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City schools yet to start CBSE-i programme
Office-bearers of printers’ federation felicitated
Weekend Theatre Series
Pensioners’ body stages protest
Youth Day |
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Displaced Kashmiri Pandits meet Modi
Time to redouble efforts for return of Pandits: Omar
1990s exodus a blot on nation: Panun Kashmir
Kashmiri Pandits observe the 24th year of their exodus from the Valley in Jammu on Sunday. Tribune Photo: Inderjeet Singh
Pandit body threatens to move court over sale of beef in Valley
on the frontline
Centre rejects proposal to release funds for colleges
NC, PDP workers spar in Lolab at foundation laying of model village
Part-time safai karamchari gets Rs 100 a month!
Chanchal Devi, 60, who works as a part-time safaiwali at a health sub-centre at Rayour village, 15 km from Samba. A Tribune photograph
Registration row
Celebrations, processions mark Milad
Kashmir shivers at sub-zero temperature
IISM trains 2nd group of skiers at Gulmarg
Jhelum water unsafe for direct human consumption: Research
PDP criticises govt for shelving Poonch-Rajouri rail link
112-yr-old woman from Kishtwar dies
Canine fear grips Anantnag residents
Printers want govt to step in to save sector
Cricket becomes unifying factor for Jammu, Kashmir
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City schools yet to start CBSE-i programme
Jammu, January 19 The CBSE-i programme, offering a global curriculum to students, has been adopted by around 50 schools in the country. The programme delivers education on the pattern of the Geneva-based International Baccalaureate (IB). The IB certificate is understood to help students get admission in top international universities faster. KCS Mehta, president, Jammu Sahodaya Schools Complex (JSSC), a body of CBSE schools, said the schools in the city had yet to get affiliated to the innovative programme. "Yes, we are very much aware of the CBSE-i programme, which has been adopted by some schools in various cities of the country, we have yet to take a decision in this regard," he said. When asked about the reason behind the delay in adopting the programme, Mehta said, "Though there is no specific reason behind it, but we will definitely make a strategy soon to launch the programme in our schools." Another official of the JSSC claims that the CBSE-i programme is less expensive, quality-oriented course and an alternative to some of the international courses. The programme is available through the net for both teachers and students. "While the existing CBSE programme has three streams, CBSE-i has many other courses for students such as performing arts, music, visual arts, drama and dance. Mathematics will be available in two levels - core and elective." Sources said the lack
of trained faculty in CBSE-affiliated schools in the city had been the major stumbling block in introducing the international programme. Sources added that the schools needed to create special infrastructure to run i-programme. The international syllabus will be implemented in Class I to XII and students will be taught through e-books. The CBSE-i students will have an advantage over other CBSE students as they will learn more foreign languages and different curriculum for other subjects. Launched as a pilot project in 2010, 13 schools across Delhi-NCR were recently invited by the CBSE to adopt the new curriculum out of 50 schools across India. According to the CBSE, the international curriculum will be launched in all affiliated schools till Class XII in a phased manner. The Association of Indian Universities (AIU) has already given recognition to the CBSE-i programme and the feedback from the existing schools, which adopted the curriculum, is encouraging. |
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Office-bearers of printers’ federation felicitated
Jammu, January 19 Kamal Chopra, general secretary, North India Printers Association (NIPA), was the chief guest. The function started with the lighting of ceremonial lamp by the dignitaries, followed by the release of Jammu Printers Association's official website and yearly calendar. Joginder Singh, president, Jammu Printers Association, and Shabir Ahmed, president, Kashmir Printers Association, and other office-bearers were present. Joginder Singh gave a broad outlook of the vision for future as well as candidly raised various issues related to the printing fraternity. Joginder Singh pointed out the outsourcing of government printing works from outside the state. Joginder Singh demanded that all government works, including printing works of office documents and Jammu and Kashmir Board's publishing work, be allotted to the local printers instead of outsiders. He also expressed concern over frequent price rises by paper mills. Shabir Ahmed, president of the Kashmir Printers Association, in his address raised the issue of lack of skilled labour in the printing industry and appealed to the government to start an ITI course for printing trainees claiming that the Union Government had already launched a national educational vocational programme. Shabir Ahmed also appealed to the government to streamline the sales tax system and power curtailment. Ashokan, president of AIFMP, appreciated both associations for their tremendous achievements in the field despite various challenges. |
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Weekend Theatre Series
