The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	Srinagar Master Plan violations HC not satisfied with details given by municipal corporation Ishfaq Tantry Tribune News Service Srinagar, November 12 The Jammu and Kashmir High Court today observed its displeasure over the statement of movable and immovable properties of various officers and officials of the corporation furnished by the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) Commissioner. The High Court directed the officials of the enforcement wing of the SMC to give an undertaking by the next hearing that they would not move any of their properties till further orders. It also expressed dissatisfaction over the stand taken by the government with regard to the violations noted in the Srinagar Master Plan and directed it to spell out its interim policy decision by the next hearing, fixed for November 21. The directions were issued by a division bench comprising Justice Muzaffar Hussain Attar and Justice Ali Mohammad Magray while hearing a public interest litigation seeking action against illegal constructions and structures falling within the limits of Srinagar city. The court, in its orders passed on November 11, sought the personal appearance of SMC Commissioner GN Qasba before the court on November 12 along with details of movable and immovable properties of officers and officials of the corporation. Though the SMC Commissioner was present in the court along with the details of movable and immovable properties of some of the corporation employees, the bench was not satisfied with the details furnished. “The list you have provided is just like filling the gaps. It does not show the actual things on the ground. It does not reveal anything about the enforcement officials/officers of the corporation,” Justice Attar observed. He further observed that all violations of the master plan, which had been noted over the years, had occurred because of the connivance of the SMC officials responsible for the enforcement. Advocate General Mohammad Ishaq Qadri submitted that while taking a policy decision with regard to the master plan violations, the government was also taking all the ground realities into account. He said the matter would be referred to experts and a new Srinagar Master Plan was being formulated. After the expert opinion and after the new master plan is formulated, a decision would be taken while taking all ground realities into account, he submitted. On this, the court observed that it would be a time-consuming process and instead wanted the government to take a policy decision over the violations in the interim. “Our heels are dug in the present. That is a matter related to the future. The court wants government’s policy on the matter,” Justice Attar observed. After hearing all sides, the bench directed enforcement wing officials of the SMC, including Chief Khilafwarzi (enforcement) official, Khilafwarzi officer, ward officers and building inspectors, to give an undertaking by the next date of hearing that they would not move any of their properties till further orders. The court also directed the government to give its stand with regard to the violations. What the pil says In the PIL titled, ‘Mujeeb Andrabi versus State’, the petitioners had prayed to the High Court to take a “strong note” of the constructions made without the permission of the Srinagar Municipal Corporation and in violation of the master plan in Srinagar city. It also pressed on to pass directions to the authorities concerned for demolishing such structures in the interests of the public. Taking a serious note of the violations of the Srinagar Master Plan, the High Court had directed the state government on October 31 to identify and take action against officials responsible for facilitating violations.
	Civil-Military Liaison Conference at Nagrota Now, J-K to give ex gratia to soldiers killed on LoC Earlier relief was restricted to counter-terror operations in state Tribune News Service Jammu, November 12 In an appreciable move for the men in olive green, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today agreed to extend ex gratia relief to soldiers who lay down their lives while guarding the 744-km-long Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir. The soldiers belonging to J&K, who attain martyrdom in other parts of the country while performing their duties in the service of the nation, would also be entitled for the ex gratia from the state government. Earlier, the state government had been giving ex gratia only to the soldiers who were sacrificing their lives in counter-terrorist operations in the restive state. “Chairing a civil-military liaison conference (CMLC) at Nagrota, near here, today, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah graciously agreed to extend the ex gratia relief to soldiers (of any state) who lay down their lives on the LoC and to J&K domicile soldiers who lay down their lives in the line of duty in operations in other states of the country,” said Defence Ministry’s Northern Command spokesperson Lt Col Rajesh Kalia. The spokesperson disclosed that hitherto the ex gratia was confined to soldiers attaining martyrdom in counter-insurgency operations. “He (CM) also agreed to remove the distinction in ex gratia amount for soldiers belonging to J&K and those belonging to other states. The Chief Minister also agreed to the Army's proposal of providing financial assistance to all World War-II veterans and their widows at the scale of Rs 3,000 a month,” said Kalia. Earlier, Northern Command chief Lt Gen Sanjiv Chachra, in his welcome address, mentioned that while the formal conference was being held after four years, the state government had always been very responsive to requirements of the armed forces. “The volatile internal security scenario has been effectively controlled due to the proactive and concerted efforts of all security forces and the civil administration,” he said. General Chachra requested the Chief Minister to address the rehabilitation