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plight of Pandits Part I
Chidambaram, Omar inaugurate ‘Jashn-e-Kashmir’ in Kargil
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Army pilot killed in Siachen copter crash
Political parties focusing on Chenab valley region
400 militants ready to enter J-K: Army
Army Chief pays farewell visit to Northern Command
‘Desperate attempts by ultras to revive militancy in Jammu’
Central board assists NGOs for uplift of women, children
Govt ignoring Sopore, says Mehbooba
Storage of essential items in Leh by Sept 15
Mainstream, separatist leaders exploiting people: SP
Arms, ammunition recovered in Rajouri
‘Panchayat empowerment’ an eyewash, say sarpanches
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plight of Pandits Part I
Jammu, May 23 Community leaders say the rehabilitation package has no takers because of relative insecurity, particularly the rise of fundamentalism and events which led to their exodus at the height of insurgency. The summer turmoil which engulfed the Valley in 2008, 2009 and 2010 also had a significant impact. On the other hand, there is a section that cites political demand for a separate homeland and mushrooming of various organisations and their respective agendas for slowing down the process. The Prime Minister had announced a Rs 1618.40-crore package during his visit to Jammu and Kashmir on October 1, 2009, but the progress so far has taken place only in two components-- employment and transit accommodation. Under the scheme, the government had announced financial assistance of Rs 7.5 lakh for fully or partially damaged houses, Rs 2 lakh for dilapidated/unused house, Rs 7 lakh for purchase/ construction of a house in group housing societies for those who had sold their properties after 1989 and before the enactment of "The J&K Migrant Immovable Property Preservation, Protection and Restraint of Distress Sale Act, 1997. Employment package Under the employment package, 3,000 posts were created. Appointment orders have been issued to 2,148 candidates but only 1,441 have so far joined duty. Most of those who have shifted to the Valley are putting up at transit accommodation, including 140 in Veesu (Anantnag), 65 in Hawal and 130 in Baramulla, with their families living in Jammu or New Delhi. Nearly 2,045 posts were advertised by the Service Selection Recruitment Board (SSRB) and the State Public Service Commission in February, 2010. Nearly 16,000 displaced youth applied for these posts. Most of the posts were in the Education, Social Welfare, Relief Organization, Engineering, Finance, Tourism, Health and Revenue Departments in Kashmir Division. The government conducted a special drive to make selections on the basis of open merit, subject to provisions of the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Act. Separate homeland One of the significant fallouts of the employment package has been the ‘sidelining’ of the demand for a separate homeland (Panun Kashmir) made by the community after mass exodus from the Valley in 1990. Though successive central governments and various organisations have debated its repercussions on the secular fabric of Jammu and Kashmir, it became a subject of intense discussion at the national and international levels, forcing even the separatist leadership to urge the community to drop this demand. However, internal squabbling within the powerful Panun Kashmir in 1993 almost diluted the concept. The basic demands
To be continued |
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Chidambaram, Omar inaugurate ‘Jashn-e-Kashmir’ in Kargil
Srinagar, May 23 The Union Home Minister was speaking at Kargil today after inaugurating ‘Jashn-e-Kashmir’, a mega project for training youth of the state in the folk culture and art of the state. Chidambaram said the state had rich cultural diversity and focused attention was needed to nurture it among youth. He said the project would prove a boost in this direction. He also thanked people for the welcome accorded to him in Kargil and said the land was beautiful and people hospitable. Students from 10 schools of Kargil, Zanskar, Bothkharbo, Wakha, Drass, Hardass and other areas are taking part in the workshop. After completion of the workshop, trainees will take part in competitions at Jammu, Leh, Kargil and Srinagar. Similar workshops will be organised to select the final team for the grand cultural show to be organised at Delhi, Ajmer and Mumbai, an official spokesman said. The Chief Minister highlighted the preservation of the cultural heritage of the state and making youth aware of the rich ethos, history, amity in diversity and pluralistic characteristic of the state. Omar stressed on taking all measures to preserve the novelty of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh’s cultural heritage and said steps aimed at nurturing and popularising it were the need of the hour. The Ministry of Culture in collaboration with the state government has taken up the project to encourage the folk culture and art of the state and popularise it within the country. Identifying Kashmir, Ladakh and Jammu as the cultural hubs, Dogri, Kud and Gojri folk forms from Jammu, Rouf, Band Pather, marriage dance and singing from the Valley and Jabro, Ali Yato, Chapskiyan, Charsis, Mindok, Balti dance and singing, Sheena and Purgi have been selected from Ladakh for
nurturing and imparting necessary training to local students. All the trainees would be paid an honorarium and winners of the best art forms would travel to
Delhi in September, where a two-day Jashn-e-Kashmir workshop would be organised. Students would later