Jammu, January 19 Written and Directed by Umesh Singh, the play revolved around the problems of the unemployed youth of the society, who have completed their studies but are not getting jobs. Ashok, the protagonist, fills every kind of forms to get government jobs and everyday he checks each and every newspaper for job but finds nothing. His mother always advised him not to waste money. When he realises that he will not get any government job, he decides to commit suicide. Luckily, his friend Suresh comes to his house and finds him to be depressed. He starts convincing Ashok that he should not depend on a government job for earning livelihood, but can get an employment in many other agencies like factories, call centres, malls, etc. Suresh asks him to remember the past when he suggested him to study hard, but he did not listen to the advice. Ashok understands the situation and promises Suresh that he will never think of committing suicide again and will work hard to earn money by positive ways. Tarun Sharma and Sarthak Sharma acted in the play. |
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Pensioners’ body stages protest
Jammu, January 19
The association today staged a protest against the alleged anti-pensioners, anti-employees and anti-working class policies of the government. The protest was led by Mukand Lal Sharma, Madan Lal Abrol and Mohammad Ayub Khan. Addressing the protesters, Mukand Lal Sharma said the state government had enhanced the salary of legislators, but nothing had been done for the pensioners and employees. He added that the attitude of the government to give priority to the legislators by providing them emoluments and neglecting the pensioners and employees was unethical and discriminatory. Madan Lal Abrol criticised the government for not accepting the genuine demands of state pensioners, who were struggling for their acceptance. He demanded that the arrears of pension from January 1, 2006, to June 30, 2009, be paid in one instalment by the government. Other demands of the association included additional quantum of the pension for the state pensioners, enhancement of medical allowance from Rs 300 to Rs 1,000, release of 6 per cent DA arrears from January, 2009, to June, 2009, and 10 per cent DA from July, 2013, for employees and pensioners.
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Youth Day
Jammu, January 19 About 100 students, 50 each from NSS and environment units, conducted a tree plantation drive and a door-to-door promotional campaign of medicinal and traditional plants on the old university campus, Canal Road. NSS volunteers studying in BEd, BEd (Special Education) and MEd classes, led by Rohnika Sharma, NSS Programme Officer, MIER, organised a tree plantation drive and planted saplings of various medicinal plants like amla, neem, tulsi, orange, lemon, aloe vera, etc. Simultaneously, members of the environment unit, guided by Monika Bajaj, in charge, environment unit, conducted a door-to-door campaign to promote medicinal and traditional plants. The members of the unit visited various homes situated on the campus and briefed the residents about the significance of traditional plants, which are also widely used as home remedies for the treatment of common ailments. The members and the in charges of both the units expressed their gratitude to Prof Yash Pal Sharma, Director, Department of Arboriculture, University of Jammu, and the staff of the department for providing the necessary permission and support. Dr Renu Gupta, Director, MIER, congratulated the NSS and the environment units, for joining hands and conducting such an informative and socially valuable campaign. |
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BJP out to woo OBC Muslims, says they are victims of Art 370
Jammu, January 19 “We will approach and educate those sections of society who have been bearing the brunt of this discriminatory Article,” said BJP state president Jugal Kishore Sharma. “The majority of the sufferers of this Article are Muslims of Jammu and Kashmir because this Article has been brazenly abused by the ruling elite,” he added. “The OBCs (Other Backward Classes) are the worst victims of this Article because unlike other parts of the country, this section of society is not getting the benefit of reservations due to Article 370,” he said while admitting that the party had decided to approach Muslims among the OBCs to mobilise them in the campaign against the Article. Sources in the BJP said the party had already constituted some teams which would open the channel of communication with Muslims among the OBCs to give a “secular” colour to its campaign against Article 370. “After Narendra Modi’s rally at Jammu on December 1, 2013, the party received encouraging response from Gujjars and Bakerwals in its campaign against Article 370. So, the next target of the party is OBC Muslims,” a source said, adding that some prominent OBC leaders would be deputed in the Valley in the coming months to mobilise Muslim support. Meanwhile, BJP leader Hari Om today challenged the National Conference and other Valley-based outfits to join the debate on Article 370. He said the failure of these outfits not to do so would simply mean that they had no argument even “in their secessionist political dictionary to defend their stand on this Article”. “The best way in a democratic polity like ours to resolve controversial issues is debate and discussion in public and those who refrain from such approach have no right to remain in the political arena,” he said.
