|
|
|
|
|
NC-Cong coalition govt will complete full term: Omar
CM stresses financial autonomy of state
Battle for Kargil council intensifies
Congress leaders want free hand to settle issues with NC
|
|
|
|
Would love to come back to Kashmir: Zubin
Take cognisance of state’s failure to implement flagship schemes: AJKPC to Centre
Farooq hopes talks with Pak will have positive outcome
Protests in Kashmir over Shopian killings
Teesra morcha will be formed now: JD(U) chief
State govt giving stepmotherly treatment to OBCs: BSP
Only youth can save India, says BJYM
|
|||||||||||||||
|
NC-Cong coalition govt will complete full term: Omar
Jammu, September 8 “The people of Jammu and Kashmir have voted the National Conference (NC) and the Congress to power and we will complete the full term of six years. Some people spread speculation about early Assembly elections. People have voted us to power which we will not relinquish before the due date,” Omar said. He was addressing a public gathering at Chanderkote in Ramban district after laying the foundation stone of phase II of the Baghliar
hydroelectricity project. Ramban district is a Congress stronghold. Trying to defuse the tension with the Congress, Omar said, “The NC and the Congress are on the same page to protect and strengthen secular democratic credentials, ensure inclusive development equitably in all regions and sub-regions, fortify bonds of amity and brotherhood between various sections of society and work for peace and all-round development.” He asserted, “The joining of hands by the NC and the Congress is not for power, but for serving the people in accordance with their aspirations and achieving a prosperous, secular and peaceful Jammu and Kashmir.” Hitting out at people who had been trying to destablise the government, the Chief Minister said, “Some people want to weaken the bonds of coalition between the NC and the Congress for their vested interests. The ill-designs of these people will not succeed.” Trying to get the Congress on his side by mentioning the losses to both parties during the 2008 Amarnath land row, Omar said, “The events and disturbance in 2008 affected the National Conference and the Congress equally because both are champions of solidarity, democracy and unity of all regions and sections of society. The attempt in 2008 was to weaken the people’s faith in secularism, unity and brotherhood.” The Chief Minister added, “Both parties are committed to the welfare of the people and holistic development of the state and the coalition government is working in tandem and togetherness to achieve the stupendous task.” Omar’s statement came hours after NC president Farooq Abdullah said the party would opt out of forming the LAHDC-K, which was hurting its relations with the Congress. Relations between the NC and the Congress had reached a new low after the Chief Minister nominated four councillors to the LAHDC-K without consulting Congress ministers. Congress ministers were demanding that the order should be withdrawn. Talks among the coalition partners on the issue had not yielded any result. Talks of early Assembly elections were doing the rounds after the recent visit to Jammu of All-India Congress Committee general secretary and Jammu and Kashmir affairs in charge Ambika Soni. |
|
CM stresses financial autonomy of state
Jammu, September 8 Addressing a public meeting after laying the foundation stone, Omar connected the indigenous generation of surplus power and its sale to neighbouring states to his desire of financial autonomy of the state. "We have the capacity to generate 20,000 MW of hydroelectricity power. The coalition government has prepared a roadmap for producing 9,000 MW within the next few years," Omar said. He added that this initiative would not only help meet energy requirements of the state, but sell a major chunk of it to neighbouring states as well to earn remunerative finances for development of the state. The Chief Minister said he wanted to achieve financial autonomy for the state and relieve it of being constantly dependent on Central assistance for funds for development purposes. "The financial status of the state is grim. Our total annual income from all sources is only Rs 6,500 crore while we have to pay Rs 13,500 crore as salary to employees and Rs 2,000 crore to pensioners and our electricity loss amounts to Rs 2,000 crore annually. In this situation, we have to remain totally dependent on Central assistance," he elaborated. Omar thanked the UPA government for extending all help to the state and said the state would be in deep trouble in case there was a government at the Centre which was unfriendly to Jammu and Kashmir. "We have to focus on harnessing the hydroelectricity potential of our rivers to safeguard the economy and financial position of the state and free the state of financial stress," he said. Omar mentioned attempts by some elements to flare communal