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Sheikh Abdullah believed in
dialogue, hated violence: CM
Amarnath
Yatra
Pak opens fire in RS Pura sector
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LC poll: Tight security for counting today
Forensic lab may get brain mapping division
‘blasphemy’
on Facebook
Post-militancy, theatre on a comeback trail
School board tells paper setters to follow a pattern
Ladakh Council reviews welfare schemes
Cane-charge on villagers: Peace march held in Leh
Moderate Hurriyat terms its forthcoming Pak visit crucial
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Sheikh Abdullah believed in
dialogue, hated violence: CM
Srinagar, December 5 While referring to Sheikh Abdullah repeatedly as Baba-e-Qaum (Father of the nation), Omar said his grandfather resented violence and believed in dialogue as a solution to issues. Various attempts were made to mislead people about Sheikh Abdullah’s mission. Attempts were made to demean him in the eyes of people, his every decision was projected in a wrong way and every attempt was made to project him as somebody he was not, Omar said
while addressing a function commemorating the 107th birth anniversary of his grandfather. Sheikh Abdullah, a former Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir who was also twice elected as the state Chief Minister after the post of the Prime Minister was abolished, was born on this day in 1905 and died in 1982 while holding the office of Chief Minister. One of the top leaders against monarchy rule in Jammu and Kashmir before 1947, Sheikh Abdullah renamed Muslim Conference as National Conference and later spent nearly a decade in prison when he was dismissed as the Prime Minister and arrested in 1953. He later signed an accord with Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in the 1970s, creating a major divide in the state. After the agreement, known as Indira-Abdullah accord, Sheikh Abdullah gradually became a divisive figure in Kashmir’s politics. Many dissenters of the accord later became ideologues of the region’s separatist movement. Omar, however, defended his grandfather saying he believed in dialogue as a solution to all problems. “If keeping people away from the gun was wrong then Sheikh sahab was wrong,” Omar said rhetorically. “Because Sheikh sahab always said whatever we do, we will do it
through dialogue, peacefully, and we will carry forward our mission without bloodshed.” In an apparent reference to Geelani, who is a critic of Sheikh Abdullah’s policies and decisions, Omar said those censuring his grandfather for participating in elections had themselves fought elections. “If participating in elections is wrong then Sheikh sahib is wrong, but then everyone who participated in elections is wrong. Those who participated in elections more than Sheikh sahib did, aren’t they wrong then?” Omar asked. Geelani before becoming a fulltime separatist politician had thrice fought the state Assembly elections. “Baba-e-Qaum only thought one thing for this nation and for the people of this nation — that is betterment, benefit and progress,” Omar said while vowing that he would
continue to strive to fulfil the dream of Naya (new) Jammu Kashmir, as envisioned by
Sheikh Abdullah. |
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Amarnath
Yatra
New Delhi, December 5 A Bench comprising Justices BS Chauhan and Swatanter Kumar, which had taken suo motu notice of the high mortalities and set up the Special High Powered Committee (SHPC) for making the
pilgrimage safe and comfortable, said it would deliver the verdict on December 13. The Bench passed the order after Jammu and Kashmir Advocate General Mohammad Ishaq Qadri and senior counsel Upinder K Jalali explained the steps being taken by the government and the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) on the court’s directives and the recommendations of the SHPC. The Bench made it clear that the focus of shrine board and the government should be primarily on widening the tracks to at least 12 feet, providing separate one-way tracks
for the pedestrians and the horses and ‘palkis,’ improving the facilities near the high altitude cave shrine and augmenting healthcare all along the route between the base camps and the ice
Shivaling. The state government and the shrine board said hundreds of pre-fabricated toilets would be installed all along the route. The Bench clarified that both the government and the shrine board would be responsible for implementing its order. The Shiv Sena Samiti, which was allowed to be an intervener in the case, pleaded for shelter houses for about 30,000 pilgrims. The shrine board said the proposal was already under its consideration. The Bench, however, rejected the Samiti’s proposal for installation of ropeways to the shrine, observing that it was not feasible. Samiti’s senior counsel MN Krishnamani contended that the Centre was constructing a road to Kargil at a cost of nearly Rs 9,000 crore and as such the ropeway should not be a problem. The Bench refused to buy this argument, explaining that the proposal would evoke sentiments, both for and against, and as such was not advisable. The apex court has already issued a series of directives to both the government and the shrine board on the basis of the report submitted by the SHPC, headed by Governor N N Vohra, who is also chairman of the shrine board. The other members of the SHPC include the Chief Secretary, Home Secretary and the chiefs of the state police, CRPF, BSF and the Border Roads
Organisation.
