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Security build-up in Srinagar ahead of PM’s visit
Inquiry ordered into entrance exam goof-up
On the frontline
Time to reset clock to 21st century
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Control room set up to monitor evacuation of pilgrims from J-K
In solidarity with Uttarakhand victims, Ladakh film fest put off
Fate of Patnitop ropeway project hangs in balance
Post Afzal unrest led to loss of 19 security men: IGP
CPM condemns killing of two policemen
Kishtwar gets ready to welcome PM
Minister: PMGSY land compensation issue to be raised with PM
‘Pratham pooja’ held for smooth conduct of Amarnath yatra
Socio-economic package sought for Gujjars
Teachers, students protest against cancellation of chemistry, biology papers
Cong MP urges govt to complete development projects
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Security build-up in Srinagar ahead of PM’s visit
Srinagar, June 23 The killing of the two policemen marked a major breach in the security setup ahead of the high-profile visit. Checkpoints were also set up at Budshah Bridge and at Maisuma junction in the city where the police and paramilitary personnel conducted searches. Additional police and paramilitary personnel have also been deployed across the city and at all entry and exits points to the city. Sources said the movement of former militants was being monitored and some of them were being called to the police stations. IGP, Kashmir zone, Abdul Gani Mir said, “Militancy has not fully died down, it does exist, so we are taking all precautions,” he said. DIG, central Kashmir, Afadul Mujtaba said the security alert is already in place in the region. The police has also ordered restricting civilian vehicular movement along a stretch of Boulevard Road during the two-day visit. |
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Inquiry ordered into entrance exam goof-up
Jammu, June 23 Last evening, the Board postponed the biology paper, slated for today, after invigilators at three examination centres in Srinagar distributed biology papers instead of chemistry. Some biology papers were found in sealed packets containing chemistry papers. The chemistry paper conducted yesterday was also cancelled. “We have initiated an internal inquiry to ascertain the facts. Though it appeared to be a human error, the Board would hold a probe to fix the responsibility,” RD Sharma, chairman, JKBOPEE. Sharma, however, said the math paper was conducted in a “hassle-free manner” today. To a query on the conduct of the biology and chemistry papers, the Board chairman said they had written to the principals of various colleges and schools for availability of exam halls. “As various competitive exams are being conducted these days, we have been facing a shortage of exam halls. We are hopeful that the Board will be able to conduct these papers within 10 to 15 days,” Sharma said. Meanwhile, hundreds of aspirants were in distress following the goof-up. The aspirants accused the Board authorities of adopting an unprofessional attitude. “My chemistry paper went good and I was expecting to do well in my biology paper as well, which was scheduled for today. Unfortunately, the chemistry paper was cancelled and now I will have to study for it again. The approach of the Board was casual and unprofessional,” said an MBBS aspirant, Roopali Sharma. |
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On the frontline
Time to reset clock to 21st century
Last time, when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visited Kashmir in June 2010, the Valley was celebrating the success of Faesal Shah who had topped the civil services list, and had become a household name overnight.
A power-point presentation by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah about the development plans was praised by the Prime Minister. No one had any clue as to what was in store for the Valley in coming months. What followed was a tsumani of street protests and clashes between stone throwing protestors and police that left 120 dead. Kashmir saw one of the worst phases in its history. The trigger was killing of a Tufail Mattoo, a teenager, who was hit by a teargas shell. Thereafter, there was a cycle of violence and no one had any clue how to handle the situation. The Army had to be called into Srinagar, after a gap of 17 years to stage a flag march. The Army and the police’s strategy to fire at the protestors who were targeting police, paramilitary forces and setting afire the public property brought about a deceptive calm. But the wounds continue to fester till date. The year 2010 cannot be taken off the calendar. And now educated youth are taking to guns and grenades and their number is swelling. The Army’s statistics show that there are 325 militants and more are preparing to sneak in from across the Line of Control (LoC). This is an ominous sign. Prime Minister is visiting Kashmir on Tuesday. His hands are full with the developmental agenda, from laying of foundation stone of the 850-MW Rattle project to the flagging of Banihal-Qazigund railway track that would connect the Valley with the outside world. It is a bright chapter in the development history of Kashmir, as it is a big step forward towards “Naya” or new Kashmir vision of the Prime Minister that he had envisioned in 2004, when he had first visited the Valley as the Prime Minister. He had committed Rs 24,000 crore for the development of the state under the programme called Prime Minister’s Reconstruction Plan, in short the PMRP. This plan was to change Jammu and Kashmir’s landscape, but that has not happened. Most of the funds have been diverted, as is wont in this state to divert the plan funds to the non-plan sector. Now a different situation has come into play. The number of the unemployed youth has increased. The government has announced that it will employ 70,000 youth, whereas the number of the jobless is more than seven lakh. The recruitment too would be done with political agenda in mind. There are no prizes for guessing that the loyalists of the ruling elite would get these jobs. That apprehension has gripped the opposition in the state. This sense of trepidation has gripped the youth as well. This can easily translate into a series of protests. The Prime Minister would do a great job if he takes care of all these aspects, starting from the equal distribution of empowerment to one and all in Jammu and Kashmir. The selectivity, the agenda that has