Jammu, October 12
Amid a raging debate over the alleged irregularities in the affairs of Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Jammu, representatives of Government Medical College Jammu Bachao Abhiyan comprising students of Jammu University today produced official documents wherein the state Department of Health and Medical Education had sought a “detailed report” from the incumbent Principal Dr Aniece Choudhary for the accusations levelled against him six months back.

An inquiry was ordered by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah after he had received a letter under the subject, “Can a history-sheeter be appointed as the head of any institution” from the “representatives of Government Medical College Jammu Bachao Abhiyan”.

The representatives had levelled serious allegations against Dr Aniece Choudhary, who is also the head of department of ENT, accusing him of indulging in “indiscipline” and “un-ethical practice”. They had even accused him of “tampering of departmental record” and “misusing his official position”.

They had demanded a judicial probe against him and debarring him from functioning as the Principal in-charge.

Taking a serious note of the complaints, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, had requested the then Commissioner/ Secretary, Department of Health and Medical Education to take “appropriate action in the matter under laid down framework” on February 1, 2012.

On March 30, the Deputy Secretary, Department of Health and Medical Education, had asked the Principal to furnish a detailed report in the matter.

“The principal is continuously being accused of corruption by many quarters and organisations. No action has been taken against him till date,” Ajay Prasher, chairman of Student Scholar Joint Action Committee said while releasing the official documents here.

Batote, October 12
A complete bandh was observed in Doda today. To express solidarity with the district Doda Council of All India Students’ Federation (AISF), students, traders, employees, lawyers and religious organisations supported the bandh call to press for the fulfilment of the demands of the students.

Shops and business establishments remained closed and traffic was also badly affected today. Thousands of protestors held a peaceful rally in support of their demands.

The hunger strike by the activists of the AISF, led by Mukesh Kumar, entered the sixth day today. The police forcibly took Sadam Hussain and Kaushal Kumar to the district hospital, Doda, after their health deteriorated.

At the end of 21-day ultimatum to the state government, the AISF activists, Mukesh Parihar, Sadam Hussain and Koshal Sharma sat on a hunger strike on October 6 in protest against the delay in starting classes in Doda campus of the University of Jammu.

“In 2002 former Chief Minister Gulam Nabi Azad had inaugurated the University Satellite Campus, later the minister of Higher Education, AG Malik, had announced its upgrade to the University level during a visit. It was inaugurated by him again in January. Since then this two- room makeshift campus has been lying locked,” said AISF activist Abid Pampori.

Jammu, October 12
Members of the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) have submitted a written resolution to the association president, Dr Farooq Abdullah, lodging a strong protest over sending JKCA chairman Aslam Goni to an important meeting of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in Mumbai.

The Tribune had earlier reported that after Aslam Goni’s name surfaced in the preliminary inquiry report by the JKCA in-house probe committee investigating into the multi-crore cricket scam, Dr Abdullah, who is also the Union Minister for News and Renewable Energy, had instructed the members to not maintain any liason with Goni.

Therefore, sources said, when Goni had been picked to attend the BCCI’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), the JKCA members had been shocked and had decided to meet Dr Abdullah at his residence in Srinagar.

Sources claimed that the selection of Goni in five committees during the BCCI meeting had further infuriated the JKCA members. The JKCA chairman has been selcted in the legal, constitution review, affiliation and corporate trophy committees. Former JKCA general secretary ML Nehru has also been given a berth in the museum and cricket memorabilia committee.

“It was not an official meeting with Dr Abdullah,” a JKCA member told The Tribune. “When we come to know Dr Abdullah was in the Valley, we got an appointment to meet him to show our concern over the matter,” he said.

“We fail to understand this dual policy of the JKCA. On the one hand, the association authorities said that the culprits involved in the infamous multi-crore scam would be brought to justice but on the other hand, they are not serious about implementing their own decisions,” the JKCA member said. 

Jammu, October 12
The Crime Branch today registered a case against some persons, including officials of the Jammu Development Authority (JDA) on charges of cheating and fraud.

A spokesperson identified the accused as Sri Ram of Gali Khilona, a resident of Pamposh Colony, Janipura, and his son Sanjeev Sajgotra as wel as other officials of the JDA.

Giving details about the case, the spokesperson said a written complaint had been lodged by Rajni Jain, wife of Ashok Kumar Jain of Jullaka Mohalla, a resident of New Plots, Jammu with the Anti-Corruption Court, alleging that the accused Sri Ram who owned a piece of land at Roop Nagar Housing Colony allotted to him by the JDA on “lease hold right basis” in1985, had entered into an agreement with her and had sold the land to the complainant in 1990 for a sale consideration of Rs 30,000.

An irrevocable power of attorney duly attested before the Magistrate was also executed by the accused in 1990 in favour of the husband of the complainant regarding the deal.

