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Cong workers turn to Soni with complaints about
NC
Cong convention passes four resolutions
Gujjars meet Soni, seek adequate representation in legislature
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Congress leader threatens to take on ‘abusive’ party minister
on
the frontline
Foeticide a serious concern, says Omar
Vibrant democracy to solve half of Kashmir problem: PDP patron
Villagers in PoK to protest presence of terrorists along LoC
Orphan children interact with Governor at Raj Bhawan
Apple trade in Shopian takes a hit
Palhalan returns to normalcy
Truck conductor found dead in Kulgam district
Gupta concerned over situation along LoC
J&K mountaineer aims to climb seven summits in 2 years
Educate people about welfare schemes: Cong MLA
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Cong workers turn to Soni with complaints about
NC
Srinagar, September 22 Sources said several Congress workers complained to Soni that they were not being given the “due attention” when they approached NC leaders with certain issues. The workers said as a result they felt alienated and discriminated against. The workers also raised the issue of panchayat empowerment and the alleged cold-shouldering of the Congress by the NC over the extension of the 73rd Amendment to the Constitution to the state. Sources said Soni told party workers she had already taken up the complaints of discrimination with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. She assured the workers that they would not face any sort of discrimination in the future. She also told Congress ministers to “sit in office” and listen to the problems being faced by party workers. She also laid emphasis on maintaining unity within the party, the sources added. After the convention, J&K Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president Saifuddin Soz said the meeting was successful but admitted that workers had given vent to certain grudges and complaints. He said 32 speakers had addressed the convention. Soz said a decision on the pre-poll alliance would be taken once the 2014 elections drew nearer. “We will take a decision while keeping our interests in mind,” he added. Meanwhile, the sources said the Congress decided it would hold six conventions during the next six months. “Six conventions, three each in Jammu and Kashmir regions, will be held in the next six months. Conventions will also be held in Anantnag and Baramulla in which the party will take stock of its strength and shortcomings to prepare for the 2014 elections,” a source said. Besides, Soni and Soz, Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad was also present at the convention. Azad and Soni refused to speak to the media after the convention, which was held at the Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) on the banks of the Dal Lake. |
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Cong convention passes four resolutions
SRINAGAR: The Congress passed four resolutions during the party convention held here on Sunday. J&K Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president Saifuddin Soz, while talking to reporters, described the convention as ‘very successful’ and said the party had passed four resolutions.
In the first resolution, the party stressed the need for maintaining unity and integrity in J&K. The second resolution urged the state government to set in motion a mechanism for adoption of the food security and land acquisition Bills in the interest of the people of the state. The third resolution stressed the need to hold elections to the local bodies in the state as early as possible. The fourth resolution emphasised the resolve of the JKPCC to urge the coalition government to incorporate important provisions of the 73rd Amendment to the Indian Constitution to the state to strengthen the panchayats. In his address, Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad urged Congress workers to remain fully united in serving the interests of the common people. Soni urged the ministers to strengthen their liaison with party cadres at all levels and assist the JKPCC president in strengthening the party. — TNS |
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Gujjars meet Soni, seek adequate representation in legislature
Srinagar, September 22 “The main demands included urgent need for reservations for adequate representation in the Legislative Assembly, Legislative Council and Parliament, in accordance with the Constitution of India, apportioning and utilising funds for the development of the Gujjar community on the basis of the strength of their population, creation of Ministry of Tribal Affairs at the state level in Jammu and Kashmir, lowering the minimum basic qualification for employment, particularly in Belt Force, to Class VIII pass,” the statement
said. Soni gave a patient hearing to the delegation and assured it all possible help in resolving its genuine demands. —
TNS
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Congress leader threatens to take on ‘abusive’ party minister
Srinagar, September 22 “The minister was very rude and he used abusive language against me. I have decided to take up the matter with the party high command in New Delhi,” said
Monga. The heated argument between the two Congress leaders reportedly took place at the VIP lounge of the Srinagar Airport on Saturday when they were waiting for the arrival of All India Congress Committee General Secretary and in charge of Jammu and Kashmir affairs Ambika Soni and Union Minister Ghulam Nabi
Azad. The sources said Taj, who represents the Uri constituency in north Kashmir, was upset over the joining of a former National Conference leader from the area without his knowledge.