of ex-servicemen on priority and help the serving soldiers, veterans and “veer naris” in finding a speedy solution to their problems. While speaking about the participative contribution of the armed forces, General Chachra said he had passed directions that as far as possible the Army’s requirements for food and supplies, construction material and contractual requirement for infrastructure would be sourced from within the state to boost the economy and generate growth. He said the Army would be happy to assist the state administration in fields of education, health and sanitation. “Our future social projects have been reoriented to look at small-scale projects to meet aspirations of the people residing around our bases,” General Chachra said. He said he would like to place on record the Army’s deep appreciation for the Chief Minister for being positive and alive to the issues concerning the armed forces personnel in J&K. In his address, the CM mentioned that very few states in the country had the kind of close relationship that the civil administration and the Army shared in J&K. He mentioned that he had been closely interacting with colleagues in uniform, and the civil administration would continue to provide support and assistance to nurture this important relationship. Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand highlighted the problems of farmers, whose agricultural land had been affected on account of minefields. The Army agreed to process the compensation to the landmine casualties and people displaced by the construction of the LoC fence in the border areas. Both the Army and the civil administration acknowledged the need for working together towards the welfare of the people and security of the state. Aid for J-K soldiers The soldiers belonging to Jammu and Kashmir, who attain martyrdom in other parts of the country while performing their duties in the service of the nation, would also be entitled for ex gratia from the state government Army vacates 12 buildings Jammu: Northern Command chief Lt General Sanjiv Chachra, addressing the civil-military liaison conference, said he had ordered a comprehensive audit of the Army’s land holdings and requirement in the entire state so that only essentially required land was retained. In the process, 12 buildings had recently been vacated by the Army and another eight buildings would be vacated very shortly. Out of the 66 field firing ranges of the Army in the entire country, 12 are located in J&K
	Meeting held after 4-yr gap Jammu, November 12 With the state gearing up for the forthcoming general elections and the Assembly polls, the administration and the Army organised the civil-military liaison conference today after a gap of four years. The conference, supposed to be held every year, had been “gradually forgotten” over the years. “The last civil-military liaison conference took place in September 2009 in Jammu at the residence of the Chief Minister and now it happened today after more than four years in a state, which is militancy infested and which is not peaceful at all,” an official source said. “If the Unified Headquarters meeting can take place frequently for security reviews, what prevented the people at helm to hold civil-military liaison conference in the last four years and what prompted them to hold it now?” he asked. The official added that if J&K is not a peaceful state and if the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) is a necessity, how come civil-military liaison conference remained a casualty for so long. More than four lakh ex-servicemen and their families in the state have time and again expressed that the meeting should be held every year. In these conferences the state government and the Army share their views and concerns and work cohesively to find a solution to them, said an ex-serviceman. The meeting takes up a host of issues, including those pertaining to land acquisition, welfare of soldiers, ex-servicemen, veer naris (wives of Army jawans) and families of martyrs. “Earlier, these conferences used to take place every year, but the practise somehow ceased and has been gradually forgotten,” said a retired Brigadier, who insisted anonymity. — TNS
	Guv for effective policing to ensure safety of women Tribune News Service Jammu, November 12 Governor NN Vohra today expressed concern over the declining security of women and children in society. He stressed for good and effective policing, supported by fair and impartial judicial system to ensure the safety of women, children, elders and the people at large. The Governor said the Police Department required modern approaches to effectively curb criminal activities, as “classical and conventional policing” would not be able to meet the growing challenges in society. He said this while referring to the topic, “In the Opinion of the House, Only Stringent Legal Provisions can Ensure Safety of Women in the Country”, at the 12th Veeranna Aivalli Memorial debate at the University of Jammu. He was the chief guest at the prize distribution function organised by the Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA), J&K Regional Branch, and the Department of Students Welfare, University of Jammu. The prize distribution function was attended by Swarna Aivalli, wife of late Veeranna Aivalli, functionaries and members of the IIPA, senior serving and former civil and police officers, prominent citizens, academicians and students. He also emphasised the need for the development of a societal code of conduct, which was founded in ethical and moral values, alongside effective policing, prompt investigations and speedily bringing the guilty to justice to ensure the safety of women and children. “Today, we are living in a real-time world and this itself creates a situation which requires modern approaches to effectively curb criminal activities,” the Governor said. He observed there was a crucial need for imbibing and re-invigorating ethical and moral values among the students right from junior school to