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General VK Singh’s remarks on army funds Centre must change its policy on Kashmir: PDP
Panches fear fresh militant attacks
Constable shot dead by militants in Pulwama
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Govt calls high-level meet to break LoC trade impasse
State registers decline in enrolment in schools
Now, traders threaten to suspend cross-LoC trade via Poonch
Army carries out search along LoC in Kupwara
Temple Bill unlikely to come up in Assembly session
Of 32,400 militancy-hit widows in state, just 3,195 receive pension
BJP writes to Antony over missing soldier
Cong’s secularism exposed during Kishtwar riots: BJP
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General VK Singh’s remarks on army funds
Srinagar, September 25 Mir’s name had figured in a media report regarding the functioning of a top secret intelligence unit in the state set up by General Singh. The report revealed the use of secret service funds to “destabilise” the Omar Abdullah government. “If a fair probe is held, the truth will come out and I will stand vindicated. Therefore, I offer myself to an open and time-bound probe to look into these allegations,” Mir said in a statement issued here. The minister said a concerted effort was being made to make a dent in his “political integrity and popularity”. The allegations levelled against him were politically motivated and absolutely false, he added. The Agriculture Minister, who heads the Democratic Nationalist Party (DNP) and is an ally of the Congress in the coalition government, said: “These controversies have not only sought to besmirch my personal reputation but also humiliated the people with whose support and faith I am where I am.” “I have been elected and have been a minister three times since 1984. No institution or agency can create popularity. I am neither a man of agencies nor that of any institution”, Mir stated. “Let me assert with all the force at my command that I have always stood for democracy and the strengthening of democratic institutions. I do not need any certificate about my credentials. My people are the best judge of my character and performance. I cannot be cowed down by any falsehood being spread about me. I stand for the truth,” Mir stated. Ministerspeak |
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Centre must change its policy on Kashmir: PDP
Srinagar, September 25 “The revelations need to be investigated through a credible institution even though the facts that have come out are enough to establish that these methods are a part of the Kashmir policy of the Government of India,” PDP president Mehboba Mufti said at a press conference here this evening. She said the Central government should change its policy on Kashmir, which had been adopted since 1947. The PDP president said the ruling National Conference was trying to use the exposé to cover its atrocities in 2010 that left 120 persons dead. “But it was this government that by its own admission investigated those cases and arrested thousands of youth. Most of them are still facing police cases. Criminal proceedings and FIRs against them have destroyed the career of about 10,000 young people. Those who were gunned down by the police and security forces were dubbed as criminals, anti-nationals, drug addicts and paid agents,” she said. Mehbooba said the former Army Chief’s remarks only confirmed the impression among the people of the state and did not come as a surprise. “We all are painted in the same colour… this is unfortunate,” she said. |
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Panches fear fresh militant attacks
Rajouri, September 25 Reacting to the statement, Shafiq Mir, All Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Conference chairman, today said the General’s statement had not only put their lives in danger but the image of the panchayat leaders and their role had also turned suspicious. “Six representatives have already been gunned downed and dozens seriously wounded in terror strikes in the state. The General’s revelation has put the lives of 33,000 panchayat members in the state in danger as the panchayat members are already being targeted and labelled as agents of various agencies,” Mir said. General Singh must reveal the names of persons who were given money for the panchayat elections in 2011. “We also demand that the matter be investigated by a sitting judge of the Supreme Court or the High Court so that the truth comes to the fore,” he said. “We want to make it clear that we had contested the elections only to serve the people at the grass-roots level and no political party was involved in the elections and not a single panchayat member was given a penny for the elections. Then the question arises who was paid this money?” asked Mir. “We can’t rule out that some politicians or officials have grabbed the Army’s money in the name of conducting the panchayat elections. But in that case, it is General Singh’s moral duty to name those individuals.” |
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Constable shot dead by militants in Pulwama
Anantnag, September 25 “The gunmen intercepted him outside his home and shot him in his head,” said a senior police officer
from the area. He said the policeman was killed instantly. “We are moving towards the slain constable’s house.” The police officer said Wani was posted in Srinagar and had come home on leave today. The police has cordoned off the area and launched
a manhunt to nab the gunmen.
