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Quit within 3 days, ‘LeT’ warns panches
Youth Cong on collision course with NC
NC behind killing of sarpanches, hints PDP
Dy CM downplays rift
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Cap on subsidised LPG cylinders up from 6 to 9
Guv reviews setting up of krishi kendras
“Power sharing root of problem in J&K”
Media hyping ‘imaginary battle’ with Rahul: Omar
Imbibe Tagore’s spirit, Prez to VCs
I am still leader of BJP legislature party: Gupta
Army, BSF fortify KG sector
Assault on Tribune scribe condemned
Private schools violate SC ruling on fee hike
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Quit within 3 days, ‘LeT’ warns panches
Srinagar, September 28 The handwritten mysterious posters claiming to be of pan-Islamic Lashker-e-Toiba were seen pasted on tree trunks and walls of the two adjoining villages of Khadinayaar and Jal Sheeri neighbouring the sensitive Baramulla town. “Panches and sarpanches are asked to resign in three days or be ready to face the consequences,” handwritten posters issued by the ‘Divisional Commander’ of LeT, Ali Bin Masood, said. “One lakh people have laid down their lives for Kashmir and the government is using these panches and sarpanches for defaming the Kashmir struggle,” the poster read. Police, however, said
the handwritten LeT posters did not look genuine. “There is no militant of LeT with the name of Ali Bin Masood active in the area. It can be the result of an internal rivalry. But we are still looking into the matter,” said a police officer. These threatening posters by LeT have appeared days after two panchayat members were shot dead which had triggered panic among them. Nearly 200 panches and sarpanches have resigned in the past five days after 38-year-old deputy sarpanch Mohammad Shafi Teli was shot dead in Nowpora Kreei. Police said over 800 panchayat members have quit this year because of the constant fear in various parts of the valley. J&K government had already decided to discuss the issue of providing security to panchayat members. The panchayat polls were held last year in the state after a gap of over 30 years and more than 80 per cent turnout was recorded in these polls. Over 33,000 panches and sarpanches were elected across the state.
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Youth Cong on collision course with NC
Jammu, September 28 Shifting all blame on the Chief Minister for the killings of panchayat members, the Youth Congress demanded resignation of Omar Abdullah for “undermining” Panchayati Raj institutions in Jammu and Kashmir. Youth Congress leaders, while addressing a protest demonstration which was held today against killing of panchayat members, minced no words in attacking Omar Abdullah. They said that panchayats in the state have become defunct because National Conference leadership was deliberately depriving panchayats of their constitutional rights. Indian Youth Congress (IYC) secretary Chetan Partap Singh Chouhan, who especially came to Jammu to lead the workers for today’s protest, regretted that powers were not delegated to the panchayats. He vowed that the Youth Congress would intensify its campaign for extending the 73rd amendment in the state. Speaking on the occasion, PYC president Shah Nawaz Choudhary said that the Chief Minister was responsible for the killings of sarpanches in Kashmir and it was murder of democracy. He demanded resignation of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. Pranav Shagotra, vice president of the PYC, in his address said that the powers were given to the panchayats throughout the country by bringing the 73rd amendment in the Panchayat Raj Act. He regretted that Omar Abdullah has refused to extend this amendment in Jammu and Kashmir. Later, PYC activists took out a demonstration which started from the Exhibition Ground. Shouting slogans against the Chief
Minister, Youth Congress activists trooped towards Tawi Bridge to block vehicular movement. A large number of Youth Congress workers sat on dharna there. The police used mild force to disperse the Youth Congress activists and
cleared the ever busy road for traffic. Later, a large number of Youth Congress activists were arrested by the police and taken to the District Police Lines (DPL) Jammu. Echoing similar sentiments, Pranav Sharma said, “People of Jammu and Kashmir are waiting for empowerment of panchayats for one-and-a-half year. How can the government be sitting over the implementation of 73rd amendment”.
