The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	Setback for Soz faction as Azad candidate wins Youth Cong poll Dinesh Manhotra /TNS Jammu, May 31 The Congress faction of Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) chief Saifuddin Soz received a severe blow today as Mohammad Shahnawaz Chowdhary, the candidate supported by “dissidents” --- who owe their allegiance to Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad --- emerged victorious in the election of the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Youth Congress (JKPYC). Although Pranab Shagotra, the candidate sponsored by Soz loyalists, has lost the election of the state president by a narrow margin, his defeat has exposed chinks within the pro-Soz group. The “dissidents” not only ensured victory of their candidate, but they also have managed to lure some Soz loyalists. Although the Congress leadership was trying to downplay the whole episode, it was an open secret that elections of the office-bearers of JKPYC had become an issue of prestige for both the warring factions. For the last one month, both factions were brazenly adopting all means, legal and illegal, to ensure victory of their candidates. “It was purely organisational elections and there is no question of victory or defeat of any group,” JKPCC spokesman Ravinder Sharma said when his reaction was sought on the result of the election. While trying to downplay the infighting, Sharma said all the contesting candidates belonged to the Congress and were not associated with any group or faction. In the closely fought elections, Shahnawaz Chowdhary secured 1,555 votes while his arch rival Pranab Shagotra got 1,498 votes. A neutral candidate, R S Pathania, secured the third position. Sources in the Congress said Shahnawaz’s victory was a morale booster for Azad’s supporters. Jugal Kishore Sharma, a staunch Azad supporter, had tried hard to ensure Shahnawaz’s victory. Sharma was openly campaigning in support of Shahnawaz. “This election is going to change equations between the two warring factions of the Congress because serious differences have cropped up among leaders of various groups,” sources said, adding that Azad loyalists are likely to be play a more assertive role in the days to come as this faction has further consolidated its position in the state unit of the Congress.
	New president to strengthen party Srinagar, May 31 The newly elected President of Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Youth Congress Mohammad Shahnawaz Chowdhary has said he would focus on strengthening the party at the grass roots. “I will take everyone along to strengthen the party at the grass-roots level. Once we work together at the grass-roots level, the Congress will emerge victorious in the 2014 state Assembly elections,” said Chowdhary at a press conference in Srinagar. Chowdhary , a resident of Poonch, said he would also focus on the younger generation. “I am a youth myself so I understand the issues faced by them. I will work for the uplift of youth,” he added.
	BJP, CPM hold protest against petrol price hike Ehsan Fazili/TNS Srinagar, May 31 As part of the nationwide protests, the BJP and the CPM here today held separate demonstrations against the recent hike in petrol prices and came down heavily on the state and the Central governments. CPM state secretary MY Tarigami led a protest in the Lal Chowk area and addressed party supporters in Pratap Park, as part of the party’s anti-price hike programme. He condemned the government’s decision of hiking the rate of a litre of petrol by Rs 7.50. This, he said, had led to hardships for the common man, who was already reeling under the burden of rise in prices of essential commodities. Addressing party supporters and workers, Tarigami said the Centre and the state government were not taking any measures to provide relief to people. He said concessions and subsidy were being given to the economically higher classes of people. He added that the state was facing an unemployment crisis as a number of educated youth had no employment. The CPM state secretary expressed concern over the rise in petrol prices when the prices of crude oil were falling in the international market and added that the sharp depreciation of the rupee was due to the “faulty policies” of the government. Earlier, a group of BJP workers led by Mohammad Ashraf Azad held a protest in the Lal Chowk area against the steep rise in petrol prices. BJP activists raised slogans against the government for increase in prices of petrol and other food items, making the life of the common man miserable. Talking to mediapersons on the occasion, the BJP leader said the party was concerned over the plight of the common man.
	BJP activists burn effigy of PM Yangchan Dolma Leh, May 31 Activists of the BJP staged a protest rally in the town today against the recent hike in petrol prices by the Central government. In support of the nation-wide bandh called by the BJP high command, shops and other business establishments remained closed for half a day. The activists burnt an effigy of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, condemning the petrol price hike. In Leh town, the cost of one litre of petrol is Rs 79.80. Addressing the protesters, former Chief Executive Councillor and Regional President of BJP Tsering Dorje criticised the Congress-led Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Leh, for its policies. He lambasted the LAHDC for banning the import of one-litre mineral water bottle to Leh district. He said the LAHDC should first create facilities, including setting up of toilets, for tourists and then impose environmental fees on tourists.
