The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	Survey to identify refugees for rehabilitation package begins A village-level survey begins State has earmarked Rs 10,000 crore package Dinesh Manhotra/TNS Jammu, January 6 The state government has started a comprehensive village-level survey to identify refugees to benefit from a fresh proposal worth Rs 10,000 crore to solve their problems in one stroke. Even as the Centre is yet to approve the earlier proposal, the Revenue Department has deputed its officials to prepare reports of the refugees living in various regions of the state. The five categories of refugees living in Jammu include those who came here from West Pakistan in 1947 and have been demanding citizenship, those who got displaced from the Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) in 1947 and are demanding rehabilitation as well as compensation. Three other categories include displaced persons from Chhamb in the 1965 war, displaced persons from Chhamb in the 1971 war (non-camp) and displaced persons from Chhamb in the 1971 war. These refugees, who were displaced due to the Indo-Pak wars in 1965 and 71, have been demanding complete rehabilitation. The earlier proposal of Rs 1,775 crore which was sent to the Centre in 2011 for one-time settlement of the problems of all refugees is yet to be approved by the Centre. "The earlier proposal has become irrelevant because we have started a village-level survey to identify all genuine refugees so as to provide adequate relief to all refugees," said Minister for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation, Raman Bhalla. He said the earlier proposal was of Rs 1,775 crore but the fresh proposal would touch Rs 10,000 crore because the department was planning to give at least Rs 20 lakh to every refugee family. The Minister hoped that the fresh proposal would be completed within the stipulated time and would be submitted to the Centre before the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. He claimed that the Centre had assured to solve all problems of different categories of refugees in one go. In August last year, a delegation of the Congress leaders, led by PCC president Saif-ud-Din Soz met with Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde and submitted a memorandum to solve problems of all categories of refugees. The delegation had urged that a high- powered committee be constituted to be monitored by the PMO or the Union Home Ministry to examine all outstanding issues of all kinds of refugees and displaced persons settled in the state. They also demanded that the committee should work out the modalities of a package where under a relief package of Rs 5-10 lakh could be granted as one-time settlement to all those refugees. Relief package The Centre is yet to approve a proposal of Rs 1,775-crore rehabilitation package for the refugees The Revenue Department has deputed its officials to prepare reports of the refugees living in the state As per the new proposal Rs 20 lakh will be given to every refugee family
	Workers are ‘real architects’ of growth: Omar Srinagar, January 6 Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today described workers in the state as the “real architects” of growth and development, saying the dignity and satisfaction of the work force was a key to faster development and healthy economic growth. “You are the real architects of the growth and development and your hands turn the decisions into reality,” Omar said at a function here, where he launched the initiative of providing financial assistance to the registered labour classes associated with building and other constructions. Complimenting the workers, the Chief Minister said the decision of launching projects and formulating schemes for infrastructure development would remain on paper unless the work force converts these into reality by their hard labour. Omar announced a package of incentives, including enhancement of minimum wages, ex-gratia relief and pension for work force from January 2013 at the function held at Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre. The Chief Minister had some months ago set the Labour Department in motion by directing the Building and Other Construction Workers Board (BOCWB) to move forward in a time-bound manner for registering workers and collecting cess for distribution among them. The move had resulted in the registration of 1,42,000 workers and collection of Rs 185 crore worth cess for distribution among them as a welfare measure. In a meeting to review the functioning of the BOCWB, Omar said he found that the important aspect of delivering welfare measures to the labour classes needed considerable push. “I gave instructions of catapulting the registration process and collection of cess for distribution amongst the workers,” Omar said, adding that he is happy that much headway has been achieved in this direction since then. He told the state Labour Minister to move a proposal of bringing registration of workers and delivery of assistance to them under the Public Service Guarantee Act (PSGA) so that the work force gets benefited holistically. He said the time-bound delivery of welfare measures, including financial assistance to the work force, would be a far reaching measure to make them and their families happier.— PTI
	Omar visits under-construction Dastgeer Sahab shrine Tribune News Service Srinagar, January 6 Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today visited the old city area in Srinagar to review the ongoing reconstruction work of the Dastgeer Sahab shrine, which was gutted last year. He stressed upon engineers to restore the shrine to its original glory. “The Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, today morning visited the under-construction Shrine of Peer-e-Dastgeer Sahab at Khanyar here and received the first hand appraisal of the status of the progress on work,” an official statement issued here read. The 200-year-old shrine, which housed many relics, was gutted on June 24, 2012. Subsequently, the government had ordered its reconstruction, promising people that it would be built on the old architectural design. The statement added that while interacting with officials of the construction agency, the Chief Minister stressed on them to ensure the restoration of the shrine to its old glory. “He said all aspects of the heritage characteristic of the shrine should be kept in view while completing the restoration work in a time-bound manner,” the statement further said. The Chief Minister also paid obeisance at the shrine and prayed for peace and development of the state, the statement said. Omar was accompanied by Minister for Rural Development Ali Mohammad Sagar.