tension in Kishtwar and said the forces behind such incidents had been surviving on hatred. He urged the people to maintain the tradition of brotherhood and isolate the forces behind dividing society in the name of religion, region, creed, caste and colour. Referring to development programmes, the Chief Minister said schemes and projects started during Ghulam Nabi Azad's tenure had been completed by his government and new projects in all sectors had been launched. The Chief Minister said construction companies building various projects in the state in different areas had been categorically directed to engage the local youth in the work. He said any complaint on this count would be viewed seriously and erring companies taken to task. He urged the youth to upgrade their skills with training. |
|
Battle for Kargil council intensifies
Srinagar, September 8 An end to the crisis does not seem to be in sight, with the oath-taking ceremony of newly elected and nominated members of the council, scheduled for last Saturday, having been put on hold. Accepting the defeat to his party “due to its own mistakes”, NC president and Union minister Farooq Abdullah today said the Congress had emerged victorious in the Kargil council elections. “We decided that the Congress has won the elections and it should form the council,” he said while addressing party workers on the occasion of the death anniversary of his father Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah at his mausoleum at Naseem Bagh. “The NC lost the elections and we must accept that,” he said, adding that there was no need to prolong such issues. Hardening its stand, the Congress sought the withdrawal and cancellation of the nomination of four members to the LAHDC-K before taking any further steps. The nomination of four candidates to the council, all from the NC, on September 4, had led to the crisis as it tilted the balance in favour of the NC at a crucial stage. It had led to a series of meeting of the coordination committee of the two parties led by the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee president Saifuddin Soz and meetings of Congress ministers. “This is not the issue of council formation, but about the illegal and unconstitutional nomination of the four members,” Soz said after a series of meetings. He said the nominations had to be withdrawn and cancelled. The situation could be resolved only after the nominations were withdrawn and cancelled, he maintained. The 30-member LAHDC-K comprises 26 elected members and four members nominated by the state government. Elections were held on August 22 and counting of votes on August 28, in which there was a fractured mandate. The Congress emerged as the single largest party with 10 members, followed by the NC with eight members. The Congress had already claimed that it had the requisite number of members to form the council with the support of five Independents. The NC trailed with the support of 13 members, one short of the required number of 14. The nomination of four NC members on September 4 changed the scenario, with NC cadres claiming a majority with the support of 17 members to form the
council. bone of contention
|
|
Congress leaders want free hand to settle issues with NC
Jammu, September 8 Sources said during the visit of All-India Congress Committee
(AICC) secretary Parveen Davar to Jammu, a majority of party leaders sought to draw his attention to “misdeeds” of the NC. “Local Congress leaders present at the meeting made it clear that the party high command should give a free hand to the local leadership to settle all issues with the NC,” a source said. “They were of the view that soft attitude towards the NC would prove disastrous for the party in the forthcoming Lok Sabha and Assembly elections,” he said. The Congress leaders pointed out that despite assurances, the ruling NC has done nothing to incorporate relevant clauses of the 73rd Amendment of the Indian Constitution, the source added. There was a feeling among the state Congress that the NC was “deliberately undermining” the importance of its local leadership. “The National Conference, as a part of a deep-rooted conspiracy, is weakening the Congress,” former minister and senior Congress leader Abdul Gani Vakil alleged. He, however, expressed satisfaction that the state Congress managed to get the oath-taking ceremony postponed. “It is high time for the Congress leadership to aggressively implement its agenda in the government,” he said. Sources, meanwhile, said that the state Congress leadership was in touch with the high command on the Kargil council episode and three senior leaders were likely to visit New Delhi to brief the Central leadership about the “deceit tactics” of the NC. |
|
|
Four-tier security ring shielded Zubin concert venue
