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Indira Chowk finally gets late PM’s statue
Labourers install a statue of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi at Indira Chowk in Jammu. Tribune photo: Inderjeet Singh
SIT should nail ’84 riots culprits: Sikhs
Sikhs hold a protest in Jammu on Sunday.
Tribune photo: Inderjeet Singh
Guv hosts ‘At Home’ for PM
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DA hike kindles employees’ hope for approval of demands
Hizb militant arrested
Avalanche warning issued
amarnath yatra
on the frontline Cabinet nod for admn units draws flak from businessmen
Engg students accuse Kashmir University of delaying exams
Focus on designing quake-resistant school, hospital buildings: KU VC
Wani congratulates Omar on formation of new admn units
Employees hail approval of 10% DA
KU appoints Shafi DIQA Dy Director
Food poisoning: 20 cops fall ill
Jammu dominate in kho-kho tourney
CRPF T20 tourney ends
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Indira Chowk finally gets late PM’s statue
Jammu, February 2 The Municipal Corporation had announced to install a statute of first woman Prime Minister of India in December, 2012, but the process got delayed mainly because of funds shortage. In the past one decade statues of several national and state leaders have been installed in the city and several roads have been named after the leaders who have played an important role in shaping the history of modern India. “We have completed the installation process of the statue and now it will be officially unveiled during a ceremony within the next two weeks. It had been lying pending for the last many years and the day I took over as Commissioner, it remained my priority,” said Municipal Commissioner Kiran Wattal. |
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SIT should nail ’84 riots culprits: Sikhs
Jammu, February 2 The front also held a demonstration seeking a fast-track investigation into the role of the Congress leaders in the riots. Front president Sudershan Singh Wazir alleged that thousands of innocent Sikhs were killed by anti-social elements across the country, including Jammu and Kashmir, but so far they had been denied justice. Wazir said despite the constitution of many commissions for probing the Sikh killings, no action had been taken against those found guilty by the panels established by successive governments in the past three decades. |
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Guv hosts ‘At Home’ for PM
Jammu, February 2 The Prime Minister interacted with eminent scientists, which included Noble Laureate Dr Y Lee. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Union Ministers S Jaipal Reddy and Dr Farooq Abdullah, Members of the State Council of Ministers and prominent legislators were present on the occasion. |
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DA hike kindles employees’ hope for approval of demands
Jammu, February 2 The state government employees, who have been regularly protesting against the state government, have welcomed the decision of the state Cabinet on Saturday about the announcement of 10 per cent hike in DA to all the state government employees. The Cabinet, which met here on Saturday under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, sanctioned the hike of 10 per cent in dearness allowance raising the total DA of the state government employees from 80 to 90 per cent with effect from July, 2013. Dev Anand Gill, a leader of the Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) said, "The announcement of hike in DA has developed a hope among the employees that the government has started taking us seriously and we hope that it may agrees to all our long-pending demands before the Lok Sabha elections." "The hike in the DA was one of our demands, but our main demands are still pending. So we appeal to the government to agree to all our demands before the implementation of the election code of conduct," he added. According to sources, the core committee of the JCC may also appeal to all 4.5 lakh employees of the state to boycott the Congress and National Conference in the upcoming Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, if the coalition government fails to fulfil the demands of the employees. A JCC leader said, "Some members of the core committee of the JCC have also suggested in the last meeting that if the present coalition fails to fulfil our demands before the implementation of the election code of conduct, the JCC should appeal to all the employees of the state to boycott the both the political parties in the polls." "No one from the families of the employees will cast their vote in favour of the Congress and National Conference in both the Lok Sabha as well as Assembly elections," he added. |
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Hizb militant arrested
Srinagar, February 2 Mubarak Ahmad Wani alias Major Saqib, a divisional commander of the HM, was arrested in a joint operation of the police, the 1 Rashtriya Rifles and
the 40 Battalion of the CRPF at the Hanji Danter Bridge in Anantnag district, police said. Police have recovered one AK 56 rifle, two magazines, 60 AK rounds and one pouch from his possession, it said, adding that a case has been registered at the Anantnag police station in this regard. The 37-year-old militant ex-filtrated in 2001 and then infiltrated in 2007. He was arrested in 2007 and then rearrested in 2009, a defence spokesperson said. Wani rejoined militant ranks in 2010 but was again arrested the same year. After his release in 2011 he rejoined the militant group
in 2013, the spokesperson added. Meanwhile, the police said Wani was active in the areas of Pulwama, Kulgam and Anantnag for the
last one year. |
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Avalanche warning issued
Srinagar, February 2 Meanwhile, a government official said according to the Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment, a medium danger avalanche warning had been issued for the higher reaches of Drass, Kargil, Keran and Machil sectors of the Kashmir division. “People living in these hilly areas have been cautioned not to venture into avalanche-prone areas,” the official said. The deaprtment said Srinagar city might receive moderate rain and snow during the next 24 hours while maximum and minimum temperatures would be around 1°C and -1°C, respectively. |
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amarnath yatra
Jammu, February 2 This facility has been specially established in view of the fact that a good number of devotees living abroad undertake this annual yatra. “An ex-Indian pilgrim shall need to furnish scanned copies of filled-in application form, compulsory health certificate and scanned photograph,” Choudhary said. He should send these documents to nkanand@gmail.pnb.co.in and also arrange to deposit the prescribed registration fee of Rs 500 in the account number of the designated branch of Punjab National Bank, he said. The CEO said an ex-India pilgrim should obtain a compulsory health certificate (CHC), issued after February 1, 2014, from the national health services of the country in which he/she resided or from a reputed private hospital, adding that the format of the CHC should be the same as for pilgrims from India. On arrival in India for undertaking the yatra, the intending ex-Indian should have the choice of collecting the Yatra Permit from the designated branch of Punjab National Bank located at Jammu or Srinagar, he said. The CEO said the intending ex-Indian yatri would be informed through an email whether he/she had been registered for the yatra and the address of the bank branch at Jammu/ Srinagar from where the pilgrim should collect his/her Yatra Permit. He said a detailed procedure for registering ex-Indian pilgrims and the formats of application form and compulsory health certificate had been put on the Shrine Board’s Internet domain:
www.shriamarnathjishrine.com. Pilgrimage guidelines *
Ex-Indians must furnish scanned copies of filled-in application form, compulsory health certificate and scanned photograph *
These documents must be sent to nkanand@gmail.pnb.co.in and registration fee of Rs 500 deposited in the account number of the designated branch of Punjab National Bank *
A compulsory health certificate issued after February 1, 2014, must be obtained from national health services of the country in which he/she resides or from a reputed private hospital |
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on the frontline
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah looked tense on February 1, when he announced that the state Cabinet had approved the recommendations of the Cabinet Sub-Committee to have 659 new administrative units in Jammu and Kashmir.