	Gujjars appeal to community for heritage restoration Tribune News Service Jammu, January 6 The Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation, a frontal organisation of Gujjars in the state, today issued a countrywide appeal to the community for joint efforts to restore buildings, forts, sculptures, temples and other structures built by the Gurjar-Pratihara rulers in north-western states from 6th to 11th century AD. In an interactive programme on Gujjar history, held here, secretary of the Tribal Foundation Dr Javaid Rahi said hundreds of monuments of the Gujjar period were dying a slow death and facing a threat of extinction. He appealed to the community members, social organisations, trusts and NGOs to join hands to restore the old memorials. The royal memorabilia of the Gujjar era are located in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana and adjoining state and portray the vibrant and lively picture of the tribe. Rahi said the Gurjara-Pratihara kings were the great builders of India. The dynasty has built a numbers of forts, buildings and temples which are on the verge of extinction. He said the notable sculptures of the period included temples at Osian, Abhaneri and Kotah and Sursundari of Gwalior, which were in a shambles. “The Viswaroopa form of Vishnu and the marriage of Shiva and Parvati from Kannau are deteriorating and need immediate restoration,” he said. “The Foundation has written to the Union Culture Minister to declare the main forts, temples, coins and other monuments built by the Gurjara-Pratihara kings as protected monuments of the country,” he said and added that, “We have also sent a list of the most threatened monuments of the Gujjar period to the Centre with an appeal for immediate restoration.” He asked the community members to help the organisation in identifying more such under threat monuments built by the Gurjara-Pratihara dynasty of medieval India so that the issue of their restoration would be taken up with the Government of India and other agencies concerned.
	Govt depriving people of their democratic rights: Mufti Tribune News Service Jammu, January 6 Patron of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today lambasted the National Conference-led government for its failure to conduct the urban local bodies (ULB) elections. The PDP patron said depriving citizens of their democratic rights and eroding the sanctity of democratic institutions were the only noticeable achievements of the four years of this regime. Addressing a meeting of senior party leaders and office-bearers of Jammu district, Mufti took the coalition regime to task for delaying the ULB elections which were due in February 2010. He questioned the intension of the regime to hold the much awaited local bodies election. Mufti said the UBL elections, including elections to the Jammu and Srinagar Municipal Corporations, were scheduled to be held in February 2010 but the government was postponing them on one or the other pretext. “I fail to understand why the government is shying away from its duty of conducting these elections. The formation of urban local bodies is must to empower the people of urban areas,” he said and added that in a democratic system it was necessary to make representative character of all democratic institutions to ensure peoples’ participation in these institutions. Taking a dig at the coalition regime for not fulfilling its promises of conducting the local bodies elections, Mufti pointed out that during the last three years the government had repeatedly announced to conduct these elections but the announcements had remained only on paper. “Even in the Governor’s address during the last budget session of the Assembly, the government had promised to conduct the local bodies elections in April 2012,” he recalled, adding, “The way the government is hesitating to conduct these elections, it substantiates our apprehensions that this regime is not interested in conducting the local bodies elections.” He said the Centre had blocked grants worth crores for urban development because the state government had failed to constitute the local bodies. Mufti said, “Due to prevailing system in the ULBs, there is no accountability and transparency and the situation suits the ruling coalition so the government is creating hurdles in conducting these elections”.