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Govt calls high-level meet to break LoC trade impasse
Srinagar, September 25 The meeting, scheduled to hold in New Delhi on September 30, is being convened by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) after the state government formally took up the issue of the cross-LoC trade with the Union Home Secretary. It will be the first high-level meeting to discuss the ways to end almost a month-long impasse. “We took up the issue of the recent Customs Department circular with the Union Home Secretary and the MHA has now conveyed a meeting on September 30. The meeting will be attended by the officials of Ministry of External Affairs, Customs Department and the Jammu and Kashmir Government,” state Commissioner-Secretary, Industries and Commerce Department, Farooq Ahmad Faktoo told the Tribune. The cross-LoC trade continues to remain suspended since September 3, as the traders from Kashmir are seeking withdrawal of the Customs Department order that disallows trading of items produced in Pakistan. “We are hopeful that the trade will resume shortly and all the issues will be resolved amicably,” Faktoo said. A meeting of the Trade Facilitation Officers from Kashmir and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir was held in Uri recently, but it failed to end the deadlock. The cross-LoC trade was initiated five years ago between the two parts of Kashmir and is considered as major confidence building measure between the two neighbouring countries since partition. The cross-LoC traders, however, allege that the trade was sinking. “More than 600 traders were involved in the trade when it first started. But the number has come down gradually and now less than 50 traders are associated with the trade,” said a cross-LoC trader.
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State registers decline in enrolment in schools
Jammu, September 25 In government schools, the decline is 5 per cent at the primary level and 9 per cent at the upper primary level. Further, the average annual dropout rate remains high at 9 per cent, with Kishtwar district having the highest dropout rate of 25 per cent followed by Pulwama (22 per cent), Poonch (15 per cent) and Ganderbal (14 per cent). This was revealed at the recently held Project Approval Board (PAB) meeting for the Annual Work Plan and Budget 2013-14 for the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and the Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV) for J&K under the chairmanship of secretary, Department of School Education and Literacy. The meeting said out of 60,037 cumulative works sanctioned under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan for J&K till now, 43 per cent works had been completed, 9 993 (17 per cent) works were in progress and 24,125 (40 per cent) works were yet to be taken up. The percentage of works completed is 51 per cent. “Out of 99 KGBVs sanctioned to the state, four are yet to be opened. Only 31 KGBV buildings are complete and construction is yet to start on 31. The state proposed 309 primary schools and upgrade of 138 primary schools to upper primary schools. The state has not completed the school mapping exercise. As many as 85 new primary schools sanctioned earlier are yet to be opened, the meeting said. Sources said the PAB did not approve the opening of new primary schools. In 2012-13, the state had a target of bringing 75,152 out-of-school children to school, including migrant children, but it could cover only 35,033 children. The PAB had specifically asked the state representatives to ensure that the children of migrating communities such as the Gujjars and Bakarwals were covered, either through a school at the destination place or through seasonal hostels. Sources said an outlay of Rs 1,647 lakh for special training for out-of-school children was approved on the condition that all children were enrolled in schools and the school headmaster would inspect and supervise the centres at regular intervals. |
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Now, traders threaten to suspend cross-LoC trade via Poonch
Jammu, September 25 The traders in Poonch yesterday served an ultimatum of two weeks to the authorities to remove the roadblocks being created by the Customs Department. They said if it wasn’t done before the deadline, they would suspend the trade. “The trans-LoC trade via the Salamabad Trade Centre in Baramulla district was suspended on September 2 after the Trade Facilitation Officer banned the import of merchandise from Pakistan on the grounds that items produced or manufactured in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) would only be allowed and Pakistan would be considered third a country,” said Hilal Turki, general secretary of the Chamber of Cross-LoC Trade, J&K. Pawan Anand, president of the Chamber of Cross-LoC Trade, J&K, said, “We give two weeks to the government from Tuesday to resolve the grievances of the traders or else we would suspend the trade via Chakan da Bagh after the given deadline.” “The Customs Department has been creating hurdles in the smooth conduct of the trade and now it has become difficult for us to do trade with