|
|
|
|
|
After BSP, BJP insists on 27% quota for OBCs
One body recovered from Chenab, 3 missing
Soz set to get another
term as JKPCC chief
Protesters block national highway
|
|
|
Three hurt in grenade
blast in Budgam
Rajouri Day celebrations
Musical evening keeps audience spellbound
Army creates awareness about healthy living
Scholars at KU interact with Kazakhstan delegation
Core group deliberates on security issues
Fire safety week begins in Valley
Medical camp organised
Centre rejects J-K proposal for tackling man-animal conflict
Need to boost exports across
LoC: traders
|
|
After BSP, BJP insists on 27% quota for OBCs
Jammu, April 14 During celebrations of the birth anniversary of B R Ambedkar today, major political parties of the Jammu region supported the OBCs’ long-pending demands, especially that of granting 27 per cent
reservation. As the Mandal Commission, which has recommended 27 per cent reservation to the OBCs, has not been implemented in Jammu and Kashmir, OBCs have been agitating to get the report implemented in the state. Earlier it was just the BSP which was openly demanding implementation of the Mandal Commission report in the state but now the BJP has also come out openly in support of this demand of the OBCs. BJP legislator Ashok Khajuria had raised this demand in the just-concluded budget session of the Assembly. Today, while addressing a function to celebrate the birth anniversary of BR Ambedkar, BJP leader Bali Bhagat said the OBCs were bearing the brunt of the wrong policies of the coalition regime. He said it was all due to Article 370 that the OBCs were not getting their constitutional rights. He observed that there was no reason for denying 27 per cent quota to OBCs because their counterparts in other parts of the
country were getting the same benefit. The Congress, which is part of the coalition regime, says its has reasons to stake a claim on OBCs vote because “it was all due to its efforts that the Other Backward Classes Advisory Board was constituted”. A Congressman, Kuldeep Verma, has been appointed vice-chairman of this board and the party claims that many “revolutionary” steps have already been initiated to address grievances of
the OBCs. Verma, who has been assigned the job by the party to strengthen its network among the OBCs, has been convening meetings to address the grievances of this section of society. As the state government has yet to take a decision on the implementation of the Mandal Commission report, Congress members during the Coordination Committee meeting of coalition partners in December 2011 had recommended that the OBCs should be provided 4 per cent reservation instead of the present 2 per cent. Verma claimed that only the Congress has taken some steps to address the grievances of the OBCs. He said most of the problems of the OBCs would be addressed soon. In the last caste-based census which was held in 1931, the OBC population in the State was 32 per cent. |
||
|
One body recovered from Chenab, 3 missing
Batote, April 14 The body was identified to be of Rizwana, 22. She had drowned in the Chenab yesterday along with her mother, brother and a close relative, who was driving the taxi which met with an accident. The mangled taxi was also taken out of the Chenab with the help of recovery cranes. The rescue operation was started only after the water level in the Chenab was lowered by closing the gates of the Baglihar dam for an hour today. Divers of the IRSC, police, State Forest Corporation and Jai Prakash Industries searched for the bodies in the gushing waters of the Chenab. The bodies of three people, who drowned into the river yesterday, couldn’t
be found. The police stations of Dharamkun, Reasi and Salal have been asked to trace the missing. The only survivor, Saiba Bano, is recovering at Ramban Hospital.