Monga, on the other hand, pleaded that the joining of the former NC leader would make the party stronger, the source said. “Angry over Monga’s assertion, Taj started abusing him. As the situation started to worsen, senior Congress leaders, including Deputy Chief Minister Tara
Chand, who were present in the lounge pacified the duo,” he added. The sources said both Taj and Monga have taken up the issue with the AICC general secretary.
Taj, meanwhile, played down the incident saying it was nothing serious and the argument had started over a minor issue with the
MLC. |
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on the frontline
As of today, there are gory memories of 2010 that haunt people all across the Valley. The memories of that year are sitting in garlanded frames on the mantelpiece of houses of youths killed in street protests. For them, it was the killing of 17-year-old Tufail Mattoo in Rajouri Kadal in downtown Srinagar in June that added fuel to the fire and the protests raged on and spread across the Kashmir valley. The year redefined the nature and complexion of protests, from guns to stones. That
was the time when the politically ambitious people within the ruling
National Conference and its ally Congress sought to fulfill their
ambitions. But the Congress high command, and in particular Rahul
Gandhi, stood behind Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and derailed the
ambitions of the likes of Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee
chief Saifuddin Soz and a couple of ministers from within Omar’s own
party who wanted to crown themselves as Chief Minister. In January
2010, a new kind of resistance (stone-throwing) started with the killing
of a youth, who was crushed to death by a CRPF vehicle. Some equated it
with Palestinian “intifada” (uprising). Protesters defied curfew,
pelted security personnel with stones and invited bullets. They burnt
state property, injured security personnel and there appeared to be no
end in sight. Omar Abdullah was shuttling between Srinagar and Delhi
and was being lectured (by the then Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram)
to visit his people, interact with them. Omar, angry with the way things
were happening and the way he was being sermonised, blamed the Army for
being “the prosecutor and the judge” in the case of an alleged fake
encounter in which Army men had allegedly shot dead three civilians near
the Line of Control (LoC) in April 2010. The civilians were dubbed as
infiltrators from across the borderline, which they were not. They were
job seekers from a village near Sopore in north Kashmir. They were
killed in Machil close to the LoC. There were other facts too which
had started the trouble in the streets: one was the killing of
13-year-old boy Wamiq Farooq on January 31, 2010, followed by the
killing of Zahid Farooq in February that year. All this had a ripple
effect on the street protests. The protests against the Machil encounter
had erupted in north Kashmir and subsided. Rather those protests had
become a side story as the Kashmir valley had started celebrating
Kashmir’s Shah Faesal’s first position in the civil services
examination. He was felicitated by all — from Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh to then DGP Kuldeep Khoda. The killing of Tufail Mattoo was the
turning point and the matters slipped out of hand. The state government
among other things made a plea for more forces to deal with the
protests. The Centre obliged him. As such, the year 2010 stands for
everything that’s wrong with Kashmir. It is being complicated by many
to distort history. The latest charge against the Army is that it
orchestrated the trouble — street protests, stone-throwing and
killings in the Kashmir valley that year. The death toll was 120 plus. In a region of the world where the cruel irony of history has warped societies, the blame game is seen as the best answer to the problems confronting Jammu and Kashmir. The ruling National Conference that nurtures the perennial fear that there is an all-time conspiracy to weaken it and destablise its government, is borne out by the fact that New Delhi had indeed played that game in the past. But now most of the times it is fiction. While
the Machil “fake” encounter is a reality, but it took place on April
30. The killings of Wamiq Farooq and Zahid Farooq took place in January
and February that year. The Machil encounter caused trouble for a while,
but it was Mattoo’s killing that summoned people to the streets. That
is where the things went wrong — and that wrong has not been undone so
far — that explains why people are again responding to shutdown calls
by Syed Ali Shah Geelani, whose services were sought by the government
in 2010 to halt the violence and burning of public property. |
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Foeticide a serious concern, says Omar
Srinagar, September 22 The Chief Minister also said various initiatives have been taken by the state government for the welfare and holistic development of children, particularly the girl child, an official spokesman said. “The UNICEF participation in creating educational environment and making schools seats of human resource development is welcomed and the state would like to work with the organisation to achieve the stupendous task of comprehensive development of children, their protection and proper upkeep,” Omar said. The Chief Minister also said capacity building in teaching community is imperative in this regard and the UNICEF can extent favourable help to the state for this purpose, the spokesman added. “The state government and the UNICEF are presently working together for rehabilitation of juvenile and preventing them from indulging in crimes and misdeeds,” Omar said, adding that better educational environment in schools and proper care at home was essentially important in this regard. The meeting was attended by Minister for Social Welfare, Sakina Itoo, Minister of State for Education Feroz Ahmed Khan, Administrative Secretaries of the Social Welfare and Education departments and various other senior officers, the spokesman said. |
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Vibrant democracy to solve half of Kashmir problem: PDP patron
Jammu, September 22 He emphasised the need to strengthen democratic institutions in the state.
