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Autumn
Session begins today
Militancy at all-time low, spurt in infiltration seasonal, says DGP
Pro-Jammu parties to corner govt for ignoring region
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Cong toughens stand on more powers to panchayats
MLAs call for 3 Assembly sessions in a year
Govt to discuss panchayat security today
4 Hizb militants arrested
State demands additional LPG quota
Mirwaiz seeks OIC support on K-issue
Army jawan commits suicide
BJP state president to fast against corruption
Sydney tastes Kashmiri ‘nun chai’, mourns 2010 unrest
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Autumn
Session begins today
Srinagar, September 30 Besides, the session has also received nine private member Bills. Out of these, five private member Bills have been disallowed and therefore won’t be introduced in the current session. “A total of 512 questions were received by the Assembly secretariat from the legislative members, which included 275 starred and 237 un-starred. After scrutiny, 39 questions have been disallowed, whereas 473 have been admitted,” sources in the Assembly told The Tribune. Regarding the total number of new Bills received for the Autumn session, sources said a total of nine private member Bills were received, out of which five have been disallowed. The House has also received two more Bills which have been transmitted by the J&K Legislative Council to the Assembly for passage. Besides, the House has received a total of 40 private member resolutions on various issues, the sources said, adding that out of which only 29 have been allowed while 11 have been disallowed. “Out of the 29 resolutions allowed by the Speaker, only seven will be moved in the Assembly during this session, which have already been selected by balloting by the Speaker,” the Assembly sources said. As regards the statement of pending business before the Assembly from the previous sessions, the sources said, a total number of private member Bills pending leave for introduction is 55 bills, which also includes some Bills related to amendments to the J&K Panchayati Raj Act. “Besides, the number of private member Bills pending for consideration and passing is seven. In addition, the number of government Bills pending for consideration and passing is one,” the sources added. Besides, on Amendment Bill related to conversion of agriculture land has already been referred to select Committee by the Assembly.
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Militancy at all-time low, spurt in infiltration seasonal, says DGP
Srinagar, September 30 “The situation is in control to a large extent... militant violence has dropped considerably. In 2012 militancy is lower than at any time in the past 22 years. Compared to last year, the violence this year is lower by 30 per cent,” the DGP told reporters on the sidelines of an event here. The police chief said the militant violence in 2011 was 29 per cent lower than in 2010. “The downward trend is continuing,” he said. Prasad said the police was trying to bring down the “collateral damage” in anti-militancy operations to zero level. “Our effort is to control the future militancy on specific intelligence. Since our effort was to minimise the collateral damage, now the effort will be to zero the collateral damage,” he said. He said militant groups based in Pakistan were under a “lot of pressure” from international community and termed the infiltration level this year as “stable”. “Across the border, there is a lot of pressure on militants, there is an international pressure... Pakistan has its own internal problems that is why there is little pressure on us from that side. But the militant groups that are operating there are trying to send militants here,” the DGP said. “This year the infiltration level is same as it was last year. More or less the infiltration level is stable,” he said. He said the recent spurt in infiltration attempts by militants from across the border was a “seasonal trend” which happens in pre-winter months of September and October before the snowfall closes the infiltration routes. “It’s a seasonal trend, where they make maximum attempt to send militants to this side… they are trying to infiltrate most number of militants during pre-winter time,” Prasad said. The J-K police chief said militants were trying to recruit locals and in the last one and half years several local militant modules have been busted. Prasad said the forces were “ready to tackle what might come” in the future. |
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Pro-Jammu parties to corner govt for ignoring region
