The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	J&K awaits 16,500-tonne foodgrains Sumit Hakhoo Jammu, July 5 With the Congress-led UPA government bringing an ordinance for supplying ration to the needy states, Jammu and Kashmir is looking for an additional 16,500 metric tonne (MT) of foodgrains held up by the Centre due to the delay in the passage of the National Food Security Bill. The state is yet to get its quota from the Centre under the Central Issue Prices to cover the entire population enumerated in the 2011 census as the Food Bill is yet to get the approval of Parliament. At present, the state government is providing ration to 19.71 lakh families as per 2001 Census. However, the total population of the ration card holders in the state as per 2011 census is 1.25 crore with 22.73 lakh families. There is a shortage of ration for approximately 3.2 lakh families. The state is getting only 63,067 MT ration from the Government of India against the total requirement of 79,567 MT per month. for provision of 35 kg to each family. There is a shortage of 16,500 MT every month. Minister for Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD) Choudhary Mohammad Ramzan said, “The state is facing a big challenge of feeding its population. We are hoping that the Central government will release the additional quota with the approval of the Food Security Ordinance. Presently, we are diverting foodgrains from various categories to fill the gap.” Sources said despite assurances by the Union Food Ministry that additional quota will be released from this fiscal, the commitment has not been fulfilled, depriving thousands of people from getting ration through the public distribution system (PDS). Thousands of families living in Kishtwar, Bhaderwah, Warwan, Poonch, Rajouri and Doda in the Jammu region and Kupwara, Handwara, Anantnag in the Kashmir valley are facing shortage of ration on a routine basis. Ramzan said till the additional food is not released by the Union ministry, people would continue to face problems in getting new ration cards also. According to official sources, most of the shortage is faced by families falling in the category of above poverty line (APL), which comprised a major chunk of the population in the state. However, below poverty line (BPL) families are protected as they get ration under a special scheme. DEMAND-SUPPLY GAP The state is getting only 63,067 tonne ration from the Centre against the total requirement of 79,567 tonne per month. Each beneficiary family is entitled to 35 kg of foodgrains
	BSF nabs Pakistani national in RS Pura Tribune News Service Jammu, July 5 The BSF today nabbed a Pakistani national near Khatmarian border post along the international border in the RS Pura sector of Jammu district, some 25 km from here. “Around 3am today, alert border guards of Khatmarian border outpost belonging to 122 Battalion apprehended a Pakistani national while he was moving suspiciously near the border inside the Indian territory,” said a BSF spokesperson. The apprehended person was brought to the Khatmarian post. During preliminary questioning, he revealed his identity as Mohammed Shafiq, son of Mohammed Sarifa Khan of Kuiyan in the Rawalakot area of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The spokesperson further said the frisking of the individual led to recovery of one HBL debit card in the name of Abdul Rehman Butt. The apprehended person will be handed over to the police after preliminary questioning.
	1.1 lakh yatris have darshan at Amarnath cave Srinagar, July 5 The number of yatris who have paid obeisance at the Amarnath shrine since the pilgrimage commenced on June 28 has crossed 1.11 lakh today. Pilgrims are being allowed to move forward from the base camps of Pahalgam and Baltal strictly according to their registration schedule. At least 13,320 pilgrims had darshan at the shrine till 5 pm today. With this, the total number of pilgrims, who reached their destination, has gone up from 98,465 to 1,11,785 till that time. A fresh batch of 4,696 pilgrims left the Baltal base camp this morning for the holy cave. Moreover, 1,189 pilgrims visited by air from Baltal, the police said. — TNS
	J-K Anti-Corruption Act HC suggests seven changes in amendments proposed by govt Chief Secy told to file compliance report before July 18 Ishfaq Tantry Tribune News Service Srinagar, July 5 While suggesting changes in the proposed amendments to the Prevention of Corruption Act, 2006, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court has asked the state government that any person convicted under the Act should be punished for a maximum of 20 years. This suggestion is part of a set of seven suggestions which are to be considered by the state Chief Secretary, who has been further directed to file a compliance report by or before the next date of hearing on July 18. The directions were passed yesterday by a division bench of the High Court comprising Justices Virender Singh and Muzaffar Hussain Attar, in a public interest litigation. The court has also asked the State Vigilance Commission (SVC) to make its suggestion about the proposed amendments to the Anti-Corruption Act and submit the same to the Chief Secretary. In July 2012, the High Court had directed the state government to take steps for amending the J&K Prevention of Corruption Act or make new laws for retrieving money/wealth and confiscating properties accumulated through corrupt practices. Subsequently, the government had announced that it was serious about strengthening