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Hectic lobbying on for eight Legislative Council seats
Rock band row: Trouble in store for Grand Mufti
NC holds first public hearing in Jammu
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21 years on, state fails to promulgate minorities Act
Local Cong leaders against alliance with National Conference
New pony track from Katra to Adhkuwari by Dec
Ladakh gets respite from cold
Govt mulling over panel proposals
Kashmir separatist leaders address Pakistan rallies
Gulmarg gets ski lift, heliport
Army officers brief Governor on security
Vice-Chancellors discuss scope of research with Governor
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Hectic lobbying on for eight Legislative Council seats
Jammu, February 7 The coalition can easily win six seats out of the total eight but to snatch the seventh seat from the opposition PDP, it will have to manage some votes from the opposition camp. The PDP is in a position to comfortably win one seat from the quota of four seats for the Kashmir Valley but the party does not have sufficient strength to win any seat from the Jammu region quota on its own. So both the coalition and the opposition parties would try to rope in the seven MLAs expelled from the BJP. During the last LC elections which were held on April 13, 2011, seven BJP legislators had allegedly voted in favour of coalition candidates. The coming LC elections, however, would be held through open ballot so the chances of cross-voting would be remote. The seven BJP MLAs who were charged with cross-voting have already been expelled from the party but they are still members of the Legislative Assembly. “This time the LC elections will be held through the open ballot. Every voter will have to show their ballot paper to the chief election agent of their respective party,” said Secretary of the Legislative Assembly Mohammad Ramzan. Hectic politicking has been on in political parties, especially the National Conference and the Congress. Aspirants have started lobbying to become members of the Upper House after the Election Commission announced the schedule for holding elections to the eight seats of the Legislative Council. Sources in the Congress said that out of the eight seats, the party would contest four seats --- two each from the Jammu and Kashmir regions. Out of the eight retiring Members of the Legislative Council, four legislators Ali Mohammad Bhat and Mohammad Amin Bhat (both from the Valley), and R S Chib and Naresh Kumar Gupta (from the Jammu region) belong to the Congress. Two National Conference members Mohammed Yousuf Taing and Devender Singh Rana and two PDP members Murtaza Ahmed Khan and Nizamud Din Khatana are also retiring on March 17, 2013. “As the coalition is not in a position of win all eight seats, we will contest only those seats which the party can easily win,” a senior Congress leader said on condition of anonymity. All 89 members of the Legislative Assembly (87 elected plus two nominated women members) constitute the Electoral College for eight vacancies in the LC. The coalition has strength of 52 members in the Assembly. Sources said the Congress would exert pressure on the National Conference to divide the vote in such a way that the Congress candidates could comfortably win the elections. Poll show
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Rock band row: Trouble in store for Grand Mufti
Srinagar, February 7 Syed Bashiruddin, the region’s chief cleric, is facing criticism for his recent fatwa against a Valley-based all-girl rock band Pragaash. The three young girls, who founded the Kashmir’s first all-girl rock band Pragaash, had to quit after they received online hate mails and posts, which were followed by a fatwa by the region’s Grand Mufti on February 3. “We have decided to file a petition against Bashiruddin, who calls himself the Grand Mufti (chief cleric) of Jammu and Kashmir”, said Parvez Imroz, who also heads the Coalition of Civil Societies (CCS), a human rights network in the Kashmir valley. Stating that Mufti Bashiruddin had issued several “controversial” fatwas in the past too, Imroz said “he (Grand Mufti) in a way has been running a parallel judicial system in the state with impunity and without official scrutiny”. “Apart from issuing the recent fatwa against the Pragaash, this self-appointed Mufti has also issued fatwas against Americans to leave the Valley. He also issued fatwas against Christians”, Imroz told The Tribune, adding there was a “definite pattern” in the “controversial fatwas” so far issued by the Grand Mufti. “Besides, there appears to be an understanding between the Grand Mufti and government as far as his controversial fatwas are concerned. The government has never questioned his actions”, he said, adding apart from challenging the “status” of Mufti and his Sharia court in the petition, he would also ask the government to clear its stand on the Grand Mufti. Controversial fatwas
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NC holds first public hearing in Jammu
