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No time frame set for removal of AFSPA
NH reopens for one-way traffic after two days
Jammu backs all-girl rock band, invites it to perform in city
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Rock band issue generates debate in Kashmir
Two youths arrested for online abuse
Governor bats for eco-friendly technology by DRDO
Residents of Turtuk seek special Army recruitment drive
Normal life hit due to snowfall in Leh
SC raps J&K for harassing a poor candidate
Omar exhorts party leaders to reach out to people
Couple from Aligarh commits suicide in Katra
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No time frame set for removal of AFSPA
Jammu, February 6 Omar wants the AFSPA, which shields prosecution of security forces personnel while combating terrorism, to go from the areas where the Army has not operated for years together and the state police has taken a frontline role in dealing with militants. Recent incidents in Uri, where Pakistani shells killed three civilians, and in Poonch, where Pakistani soldiers beheaded one soldier and mutilated the body of the other, have shown that peace on the LoC is very, very fragile. The infiltration from across the Line of Control (LoC) sustains militancy in Jammu and Kashmir and moreover 2014 is a crucial year from the internal and external security point of view — something that the western powers and the Indian Army have figured out in their strategic outlook. Given the intensity of anti-India thinking and shouts from across the border, the spillover of terrorists to Kashmir is not a possibility but a reality. Fixing a time frame in such a situation would be ignoring the ground realities, the sources said. They said it might not be possible to lift the AFSPA anytime soon. The public debate on the issue should stop forthwith because it served no one, the sources said while appreciating that the Army had not spoken on the issue in public for a long time This time, the ministries of defence, home and the Army are on the same page and they have made their objections to recall the AFSPA very clear, earlier in public and now in their discussions with the Chief Minister. Earlier, Omar had some amount of support from former Home Minister P Chidambaram. The two were votaries of the “unique solution for the unique problem of Kashmir, and there was near unanimity that the Jammu and Kashmir police should take the frontline role in the counter-insurgency operations. As the things stand today, Omar would continue to raise the issue as he had promised since the day he took over as the Chief Minister in January 2009, that “AFSPA would go before his tenure of six years come to an end”. He attempted this with an announcement in October 2010 that the “black laws”, when translated into layman’s language in Kashmir, AFSPA, would go in a matter of few days. That was the beginning of the debate. But the law is still there even after two years of his announcement. As per the understanding, the sources said the two sides could maintain their respective positions without re-triggering a public debate on the controversial law. He has become aware of the cold realities by now that the Centre has different thoughts on the issue, particularly because of the Army’s objections. Things have not changed on this count despite Gen Bikram Singh having replaced Gen V K Singh, former Army Chief, who had refused to budge even an inch on the issue. General Singh also feels that the “AFSPA is necessary in Jammu and Kashmir.” Another dilemma facing Omar is that he is running a coalition government in an alliance with the Congress — the party that leads the UPA government at the Centre. He cannot take any independent stand on the issue because of the political hurdle that the coalition partner is capable of erecting for him.