our counterparts in PoK,” said Anand. “Without informing us in advance they (Customs Department) day in and day out ban merchandise from PoK,” he added. The department in recent times banned mango, dry dates and other items despite the items being traded for the past five years when the trans-LoC trade between PoK and J&K had started in 2008, said Anand. “The authorities till date have also failed to install full-body truck scanners at the two centres and they have also failed to organise our meeting with PoK traders in the past six months, which normally should happen every month,” said Anand. “Under the standard operating procedure (SOP), it was mentioned that goods produced or manufactured in Pakistan or India would not be allowed in the trans-LoC trade. We have been doing trade on items which have been banned now,” said Turki. He expressed regret on what he called the “amateurish” approach of the Indian trade authorities. The trans-LoC trade between two divided Kashmirs takes place via Salamabad on the Uri-Muzaffarabad route and via Chakan da Bagh on the Poonch-Rawalakote route every week from Tuesday to Friday. At least 600 Indian traders are registered with the Salamabad Trade Centre in Kashmir and 165 Indian traders are registered with the Chakan da Bagh Trade Centre in Poonch district. |
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Army carries out search along LoC in Kupwara
Srinagar, September 25 The sources said the search operation began early this morning when troops noticed the movement of militants in Shalbatu, Machil, close to the Line of Control (LoC). “There is an exchange of fire after short intervals between troops and militants. We suspect that there are casualties on their side, but so far no body has been recovered. The operation in the forests is continuing,” said spokesman for the Army’s Srinagar-based 15 Corps Naresh Vij. “There are a large number of terrorists on the other side who are trying to infiltrate,” the Army spokesman said. On September 23, the Army had foiled an infiltration bid and killed an unidentified militant in the Machil sector of Kupwara. Meanwhile, a huge cache of weapons and explosives was seized from the Tangdhar sector of Kupwara along the LoC by the Army during a search operation. “The cache included an AK-56 rifle, pistols, ammunition and explosives,” he said. He said the areas along the LoC were on high alert and security forces deployed along the LoC were prepared to thwart any likely infiltration attempt by militants. |
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Temple Bill unlikely to come up in Assembly session
Jammu, September 25 The Committee decided to meet again to sort out the issue. Though no dates were announced for another meet, sources said while the Dharmarth Trust and Sadhu Samaj opposed a single body for looking after hundreds of religious places of the minority community in Kashmir, the displaced Pandits were adamant on having one body to manage the shrines, alleging that vested interests are trying to subvert the Bill and create confusion among people. The meeting was today chaired by Law Minister Mir Saifullah, who is also the chairman of the committee. Abdul Rehman Veeri of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Mustafa Kamal of the National Conference and MY Tarigami of the CPM were present today. Other members of the committee, Panthers Party MLA Harsh Dev Singh, rebel BJP group MLA Chaman Lal Gupta and Jammu State Morcha member Ashwani Kumar did not attend today’s meet. Dharmarth Trust president RS Jamwal, who attended the meeting, said, “We will continue to oppose a single management for shrines because it is not viable and will create confusion. Our trust should be allowed to look after temples under our control.” The Trust, established by the erstwhile Dogra rulers, look after 12 shrines. Prominent among those are the Kheer Bhawani shrine and the Shankarcharya temple. After the exodus of the minority community in 1990 from the Valley, in the absence of any management mechanism, properties belonging to ancient temples have become a major target of land sharks. In many cases, members of the Pandit community have also actively helped by manipulating the toothless Distress Sale Act-1996, brought by the government, making all sales by the minority community during militancy null and void. Pandit Prem Nath Bhat Management Trust president Arjun Nath Pandita said, “We put our point that only a single management body will be acceptable to us and no shrine should be kept out of it because shrines belong to the entire Hindu samaj.” PDP MLA Abdul Rehman Veeri said, “We have received several representations on the issue and until everybody is taken on board, things cannot proceed. Another meeting will be held with the representatives soon.” |
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Of 32,400 militancy-hit widows in state, just 3,195 receive pension