perform at Ajmer and Mumbai. Union Minister of State for Home Dr Jatinder Singh, Minister for Tourism Nawang Rigzin Jora, Minister for Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Qamar Ali Akhoon and Minister of State for Home Nasir Aslam Wani addressed the function. |
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Army pilot killed in Siachen copter crash Leh/Srinagar, May 23 The injured co-pilot has been taken to Chandigarh. An inquiry has been ordered to probe the reasons responsible for the crash, Defence Spokesperson Lt Col JS Brar said in Srinagar. He said the Cheetah helicopter, on an air maintenance mission, in Siachen glacier, crashed at about 11.15 am, leading to the death of the pilot and injuries to the co-pilot. The deceased has been identified as Maj Chandrasekar Singh and the injured as Maj Amit Mohindra. The crash occurred at 11.15 am near Bhim post of the Army in Siachen glacier. Army officials said the pilots were trying to get the copter to land on a helipad at the Bhim post when they lost control of the aircraft. It crashed about a quarter-mile short of the helipad, officials added. However, another report said the pilots were flying the Cheetah chopper to the Siachen base camp after delivering supplies at the Bhim helipad when they lost control on the helicopter. The helicopter crashed 400 metres away from the helipad soon after take- off. Siachen is located on the India-Pakistan border. Bhim post is about 6,000 metres in altitude. Preliminary reports attributed the crash to some technical snag. Further details are awaited. The Cheetah and Chetak helicopters have been flying in the Siachen region for over 25 years to provide logistical support to Army troops deployed in high-altitude areas ranging from 10,000 to 23,000 feet. The Army is said to be looking to replace the choppers with new light utility helicopters in the near future. The previous Cheetah crash in Siachen had been reported in November 2010 when two Indian Air Force pilots who were on an air maintenance sortie were injured. Another Cheetah crash was reported in the glacier in April 2007.
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Political parties focusing on Chenab valley region
Jammu, May 23 Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has already conducted a tour of this belt and now Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed has started a mass contact programme in the Chenab valley area to carve out a space for the PDP in the erstwhile Doda district where the Congress and the National Conference (NC) are the two main parties. Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, who belongs to the region, is also giving special attention to the belt to ensure a maximum number of seats for the Congress. Although Mufti has been touring all the areas of the Chenab valley, but the PDP has been concentrating on some constituencies where the party hopes to gain some ground in the next Assembly elections. Out of the total seven Assembly segments of the region, the PDP has been giving special attention to Banihal, Kishtwar and Gool Assembly segments. In the 2008 Assembly elections, the Congress had won six out to total seven segments of the belt. The erstwhile Doda district was once considered a citadel of the NC, but it managed to get only one seat in the 2008 Assembly elections. While the Congress won the Gool, Banihal, Ramban, Bhaderwah, Inderwal and Doda segments, the NC managed to retain only the Kishtwar seat. It was all due to the influence of Ghulam Nabi Azad that the Congress had managed to virtually sweep off the belt in 2008 Assembly elections. While addressing a public meeting at Doda today, Mufti reiterated the demand of his party to re-negotiate the discriminatory water agreements signed by the successive National Conference regimes from time to time. “We will continue our struggle to get these discriminatory agreements revoked to make Jammu and Kashmir economically self-reliant,” Mufti said. He added that, “Had the successive NC regimes not surrendered our natural resources in such a reckless manner for enjoying power, the state would have been economically self-reliant.” |
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400 militants ready to enter J-K: Army
Srinagar, May 23 The Army foiled an infiltration bid in the Keran sector yesterday after a group of militants tried to sneak into the Valley by taking advantage of the damaged LoC fencing, General Officer Commanding (GOC), 15 Corps, Lt Gen Syed Ata Hasnain told reporters here. However, he said no one was killed during the exchange of fire between the militants and the Army. Lt Gen Hasnain said 73 per cent of the fencing area, which was damaged due to the snowfall in winter months, had been repaired till date. He said the Army was fully equipped to deal with the infiltration bids despite the damages caused to the LoC fencing. Stating that the Army was expecting an increase in infiltration attempts in June and July as the snow had started to melt, Lt Gen Hasnain said around 400 to 500 militants were waiting to cross the LoC. |
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Army Chief pays farewell visit to Northern Command
Jammu, May 23 Gen Singh, who is retiring on May 31, was briefed by GOC-in-C, Northern Command, Lt Gen KT Parnaik on security issues in the Valley, a Defence spokesman said. Addressing officers of the Northern Command, Gen Singh, who was accompanied by his wife Bharti Singh, appreciated the selfless sacrifices made by troops of the Northern Command in ensuring the sanctity of the country’s frontiers and in facilitating the return of normalcy to the state. He exhorted all ranks to uphold core values of the Army through dedication towards duty. Bharti Singh, who is the president of the Family Welfare Organisation (FWO), interacted with the families of the Northern Command officers and the regional president of the FWO, Anagha Parnaik. Later, the Army Chief and his wife returned to New Delhi in the afternoon. |
