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Legislative Council poll
Panchayat Conference withdraws call to boycott elections
Independent candidates rue ‘politicisation’ of LC poll
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LC poll: NC reaches out to expelled
BJP legislators
Chief Minister raises demand for rail coach factory in J&K
Kashmir filmmaker walks red carpet at Goa film fest
Delhi High Court blast case
Three acquitted of killing ex-Education Minister
ReT teacher complain of low salaries
Kejriwal ready for ‘Mission Kashmir’
Army, police review security in state
Fake currency recovered
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Legislative Council poll
Srinagar, November 27 The electioneering for the four seats, two each from the Kashmir and Jammu divisions, has entered its final phase and will end on Saturday. Though the PDP has been organising public meetings, big and small, across the state, its MLAs continue to remain in touch with panchayat members at all levels, particularly in the Kashmir valley, where it has a majority of members. The PDP is the second largest party with 21 MLAs in the Assembly after the National Conference (NC) which has 28 members. The focus of the election campaign for the two seats of the Legislative Council from the Kashmir division remains in the rural areas where the PDP has an
edge over the ruling parties. Of the 28 seats in the Assembly, the NC has
eight seats in Srinagar, which has only one panchayat block. Senior PDP leaders said the joint contest and campaign by the NC and the Congress had not gone well with party leaders, as they had not been taken into confidence. The simmering differences between the Congress and the NC give an “upper edge” to the PDP, said a leader. The PDP is also cashing in on the “failure” of the coalition government to hold the Block Development Council elections. Congress leaders have been emphasising on the need of empowering panchayat members and paying an honorarium to them. The Legislative Council elections would be a litmus test for the coalition parties, especially the National Conference, which had lost a majority of its seats in the last two Assembly elections. Meanwhile, Minister of State for Home Nasir Aslam Wani today said, “The panchayat elections were held after over three decades. The panchayats would have their own representatives in the Upper House. They would highlight your issues and ensure that they are fully empowered.” Wani was addressing election meetings and appealed to panches and sarpanches to vote for the coalition candidates in the remote area of Tangdhar in Kupwara district. |
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Panchayat Conference withdraws call to boycott elections
Jammu, November 27 It also said that nothing short of incorporation of the 73rd Amendment to the Indian Constitution in the state Panchayati Raj Act in letter and spirit would be acceptable to them. “We have decided to withdraw our boycott call for the upcoming LC election but we want to clarify that the AJKPC will not support any particular group or individual. The panches and sarpanches can vote as per their own conscience,” AJKPC chairman Shafiq Mir said while addressing a daylong convention of Panchayat members here. He disclosed that panchayat members had passed a resolution for extension of the 73rd Amendment to the Indian Constitution to the Panchayati Raj Act in the state in letter and spirit. Apart from this, the resolution also included the demand for implementation of the 74th Amendment (which empowers other local bodies) to the Indian Constitution in the state. The AJKPC also demanded release of honorarium promised to panches and sarpanches as per the J&K Panchayati Raj Act, 1989. During the convention, the sarpanches of various parts of the state shared their views on the upcoming MLC elections and empowerment of panchayats in the state. They held all political parties equally responsible for “not empowering” the panchayati institutions in the state. They said all political parties were “playing with their sentiments”. Earlier, AJKPC general secretary Anil Sharma said that they were not part of any political party as all political parties had played a dubious role regarding empowerment of panchayats in the state. He said empowered panchayats could bring a sense of unity among all three regions of the state. |
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Independent candidates rue ‘politicisation’ of LC poll
Srinagar, November 27 Interestingly, in these paid campaigns, these candidates, mostly Independent panches and sarpanches, have rued the “politicisation” of the elections by the parties, including the Congress, National Conference and Peoples Democratic Party, which have fielded their own candidates for the LC poll. The elections to these four LC seats from the panchayat quota, which were supposed to be fought on a non-party basis, have become highly politicised. The matter has been further complicated by the poll boycott call issued by the hardline faction of the Hurriyat Conference led by Syed Ali Geelani and threats by militants, including United Jehad Council chief Syed Salahuddin. Most of the candidates who have published their poll campaigns in local dailies have rued the “politicisation” of the LC poll. “We risked our lives by participating in the panchayat poll. But do you know what this government did with the panches and sarpanches? Neither were we given the rights as envisaged in the Panchayati Raj Act, nor were we given any honorarium,” an Independent candidate from Kulgam district in south Kashmir says in an advertisement placed in a leading Urdu daily of Kashmir. “If elected for LC, I promise that I will fight for the empowerment of panchayats at any cost,” he claims. In another advertisement, two Independent panchayat members from north Kashmir, while seeking votes from elected panches and sarpanches, promised to work for the empowerment of panchayats and fixing a monthly honorarium for them. Both rued the “politicisation” of the elections for the four LC seats. In an advertisement campaign published by a forum of Independent panches and sarpanches in several local dailies, the nominated candidate while seeking votes has criticised the mainstream political parties for “politicising the elections” and condemned the government for its “failure to empower” the
pancahyats.