	Army denies raid across LoC Majid Jahangir/TNS Srinagar, January 6 The Army on Sunday denied having conducted a raid across the Line of Control (LoC) in the Uri sector of North Kashmir, amid reports the armies exchanged heavy fire for almost five hours. The Army blamed Pakistani troops for violating the ceasefire in Churanda village of Haji Pir sector, which was aimed at pushing militants into the Indian side. “The Pakistan army posts opened unprovoked heavy machinegun and mortar fire on the Indian posts in the Uri sector to infiltrate terrorists. The Indian Army gave a calibrated response and foiled their attempt to sneak through. The firing which started at 3 am continued till 8 am. Houses of some civilians were damaged due to the firing by the Pakistani troupes. There has been no cross-border movement by Indian troops,” a spokesman of the Ministry of Defence, Northern Command, Lt Col Rajesh Kalia said. The Pakistan army had earlier in the day announced that one of its soldiers was killed and another injured in Haji Pir sector when the Indian troops crossed the LoC, and raided a Pakistani check post. Pakistani Army had claimed that its troops repulsed the attack. The General-Officer-Commanding (GOC), 19 Infantry Division, Major General VG Khandare, said Pakistani firing was unprovoked. “They used heavy machineguns and fired 82-mm mortar shells and a shell hit a house in Churanda which was damaged,” Khandare said. "The Pakistani firing was unprovoked," he added. The General said they have communicated to the Pakistan Army that such violations were not acceptable. “But so far we have not got any response from them,” he said. The Indian and Pakistani troops have been exchanging fire in Churanda village over past two months, which is only 120 meters away from the LoC. The first major ceasefire violation in Churanda village took place on October 16, when three civilians, Mohammad Shafi, 30, Liayaqat, 17, and a girl Shanhwaz were killed when Pakistani troops opened fire on the village. Since the first ceasefire violation, the two Armies have been regularly exchanging fire. The Pakistani Army has been accusing India of constructing new bunkers in the village, an allegation denied by the Indian Army. In fact, a flag meeting was later held on November 22 between the two sides in Uri and the both sides had agreed to hold the ceasefire that has been in place since 2003. Before the ceasefire on the LoC, Uri was the one the worst-affected sectors in the cross-border shelling. Heavy shelling had forced residents to migrate to safer places. In the Uri sector alone, more than 50 civilians had lost their lives and dozens were injured in the cross-border shelling since 1990, besides, hundreds of residential houses were also razed to the ground. After 2003, the entire Uri sector has been calm, even though the militants sometimes tried to cross over the LoC after scaling or cutting the barbed wire fencing.
	Soaring airfares keep domestic tourists away Bismah Malik/TNS Srinagar, January 6 Travelling to Kashmir by air has become costlier than travelling to Bangkok, Nepal and Malaysia. As Kashmir is gradually regaining its lost title of the most favourite winter tourist destination in the country, which it held before the onset of militancy, the skyrocketing air fares are playing a spoilsport. From an average Rs 3,000 to Rs 5,000 airfare per person from Kashmir to New Delhi, the airfares have shot up and air tickets are currently available at Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 per person. President of the Travel Agents Association of Kashmir (TAAK) Rauf Tramboo said there are regular reports of tourists cancelling their trips to the Valley due to soaring airfares. Tramboo said various private airlines find the winter season in Kashmir an opportune time to hike airfares, as the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway frequently closes due to the bad weather. He said the tour operators in the Valley are facing huge losses as their bookings are getting cancelled or deferred due to the sudden increase in airfares. “We urge the government to take up the matter with the Aviation Ministry to find a solution to the problem, as tour operators are losing a substantial amount of business due to the price hike,” he said. “During the summer when the tourist arrival is at its peak in the Valley, we faced similar problems as the airlines hiked their prices, resulting in cancellations. Now, when tour operators are trying hard to do good business in the winter, they are facing a new challenge from the domestic airlines,” said Tramboo. At a recently convened meeting by TAAK in Srinagar, various travel agencies had conveyed to Tramboo that due to irrational