Srinagar, September 25 Chief Minister Omar Abdullah led State Rehabilitation Council (SRC) is yet to chalk out a strategy to help financially support nearly 28,9200 militancy-hit widows although the Chief Minister had directed the council to immediately cover these widows last year while chairing the sixth meeting of governing council of the SRC. Although, the District Social Welfare Office, Srinagar said there was no survey conducted by the Social Welfare Department on these widows, the Sociology Department of the Kashmir University headed by Bashir Ahmad Dabla, Head of the Department conducted a survey in 2010- 2011 which have put these numbers at 34,800. Dabla said the state and Central governments have failed to formulate a proper social policy which could help financially aid, provide employment opportunities and skilled training to these widows. “On one hand, the state government accepts that the militancy-hit widows have been living in a deplorable state here, but on the other hand it is doing nothing to support them. Both the state and the central governments should heal the wounds of the sufferers of the Kashmir conflict, and not act insensitive,” Dabla said. He said the SRC was acting as a dysfunctional body and had not been able to fulfil the purpose for which it was created. “The economic, social and health condition of these widows has not improved, so there is no work on the ground being done by the government. I would suggest starting a census of the militancy hit victims (widows, destitute and orphans) by the state government which could be followed up by real action,” he said. Official sources at the District Social Welfare Office said the survey was being conducted to ascertain the numbers of the militancy-hit victims, which is being carried out by Integrated Child Welfare Scheme (ICDS) workers. “The SRC pension scheme has been in place for last few years now, but the survey on these militancy hit widows is yet to be completed. The number of widows we provide pension to is also decided by the state government. During 2010-2011, Rs 3.35 crore pension was disbursed to the widows,” Aijaz Ahmad, an official in the District Social Welfare Office, Srinagar, said. Minister for Social Welfare Sakina Itto today asked for a fresh survey to ascertain the total number of militancy hit victims so that all beneficiaries were covered under the state rehabilitation scheme. |
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BJP writes to Antony over missing soldier
Jammu, September 25 In a letter to the Defence Minister, Khanna stated that it was a serious matter and urged him to take personal interest in the issue. Ranjeet Kumar from 8 JAKLI (Siachen) was reported missing from his unit in Bomdila in Arunachal Pradesh since January 1. “I request that the matter of the missing jawan be looked into seriously and appeal to you to take personal interest to get the missing jawan traced,” Khanna wrote in the letter. The family members of Ranjeet Kumar had earlier on September 22 requested the state government to take up the matter with the Defence Ministry. The family had levelled serious allegations against the Commanding Officer of the unit and had demanded a thorough probe into the matter. It had also alleged that the officers concerned of the unit were not cooperating with them in tracing Ranjeet. |
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Cong’s secularism exposed during Kishtwar riots: BJP
Jammu, September 25 In a statement issued here today, Khanna said Soz should know that the BJP had following in all communities and its prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi’s popularity was increasing. Khanna said it was the Congress which had been using a communal card from time to time for vote-bank politics. “It is the same party which creates communal tension at the time of the election by appeasing one community at the cost of the other,” he said. He alleged that the Congress’s secularism was exposed during the Kishtwar riots. “The Kishtwar riots on August 9 were engineered by the administration under the patronage of a coalition minister who also is the local MLA of Kishtwar but the Congress did not raise any objection to the minister’s conduct. On the other hand, a Union minister belonging to the Congress made a statement in Parliament saying that the Kishtwar riots were a result of personal altercation,” he said. Khanna said the BJP was the only truly secular party in the country and the coming election would prove this because the people had understood the Congress’ pseudo secularism which was based on caste and religion.
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Days after the controversial disclosure made by former Army Chief General V K Singh, state Agriculture Minister Ghulam Hassan Mir here today broke his silence pleading innocence and described the allegations against him as “politically motivated”. The minister said the truth would come out if a “fair probe” was held and he was open to a probe to look into the allegations against him.
In a bid to end the deadlock over the suspended cross-Line of Control (LoC) trade, the Union Government has called a high-level meeting of various Central ministries and the Jammu and Kashmir Government next week.
The meeting, scheduled to hold in New Delhi on September 30, is being convened by the Ministry of Home Affairs
(MHA) after the state government formally took up the issue of the cross-LoC trade with the Union Home Secretary.