election trail
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LC poll: NC reaches out to expelled
BJP legislators Jammu, November 27 Sources said the expelled BJP legislators, led by Chaman Lal Gupta, met Chief Minister Omar Abdullah at his official residence here. “They said they had called on the Chief Minister to hold discussions on development activities in their respective Assembly segments,” a source added. During the interaction, the Chief Minister is learnt to have asked the expelled legislators to extend support to the NC candidates during the December-3 elections. On April 13 last year, the BJP had suspended seven out of its 11 MLAs following a cross-voting controversy. Gupta, who happened to be the leader of the BJP Legislature Party then, was later expelled from the party. The expelled legislators are believed to have conveyed to the Chief Minister that they have not fielded any candidate for the MLC elections and have yet to decide on the issue because they are still “deemed BJP” members. “The lone agenda of the meeting was to hold discussions on development activities in our constituencies. We had a similar meeting with the Chief Minister about one and half months ago,” said Jagdish Raj Sapolia, one of the expelled MLAs.
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Chief Minister raises demand for rail coach factory in J&K
The Chief Minister said Jammu and Kashmir was in itself a category as it had borne the brunt of militancy and experienced a saga of miseries and loss of precious human lives. Omar said in order to help the state overcome industrial backwardness and economic shortcoming, the Centre should announce a rail coach factory, as it had done in Punjab. He also emphasised the need for transfer of Salal, Dulhasti and Uri
hydropower projects to the state while stressing on granting support to the state. He said when the country was reaping the benefits of liberalisation of the industrial policy, Jammu and Kashmir was fighting militancy. “The justice demands that we should be compensated, that too, substantially for this reason,” he said. “The waging of militancy was against the entire nation and Jammu and Kashmir was a theatre for enemies to operationalise their designs. We have sacrificed our life and property, thousands of women were widowed and children orphaned. We have undergone tremendous dip in economy. The progress of the state remained standstill, thousands of youth were rendered jobless and trade and industries received a serious jolt,” he said, adding that Jammu and Kashmir was injured to protect the country. He said the truth needed to be borne in mind while extending support to Jammu and Kashmir. He strongly advocated for the recognition of the status and Central support for the development and growth of the state. “Do not take us at par with other states. We have been on the forefront to safeguard the country. We have sacrificed for the nation. Do not place us in the category of hilly states when the question of extending help to Jammu and Kashmir arises,” Omar said. Addressing a seminar on ‘Building Capacities for Sustainable Growth’ in Jammu and Kashmir organised by ASSOCHAM, India, the Chief Minister said the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise sector had been the engine of growth in any economy and contributed a lion’s share in investment, employment, production and productivity. |
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Pakistan again targets posts in Poonch sector
Jammu, November 27 Pakistan opened fire from five of their posts but we exercised restraint and didn’t retaliate, he added. Though there was no casualty or injury on our side, the situation is tense in the KG sector, he said. The official claimed that Pakistani troops continued firing at the Indian posts till 8.40 pm. No flag meeting has taken place as yet, he said. However, an Intelligence source said heavy exchange of fire between the two sides started around 7 pm and lasted till 11 pm. “Both sides traded heavy machine gun fire in which three soldiers of 653 Mujahid Regiment were killed,” he said. Pakistani troops had opened fire from Daku, Battal, Roza, Pimple and Chuha posts, he added. “Our troops, particularly from Chajaman and Ghora posts, gave an effective response to the Pakistani troops,” said the source. The source said Pakistan may again resort to violation of ceasefire tonight. During the intervening night of November 25 and 26, Pakistan had opened heavy fire on 10 Indian posts for over four hours in the same sector firing over 6,000 rounds of heavy machine gun. On June 13, Pakistan had sniped at border guard PK Mishra and Lance Naik Harvinder Singh, killing them instantly in the same sector. Pakistan had also injured four other soldiers. The situation had escalated to such an extent that the Army had to move an artillery battalion from Mendhar to the KG sector. The truce deal between the two countries had come into force on November 26, 2003. |
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Kashmir filmmaker walks red carpet at Goa film fest