price hike by the airlines, tourists intending to travel to Kashmir were dropping their travel plans and many were cancelling and delaying their trips till airfares get stabilised. “People prefer to go to tourist destinations such as Kaula Lumpur, Thailand and Kathmandu. The Department of Tourism has envisioned to promote winter tourism here by endorsing various adventure sports events. Tourists are also saddened by the abrupt hike in airfares.” Mahipal Singh, a tourist, said, “I paid 40,000 from Chandigarh for a round trip for four people. The prices are very high but we still managed to get a discount by the government agency office.” Bare facts From an average Rs 3,000 to Rs 5,000 airfare per person from Kashmir to New Delhi, the airfares have shot up and air tickets are currently available at Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 per person. There are regular reports of tourists cancelling their trips to the Valley due to soaring airfares
	Now, apples from Kashmir a click away Azhar Qadri/TNS Srinagar, January 6 You can now order apples from the valley online and it will be couriered to you anywhere in the country within days. An official of the Kashmir Box.com, an online marketplace, which has included region's famous apples to the basket of items on sale, say they are already getting daily bookings for the fruit since the service was launched this week. Once the order is booked, the fruits are delivered either through courier service which could take up to three working days to reach anywhere in the country or through road transport, meant for bulk orders, can take between a week or ten days to reach the destination, said Chief Operations Officer of KashmirBox.com, Muheet Mehraj. The initiative, Mehraj, 22, said is a platform for the region's fruit growers to directly link up with the customers anywhere in the country, and in the coming days to the entire international market, has received "amazing response". "On the first day, we had up to 40 orders and so far we have not even marketed the product," Mehraj said. "We don't need to introduce the Kashmir brand," he said. The apple industry, which generates revenue of hundreds of crores annually, is one of the major sources of income for people in many parts of Kashmir especially in Sopore in north and Shopian in south Kashmir have earned sobriquets of being the region's "apple towns". Kashmir produces 17 lakh metric tonnes of the fruit annually and hundreds of thousand apple boxes are exported to the markets outside the region, including to the international market. Mehraj said the apples they deliver are "handpicked" for quality assurance. "We are not only putting apples on sale, we are also putting our brand," he said. KashmirBox.com was started in 2011 as a multi-product, multi-brand e-commerce market, where artisans, craftsmen, entrepreneurs and the others showcase their products and skills to a global customer base. The company website defines it as a "social business platform" committed to bring a "vibrant" economic activity to the community and "unlock the potential of all stakeholders". "Brand Kashmir has a rich heritage of arts, crafts, skills, knowledge and organic foods. We aspire to raise the standards of brand Kashmir, which in the recent past has declined due to both internal and external factors," the website states. Pheran-a knee-length winter cloak, intricately designed shawls, rugs, papier-machie, walnut woodcrafts and a range of dry fruits are the other items available for the customers at KashmirBox. As apples achieve success online, Mehraj says they are planning to put other fruits from Kashmir on the sale list. "We are also planning to include Kashmiri cherries and pears on the list of items," he said. In recent years, there has been a monumental shift in Kashmir as the young tech-savvy generation has opted for a different approach using Internet to internationalise and commercialise local brands. Shahid Bashir is among the region's aspiring entrepreneurs providing a digital platform to his family's shawl business. "My website will be ready in a week. I will put shawls online but most of the shawls will be European in style. I am focusing on the US, European and the Middle Eastern customers," Bashir said. Kashmir's businesses have suffered enormous loss since the inception of an armed conflict two decades ago as dozens of days annually have been shut amidst separatist calls for bandh and government imposed curfews. "Over past few years, many websites of young Kashmiris have propped up which are marketing local items such as shawls, handicrafts, fruits or innovative stuff, before a global audience," Shahnawaz Sayeed, a computer applications professional, said.
