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J&K slow in completing works under MGNREGA: CAG report
State government takes up cross-LoC trade issue with Centre
Shutdown against Shopian killings begins
Martyrs’ Day: Centre urged to stop ethnic cleansing of minorities
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Governor for taking activities of scouts and guides to far-flung areas
Modi no ‘Sikander’ for Azad
Cong leaders barred from function
Army Chief visits Ladakh
Probe into Shopian killings from September
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Two cops held for rape
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J&K slow in completing works under MGNREGA: CAG report
Jammu, September 14 This was revealed in the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) audit report, 2013, wherein the state was asked to complete unfinished works at the earliest. “Maintain 60:40 ratio for wage and material as per the operational guidelines. Inadmissible works will not be taken up. Keeping in view the low work completion rate, prepare a concrete policy for incomplete and abandoned work,” the report said. It was decided that J&K would, in a mission mode, ensure filling of vacant posts, besides impart training to MGNREGA functionaries. Apart from J&K, the other states included Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Goa, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Odisha and Rajasthan. The states have been advised not to engage contractors and labour
displacing machinery, besides issuing of completion certificate for all completed works. “Broad categories on which expenses are likely to be incurred during the next financial year would be elaborated for discussion and approval during the Labour Budget meetings 2014-15. To meet the expenses of new institutional structure, suggested in the revised
operational guidelines, the state would approach its Finance Department for budgetary support,” the CAG audit report maintained. Further, the Management Information System data analysis indicated that in J&K, Assam,
Bihar and UP, the participation of women was less than 33 per cent. To increase the participation of women, it was decided to involve them in the planning process, set up women groups in the MGNREGA processes and engage women in MGNREGA works. Sources said the Ministry of Rural Development had also discussed the key observations of CAG on the planning process under MGNREGA with other states. It was decided that the states would adhere to the provisions in the Act/guidelines for the planning process, preparation of perspective plan, maintenance of essential documents in a prescribed manner and ensure participation of vulnerable sections. Sources claimed that issues relating to registration and job cards, pointed out in the report, were discussed recently by the Ministry at length with the state representatives. |
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State government takes up cross-LoC trade issue with Centre
Srinagar, September 14 The traders suspended the trans-LoC trade via the Salamabad-Chakoti axis in north Kashmir on September 3, owing to the Custom’s Department order, and decided to go on an indefinite strike. On September 10, the traders, while showed their willingness to resume the business, lined up their goods trucks at the Salamabad Trade Facilitation Centre at Uri. However, the trucks could not cross the Kaman post at the Line of Control as the trade authorities in PoK also raised their objections to the Customs order. The Director General (DG) of the cross-LoC trade in PoK had sought a meeting with his counterparts at the Zero Line to sort out the issues before resuming the trade. The DG, sources said, had written to the Trade Facilitation Officer of the Customs Department at Salamabad, which was then forwarded to the Deputy Commissioner, Baramulla, by the Regional Passport Officer for further action. “I have written about the suspension of the cross-LoC trade to Commissioner Secretary, Industry and Commerce, J&K, who has now taken up the matter at the highest level in the Central government,” Deputy Commissioner, Baramulla, Ghulam Ahmad Khawaja said. |
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Shutdown against Shopian killings begins
Srinagar, September 14 The killing of four persons on Saturday last week, when internationally acclaimed music maestro Zubin Mehta was performing in Srinagar, and the killing of another youth on Wednesday this week at the same spot has stoked anger in the region. The police has said it suspected one of the four youths killed last week was a militant, while the rest of the dead had no militant record. Shopian district and its adjoining Pulwama and Kulgam districts have been under curfew for most of the time since the first killings took place a week ago. The head of Kulgam district administration said restrictions, which local residents say were part of the curfew, would be eased when the situation stabilised. On the first day of the two-day shutdown, all major markets in the city here and elsewhere in the region remained shut. Universities, colleges and schools were also shut while several examinations, including one to be conducted by the State Service Selection Board, which was scheduled for today, were postponed. Kashmir has remained shut two days earlier this week against the killings excluding the latest spell of shutdowns. Protests also