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NC behind killing of sarpanches, hints PDP
Srinagar, September 28 Senior PDP leader and former deputy Chief Minister of the state Muzzaffar Hussain Beig alleged that killing of the panches and sarpanches - that has forced hundreds of them to resign — “only benefited” the ruling party. “I am not sure who is behind the killings … but needle of suspicion is towards NC, apparently it (killings) benefits them,” Beig said while launching a scathing attack on the ruling party at an hour-long press conference here in the city. He claimed out of the 17,960 panches and sarpanches in the valley, who were elected last year, nearly 50 per cent (8,600) were associated with their party. Nearly 200 sarpanches and panches have offered public resignations this week after two panchayat members were killed in north Kashmir. The PDP leader accused the National Conference and the Chief Minister of deliberately sabotaging and subverting the panchayati process in the state. Beig said the posters threatening sarpanches and panches had first appeared in those areas of south Kashmir which are represented by the PDP and the last two killing of panchayati members in north Kashmir also took place in the constituencies. He alleged the NC was conspiring to limit the participation of people in the upcoming elections by failing the panchayati process so that it can “manipulate” the results. “Lesser the people participation in the elections, easier it becomes for any government to manipulate and rig the results,” Beig said. The senior PDP leader also alleged that the Chief Minister was coming up with “flimsy and stupid excuses” to cover up his failure to empower panchayats. He accused the NC of starving the panchayats of funds saying no budget has been kept for them for the second consecutive year. |
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Cap on subsidised LPG cylinders up from 6 to 9
Jammu, September 28 The decision was conveyed to Minister of State Shabir Ahmed Khan today who called on Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Jaipal Sudini Reddy at New Dehli and discussed with him the stock position of LPG supplied to J&K. He also discussed with the union minister the new policy announced on capping of subsidised cylinders. During the meeting, the union minister said that Jammu and Kashmir is a backward state and special concession on LPG under the new policy recently announced by the Centre is a must for the consumers. Shabir also requested the union minister for providing ample supply of LPG to the state well in time so that required stocks would be made available in snow bound and far off areas of the State. Later, the Congress announced that its party-ruled states would provide nine subsidised cylinders. In Jammu and Kashmir, Congress is in coalition with the National Conference. |
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Guv reviews setting up of krishi kendras
Srinagar, September 28 The Governor and the Chief Minister were addressing the 23rd University Council meeting of the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST), Kashmir, at Raj Bhavan here today, an official spokesman said. They observed that while doing so a strict monitoring mechanism must be put in place so that the quality of the seed is of certified standard. They said that an extensive campaign needed to be launched to enlarge awareness among the farmers about the usefulness of seed replacement and adoption of the best farming practices. Chairing the meeting, the Governor, who is Chancellor of the University, called for involving Panchayati Raj institutions in the planning and implementation of the various programmes for promoting production, particularly in the remote areas and also in enlarging awareness among the farmers about adoption of new farm technologies. |
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“Power sharing root of problem in J&K”
New Delhi, Sept 28 After meeting the delegation of nine sarpanches from Jammu and Kashmir who had petitioned AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi yesterday, former interlocutor MM Ansari said the actual hurdle in the way of panchayat empowerment in J&K was the unwillingness of the ruling political class to share political power with local representatives. Ansari said the recent killings of sarpanches in the Valley should not be linked to militancy. “These incidents are small in number and are like other crimes. These could be political murders rooted in political rivalries,” he said. The sarpanches led by Mir Shafiq, convener of J&K Panchayat Conference, met interlocutors Radha Kumar and Ansari today and flagged their concerns around security, power and lack of remuneration. “We have told the elected local bodies representatives to not get frustrated so quick and easy. We know through our experience that power sharing is at the root of the problem in J&K. There are MLAs in all parties - National Conference, Congress and PDP who don’t want to part with power in favour of the panchayat leaders. The state leadership must evolve a mechanism for power sharing and delivery of good governance,” Ansari said, analysing the reasons for delay in the adoption of Constitution’s 73rd amendment by J&K.