the university level so that they could contribute towards establishing a more harmonious and peaceful society. He also referred to his meetings with late Veeranna Aivalli in the early 1990s and observed that he was an officer of high integrity. Referring to the activities of the IIPA, Vohra congratulated Dr Ashok Bhan, Chairman, IIPA, for the activities arranged by him. He also released the November 2013 issue of the IIPA newsletter. Ashok Prasad, Director General of Police, dwelt upon various strategies to ensure the safety of women and children. He paid rich tributes to late Veeranna Aivalli. MPS Ishar, Vice Chancellor of the University of Jammu, said the debating contests provided the students an opportunity to put forth their views in an effective manner. The Governor presented the Veeranna Aivalli Memorial Rolling Trophy to the winning team of Government College of Engineering and Technology, Jammu. The team comprised Abhinandan Singh and Dhruvika. He gave a cash reward of Rs 2,500 to Abhinanadan Singh for securing the first position in the debate and Rs 2,000 to Akanksha Rajput of Government College of Education, Jammu, for being adjudged second and Rs 1,500 to Apoorva Jamwal of the Department of Economics, University of Jammu, for bagging the third position. The Governor interacted with the awardees and wished them bright careers.
	Baglihar power generation drops to less than half Sumit Hakhoo Tribune News Service Jammu, November 12 The generation capacity of the Baglihar hydroelectric project has fallen to 200 MW per day due to the decrease in water discharge from the Chenab. Officials said power generation could further dip in the coming days as heavy snowfall on the glaciers feeding the river in Himachal Pradesh and Doda district had reduced the water availability in it, which was at present between 200 and 350 cusecs per metre. There are three units at Stage-I of the Baglihar project near Chanderkote, falling under Ramban district. Each unit has the capacity of generating 150 MW, a total of 450 MW. But during the winter months, the capacity falls below 150 MW, forcing the engineers to shut the two other units. Officials said all units were fully operational during the summer season (April-September) when the weather remained warm near the glaciers which fed the Chenab. Chief Engineer of the Baglihar project PR Angurana said, “The generation is mostly dependent on the water availability in the river. During the peak summer season, the water discharge in Chenab remains between 2500 to 3000 cusecs per metre and in the winter season, it falls below 200 cusecs, which affects the production.” The Chief Engineer said the winter was always harsh when it comes to the electricity production as most of the rivers flowing through the state were glacier-fed. “The local generation goes down due to the freezing of several river sources. It is an established fact,” Angurana said. As per the agreement with the Power Trading Corporation, J&K is entitled to 50 per cent of the electricity generated from the project. During the winter months, the state does not get more than 75 MW from the project. The total capacity of the Baglihar is 900 MW. The Stage-I has been operational since 2008. It was completed at a cost of Rs 5,827 crore while the construction of the Stage-II is on and is likely to be made operational in 2015. “The electricity requirement is between 1800 and 2200 MW during the winter season but the state gets only 1200 to 1400 MW from the Northern Grid and its power-generating units, leading to a power crisis,” said a senior engineer of the Power Development Department.
	BJP to campaign for allotment of seats to refugees Dinesh Manhotra/TNS Jammu, November 12 Buoyed by the positive response of the parliamentary panel to the demands of the displaced persons, the BJP has decided to intensify the campaign for allotment of reserved Assembly seats to the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) refugees. As per Section 48 of the Jammu and Kashmir Constitution, 24 seats shall remain vacant in the Legislative Assembly for the area of the state at present under the occupation of Pakistan. At present, the Assembly has 87 elected members and two nominated women members. “One-third of the population, which migrated from illegally occupied areas, has a strong claim on the seats kept vacant for them in the Assembly,” BJP state president Jugal Kishore Sharma said. “Out of the 24 reserved seats, eight should be allotted to the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir refugees, who have settled in different areas of the Jammu region,” he added. Sharma said the seats for the residents of occupied parts of the state have been lying vacant in the Assembly and hence there was a strong reason to allot some of these, as per proportion of population, to those who have settled in Jammu. The party during its recently held ‘Refugees adkhikar yatra’ had called for allotment of at least eight seats to the PoK refugees. The issue was also brought to the notice of the sub-committee of the Parliament Standing Committee on the rehabilitation of displaced persons of J&K, which visited the state on November 6 and 7. “For giving representation to the refugees, the reserved seats should be allotted to them as per the proportion of their population,” said PoK refugee leader Narinder Singh. “When seats are already kept vacant for the residents of the occupied areas of Jammu and Kashmir, there is no reason to deny the right,” he said. Singh added that refugees will launch a deciding agitation to pursue their demand. He further said the community should also be given representation in Parliament. “We have a population of more than 10 lakh in the Jammu region, so a Parliament seat should be added in the total number to give our community a representation in the Lok Sabha also,” Singh said. Sources said the BJP has devised a strategy to launch agitation in support of this demand, as the party leadership feels that PoK refugees were a strong force in Jammu.