continued in several parts of the Kashmir region, including in the curfew-bound Shopian district. A resident of Shopian said protests were on through most part of the day at Bongam, Shirmal, Alyalpora, Kanipora and Bonbazar localities of the town. Clashes between the police and the protesters also took place at Shopian’s Gagran locality, where five men were shot dead by the CRPF. In the city, protests were also reported from several areas of the old city. A police spokesman said Waheed Malik, 11, a resident of Hajin, who was travelling to Bandipora town of north Kashmir, was “seriously injured” when he was hit by a stone during a clash at the main market in Bandipora. The spokesman said protesters and residents clashed with each other at Nasoo in Bandipora district after residents objected to stone throwing. |
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Martyrs’ Day: Centre urged to stop ethnic cleansing of minorities
Jammu, September 14 They alleged that recent Kishtwar violence was a planned campaign by separatist elements which were openly spreading anti-India propaganda in the state, with the administration being a mute spectator. Prominent intellectuals said this during a seminar on ‘Battle of survival against growing fundamentalism in J&K’ on the occasion of the Martyrs’ Day. The day is observed every year on September 14 since 1990 to remember Tikalal Taploo, a prominent leader of Kashmiri Pandits, who was gunned down by militants as well as countless others who were killed over past two decades of insurgency in the state. PK president, Ajay Chrangoo said the state was witnessing a consolidation of regressive forces, which are fed by the religious theo-fascism meant to dismantle the edifice of Indian nation in the state. |
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Governor for taking activities of scouts and guides to far-flung areas
Srinagar, September 14 Vohra reiterated that the activities of the scouts and guides must be taken to remote and difficult
areas of the state, the spokesman said. The Governor, who is also the patron of the J&K State Bharat Scouts and Guides, was conferred the Silver Elephant Award (2011-2012), by President Pranab Mukherjee yesterday for being instrumental in the promotion of the activities of the scouts and guides and in recognition of his distinguished services to the movement in the state, the statement stated. “The Governor observed that this award is the recognition of the devoted work put in by all those associated with this movement in the state. He particularly referred to the missionary endeavours of NA Khan, state Chief Commissioner, J&K State Bharat Scouts and Guides, ID Soni, State Commissioner of the organisation, Roma Wani, senior woman vice-president, Nasreen Khan, Commissioner, Guides and Trainers, Rangers and Rovers, Scouts and Guides, Cubs and Bulbuls and Bunnies, their leaders and all those associated with the activities of the scouts and guides movement in the state,” it stated. The Governor expressed satisfaction that a large number of scouts and guides from both the Jammu and Kashmir divisions were qualifying for the Rajya Puraskar every year, with a number of them receiving the Rashtrapati Award. Referring to the 43 scouts and guides having qualified for the Rajya Puraskar 2013 from the Kashmir division, the statement stated, the Governor hoped that a significant number of scouts and guides from the Jammu division would qualify for the award this year, as in the past. |
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Modi no ‘Sikander’ for Azad
Jammu, September 14 “Naam Sikander Rakhne Se Koi Sikander Nahi Ban Jaata” (nobody becomes a ‘Sikander’ by naming himself as one)’, Azad told reporters on his arrival at University of Jammu here today. He was in town to attend a day-long health and awareness programme organised by a private institution at the University of Jammu. “Though it is an internal matter of the BJP and I cannot comment more than this,” Azad was quick to add. Responding to his remarks, chief spokesman of the state BJP Jitendra Singh said such remarks should rather be taken as a compliment for Modi because that only exposes how much unnerved and panicky the parties like the Congress and the National Conference (NC) were feeling over declaration of Modi's name as the BJP's prime ministerial candidate. Jitendra Singh said, a politician as senior as Ghulam Nabi Azad was expected to know better than most of us that it was not in keeping with the tradition of dignified public comment to pass such person, derogatory remarks about the leader of another political party... and that too about a leader who happens to be the prime ministerial candidate of the country’s principal opposition party. |
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Cong leaders barred from function
Jammu, September 14 A large number of Congress leaders could not enter the auditorium where the function was held as it was full when they reached the venue. Interestingly, the organisers of the function had closed the door of the
auditorium to debar any person from entering the hall. Even mediapersons were not allowed to enter the hall. Azad was in town to address a function which was organised to create health awareness. Many Azad’s loyalists had turned up to participate in the function. The organisers opened the doors of the hall after many college students, who among the audience, left the hall.