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NH reopens for one-way traffic after two days
Jammu, February 6 Around 400 vehicles, including trucks and passenger cars, which were stranded at various places along the highway, were cleared. “Following the improvement in the weather conditions, the Border Road Organisation pressed its men and machinery into service to clear snow and landslides from the highway. They managed to reopen the highway for one-way traffic. Snow-cutting machines have also been pressed into service to clear the snow from the road. The road is slippery at various places. If the weather improves further, we will be able to open the road for two-way traffic,” a senior Traffic Police officer said. All trucks and tankers carrying essential goods to Kashmir were allowed to move towards their destinations, the officer said. He said the movement of vehicles was slow in view of the slippery road conditions. “No vehicle was allowed to move from Srinagar to Jammu to avoid traffic jams,” the officer said, adding that the decision on tomorrow’s traffic plan would be taken late in the evening. Many snow-affected areas in Doda, Kishtwar, Reasi and Rajouri districts remained cut from the district headquarters following closure of link roads due to landslides. “Heavy snowfall and landslides have cut off various remote areas of the state’s hilly districts. Even though the weather has improved, some parts of Rajouri and Poonch are without power and water supply,” a source said. |
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Jammu backs all-girl rock band, invites it to perform in city
Jammu, February 6 The Jammu civil society has asked the girls to perform at Jammu to give a befitting reply to fundamentalist elements active in the Valley. Tariq Shah, chairman of the Udhampur-based NGO Jeo Aur Jenay Do has already offered to hold a performance of these girls in Jammu. “We have established contact with the fear-stricken girls and asked them to perform at Jammu to encourage other talented girls,” he said while adding that he was confident that the girls would accept the invitation. Gopal Partharathi Sharma, a research scholar and convener of the Public Opinion Forum, regretted the silence maintained by the so-called liberal voices on the fatwa issued against the band. “For political gains our politicians have been ruining the future of the younger generation,” he said. “We would like the band to perform at Jammu,” he added. Parveen Kumar, activist of the Universal Foundation said it was high time the youth of the Kashmir valley opposed those who had been ruining the younger generation since 1990. “How long will you succumb to such fundamentalist forces?” he asked Kashmiri youth. “It is unfortunate that fundamentalists and separatists are opposing these talented young girls in Kashmir and a religious diktat has been issued against them. This is nothing but an attack on the freedom of expression which we can never
allow in a secular state like ours,” said Raman Sharma, a Jammu-based social activist. “If the state government cannot provide them security, we assure them full support of Jammu’s civil society. Those opposing these artistic girls must stop using art as their new target for seeking media attention,” he said. “The invitation extended by the civil society to Pragaash to perform in the city reflects the composition of society in terms of plurality and the expression of freedom,” said Mahesh Kaul, a scholar of Jammu University.
Issuance of fatwa unfortunate: Cong After a strong reaction against the fatwa from the BJP, the Congress too has taken a stand against the fatwa issued against the band. “The issuance of fatwa against innocent girls is very unfortunate. Singing is part of the Kashmir culture since centuries,” said JKPCC spokesman Ravinder Sharma today. He said such fatwas were against progressive approach and all right-thinking people should strongly oppose them.
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Rock band issue generates debate in Kashmir
Srinagar, February 6 “It is a matter of individual liberties and choices. If they (girls) want to perform, they should be allowed to perform. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah should stop coming out so frequently on issues like this,” said chairman of the Peoples Conference Sajjad Lone. Lone said instead of sharing his views on Twitter, it would have been simple for the Chief Minister to summon the Director General of Police and act accordingly. Political parties should maintain some standards and not play politics on trivial issues, he said. “They have made these girls casualties,” said
Lone. PDP president Mehbooba Mufti has also told the government to ensure the safety and security of the three girls. Mehbooba said Kashmir had a history of great women singers, who had contributed to the rich culture of the Valley. She referred to the famous singers, including Raj Begum, Zoona Begum and Shameema
Azad. Separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said such performances were un-Islamic as there was “no place for rock music” in Islam. Kashmir, he said, was a land of Sufis and Saints and such acts were unacceptable. What artistes say "They (politicians) have made it a political and religious issue. Basically, it is a cultural issue related to the cultural activities of the people,” said Bhawani — Bashir Yasir, Director of the EKTA School of Drama "Any art form has its links with local traditions. Music in Kashmir has been perceived in a different way and not only as entertainment. Even when women during earlier days started singing for radio in Kashmir, they had to do it against tremendous social pressures. The effort by Pragaash seems to have been concluded. Society has neither accepted nor rejected the band"
— Mohammad Amin
Bhat, president of the Kashmir Theatre Federation
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Two youths arrested for online abuse Srinagar, February 6 Tariq Khan was apprehended from Bijbehara, a town in South Kashmir, while Rameez Shah was arrested from Ganderbal in central Kashmir, police sources said. The police continued to raid different places to apprehend a third accused who hails from the Batmaloo area of Srinagar city. Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police Ashok Prasad, who is closely monitoring the case, has directed the stepping up of patrolling in the areas where two of the three girls of the band reside. The police has started tracking down the Internet protocol addresses of the 26 users whose comments, out of the total 900 posts on the band’s Facebook page, were found abusive, the officials said. They said the delay of three days in lodging the FIR was due to large number of posts on the Facebook page of Kashmir’s all-girl band “Pragaash” that took time to scan. A case in the matter had been registered under Section 66A of the IT Act and Section 506, the RPC (criminal intimidation), at the Rajbagh police station here. A member of the band had yesterday said they decided to call it quits as they respected the decree of Kashmir’s Grand Mufti who found singing un-Islamic. The DGP has requested all central agencies to extend support to apprehend all those who had hurled online abuses at the band. Meanwhile, hardline Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Geelani has condemned the registration of the case. “The views expressed on the social networking sites, good or bad, have never attracted charges and no country considers these views on these sites a threat,” he said. “If the government was so serious about the abuse, why were cases not registered against then Assembly Speaker Mohammad Akbar Lone and PDP leader Molvi Iftikhar Ansari, who abused each other in the Assembly,” said Geelani.
