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Coalition, PDP top guns all out to woo panchayat members
Police, CRPF maintain vigil on third day of curfew
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Omar’s ‘make-up kit’ remark derogatory for women: PDP
State bags tourism award
Cricket association upset over indiscipline by players
One killed as bus falls into gorge
Voltage fluctuation kills one, leaves several injured
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Coalition, PDP top guns all out to woo panchayat members
Srinagar, November 30 All political parties, including the ruling coalition and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have fieled their top leaders to garner the support of panchayat members. For the two seats in Kashmir division, the coalition candidates are senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Monga and National Conference leader Ali Mohammad Dar. The coalition campaign is spearheaded by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and J-K Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president Saifuddin Soz. Omar during his campaigning in the Valley has been wearing a “pherun” and occupying the centre of the dais with his coalition partners from the Congress. Both Omar and Soz are leaving no stone unturned to woo the voters. They have both been star campaigners for their respective parties and their joint campaign has managed to pull decent, if not overwhelming, crowds. The crowds are also more keen to listen to the star campaigners. Soz with all his political acumen makes the panchayat representatives feel that they are the basic building blocks of the political strata in Kashmir. The JKPCC chief has been trying to make his position clear on the empowerment of panchayats. “I was misquoted by the media. I never said that the panches and sarpanchs do not need security,” he said during the poll campaign. Soz also manages an occasional applause from panchayat members as he talks about the steps the coalition government is taking for their individual empowerment as well as that of the institution. “I am in touch with the Centre for a monthly honorarium for you,” says Soz amid cheers from the crowd. Chief Minister, Omar takes on the opposition PDP leadership for being “dream merchants”. Omar delivers his speeches in flawless Urdu. Omar promises panches and sarpanches that his government will ensure that the governance at grass-roots level is handed over to them. “Let us join hands and show the opposition that we cannot be defeated. On December 3, I will expect you to vote for our candidates,” he says during campaigning. The National Conference is also helped by senior leaders Ali Mohammad Sagar, Abdul Rahim Rather, Mian Altaf and Sakina Yatoo. Congress minister Taj Mohiuddin, who has been recently in the centre of a controversy over forest land grabbing issue, has been vociferously canvassing for Monga and Dar. For the PDP, party patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, his daughter and party president Mehbooba Mufti and former deputy Chief Minister Muzaffar Hussain Beigh have been campaigning for party candidates Yasir Rishi and Peerzada Hussain. Mufti has not only been highlighting the achievements of the party when it ruled the state but has also been lashing out at the NC for its “misgovernance”. Mehbooba accuses the NC of corruption while alleging that the coalition had made a mockery of the governance. The firebrand Mehooba, who was credited with bringing the PDP into power in 2002, has been focusing more on the campaigning in the Jammu region. Another firebrand party speaker, Beigh too is at the forefront of the party campaign. compaign
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Police, CRPF maintain vigil on third day of curfew
Srinagar, November 30 "The situation remained peaceful in Srinagar today. We will review the situation early on Saturday and decide about lifting the curfew," said Srinagar District Magistrate Baseer Ahmed Khan. However, government sources said the curfew would be lifted on Saturday. There were no reports of any untoward incidents from the old city areas, which reeled under strict curfew restrictions as the authorities apprehended trouble following Friday prayers today. The restrictions were imposed strictly in the areas around the main mosque, Jamia Masjid, in the Nowhatta area and the adjoining Rajouri Kadal-Gojwara localities. The ambulances of the SMHS in the city and the Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) in Soura on the city outskirts had a tough time passing through the curfew-bound areas. A number of shops and business establishments remained closed in the uptown areas. Not many vehicles plied on the roads in the interior city as the passenger transport covering the area was diverted to other routes. There was thin attendance in government offices and banks and most of the educational institutions, both government and private, remained closed here for the third consecutive day today. |
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Omar’s ‘make-up kit’ remark derogatory for women: PDP
Srinagar, November 30 In a statement, chief party spokesman Naeem Akhtar said it was unfortunate that the head of the state government had lost his sense of propriety in his pursuit to win a few council seats for the ruling coalition. "Cursing the Opposition for all his failures was a stock response of the Chief Minister but making such demeaning remarks against mothers and sisters was completely unacceptable," Naeem Akhtar said. On Thursday, Omar during a rally in Ganderbal had remarked that women panchayat members were reportedly being presented make-up kits by the PDP to tempt them to vote for the party candidates. The PDP spokesman said women had defied considerable social barriers to take a plunge into the electoral process and were occupying a seriously-contested democratic space. He said the Chief Minister through his insensitive remarks had created a negative impression about them. “Omar’s reference to women being bribed with make-up kits and his attempt to cast aspersion on the integrity of our sisters and mothers has a reason. It seems the National Conference through such statements intends to discourage women of the state from being empowered and assigned political space,” he said. The PDP spokesman said these women would have to face questions and jibes due to the Chief Minister’s irresponsible statement in the constituency which the Abdullah clan ruled for years. “This shows how this family pays those who voted them in the past to power,” said Akhtar. The spokesman said Omar’s threat to resign in case the charges of corruption against him are proved to be right is an old trick he resorted to whenever cornered. “We want to remind him that all the institutions of probity in the state like the State Accountability Commission and the RTI Act have been defanged by the present dispensation. The resignation threat sounds like a joke because the Chief Minister failed to do so during the Haji Yousuf episode or in the wake of more than 100 killings of the youth in 2010,” he said. WHAT THE CM HAD
