The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Kashmir observes Martyrs’ Day amid shutdown, restrictions
M Aamir Khan
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, July 13
Martyrs’ Day was observed in Kashmir today amid strict restrictions placed by the authorities at the old city areas while a shutdown affected normal life elsewhere following the call of separatist leaders.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah along with several Cabinet ministers, including senior Congress leaders, paid tributes at the martyrs’ graveyard in Naqshband Sahab here. He laid wreaths at the graves while he took the guard of honour with a 21-gun salute presented in memory of 22 persons, who were gunned down outside the Srinagar Central Jail on this day in 1931 during the Dogra rule.

Moderate Hurriyat faction chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chief Yasin Malik were placed under house arrest as they along with their supporters were planning to take out a procession towards Naqshband Sahab.

Old city areas wore a deserted look due to the heavy deployment of security forces amid restrictions under five police stations to foil the separatist leaders’ scheduled march.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ali Mohammad Sagar, who is also the MLA of the old city’s Khanyar constituency, defended the imposition of restrictions. “It was necessary to maintain peace and law and order,” he said.

While other separatist leaders were also placed under house arrest, Democratic Freedom Party chairman Shabir Shah tried to break the police cordon outside his Sanatnagar residence here along with his supporters. However, he was detained near his residence.

Before being detained, Shah flayed the government for allowing mainstream leaders to pay “pseudo homage” at the martyrs’ graveyard while putting curbs on the separatists. Chairman of the hardline Hurriyat faction Syed Ali Geelani too was detained after he attempted to take out a march towards Naqshband Sahab along with his supporters outside his Hyderpora residence.

Even as the overall situation remained calm but tense, the shutdown call of the separatists disrupted normal life across the Valley.

While offices and educational institutions remained closed in view of the state holiday, most of the shops and other business establishments remained closed as well.

The maximum effect of the shutdown call was felt at areas in and around Lal Chowk, the city centre. However, a few shops were seen open in the civil lines areas. The movement of private transport remained thin.

Meanwhile, opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) patron and former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and president of Democratic Party of Nationalist (DPN) Ghulam Hassan Mir, who is also the Minister for Agriculture, too paid tributes at the martyrs’ graveyard.

The DPN also held a blood donation camp at the Sher-i-Kashmir Park here to commemorate the day.@

Goes back to 1931

On July 13, 1931, 22 persons who were protesting against the then Dogra ruler of Jammu and Kashmir, Maharaja Hari Singh, were killed in police firing. The protesters were demanding establishment of a democratic system in Jammu and Kashmir. Since 1931, July 13 is observed as Martyrs’ Day.

Some Kashmiri Pandit organisations allege that after the firing, the mob turned violent and they attacked houses of Kashmiri Pandits in the Kashmir valley. Some Kashmiri Pandit organisations observe July 13 as Black Day.

At Rs 7,300 crore, state annual outlay up 10%
Sanjeev Raj Sharma/TNS

New Delhi, July 13
Jammu and Kashmir’s annual plan for 2012-13 has been fixed at Rs 7,300 crore, 10 per cent up from the last year. This was decided at a meeting between Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, Montek Singh Ahluwalia and J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.

Ahluwalia complimented the state government for restoring economic activity and focusing on the development of social and physical infrastructure. He said the state needs to further encourage private participation by creating an atmosphere conducive to investment. Education, health and tourism should be given priority while working out a development strategy.

The Planning Commission pointed out that the tourism sector holds tremendous potential for boosting economic activities in Jammu and Kashmir by generating direct and indirect employment. It said the development of infrastructure in a regulated manner through the public-private partnership (PPP) by extending incentives to investors, promotion of heritage, adventure, pilgrim and eco-tourism should be accelerated.

Development of horticulture and food processing to help horticulture producers get better returns were also emphasised. The state was advised to further accelerate the pace of the economic development in the state as there was need for building up of infrastructure like roads, power and tourism coupled with enhancing the provision for basic services such as health, education and drinking water supply.