Jammu, September 30 BJP legislator Jugal Kishore Sharma said their party would expose the state government for deliberately ignoring the Jammu region on development front. He said the BJP members also tried to corner the Congress members for adopting double standards. He said the Congress ministers were also responsible for under-development of the Jammu region. National Panthers Party (NPP) MLA Harsh Dev Singh said their party would vociferously take up the issue of discrimination meted out to the Jammu region in all spheres of life. “Our party shall project in the Assembly the issues of non-performance, financial indiscipline, lack of accountability and transparency, regional bias and policy paralysis which has adversely affected the functioning of various developmental projects and other public welfare schemes in the state,” Singh said in a handout issued today. He said the issue of Jammu’s neglect and deprivation would be agitated in the Assembly. “The NPP shall highlight the most hostile discrimination doled out to the Jammu region in multifarious sectors, including development projects, devolution of funds, employment opportunities, share in professional institutions, rural connectivity, power, health sector, tourism promotion besides glaring inequality in the number of Assembly and Parliament seats,” he said. Jammu State Morcha (JSM) MLA Ashwani Kumar Sharma said he would highlight failure of the state government to complete various development projects started for the Jammu region. |
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Cong toughens stand on more powers to panchayats
Jammu, September 30 Two Congress ministers, namely Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed and Aijaz Ahmed Khan, have already met Central leaders and three Cabinet ministers, namely Sham Lal Sharma, Taj Mohi ud Din and Nawang Rigzin Zora, are likely to reach Delhi tomorrow. Ailing Congress Legislative Party (CLP) leader Choudhary Mohammad Aslam is also called by the Central leadership to Delhi. Although the Congress leadership is tightlipped over the summoning of senior leaders to Delhi, Minister of Public Health Engineering, Irrigation and Flood Control Taj Mohi ud Din confirmed that he has been asked to reach New Delhi. “I have been summoned to Delhi. I will go on Monday,” he said. When asked about reason of summoning senior leaders at Delhi, Taj feigned ignorance. “I don’t know,” he replied. The development assumes significance because the Assembly session is starting tomorrow and in between the crucial session, the ministers and other leaders have been asked to reach Union Capital. Sources said the Congress high command has decided to toughen its stand on the extension of the 73rd amendment in Jammu and Kashmir. Party leaders want to take all groups into confidence before giving any deadline to its coalition partner, the National Conference, on this issue. Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi, during his meeting with sarpanches from J&K, had assured full support on extending the 73rd amendment in the state. Amid reports that the Congress was not ready to compromise on the 73rd amendment, Rahul Gandhi is visiting Srinagar on October 4 to address the national executive meeting of the Indian Youth Congress. The Youth wing of Congress has already taken the battle of empowering panchayats to streets. A strong-worded resolution in this regard is likely to be passed in the convention to give a warning to the NC leadership. Sources said the party leadership was discussing “pros and cons” of supporting the resolution moved by the PDP for the empowerment of panchayats. “Although the Assembly session is starting tomorrow, no meeting of the Congress Legislative Party (CLP) has been convened,” the sources said adding that the CLP meeting would be held, if necessary, at any time to disclose stand of the party on the resolution regard the 73rd amendment. |
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MLAs call for 3 Assembly sessions in a year
Srinagar, September 30 After the autumn session of the Assembly ends, the Assembly will be adjourned sine die, only to convene in winter at Jammu for the budget session, which is the longest session of the Assembly. The issue of holding three sessions in a year was taken up by two MLAs from Jammu, Prof Chaman Lal Gupta and Ashok Kumar Khajuria, with the Speaker of Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, Mohammad Akbar Lone, during the All-Party Legislators’ meeting in Srinagar yesterday evening. “Gupta and Khajuria stressed upon the need for holding three sessions in a year. However, the Speaker assured them that the matter will be examined and taken up with the government”, a government spokesman said. The All-Party Legislators meeting was convened by the Speaker Lone “to discuss issues with regard to conduct of the business and other arrangements for the session”. During the meeting, the spokesman said, Lone sought the cooperation of legislators for “smooth conduct” of Assembly proceedings during the autumn session, which commences here from tomorrow. Many legislators have complained for having a short-duration autumn session, with many alleging that the duration was kept short by the government to prevent the legislators from raising important issues. “The duration of the
current session has been deliberately kept short by the government”, said a legislator. |
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Govt to discuss panchayat security today