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Pak opens fire in RS Pura sector
Jammu, December 5 “This afternoon the Pakistan Rangers started erecting new observation posts opposite Stop 2 post of ours in the Arnia sub-sector. They also started fortifying their posts with sand bags. Since construction of new defences was against international conventions, we strongly objected to it,” said a senior BSF officer. “We ensured that the work was stopped but after some time they opened fire in the air. We didn’t retaliate but we will definitely take up the issue tomorrow with their wing commander,” he added. A BSF source said that ever since Pakistan’s secret trans-border tunnel was detected near Chalyari post in the Samba sector on July 27 prompting the visit of the then BSF DG UK Bansal and Home Secretary RK Singh to Chalyari and Abdulian, respectively, the BSF has been maintaining a hawk’s eye on the activities of the Rangers. Intelligence inputs suggest that since 2004, the Rangers have constructed and repaired 886 bunkers, 261 trenches, 398 towers and 143 border outposts on their territory along the border. The 12 Wing Chenab Rangers had clandestinely constructed a bunker of 18 ft x24 ft opposite the Peetal post of the BSF. Last year in April, the Rangers had constructed a double-storied bunker near their Surgpur post, which is opposite the Abdulian post of the BSF in the RS Pura sector in violation of international conventions. |
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LC poll: Tight security for counting today
Srinagar, December 5 “All security arrangements are in place for the smooth counting,” said a senior police officer, overlooking the security arrangements. The counting of votes for the two seats from Jammu division is also going to take place in the winter capital tomorrow. The votes from Leh and Kargil districts of the Ladakh region would be counted at the respective district headquarters and the results transmitted to the main centre here tomorrow, an official here said. The electronic voting machines have been transported to Srinagar while those in far-flung areas of Gurez and Tuleil in
Bandipore district were also airlifted to the summer capital. In addition to the 77 blocks, the counting of votes would also be held for four additional polling booths established at four places in Kupwara district of north Kashmir in view of the weather conditions. The counting for 18 blocks, nine each in Leh and Kargil districts, is being held in the respective districts. The counting will start at 8 am and the results are expected by afternoon, the official said. The fate of 16 candidates, nine for K-1 and seven for K-2 seats from Kashmir, would be decided
tomorrow, with the main contenders from the ruling coalition and opposition parties. |
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Forensic lab may get brain mapping division
Srinagar, December 5 While speaking at the inaugural function, the Chief Minister highlighted the role of the FSL in establishing criminal cases and handing over punishment to culprits as per law, an official spokesman said. Omar said the fast clearance of cases by the FSL would give “impetus” to investigations and “shorten the process of delivering justice”. The FSL complex, which has come up on the outskirts of the city in Bemina, has been constructed at a cost of about Rs 11 crore, the spokesman said. Minister of State for Home Nasir Aslam Wani; legislator Irfan Ahmed Shah; Principal Secretary, Home, BR Sharma; Director General of Police Ashok Prasad and Additional Director General of Police K Rajindra were present at the inaugural function. The spokesman said the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had sanctioned funds for creation of two forensic mobile units to be placed at Srinagar and Jammu. “It was stated on the occasion that the Directorate of Forensic Science Services, MHA, has sanctioned Rs 83 lakh for the creation of two central forensic mobile units, one each at Srinagar and Jammu,” the spokesman said. The spokesman said there was also a proposal for the creation of new divisions of “brain mapping, computer cyber crime, DNA profiling and voice identification to make the FSL service modern and more proactive”. “The FSL has cleared 2,250 cases out of the 3,000 referred to it and the achievement in case of narcotics-related cases has been 100 per cent,” he said.