Briefing the commission on the strategy for the 12th Five Year Plan, Abdullah said the enhanced and inclusive development was a key component of the overall strategy to build on peace dividends. He said the major achievements of the state government during the year include the panchayat elections. He said the Public Service Guarantee Act had been introduced in six departments and 45 services.

Abdullah said the 12th Plan would focus on accelerated and sustained growth, growth-employment linkage, consolidation of infrastructure, empowerment of people and building of human and institutional capacities.

The state would target a growth rate of 7.5 per cent with focus on the productive sectors.

Pleased with meeting, tweets Omar

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed satisfaction after the state government got 10 per cent increase in the plan.``Very pleased with my meeting at the Planning Commission today. The state’s plan has been approved at 7300 cr which is a 10% up’’, the young Chief Minister posted a message on micro-bloggin site, Twitter, soon after the meeting here. Interestingly in what could be interpreted as a tounge-in-cheek remark, the Chief Minister said he did not have the occasion to use the toilet in the Planning Commission. “And no I didn’t have occasion to use the loo at the Planning Commission,’’ he said in an obvious reference to the Rs 35 lakh spent to spruce up the facility in Yojna Bhawan.

Pak soldier repatriated as goodwill gesture
Ravi Krishnan Khajuria & Darshan Bharti/TNS

Jammu/Poonch, July 13
A teenaged Pakistani soldier, Arif Ali, who had crossed over to this side of the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district on July 11, was today repatriated to Pakistan by the Army as a goodwill gesture.

Sepoy Arif Ali had crossed over to the Indian side on Wednesday

“We have repatriated the soldier to Pakistani authorities as a goodwill gesture,” Poonch Brigade Commander Brig M K Magoo told reporters in Poonch.

The Jammu-based defence PRO, Col RK Palta, said Army troops located at Poonch handed over to the Pakistan army their serving soldier, Sepoy Arif Ali, who had crossed over to the Indian side on Wednesday. The handing over took place at Chakan-da-Bagh Zero Line at 10 am.

Nineteen-year-old Ali informed the Indian Army that he had left his unit due to certain unfavourable conditions prevailing there. He had deliberately crossed over to the Indian side, said Colonel Palta.

After having confirmed his identity as a serving soldier of the Pakistan army, the Indian Army decided to act as per the terms of the ‘ceasefire agreement’ between the two countries.

“A message was passed via hotline to the Pakistan army yesterday expressing the intent to hand over the soldier. The Pakistan army responded promptly and agreed for a flag meeting this morning,” said the defence PRO. The soldier was brought to Chakan-da-Bagh crossing point this morning and was respectfully repatriated to his country, he added.

“In a dignified manner, we handed over the soldier to Pakistan army officers and also presented him some gifts, including dry fruits,” said an Army officer.

The Pakistani side was represented by Lt Colonel Javed and Major Hamid Gul of 653 Mujahid Regiment, while Major A Manhas represented the Indian side, he added.

It is also believed that Ali may have entered the Indian territory to meet his love, a girl in Kerni village close to the LoC. Incidentally, this year in March the Army had rehabilitated 270 families in Kerni village, which lies in Indian territory but is also on the other side of the fence.

During his questioning, Ali had told the Indian Army officers that lack of basic amenities like electricity and ration besides constant humiliation by seniors had compelled him to cross over to this side of the LoC.

After entering the Indian territory, the Pakistani soldier had reached the Nato area in Haveli Tehsil before being arrested.

However, it has been learnt that before the flag meeting, Ali reportedly expressed his reluctance to go back, urging the Indian Army to grant him asylum in India.

Two Cong MPs hit out at Omar
Slam him for failing to connect with masses
Dinesh Manhotra
Tribune News Service

Jammu, July 13
The war of words between the National Conference and Congress has intensified with two Congress Lok Sabha members from Jammu and Kashmir coming out openly in support of party workers who have been alleging that the coalition partner is meting out step-motherly treatment to them.