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Doda youth dies in Hoshiarpur
Jammu, January 19 Khalid was admitted to District Hospital, Hoshiarpur, in a critical condition around 2 am on Sunday and died around 2.30 am. His body was handed over to his father and other relatives after an autopsy. Sources said preliminary post-mortem report suggested drug overdose. The final post-mortem report is awaited. “Around midnight, he complained of chest pain following which he was taken to the district hospital. He died around 2.30 am due to overdose of drugs,” a source said. However, Khalid’s relatives denied he was taking drugs. “It is for the first time that we are hearing he was taking drugs. I talked to the doctor who was attending to Khalid. He said they had washed his stomach and didn’t find any sort of poison or drugs,” said Dr Gazi Mintoo, Khalid's cousin. “The doctor said Khalid was brought in in a critical condition and complained of hematemesis,” Gazi said. The local police were not aware of the incident. “We haven’t got any such information from the hospital or college and will try to find out what has happened,” said inspector Sital Singh, Station House Officer of the Chabbewal police station, under whose jurisdiction the college falls.
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Displaced Kashmiri Pandits meet Modi
New Delhi, January 19 “Dishonesty of the present Central and (J-K) state governments about the return of the entire displaced community is apparent from their callous attitude in not taking any action to ensure a secure and economically-viable restitution,” the delegation stated in a memorandum to
Modi. Charging the Central and state governments with having no clear policy for their return to the Valley, it alleged that the Prime Minister’s Kashmir package contained not a word on the political dimension of any eventual restoration. “The whole country has reposed its faith in you to liberate it from the misrule of a corrupt and unfair political dispensation,” stated the memorandum submitted by the delegation led by
KN Pandita. “We see this meeting in continuation of that effort as the whole country has reposed faith in yourself to liberate this nation from the misrule of corrupt and unfair political dispensation. We recognise the nature of labour required to reach that position and put our services at your disposal to use the same in any manner you feel proper,” the delegation said. Noting that a sustained effort was on to wipe them off the civilisational memory of Kashmir, the delegation said names of the places of heritage like Shankarcharya Hill and Hari Parbat had been changed “illegally”. Not content with physical displacement of the minority Hindu community, a sustained effort was on to wipe them off the civilisational memory of Kashmir, it said. “The worst part of the tragedy is that all those political, social and civil society organisations claiming to be secular maintain a criminalsilence,” the delegation said. |
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Time to redouble efforts for return of Pandits: Omar
Srinagar, January 19 “Today sees the start of the 25th year that Kashmiri Pandits had to flee their homes in the Valley. Words will never be enough nor should they be,” the Chief Minister wrote on Twitter. “Time to redouble efforts to create conditions where their sense of security is restored and Pandits
can consider returning,” he said. A small number of Kashmiri Pandits stayed back in the region while most of them migrated to Jammu and other places outside the state. |
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1990s exodus a blot on nation: Panun Kashmir
Jammu, January 19 “More than two decades of forced exile from their (Kashmiri
Pandits) ancestral homeland in independent and secular India is a blot on the nation,” Panun Kashmir president Ajay Chrangoo said during a ‘holocaust day’ function to mark the 24th year of Kashmiri
Pandits’ exodus from the Valley. On the occasion, number of seminars were organised by the community to pay tribute to hundreds of innocent people, who were killed by the militants. All the three factions of the Panun Kashmir observed the day and held protests and public meetings. They also reiterated their demand for a separate
homeland. Pandits living at Jagti Township, in the outskirts of the city, also observed the day and paid homage to people, who were gunned down by terrorists during last two decades of militancy. “We have been demanding that the government should bring the killers of the community members to justice. Pandit’s are being held hostage by the policy makers to regressive communal forces, which are making every effort to break India,” Chrangoo alleged. As per the official record, nearly 219 Kashmiri Pandits were killed by militants between 1989 and 2004.
