The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Sarpanches push for more powers, three-tier system
Shun government ‘lure’ of Rs 1 lakh for each panchayat
Dinesh Manhotra
Tribune News Service

Jammu, May 6
Annoyed at the “deceitful” tactics of the state government to “lure them with money”, a majority of the panchayat members of the state have decided not to accept Rs 1 lakh sanctioned by the government for each panchayat.

Instead of accepting this money, panchayat members are considering a decisive battle for their constitutional rights.

Anger among the panchayat members was visible in the conference which was held today to chalk out a strategy to force the government to establish the three-tier Panchayati Raj in the state like in other parts of the country.

All the speakers maintained that the government was trying to “lure” them by offering money but they would not fall into the government’s trap.

Besides sarpanches of Vijay, Samba and Ghagwal blocks, sarpanches of Jammu district also announced today that they would not accept Rs 1 lakh from the government. “We will not accept the offering of the government. Our fight is for establishment of the three-tier system in the state,” Anil Sharma, sarpanch of Jandrah, told The Tribune.

With the hope of getting their problems solved, people of the state braved militants’ threats and came out in large numbers to exercise their right to franchise to elect panchayat members in 2011. People’s enthusiasm for the elections can be gauged from the fact that over 80 per cent of the voters had cast their votes for electing 4,130 sarpanches and 29,719 panches in the state.

“It is really unfortunate that instead of taking some sincere steps to strengthen Panchayati Raj, the government has been trying to lure us by releasing some funds for the panchayats,” observed Shafiq Mir, chairman of the J&K Panchayat Conference.

Contesting the claims of the government of giving powers to the panchayats to monitor the functioning of 14 departments, Mir said that without incorporating this decision in the Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act, the decision was of no use. “We want rights which have been enshrined in the Constitution,” he said.

“We are not beggars. The government wants to “purchase” us by sanctioning money for us,” Purmandal sarpanch Raman Sharma said, adding that their fight was not for getting Rs 1 lakh but for our rights.

“Sanctioning an amount of Rs 1 lakh is nothing but an attempt to humiliate us and to erode the sanctity of the panchayat system in the state,” he declared

Except for gram sevaks, no other official from various government departments have been consulting panchayat members before formulating plans.

Echoing similar sentiments, B D Gorkha, sarpanch of Bagha Jana panchayat of R S Pura, and Vinod Kumar, sarpanch of Tarore, regretted that the government was brazenly trying to undermine the vital institution of democracy by offering money to sarpanches.

NC, PDP trade salvos over Srinagar projects
Ehsan Fazili/TNS

Srinagar, May 6
The war of words between the ruling National Conference and the opposition PDP over the issue of development in Srinagar has intensified with the shift of seat of the government to the summer capital.

The city, comprising eight Assembly constituencies, continues to be represented by the National Conference over the years, though with certain exceptions.

The only exception during the recent times was that of Batamaloo, where the PDP wrested power following NC stalwart Ghulam Mohiuddin Shah’s death during the Congress-PDP coalition rule.

At her meetings with workers of the PDP from various parts of Srinagar here on Friday, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti lamented the “shelving of development projects” that had been initiated by the previous government.

Mehbooba said it spoke volumes of the political “narrow-mindedness” of the present government.

She said the PDP-led government had planned to develop the Eidgah and its peripheries as a hub of socio-economic activity and modern amenities so that the downtown area could benefit from it.

“Let alone allied development, even the preservation and beautification of the Edigah itself had been stopped,” Mehbooba regretted.

She said the beautification of the Jehlum was also to be extended to the entire city so that the historic city could be rejuvenated, but again the government failed to carry on the process, she said.

She pointed out that even the construction of a new weir at Chatabal had not been successfully executed.

The reconstruction of the weir would have helped navigation on the river and opened up the heritage part of the city to tourism.

Earlier, the ruling National Conference spokesperson, Tanvir Sadiq, said Srinagar did not need a “deserter” representative from Wachi to certify the number of development works the eight elected members and leaders of the party had carried out. Mehbooba Mufti represents Wachi constituency of south Kashmir.