	Two new hospitals to come up at Bemina Tribune News Service Srinagar, May 31 At a time when the state government is facing sharp criticism in the wake of the “large number of infant deaths” in the Valley’s only children hospital, the government has identified 70 kanals for the construction of a 200-bedded maternity hospital and a 250-bedded children’s hospital at Bemina. “We will construct the children’s hospital in two years,” said Minister for Medical Education R S Chib. “The 200-bedded maternity hospital will take some more time,” he added. Nearly 390 children have died this year in GB Pant Hospital, the only tertiary childcare hospital in the Valley that caters to patients up to the age of 15 years. The land for the new hospitals at Bemina was identified after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah chaired a high-level meeting and gave his nod for the proposed children and maternity hospitals. “The establishment of the two institutions in close proximity with common diagnostic facilities would be a right step towards ensuring better health care system for women and children at one place,” the Chief Minister said. He also asked the Medical Health Education Department to involve reputed and experienced architects in the construction of the hospital. “The establishment of the two important hospitals at one place will resolve the problem of distance hampering immediate medicare to infants,” the Chief Minister added. CHILD, MATERNAL HEALTH CARE The government has identified 70 kanals for the construction of a 200-bedded maternity hospital and a 250-bedded children’s hospital at Bemina
	Soon, postal services at night in Srinagar Tribune News Service Srinagar, May 31 The General Post Office (GPO) located at the Bund in Srinagar will shortly start functioning as the night post office. Chief Postmaster General, Jammu and Kashmir Circle, John Samuel, said once the night post office becomes functional, it would remain open till 8 pm. “The night post office will be open on Sundays and on holidays. It will be fully lit and the entrance to the GPO will be revamped so that people can enter the GPO easily,” Samuel told mediapersons in Srinagar today. “The aim is to provide better services to people of Kashmir.” The Chief Postmaster General said the J&K Postal Circle had shown considerable growth in business during 2011. “The Post Office Savings Bank, J&K, has grown by 40 per cent, the highest in the country. The mail services, parcel services, speed post has grown by 23 per cent in the last year,” he added. Samuel said the J&K circle would recruit more than 200 people across the state in the next three months. “More than 100 Gramin Dak Sevaks will be recruited in the Kashmir region, who will mostly serve in rural areas. The recruitment process will be carried out by the Divisional Superintendents concerned. The people will be notified through local newspapers and employment exchanges of the districts concerned,” Samuel said. He added the selections would be based on merit.
	Azad’s hometown faces shortage of doctors Raju William Tribune News Service Udhampur, May 31 Residents of Bhaderwah and surrounding areas are looking up to Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad to solve the problem of shortage of doctors at Sub-district Hospital here. The existing hospital with 30 beds was upgraded to 100 beds when Azad was the Chief Minister in 2007. The people here had hailed the decision of the government and were looking forward to better medicare in the town, 30 km from the Doda district headquarters. People here expect that the Union Minister, whose home constituency is Bhaderwah, would help solve the problem. The district health authorities had submitted a proposal for requirement of doctors at the upgraded hospital. Sources said Azad had also asked for the same during his visit to Bhaderwah in March to review the progress of the construction work of the hospital, which is almost complete now. “Due to shortage of doctors, patients have to be taken to Jammu or outside the state for better medical facilities. So it is natural for the people to ask whether the problem would be solved when the hospital shifts to the new building with an upgraded capacity. It is to be seen whether Azad can be of some help, as the state government has failed,” said Ranbir Manhas, a resident of nearby Sartangal village. Director, Health Services, Jammu, Dr Madhu Khullar told The Tribune over the phone that the government had tried its best to attract doctors to serve in such areas, but to no avail. “There are no takers for around 1,000 vacancies in the Jammu region alone. A total of 508 doctors are presently serving while 460 are on leave for various reasons, including pursuing PG studies in Jammu or elsewhere,” said Dr Khullar. The new hospital requires a total of nine specialist doctors and 20 assistant surgeons. Besides four assistant surgeons, the hospital has only four specialists, including the one who joined last week. “It would be interesting to see how the Union Health Minister deals with the problem, which could not be solved when he was the Chief Minister,” said an official requesting anonymity.