Jammu, February 7 Speaking at the first ever public hearing held as part of the initiative taken by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who is also the NC’s working president, to address the public issues at Sher-i-Kashmir Bhawan here this morning, the minister said mitigating the problems of the people and striving for their progress and prosperity is high on the agenda of the party. NC’s provincial president for Jammu Devender Singh Rana and senior leaders of the party were present on the occasion. Under the initiative, ministers belonging to the NC in the coalition government would meet people on a rotational basis at the party headquarters. Minister for Finance and Ladakh Affairs Abdul Rahim Rather will meet party workers tomorrow between 3.30 pm and 6 pm. A large number of workers and people attended the public hearing. The participants raised issues pertaining to their areas and also sought redress of their personal grievances. Taking note of the problems, the minister took on-the-spot decisions in various cases, passed on instructions to the concerned persons and said the issues pertaining to area-specific problems would be taken up with the agencies concerned for appropriate and expeditious disposal. “Feedback is imperative for streamlining the administrative apparatus and dispensing justice to people living in the three regions and sub-regions of the state,” the minister said, urging the workers to help in identifying areas which required immediate attention of the government. Rana exhorted the workers to fan out in their areas and play a crucial role in identifying the problems faced by the people and seek their redress at appropriate levels. He said the workers could play their role in bridging the gap between the people and the administration. Rana cautioned the people to remain vigilant against the machinations of vested interests who were always pro-active to divide society. He said the NC has always played a healthy role in bringing the people together and forging bonds of brotherhood and amity. |
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Khanday to be new chief secretary
Jammu, February 7 Meanwhile, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment of Madhav Lal, an IAS officer of 1977 batch from the J&K cadre, as secretary, Union Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, vice Vivek Rae, another IAS officer of 1978 batch. Lal is likely to join his new place of posting by the end of this month. The state government awaits a formal order from the Centre regarding Lal’s appointment, who had been empanelled as secretary to Union government last year. “He would like to leave for the Central deputation before the Budget session commences on February 28,” said a top source, adding he was likely to get the order within a fortnight.
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21 years on, state fails to promulgate minorities Act
Jammu, February 7 Jammu and Kashmir is the only state in the country that doesn’t have a Minority Commission to safeguard the interests of Hindus, Sikhs and Christians, who fall in minority list in the Muslim-majority Himalayan region. The state faces a unique problem, as here Muslims are in majority while Hindus and other communities are in minority. So, the amendment is necessary so that benefits of schemes for the minority groups are implemented properly. As per the procedure, the state has to make a recommendation to the President of India that an amendment may be made to the Act to make it applicable to the state by considering enactment of a law for promulgation of the J&K Minorities Act along the lines of model Act developed by the Commission and circulated to all states. The last effort for setting up a commission was done by then Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, when the Social Welfare Department had set in the process for the same, but it was put under the carpet after Omar Abdullah took over reins of the state. Sources said despite several reminders by Minority Commission chairman Wajahat Habibullah to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and the Law Department to take steps to make the Act applicable in the state, the Law Department has remained silent on the issue. “It has been very slow in its response. J&K has even failed to bring the State Minority Commission Act. But we are still making efforts on our part”, said Wajahat Habibullah, NCM chairman. Habibullah said as the state has separate Constitution, it is mandatory to seek approval of the state Assembly before any Central Act passed by Parliament of India is extended to the state. Article 1 sub (2) of the National Minorities’ Act of 1992 excludes Jammu and Kashmir from the jurisdiction of the Act. Nevertheless, the Union government did advise the state to have such laws passed by the state legislature and made applicable by appointing the Minority Commission. However, state law secretary GH Tantary ruled out any early solution. “The Act can’t be extended in J&K but we are studying ways to create a separate body of our own. The process is going on,” Tantary said. The state government has been contending that complexity in declaring any group a minority arises from the existence of a peculiar, region-wise and community-wise composition in the state, where no community is in minority in all the three regions of Jammu, Kashmir and
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2014 Assembly elections