“People of Wachi do not even remember the face of their MLA as she has never been seen in or around that area, let alone help the voters who voted for her,” he said.

He said Srinagar was under the process of being developed into a city of international standards, adding that the Chief Minster had instructed early completion of various ongoing works.

Village defence committees trained to curb infiltration
Ranjit Thakur

Rajouri, May 6
Lt Col DL Badyal, officiating Commanding Officer of Field Regiment 282, today said village defence committee (VDC) members had played a major role in controlling infiltration routes of militants in the border town of Rajouri.

He was speaking at Dalogra, where the Army had organised a weapons training programme for 16 VDC members.

“Village defence committee members have played a major role in controlling militancy-related incidents in the twin districts of Poonch and Rajouri where the Army and the police cannot reach,” Lt Col Badyal said.

He said the VDC members were being trained to tackle the increasing infiltration bids across the border, as many militants were trying to sneak into Indian. “Our alert members are ready to press the trigger against those who try to infiltrate,” Badyal said.

Ten years ago militancy was at its peak in Rajouri and Poonch, when the Army and the state administration took an initiative to create an additional force of the VDC for the support of security forces and the police in insurgency operations. “It is only due to their effective role in providing up-to-date information that we have seen very nominal attempts of infiltration on the border,” he said.

Ranjit Tara, a VDC member, said, “The situation is not yet normal in the state. Each day we see a militant attack, in which our soldiers get killed, so we need to prepare ourselves for any situation.”

“The Army is playing a vital role in the area for the protection of people. They often help the VDC members on their self-defence mission,” he added.

Another VDC member said if the Army needed the help of the VDC members, they were ready to help them in insurgency operations. “They are getting the training from the Army for their defence, but if need arises they will lend a hand to the Army in any operation.”

ITBP scam: Whistleblower ‘hounded’, embroiled in litigation for 23 years
Ravi Krishnan Khajuria
Tribune News Service

Sub-Inspector Sudesh Kumar Gargotra in Jammu

Jammu, May 6
A Sub-Inspector of the the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) had to pay dearly for taking the lid off an alleged scam running into crores of rupees in the paramilitary force 23 years ago. Sub-Inspector Sudesh Kumar Gargotra and his family now face starvation.

Gargotra claims that the ITBP is neither giving him salary nor pension for the past 23 years despite High Court orders in his favour.

Talking to The Tribune, Gargotra claimed he had unearthed a training allowance scam involving Rs 300 crore 23 years ago at Mussoorie and since then he was being victimised by the force. He said that in 1988 he came across a confidential letter at Mussoorie Training Centre and learnt that 30 per cent amount of the training allowance was being misused.

“On April 14, 1988, I unearthed a big scam worth Rs 300 crore in the force and on the same day I wrote a letter to the then DG, ITBP, DVLN Ramakrishna Rao, via the then Director, ITBP, Mussoorie, DD Malhotra, apprising him of the scam,” he said.

In turn, the whistleblower was asked to take care of his “social conduct”.

“Thereafter, my ordeal started. In 1988, I was transferred from Mussoorie to Krera in Madhya Pradesh and my salary was stopped. Compelled by circumstances I took up my case with the then Special Secretary, Police, GM Qureshi, in 1989 and also approached the then Secretary, Public Grievances Cell, SM Murshid,” said Gargotra.

“Subsequently, I was allowed to join duty in 1989 but in 1990 I was implicated in a case of harassment for dowry by the force when I was on leave at Jammu and the trial continued for 15 years. I was eventually given a clean chit,” he added.

“For the past 23 years, I am not getting any salary or pension. The J&K High Court after going through my case had even asked the force to reinstate me but the higher-ups are now adopting dilly-dallying tactics,” said Gargotra.

A father of two children, Gargotra today ekes out a living by doing petty jobs.

Despite the High Court order in his favour to reinstate him with all benefits, including promotions, the force has not implemented the order, for which a contempt petition was moved by him in 2003.

