R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

JAMMU & KASHMIR

Dateline Jammu

Embarrassing proposition: Bringing people for political rallies has become a common practice in the Jammu region, despite the fact that these people are not aware of the policies and programmes of the party they have come to “cheer” for. Sometime, these “outsiders” become a source of embarrassment for the organisers. On Sunday, the PDP organised a public meeting at Langer village to educate people about the programmes and policies of the party. A group of around 50 youths in attendance resorted to unnecessary cheering and clapping to draw the attention of people towards them. This overzealous group was particularly vocal when one of the organisers, who had brought them to the rally, took the dais. Much to the embarrassment of the organiser, the group started clapping even as the speaker recalled the situation before 2002 when militancy was at its peak. The group kept applauding while the speaker narrated how people, irrespective of their caste, creed or religion, were butchered in the state from 1996 to 2002 by the militants.

‘Inspired’ Vakil: Outspoken Congress leader Abdul Gani Vakil, who has launched a campaign against his party minister Taj Mohiuddin, has actually been inspired by BJP leader Ashok Khajuria, who had earlier entered into a verbal dual with Taj on the issue of corruption. Khajuria had taken on the PHE Minister Taj Mohiuddin in the latter’s office chamber in the presence of his personal staff. Khajuria had levelled serious charges of corruption against the minister. Taking a cue from Khajuria, Abdul Gani Vakil also launched a tirade against the minister. Virtually toeing the line adopted by the BJP leader, Vakil, too, alleged that there was rampant corruption in the PHE department. After Vakil’s allegations were reported by the media, Khajuria started announcing at public meetings that it was due to the courage shown by him that people had started speaking against the PHE Minister.

Hot commodities: A visit to the vegetable and fruit mandi (marketplace) at Parade, located in the heart of the old city, will surely remind you of the popular Hindi slang “sab chalta hai”. Reason: There is no uniformity in the prices of fresh fruits and vegetables sold there by the vendors. Curiously enough, despite dealing in the same merchandise, they charge at will. For instance, if grapes are sold at Rs 80 to Rs 120 per kg during morning, the prices will come down by almost 50 per cent in the evening. Also, the prices of fruits and vegetables vary from shop to shop in the same area. Ask any vendor or shopkeeper there about the price of some vegetable or fruit and pat comes the reply: “Market tez hai” (rates are high).

— Contributed by Dinesh Manhotra, Arteev Sharma