Omkar Nath Trisal, Prof ML Kaul and Panun Kashmir general secretary Kuldeep Raina also spoke on the occasion. Meanwhile, the Joint Forum of Kashmiri Pandit Organisations leader Ashwani Kumar Chrungoo alleged that the Central Government remained “silent” over the atrocities faced by the community members. “The government has at times utterly failed to address the issues of exodus despite observations of the National Human Rights Commission,” Ashwani Kumar Chrungoo said. All State Kashmiri Pandit Conference president HL
Chatta, on the occasion, said the community was eagerly waiting for the passage of the Temples and Shrines Bill as promised by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. |
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Pandit body threatens to move court over sale of beef in Valley
Srinagar, January 19 “The administration is not taking any action against the beef shops that are functioning openly, particularly in the summer capital and the Valley in general,” he
alleged. Tickoo said if government did not initiate any action the organisation would be forced to take legal recourse. “The KPSS warns all the functionaries of the state government to act against these illegal things on priority basis, else the matter will be dealt legally,” he said, adding that administration would be treated as “facilitators of the crime”. Quoting a reply to an RTI filed by the
KPSS, he said the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) had not given any permission/license to run a shop/place for slaughtering /selling of beef’ in Srinagar city. |
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on the frontline
What’s on the BJP’s mind with regard to Article 370, which grants special status to Jammu and Kashmir? No one seems to know.
For decades, the party had been asking for abrogation of Article 370 because it was viewed as a big hurdle to the full integration of the state with the rest of the country. Suddenly, BJP president Rajnath Singh has stated that the party would have “no objection” to its retention in the Constitution if it has really benefitted the people or developed the state. Why the re-think now? There are no clear-cut answers, except that this is some kind of a political expediency.
If Article 370 is good, it should have been stated before. And if it is not good then too it should have been seen before. At this point of time bringing this sensitive issue centre stage shows that the party is trying to kill two birds with one stone; making attempts to embrace the National Conference — the champion of autonomy for Jammu and Kashmir — for it may need allies after the 2014 elections. Secondly, it is showing its moderate face. “Ek
Vidhan, Ek Nishan, Ek Pradhan” (one Constitution, one flag and one head of the state), the swansong of Jana
Sangh, the original name of the BJP — has suddenly not only been diluted, but it has also been used in such a manner that the party can resort to a U-turn for political dividends. “Let there be a debate on the issue” — that’s the route the BJP has taken to justify its stand, which, of course, is not just a changed one, but a meek surrender to the National Conference. This, easily, could be a ploy to win over allies in the future dispensation after General Election. The timing of Rajnath’s statement, coming close on the heels of its prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi’s call for a debate on Article 370 in Jammu last month, is a well calibrated move. Ask anyone in Kashmir what Article 370 has given to the people, development-wise. The answer is nothing, except for a metaphysical feeling that they are different and special. To put it bluntly, Jammu and Kashmir is a state with a special status, but there is nothing special about it. The state has not been getting even the assured funding from the Centre and development is suffering. Unemployment is on the rise. If Centre is shy of providing funds to the state for development, why should the private sector be interested in this state with the “special status”. The political parties have invented slogans to polarise this demographically divided state. Emotions have been put into service to draw political dividends. The fact at this point of time is that people feel that the BJP is now looking for an exit route on its extreme stance on Article 370. But it will have to do a lot of explaining as to why did it waste so much time in reading the things that were there in the Constitution of India for so long. And, why did it find it convenient at this stage to speak about it. The BJP leadership needs to answer that first. |