|
||
|
Soz set to get another
term as JKPCC chief
Jammu, April 14 Although local Congress leaders, including the JKPCC chief are tightlipped about the new committee, All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary in charge of J&K Affairs Mohan Prakash has confirmed that the new JKPCC would be announced within a week’s time. “The new JKPCC would be announced within days and every section of society would be given adequate representation in the new committee,” Prakash told The Tribune over the phone. Sources said after getting a green signal from the party high command regarding his continuation as JKPCC chief, Soz has prepared a list of probable committee members. The same list has been submitted to AICC president Sonia Gandhi for the final approval, which is likely to be obtained within a couple of days. Although Soz is likely to be given another chance, loyalists of Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad have also been given equal importance in the list submitted to the high command. “The names of a number of Azad loyalists are included in the list to strike a balance between the two warring factions of the JKPCC,” a source said and added that discussions were also held with Azad and Mohan Prakash before preparing the list. The sources said Soz and his two loyalists, including one from the Kashmir valley and another from the Jammu region, had prepared the list of the probable JKPCC members at New Delhi two days ago and the same was submitted to the AICC president. “The new JKPCC would comprise more than 170 members, including some co-opt members so as to include all sections of society in the JKPCC and also to give representations to all regions and sub-regions of the state,” the source said and added that it had been proposed that 33 per cent reservation would be given to women in the
new JKPCC. When contacted, Soz preferred to maintain a guarded silence on the issue. “The decision to constitute the new JKPCC has to be taken by the party high command so it will be better if you pose the question to the AICC general secretary in charge of J&K affairs,” said Soz. Soz was appointed JKPCC chief on February 13, 2008, following resignation of Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed in January, 2008, after an allegation of bribery was levelled against him. |
||
|
Protesters block national highway
Batote, April 14 They also blamed the administration for failing to recover the people, who drowned in the Chenab yesterday. However, after SP, Ramban, Anil Magotra and ACR Ghanshyam Singh Thakur pacified the protesters, the highway was thrown open to vehicular traffic. It all started last evening when both the patients were taken to the hospital and their attendants found that there was no doctor to attend to them (patients). This made them furious and they shouted slogans against the district administration and doctors, CMO, Ramban, Dr M Anwar Bhat told The Tribune that since Dr Ashwani was on call duty, it took him some time to reach the hospital. He added that, “Dr Ashwani attended to the accident victim first, which enraged the attendants of the pregnant woman.” “It is very unreasonable that the attendants of the pregnant woman were looking for the doctor, who had admitted her in the hospital a day earlier. Since the duty of doctors keeps on changing as per the roaster so he was not there,” said Dr Anwar. He denied that the patient was referred to Government Medical College and Hospital, Jammu, and said the woman was attended to by him and she had delivered a baby in the hospital while her attendants were shouting slogans outside. However, no case was registered in this regard. |
||
|
Three hurt in grenade
blast in Budgam
Srinagar, April 14 The injured were shifted to District Hospital, Budgam. The police here said a grenade exploded near the shop of Ghulam Ahmad Wani, injuring the shopkeeper and his son Imran Ahmad around 9 p.m last evening. A personnel of the Railway police, who was standing near the shop, was also injured in the explosion, said officials in Budgam. They said some scooter-borne persons lobbed the grenade and fled from the scene. The investigations into the incident are on. The incident has broken the long spell of silence on the militancy front in central Kashmir. Meanwhile, the police recovered the body of a girl under suspicious circumstances at Chak-e-Drugmulla in Kupwara district today. The police is ascertaining the cause of her death. —
TNS
|
||
|
Rajouri Day celebrations
Rajouri, April 14 The ceremony started with the laying of a wreath by chief guest Lt Gen AS Nandal, who is the GOC of the White Knight Corps, at Gujjar Mandi War Memorial, in the honour of the brave martyrs. While addressing a huge gathering, Lt Gen Nandal recalled the memories of 1947-48 when over 3,000 people were brutally killed by intruders, who had infiltrated into Rajouri. He said, “The Army is always ready to provide support to people of Rajouri. The Army is not only to protect borders, but also to provide help to the local people.” “The people should show unity and integrity for their better future and for the land which was liberated after sacrifices,” Lt Gen Nandal said. He congratulated the people on the occasion. Choudhery Gulzar Ahmed, Ex MLC Rajouri, took a serious note of the absence of leaders on the Rajouri Day celebrations. He said it is an important event which needs to be celebrated in a big way. The function commenced with prayers by all religious heads, followed by patriotic songs by schoolchildren and speeches by civil dignitaries. Later, Lt Gen Nandal presented gifts to winners of the painting and essay writing competition held on April 11 at Valley View Army Public School.