	Jammu’s super specialty hospital short of doctors, equipment Arteev Sharma/TNS Jammu, November 12 Chief Minister Omar Abdullah recently announced the launch of a neurosurgery unit in the new Super Specialty Hospital here, but the medical education department is grappling with the non-availability of adequate equipment and shortage of neurosurgeons to ensure quality treatment for patients in the hospital. The hospital, which is part of the local Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), caters to the entire Jammu region having a population of over 50 lakh. There are only two neurosurgeons, namely Dr Haroon Salaria and Dr Furqan Ahmed, in the hospital, which also lacks adequate equipment to cater to the large number of patients coming from various parts of the region. The Government Hospital in Gandhi Nagar, which is being governed by the health department, also offers the facility of neurosurgery --- but with a lone neurologist, Dr Sudhir Sabharwal. On November 9, the Chief Minister had announced a neurosurgery unit in Jammu Super Specialty Hospital to provide critical neurosurgery treatment to patients in a bid to relieve them of the trouble of traveling outside the state for the treatment. Sources said the authorities were exploring various options to improve the facility of neurosurgery here so that the people were not forced to travel outside for treatment. “The medical education department is working on a multi-pronged strategy to make the unit functional in the Super Specialty Hospital. It may depute neurologists in the unit either from Kashmir or outside the state so that people get quality treatment here,” a source said. On an average 30 to 35 patients with various injuries, including head injuries, reach the GMCH daily. “If someone (in neurosurgery) goes on leave, the patients either don’t get proper treatment in the wake of shortage of manpower or their families are forced to shift them outside the state,” a source said. The authorities concerned, however, evaded queries on the sanctioned strength and the measures being taken to cater to patients. When contacted, Minister for Medical Education Taj Mohiuddin, who was camping in New Delhi for the procurement of equipment to be installed in the neurosurgery department, said: “We will arrange the faculty soon. We are planning to depute surgeons either from Kashmir or outside J&K to start the facility in the Super Specialty Hospital.” He said the firm which had been entrusted with the task of ensuring medical infrastructure and equipment in the hospital has delayed the installation of the main equipment for neurosurgery. The Super Specialty Hospital was constructed at a cost of Rs 135 crore with the Central government providing 90 per cent of the funds. The project was envisaged to ease the overcrowding from the existing GMCH in Jammu, which currently caters to 1,200 patients daily, besides emergency patients. Six super specialties, including cardiology, cardiothoracic and vascular surgery (CTVS), nephrology, urology, neurology and neurosurgery, have been shifted to the new hospital. So far, the authorities have started cardiology, cardiothoracic, nephrology and urology super specialties in the hospital. The GMCH has also been grappling with acute shortage of manpower as nearly 50 per cent of the faculty posts have been lying vacant. Out of the total 358 sanctioned posts, 176 posts are vacant.