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‘blasphemy’ on Facebook
Jammu, December 5 State BJP chief spokesperson Jitendra Singh expressed concern over the continued detention of the Kishtwar youths from the minority community. He called upon the state authorities to look into the matter so that the situation does not lead to communal disharmony in the sensitive Kishtwar, Doda and Ramban districts. Singh demanded the immediate release and reinstatement of the youths in their respective jobs. He said on the one hand the human rights organisations took cognisance of even minor violations by the security forces, on the other hand no attention was being paid to the “innocent youths” from the minority community. He said there seems to be a deep-rooted conspiracy by Pakistan agencies in connivance with separatist groups in Kashmir to instigate communal unrest in the region. He said the coalition government was aggravating the situation because of its policy of “appeasement of separatists”. The BJP spokesperson alleged while the authorities had recommended the Public Safety Act (PSA) for them, no action was taken against those who played a communal card, raised pro-Pakistan slogans and held Kishtwar town to ransom in order to pressurise the authorities to prosecute the youths from the minority community. “By succumbing to the pressure from communal and extremist elements, the coalition government has sent out a dangerous signal,” he said. He alleged that on the one hand the coalition government talked of rehabilitating former militants and youths returning from Pakistan, on the other hand it was bent upon applying the PSA on innocent youths from the minority community. He said it was a paradox that while National Conference and Congress leaders accused the BJP of being communal, it was they who were responsible for encouraging communal elements. On October 29, the police had detained three youths from the Pasarkoot area of Chatroo tehsil in Kishtwar for their alleged involvement in blasphemy on the social networking site. Two of them were government teachers. The authorities claimed to have dismissed them from their services after tension flared up in the town. |
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Post-militancy, theatre on a comeback trail
Srinagar, December 5 “Three years ago, we started the revival of Bhand Pather (folk theatre). In rural areas of Kashmir, the response was genuine, pure... there was a feeling that it (Bhand) belongs to them....as if it was their own expression,” said Director of Natrang theatre group Balwant Thakur. His theatre group had travelled across the Valley earlier this year and held 20 street plays mostly at rural areas to revive Bhand Pather. Thakur, who is a well-known theatre personality, said his group was now planning shows for a larger audience in Kashmir in winter months. “I am keen to do more theatre. Right now, we are at the formative stage as we are planning to produce 20 more plays in different parts (of the Valley) for a larger audience in winter as entertainment avenues are much lesser,” he said. While Thakur is based in Jammu and visits Kashmir for theatre-related engagements, the Valley-based artists too are planning to revive theatre. Mohammad Amin Bhat, who heads the Kashmir Theatre Federation (KTF), said his group was planning to engage all theatre groups of the Valley for a joint production. “We are planning a production where for the first time we will be drawing artistes from different theatre groups of Kashmir. This will go a long way in reviving theatre,” he said, Bhat said they were planning to hold a joint production during a festival on World Theatre Day on March 27. He said the festival would be held at the Tagore Hall here, if it would be renovated by then. The Tagore Hall used to be a hub of theatrical and cultural activities before the eruption of militancy and the local theatre community wants it to be thrown open by World Theatre Day. |
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School board tells paper setters to follow a pattern
Jammu, December 5 The school board issued the instructions to overcome the alleged criticism of students regarding the out of syllabus questions in the Class X and Class XII annual examinations. Sources said BOSE had introduced a series system (A, B and C) in 2011 to set question papers for the Class X and XII annual examination but it was criticised by the social and academic circles for imbalance in question papers. The sources said during the recently held Class XII examination in Kashmir division, candidates claimed that most of the questions asked were out of syllabus. They said the students from the Valley had alleged that questions in A series were lengthy and incomprehensible while questions in the B and C series were very difficult. The sources added that the students claimed that mathematics A-series was not set as per the weightage of marks for the chapters, adding that the candidates who appeared in English paper had complained of an incomprehensible language. Senior JKBOSE official Javed Khatib said the Board had instructed paper setters to follow a pattern. “Although, we are not sure about the claims of students relating to the out of syllabus questions in the examination, we have taken the issue seriously and issued instructions to experts to maintain a balance so that students do not complain in the upcoming annual examination of Class X and XII,” said