	Geelani to visit Pak to condole Qazi’s death Tribune News Service Srinagar, January 6 Hardline Hurriyat Conference chairman Syed Ali Geelani may soon visit Pakistan to condole the death of Islamist leader and former chief of the Jamaat-e-Islami Qazi Hussain Ahmad, who died late last night of cardiac problems at a hospital in Islamabad, Pakistan. “The travel documents of Geelani have been submitted to the passport office in Srinagar and a fresh reminder in this regard will be submitted within the next 24 hours,” Hurriyat spokesman Ayaz Akbar said. Akbar said Geelani will go to Pakistan to offer his “condolences to the bereaved family”. “During his visit, Geelani is proposed to meet the close relatives of late Qazi Hussain Ahmad and other Jamaat-e-Islami leaders in Pakistan,” the spokesman said. Geelani, while paying tributes to Qazi, said his death was an “irreparable loss” to Kashmir. The announcement to visit Pakistan comes a month after Geelani rejected the invite from Pakistan. During the last 20 years, Qazi had rallied for Kashmir’s separatist cause and backed militants by providing them ideological support. Pakistan’s Jamaat-e-Islami, which was led by Qazi from 1987 to 2008, shares a common ideological framework with the Jamaat-e-Islami in Jammu and Kashmir which is Geelani’s parent organisation. The hardline separatist group also said it would hold a special funeral prayer for the Pakistani Islamist leader. Hurriyat’s acting chairman Mohammad Ashraf Sehrai will lead the funeral here tomorrow afternoon. The moderate Hurriyat faction, led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, also condoled Qazi’s death. The Mirwaiz said in Qazi’s death Pakistan and the “Muslim nation” had lost a “leader”.
	Tradition, technology give birth to solar kangri A local engineer devises kangri which converts solar energy into thermal energy Bismah Malik/TNS Srinagar, January 6 Idrees Beigh, an electrical engineer, has given a solar avatar to the kangri. Unlike the regular kangri that uses charcoal or firewood, he has blended tradition with modernity to create a kangri that converts solar energy into thermal energy. Kangri is an earthen pot kept in a willow basket and is filled with hot charcoal which can be used for 5 to 6 hours. Unlike the old willow kangris, Beigh’s solar kangri comes with an inlet battery, inverter circuit and a solar panel as an attachment. “The solar panel, which is readily available in the market, can be fixed anywhere. It requires moderate intensity of sunlight which it traps and transfers to the battery inlet of the kangri. The battery then gets charged and by virtue of the attached inverter releases heat. The universal principle of physics converting one form of energy into other has been applied here. However, I cannot furnish all the technical details as the product is yet to get a patent,” Beigh said. Beigh sees this innovative idea as a breakthrough from the traditional practice of chopping trees. “Our dependence on the exhaustible sources of energy should be reduced. We need to come up with new strategies to put less pressure on our forests. The use of solar energy for many purposes is done on a wider scale in foreign countries. It is time we do the same in India,” he added. Beigh said the health hazards of carrying burning charcoal in kangri has led to threats such as kangri cancer, which has been proven by medicos, therefore we should devise an alternative method. He has sought the support of the state government for the necessary financial assistance to set up a manufacturing unit. “I want the state government to help me produce these kangris on a larger scale. It will also help me make people aware about it and prevent environmental and health hazards,” Beigh said.
	Ice hockey tournament gets underway Our Correspondent Leh, January 6 The six-day Ice Hockey tournament dedicated to the jawans of the Ladakh Scouts, an infantry unit of the Army, began here today. The unit is celebrating its golden jubilee this year. Commanding Officer of Ladakh Scout Regiment Col SS Patel declared the tournament open. Ladakh Scouts was raised on June 1, 1963, one year after the 1962 Indo-China war as paramilitary unit with the specialisation of mountain warfare. It was converted in to full Army regiment in 2000. The tournament is being organised by the Ladakh Winter Sport Club at Karzoo Reservoir, which was converted into make-shift ice hockey rink. President of Ladakh Winter Sports Club, None Angchuk, said the tournament was dedicated to the jawans of the Ladakh Scouts also known as the snow warriors guarding the high altitude borders of the country and earned the record highest number of gallantry awards of more than three hundred, including Ashok Chakara and 11 Maha Vir Chakras. Two matches were played today. Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) won the second match by 6 to 2 goals from the Lalok Ice Hockey team. The first match played between Ladakh Scouts Blue and Servo Taru Enterprises was goal less draw. The final match will be played on January 11. Seven teams, including the ITBP and Kargil are taking part in the tournament. The tournament is one of the series of ice hockey tournaments to be held in the district in January.