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Army Chief visits Ladakh
Jammu, September 14 General Bikram Singh arrived at Leh this morning on a day’s visit to Ladakh. This was his second visit to the region after taking over as the Army Chief on May 31 last year. He was received at the Leh airfield by GOC-in-C Northern Command, Lt General Chachra and 14 Corps GOC, Lt General Sharma. The Army chief had a detailed interaction with the Army Commander and the Corps Commander on the prevailing security scenario, infrastructure, development projects and various initiatives undertaken by the Army in Ladakh region, a Defence spokesperson said. He also reviewed the logistical infrastructure available to the soldiers and assured quality support to the troops. The Army chief expressed satisfaction over the operational preparedness of the formation, he added. General Bikram Singh’s visit to Ladakh comes at a time when there has been a rise in the incidents of intrusions by the PLA in Ladakh and face-offs between the troops on the two sides. Recently, a panel headed by the National Security Advisory Board Chairman Shyam Saran had also visited Ladakh to review the border infrastructure and also deal with several aspects relating to the region covering a broad spectrum of activities and requirements. Saran had also filed a report to the Prime Minister’s Office dealing with requirement of air facilities in the region along with matters relating to land acquisition and environmental and wildlife clearances. |
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Probe into Shopian killings from September
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Anantnag, September 14 The DC also urged people with any information regarding the incident to come forward and depose before him. “We will record statements by the eyewitnesses between September 16 and 21 during the office hours,” Bhat told The Tribune. He added that the enquiry will be conducted on a fast track basis. “We want to bring the facts to the fore as soon as possible,” Bhat insisted. The DC,
Shopian, was appointed as the enquiry officer of the probe by Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Shaliendra Kumar. The state cabinet, under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had ordered a probe into the incident on Thursday. Three people were allegedly gunned down by the CRPF personnel on September 7 in the Gagren area of
Shopian, while the fourth one was killed on September 11. The CRPF maintained that the slain persons were militants, who attacked their camp. But police have so far identified three of them as civilians with no militant links. The police, however, claimed that the fourth one, whose identity remains to be ascertained, might be a Lashkar operative from Pakistan. The police, though, came under severe criticism from the civil society groups and main-stream political parties, who claimed that the unidentified person was a non-local
labourer.
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Two cops held for rape
Katra, September 14 While assistant sub-inspector Harmesh Mehta and special police officer Karnail Singh were arrested yesterday, following the protests by the agitated inmates of the camp, Satvir Singh, a sub-inspector and former PA to the SSP, remains at large. Acting on specific information, the Deputy Superintendent of Police Jagdev Singh Salathia under the supervision of SP, Reasi, Sharief Chouhan conducted a raid at a hideout yesterday and recovered the girl, police said. Two policemen were arrested from the spot. However, Satvir Singh managed to escape, it said. Earlier, the parents of the victim along with the people of the camp carried out protests and blocked the Reasi-Rajouri national highway, forcing District Magistrate Dr Shahid Iqbal to depute Additional District Magistrate Tilak Raj Shastri to the spot. The protesters alleged that Satvir was engaged in malpractices since long and despite the complaints made against him no action was taken by the police. — OC
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Srinagar, September 14
Jammu, September 14