Following the contempt petition in the High Court, the ITBP did reinstate him in 2003 at Krera in Madhya Pradesh but after a few weeks he was told to join duty at Reckongpeo in Himachal Pradesh.

“To my utter shock there was no battalion of the force there,” he said.

“I again filed another contempt petition in the J&K High Court, to which the ITBP said that I had been asked to join duty at Leh,” he added. To add to his woes Gargotra claimed his name had also been removed from records from his previous place of posting in Madhya Pradesh.

“Instead of appreciating my honesty and concern for the public money, I was hounded and the ordeal has not ended even after 23 years”, he said.

To substantiate his claims, Gargotra produced a bundle of files carrying court orders and letters from the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Training Allowance Scam

ITBP Sub Inspector Sudesh Kumar Gargotra claims that in 1988 he had unearthed a training allowance scam involving Rs 300 crore at Mussoorie Training Centre and since then he was being victimised by the force

ITBP remains tightlipped, says matter sub judice

Senior officers in the ITBP headquarters at New Delhi remained tightlipped over the matter. One of them, DIG, Establishment, Sanjeev Raina, initially said that Gargotra was not with them and then retracted his statement saying, “Since the matter is sub judice, DIG, Judge Attorney General, GS Virk, is the right person to talk about the issue”. Despite repeated attempts by The Tribune, Virk could not be reached for his comments.

Darbar move offices reopen today in Kashmir valley
M Aamir Khan
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, May 6
The darbar move offices are all set to reopen in the summer capital tomorrow amid tight security arrangements even as the employees’ organisations have already announced their protest programmes that include gheraoing the civil secretariat in the coming days.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is scheduled to inaugurate the reopening of the secretariat. He will be given a guard of honour in the morning which will be followed by media interaction.

However, all eyes would be on the civil secretariat in the coming days. While witnessing long queues of people, seeking redressal of their grievances, outside the secretariat is a routine, the employees’ associations are expected to give a tough time to the authorities with their protests outside the premises. The breakaway faction of the Employees Joint Action Committee - Kashmir (EJAC-K) will be holding a day-long hunger strike tomorrow. EJAC-K leader Ishtiaq Baigh said the decision to hold the strike was taken in view of the opening of darbar move offices.

“The opening day of the darbar move offices is the best time to highlight our long-pending demands,” he said. The employees’ demands include release of arrears recommended by the Sixth Pay Commission, enhancement of retirement age and regularisation of daily wagers and casual workers working in various departments.

The EJAC-K hunger strike programme will be followed by a strike by the main employees’ body, Joint Consultative Committee (JCC), on May 8 and the secretariat gherao programme on May 9.

Many other groups too have been waiting for the opening of the darbar to highlight their grievances. “We will be protesting shortly as we were waiting for the darbar to shift,” said Abdul Rauf, a shopkeeper near Magarmal Chowk. “Around 300 shops will be demolished in view of the construction of the flyover from Jehangir Chowk. We will hold protests demanding that we get new shops in open areas,” he added.

The darbar move offices were closed in Jammu on April 28. Despite objections from various quarters, the 140-year practice has been costing crores of rupees to the state exchequer. Even the Chief Minister had recently admitted that the practice was a “waste of money”. “Do I think the darbar move is a waste of money? Yes I do. Is there an alternative? I haven't seen a viable alternative suggested,” Omar had written on micro-blogging site Twitter.

Chief Secy takes stock of arrangements

Srinagar: Chief Secretary Madhav Lal on Sunday visited the civil secretariat and took stock of the arrangements made for the reopening of the darbar move offices here.

The Chief Secretary inspected the revenue clerical hall, meeting hall, committee rooms, Chief Minister’s cabin and Chief Secretary offices and got on-the-spot feedback about the arrangements made.

He also visited the residential colonies for employees and directed the Estates Department to ensure sanitation, proper supply of water, electricity and other basic amenities so that the employees did not face any problem.