It was also alleged that when the complainant approached the JDA in 2012 for the transfer of the plot in her name, she came to know that the accused had committed a fraud and had executed another irrevocable power of attorney in 2007 alongwith an agreement to sell the plot in favour of his son for a sale consideration of Rs 3 lakh.

“Thereafter, his son executed an irrevocable power of attorney in 2007 along with an agreement to sell the plot in favour of Baldev Raj Karlupia who further executed an irrevocable power of attorney along with an agreement to sell the plot in 2009 to Pawan Sharma, who too executed an irrevocable power of attorney along with an agreement to sell in 2009 in favour of Krishan Lal in whose favour the plot was ultimately transferred by the JDA,” the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson alleged Sri Ram had malafide intentions and despite knowing that he had already transferred the plot in favour of the complainant, allegedly executed “fake and fabricated” documents in favour of his son under a well-planned “criminal conspiracy” and sold the plot to different persons by resorting to fraudulent means, thereby leading to loss to the complainant and wrongful gains to himself and others.

A case was registered under the relevant sections of the law against the accused and investigation in the case was on, the spokesperson said.

Jammu, October 12
Their hearts sing of the pride and love they feel for their motherland and the anguish they feel to see their like discriminated against. The racy lyrics born out of these feelings have made it to a rap music video of the band ‘Beat Shufflers’. No wonder the song is called Jammu de Nawab.

Three youngsters came together as a band three months ago to make youngsters of the region aware about their rights and to fight discrimination.

The singers are students Shoaib Kazmi, Aditya Tikko and Iqbal Singh. Their inspiration is hip hop music. They wanted to put Jammu on the map of rap music. They shot the video in the city on a meager budget. They composed the music themselves, wrote the song and recorded them as well.

“The band consists of men aged between 20 and 25 years. It is the best example of teenagers using their talent in the best way and also highlighting the aspirations of the youth.

The group members say that Jammu and particularly the Dogra community are going through an identity crisis as everyone is focusing on Kashmir, which has overshadowed their aspirations. “It seems Jammu has lost its identity as if youth here have no problems. That is why we named our band, Jammu De Nawab. Our focus is youth and give them a sense of identity,” said Iqbal Singh.

Another band member, Aditya Tikko, who is a student said, “We wanted to do something different and began our journey in music. It gives us the freedom to put across our point clearly.”

Hip Hop music, also called rap, is a music genre consisting of stylised rhythmic words that commonly accompany rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted. “I have been listening to rap all my life. It influenced me because rappers write the truth; they speak the truth as well as promote truth. This thing makes us write on the experience of day-to- day life,” said Shoiab Kazmi, a band member and an aspiring model.

About their journey, the band members say it was only because of the support of music director Shudeep, who composed the music for the rap song that they were able to fulfill their dream.

However, they rue that due to lack of sponsors they cannot popularise the music in the state. “We do not have sponsors. Punjabi rap bands are popular because they get a lot of corporate sponsors. If we get help, we can compete with others rappers,” said Shoaib Kazmi.

Jammu, October 12
Jammu Municipal Committee, instead of disposing of garbage at a proper place, is creating nuisance by burning it in the resident localities.

The residents and the employees of the Jammu Municipal Corporation are blaming each other for the violation of the ban.

The residents of Gandhi Nagar, Channi Himmat, Sharstri Nagar and Talab Tillo of the city said the ban on burning of the garbage in the open was being flouted in the city. Sweepers burn the garbage inside the dustbins instead of lifting it on time, the residents said.

“The workers of the Municipal committee had opted for an easy way to get rid of the duty. Their routine has changed as once in a week they come and burn the garbage in the dustbins only. No matter if it creates pollution in the locality,” said Ashok Bhagat, resident of Shastri Nagar. The residents said unhygienic atmosphere was created on the main road since the dustbins were not cleared on time.

Blaming the officials for adopting an indifferent attitude in maintaining hygiene, Swati Bakshi, resident of Shastri Nagar said, “The MC sweepers do not clean the dustbins on time. Scattered garbage invites stray animals, which hinders the smooth movement of vehicular traffic as well as creates problems for the pedestrians.”

“The smoke that billows out of the garbage is very hazardous to the health. The workers burn accumulated garbage regularly,” she said. However, the Municipal Committee said though at some instances, the workers do it but even the society members were not aware about it. “Most of the time, the people of the locality burn the garbage to get rid of it immediately. But they have to wait for our workers to take the garbage to the dumping place. But they just burn the garbage which creates a problem for other residents as well as the department,” said KL Khajuria, Commissioner, JMC.

He appealed the people to cooperate with the department in the cleaning the Jammu city by doing their own bit.

Jammu, October 12
The Union Bank of India today launched the online application facility for the home loans, vehicle loans, education loans and the loans against property.

The unique feature under the facility was that it enabled an individual to find out the eligible loan amount and details like EMI and ROI, based on ones income.

Sources said the facility was integrated with the bank’s existing loan processing system, thereby ensuring fast processing of the application.

Moreover, the customers could also track the status of their application through the bank’s website.

