 51,000 for the 46th art exhibition was presented to Masood Tabish Naqshbandi (painting) and Chander Prakash (sculpture). For the 47th art exhibition, the first prize went to Mohammed Aslam Naqshbandi (painting) and Sukhjeet Singh Kukkal (sculpture). Consolation prizes of Rs 10,000 each were given to Renu Bala, Narinder Kumar Bhagat, Moonis Shah and Ashish Raina. Seventeen others were given a cash prize of Rs 1,000 each by the minister. Describing Jammu and Kashmir as a centre of creativity, the minister said, “The need of the hour is to boost the art and other related activities in the state. The artists need to work on their individual ideas keeping originality in mind.” Commissioner/secretary of tourism and culture Atal Dulloo said the award function was part of a larger bouquet of cultural activities that the Academy had in store for the months ahead. Dulloo said from January 2012 onwards the Academy planned to organise three national artists’ camps in Srinagar, Jammu and
Leh. |
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Govt plans to enhance relief to farmers: Chib
Jammu, December 22 Speaking at a function organised to distribute cash assistance of Rs 5.50 crore among 34,000 affected farmers of RS Pura tehsil this morning, the minister said though the hard work of the farmers could not be compensated and no relief could commensurate their losses, it was a measure to help them sustain the wrath of calamities. Minister for Revenue Raman Bhalla was also present on the occasion. Chib said the government had been striving to extend necessary expertise and inputs to farmers for enhancing farm yield. Moral education to children a must: Gupta MLA, Jammu West, Chaman Lal Gupta stressed the need for moral education to children. Gupta inaugurated a newly renovated bathroom, veranda and classroom at Government Boys Higher Secondary School at Rehari. Gupta also inaugurated a school library, sports room and a worship place of Peerbaba at Government Girls Higher Secondary School, Rehari. These facilities have been constructed out of the assistance provided from the local area development fund of the MLA. |
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Pahari Translation of Koran
Jammu, December 22 Translated by the Arabic editor of the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages, Shafiq-ur-Rehman, the Pahari translation of the Koran is aimed at providing quality literature to the Pahari-speaking people of the subcontinent. — TNS
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Jammu, December 22
Jammu, December 22
Srinagar, December 22