Musical evening keeps audience spellbound
Rajouri, April 14 Artistes and musical groups from
Rajouri, Poonch and Jammu presented Dogri, Pahari, Gojri and Kashmiri cultural items. Minister of State for Power Shabir Ahmed Khan was the chief guest on the occasion. He paid homage to those martyrs, who had laid down their lives for the liberation of
Rajouri. He also applauded the administration and the cultural academy for organising the function. He announced Rs 20,000 as reward to those artistes who took part in the function. The Minister also took serious note of the pending works in the district and assured the people that the financial year had started and the promises made with them will be fulfilled. Not only artistes across the state, but jawans from the 25 Division of Army also presented bhangra and other musical items. Deputy Commissioner,
Rajouri, Saugat Biswas; MLA Darhal Zularqar Ali; Maj Gen KH Singh; Brig JK
Tiwari; Brig Beji Mthws; DIG Rajesh Kumar and SP Mubassir Latifi were also present on the occasion. |
||
|
Army creates awareness about healthy living
Jammu, April 14 Due to changing lifestyles and unhealthy food habits, the main aim of holding the health week was to create awareness about healthy lifestyle to minimise stress and other health-related issues. The health week included lectures on health-related subjects by Army doctors, quiz and painting competitions and a panel discussion in which students from Kendriya Vidyalaya and Army Public Schools participated. Lectures on health were also held for Army officers, Junior Commissioned Officers, other ranks and their families. The Army also conducted skits on health-related topics like stress, high blood pressure and balanced diet. |
||
|
Scholars at KU interact with Kazakhstan delegation
Srinagar, April 14 The delegation from Kazakhstan led by Dulat Bek Abish comprised Ruslan Akhmet, Minister Counsellor, Embassy of Kazakhstan, New Delhi, and Imam of the Grand Mosque of Kazakhstan. The delegation during the interaction with Director, Area Studies, GM Mir, faculty and scholars of the CCAS resolved that a mutual relationship and coordination between the two needed to be strengthened. —
TNS
|
||
|
Core group deliberates on security issues
Srinagar, April 14 The meeting was co-chaired by GOC of the 15 Corps Lt Gen SA Hasnain, who is also the Security Adviser to the state government, and Director General of Police
Kuldeep Khoda. The meeting deliberated on initiatives being taken and a holistic approach of the way ahead, a Defence spokesman said here this evening. Addressing the meeting, Lt Gen Hasnain complimented the gathering on the high level of synergy that exists between all stakeholders in addressing the security concerns of the Valley. DGP Kuldeep Khoda echoed similar sentiments and elaborated on key security issues, the Defence spokesman added.Senior officers of the Army, police, CRPF, BSF, intelligence agencies and the civil administration attended the meeting. |
||
|
Fire safety week begins in Valley
Srinagar, April 14 Dubey gave a resume of activities of his department and remembered those jawans, who sacrificed their lives while saving life and properties during fire incidents. He said April 14, 1944, was the day when a devastating fire took place at Victoria Docks in Mumbai, in which hundreds of people died, besides loss to property worth crores. He said since them April 14 is observed as National Fire Service Day. |
||
|
Medical camp organised
Katra, April 14 A team comprising three Army doctors attended the camp and checked and treated over 300 patients from the area. The camp benefited villagers, who are poor and lack good medical facilities in the vicinity. The Mahore area, including Daachan, Shajuru and Janslam, has a population of around 30,000. The area has no medical facilities and the only state dispensary at Mahore does not have sufficient doctors and nurses. The Commanding Officer of the Rashtriya Rifles gifted a cricket kit to children of Daachan as part of Operation Sampark.
