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Article 370 is root cause of unemployment in J&K: BJP
To check intrusion bids, Army strengthens LoC security grid
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State mulls ban on pvt practice by govt medical staff
National Conference targets PDP, BJP in Doda district
Non-migrant Kashmiri Pandits
complain of govt neglect
Cricket body short of funds ahead of Ranji Trophy
After clashes, curfew imposed in Zanskar
Budgam shooting: Police registers case
Azad’s frequent visits to state raise eyebrows
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Article 370 is root cause of unemployment in J&K: BJP
Jammu, October 24 Addressing a function in Jammu today, which was organised to observe the 129th birth anniversary of former national president of Jan Sangh Pandit Prem Nath Dogra, BJP state president Shamsher Singh Manhas said Dogra was a man of principles and a vision which encouraged nation-loving people across the state to stand united for the complete integration of the state with the rest of the country. He said the historic “Ek Vidhaan-Ek Pradhan-Ek Nishaan” agitation of Praja Parishad under the able stewardship of Dogra gave a new direction to the movement, as a result of which the post of Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir was abolished. He said the mission was still incomplete as there is a separate flag and a separate Constitution. Manhas said in 1947, India got freedom but unfortunately the state became a slave due to the pro-Sheikh approach of Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru, who used his influence to get Article 370 incorporated in the Constitution of India despite strong opposition from senior leaders of those days. He said the special status had only harmed the state and its people instead of serving any purpose. “The sooner this special status goes, the better it would be for the state. It is the root cause of unemployment in the state as no outsider can purchase land and set industry or big plants, which can obviously provide jobs to thousands of youth,” he said. Manhas appealed to party activists to spread the message of Pandit Prem Nath Dogra and mobilise public opinion on joining hands with the BJP to get rid of the separate symbols and the separate status. Earlier, senior leaders performed a ‘havan’ and garlanded the statue of Pandit Prem Nath Dogra at Dogra Chowk while paying rich tributes to this nationalist leader. |
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To check intrusion bids, Army strengthens LoC security grid
Jammu, October 24 “Keeping in view the spurt in truce violations this year, some readjustments have been done and the anti-infiltration obstacle grid has been strengthened all along the LoC,” said a top Army source. We have also placed our ambush parties in vulnerable stretches, he added. Yesterday, 16 Corps Commander Lt Gen DS Hooda visited the Krishna Ghati (KG) Brigade to take stock of the situation in view of the frequent truce violations by the Pakistan army in the KG sector, said the source. Compared to 46 truce violations last year, so far this year Pakistan has violated the ceasefire agreement 86 times. “The Army is relying more upon sensors and foot patrolling. We are in a state of high alert,” said
the source. However, he refused to give specifics of the readjustments along the LoC. “Readjustments are done secretly by the formation commanders after getting a go-ahead by the top brass. No body talks about it in the public domain for obvious reasons,” he added. Besides floodlights, the LoC has been fortified with sensors and soldiers equipped with night vision devices, hand-held thermal imagers and sophisticated weaponry, said the source. A top BSF officer said the surveillance grid along the international border has also been strengthened. “Manpower has been increased, more floodlights have been installed in gaps along the border and in some areas border fence has been shifted close to the Zero Line,” he said. The BSF has also started cutting ‘sarkanda’ (wild grass) between the Zero Line and the border fence to give an unhindered view to border guards. The process may take a week
or at the most 10 days, he said. “The BSF has been provided sophisticated equipment, including anti-fog gadgets, but we rely more upon physical domination, which is an effective and reliable way to guard the border,” the BSF officer said. The BSF has also identified vulnerable areas along the border, which have been well-guarded.