Srinagar, September 8 To ensure that the concert went on without any untoward incident, 15 additional companies of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were deployed along with regular deployments of the CRPF and the J&K Police. Around 2,000 CRPF men along with J&K Police personnel were deployed to throw up a four-tier security ring around the venue, CRPF spokesman Kishore Prasad told The Tribune. The inner ring, the strongest one, sources said was arranged by special personnel of the J&K Police, who secured the immediate surroundings of the 17th-century walled Shalimar Garden, overlooking the majestic Zabarwan Hills on the one side and the Shalimar locality on the other. The surrounding areas of the Shalimar Garden were also dominated by security forces and the police, with many sharpshooters having been placed at strategic points amid threats by little-known militant outfits, who had opposed the holding of the concert, sources said. The second ring involved securing all approach roads leading to the concert venue, which included the Boulevard Road, they said. The third tier of the security ring involved securing major arterial roads inside the Srinagar city, where the police and the CRPF had erected barricades and checked and frisked people. This was meant to prevent the movement of “suspects” within the city or towards the concert venue, the sources added. The fourth tier or the ring of security involved securing all entry and exit points from other towns or districts into Srinagar city. On the outskirts of the city, the security forces had erected barricades and frisked vehicles and people. “Apart from the regular deployment, we had deployed 15 additional companies of the CRPF especially for the security of the Zubin Mehta’s musical concert,” CRPF spokesman Prasad said. Asked if they might be feeling relaxed after the show was over, he said the deployed had been kept in reserve mode following developments in Shopian and the shootout in Srinagar city late Saturday evening. Apart from this, sources said nearly 1,500 security vehicles were involved during the event for escorting VVIP and VIP guests to the venue from the airport or from their hotels where they were lodged. unprecedented arrangements
Yet security breached
|
|
|
Would love to come back to Kashmir: Zubin Srinagar, September 8 "If I am wanted, If Kashmir wants me, I will come back ... (if) all parts of Kashmir (want)," Mehta, who mesmerised the audience at Shalimar Bagh on the banks of Dal Lake here yesterday, said. In a series of interviews to electronic media, Mehta said the event – Ehsaas-e-Kashmir (Feel of Kashmir) – went beyond his expectations. "It was much more (than expectation). It turned out to be an occasion which we will be proud of. Let us come back (next time), maybe we can do some things differently," he said. The maestro, who played most popular compositions of western classical music, tried to reach out to his critics and opponents in Kashmir saying he was their friend. — PTI
|
|
|
on the frontline
For German Ambassador to India Michael Steiner, the concert by globally acknowledged music maestro Zubin Mehta in the Shalimar Garden reduced the distance between Munich and Srinagar from over 7,000 km to zero, but for Kashmiris, the distance stood where it was.
Most of the Kashmiris decided to stay indoors, partly to oblige the separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani who had given a general strike call on Saturday, when the maestro conducted the fusion of western and Kashmiri music, and partly owing to the extraordinary security bandobast. People were checked, frisked, barricades were erected after every few yards. It looked as if Srinagar was a city where something terribly bad was going to happen. The Zubin Mehta’s concert “Ehsaas-e-Kashmir” (feel of Kashmir) and a counter concert, “Haqeeqat-e-Kashmir” (reality of Kashmir), organised by the civil society that highlighted the “sufferings of the people of the Valley”, showcased two different and diametrically opposite sides of Kashmir. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s “dream” of hosting such an event had come true and he declared that he would be hosting the same again on any given date and time. Omar knows that Kashmiris love music and are hospitable too. He was also candid in admitting that the music for 90 minutes “cannot hide the pain and sufferings of the people of Kashmir”. He was hoping for a peaceful tomorrow. That may or may not happen, no one knows because Kashmir is known for its unpredictability. It has seen many deceptive calms and pinned hopes on many false hopes. Zubin also acknowledged that they have hurt many, though inadvertently. In a way that was an acknowledgement of the reality of Kashmir: that everything was not as serene as the Shalimar Garden where the concert was held. But once the instruments started playing and appealing to the audience, for some time the “spirits were lifted”. The other side gave a different interpretation and felt that the concert was