laws to tackle corruption. It had said that it proposed to make some amendments to the J&K Anti-Corruption Act. The division bench of the High Court, in its orders passed yesterday, suggested awarding a maximum of 20 years and minimum of 6 years in jail for conviction under Section 5(2) of the J&K Prevention of Corruption Act, Samvat, 2006. The court also suggested making “bail provisions stringent” and parallel to the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act. “In case after receipt of report/record from the Vigilance Organisation, the competent authority does not record sanction for prosecution within one month, it shall be deemed that sanction for prosecution has been granted,” read one of the suggestions put forth by the HC. The others suggestions include posting and appointing of more trained investigation officers in the Vigilance Organisation and prescribing outer time limit for conducting investigation. In a separate but related direction, the High Court has also asked the SVC to suggest within a week amendments to the Anti-Corruption Act and submit its report to the Chief Secretary. The Chief Secretary has been further directed to submit his status report to the court regarding the steps taken for amending the Act. The court has also sought a response from the government to the suggestions of the Vigilance Organisation for creation of two special courts at Srinagar and Jammu for trying offences under the provisions of the Act and how the previous direction regarding the creation of two mobile courts for trying offences under the Anti-Corruption Act has been complied with.
	Amarnath yatra: Normalcy returns at Baltal base camp Ehsan Fazili/TNS Srinagar, July 5 A day after clashes broke out at the Baltal base camp in Ganderbal district, the Amarnath yatra continued with a registered lot of yatris leaving for the trek on the 14-km-long route to the shrine today. Senior police and civil administration officers visited the camp last night and took stock of the situation. “Things were normal today and the movement of yatris from the base camp started as usual this morning,” said DIG Police, Central Kashmir Range, Syed Ahfadul Mujtaba. Tension gripped Baltal last evening when a taxi driver was allegedly beaten up by CRPF men. Even as the CRPF denied the allegation, the incident sparked clashes injuring at least 26 persons, including 16 CRPF men, seven police personnel and three civilians. However, sources in the CRPF said trouble began when the taxi driver, Ghulam Nabi Lone, tried to overtake another vehicle in the queue at Ranga Morh for entry into the Baltal base camp. They said the Ghulam’s move was objected by some yatris, following which one of them was manhandled by youths in his vehicle. However, he was taken away by the police which eased the situation. The sources said a ruckus was created again inside the base camp when local workers started blaming CRPF men for assaulting the driver. To disperse the angry mob, the CRPF fired four rounds in the air and lobbed at least eight tear smoke shells, official sources added. They said the CRPF positions were targeted which prompted this action. They said damage was caused to CRPF installations, including five tents, housing stocks of necessary items, control room and a guard room. At least 300 rounds of INSAS rifles, CCTV cameras, two batteries, wireless and intercom telephones, two water tanks, two kerosene heaters and 17 cots and three vehicles were damaged in the incident.
	Police seeks details of Sumbal op from Army Majid Jahangir/TNS Srinagar, July 5 The police has arrested a part-time driver who was accompanying Army personnel during the night when two youths were killed in the Sumbal area of Bandipore district earlier this week. It has also sought details from the Army about the operation. The driver, Manzoor Ahmad Sheikh, a resident of Markundal Sumbal, had been detained earlier this week by the police for questioning. Police sources said the Investigating Officer (IO) of the case has sought details from the Army unit concerned about the operation and the number of civil vehicles that were used to ferry troopers from the camp to Markundal Sumbal village. “The IO of the case is communicating with them (Army) and they are cooperating,” said a senior police officer in Srinagar. Two civilians — Irfan Ahmad Ganai (17) of Markundal village of Bandipora district and Tariq Ahmad (20) of Kondbal village of Ganderbal district — were allegedly shot by Army soldiers during a counter-insurgency operation at Markundal village on Sunday morning. The Army denied shooting Ganai and said it shot Ahmad in self-defence when protesters agitating against Ganai’s killing tried to attack an Army ambulance. The police later registered a case against unknown Army men under Section 302 of the IPC (murder). The killings sparked protests in various parts of Bandipore. Sources said the police had already recorded statements of nearly a dozen individuals from Markundal. “We have questioned many people in the case and as we are looking into various possibilities,” said a police source. “Sheikh (the part-time Army driver) is being questioned along with a few others,” the police said. The Army is also holding a probe into the two incidents. “We are carrying investigation so as to find what exactly happened in Sumbal,” said a senior Army officer. “We will cooperate with the police in the investigation. They have recorded statements of some civilians. Let us wait and see what comes out of their questioning,” the officer said.