Fortifying the border
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State mulls ban on pvt practice by govt medical staff
Srinagar, October 24 The director of the Shere-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Prof Showkat Ali Zargar, and a house committee of state legislators while inquiring into the situation at the GB Pant Children’s Hospital had strongly recommended a blanket ban on the private practice of doctors working in teaching hospitals. “On the recommendations of the house committee and Dr Zargar’s report, the government is seriously thinking of banning private practice by faculty members of government medical colleges and its allied hospitals in the state,” Secretary Health and Medical Education Manoj Kumar Dewidi said. Over 500 neonatal and infant deaths were reported in the first five months of this year at the GB Pant Children’s Hospital. After a public outcry in May this year, the government asked the SKIMS director to hold an inquiry into the alarming deaths in the hospital. Assembly Speaker Mohammad Akber Lone, too, constituted a house panel of legislators to look into the alarmingly high infant death rate at the Valley's only tertiary care children's hospital. In its recommendation, the house committee has demanded a blanket ban on private practice by doctors in teaching hospitals. “It is damaging the academic character of these institutions besides affecting healthcare in these prestigious hospitals,” the house committee has said in its recommendations. There are nearly 400 faculty members in the medical colleges of the state and its allied hospitals. The doctors said government needs to introduce a strict legislation if it was contemplating a ban on private practice. "Once the ban is implemented, if anyone is found guilty, he should be disengaged from the state as well as the Medical Council of India register so that he or she is not able to practice anywhere. Otherwise, the ban will be like that of the Shere-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences where many doctors continue to indulge in private practice," said a senior doctor. The state government in 2001 had passed an ordinance banning private practice by SKIMS doctors to ensure smooth functioning of the premier institute. The government ordinance had stated that any violation of the ban will come under the definition of criminal misconduct as per the Criminal Law (amendment) Ordinance, 2001. However, senior doctors and paramedical staff of the SKIMS openly run private clinics in the city. |
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National Conference targets PDP, BJP in Doda district
Jammu, October 24 Chief Minister’s political advisor Devender Singh Rana has conducted an extensive tour of this belt and has addressed a series of meetings to highlight the achievements of the coalition government headed by Omar Abdullah. Rana started the three-days tour from Banihal area and went up to Kishtwar, where the party has a stronghold. During his public meetings, Rana minced no words in attacking the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for launching a malicious campaign against the coalition government. While addressing a public gathering at the Kishtigarh area of Doda district, Rana charged the BJP with communalising the situation in the erstwhile Doda district for petty political gains, which he said was detrimental for the secular character of the sub-region. “The BJP is trying to divide society on communal lines by creating a fear psychosis,” he said and warned the BJP to not disturb the secular fabric of the area. He said Doda was an epitome of secularism and it had to be preserved as such. “Doda represents pluralistic ethos, cultural diversity and communal harmony and the National Conference will not allow the communal traits of the Bhartiya Janta Party to flourish in this sub-region or in any other part of the state,” said Rana. Criticising the BJP for wedging apart society in the name of region and religion, Rana said there were no takers for such politics especially under the present scenario of awareness, education and accelerated development. He said politics of hatred and regional bias had no legs to stand upon. Similarly, at Banihal where the PDP has been trying to strengthen its base, Rana predicted that this party would be disintegrated much before the 2014 elections due to infighting. At all the public meetings, Rana attacked the the PDP for its negative politics and tried to give a message to the people that the PDP leadership was finding it difficult to keep its
flock together. |
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Non-migrant Kashmiri Pandits
complain of govt neglect
Srinagar, October 24 Blaming the authorities for being concerned ‘only’ about the return of migrants, the local KPs say they are struggling to keep their identity alive amid problems related to finding employment and even pujaris for routine religious ceremonies. “After migration, we were left with only two pujaris, and one of them has died. Our only pujari had gone to Bahderwah and we had to arrange a non-local pujari for performing a hawan,” said Avtar Krishan Ganjoo, a local KP, who along with other KPs had arranged a hawan during Navaratras at an old city temple here. “We are struggling to keep our identity alive. The Central and state governments are only concerned about the return of those (KPs) who left Kashmir. They should realise that those who have left will not return. They should now endeavour to take concrete steps to save our community as we never left Kashmir,” Ganjoo added. Another non-migrant KP, wishing not to be named, said: “If we continue to remain neglected, our children will be forced to leave Kashmir as they find it hard to find employment here. We only hear statements not just from mainstream parties but also from separatist leaders that they want Pandits to return. But no one cares about non-migrants.” Chunni Lal, who is a member of the Hindu Welfare Society Kashmir (HWSK), an organisation that has been highlighting the plight of non-migrant KPs, said they were only being given “tall promises”. “The tall promises made to us never take a practical shape. We have for long been highlighting our plight but the authorities always turn a deaf ear to our pleas,” Lal said. He said the Centre should seek an answer from the state over the huge amount of money that is being granted in the name of rehabilitation of KPs. Lal, too, said the youth was facing unemployment problem. “There should be economic incentives for us and for those who wish to return so that our community is saved,” he added. The HWSK has been demanding that the KPs be declared a ‘disturbed community’ at the national level so that their issues are addressed. Around 800 KP families are currently living in the Valley. |
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Cricket body short of funds ahead of Ranji Trophy