“Mangroves guardians of the coast”, a film directed by Fazili, was screened at the festival that is scheduled to conclude on November 30. The 24-minute film has been produced by well-known documentary filmmaker Mike Pandey. Fazli said his film was among 18 non-feature films screened out of the 143 entries at the festival. “This is the first ever global film on mangroves, which act as a barrier against tsunamis. It has been observed that places having mangroves report less damage during tsunamis. My film is an effort to save these vulnerable eco-systems and restore them to their former glory,” he added. The film on mangroves was earlier screened in July at the 12th OSIAN’s-Cinefan Film Festival in New Delhi. Fazli said the screening of his film at an international festival now was “special” as he got a chance to interact with bigwigs of Bollywood and Hollywood like Lee, whose latest movie “Life of Pi” was in news as the Goa film fest opened with its screening. He said the film on mangroves was well-received and now it was scheduled for re-screening on November 28. “The films that are well received are re-screened. The selected non-feature films also remain as archives with the Union Information and Broadcasting Ministry,” he added. While Fazili’s other film about Western Ghats in Karnataka, showing how global warming has given birth to new varieties of insects and fungus thus affecting people and greenery, was screened at several film festivals earlier. Valley’s PRIDE
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Delhi High Court blast case
The police, however, refused to buy the theory that the Hizb Commander’s wife had delivered a baby girl in Kashmir. It said Hafiz had sent his wife to Kashmir for proper medicare during her pregnancy. “Some four months ago, Taslima Begum (25), wife of Chota Hafiz (26), delivered a baby girl at her in-laws house in Palmar village. Our inputs suggest that Hafiz is still hiding in the upper reaches of Sinthan in Kishtwar district,” said Garib Dass, DIG, Doda-Ramban-Kishtwar range. “Our inputs say during Taslima’s pregnancy, Hafiz was in constant touch with his aide in Kashmir, who ensured his wife’s medical check-ups somewhere in Srinagar,” said the DIG. Dass said Hafiz didn’t visit his wife in Palmar as he is constantly being chased by the security forces. “Taslima, who hails from Fariabad village in the Sinthan area, might have met Hafiz in his hideouts as she used to frequent her parental home in Fariabad,” he said. He said the Delhi High Court blast occurred on September 7, 2011, and Taslima delivered the baby some four months ago, which conveys that the couple might have met somewhere in September or October last year. “We can’t question Hafiz’s wife as this is their private matter. But we will nab him soon,” he said. On October 25, 2011, the NIA had issued a notice and announced a cash reward of Rs 10 lakh for information leading to the arrest of three Hizb militants, Amir Ali Kamal, alias Amir, Junaid Akram Malik and Shakir Hussain, alias Chota Hafiz. |
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Three acquitted of killing ex-Education Minister
Srinagar, November 27 The three were identified as Syed Shabir Bukhari, Shakil Ahmad Sofi, both residents of Kreeri in Baramulla, and Mushtaq Ahmad Akhoon, a resident of Saida Kadal in Srinagar. They were released after a local court acquitted them last month. “The three have been released after being acquitted,” said a police officer in Srinagar. On October 15, a Srinagar court acquitted the three on the ground that the prosecution had failed to prove charges against them and there was no material evidence to prove that the three hatched the conspiracy. Lone was shot dead on October 18, 2005, at his official residence in Tulsibagh, Srinagar, which had also left two security men and a militant dead. CPM state secretary Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami had escaped unhurt in the attack. The militant outfit, Al-Mansooreen, had claimed responsibility for the attack. The police had later arrested the three and accused them of facilitating the attack on the minister and also conspiring with militants. Three years after Lone’s death, his son Shoaib Lone, had alleged in the state Assembly that his father was not killed by militants but had become ‘the victim of political conspiracy’. |
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ReT teacher complain of low salaries
Srinagar, November 27 Iftikhar has been posted 65 km away at a primary school in the Pinjura border village of south Kashmir. Around 60,000 ReT teachers in the state share the same story as Iftikhar, who are also being paid Rs 1,500 per month. The Minimum Wages Act states that the minimum monthly wages for a skilled worker is Rs 600 per month and that of an unskilled worker is Rs 3,000 per month. The issue of hike in the monthly salary (honorarium) of ReT teachers was raised in the autumn session of the Legislative Assembly. Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather had said in the Assembly that there would be a hike in the monthly honorarium of ReT teachers soon. The State Jammu and Kashmir Teachers Forum (JKTF) spokesperson Nissar Ali said the teachers’ demand for an increase in the monthly honorarium from Rs 1,500 to Rs 4,000 was long pending. He said a majority of the ReT teachers were postgraduates and doctorates but did not even get the minimum wages prescribed for a non-skilled labourer. Even Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had last year assured the teachers of a pay hike and had directed the Finance and General Administration Departments to look into the matter. Officials in the state Finance Department said the matter had been taken up with the Planning Commission of India, as the state exchequer could not afford the increased