Addressing a public meeting at the Gadigarh area here today, Mufti said the people of Jammu and Kashmir had always harboured a feeling that democracy had been sabotaged in the state and even when elections were held, there was a tendency to manipulate these through overt and covert methods. “Central agencies have always been viewed with suspicion for their role in the electoral process and there is a general feeling that the Centre plays favourites and predetermines the outcome of the elections. This is a deadly feeling and needs to be addressed seriously, if we have to find a way forward in Kashmir,” he said. The PDP patron said the people had to understand that they could use the next elections to defeat any such designs by voting in large numbers and wisely to deny anyone a chance to affect results through manipulation or management. “Unless the will of the people of Jammu and Kashmir is accepted without reservations and their institutions are respected, the pain and suffering of the state will not end, neither will the resolution of the Kashmir problem become any easier.” He said it was during the NDA regime, under the leadership of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, that the fairest-ever Assembly elections were held in 2002, and that elections were the turning point in the political history of Jammu and Kashmir. “Defeat of Omar Abdullah from the Ganderbal Assembly segment had restored peoples’ faith in democracy and democratic institutions,” he observed. He said even in 2008 tactical rigging was carried out in Srinagar with the connivance of security agencies that gave
the National Conference (NC) the numbers to lead the present coalition. “They (NC) have been the worst enemies of the democratic system and the state” Mufti said. |
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Villagers in PoK to protest presence of terrorists along LoC
The Neelam valley facing Kupwara district of Kashmir was a major staging-post for militants from 1990 to 2003 and according to Intelligence sources the Pakistan army was trying to reactivate the launch pads in the area to push the insurgents into Jammu and Kashmir before the mountain passes become inaccessible due to snow. “The armed insurgents waiting to be pushed into India by the Pakistan army and the Inter Service Intelligence (ISI) are harassing local residents,” Shabir Choudhary, president of the Kashmir National Party (KNP), told the Tribune in an email interview from London. Choudhary was one of the founding members of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), but left the organisation in 1996 following a split in the organisation over the propagation of the Pakistani agenda on the Kashmir issue. He later set up KNP in May 2008. “That (part of the Neelam valley in PoK) area is under total control of the ISI and militants. To have a rally against them and declare it is a big step against the exploitation of poor villagers,” Choudhary said, adding that the party was expecting hundreds of people to attend the peace conference on September 30. He said Afzal Suleria, president “Azad Kashmir” unit of the KNP will organise the rally. ? “He (Suleria) wrote to me that armed militants were harassing the locals and that they feared an increased tension along the fence in the coming days,” Choudhary said. “By organising the peace rally, people want to send a strong message to Pakistan,” he added. According to Intelligence agencies, the Pakistan army and the ISI is desperate to push in terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir before the approaching winter. A report in this regard was earlier carried by The Tribune. It had mentioned that the Army was trying to strengthen its anti-insurgency grid along the international border and the LoC with Pakistan. |
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Orphan children interact with Governor at Raj Bhawan