Jammu, February 7 In the presence of J&K Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) chief Saifuddin Soz, party leaders, who were gathered here for a monthly meeting earlier this week, said that the continuation of the alliance with the NC in the Assembly elections would not be in the interest of the party. As Soz had especially arrived at the party headquarters to attend a meeting of the District Congress Committee (DCC), Jammu urban, party leaders seized the opportunity to convey their views to the party high command through the JKPCC chief. “Since the formation of this coalition government, the Congress has been forced to play second fiddle to the NC. Entering into a pre-poll alliance with the NC would further erode the base of the party in the Jammu region”, said DCC president Om Chopra amidst applause by leaders present at the meeting. Encouraged by the response of the leaders present there, Chopra said the failure of the party leaders to assert themselves had already dented the image of the Congress party in Jammu region. “We are strong enough to contest elections on our own. The Congress in the only party in Jammu and Kashmir which has a strong following in all three regions of the state so there is no need for the party to enter into an alliance with any other group,” he said. Others Congress leaders who spoke at the meeting endorsed the stand taken by Chopra. Although Soz maintained a guarded silence on the issue, party leaders continued their tirade against the government in general and the NC in particular. Some of the party leaders even pointed out that Congress ministers in the government were also not giving importance to the party and the grass-roots level workers were completely demoralised. Soz in his address avoided touching the issues raised by the workers. Instead, he emphasised the need of enrolling honest, educated and dedicated youth and women in the party. He told party workers to strengthen the organisation at the grass-roots level. Soz said there should be co-ordination at all levels in the organisation and with the representatives of the party in the Council of Ministers. Dharampal Sharma, Ravinder Sharma, Shiv Kumar Sharma, Hari Singh, Ashwani Puri and other prominent leaders were present at the meeting. |
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New pony track from Katra to Adhkuwari by Dec
Katra, February 7 Executive engineer (PWD wing), SMVDSB, DK Rajdhan said the construction of the 7.4-km-long track between Katra and Adhkuwari was in full swing and it was expected to be completed by December at an estimated cost of Rs 12 crore. He said after the commissioning of the new track, no ponies would be allowed on the old track. “New track is much wider as compared to the existing one and is also easier to negotiate because of uniformity of climb and lower gradient. Adequate number of toilet blocks will also be constructed on the track to provide clean public utilities to pilgrims. Sufficient number of shelter sheds is also being constructed,” he said. By March this year, Katra will be connected with the rest of the country by rail link and a large number of pilgrims is expected to visit Vaishno Devi shrine thereafter. — OC
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Ladakh gets respite from cold
Leh, February 7 The sun shone bright today giving much-needed relief to the people from the cold weather conditions. Various roads were opened to traffic after clearance of snow by the Municipal Committee, Leh. Flights operation to Leh were resumed today after two days, said a source at Khushok Bakula Rinpoche Airport, Leh. Seven flights airlifted the stranded passengers today. The connectivity between the Leh district headquarters and other sub-divisions and blocks improved partially. Changla on the Leh-Durbuk road was reopened for traffic this evening while Khardongla remained closed for traffic for the third consecutive day today. An officer at the police control room, Leh, said snow clearance on Changla was started in the morning but could not be completed today. The maximum temperature recorded at Leh was minus 1.2°C while the minimum temperature was minus 13.6°C. — OC
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Panchayat powers
Jammu, February 7 The minister was addressing a high-level meeting to discuss the recommendations of the committee. Commissioner Secretary, Rural Development, Farooq Ahmed Peer; Secretary, Law, GH Tantary and Director, Rural Development, Jammu, Shafiq Ahmed Raina were present at the
meeting. Sagar said the government believed in complete devolution of powers to the grass-roots level. He said care would be taken to ensure the same. He said, “We have to ensure the participation of people in the day-to-day governance.” He said due credence would be given to the recommendations of the committee and the same would then be sent to the Cabinet for approval. While addressing officials, Sagar said a grievance cell would be set up in the department to get feedback from people and initiate necessary action. “By doing so, we would be effectively monitoring the implementation of various schemes, besides cater to complaints, if any,” he said. — TNS |
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Kashmir separatist leaders address Pakistan rallies