an attempt to dilute the nature of the “Kashmir dispute”. They felt that the concert would tell the world that Kashmir was calm and there was no issue whatsoever. Omar’s argument that there was nothing that would change the complexion of the Kashmir issue by the concert had no takers in the separatist camp. The commoners were not even remotely connected to the concert. They felt that the two sides were vying to get international exposure. It was a game of competition at the international level. If the Chief Minister and others were seeking global attention for Kashmir’s beauty and heritage, the other side also knew that opposition to such an event would mean their point of view getting across the world, as the media was taking both sides to the international community. Such a game of competitiveness, however, had its horrible story too. On the day of the “feeling” of Kashmir versus “reality”, there was violence at three places — Shopian, Pulwama and Srinagar city itself. Four people — two of them stated to be “anti-national elements” by the police — were killed and 10 others injured. Violence is not uncommon in Kashmir and the kind of shootouts and grenade attacks that took place on Saturday have been taking place in the Valley earlier too. Many are dead and buried and whenever such a figure comes out, it becomes a matter of another debate. The authorities have put the number close to 40,000 and separatists multiply it by three. Since the three incidents of violence coincided with the day when the concert sent the Kashmiri-western classical fusion music to the world, it was attributed to the harshness of the security forces for safeguarding “Ehsaas-e-Kashmir”, (as separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq put it) the show “of the elite, by the elite and for the elite” at the Shalimar Garden. Whenever people will remember the concert of Zubin Mehta on September 7, they will also recall the violence that took place on that day, and then another debate will begin on whether the concert displayed that “Ehsaas” (feel) or the “Haqeeqat” of Kashmir was once again laid bare with the deaths and injuries. Kashmir is a wounded paradise. That definition has not changed. |
|
3.42% women in J&K Police against 5.33% at the national level
Jammu, September 8 Surprisingly, women constitute only 3.42 per cent of the total strength of the state police despite crime against women having shown an upward trend in the state. At the national level, the representation of women in the Police Department is 5.33 per cent. “The total number of police personnel, both men and women, recruited in the J&K Police on different posts during the last 10 years (from January 1, 2003, to August 11, 2013) except Special Police Officers (SPOs) was 27,832 comprising 973 women,” Uttam Chand, public information officer, Police Headquarters, J&K, Srinagar, said in a reply. The activist had sought details from the Police Department regarding representation of women on different posts in the Police Department. “The total number of women police personnel serving in the J&K Police is 2,512, including 36 gazetted officers (from the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police and above), 154 on non-gazetted posts (Assistant Sub-Inspector to Inspector),” the public information officer said. Of the total number of women police personnel, 2,066 were serving in constabulary viz constable and head constable, while 256 women were on the Class IV category posts, he said, adding that only 48 women police personnel were serving on posts such as clerk, nurse, teachers and others. The reply also stated that even in temporary posts, the women were not given any preference. Of the total 24,730 SPOs working in the police, the number of women was 829. Reacting to the Police Department’s response, the activist alleged it was clear discrimination against women vis-à-vis appointment in police services. “It is unfortunate that though the crime against women is increasing day by day, the Jammu and Kashmir Government is not giving due representation to women in police services,” Sharma said. He claimed there were almost 15 per cent women police personnel in Maharashtra while the Chandigarh police had 13.48 per cent women police personnel. “Similarly, Tamil Nadu has 10.57 per cent and Delhi has 7.13 per cent. There is need for a special recruitment drive in the Police Department for women to bridge the gap between men and women,” the activist said. |
|
Take cognisance of state’s failure to implement flagship schemes: AJKPC to Centre