police crackdown z Tariq Khan was arrested from Bijbehara, while Rameez Shah was apprehended from Ganderbal z Raids are on to arrest a third accused who hails from the Batmaloo area of Srinagar city
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Governor bats for eco-friendly technology by DRDO
Jammu, February 6 Vohra observed that there was a need for urgently utilising the technology developed by the DRDO for an eco-friendly solution to treat human wastes. He said the technology should be adequately publicised for spreading awareness about its utility. He observed possibilities could be explored for installation of the bio-toilets at various important tourist spots for eco-friendly treatment of human wastes. The Governor, who is the chairman of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board and the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, told Navin K Choudhary, Chief Executive Officer of the two boards, to take up the matter with the DRDO for preparing project reports on the feasibility of installing the eco-friendly toilets at the Baltal and Nunwan base camps of the Amarnath yatra and, thereafter, at Sangam, Panjtarni, Sheshnag and the holy cave area, after assessing the efficacy of the technology. He said a similar feasibility report should be urgently prepared for the installation of eco-friendly toilets on the track from Katra to Bhawan, adding that a time-bound action plan should be prepared for the purpose. Prof MP Kaushik, Director of the Defence Research and Development Development Establishment, Gwalior, explained the development and working of bio-digesters and variants for high and low altitude areas. Professor Kaushik spoke about the current status of the usage of bio-toilets and bio-digesters in the country and its future roadmap. He said besides the Railways, these toilets had been installed at various places in the country and were functioning efficiently. The DRDO team comprised Dr Sudarshan Kumar, Director, CFEES, DRDO, Delhi, and Col Pankaj Chaturvedi and Dr DV Kamboj.
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Residents of Turtuk seek special Army recruitment drive
Jammu, February 6 A memorandum has been submitted to the Union Home Secretary. It says the area is remote and employment opportunities are few, a special recruitment drive should be started by the Army and the paramilitary forces. They have also demanded the opening up of the Turtuk-Khapulu route as hundreds of families have relatives across the LoC in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The Turtuk residents have also demanded the construction of the Turtuk-Hanu road, which was suspended by the Border Roads organisation (BRO) some years ago. The memorandum says the Ministry of Home, Government of J&K, vide SRO-No-48 issued in 2010, has opened new places for foreign and domestic tourists, which include their visit up to Tyakshi and Pachathang, falling in the area in order to boost the economy of the people of these far-flung areas. “Till date we could not enjoy the benefit of the tourism industry despite government orders. If allowing foreign tourists may cause hindrance, then let domestic tourists be allowed to visit the area so that people, particularly youth, get employment opportunities.” The entire area was under the occupation of Pakistan till 1971, when the Indian Army liberated it along with several other villages. Since then Turtuk and the Mushkoh valley is part of Jammu and Kashmir. However, keeping in view its strategic location, tourists are not being allowed to visit the place and the area is economically poor. OTHER demands *
People of the remote Turtuk area of Ladakh have demanded opening up of the Turtuk-Khapulu route as hundreds of families have relatives across the LoC *
They have also demanded the construction of the Turtuk-Hanu road, suspended by the BRO some years ago *
The entire area was under the occupation of Pakistan till 1971, when the Indian Army liberated it along with some other villages |
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Normal life hit due to snowfall in Leh
Leh, February 6 All roads across the region remained closed to traffic. People in rural areas had to walk long distances to fetch drinking water. A source at the Khushok Bakula Rinpoche Airport, Leh, said all scheduled flights to Leh had been cancelled for the second consecutive day today leaving about 600 passengers stranded at Leh and more than 200 at Delhi, Jammu and Srinagar. More than two feet of snow at Khardongla and 18 inches of snow at Changla have forced the authorities to close the Leh-Nubra road and the Leh-Durbuk road since Monday. The minimum temperature recorded at Leh town this morning was minus 5°C. - OC |