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Centre rejects proposal to release funds for colleges
Jammu, January 19 The meeting was chaired by Ashok Thakur, Secretary, HRD Ministry, where he clarified that model degree colleges scheme was subsumed under RUSA. Sources said representatives of the state Higher Education Department were informed by the Central ministry that J&K’s proposal for support to create model degree colleges would be considered only after proper submission of undertaking and checklist. It made it clear that funds would be released only after the state fulfils the condition. RUSA makes it incumbent upon the states to fulfil certain conditions. The state government under RUSA had recently constituted the J&K State Higher Education Council (SHEC) with the Chief Minister as the chairman and the Minister for Higher Education as the vice-chairman to improve the higher education system in the state. The council comprises 21 members, including Chief Secretary and administrative secretaries of Finance, Planning and Development Departments. The SHEC will work as an independent and autonomous body that will deal with matters pertaining to the state and Central governments. It will establish principles for funding institutions, besides maintaining a data bank on higher education and conduct research and evaluation studies. The scheme aims at improving the overall quality of the existing state higher educational institutions by ensuring conformity to prescribed norms and standards, besides adopting accreditation as a mandatory quality assurance framework. RUSA has been approved by the National Development Council and was
subsequently included in the list of 66 schemes approved by the Cabinet on June 20, 2013. The scheme got approval from the Expenditure Finance Committee on September 11, 2013, and from the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on October 3, 2013. |
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NC, PDP workers spar in Lolab at foundation laying of model village
Kupwara, January 19 The incident took place in Tikipora village just before the arrival of Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Ali Mohammad Sagar who had to lay the foundation stone of the model village. PDP MLA, Lolab, Abdul Haq Khan and former NC MLA Qaiser Jamsheed Lone were present. Before Sagar could start his address, the supporters of the two parties started raising slogans against each other and were at each others throat. Sources said after learning that MLA Lolab’s name had been replaced by the minister’s name from the foundation stone, the PDP supporters got infuriated and started raising slogans against the NC. In retaliation, the NC supporters raised slogans against the opposition party. Sagar and the two MLAs kept pleading for silence. After the supporters stopped raising slogans, Sagar laid the foundation stone and addressed the people. “The government is committed to providing all basic facilities such as power, potable water and roads to the people. An amount of over Rs 124 crore has been earmarked for the development of 120 model villages in the state,” said Sagar. “For the development of Tikipora as a model village, Rs 1,12,0,000 has been earmarked. In addition, Rs 40 lakh will be released as the labour budget for Kupwara district and Rs 30 lakh for development works such as construction of roads in far-flung areas of the district,” the minister said. The MLA Lolab said, “Now the elections are a few months away and to woo the voters, the government has come up with the proposal of a model village in Lolab.” “I have fought in the Assembly for the model village status to Tikipora and the government is not shying away from taking credit for the same,” he said. |
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Part-time safai karamchari gets Rs 100 a month!