Jammu, September 8 The organisation also urged the Central government to release the funds under various schemes directly to the block level officers to expedite the development activities in Jammu and Kashmir. “The state government has not released even a single penny to the panchayats under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), despite the fact that five months of current financial year have already lapsed,” general secretary AJKPC Anil Sharma said in a statement here. “There was substantial demand from the people for jobs under the MGNREGA, but the panchayats are running out of funds, which has affected the development activities at village level across the state,” he claimed. Sharma also condemned the state government’s decision to take control of the submission of the ‘utilisation certificates’ regarding the expenditure made on various development works under the flagship scheme. “The decision is quite uncalled for. It is illogical, as it has affected the development activities on ground. There are 143 blocks in the state and the government would submit these certificates to the Centre only after it receives reports from all the blocks,” Sharma said. “Centre should take cognisance of it and release the funds directly to block level officers, so that funds are utilised in a better and transparent manner,” he said. The panchayats in Jammu and Kashmir are also deprived of the benefits of the Backward Regions Grant Fund (BRGF) scheme, Sharma alleged. “The Centre had released Rs 84 crore under the BRGF scheme for the state. But the panchayats are yet to receive funds under the programme,” the AJKPC leader said, adding that nothing significant has been done either, to implement other centrally sponsored schemes like Rajiv Gandhi Panchayat Shashaktikaran Abhiyan and Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Yojana in the state. Sharma warned that if the state government does not release the funds to PRIs within 15 days they would intensify their agitation. |
|
|
Farooq hopes talks with Pak will have positive outcome
Srinagar, September 8 The former Chief Minister said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif were expected to meet in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly this month. “I hope the leaders of the two nations will meet each other and have serious talks about stabilising the
relations,” Abdullah said while addressing a gathering here. The Union minister was in the city to pay tributes to his father Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, the founder of the ruling National Conference, on his 31st death anniversary on Sunday. Farooq said he hoped the two Prime Ministers would also discuss the recent flare-up along the Line of Control (LoC). "A deadly attack in August on an Army post in Poonch
sector led to a series of firefights and artillery duels between Indian and Pakistani armies along the LoC and endangered the decade-long ceasefire, which has been one of
the biggest confidence-building measures between the two neighbours,"
he said. Abdullah said the recent violations along the LoC had "saddened" people on both sides of the divide. “The life of people living in the areas near the Line of Control becomes miserable in these tense situations,” he said. Abdullah said the two nations could only find solutions to their mutual disputes through dialogue. “A long-lasting solution to the Kashmir issue can only be reached through amicable relations between India and Pakistan,” he said. |
|
|
People living along LoC rue govt apathy
Poonch/Jammu, September 8 Scores of villagers living near the de facto border in Poonch district have been badly affected by regular firing by the Pakistani troops and in the absence of any government help they have to either take refuge in the trenches or have to shift to their relatives’ place away from the fence. “Leave aside issuing any advisory, the district administration didn’t even bother to provide us safe shelters. They have also failed to send veterinary teams to our villages for the treatment of our injured livestock,” rued Mohammed Rashid, numberdar of Dera Dibsi village which is located between the barbed fence and the Line of Control (LoC). Since August 8, at least four civilians, including a 12-year-old boy, have been injured in the heavy firing from across the fence in the Poonch sector. Also three goats have been killed and nearly 15 buffaloes injured. People in as many as 40 villages are living either very close to the LoC or between the LoC and the fence.Official records reveal that over 50,000 inhabitants of these areas have been affected by the regular firing from across the border. However, since the outbreak of heavy fire between the two sides on August 8, the Poonch district administration till date has allegedly not issued any advisory for the people living in these villages. “We have over 16 panchayats between the fence and the LoC containing over 15,000 people… Over 40,000 people in my constituency have been affected by regular firing by Pakistan,” said National Conference Member of Legislative Assembly from Poonch-Haveli constituency Ajaz Jan. The Poonch district is geographically surrounded from three sides by