Both the Congress MPs have virtually endorsed the stand taken by spokesman of the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) Ravinder Sharma, who has been engaged in a war of words with outspoken National Conference (NC) leader Sheikh Mustafa Kamal.

While Lok Sabha member from the Jammu-Poonch constituency Madan Lal Sharma has made a veiled attack on Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, his colleague from the Udhampur-Doda segment, Choudhary Lal Singh, has termed the Chief Minister a “total failure”.

Singh while addressing a meeting at Dhar-Mahanpur yesterday observed that Omar had failed to connect with the masses and this was the reason that he (Omar) was not aware of ground realities.

Singh regretted that Omar spent more time on Twitter than addressing the grievances of the people at grass-roots level. He said the government had failed at all fronts because of the failure of the Chief Minister to connect with the grass roots.

As Singh is a staunch supporter of Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, he announced that the Congress would contest the next Assembly elections under the leadership of Azad. “Azad is the only leader of the state who is suitable for the post of Chief Minister of this sensitive state,” he declared.

Sharma also spoke in a similar tone during a function which was held at the Triath area of Rajouri to educate the people about various welfare schemes launched by the Central government.

As the local National Conference MLA and NC-supported sarpanches and panches “boycotted” the function, the Congress Lok Sabha member voiced his displeasure. “It is very unfortunate that instead of strengthening the coalition, our coalition partner is trying to further widen the differences”, Sharma reportedly stated in the meeting and mentioned that those panches and sarpanches who had boycotted the function should keep in mind that it was only the Congress which had been fighting for their empowerment.

Sharma avoided a direct attack on the Chief Minister but said that some NC leaders had been misleading him.

A direct and an indirect attack on Omar by the two Congress MPs is indicative of what lies ahead days to come --- the ongoing verbal duel between the two coalition partners is likely to intensify.

Some senior National Conference leaders have also endorsed the controversial remarks of their party colleague Sheikh Mustafa Kamal.

Pandits observe Black Day
Jammu-based parties berate Cong for adopting double standards
Dinesh Manhotra
Tribune News Service

Jammu, July 13
The Jammu-based political parties and the Kashmiri Pandit organisations have taken serious note of observing July 13 as Martyrs’ Day by the government and the Kashmir-centric parties like the National Conference and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Jammu-based political groups have also taken the Congress to task for adopting double standards on the issue. Instead of observing July 13 as Martyrs’ Day, the Kashmiri Pandit organisations today observed Black Day and recalled inhuman atrocities committed on the community on July 13, 1931.

Chief spokesman of the state unit of the BJP Jatinder Singh observance of July 13 as Martyrs’ Day was misinterpretation of the history to suit the political agenda of the National Conference. “The day has no significance. On contrary, the observance of such occasion can lead to division and conflict between among the regions and sections of society in a sensitive state like Jammu and Kashmir,” Singh told the Tribune and took the Congress to task for its failure to protect national interests in the state.

National Panthers Party (NPP) state president and MLA Udhampur Balwant Singh Mankotia while lambasting the Congress said there was no reason to observe this day as Martyrs’ Day. “Those who have been claiming that struggle against Maharaja Hari Singh was aimed at establishing democracy were befooling people,” he argued, adding, “In Jammu and Kashmir democracy is yet to be establish because after Maharaja Hari Singh, family rule of another family was imposed on the people of Jammu and Kashmir.”

Taking a dig at the Congress, he said on the one hand the Congress leaders were trying to take political benefit by installing statue of Maharaja Hari Singh at Jammu, while on the other hand leaders of the same party were participating at Martyrs’ Day function.

The Kashmiri Pandit organisations maintained that the observance of the 13th July as the so-called Martyrs’ Day was tantamount to rubbing salt to the festering wounds of the minority Hindu community of Kashmir. “It adds insult to injury that on a day, when the Kashmiri Pandits were subjected to mass persecution and loot, has been designated as the official Martyrs’ Day by the political class of the Valley. The Kashmiri Pandits cannot forget the facts of history and have been observing this day as the Black Day for the last number of decades,” a statement issued by the Joint Forum of Kashmiri Pandit organisations stated, adding, “Those who forget the facts of history are condemned to live it again and that is why that the leadership of the community has to remain on guard against any hasty and apolitical move regarding the settlement of the community in Kashmir.”