	As tourists pour into Kashmir Valley, hoteliers seek better infrastructure M Aamir Khan Tribune News Service Srinagar, May 31 With the Valley expecting 20 lakh tourists this year, hoteliers are demanding improvement in the tourism infrastructure to deal with the rising inflow of visitors. Admitting that there are only 50,000 rooms available across Kashmir, the hoteliers say they can only “hope” that tourists do not face any inconvenience as over four lakh visitors have already poured into the Valley this year. “We hope they (tourists) do not face any problems. We want improvement in the tourism infrastructure. The government has to earmark new areas for setting up new hotels and come up with a blueprint as entrepreneurs here are ready to invest,” former president of Kashmir Hotel and Restaurant Association (KHARA) Mir Habibullah said while addressing a press conference here. While the hotels across the Valley are fully booked, KHARA president Showkat Chowdhary said the hoteliers were also facing problems while seeking no objection certificates (NOCs) for repairing hotels. “We want a single window system so that we do not have to run from one office to another while constructing, repairing or upgrading our hotels,” he added. The hoteliers are required to get permission in view of environmental concerns as many hotels are located in the green belt. Mir said the tourist would stay in the Valley for a longer period if more hotels came up at unexplored tourist destinations. “The government plans to develop new tourist spots like Dodh-e-Pather and Gurez but there are no hotels at these places. If the infrastructure is improved, tourists will spend more days in the Valley,” he said. “The hotel industry needs upgradation, otherwise we cannot compete with other states,” Mir added while referring to reports that tourists were turning to Himachal Pradesh due to lack of bookings at the Valley hotels. However, he said the tourists were cancelling their visits to the Valley due to lack of proper air and railway services. The KHARA demanded that the Srinagar Airport should function as an international airport. Mir said this was possible only if the airport was controlled by the Civil Aviation Ministry. He demanded more trains to Jammu during the peak tourist season. The association urged the government to review the steep hike in water tax for hoteliers. The association also said the government should review Srinagar’s Master Plan as it had not identified areas where new hotels could be set up. Touristy talk After receiving record number of 13.14 lakh tourists in 2011, the government is hopeful of receiving 20 lakh tourist this year Hoteliers say Valley hotels only have a capacity of 50,000 rooms Accommodation problem expected only in peak tourist season (May-June) as 20 lakh tourists will not come together but throughout the year Hoteliers want government to identify new spots for setting up hotels
	PC: Need to debate interlocutors’ suggestions Tribune News Service New Delhi, May 31 Union Home Minister P Chidamaram has made it clear that the Constitutional Committee suggested in the interlocutors’ report on Jammu and Kashmir cannot be set up till there is a debate on the matter. Chidambaram in a reply to a query by mediapersons today said the government would take a view on the report, including the recommendation for setting up of a Constitutional Committee, after a debate on the subject. “The government has not taken a view,” he said at his monthly press conference to a question whether the government would accept the interlocutors’ recommendations for setting up a Constitutional Committee to review all the Central Acts and Articles of the Constitution extended to the state after 1952.
	J&K wakes up, promises to ban tobacco in gutkha In the north, J&K reports the highest use of smokeless tobacco, especially by females Aditi Tandon Tribune News Service New Delhi, May 31 On World No Tobacco Day on Thursday, heartening news poured from different parts of the country. Bihar became the third state after Madhya Pradesh and Kerala to ban tobacco and nicotine in gutkha altogether. Jammu and Kashmir promised to follow suit and issued orders for testing of all plain gutkha and pan masala sachets to see if they contained traces of tobacco. The step is significant considering J&K reports the highest use of smokeless chewing tobacco products among northern states; it reports the highest such use by females in North India. The notification issued by Bihar follows a recent Health Ministry letter to all state chief secretaries to ban gutkha after the Supreme Court clarified that gutkha was a food product and could not contain harmful substances like tobacco under the Food Safety and Standards Association of India Act. Tobacco remains the single largest contributor to cancer mortality in India and accounts for most cancer deaths among working males and females aged 30 to 69 years in 2010. Oral cancer caused twice as many deaths as lung cancer due to the increased use of chewing tobacco. This study which The Lancet medical journal published showed that in 2010, there were over five lakh cancer deaths in India. Among men aged 30 to 69 years, oral cancer caused most deaths (23%) on account of chewing tobacco. Indications are that UP and Himachal are also exploring the possibilities of banning gutkha. J&K meanwhile moved a step towards a final ban today after it issued orders to