	BJP, PDP begin to strategise for Lok Sabha elections Mufti’s party to contest all six seats; BJP focusing on 2 Jammu seats Dinesh Manhotra Tribune News Service Jammu, July 5 Opposition parties have geared up to select candidates for the coming Lok Sabha elections. Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed convened marathon meetings of senior party leaders on July 3 and July 4 to devise the strategy for the Lok Sabha elections. The BJP has also initiated the process for the parliamentary elections. Sources in the PDP said the party was zeroing in on some prominent leaders. “During the two-day meeting, the PDP patron sought suggestions from party leaders to select potential candidates,” a source said, adding that the PDP had decided to contest all six Lok Sabha seats. In the 2009 Lok Sabha elections, the PDP had failed to open its account but this time the party has decided to field big guns on important seats to ensure victory. As far as the BJP goes, its leadership is concentrating on two Lok Sabha seats of the Jammu region and one seat of Ladakh. In two successive Lok Sabha elections of 1998 and 1999, BJP had won two parliamentary seats from the Jammu province. So, the party has been working overtime to repeat that performance. With the joining of some Shia leaders, BJP is also hoping to win the Ladakh seat because a good number of Buddhist leaders, including former Lok Sabha member Thupsang Chewang, have joined the party. Sources said prominent party leaders have been staking their claim on two Lok Sabha seats of the Jammu province. The Jammu-Poonch Lok Sabha seat is being eyed by BJP state president Jugal Kishore Sharma and Jammu East MLA Ashok Khajuria. As Jugal Kishore has proved his potential by winning two successive Assembly elections from the Nagrota segment, he is being considered the front runner for this Lok Sabha seat. He is also in the good books of the Sangh Parivar. For the Udhampur-Doda seat, senior leader Nirmal Singh is the front runner because he had lost 2009 Lok Sabha elections by a narrow margin due to “non-cooperative” attitude of some party MLAs. Chief spokesman of the state BJP Jatinder Singh and former state president Shamsher Singh Manhas are also staking their claim on this seat.
	National Conference on the job to pick probable candidates Amir Karim Tantray/TNS Jammu, July 5 The ruling National Conference (NC) has started the process of identifying probable candidates for the 2014 parliamentary elections. Secretaries appointed by NC working president and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah are on the job to identify candidates all over the state. After the Cabinet reshuffle on January 15 this year, the NC appointed three central secretaries, two for the Jammu region’s parliamentary constituencies, Abdul Gani Mailk for the Udhampur-Doda-Kathua seat and Rachpal Singh for the Jammu-Poonch seat and sitting Member of Parliament (MP) Mehbooba Beig was appointed central secretary for the Kashmir valley. These central secretaries were given the task of reaching out to people in their respective constituencies with the party’s agenda. Sources in the NC said the central secretaries were also helping the party leadership to zero in on leaders who were potential candidates for the 2014 parliamentary elections. “The process has started and a group of leaders have been identified out of whom the candidates for parliamentary elections will be announced,” a source said. There are six Lok Sabha seats in Jammu and Kashmir, three from the Kashmir region, two from the Jammu region and one from Ladakh. For the three seats of the Kashmir valley, the NC may not take a risk by changing the candidates as all three candidates had won the elections. Farooq Abdullah, the party president, had won from central Kashmir, Mehboob Beig from south Kashmir and Sharief-ud-Din Shariq had emerged victorious from north Kashmir during the 2009 parliamentary elections. The NC also may not touch the Ladakh Lok Sabha seat, which was taken by Independent candidate Ghulam Hassan Khan, who lent support to the NC. “The main job of identifying candidates for the Lok Sabha elections is from the Jammu region, as both seats from Jammu are with the Congress,” a source said. It has not been decided yet whether the NC and Congress will go in for a pre-poll alliance or not. LS poll talk * There are six Lok Sabha seats in Jammu and Kashmir, three from the Kashmir region, two from the Jammu region and one from Ladakh * The main job for the NC of identifying candidates is from the Jammu region, as both LS seats from Jammu are with the Congress