SAID
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State bags tourism award
Srinagar, November 30 The award was conferred yesterday at a function in New Delhi, an official said today. Minister of State for Tourism and Culture Nasir Aslam Wani received
the award on the behalf of the state. “J&K has been selected for the special excellence award for its efforts to promote tourism. A record number of tourists, from India and abroad, visited J&K this year. Several national-level conferences and conventions were also held in the state this summer, which were attended by a large number of visitors,” the official said. After receiving the award, the minister thanked the Conde Nast Traveller magazine for recognising the state government’s efforts to promote tourism activities. “We want to assure all the stakeholders in the tourism industry that J&K will continue to strive to improve the quality of services offered to the visitors and will create high-end infrastructure to increase the footfall of visitors in the state,” he said. The minister said the state would continue to excel, set benchmarks and prove its proficiency on an international platform. “We have dovetailed tourism with the state’s rich heritage and culture as we see these two sectors as those which are instrumental in driving the tourism sector,” he said. Earlier this month, the state’s Ladakh region was adjudged the best adventure tourism destination for 2012 by the CNBC Awaaz Travel Awards. |
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BSF celebrates 47th Raising Day
Rajouri, November 30 Rajouri DIG (BSF sector) RS Kataria was the chief guest on the occasion. A plantation drive was conducted in which about 200 saplings were planted at various places of the headquarters of 138 Battalion of the BSF. During the drive, Kataria emphasised the importance of tree plantation in meeting meet social, economic and environmental objectives. He said in view of global warming and other natural calamities these days, trees can play a pivotal role in restoring productivity, balancing the ecosystem and stabilising biological diversity. The DIG said deforestation would have an adverse effect on our coming generations and that it was our duty to take measures to provide them a healthy environment. He said government organisations and NGOs should take initiatives to plant saplings. Kataria addressed problems of widows of BSF martyrs and ex-servicemen and assured them all possible help. The widows were informed about several welfare schemes for them and their wards started by the BSF headquarters, Delhi. These include admission of their wards in professional educational institutes like Rustam Ji Institute of Technology, Tekanpur, and other institutions run at various locations by the
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Cricket association upset over indiscipline by players
Jammu, November 30 Sources said selectors had announced 16 names for the squad, including those of Samiullah Beig and Majid Dar.However, when the team was about to board the plane for Guwahati, Samiullah and Majid opted out. Sources said the association authorities tried to convince the cricketers but in vain. Presently, the rest of the team members are in Guwahati and will play against the Assam team tomorrow. The JKCA has expressed displeasure over the
incident, which came just a few days after a written apology was submitted
by the players of Kashmir province to the association over an earlier act of indiscipline. “Nothing is going right for the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association and we are absolutely confused at the moment. Nobody is serious towards the betterment of the game. Instead, some people are trying to take benefit of the situation and are misguiding the cricketers,” said a JKCA official on the condition of anonymity. “Without Samiullah Beig and Majid Dar, the team is still complete and there is no captaincy issue because we have other contenders for the post,” he claimed. Sources said the state cricket body was yet to inform about the recent developments to JKCA chief Dr Farooq Abdullah. Earlier, in the written apology to the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association , the cricketers of Kashmir province had stated, “We would like to pen down this apologetic note about the unfortunate situation that was created in Jammu over the extension of captain’s term for all the matches and the selection of some players. We were caught in a situation where we had no option but to raise our voice by staying away from the nets. We could not resist signing some false papers for which we tender our apology. All allegations against Mehboob Iqbal are totally baseless. We are keen to represent the state and have full faith in the administration of the JKCA.” “We feel sorry that due to staying away from the nets, an odd situation was created for the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association to field players from Jammu province. We submit this unconditional apology to you with the request to consider us for the selection for the rest of the matches. We shall in no case resort to any act of indiscipline in future and hold the sanctity of our state and association,” stated the written apology. |
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One killed as bus falls into gorge
Reasi, November 30 The bus was on its way from Budhal to Mahore when the driver lost control of the vehicle at a sharp turn resulting in the fall. People of the locality, Army jawans and officers from the local administration rushed to the site to help the passengers. The deceased has been identified as Renu Devi. Three of the injured, identified as Kushilya Devi, Krishan Singh and Shamim Akhter, were airlifted to the GMC, Jammu, for treatment. Others who were injured were referred to the District Hospital, Reasi.
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Voltage fluctuation kills one, leaves several injured
Katra, November 30 The deceased has been identified as Vikal Ram. The injured due were rushed to the Emergency Hospital in Katra, where their condition is stated to be stable. Many residents complained that their electrical appliances had got damaged due to high voltage. Irate villagers held a protest and demanded an inquiry into the matter. “We did not get time to react. My television set got damaged,” said Romesh Kumar, a resident of Sirla village. Naib sarpanch Sham Lal Bhagat said, “Many home appliances got damaged due to the voltage fluctuation.” He held the Power Development Department (PDD) responsible for the damage. He also demanded that the residents be compensated for the loss. A team of PDD officials is investigating into the
incident. |
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Normal life continued to remain disrupted for the third consecutive day in Srinagar due to the curfew restrictions in the city interiors even though the day passed off peacefully amid the strict vigil kept of the police and the CRPF. The curfew was imposed in areas falling under nine police stations on Wednesday evening following sectarian clashes.