|
||
|
Centre rejects J-K proposal for tackling man-animal conflict
Jammu, April 14 Nearly 150 villages had been identified where the scheme was to be implemented. Under the proposal, each volunteer was to be given an honorarium of Rs 3,000 every month to ensure that the conflict was prevented and animals not harmed. Earlier, the project had been sanctioned by the Central government on the condition that a detailed list of villages affected by the menace and the mechanism to be adopted be submitted, but the report sent by the state government was not accepted as experts found many loopholes in it. A source claimed that the Union Environment Ministry was not happy with the way the state was utilising funds for various Centrally-sponsored schemes. “There are half-hearted efforts and many of the proposals are made without taking into consideration the ground reality. The present document lacks foresight,” he claimed. Official sources said the proposal to create PRTs was mooted by the state forest ministry about two years ago in view of the growing number of causalities due to attacks by wild animals in rural areas. Last year, nearly 119 people were injured in attacks by wild animals and about half a dozen of them had succumbed to their injuries. Chief Wildlife Warden PK Singh said, “There has been some delay over the PRTs, but we are pursuing the matter with the ministry concerned. We are expecting a positive response from them in the coming months”. Singh said the department would again give a relook to the project to pave way for its implementation. The Wild Life Department has categorised villages into two risk groups: A and B. Villages encountering high frequency and repetition of incidences of human-animal conflict have been put into category-A . A policy to engage “rapid response workers” from the village community within a 2-km radius of such villages was proposed. A total of 100 villages were to be brought under this category. Similarly, villages encountering moderate frequency conflict were put into category-B and a plan was formulated to engage volunteers with a 1-km radius of such villages on seasonal basis. Fifty villages were to be brought under this category. Due to encroachment of forest land by people, man-animal conflict in the state has become a worrisome situation for the government as in many cases people usually kill the animal before the teams reach the conflict site. |
||
|
Need to boost exports across
LoC: traders
Jammu, April 14 In 2009-10, merchandise worth Rs 70.73 crore (in Indian currency) was exported to PoK, and it increased to Rs 88.76 crore in 2010-11. Similarly, Indian traders imported goods worth Rs 121.83 crore (in Pakistani currency) in 2009-10, which increased to Rs 171.34 crore in 2010-11. The trade between the two countries, which takes place via Chakan-Da-Bagh in Poonch district and Salamabad in Uri district, is purely on barter system. “Instead of increasing the number of items to be exported to PoK, the government has been banning some items which till now were being traded with traders in occupied Kashmir,” president of the Chamber of LoC Trade, Jammu and Kashmir, Pawan Anand told The Tribune. “After banning the export of moong dal, chillies and cardamom, the government has also banned banana. I just received a letter from the Customs Department yesterday informing that banana will not be exported from now on,” added Anand. “Now, who will be responsible for the losses suffered by the cross-LoC traders who have purchased five to six truckloads of banana to export it to PoK?” he asked. He alleged that whichever item received a good response in PoK sooner or later got banned for some reason or the other. However, it may be stated here that the government has made it mandatory for traders to export goods only locally manufactured in Jammu and Kashmir to PoK under the cross-LoC trade. “Though in a bid to streamline the trade the government agreed upon our request of holding monthly meetings between the traders on both sides of the LoC at Zero Line but the trade has continued to suffer. Various items have been removed from the list of merchandise to be exported to PoK,” said the president. Anand also cited lack of coordination between various government departments, which he felt, takes a heavy toll on the cross-LoC trade. “On April 9, we had requested Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to come up with a single window system at Chakan-Da-Bagh to ensure a hassle-free trade but no action has been taken so far,” said Anand. In 2009-10, Indian traders had exported merchandise via Salamabad worth Rs 71.80 crore (in Indian currency), which increased to Rs 156.47 crore in 2010-11. Similarly, they had imported goods worth Rs 92.41 crore in Pakistani currency in 2009-10, which swelled to Rs 260.43 crore in 2010-11. The decision to initiate trade across the LoC was the outcome of a meeting between the Prime Minister of India and the President of Pakistan in April 2005. |
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | E-mail | |
The dead body of one
of the victims of the accident that occurred last evening in Ramban was recovered from the Chenab by volunteers of the Indian Red Cross Society (IRSC), Ramban, today afternoon.