	BJP flays delay in disbursement of scholarship to Ladakh students Dinesh Manhotra/tns Jammu, July 5 As students from the Ladakh region are facing hardship due to delay in disbursement of scholarships, BJP Rajya Sabha member Avinash Rai Khanna has urged the Chairman, National Commission for Scheduled Tribes, to take up the matter with the Centre and the state government. As 94 per cent of the population of Ladakh has been granted the Scheduled Tribe (ST) status, students of this region are entitled for scholarship to pursue their higher studies across the country. BJP leaders of Leh blamed the state government for delay in disbursement of scholarship to the students. “The state government has deliberately been adopting delay tactics every year to seek allocation of money from the Centre so that funds meant for our students get lapsed,” alleged Cheering Dorjay, BJP leader and ex-Chief Executive Councilor of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Leh. Dorjay stressed the need for getting direct funds from the Centre. “The state government is adopting discriminatory approach towards Ladakh students,” he said, adding over 9,000 students at Jammu, Delhi and Chandigarh were facing hardship due to the situation. BJP leader Avinash Rai Khanna told The Tribune that during his recent visit to Leh the matter of non-disbursement of scholarship was brought to his notice. “I don’t think there is anything wrong in authorising the LAHDC to project the scholarship demands of Ladakh students,” he said. Khanna was hopeful that the National ST Commission would take serious note of the issue. “During my Leh visit, a large number of students from Leh district met me and told that they are not getting scholarship. Some of them were planning to leave their study midway due to their financial condition,” Khanna wrote in his letter. Secretary Social Welfare Gazzanfer Hussain said there was no deliberate delay in demanding funds from the Centre.
	Paucity of funds hits tourism in Bhaderwah Dinesh Manhotra Tribune News Service Bhaderwah (Doda), July 5 Bhaderwah, known as Chota Kashmir, has a potential to emerge as one of biggest tourist destinations as well as a pilgrimage centre of the country. However, the lacklustre attitude of the authorities has raised many questions on the intention of the state government to properly tap the potential of this belt. Being a native of this place, Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, during his tenure as the Chief Minister of the state, had started some projects to make the region popular from the tourism point of view. But it was not to be, as the fate of many such projects is hanging in balance. The Bhaderwah Development Authority (BDA), which was constituted to build tourism infrastructure in the area, has failed to complete many of its projects due to paucity of funds. The authority has even failed to release salaries to its employees due to non-availability of funds. “We have not been getting salaries for the past six months,” an employee of the authority told The Tribune on the condition of anonymity. Chief Executive Officer, BDA, Angrez Singh Rana, however, claimed that the employees were getting their salaries regularly. Sources said salary bills of the BDA employees were pending for disposal before the authorities of the accounts department for the last eight months. However, due to non-availability of funds, these bills were yet to be passed by the authorities concerned. “Our patience is running out. How long are we expected to work without salaries?” said employees, alleged those at the helm of the affairs were responsible for prevailing financial crunch in the BDA. The state government has set up the BDA, under the Prime Minister’s Reconstruction Plan, to act as an apex authority for the overall development of the local areas. But due to non-availability of adequate funds, the BDA finds it difficult to carry on its activities to provide facilities to the tourists and to complete development projects. To bring Bhaderwah on the tourist map, it is necessary to develop road infrastructure and connecting it with Pathankot, Kashmir valley and Himachal Pradesh. Due to scarcity of funds, most of the projects are still in the pipeline. “The condition of roads speak about volumes about the lacklustre approach of the authorities to develop infrastructure in this belt,” said Koushal Kotwal, a local political activist. He said Kashmir-centric parties were deliberately ignoring the Bhaderwah region due to their parochial approach. Bhaderwah is also emerging as a hub of religious tourism.