collect samples of “plain” pan masalas and gutkhas to check if they were actually plain. “We will test these samples and if we find traces of tobacco, we will go for prosecution of manufacturers and ban these products. For gutkha and pan masala sachets which don’t claim to be tobacco-free, we have asked the Health Ministry to clarify if these are to be treated as food products. If the Ministry says yes, we will ban these too,” Satish Gupta, Food and Drug Controller, J&K, told The Tribune. The state will lose tax revenue from gutkha ban as the state VAT rates on tobacco in J&K are 35 per cent. Among Punjab, Haryana and Himachal, J&K reports the highest use of smokeless tobacco. The Global Adult Tobacco Survey 2009-2010 showed that in J&K, 7.6 per cent adults used smokeless tobacco; 10.9 per cent males used it and 4.1 per cent females used it. In contrast, in Punjab, 6.5 per cent adults, 8.6 per cent males and 1.1 per cent females used chewing tobacco products. In Haryana, its use was reported by 6.4 per cent adults, 10.8 per cent males and 1.3 per cent females. In Himachal, it was reported by 4.5 per cent adults, 8.4 per cent males and 0.6 per cent females. Meanwhile, the Health Ministry today launched Operational Guidelines for the implementation of National Tobacco Control Programme in states and will review the ban on tobacco sales in the vicinity of schools. Tobacco trail Among Punjab, Haryana and Himachal, J&K reports the highest use of smokeless tobacco The Global Adult Tobacco Survey 2009-2010 showed that in J&K, 7.6 per cent adults used smokeless tobacco; 10.9 per cent males used it and 4.1 per cent females used it In contrast, in Punjab, 6.5 per cent adults, 8.6 per cent males and 1.1 per cent females used chewing tobacco products In Haryana, its use was reported by 6.4 per cent adults, 10.8 per cent males and 1.3 per cent females In Himachal, it was used by 4.5 per cent adults, 8.4 per cent males and 0.6 per cent females
	Bhat new secy of cultural academy Tribune News Service Jammu, May 31 Former Director, Libraries, Bashir Ahmad Bhat has been appointed as the new secretary of the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages. The post was vacant for some time and the additional charge was held by the Commissioner Secretary, Tourism, Atal Dullo, after the superannuation of former secretary Zaffar Iqbal Manhas in November last year.
	Every moment has been important: Rajendra Ehsan Fazili/TNS Srinagar, May 31 Senior IPS officer, K Rajendra Kumar, who took over as the acting J-K Director General of Police, has had a long tenure of over 27 years in the state and has seen years of violence during the past two decades. Kuldeep Khoda, who served as DGP of the state for nearly five years, retired today. “Every moment has been important,” commented K Rajendra Kumar, hours before taking over as the acting DGP. Rajendra, who during his long tenure has twice served as Inspector General, Kashmir range, was among 21 persons injured in a militant attack here on May 21, 2006. At least seven persons had died when militants attacked the Congress rally held at Sher-e-Kashmir Park here on the death anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. The then Chief Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad, had a narrow escape as the attack took place minutes before his rescheduled arrival. During his services in the state, K Rajendra, 1984-batch IPS officer, has served as SSP, Srinagar; SP, Doda; DIG, Kashmir range; IG, Kashmir range; IG, Jammu range; IG, Police Headquarters; and ADG, CID. He took over as the Additional Director General of Police, Armed/Law & Order, in 2010, following the summer unrest.
	Hizb militant arrested in Jammu Tribune News Service Jammu, May 31 The police claimed to have arrested a Hizbul Mujahideen militant yesterday evening. Imtiyaz Hussain, SP, Sopore, told The Tribune that a team of the Sopore police arrested Wasim Ahmed Bhat from Jammu last evening, who was allegedly involved in an attack on the Sopore police station on January 7. During the firing incident one civilian was killed and two policemen were injured. “Bhat had gone underground after the incident. An FIR was registered against him at the Sopore police station and he was wanted in the firing case and a murder,” he said, adding, “It was learnt that Bhat was studying at Azamgarh in Uttar Pradesh.” The police had been keeping a track on his movements. When he entered the state along with his friend Sajjad Ahmed Bhat, he was arrested by the Sopore police. “Sajjad, who is being interrogated, may be allowed to go after sometime,” the SP said. Wasim Bhat, 23, is a locally-trained militant, who worked for Lashker-e-Toiba and later switched to Hizbul Mujahideen.
	AMARNATH YATRA Bad weather hampers track clearance Tribune News Service Srinagar, May 31 Governor NN Vohra, who is the Chairman of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB), has expressed concern over the progress of work on the yatra routes because of repeated interruptions due to frequent rain and snow in the shrine area. He held a meeting with Chief Executive Officer Navin K Choudhary, Additional CEO PP Singh, General Manager (Works) KG Bamba and other Board officials concerned today to review the progress of clearing of the yatra tracks along Baltal and Pahalgam. A system has been set up under the Governor’s directions to review the weather conditions daily in the next three days.