Srinagar, September 22 The children were accompanied by Girija Dhar, chairperson of Raahat Ghar, and members of the advisory committee of the organisation, including Suraiya Ali Mattoo, Hawa Bashir, Nusrat Andrabi and Mumtaz Soz, an official said. The Governor, who had visited Raahat Ghar on Friday, had invited the children to Raj Bhawan. The children, as per an official press note, were delighted at the opportunity of being hosted by the Governor and his wife and be able to go around the Raj Bhawan lawns. The Governor handed over a vehicle to the management of Raahat Ghar for the transportation of children, which he had announced during his visit to the institution. He also gave a cheque of Rs 50,000 to the organisation for carrying forward its work for the rehabilitation of the orphan and destitute children. The Governor and his wife interacted with the children, inquired from them about their studies and wished them a bright future. They presented sweets to the children and hosted a tea party for them. Dhar and the members of the advisory committee thanked the Governor for his support and inviting the children to Raj Bhawan. They expressed their gratitude to the Governor and his wife for their active support and taking a keen interest in the welfare of the destitute children. Raahat Ghar is run by the Guild of Service, New Delhi, for the rehabilitation of orphan and destitute children. Presently, 52 such children from the far-flung areas of the Kashmir valley and the Ladakh region are being provided free of cost boarding, lodging, educational and vocational training facilities by the
organisation. |
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Apple trade in Shopian takes a hit
Srinagar, September 22 Due to curfew for 15 consecutive days in one of the apple towns of Kashmir, Shopian, the growers say the transport and sale of at least 1.5 crore apple boxes, which are annually produced in Shopian town and adjoining areas, have been affected. President of the Fruit Growers Association Ghulam Rasool Wagay told The Tribune that the apple growers feared further losses due to the long spell of curfew which had affected the transport of the packed apple boxes and might lead to the fruit damage. “Shopian is one of the hubs of apple production in the Valley and a major chunk of the apple produce in Kashmir comes from Shopian town and its adjoining villages. Due to the curfew, apple transport, marketing and sales have totally collapsed and the growers may suffer more loss than in any other part of the Valley,” Wagay said. He added that the crucial period from September to October determined the profits which were earned annually, as it was during this time that apples were packed and sent to various areas in and outside the state. “We have already lost 15 days and packaged apples will rot in this time. People there (Shopian) have not been able to step out of their homes and transport has mainly been off the roads. It will become increasingly difficult for the growers to retrieve their losses,” Wagay said. Scientists at the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST), Kashmir, held that the apple produce this year in Kashmir had suffered a major setback due to the leaf blotch disease which had led to a dip in fruit production by 70 per cent. Afeefa Kamili, Director, Extension Education, SKUAST-K, said the weather vagaries coupled with the non-adherence of guidelines by the apple growers had led to the problem which had affected the apple production. Wagay said the quality of apples had been severely affected, bringing down the cost of an apple box from Rs 700 to Rs 200. “We are incurring more than double the losses this year. The state government doesn’t seem bothered to aid the horticulture sector which employs around 80 per cent of the population in the Valley,” he added. |
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Palhalan returns to normalcy
Srinagar, September 22 Residents heaved a sigh of relief after restrictions were lifted. However, a contingent of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) was deployed The restrictions in the volatile Palhalan, about 30 km from here, were imposed on Wednesday morning after two Hizbul Mujahideen militants, Aqib Rashid Sofi and Bilal Ahmad Bhat, hailing from the village were killed in an encounter with the security forces in the Pattan area of district Bandipora on Tuesday. The locals had, however, alleged that the two were killed in the custody. In the last four days, there were reports of minor incidents of stone-throwing from the village and its adjoining areas.
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Truck conductor found dead in Kulgam district
Srinagar, September 22 The police has started the inquest proceeding under Section 174 of the Criminal Procedure Code to ascertain the cause and circumstances of the death, the spokesman added.