Jammu, January 19 She told The Tribune that she had been entitled to Rs 100 as monthly wage for the last 2-3 years. She said it was only a few years ago that her honorarium was enhanced to Rs 100. An appointment order, a copy of which is available with The Tribune, revealed that Chanchal Devi, mother of four, was appointed as part-time safaiwali on a wage of Rs 50 per month on a consolidated basis at the Sub-Centre, Rayour, with effect from March 1, 1997. When asked whether she approached the Chief Medical Officer or Block Medical Officer concerned to enhance her wages, she said, “It is not that I have not met the authorities and apprised them about my problem. They simply do not listen to our grievances. In fact, even before 1997, when I was appointed as a PTS, I used to come to the centre since 1992 to carry out my duty”. Vikas Chander Bhardwaj, Block Medical Officer, said, “Yes, Chanchal Devi has been entitled to a wage of Rs 100 per month, but she has to come only once a week for duty. The health centre is quite small and there is no need to come on a routine basis”. Meanwhile, Director Health Services BS Pathania said the department had taken an initiative to regularise the services of PTS. “The process has already been initiated by the department and files of all such employees have been moved to the authorities concerned,” he said. When asked him that villagers were complaining that doctors were rarely visiting the sub-centre, Pathania assured that he would look into the matter. |
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Registration row
Srinagar, January 19 The Srinagar district administration launched a 10-day-long registration drive of coaching centres in December which resulted in the de-registration of five coaching centres. However, the district administrations in the remaining districts of Kashmir are yet to launch similar drives creating an atmosphere of mistrust among private coaching centre owners. Private coaching centres have been directed to register with the Directorate, School Education Department, although the Coaching Centres Association claims that the State Education Department has been embezzling huge money under the garb of registering coaching centres. “We want to ask why the state Education Department suddenly stopped the registration process which began last year. Why only the Srinagar district administration is interested in checking on coaching centres and what about coaching centres in the other districts. We have clear proofs that the Department of Education had intentionally stopped the process to mint money from coaching centre owners,” G.N Var, president, Coaching Centres Association, said. He added that he had apprised the Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar, Farooq Ahmad Shah of the irregularities in the registration process. “Since there is no consensus between the Education Department and the district administration on regulating coaching centres, it is we, who are caught up. We are shelling our money and bearing the brunt of closing down our institutions too. It is only due to our hard pressing that a new set of regulations were furnished by the Srinagar district administration on December 2013. But that only means that the coaching centres confined to Srinagar areas will follow the rules,” Var added. The coaching centres in the Valley have invited ire from the people for charging exorbitant tuition and maintenance fee and providing “unsatisfactory” education. Students have been blaming coaching centres for failing to provide adequate heating arrangements during the extreme winters for the last many years. “It is not just the state government, which is to be blamed, the coaching centres have also been charging huge fee without improvement in infrastructure and teaching standards. However, our cries have gone unheard so far. We expect the state government to pull up their socks and regulate the coaching centres unequivocally,” Imran Shahdad, a Class XII student, said. |
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Celebrations, processions mark Milad
Srinagar, January 19 Even though the main functions related to Eid-e-Milad, the birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad, culminated on Friday last, a few processions and religious functions are also held during the ongoing Rabi-ul-Awwal month of the Islamic calendar. Members of several religious organisations besides locals were seen participating in the ‘Milad’ procession. A participating local said the procession was being taken out regularly in the area for over 40 years. He said the procession had become an annual affair after the passing away of a revered local Sufi saint Hazrat Syed Merak Shah, whose shrine is located near the Shalimar area. Earlier, Eid-e-Milad was celebrated with traditional fervour across the Valley on 12th Rabiul-Awwal (January 14). As part of distinct Eid-e-Milad celebrations in the Valley, devotees traditionally throng Hazratbal on the first Friday after Eid-e-Milad, while processions are also taken out at different parts. |