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Media hyping ‘imaginary battle’ with Rahul: Omar
Srinagar, September 28 “Have to love the media's priorities when my imaginary battle with Rahul (Gandhi) is more important than what the President (Pranab Mukherjee) says in Kashmir,” Omar wrote on micro-blogging site Twitter. Recent media reports have painted a standoff brewing between Omar and Rahul, who are considered close to each other than just being political allies, over the issue of security and empowerment of sarpanches and panches in the state. Nearly 200 sarpanches and panches have publicly offered resignations this week after two panchayat members were shot dead in north Kashmir. The state unit of the Congress party headed by Saif-ud-din Soz has been at crossroads with the National Conference over the issue of extending the 73rd amendment empowering panchayats in the state. The two parties form the coalition government in the state. After the recent surge in resignations, several panchayat members had met Rahul seeking his support to address their grievances leading to media speculations that it may lead to a face-off with Omar. President Pranab Mukherjee had began his three-day visit to the state on Wednesday and had yesterday addressed the 18th convocation of the University of Kashmir. |
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Imbibe Tagore’s spirit, Prez to VCs
Srinagar, September 28 Addressing the participants, the President called upon them to not just achieve high standards but also maintain them on a sustained basis. He observed that he asked the Human Resource Development Ministry to plan a conference of Central University Vice Chancellors so that problems affecting higher education in the country could be discussed in detail. The President complimented the gathering for their valuable contributions to the promotion of higher education and reminisced how Prime Minister Nehru once said if given an option he would accept the job of Chancellor of Vishwabharati University over being the Prime Minister of India. Observing that he grew up in the environs of Shantiniketan, the President called upon the intellectuals to imbibe and implement in the institution they were serving the spirit of universalism and pluralism that Tagore expounded. The President said a country like India, with a billion plus population, had no option but to deal collectively with the dual challenges of quantity and quality. Governor N N Vohra moderated the discussions and informed the President about the growth of higher education in the state in the recent years, with the establishment of many new universities and colleges across the state and the problems and constraints being presently faced. The participants of the meeting put forth several suggestions and emphasised the need to enhance the quality of teaching and research and equipping students with appropriate capacities to enhance their productivity. The President returned today after his three-day visit. |
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I am still leader of BJP legislature party: Gupta
Jammu, September 28 Gupta, who was minister in the NDA government headed by Atal Bihari Vajpayee, was expelled from the BJP along with six other MLAs after a cross-voting controversy in 2011. Out of the total 11 party MLAs, seven were expelled from the party and four were given a clean chit by the high command in this controversy. Interacting with mediapersons, along with four other expelled MLAs, Gupta said, “I have support of a majority of MLAs so it is obvious that I am a leader of the party in the Assembly.” Gupta said being a leader of the party, he had extended invitation to all party MLAs, including four “loyalists” to attend today’s meeting for discussing issues to be raised in the Assembly. When asked that the BJP has expelled them from the party, Gupta said technically he and other expelled MLAs were still members of the BJP. “A legislature party and political party were two different things. We have been expelled from the party but as far as the BJP legislature party in the Assembly is concerned, all 11 MLAs are members of the BJP,” he said adding that the decision of the party to expel them was wrong. After the cross-voting controversy, the BJP had expelled seven legislators from the party and wrote a letter to the Speaker to disqualify these MLAs from the membership of the Assembly. Speaker, instead of acting on the letter, refused to accept division in the party. Rebel BJP leaders said they would vociferously take up public issues in the Assembly and would play the role of effective opposition in the House. |
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Mufti boasts of visionary agenda