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Gupta concerned over situation along LoC
Jammu, September 22 “Due attention is lacking. Uncalled for public controversies are being created, which will not help in taking remedial measures. Rather it will provide fodder to the enemy guns under operation in various guises,” Gupta said while referring to the recent reports of the Army trying to destabilise an elected government in the state. The dispelled BJP member also termed the reports of Pakistan army trying to establish terrorist camps along the LoC to push highly trained ultras into India as a “serious development”. “It is a serious development, as the enemy has been indulging in violations of ceasefire with the ulterior purpose to create difficult situation for the forces, both at the frontiers as also in the interiors,” the former minister said. Gupta said the need of the hour was to pay more and more attention on the western and northern borders of the state, where “all is not well”. He alleged that there were certain elements within the Centre and its agencies that were playing in the hands of politicians. “There are certain elements within the government at the Centre, as also in their agencies, seem to be playing more in the hands of politicians rather than preparing for meeting any challenge to the security situation,” he said. |
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J&K mountaineer aims to climb seven summits in 2 years
Jammu, September 22 “Despite extreme weather conditions and threat of frostbites, each summit encouraged me to crave for conquering the seven tallest peaks on seven different continents of the world,” Major Jamwal, who hails from Badhori village in Samba district, told The Tribune. “I would like to accomplish my dream of climbing all the tallest peaks in next two years,” the officer from the 11th Battalion of JAT Regiment said. Major Jamwal, who received the Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Awards, 2012 from President Pranab Mukherjee on August 31, is the first mountaineer from the restive state of Jammu and Kashmir to climb the Mount Everest twice. The 38-year-old has so far scaled 20 peaks, including the Mount Everest (twice), Mount Aconcagua, the highest peak in South America and Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest peak of Africa. So far only 11 mountaineers from Jammu and Kashmir have been able to climb the Mount Everest. “The mountaineering not only demands prowess and endurance, but it also needs the spirit and determination to reach on the top of world.” “It is a great privilege for me to become the first mountaineer from Jammu and Kashmir to climb the Mt Everest twice, that too, in a span of less than a year,” he said. The officer added that he was planning to climb the seven tallest peaks located across different continents in next two years. The peaks include Mount Everest in Asia, Mount Aconcagua in South America, Mount McKinley in North America, Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa, Mount Elbrus in Europe, Mount Vinson in Antarctica and Mount Kosciuszko in Australia. So far, around 350 people from across the world have been able to climb all the seven summits. “You never know what lies ahead while climbing the icy peaks, win or death. A small mistake may put you in great trouble and that is why mountaineering requires great skill, expertise and courage,” he said. “I have been lucky enough to summit 20 peaks so far. I have lost one of the middle fingers of my hand in one of the expedition, but it that hasn’t stopped me from carrying forward my mission,” the mountaineer said. Major Jamwal joined the Army on October 24, 1994 as a Sepoy in Dogra Regiment (15 Dogra). He, however, cleared the Officer Examination (Army Cadet College) and joined the Indian Military Academy in 1998. Major Jamwal got commissioned into 11 JAT regiment in June 2002. |
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Educate people about welfare schemes: Cong MLA
Jammu, September 22 Addressing a meeting of party workers at Sangrampur village in the Marh block, Pawar said the party was committed for the welfare of the weaker and neglected lot of the society. She said various schemes like the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, Indira Awaas Yojana, etc… targeted at the weaker sections of society were launched during the
UPA regime. The leader said it was result of such pro-poor schemes of the Central government that socio-economic condition of a number of neglected people has been improved.Pawar, meanwhile, inaugurated the works done under the constituency development fund in the area and also distributed electric poles for the better power supply in the village. — TNS
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of Congress J&K affairs Ambika Soni chaired a party convention here today, several local party workers complained of facing “alienation” and “discrimination” at the hands of leaders of its coalition partner National Conference (NC).
Bharatiya Gujjar Mahasabha
(BGM), J&K, Eshfaq-ur-Rehman Poswal called on Ambika Soni, general secretary of the All India Congress Committee, here today and raised several issues of the Gujjar community with her.
Patron of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today said allowing a vibrant democracy in the state would resolve half of the vexed Kashmir problem.
A group of 41 orphan and destitute children of 'Raahat Ghar', Zakura, visited Raj Bhawan in Srinagar today and met Governor NN Vohra and his wife Usha
Vohra.
The year 2010 still remains an enigma.
The truth of this year is yet to come out though an underlined fact is
that it is etched in the memories of all those who lost their near and
dear ones in the public unrest. They are aware about the incendiary
focal point that marked the beginning of 2010.
Jammu, September 22