Pakistan and as a result people close to the fence are vulnerable to the direct or indirect firing from Pakistan. “Whenever the Pakistani troops open fire, especially during the nights, villagers close to the LoC take shelter either in trenches covered with lids or in a common house. In the morning these villagers return to their homes to attend domestic chores,” said a top Army source. He added that to avoid coming in the direct line of fire from the neighbouring country, in some of the villages people have constructed their houses with rear portion facing the Pakistani side. |
|
|
Protests in Kashmir over Shopian killings
Srinagar, September 8 The hardline separatists of the Valley had called for a strike yesterday against Zubin Mehta’s concert at Shalimar Garden here. Though the police in its statement has termed two “unidentified” slain youth as “anti-national” militants, it has identified the other two persons killed as local civilians. Another person who was injured in the CRPF firing has also been identified as a civilian. Locals, however, claim that all the slain persons were civilians. Owing to the strike call by the separatists, shops and other commercial establishments in Srinagar and other major towns of the Valley remained closed with authorities imposing curfew restrictions in Shopian and Pulwama districts in south Kashmir. Public transport in the city also remained disrupted. The inter-district transport service was badly affected. Work in government offices, banks and educational institutions in Srinagar and other parts of the Valley was also affected. There were reports of a minor stone-throwing incident at Sangrama village in north Kashmir in the wee hours today. Security personnel were rushed to the area. Hardliner Syed Ali Shah Geelani said the killings in Shopian and the shootout at Budshah chowk in Srinagar on Saturday had “further exposed the truth and reality” about Kashmir. Moderate Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq described the incident as “gruesome”. Curfew imposed
Srinagar: The south Kashmir districts of Shopian and Kulgam were on Sunday placed under curfew as tension in the region mounted over the killing of four men. Meanwhile, the Congress has condemned the killings terming them as "unfortunate".
— TNS |
|
|
Teesra morcha will be formed now: JD(U) chief
Srinagar, September 8 “What Sonia ji will decide, will happen. Who made Manmohan Singh ji the Prime Minister? …What she (Sonia Gandhi) wants will happen,” Yadav told reporters here. Yadav, who arrived in the city this afternoon and headed to a TRC ground to address a rally of party workers, was replying to a question on Prime Minister Singh’s comment in which he had virtually ruled himself out of the Prime Ministerial race in 2014 saying he is “happy to work under the leadership” of Rahul Gandhi. The JD(U) leader said the regional parties would emerge as a formidable force in 2014. “Both the parties (Congress and BJP) will not have majority in the coming elections. The majority will be with the regional parties,” he said. Yadav said a “teesra morcha”, comprising regional parties, will be formed. However, he did not elaborate on who else would be a part of it. He said the “teesra morcha” would decide if the Prime Ministerial choice ended between Congress’ Rahul Gandhi and BJP’s Narendra Modi. “It will be collectively decided,” he said. When asked if Modi was acceptable to his party as a Prime Ministerial candidate, Yadav said, “Don’t talk about it. We left when we were in the NDA. Don’t you understand it?” |
|
|
State govt giving stepmotherly treatment to OBCs: BSP
Jammu, September 8 Addressing a convention on "Discrimination with OBCs in J&K", Rajya Sabha member and BSP national general secretary Narinder Kashyap pointed out that in other parts of the country, Other Backward Classes were getting
27 per cent reservation as per the recommendation of the Mandal Commission but in J&K, this constitutional right was being denied to Other Backward Classes. He said fake
classes had been created to snatch the share of reservation from the deserving classes. "Articles 15(4) an 16(4) of the Indian Constitution have no provision of
reservation on the basis of geography and language," he said, adding that
reservation was being provided to an undeserving class under the name of Residents Backward Areas which was against the provision of the
Constitution. BSP state president Tulsi Dass Langeh also spoke on the occasion. |
|
|
Only youth can save India, says BJYM
Jammu, September 8 Raina said the nation needed a strong and visionary leadership. He claimed that the youth were rallying around Narendra Modi because they found him the best option available. Raina said the policies being adopted by the UPA government were weak and lacked direction. He claimed that neighbouring countries were showing repeated aggression against India because of these weak policies. |
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | E-mail | |