27 lakh visit Vaishno Devi till April this year
Devinder Thakur

Katra, May 6
The pilgrimage to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine nested in the Trikuta hills has started on a healthy note this year with 26.87 lakh pilgrims paying obeisance at the shrine during the first four months of the year.

The yatra during the first four months of the year is up by over 1,08,432, as compared to 2,47,9,101 pilgrims, who visited the shrine last year during the first four months.

“A total number of 26,87,533 lakh pilgrims visited the Vaishno Devi shrine during the first four months of the year,” Additional CEO, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB), Mandeep K Bhandari said.

Bhandari added that about 4.59 lakh devotees were registered in January 2012 as compared to 4.21 lakh pilgrims in January 2011. About 3.92 lakh were registered in February 2012 and 3.69 lakh in February 2011. Around 8.74 lakh devotees visited the shrine in March 2012 as compared to 7.55 lakh pilgrims in March 2011. In April 2012, about 9.61 devotees were registered and 10.32 lakh were registered in April 2011.

Keeping in view the high turnout and improvement in facilities for devotees during the past few years, the SMVDSB has earmarked a number of development projects en route to the cave shrine, including the segregation of mules and on-foot pilgrims’ track, which are likely to be completed by December 2012.

The Additional CEO said at present 2.25 km of the track had been segregated by installing dividers and the remaining part would be completed by the year end. He added that the construction of another helipad was in full swing and about 50 per cent of the work had been completed. He said the material ropeway from Katra to Bhawan and from Bhawan to the Bharion temple and the passenger ropeway projects were under process.

Ever since the inception of the Shrine Board in 1986, the Vaishno Devi shrine has witnessed an increase in the number of devotees. The yatra that stood at 13.96 lakh in 1986, increased to 101.15 lakh in 2011.

Amarnath Yatra
Registration of pilgrims begins
Ravi Krishnan Khajuria
Tribune News Service

Jammu, May 6
While the authorities have been working round-the-clock to put in place requisite arrangements for the ensuing Amarnath yatra, 121 branches of the Jammu and Kashmir Bank, 49 branches of Yes Bank, four district cooperative banks will embark upon a gigantic exercise of registering intending pilgrims from May 7. The registration in 100 post offices across the country will begin on May 15 for the annual pilgrimage to the Amarnath cave shrine, which will commence on June 25.

“The registration process will begin from May 15 in seven states of Northern India, including Jammu and Kashmir,” Chief Post Master General, J&K Circle, John Samuel said.

The intending pilgrims have been told to bring along an application form along with a health certificate from a registered medical practitioner, besides three passport size photographs. “The pilgrims will have to remit a registration fee of Rs 15 at the post office,” said Samuel.

He said the post offices would retain a part of the application form and issue the remaining part to the pilgrim with a specific number and date.

“We have trained the staff. The intending pilgrims can get themselves registered at any post office from May 15 between 9 am to 5 pm,” he said.

The pilgrims can also download the application form from the website of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) www.shriamarnathjishrine.com.

Samuel said the intending pilgrims would have to produce their identity proof at the post office.

PRO of the Jammu and Kashmir Bank Sajjad Bazaz said from May 7 all the 121 branches of the bank in the country would start registering the pilgrims.

“On week days our branches will be registering pilgrims from 4 pm to 6 pm and on Saturdays the timing will be 3 pm to 6 pm,” said Bazaz.

Meanwhile, the condition at the base camps and tracks leading to the cave shrine remains bad, but the authorities have been working round-the-clock to overcome difficulties. “Due to heavy snowfall conditions are bad, but we are hopeful to put in place requisite arrangements before June 25,” CEO, SASB, Navin K Choudhary said.

Congress leaders feel ‘neglected’ in coalition
Ehsan Fazili
Tribune News Service

Devsar (Kulgam), May 6
Though AICC general secretary and Union Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has rubbished reports on fissures between the Congress and the National Conference, his party colleagues gave full vent to their feelings at a recent public rally here.

Senior Congress leaders, including Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand, ministers Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed and Manohar Lal, former ministers and legislators, were among those who attended the rally organised by the Youth Congress in this remote area in south Kashmir.