Amarnath yatra darshan count crosses 4-lakh mark
Death toll rises to 73
Ehsan Fazili
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, July 13
Despite braving severe cold conditions, slippery tracks passing over melting snowy glaciers and sudden changes in weather, devotees continue to throng the holy cave shrine of Amarnath in the upper reaches of Pahalgam in South Kashmir.

The number of those who had darshan of the Ice Lingam of Lord Shiva crossed the mark of 4.40 lakh on the 18th day today since the yatra commenced on June 25. Over 4.21 lakh pilgrims had darshan at the cave till last evening, while more than 20,000 pilgrims had darshan by this noon so far and pilgrims were still in queues till this evening.

The death toll of pilgrims due to cardiac arrest has gone up to 73 so far. The yatra is going on both tracks, the traditional route from Pahalgam in Anantnag district of South Kashmir and from Baltal near Sonmarg (Ganderbal district) on the Srinagar-Leh axis.

Sangam is witnessing a heavy rush of pilgrims, which is a meeting point of the two tracks from Baltal and Pahalgam. “This has become a permanent feature,” said an official adding that it takes a lot of time even up to one hour for a horse to cross over while carrying a pilgrim on its back. While most of the pilgrims undertake the shortest track of 13 km from Baltal to the holy cave, the movement of ponies and ‘dhandis’ carrying the pilgrims has been creating problems in smooth flow of the pilgrims, an official said.

“This track should be meant only for the pilgrims going up and down on foot,” he said adding that another two-km track via the Kali Mata Road on this stretch, only meant for the pedestrian movement, was in a good condition. “The yatra is going on smoothly amid changes in the weather conditions due to the onset of monsoon,” said the official.

A fresh batch of over 4,500 pilgrims left the Nunwan base camp at Pahalgam this morning for the holy cave. They had crossed the first entry point by 2 pm at Chandwari. The track to the holy cave on this traditional route passes through Sheshnag and Panjtarni.

Cardiac arrest cause of most pilgrim deaths
Malvika Sharma

Jammu, July 13
Since the yatra commenced on June 25, about 4 lakh pilgrims have already had darshan at the cave shrine of Amarnath. Unprecedented snowfall and constant threat of dipping temperature has made the yatra more challenging for those who are not used to the extreme climate. This year so far 73 pilgrims have died during the yatra, and a large number of victims were in their 20s and 30s.

On July 10, 20-year-old Nikhil of Chandigarh was rushed to Medical Hospital in Srinagar after he suffered from a cardiac arrest on his way to the shrine. Though he is recuperating, doctors are taking serious note of the negligence since those visiting the shrine are not adhering to the health advisory issued by at the medical camps set up at the base. Despite advising people to keep warm throughout their journey, youngsters tend to ignore the advice leading to fatal tragedies.

“Most cases of deaths have been attributed to hypothermia wherein the heart collapses and the patient suffers from immediate cardiac arrest. People going on the yatra miscalculate the temperature difference. They do not realise that if the temperature in Jammu is 40° C, it will be 14° C or 15° C in Baltal or Pahalgam and will continue to dip on their uphill journey,” said Satish Seth, vice-chairman of the Gauri Shankar Seva Dal.

People are not acclimatised to mountains and they cannot handle the stress of climbing steep heights. While pilgrims are advised to start training a month in advance, they usually do not take this aspect of mountain climbing seriously.

“Though we have always advised people to exercise in order to prepare themselves physically for the arduous climb, most visitors do not take cognisance of the same. People are advised to get acclimatised to cold weather and physical strain in order to complete the yatra comfortably,” said Dr Vishal Sharma. Though there are health camps arranged at the base of the shrine, there are pockets where health camps are not available. In such a situation if a pilgrim suffers respiratory problem or cardiac arrest, they will have to seek the help of porters to get them down to a camp.