Pouni (Reasi), September 28 Addressing a public rally at Pouni, Mufti said on the one hand, the PDP had a bigger agenda to solve internal and external dimensions of Kashmir’s problem, while on the other hand, the party had programmes and policies to provide basic amenities to the people of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. She reminded the mammoth gathering the previous PDP-Congress government had implemented its pro-people agenda and set an example of good governance. “I don’t indulge in self-praising, but the people have themselves realised that the previous PDP-Congress government had taken radical steps to solve day today problems of the common masses and to bring transparency and accountability in the governance,” she said and reminded that it was all due to its sincere efforts that the previous government had earned credibility of the people. “Our government had carved out a path of balanced and equitable development in the state,” she said and added that it was first time in the history of Jammu and Kashmir that equal treatment was given to all regions and sub-regions of the state be it in sanctioning developmental funds or delegating decision-making powers. She further said sincere efforts were taken by the PDP-Congress regime to bring transparency in the governance and to curb the menace of corruption. “We have revived peoples’ faith in democracy and in democratic institutions through our policies and programmes,” she said. “The people have no faith on the present government and this regime does not has even a single achievement to highlight during its three-and-half year tenure,” she mentioned and regretted that the National Conference-led government has failed to carry forward the agenda of peace and development, which was initiated by the previous PDP-Congress regime. Mufti said democracy was never allowed to flourish in Jammu and Kashmir because there was no alternative with the NC. She said the elections in the state were brazenly rigged and the people were never allowed to elect government of their own choice. She, especially, mentioned that infamous 1987 rigged Assembly elections had badly shattered peoples’ faith in democracy and it ultimately led to bloodshed and destruction in the state. “Every sections of society bore brunt of the bloodshed and destruction, which was a result of the rigging in 1987 Assembly elections,” she said and added that formation of the PDP was a turning point in the political history of Jammu and Kashmir because this party had challenged hegemony of the NC. |
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Army, BSF fortify KG sector
Jammu, September 28 The KG sector is about 25 km from Mendhar tehsil and about 58 km from Poonch district headquarters. The Poonch district is about 243 km from here. “Though the entire LoC has been alerted following intelligence inputs of more intrusion bids ahead of winters, the KG sector in particular, which remains vulnerable to infiltration attempts has been fortified,” said an Intelligence source. Besides increasing the strength of soldiers of 1st Maratha Light Infantry and 3 Grenadiers, 135 Battalion of the BSF has also been deployed there, the source added. The 135 Battalion has been recently shifted from the RS Pura sector along the International Border to the KG sector in Poonch. The source further divulged that the KG sector as of today has four commanding officers, two station at Mendhar, one at the KG sector headquarters and one at Jhallas. Some of the key posts in the KG sector are Nangi Tekri, Kranti 1, Kranti 2, Kirpan, Ghora, Roshni, Gun Hill, Chajaman, Dogra, Sonagali and Tain. The entire KG sector is under the command of the KG Brigade being commanded by Brigadier Tejinder Pal Singh Sandhu. “Nangi Tekri, Kranti 1, Kranti 2 and Ghora posts in the sector are geographically located on a height compared to the Pakistani posts but some rivulets, including Poonch Nullah, flows into the Pak-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The hilly terrain with wild growth, trees and rivulets having big boulders give militants enough camouflage to attempt infiltration from this stretch despite the fact that they had to scale hills having elevation ranging between 45 degrees to 60 degrees,” the source said. Similarly, there are small rivulets beneath the Nangi Tekri and Ghora posts, A rivulet that swells to a width of around 200 meters during monsoon Mendhri Nullah between the Roshni post and the Gun Hill post in the same sector flows into the PoK, but here the terrain by and large is plain and the troops are sitting eyeball- to-eyeball. On rivulets, barbed fence simply cannot be raised and the hilly terrain in this sector has all ingredients for militants to try and attempt intrusions, the source added. Meanwhile, the Army in tandem with the police has launched searches in the Kerni sector besides questioning villagers in Kasblari and Salwa villages in Mendhar tehsil where five suspected subversive elements were spotted last evening.