Former Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad addressed this rally, first of its kind after the last winter.

The rally had been well timed as the political parties, after the panchayat elections last year, are eyeing the local bodies elections in the state.

Devsar constituency, which has a long history of representation by the National Conference, has been bagged by the PDP’s Sartaj Madni in the last two elections.

At the Congress rally, Azad pointed out that governments had to be non-partisan in the administrative and development issues irrespective of political affiliations. “When political leaders raise an issue, there should be no problem in sorting out problems,” Azad said while responding to the issues raised by his party colleagues, Abdul Majid Paddar, vice-president of the JKPCC, and Mohammad Amin Bhat, state Youth Congress president and an MLC.

Earlier, Paddar and Bhat had raised a number of issues relating to the lack of development and the apathetic attitude of the government towards their demands. “The Congress leaders have suffered in the coalition government,” said Paddar.

He lamented that the elected panches and sarpanches owing their allegiance to the Congress had suffered a lot since last year. He said Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed should again be given the education portfolio, which was taken away from him following the controversy over the use of unfair means to help his son in Class X examinations. Paddar also demanded reinduction of former R&B minister G M Saroori in the Omar Abdullah government.

Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed, who now holds the portfolio of Public Enterprises, however, maintained that the coalition government would last its full term of six years. He maintained that the focus of the coalition government was to address people’s problems and maintain peace and tranquillity for development.

Jahangir Chowk-Natipora flyover
Official for proper rehabilitation of affected people

Srinagar, May 6
Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Asgar Hassan Samoon yesterday reviewed the arrangements for the rehabilitation of the people whose structures come in the alignment of the flyover being constructed from Jahangir Chowk to Natipora in Srinagar.

The Centrally-sponsored Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA) is the executing agency for the flyover, which will come up at a cost of Rs 292 crore. The project involves the acquisition of land of around 40 kanals and 60 structures. The necessary notifications of the Land Acquisition Act for the acquisition of the land have been issued by the Collector, Land Acquisition, ERA.

At the divisional-level committee meeting, Samoon directed the officials concerned that the people affected by the project should be properly compensated, as per the norms, an official spokesman said. A commercial complex is being constructed near Exhibition Grounds, Srinagar, by the Jammu and Kashmir Projects Construction Corporation (JKPCC) that would have four floors, a semi-basement floor for parking of vehicles and other services and rehabilitation of the affected shopkeepers.

The meeting was attended by DC, Srinagar, Baseer Ahmed Khan; Chief Engineer R&B, Kashmir, Mushtaq Ahmed Lone; Director, (Central) ERA, Khalid Muzaffar; Chief Conservator, Forests, Manzoor Ahmed Khan; Additional DC, Srinagar, MA Qadri and Superintending Engineers of the PHE, ERA, EMRE and the UEED. — TNS

Religious procession taken out on Buddha Purnima in Leh
Yangchan Dolma

Leh, May 6
A large number of monks attired in traditional dresses and playing religious musical instruments led the ‘Bumskor’, which was held at Leh town to mark Buddha Purnima today.

Bumskor is a traditional religious procession during which the statue of Lord Buddha and his scriptures are taken out of the monastery for blessings and world peace. Hundreds of women and men carrying flowers and incense took part in the religious procession.

The teachings of Lord Buddha, which have been translated from Sanskrit into Bhoti, the language of the Himalayan region of the country, in 108 volumes were also carried by devotees in the procession.

Students took out tableaux representing the 11 important occasions in the life of Lord Buddha. The procession was organised by the Ladakh Buddhist Association. Many religious heads of Ladakh also attended the function.

The procession started from Chowkhang Vihra and passed through the Sangkar monastery and the Tsemo monastery. It ended at the Polo ground where the main function was held. Skabje Tokdan Rinpoche was the chief guest on the occasion.

For the first time, monks of the Hemis monastery performed the ritual mask dance. A blood donation camp was also held by the Ladakh Buddhist Association in collaboration with the Health Department.