Srinagar, February 7 The other separatist leader, who addressed the rallies held to commemorate Kashmir Solidarity Day observed annually in Pakistan on February 5, was Democratic Freedom Party chairman Shabir Ahmad Shah. Andrabi and Shah confirmed to The Tribune that they made telephonic addresses to the rallies in Pakistan. Geelani’s spokesman also confirmed that the veteran leader, who is in New Delhi these day, had addressed the rallies on Tuesday which were organised by the Council. The Difa-e-Pakistan Council, which was formed in November 2011, in response to the US bombing of a Pakistan military check-post, which killed 24 of its soldiers, is led by Maulana Sami-ul-Haq. Haq, who has been dubbed by the western media as the “Father of Taliban”, had in 1999 sent a batch of 2,000 students from his seminary to fight alongside the Taliban in Afghanistan. In the past one year, the Council has held long marches across Pakistan to lobby against the supply of services to the US-led NATO troops in Afghanistan through the country. A Pakistani newspaper reported that speakers at the Difa-e-Pakistan Council’s Kashmir Solidarity rally “glorified Taliban” and warned that there would be no trade with India “till Kashmir was free”. The Council’s other major leader is Lashkar-e-Toiba founder Hafiz Mohammad Sayeed, who is accused of carrying the 26/11 Mumbai attacks and now affiliates himself with the Jamaat-ud-Dawa charity group. “It was Kashmir Solidarity Day and the Jamaat-ud-Dawa had organised programmes in all (Pakistan) provinces. So I delivered lectures there, telephonically,” Andrabi said. In her address, Andrabi had said Pakistan’s Kashmir Solidarity Day should not be “ritualistic”. “Practically, you have to show that you are with the movement of Kashmir and you have to prove that this is not only the movement of Kashmiris but also the movement of Pakistan,” Andrabi had said in her address. Spokesman of the hardline Hurriyat Conference Ayaz Akbar said, “He (Geelani) also said in his addresses that the existing policy of Pakistan is apologetic. It differs from the standing policy of the past on Kashmir,” he said. Akbar, however, downplayed the pro-Taliban nature of the Difa-e-Pakistan Council. “Let us (only) say it is Difa-e-Pakistan. These are Islamist parties and people like Hamid Gul are playing an acting role in it. So why say pro-Taliban,” he said. Geelani in the past has lashed out at the Tehreek-e-Taliban, but has praised their Afghan counterparts.
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Gulmarg gets ski lift, heliport
Srinagar, February 7 The Tourism Minister said the ski lift with other chairlifts would develop Kongdoori in Gulmarg as an international ski destination. He said the project would also give a considerable boost to winter tourism in the state and help generate additional economic activities for people. Mir said the Tourism Department in collaboration with the Winter Games Association of India was holding a four-day-long national level junior and sub-junior skiing championship at Gulmarg from February 11 to showcase its potential. He said over 150 skiers from various states would participate in the event. The minister said the trained and skilled human resource of the state could take benefit from the adventure tourism industry. He said the government was adding adventure attractions for tourists at several destinations in the state. He said work on the Makhdoom Sahab ropeway project was being completed during the next fiscal and work on the Ashmuqam ropeway was apace through the PPP mode. He said the construction work on the Mubarak Mandi cable car project would be started from March. He said tenders for the construction of the Shiv Khori ropeway had been floated. He said all these projects would be completed in a time-bound manner. Mir laid the foundation of tourist information centre. Minister for Agriculture Ghulam Hassan Mir was present on the occasion. Ski splendour
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Army officers brief Governor on security
Jammu, February 7 Vohra also discussed with the Army Commander certain long-pending land issues which required urgent resolution, particularly the relocation of the Army transit camp which was thwarting the infrastructure development of the University of Jammu. Lt Gen Chachra said the matter would be urgently reviewed. He said Army-civil liaison meetings would now be held at regular intervals. |
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Vice-Chancellors discuss scope of research with Governor
Jammu, February 7 The Governor, who is the Chancellor of both universities, discussed with the Vice-Chancellors various important issues relating to the enhancing teaching and research capacities of these varsities for developing them into the centres of excellence. Issues relating to forging productive and collaborative arrangements among all the universities in the state for maximising the benefits of available infrastructure and human resources to make the state an educational hub of the country were discussed at some length during the meeting. The Vice-Chancellors of all the universities of the state, including the two Central Universities, have already agreed to set up the J&K Inter-University Forum. The first meeting of the forum was held at SKUAST-K in October 2012. |
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Minister for Planning, Labour and Employment Ajay Kumar Sadhotra today reiterated the commitment of the National Conference (NC) to involve grass-roots level workers in the decision-making and seek their assistance.
Minister for Tourism Ghulam Ahmad Mir inaugurated a state-of-the-art ski lift, ski rescue base and ski heliport at the world famous ski-resort of Gulmarg today.