Jammu, October 24 “Interestingly, the expenses of both the U-19 and the U-25 cricket teams, which are presently playing tournaments in Punjab and Pune, were borne by the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) and the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) respectively,” a source in the JKCA said. “It was only after Rs 1 crore was released by court in favour of the JKCA, we were able to pay back to these associations, who made all the necessary arrangements such as boarding, lodging and food for the teams,” he said. “Infact, the tickets of the state team for both the age groups were purchased on credit from a travel agent because the association was not able to pay him on the spot. After the release of funds, we immediately paid him,” the source claimed. Meanwhile, expressing concern over the present state of affairs in the association, the source said the lack of funds might affect the preparation of the state team for the upcoming tournament. “Out of the released amount of Rs 1 crore, there are still funds available with the JKCA but I fear it is not sufficient,” the source said. “Apart from hosting as many as five Ranji Trophy matches, the association will also have to send the team outside the state for playing matches and for that adequate funds are required,” he said. “Elaborate arrangements will be put in place for a comfortable stay of the visiting teams in J&K during the Ranji Trophy tournament only when the association has sufficient funds at its disposal but unfortunately we don’t,” the JKCA source said. The Tribune had reported that the accounts of JKCA had been seized by the police during the course of their investigation into the much publicised scam. Meanwhile, JKCA Treasurer Manzoor Wazir told The Tribune that the JKCA had released an amount of Rs 15 lakh for the provincial committee of Jammu to carry out its functions smoothly during the Ranji Trophy matches scheduled to begin on November 2. “Not only that, the association is likely to release an additional amount of Rs 15 lakh soon,” Manzoor said. |
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After clashes, curfew imposed in Zanskar
Srinagar, October 24 “The police has taken cognisance of the clashes between two communities in Zanskar. Curfew has been imposed in the town. The situation is under control and is being constantly monitored by the police and civil administration officials who are camping in the town,” the spokesman said. The three injured have been shifted to a hospital in Srinagar. The spokesman said more reinforcements have been dispatched to the remote region from
Srinagar to assist the administration. |
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Budgam shooting: Police registers case
Srinagar, October 24 “On the report of the Army, we have registered a case in Chadroo police station in Budgam. The initial investigation in the case, however, has so far revealed that militants had fired at the Army personnel,” said Superintendent of Police, Budgam, Uttam Chand. On Monday night, Sepoy Ghulam Rasool Sheikh of the Territorial Army who was attached to 25 Rashtriya Rifles was killed while Naik Setien Tao and a civilian driver, Abdul Rauf, were injured when troops of the 53 Rashtriya Rifles opened fire on the private vehicle (Tata Sumo) in which the three were travelling. Sheikh and Setien were in their civvies. The Army had said that when the Tata Sumo failed to stop at the checkpost, it was fired at by the patrol party which mistook them to be militants. Sources said soon after the incident, Army officers had told the police that militants had opened fire at a Tata Sumo in Chattergum, Budgam. The Army, however, later told the police that it was a case of mistaken identity. The Army has already ordered a probe to look into the circumstances that led to the death of the solider.
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Azad’s frequent visits to state raise eyebrows
Jammu, October 24 Although Azad avoided questions regarding corruption charges against former Himachal Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, he said the “involvement of Nitin Gadkari in corruption cases has exposed the BJP”. Azad was the chief guest at a Dasehra function organised by the Shri Sanatan Dharam Sabha. The frequent visits of Azad to his native state of Jammu and Kashmir have raised many eyebrows in the region because his supporters are publicly announcing that the Union Minister is returning to state politics. Azad, who was in Jammu just three days ago to participate in the Sheedhi Sammelan at Bishnah, today especially came to participate in the Dasehra celebrations. Although Azad has not given any statement about his return to state politics, his loyalists leave no opportunity to send out the message to the public that the Union Minister would be coming back “very soon” to take charge of the party in the state. Azad’s staunch supporter and Lok Sabha member from Udhampur-Doda segment Choudhary Lal Singh publicly announced that the base of the Congress had been eroding and only Azad could save the party at this crucial juncture. In a veiled attack on J-K Pradesh Congress Committee chief Saifuddin Soz, Choudhary said the coalition partner National Conference had been aggressively implementing its agenda but the present Congress leadership had failed to fulfil the promises made by the party with the people in the 2008 Assembly elections. \Sources close to Azad loyalists said the Union Minister had already given hints to his supporters about assuming a “bigger role” in state politics. “Azad has made it a point to attend all social and religions functions especially in the Jammu region to again emerge as the undisputed leader of this region”, a Congress leader and an Azad loyalist said on condition of anonymity. He pointed out that the Union Minister had come especially on September 22 to attend a function which was held to observe the 117th birth anniversary of last Dogra ruler Maharaja Hari Singh. And, Azad attended the Dasehra festival celebrations here today. Sources said Azad had already given clear directions to his loyalists to iron out their differences to take on the faction headed by Soz. It was because of Azad’s directions that his loyalists presented a united face at Bishnah function.
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The BJP today reiterated its demand for the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution of India, which grants special autonomous status to Jammu and Kashmir, for proper integration of the state with the rest of the country.
truce violations and infiltration bids along the 776-km-long Line of Control (LoC) and 293-km-long international border this year, the Army and the BSF have not only stepped up vigil along the J&K frontiers but have also done some “strategic readjustments”.
Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad today took the BJP to task for adopting double standards on the issue of corruption. He told BJP leaders to look into their own misdeeds before levelling charges of corruption against the Congress.In an informal chat with mediapersons during Dasehra celebrations at the Parade Ground here, Azad ridiculed BJP leaders for launching a campaign against corruption. 