Addressing the occasion, Rinpoche stressed on communal harmony in Ladakh and told the people to follow the teachings of Lord Buddha.

Delimitation of Assembly constituencies demanded
Tribune News Service

Jammu, May 6
Bhim Singh, chairman of the Panthers Party, yesterday demanded the delimitation of blocks, districts and Assembly constituencies to end the discrimination with people of the Jammu region.

Addressing a press conference here, Bhim Singh warned that the people would launch an agitation on the issue. He said the dynasty rule of one family had crossed the saturation point. He said Congress and National Conference leaders were neck deep in corruption, nepotism, robbery of the public exchequer and were involved in heinous criminal acts so they had no moral, political or even constitutional right to sit on the seat of the governance.

He demanded the dismissal of the present government and amendment to Article 370 so as to reorganise the unnatural and unacceptable union of the state.

Singh lambasted the state Congress leadership for trying to exploit the people in the name of Maharaja Hari Singh. He said it was the Congress leadership and Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru, who had driven to Srinagar, to support Sheikh Abdullah in his ‘Quit Kashmir Movement’ against Maharaja Hari Singh.

Daljit Singh, Bansi Lal Sharma, Anita Thakur and HC Jalmeria were also present in the press conference.

2 bovine smugglers held, 19 animals recovered

Batote, May 6
Two bovine smugglers were arrested and 19 bovines along with two vehicles were seized by the police at two places in Ramban yesterday.

During a naka at Chanderkot, a police party led by Inspector Rakesh Kumar Gupta intercepted a TATA mobile. Four bovines were found in the vehicle on checking it. The bovines were being smuggled into the Valley from Jammu. The driver of the vehicle Ishtiaq Ali, a resident of Dhalwas in Ramban, was arrested while the vehicle and the four bovines were seized.

In Ramban town near the Kowbagh check post, a police party led by Inspector RS Parihar seized a truck during a routine checking, which was carrying 15 bovines to the Valley. The driver of the truck Mirza Khan of Talwara in Jammu was also arrested. The police has registered cases under Section 188 of the RPC and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. — OC

Geelani holds religious conference in Srinagar

Srinagar, May 6
Chairman of the hardline faction of the Hurriyat Conference yesterday said “India has launched cultural aggression” against people of the state and was trying to divide them on sectarian lines.

“The cultural aggression of India is a big challenge for us and the need of the hour is that Muslim scholars and ‘ulemas’ should ensure that India is not successful in its plans,” Geelani said while speaking at a seminar, which was aimed at forging unity among the Muslims.

He asked religious scholars to highlight the fundamentals of the Islam in their religious sermons. — TNS

Civil Services qualifiers congratulated by NC
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, May 6
The National Conference (NC) has congratulated the candidates for their performance in the Civil Services examination making the state proud. In a statement, party spokesman Tanvir Sadiq said this would inspire youth of the state to prepare themselves for competitive examinations. He added that this had proved that the youth of the state had tremendous potential.

On behalf of NC leaders, the party spokesman conveyed his good wishes and congratulated Syed Aabid Rashid from Srinagar, Inam-ul-Haq Mengnoo an orthopaedic from Shopian, Bashir Ahmad Bhat, a veterinarian from Sopore, Manazir Jeelani Samoon from Gurez, Ijaz from Dharna village of Mendhar tehsil in Poonch district, Raj Kamal Arya from Jammu, Nitish Suri from Udhampur, Aditya Fotedar and Syed Sehrish Asghar from Doda.

Boy killed in explosion

Srinagar, May 6
An eight-year-old boy was killed today in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district after a grenade, which he found in a field, exploded in his hand, the police said.

Tariq Ahmad Shah got critically injured after he accidentally came across a hand grenade while playing at a field near his residence in Sherhama, Qalamabad. Eyewitnesses said the boy was rushed to a nearby public health centre for treatment where he was declared brought dead. Minster of State for Health Javid Ahmad Dar visited the area and offered condolences to the bereaved family. — TNS