	Cong leader for involving panches in growth activities Tribune News Service Jammu, January 6 Congress Working Committee (CWC) member and senior Congress leader Gulchain Singh Charak today stressed the need for involving panches and sarpanches in development activities. While addressing a meeting of the Block Congress Committee (BCC), Bishnah, Charak emphasised that panchayat members should be involved in implementation and formulation of development activities in their respective areas. He said the involvement of the panchayat members was must to ensure balanced development in rural areas. Minister of State for Power Shabir Ahmed Khan, newly elected MLC Sham Lal Bhagat, Gambhir Dev Singh Charak, Harshvardhan Sharma, Madan Lal Bhagat, Waryam Chand, Raghubir Singh, Om Parkash Saini, Ganga Ram Sharma, Rakesh Dogra, Raj Kumari, Gurnam Singh, Surjit Singh and Gurbachan Saini spoke on the occasion.
	Verdict reserved in National Conference block president’s murder case Ishfaq Tantry Tribune News Service Srinagar, January 6 A trial court here has reserved its orders on the framing of charges against the six accused in the killing of the ruling National Conference block president, who was gunned down in June last year. The court is scheduled to frame the charges against the accused on January 23. NC block president, Abdul Rehman Ganai, 63, was shot dead from point- blank range near his Natipora residence on June 15 by unidentified gunmen in Srinagar. Later, six persons were arrested by the Jammu and Kashmir police on the suspicion that they were involved in the killing of the NC leader. In October, a chargesheet was produced against the six accused by the police before a Sessions court in Srinagar. In the chargesheet, Manzoor Ahmed Wani, Umar Shaban, Muhammad Yousuf Dar, Mushtaq Ahmed Baba, Abdul Hai Bhat and Manzoor Ahmed Khan were named as the six accused in the NC leader’s killing. “After hearing the arguments this week, Additional District and Sessions Judge, Srinagar, has reserved his orders for January 23, when the charges are likely to be framed in the case,” counsel Shabbir Ahmad said. The counsels for the accused said circumstantial evidence did not support the material on record. However, the main thrust of the prosecution lead by public prosecutor Nazar Mohammad was on framing the charges against the accused under 302, 120-B and other charges. On June 15, Abdul Rehman Ganai (65) was shot at twice by two motorcycle-borne youth from a close range at 1:35 pm at Natipora, when he was leaving home to offer Friday prayers at a local mosque. Ganai was rushed to the Bone and Joint Hospital at the nearby Barazulla, where the doctors declared him brought dead.
	Woman killed, 11 injured in accidents Tribune News Service Srinagar, January 6 An accident victim succumbed to her injuries today. The police said Raja (55), a resident of Kakapora was injured on January 4 in a road accident, succumbed to her injuries at Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Soura, in Srinagar. A case has already been registered in this regard. The police said in various other accidents in the Valley, 11 persons were injured. An accident took place on the National Highway, Barsoo, Awantipora, between a truck bearing registration number JK03/8425 and a Tavera bearing registration number JK01B/0238, resulting in injuries to eight persons. All the injured were shifted to the SKIMS, Srinagar. In another accident, an Alto car bearing registration number JK04B/1308 on the way from Srinagar to Baramulla hit and injured pedestrian Mohammad Faizan Mir (11), a resident of Dangiwacha, at the National Highway near Choor crossing, Sopore. The injured was shifted to a hospital. An Innova, bearing registration number DL3C8D/1097, collided with a Qualis, bearing registration number JK01B/1171, at Kunzer, Baramulla, resulting in injuries to Ashiq Ahmad Naqeeb (22) of Chanpora, Kunzer, who was travelling in the Qualis. The injured was shifted to a hospital. In another accident, a tipper bearing registration number JK01G/9002 hit and injured Kifayat (20) of Nowgam, Srinagar, at Bus Stand, Bandipora.
	Blood donation camp at SMGS Hospital Tribune News Service Jammu, January 6 New Young Blood Organization (NYBO) today organised a blood camp in the memory of Delhi gang-rape victim at Shri Maharaja Gulab Singh Hospital (SMGSH). A large number of people from various sections of society came forward and donated blood in the camp. Speaking on the occasion, chairman of NYBO Ashok Verma said that due to shortage of blood in Gandhi Nagar Hospital, patients were facing hardship. He said they would organise a blood donation camp at Gandhi Nagar Hospital soon. Verma also called for amendment of the existing laws meant for safety of women and young girls besides death penalty to Delhi gang-rape accused. Others who were present on the occasion included Anju Verma Ramneesh Tak, Vishal Gupta, Naveen Gupta and Manohar Lal Saraf.