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SC raps J&K for harassing a poor candidate
New Delhi, February 6 “A poor Scheduled Caste candidate cannot be subjected to unnecessary harassment at the hands of the mighty state,” a Bench comprising Justices P Sathasivam and Jagdish Singh Khehar observed while directing the state government to appoint him as a Junior Engineer with the Public Works Department. “It gives us no pleasure to record that the state is not an adversary and ought not have behaved in the manner it has chosen in the facts and circumstances of this case,” the Bench noted in a strongly worded judgment. The Bench dismissed the appeals filed by the state and the PWD even without seeking the response of the candidate, Sat Pal. “Had we issued a notice to respondent Sat Pal based on the technical pleas raised by the appellants, the respondent Sat Pal may not even have been in a position to defend himself before this court.” “Litigation before this court is an expensive proposition” which the poor SC candidate, who had cleared the recruitment test in 2008, could not afford, the Bench explained. The state government had pleaded that Sat Pal, who was on the waitlist of successful candidates, could not be appointed as the validity of the list was over when the matter was pending in the Jammu and Kashmir High Court. The Bench noted that the government did not even bother to file its response in the high court to Sat Pal’s writ petition, but subsequently filed a revision plea in the high court and came up to the Supreme Court to deny him the appointment. The apex court also directed the state government to protect Sat Pal’s seniority by making the appointment with retrospective effect. However, he would not be entitled to any back wages as he had not rendered any actual service. |
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Omar exhorts party leaders to reach out to people
Jammu, February 6 In the first phase, the ministers will meet people at Sher-i-Kashmir Bhawan in Jammu and later at
the Nawa-i-Subah complex when the Darbar moves to Srinagar. A party handout said this was yet another step towards achieving the objective of the party and reach out to the people
in a big way, after reorganising and rejuvenating the organisational structure, both at
the state and the provincial levels. Omar issued a communiqué to the party which read: “After appointing the new provincial presidents of the National Conference, I have decided that the ministers should sit at the party headquarters both at Srinagar and Jammu to address the
public issues.” “I have approved the roaster of the ministers to be at the party headquarters at Jammu for February. A similar roaster
shall be issued for the ministers at the party headquarters at Srinagar during the
summer.” |
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Couple from Aligarh commits suicide in Katra
Katra, February 6 “The couple was hiding at Katra. They had been missing from their home since January 27. They had checked in a guest house at Katra on January 30. After paying obeisance at the Vaishno Devi cave shrine, they had returned to the guest house on January 31 evening,” said Katra SP Mohan Lal. “We got the details of their parents from Krishan’s mobile phone. When contacted, they said the couple was missing since January 27,” the Katra SP said. It was also found that the families of the couple were closely related and perhaps their parents were not happy with their love affair, the police said. A bag containing clothes, mobile phone and an insecticide bottle was recovered from the room, he said. The bodies were sent to Katra Hospital for postmortem and handed over to their families today by the police, he said. — OC
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No time frame has been fixed for the revocation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act or AFSPA from Jammu and Kashmir, say highly placed sources.
It will go only when the expectations of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah harmonise with the ground situation in the
state
Governor NN Vohra has called for urgent utilisation of eco-friendly technologies for sustained protection of the environment and ecology.
The Governor said this while receiving a detailed presentation by a team
of senior scientists of the DRDO on bio-digester-based eco-friendly toilets
at Raj Bhawan here last evening.