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‘Desperate attempts by ultras to revive militancy in Jammu’
“After having lost their top leadership last year, they are on the run and at the same time desperate to revive militancy,” said a senior Army officer. “A spurt in militancy-related activities is a regular feature every summer for us but we are in place 24x7 ready for the challenge,” he added. However, the Army has also come a long way over the past 22 years fighting Pakistan-sponsored proxy war in the state and at the same time winning hearts and minds of the people. “Speculative operations are not carried out anymore. Now, hard intelligence comes to us through people,” he said. He said the Army looked forward to getting more information from people to neutralise the remaining militants across the Jammu region. The IGP, Jammu zone, Dilbag Singh, has already put their number to 30. Another senior Army officer said the remaining ultras were being hunted relentlessly. Terror Trail
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Police recruitment rally at Nagrota
Jammu, May 23 In this connection, a special recruitment rally was organised in Nagrota Sainik School Grounds today. The recruitment was conducted for 103 villages falling in the jurisdiction of three Nyabats. A large number of aspirants, including female candidates, reached the venue early this morning. Under the supervision of Director General of Police Kuldeep Khoda, a team of police officers, including Inspector General of Police, Jammu Zone, Dilbagh Singh, Deputy Inspector General of Police, Jammu-Kathua Range, JP Singh, AIG (Personnel) PHQ, Ghulam Hassan Bhat, SSP Jammu, Prabhat Singh, Additional SP, Jammu, Rakesh Kumar Sharma, Deputy Superintendents of Police Sanjay Kumar and Sheikh Zaffarullah conducted various physical tests of the candidates. As many as 86 youth, including two females, were selected on the spot. Congratulating the selected recruits, DGP Khoda said the drive had been organised in different areas of the state to provide employment to the eligible youth of the un-represented areas. The DGP told the recruits that since they had become a part of a disciplined force, they would have to make public service their sole motive. He told them that while performing duties in the field, they would have to ensure that justice was done to all without any discrimination. The candidates, while hailing the endeavour of the organisation, said the process had been conducted in a transparent manner and the aspirants were selected on the basis of merit and eligibility. Ishan Anand, a graduate in commerce hailing from Nagrota, said his father was running a small business and he was looking for a job anxiously. Tazeeb Beigh, an orphan from Harlani, said finally, he had succeeded in getting himself enrolled in the police force. Iqbal Mohammad, a science graduate, said he was happy to join the force where he could serve the people in a better way. |
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Central board assists NGOs for uplift of women, children
Srinagar, May 23 “Under the five major programmes, which include family counselling centres, Rajiv Gandhi National Creche Scheme, awareness generation projects, condensed courses of education for women and short stay homes, the total funds released in 2011-12 were Rs 107.46 crore,” said the chairperson of “Out of the total funds released, Rs 2.26 crore was spent in Jammu and Kashmir,” said Cariappa. The chairpersons of the Social Welfare Board in 33 states and Union Territories of the country are attending a two-day national conference in Srinagar, which began today. Organisers say the conference is aimed at evaluating the implementation and functioning of various schemes for women and children. “The State Boards are eyes, ears and vital organs of the CSWB and the conference will provide an opportunity to gather field perceptive on structure and functions of the Boards,” she said, adding that they would also discuss the monitoring mechanisms during the conference. SK Jha, Executive Director of the CSWB, said the conference would also discuss the issue of those women whose husbands were missing. “I do not like to call those women whose husbands are missing as ‘half widows’,” Jha said. About activities of the CSWB, Jha said the Board had provided financial assistance of Rs 651.72 crore to voluntary organisations and the funds were likely to be increased in the 12th plan beginning from 2012-13. “The Board is functioning in partnership with approximately more than 8,000 voluntary organisations,” he added. |
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Govt ignoring Sopore, says Mehbooba
Srinagar, May 23 “The history of the last one decade has established that it is not impossible to strike the right balance between the development effort and resolution initiative. The resolution of Kashmir problem and economic development of the state must go hand in hand,” Mehbooba said while addressing a meeting of party workers meeting at Warpora Sopore in Baramulla district. Mehbooba flayed the state government for “failing” to reach out to people of Sopore. “Even though Sopore has contributed significantly to the economy of the state as it has been the capital of horticulture trade, it has never received its due share in development,” she said. “The PDP respects the views of every citizen and does not believe in political apartheid in the development process but the National Conference has completely ignored this constituency,” she added. PDP general secretary Mohammed Dilawar Mir, state secretary Javaid Hussain Beig, Bandipore MLA Nizamudin Bhat and other party leaders were present on the occasion. — TNS