With approval of various residential projects for funding across the country, the home loans would get sanctioned within a reduced turn-around-time of three to four days, sources added.

The bank had already reduced the home loan interest rates to 10.5 per cent for the loans up to 30 lakh, 10.75 per cent for loans between 30 and 75 lakh and 11 per cent for loans above 75 lakh, with a maximum repayment period of 25 years.

The bank has also reduced the car loan rates to 10.95 per cent with a repayment period of seven years thus making both the rates highly competitive in the industry, sources said.

Sources said the bank had completely waived the processing charges for home and vehicle loans. The offer was launched from the Independence Day and will be valid till the Republic Day. 

Jammu, October 12
The city today witnessed protests by two main opposition parties against the LPG shortage. While the BJP deputed national vice-president of Mahila Morcha Meenakshi Lekhi to lead the protest, the Jammu unit of PDP came to streets to corner Omar Abdullah led-coalition government for not taking any step to provide relief to the common people.

BJP Mahila Morcha organised a protest march outside the Raj Bhawan against the decision of the UPA government to make hike in the LPG prices and capping the annual number of gas cylinders under subsidised rates to six.

Meenakshi Lekhi said it was a result of the wrong policies of the UPA government that a common citizen cannot arrange even a two-time meal for the family and the decision to make hike in the price of LPG has added more problems.

She said the people had elected Congress-led UPA government with the hope of getting peace, security and minimum basic amenities at the reachable charges but even the Congress supporters were criticising it for taking the decisions against the common people.

BJP Mahila Morcha state-president Sakina Bano said the mahila morcha had been agitating over the issues which have had affected the common man.

Priya Sethi, Raj Rani Jamwal, Anju Dogra, Suresh Jamwal, Usha Choudhary, Purnima Sharma, Mamta Singh, Shilpi Verma, Raj Rani Jamwal, Priya Sethi, Vimla Padha, Anju Dogra, Anuradha Charak, Parveen Arora, Saroj Gupta, Vidhya Devi, Bholi Devi, Shanti Devi, Neha, Rekha Kumari, Pooja Devi and Shankuntla Devi also addressed the dharna.

Jammu unit of PDP also took out a demonstration in the city demanding the lifting of cap on subsidised LPG cylinders. PDP leaders took out a demonstration which passed through different areas of the city. They shouted slogans against the state government for propagating anti-people policies.

Jammu, October 12
The citizen forum today flayed chaos prevailing on LPG refilling in the state, as a result of the nexus between the distributors of the LPG and the authorities in the Consumers Affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD) Department.

Expressing concern over the hardships and suffering being faced by the consumers, particularly the senior citizens and the female consumers, a meeting of citizen forum was held here today, under the chairmanship of its president RK Chadha.

Chadha demanded cancellation of the distributors’ license, who were violating the Supreme Court directions and the terms of their licenses, to make a home delivery of the refilled cylinders.

“The home delivery has been arbitrarily stopped by the distributors and the authorities are watching all this silently. The distributors are also violating the latest decision announced by the CAPD minister, Mohammad Ali Akhoon, that the delivery of one refilled cylinder should be made to the consumers whereas, most of the distributors are still not following the directions,” said Chadha.

The subsidised refilled cylinders were being sold in black for Rs 1500 to Rs 1600 each, the forum said.

Among the others present at the meeting were Vikram Gaur, SIH Qazmi, Arun Sharma, Vinay Kotwal, MS Kapoor, KR Gandotra, Ramesh Gupta, KK Mahajan and Mohammad Ayub. 

Katra, October 12
Despite a slowdown in the IT sector, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) today selected a total of 41 Btech students thus commencing the Campus Recruitment 2013 program at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (SMVDU).

Continuing its tradition of recruiting engineering students of high quality, TCS recently visited the SMVDU, for selecting engineering students. The SMVDU is an accredited partner of TCS and the company had been visiting the University campus regularly since it had found the students up to their standards.

The students passed an on-line written test, followed by multiple interview sessions. The team-coordinator from TCS was extremely pleased with the selections made and expressed his appreciation on the facilities being provided at the SMVDU.

Prof Bamezai, Vice-Chancellor, SMVDU congratulated the selected students and said theUniversity was achieving its goal of preparing manpower of high quality and integrity in the field of engineering, sciences, management and humanities.

He said the University was concerned about providing opportunities to the trained and talented students of the region so that they were placed with the best organisations of the country.

A pool campus of TCS was conducted in SMVDU wherein 16 students of GCET, Jammu, were also placed. Prof Bamezai also complimented the T&P faculty and student coordinators, SMVDU placement officer and the volunteers for the good show.

He stressed that the students should prepare for other placement opportunities which were expected to happen shortly.

BK Bhatia, placement officer, SMVDU said companies like TCS, HCL, Capgemini, and Syntel, who recruited 107 students last year, were being expected to visit the SMVDU for campus recruitment this year.