	Two Kashmiri films make it to international fest in Goa M Aamir Khan Tribune News Service Srinagar, November 12 As Goa is all set to celebrate 100 years of Indian cinema during the upcoming 44th edition of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI)-2013, two Kashmir films are also being screened at the fest. “Two Kashmiri films in the non-feature category will be screened at the 44th IFFI which will begin on November 20 in Goa. The films are “23 Winters” in Kashmiri and Hindi languages by Rajesh S Jala and “Shepherds of Paradise” in Kashmiri, Gojri and Urdu by Raja Shabir Khan,” Additional Director General (Media and Communication), Press Information Bureau (PIB), Srinagar, Obaidur Rahman told reporters here today. “Shepherds of Paradise”, a film about the nomadic life of shepherds, had won the Best Cinematography Award in the 60th National Film Awards earlier this year. Rahman said, among other attractions, for the first time ever the Indian Cinema Centenary Award would be given away during the festival. “As the festival will also celebrate 100 years of Indian cinema, the centenary award will be bestowed to a film with artistic merit and technical excellence. This is for the first time that this award will be conferred. Besides, renowned Czech filmmaker, theatre director and actor Jiri Menzel will be conferred the Lifetime Achievement Award,” he said. Rahman said internationally known actors and directors from Hollywood as well as from Iran, which is known for its distinct style of filmmaking, will be seen at the festival. “The festival will be attended by the Academy Award-winning Hollywood actor Susan Sarandon, critically acclaimed Iranian producer, director and screen writer Majid Majidi and Polish filmmaker Agnieszka Holland along with luminaries from Indian cinema, including actor Rekha and singer Asha Bhosle. Legendary actor Manoj Kumar will officially flag off the “Indian panorama film section during the inaugural ceremony of the international festival,” he said. While 160 foreign films will be screened at the festival, Rahman said 15 films would vie for the prestigious Peacock Awards. The 11-day-long festival will conclude with the screening of “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom”.
	Govt mulls industry status to agriculture Tribune News Service Jammu, November 12 The state government today decided to set up a high powered committee of officers to study the issue of granting industry status to agriculture, horticulture and allied farm activities. The committee, headed by Commissioner-Secretary, Industries and Commerce, will have members from departments of Agriculture, Horticulture, Floriculture, Fisheries, Animal and Sheep Husbandry, Dairy, Agro, horticulture extension etc… and it will submit its report within a month’s time, an official spokesman said here. The decision to this effect was taken at an inter-ministerial meeting headed by Minister for Agriculture Ghulam Hassan Mir here today. Minister for Horticulture and Floriculture Raman Bhalla and Minister of State for Animal and Sheep Husbandry Nazir Gurezi were also present on the occasion. The meeting decided to look into the issues of incentives being given to these farm activities currently and the benefits/drawbacks it would incur after getting the industry status, he added. The committee has been asked to undertake a comparative study of the incentives given to agriculture and allied activities with or without giving it the status of industry. Mir, meanwhile, enumerated the incentives being given to agriculture at present to persuade more and more people to adopt farming as a gainful activity, he said. The Minister suggested integration of all the incentives available to these activities. Bhalla, on the occasion, said the committee would look into how the farmers and growers get benefited. He also gave details of incentives given to horticulture activities in the state.
	Centre tells state to meet extra expenditure on national schemes Vikas Sharma/TNS Jammu, November 12 The state representatives who attended the 198th meeting of the Project Approval Board of the Human Resource Development Ministry for considering the Annual Work Plan and Budget 2013-14 for the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan scheme and the Kasturba Gandhi Bal Vidyalaya scheme informed the authorities that more amount was needed to meet the salary requirement of the staff. Sources said it was clarified by the Central authorities to the state that the salary component under the Kasturba Gandhi Bal Vidyalaya (KGBV) scheme was a fixed amount and any expenditure over and above this would have to be borne by the state from its own budget. Sources said out of the 99 KGBVs (35 Model-I and 64 Model-II) approved, 95 KGBVs (Model-I 35 and Model-II 60) were operational, enrolling 4,708 girls against the target of 6,700. The enrolment in the KGBVs is 70.27 per cent. Sources added that the representatives of the Monitoring Institute (University of Kashmir) said out of the 18 KGBVs visited, 15 were functioning as day schools only, and the Monitoring Institute (University of Jammu) expressed concern that the KGBVs like in Gool did not even have toilet facility and most of them did not have wardens. The state was advised to ensure safety and security of the girls in the schools and improve sanitation and hygiene at the residential schools. The Project Approval Board (PAB) advised the state to draw up a six-month schedule for the recruitment of teachers. The state cadre vacancies will have to be filled first before recruitments under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan. The state representatives raised the issue that even after factoring in the 13th Finance Commission funds release, there was a shortfall of Rs 187.79 crore under the teacher salary head in 2012-13. The PAB, however, approved the committed liability of teachers’ salary as a spill over, as the state did not have sufficient funds to pay salary in 2012-13. The meeting was told that of all the schools opened by the state government, only 45 per cent had utilised the Teaching Learning Equipment (TLE). The state was asked to reconcile district-wise the utilisation of the TLE so that the equipment for new schools could be provided when the buildings were completed.