monthly salaries of the ReT teachers. “We are requesting for funds from the Central government, as these teachers are mostly recruited under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and the Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan,” said an official of the Finance Department. The ReT teachers, a majority of whom are posted in far-flung areas of the state to support primary and middle school education, complain that the monthly honorarium does no
justice to them in times of inflation. “When we cannot even purchase an LPG cylinder, what is the need for such job. It is better we leave our jobs and start teaching privately,” said Iftikhar. |
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Kejriwal ready for ‘Mission Kashmir’
Srinagar, November 27 The crusade will be launched to expose corrupt politicians, bureaucrats and small-rung officers. Kejriwal, according to his local aides, will seek cooperation from civil society activists, lawyers and religious groups to launch a massive anti-corruption crusade in the state. Kejriwal has reportedly said launching a crusade against corruption in the state is the need of the hour as corrupt practices are becoming the order of the day. He has drawn parallels between Bihar and Jammu and Kashmir which are the two leading corrupt states in the country. “The local media is abuzz with reports that Kejriwal will meet activists. I don’t see anything wrong in it. But he would garner support in Kashmir, only if he takes into account the root of corruption in Kashmir which lies in socio-economic concerns of the people,” said Shakeel Qalander, a member of the Kashmir Civil Society and Developmental Studies. Shakeel said Kejriwal should put aside his political aspirations, if he wants to make his campaign effective in the public domain. “We welcome him as an activist, not as a politician,” said Shakeel. President, Kashmir Economic Alliance, Mohammad Yasin Khan said the levels of corruption in the state, which had crossed all limits, particularly in the public sector, required mobilisation of masses. “We are ready to coordinate with him as corruption is plaguing the state. Kejriwal should hold talks with all sections of society to determine the root cause of corruption in the state, which lies in consistent exploitation of natural resources, unplanned economy and marginalisation of the poor,” Khan said. Dr Shiekh Showkat Hussain, a subject expert on human rights at the University of Kashmir, said Kejriwal’s campaign had a certain degree of acceptance in the Valley as the pangs of corruption were felt by everyone. “People resort to corrupt practices because they feel alienated. And there are bigger concerns like human rights violations and economic resources exploitation which have led to corruption. I hope Kejriwal accepts these facts and gets massive public support.” |
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Governor, CM greet people on Gurpurab
Jammu, November 27 The Governor hoped that the auspicious occasion would further strengthen brotherhood, communal harmony, amity and secular traditions in the state. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also extended greetings to the people. In a message, the Chief Minister wished Gurpurab to be a harbinger of peace and prosperity in the state.
— TNS |
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Army, police review security in state
Jammu, November 27 The meeting was chaired by General Officer Commanding of White Knight Corps Lt Gen DS Hooda, who is also the security adviser to the state government for the Jammu region. The meeting was co-chaired by DGP Ashok Prasad. Senior Army, police and civil administration officers attended the meeting to review the security situation across the Jammu region. Lt Gen Hooda and Prasad complimented the security forces, intelligence agencies and civil administration for ensuring peace and tranquillity and achieving a high degree of synergy in handling various challenges of internal security in the Jammu region. “After the darbar move offices shifted to the winter capital, it was a routine to review the security scenario in the Jammu region,” said a senior Army officer. |
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Fake currency recovered
Jammu, November 27 Poonch SP Shamsheer Hussain Choudhary said, “We have been getting inputs of a racket involved in circulating fake currency in the border town for the past few days. Accordingly, we had placed our men in plain clothes, who nabbed a man from Mendhar town today.” The police recovered fake currency of Rs 98,500 in the denomination of Rs 500 notes, said Choudhary. The officer said the investigations have been started to nab the other gang members. “Though we anticipate more arrests and recovery of fake currency in the coming days, the source of the fake currency and its origin has not been ascertained,” said the SP. |
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Jammu, November 27
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Jammu, November 27