Srinagar, September 30 The high-profile Unified Headquarters meeting to be presided over by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has assumed importance as the call for security cover to panchayat members has been getting louder. “The meeting, which will be attended by top Army officers, paramilitary officers, police and intelligence officers from state and Central agencies, will review the issue of
security to panchayat members, which is a priority right now,” said a government official. Two panchayat members were killed in north Kashmir in the span of a fortnight which triggered a series of resignations from panches and sarpanches. Nearly 200 panchayat members have resigned in the past six days after 38-year-old deputy sarpanch Mohammad Shafi
Teli was shot dead on September 23 in Nowpora Kreeri in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district. The police said over 800 panchayat members have quit publicly this year because of constant fear from militants in various parts of the Valley. The government, however, claims that only 50 panchayat members have resigned due to militant threats. After the panchayat elections were announced in the state last year, ‘suspected militants’ have gunned down five panches and sarpanches. Panchyat members said that it was important for the government to provide security to them. “If the state government is serious about the functioning of the Panchayati Raj system, they should provide security to panchayat members as early as possible,’’ J&K Panchayat Conference chairman Shafiq Mir
said. “We do not want new camps of security forces in any area, we want security to be provided to each panchayat member,” he said. |
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4 Hizb militants arrested
Srinagar, September 30 The police said the four arrested militants identified as Altaf Ganie, resident of Zainapora, Aadil Shah, Sadam Shah and Zahid Shah, resident of Rawalpora, Shopian, were planning to revive the militant group in the district. The police said the arrested militants were also involved in issuing threats to panchayat members in Imamsahib locality in the district. “The four had not crossed over to Pakistan for arms training, but trained locally by the outfit. The four were involved in threatening panchayat members and also many extortion cases,” a police officer in south Kashmir said. "They were also trying to revive the Hizbul Mujahideen in Shopian.” A police spokesman in Srinagar said the four were arrested by the Special Operation Group (SOG) of the J&K Police along with 62 RR and the CRPF in various raids. “A huge quantity of arms and ammunition were recovered from their possession, which included four AK-47 rifles, 16 magazines and 500 rounds of AK ammunition,” he said. The police said they were also looking for other members of the group. The Shopian police and 62 RR have busted a hideout at Nallah Dongri near Chitragam village in Shopian.
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State demands additional LPG quota
Jammu, September 30 The demand has been made keeping in view the approaching winter season during which Kashmir, Ladakh and mountainous regions of Jammu remain cut off from the rest of the country for six months. With confusion prevailing among consumers, the government has urged the Centre to extend the verification process till March 31 next year keeping in mind the large-scale migration within the state due to militancy. Sources said the Centre’s decision to limit the delivery of subsidised cylinders to six had led to a lot of confusion in the Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD) department which started stocking of essential commodities in rural and far-flung areas. “The winter is approaching and stocking process is about to begin but the limit on LPG cylinders will lead to scarcity of gas. Supply from oil companies has also slowed down and continue to do so till the verification process is completed,” said an official. Minister of State (MoS), CAPD, Shabir Ahmed Khan met Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas JS Reddy on Friday and raised the issue with him. “We have very little time to stock LPG cylinders in far-flung areas of the state which will remain cut off after snowfall in November and December. The Centre needs to take a decision to supply us additional quota,” said Shabir Ahmed Khan. “We have asked the Central government to treat the state as a special case and allot additional quota and extend the verification date by March 31 so that people can complete the formalities,” the minister said. Sources said the state, in its submission to the Union government, informed that thousands of people had migrated from various areas of the state and many of them had lost their documents and arranged LPG connections on the names of their relatives. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has also directed the CAPD department to work out modalities vis-à-vis increasing the cap on cooking gas cylinders for consumers of the state. Officials said that talks were on with oil companies about the issue of consumers having LPG connections without proper documents. People who want to get new connections without gas stove can submit KYC form which is available free of cost at all distribution centres or can also be downloaded online.