been written but held back till the time the Assembly polls are announced, would spell disaster. This fear is not unfounded, because the history has been repeating in Kashmir. The Prime Minister and UPA chairperson have always strived and also succeeded to a great extent in striking an emotional chord with the people of Kashmir. This has been amply demonstrated the way they have reached out to the people in Kashmir and shared its joys and sorrows. If the two were there to flag off “Karvan-e-Aman” or caravan of peace-start of the cross Line of Control bus service in April 2005, they were also there when a massive quake unleashed devastation in October that year. A bigger responsibility awaits them in Kashmir. They have to reset the political clock. It cannot be a mid-twentieth century clock but a digital version that is relevant in the 21st Century. They have a task at hand to assure that justice would be done to every resident of this state on the basis of merit and not because of the political considerations. |
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Uttarakhand tragedy
Jammu, June 23 After widespread resentment among people against the slow approach of the government to provide help to the affected families and take steps to bring back its residents, a control room has been set up at the Divisional Commissioner’s office, Jammu, to monitor the evacuation of pilgrims in Uttarakhand. People from Jammu and Kashmir can seek information regarding the whereabouts of their kin, who have not returned from various pilgrimage places in Uttarakhand, on telephone numbers 0191-2478999, 0191-2478991 and 0191-2478997 (fax). “The Jammu Divisional Commissioner is in constant touch with the Divisional Commissioner of Garhwal division of Uttarakhand, the epicentre of the devastation caused by the recent flash floods in Uttarakhand. The control room shall remain functional on all working days from 9.30 am to 5 pm,” said a press statement. After the cloudbursts at several religious places such as Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri and Hemkund Sahib in Uttarakhand on June 16, hundreds of families whose relatives were stuck in the devastated areas were unable to figure out how to get information about their kin and were dependent on the helplines provided by Uttarakhand. The officials had, however, maintained that the administration did not have any record of the pilgrims as they mostly visit the ‘Char Dham’ yatra through private tour operators. |
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In solidarity with Uttarakhand victims, Ladakh film fest put off
Leh, June 23 The film festival was started last year at Leh. Festival director Melwyn Chirayak, in a press statement issued through the festival collaborator, Ladakh Media and Cultural Society, said, “The festival has been postponed till September due to the tragedy in Uttarakhand. The new date will be fixed after consultation with the local government.” The statement said the LIFF fraternity stood in solidarity with the victims and their families in their period of grief and mourning. — OC
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Fate of Patnitop ropeway project hangs in balance
Patnitop, June 23 “We tried to remove some apprehensions of the CEC members as there was some fault in the blueprint presented by the company engaged in the construction of the project,” said Director, Tourism, Sojanaya Sharma. He hoped that the CEC would get clearance from the Supreme Court on the two ropeway projects at Mubarak Mandi and Patnitop on July 6. As reported earlier, the Patnitop ropeway project was approved at the Patnitop Development Authority (PDA) Board meeting in January 2004 when Mufti Mohammad Sayeed was the Chief Minister of the state. Its foundation stone was laid in May 2007 when Ghulam Nabi Azad was the Chief Minister. Almost six years have been passed, but the work on the projects has not been started yet. Sources said the authorities knew that it was mandatory to get clearances from the wildlife, forest and environment departments but the foundation was laid without getting the clearances. Patnitop is located within 10 km area of the nearest wildlife reserve of the Dudu forest range. It has become compulsory for the authorities to get mandatory clearances from the Union Ministry of Environment. The non-serious attitude of the authorities has not only delayed the completion of the project, but has also escalated its cost manifold. When the foundation stone of the project was laid in 2007, its estimated cost was Rs 40 crore which has increased manifold. |
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Post Afzal unrest led to loss of 19 security men: IGP
Srinagar, June 23 Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir region, Abdul Gani Mir, said the reason was that the security forces were engaged in tackling the unrest after Parliament attack convict Mohammad Afzal Guru was hanged. “We were busy with (post) Afzal Guru (hanging) law and order situation for about three months,” he said. Mir said the security forces were also taking care to avoid any collateral damage during the counter-insurgency operations. “With the decline in militancy, we want to avoid any collateral damage. We have not been able to catch or kill many militants because the lives of civilians are involved,” he said. He said the number of militants active in the region is “very few” compared to the previous years. “Militancy does exist but we are not overly worried now,” he said. We were busy with (post) Afzal Guru (hanging) law and order situation for about three months. With the decline in militancy, there is no collateral damage. We have not been able to catch or kill many militants because the lives of civilians are involved. Compare the civilian casualties also — Abdul Gani Mir, IGP, Kashmir zone |
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CPM condemns killing of two policemen
Srinagar, June 23 "Violence in any form and in any society should have no space, as it only brings in untold miseries. Violence is no solution to any problem," CPM state secretary MY Tarigami said in a statement here. — PTI |
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Kishtwar gets ready to welcome PM
Drabshala