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Storage of essential items in Leh by Sept 15
Srinagar, May 23 The Divisional Commissioner directed all the officers concerned to ensure that the process of storage of all items was completed by September 15. The meeting discussed measures related to transportation, storage of commodities and other essentials in the two districts.— TNS
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Mainstream, separatist leaders exploiting people: SP
Srinagar, May 23 “While the National Conference and the Peoples Democratic Party were interested in getting power, separatists were ensuring that the conflict should continue,” said the state president while addressing a press conference here today. He said the Samajwadi Party had planned to adopt the model of Uttar Pradesh to strengthen the party base in the state. “We are taking measures to strengthen the party in the state. We will gear up for 2014 elections,” he said. The SP leader said they would launch a special drive to involve youngsters in
the party. “The party wants youngsters to join it and that is why we have decided to launch a special drive,” he said. |
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Arms, ammunition recovered in Rajouri
Rajouri, May 23 The recoveries included one Pakistan-made pistol 9mm (rusted), one pistol magazine (rusted), AK-47 (rusted), two Chinese grenades, two UBGL grenades, two RPG grenades and one IED.
— OC
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‘Panchayat empowerment’ an eyewash, say sarpanches
Jammu, May 23 They also flayed the process of revision of electoral rolls for the constitution of 143 block development councils (BDCs) - the second phase of the three-tier panchayat system -in the state, saying it won’t serve the purpose because the government was bent on accommodating its favourites and was least bothered about empowering the people in real sense. The sarpanches expressed resentment against the ruling government after The Tribune tried to take their views on the existing Panchayati Raj system. “The government doesn’t want to decentralise powers to the people. The proposed elections to the BDCs will be conducted in violation of the J&K Panchayati Raj Act, 1989 and will be another
face-saving exercise of the government,” said Anil Sharma, sarpanch, Halqa Jandrah. He lashed out at the ruling National Conference for giving “lame excuses” vis-a-vis implementation of the 73rd Amendment in the state. “Panchayats have been rendered defunct as the elected representatives of the people (sarpanches and panches) have been ignored in the decision-making process at village level,” he alleged. Sharma said instead of treating them as “representatives of the people”, the government considered them as “mukhbir” (agent) having no power in the decision-making process. A three-tier Panchayati Raj system has a district level at top. While in rest of the country, the chairpersons of the district boards are elected persons, the position will be retained by a minister in the state. The vice-chairperson will be elected from the heads of the block council. Jammu and Kashmir had 4,130 sarpanches and 29,719 panches during the panchayat elections conducted in June last year. Singh, too, regretted that sarpanches were not being taken into confidence prior to any development activity in their respective villages. “All slogans to empower the panchayats have proved hollow so far,” he remarked. Similarly, Sunil Kumar, sarpanch of Gatti village in remote Bani block of Kathua district, alleged that the ministers and legislators didn’t want to empower the panchayats. “The sarpanches and panches are not being heard anywhere and are being treated like ordinary people. The government doesn’t want to involve them in the decision-making process, as it will expose their misdeeds,” Kumar said. “The government claims that the panchayat elections have changed the face and direction of the rural belts of the state, but the fact remains that the government itself has gone directionless.” |
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Moderate Hurriyat planning to contest poll: Rasheed
Srinagar, May 23 Addressing a press conference here, Rasheed presented video clippings of the rally claiming that the sarpanch of Wadipora and other locals who had contested the panchayat elections last year were enjoying “close proximity” with the moderate Hurriyat leaders, Abdul Gani Bhat and Bilal Lone. Stating that the “proximity” was a proof that the separatist leaders would contest the Assembly elections, Rasheed further said: “There have been allegations of separatists fielding proxy candidates in elections…. They (separatists) cannot befool people by condemning the elections and then at the same time take part in the process. They have to make it clear whether they are taking part in elections or not. There is no need to be behind the curtains.”
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Though the Centre announced a significant economic package for the rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits in the Valley two years ago, not a single family has come forward.
Union Home Minister P Chidambaram has said the Centre would take all necessary steps to accommodate development needs of the state, including that of Leh and Kargil districts in the Ladakh region.
Jammu, May 23
Though 1,441 youth have got jobs under the Centre-sponsored employment package announced for displaced people, mostly Hindus, a majority of them are living in special colonies established by the government and not in their original homes and villages, the basic aim of the government.
Jammu, May 23