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Kashmir shivers at sub-zero temperature
Srinagar, January 19 In its forecast bulletin, the department said, “The weather is likely to remain dry and cold in the state for the next 24 hours till Monday evening”. However, it said a wet spell, which included rain and snow, was likely to occur at isolated places in the state during the subsequent four days. Kashmir, which received spells of moderate and heavy snowfall in the recent weeks, is having a brush with extremely cold climatic conditions as the region passes through ‘Chillai Kalaan’, the harshest phase of winter which lasts for 40 days and will end later this month. Mercury in Qazigund town, located on the southern tip of the Valley, dropped to a low of -7.6°C overnight, the official said. In north Kashmir’s frontier Kupwara town, the mercury overnight was recorded at a low of -3.7°C. In Gulmarg resort, the minimum temperature overnight was recorded at -5.8°C. The minimum temperature in south Kashmir’s Pahalgam resort settled at a freezing low of -9.7°C, the official said, making it the coldest place in the Valley |
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IISM trains 2nd group of skiers at Gulmarg
Srinagar, January 19 In a statement issued today, Indian Institute of Skiing and Mountaineering Principal JS Dhillon said Tufail Mattoo, Managing Director, Cable Car Corporation, gave away prizes and badges of success to 70 successful students at the graduation ceremony of its second skiing course. In the second batch, students from The Lawrence School, Sanawar, completed the course. Dhillon said the Indian Institute of Skiing and Mountaineering planned to take active part in the forthcoming National Skiing Championships being held at Gulmarg and Auli. “The next ski course will be starting on
Monday. Many students from DPS, Srinagar, will also be joining for the next ski course,”
he added. |
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Jhelum water unsafe for direct human consumption: Research
Srinagar, January 19 A research conducted by M.Tech student Saima Showkat and helped by civil engineering student Saqib Gulzar on the paper titled, "Trend Analysis and Spatial Assessment of Various Water Quality Parameters of River Jehlum, J&K, India for an Inclusive Water Quality Monitoring Programme", they researched the water quality of the Jhelum at three sites at Sangam, Rammunshi Bagh, and Safapora. “We did our research for more than three months on the water quality of the Jhelum in which we came to the conclusion that the water quality is poor and it goes on degrading. It is unsafe for direct human consumption,” said Saima Mustaq, a scholar who conducted the research. Among 850 papers from all over the globe from top Indian and world universities, the research paper of Saima won the best paper award at ICAET-2014. Saima who has her specialisation on water resources in M.Tech said the quality of water was getting poorer day by day. |
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PDP criticises govt for shelving Poonch-Rajouri rail link
Jammu, January 19 MLC Sharma warned to launch a mass movement to force the government to start work on the rail project. He said it was utter failure on the part of the state government that the project to connect twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri through a rail link had been shelved by the Railway Ministry without any reason. In a statement issued here today, Sharma said the PDP would not remain a mute spectator to the decision of the government to shelve the project as it was must to boost
the economy of the residents of Poonch and Rajouri districts. “The state government has failed to properly project the demands of the people of Poonch and Rajouri before the Union Government,” he said. He demanded that instead of shelving the project, the government must declare the Poonch-Rajouri rail link a national project because it would bring more tourists to the region. He further said a rail link between the
two districts could accelerate socio-economic development. He said the people of Poonch and Rajouri had been demanding a rail link for a long time and further delay in this regard would not be tolerated at any cost. “It is a glaring example of discrimination against the residents of Poonch and Rajouri and the PDP would not tolerate it,”
he said. |
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112-yr-old woman from Kishtwar dies
Jammu, January 19 Zunnat Beguma Dev was born on September 28, 1902. Her death is being mourned by the people of the locality. She breathed her last at 9 am at her home in the Akhyarabad area of Kishtwar. Hundreds of people from Kishtwar and adjoining area participated in her funeral here. Congress Leader and MLA, Inderwal constituency, Ghulam Mohammad Saroori expressed solidarity with the bereaved family and conveyed his sympathy to it. He remembered the departed soul as a noble woman who lived a pious life. Zunnat was Saroori’s
neighbour.