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Mirwaiz seeks OIC support on K-issue
Srinagar, September 30 Mirwaiz made this appeal while addressing the OIC’s annual meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers at United Nations in New York on Saturday said a Hurriyat spokesperson. “Mirwaiz during the meeting in New York said victims of the conflict in J&K deserve goodwill of all human beings who believe in human decency,” said the spokesperson. “The dialogue I believe should be inclusive at all levels and time bound. The dialogue needs to be backed by the international forces and political powers. The OIC can play its rightful role in backing this dialogue,” said the spokesman while quoting Mirwaiz. Mirwaiz said, “The OIC in partnership with other international forums can play a significant role in moving forward the resolution of conflict in accordance to the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.” “Mirwaiz at meeting said the OIC can use its grand offices and initiate some fresh initiatives to facilitate the process already set in motion by India and Pakistan. India needs to be convinced that it is desirable to have an external facilitation for resolving the oldest imbroglio on the agenda of United Nations,” said the spokesperson. “With India having rejected an OIC fact finding on Kashmir, Mirwaiz suggested other mechanisms by the OIC for monitoring human rights in J&K,” said the spokesperson. The spokesperson said, “Some other constructive mechanisms need to be identified for the purposes of monitoring the gross human rights violations, including mass graves and extra judicial killings. Talks and gross human rights violations cannot go hand in hand said Mirwaiz to the OIC.” Mirwiaz welcomed the recent Foreign Minister level meetings between India and Pakistan. |
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Army jawan commits suicide
Jammu, September 30 He has been identified as Sanesh Kumar (35). The police said the jawan was on leave and he was all alone in his home when he took the extreme step. “We are yet to ascertain the reason that forced him to take the extreme step. All the members of his family had gone to attend a function and nobody was present in his house last night. His neighbourers sounded the alarm after they noticed his body hanging from a ceiling hook in the house,” a police official said. The police official said preliminary investigation suggested that he had a dispute with his family members over a trivial issue. “We are investigating the matter,” he said. |
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BJP state president to fast against corruption
Jammu, September 30 “Rampant corruption prevails in the state. To highlight that and issues such as the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) scam, which involves some influential people, party president Manhas will sit on a 48-hour fast,” chief spokesman for state BJP Jitendra Singh said today. The decision was taken during a meeting held at the party headquarters here in which senior leaders were present, he said. Singh said Manhas was especially highlighting the JKCA scam as it involved forgery through issuance of “benami cheques” and embezzlements amounting to crores of rupees and was carried out under the approval of the topmost leaders of the ruling party. “Despite repeated pleas by the BJP, the NC-Congress coalition government has refused to handover the case to the CBI, which has further fuelled the suspicion,” added Singh. The situation had deteriorated to such an extent that Jammu and Kashmir was being described as the most corrupt state in the country, he said, adding that Manhas’ decision to fast might awaken the sleeping
conscience of the people in power and inspire public to strive for a corruption-free society. — TNS |
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Sydney tastes Kashmiri ‘nun chai’, mourns 2010 unrest
Srinagar, September 30 The project “Brewing memories. Tasting Kashmir” is Alana’s way of paying tributes to those who were killed in the summer unrest of 2010 in the Kashmir valley, which triggered after the Indian Army allegedly killed some civilians, claiming they were Pakistani infiltrators. Alana witnessed the unrest during her stay in the Valley during that time. These ordinary-looking pictures convey an extra-ordinary thought. “Over the course of two years, I invited 118 people to come and share a cup of nun chai as a simple act that acknowledged the loss of every life (during the unrest),”
she says. Carefully brewed, as Alana says, into a rich rusty red tea from a distinct form of green tea leaves, punctuated with a pinch of ‘phull’ (bi-carb soda) and made nourishing with milk and salt, nun chai, literally meaning salt tea, is Kashmir’s most common drink. People in Kashmir have it during their breakfast, at mid-morning, in the afternoon and also after dinner. Alana went on offering people in various cities, around the world, cups of nun chai, sharing with them the grief of Kashmiri families who had lost their relatives during the unrest and who now longed to fill that empty cup with Nun chai for their loved ones. “In the face of violence, growing number of dead and lack of thorough media coverage, it seemed necessary to speak, to connect and to write in a form that somehow reached places where the news headlines could not,” says Alana. When Alana invited people for the special tea, people asked for more things about Kashmir, even the recipe of nun chai and she was ready to help- with tea leaves and with her memories of her stay in Kashmir. “With each conversation that unfolded over a cup of Nun chai, each dead person who got killed in the 2010 mayhem envisioned in my mind and I developed a website where all these nun chai cups and the transcribed conversations were put together,” Alana shares. Alana’s romance with Kashmir dates back to 2009 when her project on paper text messages, which was a sarcastic take on the ban on pre-paid phone messaging, was showcased at the Sarai Media Lab in Delhi. The more Alana interacted with Kashmiris at the Jawahar Lal Nehru University, where she studied the conceptual media art, the more she became interested in voicing the problems of Kashmiris in an artistic way, exhibiting her work from New Delhi
to Sydney. |
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Srinagar, September 30
Srinagar, September 30