Bhadarwah ready to give lessons in communal harmony
Muslim locals play host to Hindu tourists, help them locate their temples
Ravi Krishnan Khajuria/TNS

Bhadarwah, July 13
Shedding the tag of being communally sensitive, the scenic, mystic and ancient Bhadarwah in Doda district is now setting a perfect example of Hindu-Muslim communal harmony.

As Muslims help Hindu tourists locate their shrines and temples, the people of Bhadarwah attribute this positive change to tourism industry, which saw an upward swing during the chief ministership of Ghulam Nabi Azad from 2005 to 2008.

“Though there had been some instances of communal tension in the past but the Hindu-Muslim brotherhood is very old and time-tested here,” says Aamir Rafiqi, an official of the Bhadarwah Development Authority.

Certainly, Muslims here guide Hindu tourists to their shrines and temples like the Vasuki Nag temple, Gupt Ganga and Chandi Mata temple, he adds.

However, Rafiqi attributes the new found hospitality among the natives of Bhadarwah to the tourism industry, which got a tremendous impetus during the Azad regime.

“Earlier, people had no work here but ever since Azad coined the concept of developing the tourism industry, people realised that tourism can alone bring them prosperity,” says Rafiqi.

It may be stated here that despite being a remote area, Bhadarwah has 100 per cent literacy rate and is often called the second Kerala of the country. Bhadarwah is also the home constituency of Azad.

Today Bhadarwah has a pretty good tourism-related infrastructure in the form of hotels, huts, guest houses and good roads. Once the 47-km-long road between Chamba in Himachal Pradesh and Bhadarwah is blacktopped, the industry will get a further impetus, adds Rafiqi.

Bhadarwah town in recent times has also adopted the culture of keeping paying guests.

Irrespective of caste, creed or colour, the residents here provide accommodation and home-made food to tourists, and that too in reasonable rates.

The town today has 59 guest houses and the government in a bid to promote tourism, had also provided Rs 2 lakh each to those, who wanted to come up with guest houses on their private lands.

Azeem Khan, a grocer in the town here, says: “The thinking of both communities is changing and it has become possible because of a thriving tourism industry.”

Jammu University has also set up its campus here, and now the new generation doesn’t want to waste its time on irrelevant issues, he says.

Bhadarwah town has a population of Hindus and Muslims in almost equal proportion. It is a beautiful valley situated at a height of 5000 ft and at a distance of 205 km from Jammu to its north. Because of its scenic beauty, it is also called “Chota Kashmir” while some writers refer to it as the Switzerland of India.

UNRAVELLING BHADARWAH

* The town is shedding its communally sensitive tag, thanks to the growth of the tourism industry

* Bhadarwah town has a population of Hindus and Muslims in almost equal proportion

* It is a beautiful valley situated at a height of 5,000 ft and 205 km from Jammu to its north. Because of its scenic beauty, it is also called “Chota Kashmir” while some refer to it as the Switzerland of India

* Bhadarwah has 100 per cent literacy rate and is often called the second Kerala of the country

New timings for traffic on national highway
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, July 13
The government today issued new timing for the plying of vehicles on the Srinagar-Kargil National Highway with immediate effect. The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by Minister for Transport Qamar Ali Akhoon here to streamline the traffic flow on the highway in view of road construction works in the area.

As per the new timing, the down convoy from Kargil to Drass in Ladakh region would start at 4 am, from Drass to Gumri at 6 am and from Gumri at 10 am. By following the schedule, the convoy would reach Sonmarg at 11 am. The timing for the up convoy from Sonmarg to Kargil would start from 11 am to 3 pm.

The highway will remain closed for heavy vehicles from 3.30 pm to 8.30 pm. However, this timing will not affect the normal movement of light vehicles.