Khatib. “We are aware of the concerns of the students and will try our level best to ensure that they do not get a chance to raise their voice against
BOSE,” he said. |
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Ladakh Council reviews welfare schemes
Leh, December 5 The general council reviewed the implementation of welfare schemes by various departments. Of the 55 departments, the review of work of 20 departments was done yesterday. In his inaugural address to members of the general council, the CEC urged councillors to keep a tab on the implementation of schemes in their respective constituencies and inform deserving beneficiaries about the schemes. He also told various department heads to improve their work culture by ensuring punctuality which would help in the timely completion of projects being implemented in the district. Outlining the annual district plan, he said with the release of Rs 2.35 crore under the state sector as an additional fund in October, it had gone up to Rs 78.88 crore and would be the base for the annual plan next year. Executive councillor for agriculture Sonam Dorje has told the general council that an amount of Rs 26 lakh was generated by farmers of the Nubra valley and the Indus belt in 15 days by selling sea-buckthorn, a medicinal plant rich in
biomolecules. The executive councillor for health, Dr Sonam Wangchuk, said the building for a primary health centre at Basgo village was almost complete while Sub-divisional Hospital at Nyoma near the Indo-China border was functional with a remodelled theatre and central heating system. |
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Cane-charge on villagers: Peace march held in Leh
Leh, December 5 The clash allegedly took place when the people of Sani village objected to an IRP jawan for fishing at the Sani Lake. The people consider the lake holy and believe that Buddhist saint Guru Padmasambhava had meditated on its banks. A half-day band
from morning was also observed in Leh town in their support. Later, LBA leaders met Leh District Magistrate Tsering Angchuk and submitted to him a memorandum to President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah
and Tourism and Culture Minister, urging them to take action against the IRP jawan. They also demanded replacement of the
IRP with the Army or the CRPF. |
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Moderate Hurriyat terms its forthcoming Pak visit crucial
Srinagar, December 5 The moderate faction, however, has said its three members, who are part of the delegation to Pakistan, have not been issued passports and other related travel documents so far by the authorities. The six-member Hurriyat delegation led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq is scheduled to embark on a week-long visit to Pakistan on December 17. The hardline faction of the Hurriyat had yesterday rejected the invite for the Pakistan visit, saying its leaders will not go there merely to “decorate newspapers for a few days and take part in photo sessions.” “For being the true representatives of people of Kashmir, the forthcoming Pakistan visit of Hurriyat Conference is crucial and of far-reaching consequences,” a spokesman of the faction led by Mirwaiz said. “During the visit, the Hurriyat delegation will take stock of the developments aimed at reaching a long-term and permanent solution to the Kashmir dispute,” he said. The Hurriyat delegation will meet not only leaders of the ruling party but will also consult leaders of the opposition parties so that information regarding developments on the Kashmir issue is obtained firsthand, the spokesman said. The moderate faction said three of its members Moulvi Abbas Hussain Ansari, Mukhtar Waza and Mussadiq Aadil who were part of the delegation had not been provided passports and other travel documents by the authorities as yet. “The Hurriyat appeals to the authorities concerned to issue these documents at the earliest,” the spokesman said. The other members of the delegation include Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Abdul Gani Bhat and Bilal Gani
Lone. week-long
visit |
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Srinagar, December 5
What Apex Court
wants