	Pak considering talks to solve K-issue: Abdul Gani Bhat Ishfaq Tantry Tribune News Service Srinagar, November 12 Separatist leader and former Hurriyat chairman Prof Abdul Gani Bhat today said Pakistan was “seriously considering” opening up dialogue with India to set afoot a process to resolve the “Kashmir issue”. “I think Pakistan is seriously considering opening up dialogue with India and with Kashmiris, so that a process is set afoot to resolve this (Kashmir) dispute in the larger interest of the people and for a brighter tomorrow and for the people of the entire South Asia region,” Bhat told The Tribune when asked about his recent meeting with Sartaj Aziz, adviser on security and foreign relations to Nawaz Sharif. He, however, said it was too early to comment on whether the current Pakistani establishment headed by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif seeks “out of the box solution” or a solution based on the “traditional and stated positions” of the two countries over Kashmir. “In my opinion, if talks do take place you have to introduce an element of flexibility in your approach,” Abdul Gani Bhat said, adding that during their half-an-hour meeting they “did not discuss any outlines” of the solution. “Pakistan seeks settlement, Kashmiris seek settlement and India perhaps also seeks settlement of all the disputes… So if all these issues are to be addressed, you have to have a large heart, you have to have a deeper sense of responsibility, a higher level of understanding,” Bhat said. Prof Bhat was part of the four-member delegation, lead by moderate Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, which met Aziz in New Delhi on Sunday. On the impression that Pakistan has perhaps dumped Musharraf’s policy over Kashmir, Bhat said, “We did not take up any contentious issues with Aziz.” Asked to share the specifics of the meeting, Bhat said: “We discussed Kashmir as an issue. We discussed what we need to do. We felt that India and Pakistan will have to move together and resolve disputes through talks amicably in the larger interest of peace, stability and economic growth in the region.” When asked whether any solution was reached upon during the meeting, the separatist leader said: “It was our first meeting with Sartaj Aziz. I think we need to do the talking, be it at the foreign ministers’ level, the prime ministers’ level or at the intellectual level. Be it in India or in Pakistan…If you view it from this perspective, talks are always good and talks should always produce results. But if you expect results in the first meeting, you are probably mistaken.”
	Pak reverting to its traditional stand on Kashmir: Geelani Azhar Qadri/TNS Srinagar, November 12 Hardline Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani today said gun was an option for Kashmiris and affirmed that Pakistan had retracted from Musharraf-era policy to its traditional stand of plebiscite as a solution to the “K-issue”. “The people here have a right to resort to force against Indian occupation,” Geelani said, while addressing a seminar at his party office in the city here. He even referred to prominent Indian freedom fighters to justify his stand. “Gun is a factor for occupied nations and they can use it. In India, when the freedom struggle was going on, there was an organised movement under the leadership of Gandhiji, but there was also role of Bhagat Singh and Subhash Chandra Bose, who sought foreign help against the British,” Geelani said. He, however, said his party remained firm on continuing the path of “peaceful means” and mobilising the public opinion in favour of their demands. The separatist leader said Pakistan had gone back to its “traditional stand” on Kashmir, dumping the policies of former president Parvez Musharraf. “Musharraf was seeking an out of the box solution and had proposed a four-point formula which was synonymous with status quo, but today’s (Pakistan) government does not consider it. They have a clear policy that right to self determination should be the basis of the solution,” Geelani said.
	Geelani pushing J&K to an era of bloodshed, says Congress Tribune News Service Jammu, November 12 The Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) today dubbed the statement of hardline Hurriyat chairman Sayeed Ali Shah Geelani, suggesting “use of gun” as a means to resolve the Kashmir issue, as an attempt to push the state into the era of violence and bloodshed. “No civilised society or religion has justified violence or killing of innocents for resolving any issue. Such statements need to be rejected with contempt it deserve and condemned in the strongest possible words,” JKPCC general secretary and spokesperson Ravinder Sharma said here today. “Such statements are aimed at vitiating the atmosphere of peace and harmony and pushing the state back into the era of violence and bloodshed, which brought lot of destruction and miseries to the people of Kashmir,” Sharma said. He added that the people of Kashmir have rejected the “cult of gun” and secured peace after lot of sacrifices and they would not allow such designs to succeed.