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Gunner’s Day celebrated in Udhampur
Jammu, September 28 The Raising Day, which is also known as the Gunner’s Day, is observed on September 28 every year to mark the raising of the first Indian Artillery unit 5 (Bombay), Mountain Battery, on this momentous day in 1827. Lt Gen KT Parnaik, GOC-in-C, Northern Command, complimented gunners for their professional standards and ethos and called upon the artillery units deployed in J&K to reach even higher standards of excellence and continue to contribute towards peace and stability in the region. Major General Harpal Singh, Northern Command, laid a wreath at the Dhruva War Memorial and addressed a sainik sammelan. He called upon all gunners to rededicate themselves to uphold the ethos and spirit enshrined in the motto of the Regiment of Artillery ‘Sarvatra Izzat-O-Iqbal’, (Everywhere with Honour and Glory). Ever since the concept of causing destruction to the enemy’s war machine from a standoff distance evolved in warfare, artillery has been a major battle winning arm and its importance continues in the modern day battlefield. The Regiment of Artillery has been a part of all wars that the Army has fought since Independence and the gunners have proved their mettle by their professional acumen and dedication. The victory of the Army in the Kargil War in 1999 demonstrated the power of the artillery, which pounded and systematically destroyed the enemy’s will to fight and proved to be the major battle-winning factor. The gunners are renowned for their professional excellence and exacting standards and continue to perform their duties in the northern theatre with utmost dedication in difficult, hostile and inhospitable terrain. They are also actively undertaking the counter-insurgency operations and are involved in a number of developmental initiatives in the state. |
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Arms
Haul in Kupwara
Kupwara, September 28 Lalit Pandey, General Officer Commanding (GOC), 28 Infantry Division,
Kupwara, said the recovery of a huge cache of light-weight weapons along the Line of Control
(LoC) in the bordering area of Keran in Kupwara district yesterday indicates that the militants were intending to shift their focus to cities. “Recovery of 98 Chinese-made pistols and other war-like weapons indicates that the militants are shifting their focus to cities. Seemingly, it is easier for militants to carry light-weight weapons in human habitations and of course to the cities,” said the
GOC, while addressing mediapersons at the 28 Infantry Division in Zangli
Kupwara. He said a major tragedy was averted due to a high vigil of alert soldiers along the
LoC. “The adversary is desperately trying to push in maximum warlike stores to the Valley before winters. They want to show their presence and disrupt peace in the Valley," he added. The Army yesterday foiled an infiltration bid in the Keran sector of Kupwara district. Later, during a search operation, it recovered six gunny bags containing 10 AK-47 rifles with 20 magazines, 98 Chinese-made pistols with 196 magazines and two sub-machine guns with four magazines. The ammunition was wrapped in Chinese newspapers. Giving details of an unsuccessful infiltration bid by a group of militants, the GOC said a vigilant Army patrol noticed some suspicious movement along the LoC in
Keran. “They chased four to five militants, who managed to cross back to the other side of the fence leaving behind a large cache of arms and ammunition in a nullah near the
LoC,” he said. |
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Assault on Tribune scribe condemned
Srinagar, September 28 The Reporters Without Borders said the organisation reiterates its alarm about the growing threats to journalists in India
after a staff correspondent with The Tribune based in Srinagar Azhar Qadri was beaten and arrested by an IPS officer Imtiyaz Ismail Parray. "We condemn violence by the Indian Police against journalists and call upon the authorities to do what is necessary to ensure that this latest attack does not go unpunished," the organisation said. The international body, which works for the freedom of press all over the world asked the J&K Government to take concrete measures to guarantee journalists’ safety. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had assured a probe into the assault on the journalist. The assault and detention of the journalist has been condemned by several journalist associations and political groups in the
Valley.
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Private schools violate SC ruling on fee hike
Srinagar, September 28 The Education Department has no set norms for monitoring the private schools in the state, which has been taken a strong notice of by the HC asking the Education Department to submit its status report on October 3 when the next hearing of the case is due. The division bench of the high court comprises of Justice MM Kumar and Justice Muhammad Yaqoob Mir who also enjoined upon the Education Department to come out with a set of norms, which regulate the unreasonable fee hike of the private schools. Meanwhile, Farooq Faktoo, Commissioner Secretary, J&K Education Department, said the department was contemplating over setting up a monitoring committee, which looks into the financial aspects of the educational institutions and thereby prevents the exploitation of parents. “We will meet the Advocate General and whatever is the ruling of the SC, we shall abide by it,” Faktoo said. Pertinently, the SC in its directive had held that one of the methods of preventing the commercialisation of education is to insist that every school follow the principle of accounting applicable to non-profit organisations. The court, thus, directed the director, School Education, to analyse the statements of schools’ fee and apply the principle in each case.
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Srinagar, September 28
Srinagar, September 28