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Canine fear grips Anantnag residents
Anantnag, January 19 The locals alleged that stray dogs had unleashed a reign of terror in the area and to add to their woes, more of them were being allegedly transported from Srinagar to the town. Some people alleged that they had seen truckloads of stray dogs being unloaded in late hours at secluded places. “I have seen a truck load of canines being unloaded on the outskirts of the town a few times,” said Muneeb Ahmad, a local. Sources revealed that the practise started soon after the municipal authorities in Srinagar started facing heat over the issue of increasing number of stray dogs and subsequent attacks on the locals by these canines. “They are putting the lives of the people in rural areas at stake to evade the heat they face in Srinagar over the issue,” alleged the locals. They said they could not let their children venture out for the fear of dogs mauling them. Moreover it’s getting increasingly unsafe for the adults as well to venture out after it gets dark. “Yesterday, a pack of dogs chased me while I was returning home from work,” said Abdul Rehman, a local. “I had to take shelter at the roof of a parked truck to avoid them,” he added.? To add to the woes of the locals, streetlights installed throughout the town by the municipal authorities and the R&B remains defunct for most of the time. The locals alleged that despite repeated complaints to the authorities, nothing had been done so far in the regard and the callous attitude of the officials remained unchanged. The municipal authorities, however, said everything was fine in the area. “I have joined just a few days ago and I have not received any complaints of such nature,” said Shabir Ahmad, Chief Executive Officer, Anantnag Municipal Council. |
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Printers want govt to step in to save sector
Jammu, January 19 They have urged the state government to outsource its paper work to private printers so that they are able to survive as thousands of people are employed in the sector. Addressing a joint press conference here on Friday, presidents of Jammu and Srinagar based associations alleged that printers had been suffering because the government did not pay any attention to the sector. They alleged that the state had adopted discriminatory attitude with them as no government printing works was allotted to the units and government publishing work was outsourced to others. “We demand that all government works, including printing works of offices, banks documents and Jammu and Kashmir board publishing work, be allotted to the local printers instead of outsiders,” said Joginder Singh, president, JPA. The association also flayed the government for complex sale tax methodology and unscheduled
power cuts. — TNS
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Cricket becomes unifying factor for Jammu, Kashmir
Jammu, January 19 Although people and leaders of both these regions differ with each other on several issues, but almost everybody was praying for J&K cricket team to win and put up a fighting performance against Punjab. This was for the first time in the cricket history of Jammu and Kashmir that its team has reached the quarterfinal level and gave a tough fight to the Punjab cricket team. Players like Parvez Rasool, Ian Dev Singh, Adil Reshi and Hardeep Singh, who are from different parts of the state and are part of the J&K cricket team, have raised the level of cricket in the state. Even the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) member from J&K also admits this uniting factor. "No doubt cricket is a uniting factor as it has a universal appeal. The same was previously true in the national context and the J&K cricket team once again proved that cricket is a uniting factor. The cricketers from different parts of the state gel together and make a fighting team that puts up a united front," said Ranjeet Kalra, BCCI member from J&K. Common people also endorse this fact. "There is a huge talent in J&K provided they are given proper platform to perform and equal opportunities. Cricket has always played a role in bringing people closer and even countries who were once at war used sports diplomacy to improve ties. The game of cricket can definitely bring residents of the three regions of the state closer," said Jasdeep Singh Bali, a resident of Baramulla town. Imran Tantray, a teacher and a cricket lover from Doda, said, "I was praying since the beginning of the match that J&K should win. The performance by our cricket team showed how much talent we have." Politicians also recognised the performance of the team. "There is a lot of potential and talent in the state, but we have to improve cricket in academic institutions," said Karan Bhagat, a Congress leader from Jammu. |
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A delegation of the Kashmiri Pandits today met BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi and pledged its support to him to “liberate the nation from the present misrule” which they said had no clear policy for their return to their homes in the Valley.
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Modi.
Insisting that the government has “failed” to address the issues of exodus, the Panun Kashmir, a frontal organisation of displaced Kashmiri
Pandits, today said the mass displacement of minority community from the Valley in the early 90s would remain a “blot on the nation”.
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