(Kishtwar), June 23 The Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone of the power project on June 25. All necessary arrangements are being put in place. The work on the approach road to the power project has been expedited. The work on one bridge has been completed and on the second, it has started. “As and when the Prime Minister lays the foundation stone of the power project in Kishtwar via remote, the work on it will be expedited,” said an official of the Jammu and Kashmir Power Development Corporation based in Drabshala. The Prime Minister will address a public meeting near Chowgan in Kishtwar town. He will then travel to Banihal to inaugurate the Banihal-Qazigund rail link. Singh will be accompanied by Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, Union Power Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. The Ratle Power Project is expected to be completed by 2017 and will cost around Rs 5,000 crore. The project has been awarded to Delhi-based GVK group on build, own, operate and transfer (BOOT) mode by the Jammu and Kashmir Power Development Corporation. The project will be handed over to the state after 35 years. Till then, the state will get 16 per cent of the electricity generated from the project and the rest will be sold by the GVK group. The foundation stone of the power project, banners, chairs and other items have already reached Kishtwar from Jammu. |
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Minister: PMGSY land compensation issue to be raised with PM
Srinagar, June 23 “In addition to other issues of public importance, speedy release of land compensation under the PMGSY in various parts of the state will also be taken up with the Prime Minister,” said Minister for Finance and Ladakh Affairs Abdul Rahim Rather, while chairing the District Development Board meeting at Anantnag. “Enhancement of allocations under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana for setting up of income-generating units under sheep, animal husbandry and floriculture would also be taken up with the Prime Minister,” the minister said. An official spokesman said the meeting reviewed in detailed the physical and financial achievements of the last year’s plan outlay and discussed targets for the current financial year. “After thorough discussions, the Board approved the current year’s plan outlay for Anantnag district to the tune of Rs 110.80 crore which includes Rs 75.37 crore as capital component and Rs 35.43 crore as revenue component,” the spokesman said. “It was informed that 97 per cent of the previous year’s plan outlay, which was almost the same, has been expended on various schemes,” he said. |
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‘Pratham pooja’ held for smooth conduct of Amarnath yatra
Srinagar, June 23 “To invoke the blessings of the Almighty, BD Mengi, director of Holy Cave Shrine Area, Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB), performed the pratham pooja at the shrine in the morning amidst chanting of vedic mantras,” an official said. Since 2011, the Shrine Board has been conducting the prayers on the auspicious occasion of Jyesht Purnima every year to invoke the blessings of Lord Shiva for the peaceful and smooth conduct of the annual Amarnathji Yatra. Officials of the Shrine Board and security forces personnel were among those present on the occasion. “Navin K Choudhary, Chief Executive Officer of the Shrine Board, was slated to perform the pooja at the shrine but could not reach as no helicopter was available due to technical reasons,” the official added. |
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Socio-economic package sought for Gujjars
Srinagar, June 23 “The Gujjars of Jammu and Kashmir appeal to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for a comprehensive socio-economic package for the tribal community in the shape of a resolution of all pending tribal issues with the Union Government,” secretary of Tribal Foundation Javaid Rahi said in a statement today. The issues include opening of a tribal university, inclusion of the Gojri into the eighth schedule of the Constitution and special census of the nomadic Gujjars and Bakerwals, he said. “Gujjars are demanding a tribal university in the state prior to 2007 when the first-ever National Tribal University was established in Madhya Pradesh,” Rahi said. “The inclusion of the Gojri into the official languages of India is still pending with the Union Government,” he said. The tribal language deserves more constitutional safeguards and should be inducted into the list of official languages of India as it is one of the oldest and ancient languages of South Asia, Rahi said. Rahi also urged the Prime Minister to enhance the centrally sponsored tribal sub-plan to empower the Gujjars in terms of financial resources. — PTI |
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Teachers, students protest against cancellation of chemistry, biology papers
Srinagar, June 23 Jammu and Kashmir Teachers’ Forum chairman Abdul Qayum Wani said teachers would launch a statewide agitation if the government failed to order an inquiry into the paper leak. Wani said, “Only the biology paper was leaked, so only that paper should have been postponed. The chemistry exam should have been conducted as per the schedule. The inordinate delays by the authorities are ruining the careers of our students.” Students accused the Board authorities of purposely delaying the Common Entrance test (CET) and taking them for a ride. “We smell a rat in the paper leak issue. The Chief Minister should personally look into the matter and bring the culprits to book. We have been preparing for the exam from the last one year and now it has been postponed indefinitely. They are playing with our careers. We will not remain silent,” said Maroosha Shafi, a CET aspirant. Chairman, BOPEE, RD Sharma said the chemistry exam was cancelled due to utter confusion which prevailed in three major examination centres at Srinagar. “To preserve the sanctity of the exam, we had to cancel it. The fresh dates for both biology and chemistry papers will be notified separately, as has been conveyed by our notification issued yesterday,” said Sharma. |
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Cong MP urges govt to complete development projects
Jammu, June 23 Sharma was addressing a function at Mallah village in Akhnoor today. He urged the government to complete all pending roads on priority. He regretted that some roads projects initiated during his tenure were still incomplete. He maintained that the people of the area were facing problems because of the discrimination against them. — TNS
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Patnitop, June 23