At first blush, it might have seemed a victory of sorts for Omar. His party men were dancing to drum beats and distributing sweets on the road leading to his residence to let him know that he had emerged triumphant after weeks of clash of egos between him and local Congress leaders over the issue. Many believe this was no issue at all to cause such a deadlock between the two ruling alliance partners in the state. National Conference (NC) workers were bursting crackers in a clear bid to put their 43-year-old leader’s signature on the move, which they believed would bring governance to the people’s doorstep. The NC workers were driven by emotions and CM’s aide and Jammu provincial president of the party Devender Singh Rana called it a step closer to the historic “land to tiller” step by Omar’s grandfather Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah. The drama, starting with threats of the fall of the NC-Congress coalition government if the cabinet sub-committee failed to submit its report by January 31, turned out to be a melodrama with Omar calling it a “historic step” and J&K Pradesh Congress Committee president Safiuddin Soz describing it as a “victory” for the coalition. According to him, the sagacity of the party high command brought about a win-win situation for the coalition in the state. Stressing that the Congress was the driving force in bringing about equality in creation of new administrative units for all three regions, Ladakh, Valley and Jammu, he implied that the NC was central Kashmir-centric. Amidst this “historic step”, Omar’s tensions were based on solid reasons, for he is governing the “most difficult state” in the country. It may not be having the size of Madhya Pradesh or population of UP or Bihar, but it is a state where the development projects can be halted by a mere strike call by separatists and other vested interests who want him to fail. Some of the fault lies with him, too. Omar’s critics accuse him of having too little time for his state. Politically, as far as his party NC goes, it will have to project that it did a better job than the Congress in securing the new administrative units. At the same time, he would have to counter the main opposition PDP, which has heightened its political activity even in subzero temperatures in the Valley. Financially, the CM knows where the state stands. It stands nowhere. It has to depend on New Delhi for everything, even for paying wages to its employees. It does not have the luxury of having full control over its natural resources, particularly water. The water flowing in its rivers is going waste. Now, with the J&K Cabinet approving the setting up new administrative units, the Omar government will certainly sell that it has brought about decentralisation of power centres to blunt its opponents. But the question that will be asked is when the units will be formed. Right now, the plan is wrapped in the uncertainty of times, though NC spin doctors are selling the dream that 659 units will be set up before the Assembly elections. This will be a miracle if it happens in a state where hundreds of schools are without shelter and electricity is a rarity. The eight districts created by Omar’s predecessor Ghulam Nabi Azad in 2007 do not have proper infrastructure and staff till now. Omar will have to race against time as the Assembly elections are just 10 months away. He will have to show greater vigour and consistency in delivering this promise because this is not a demand for the grant of autonomy or removal of the AFSPA for which he has to struggle with the Centre. It is his own fight and he will have to fight on his own as he had defined this issue as the demand of people. |
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Cabinet nod for admn units draws flak from businessmen Srinagar, February 2 It alleged that they (business owners) were never consulted while making the decision, which would impact the state economy. Kashmir Economic Alliance president Yasin Khan said, “The state has been facing economic crisis as government policies failed to deliver desired results due to shortage
of funds.” Reportedly, the setting up of units and filling vacancies of unit staffers will cost the state Rs 7,000 crore and the maintenance cost of these units will be around Rs 2,000 crore per annum. “Private sectors and the common man are the worst hit by the economic crisis in Kashmir. No economic improvement has been witnessed in the state despite massive tax being paid by them. Under such scenario, the creation of administrative units will hamper the economic growth,” Yasin said. He said the state government had made the commerce sector a scapegoat in its attempt to favour public sector employees. “The government’s claim of generating job opportunities with the creation of units is a farce because its existent employment schemes have failed to deliver their desired results,” he said. Ismail Khan, an economics expert at the Islamic University of Science and Technology, Awantipora, said many flagship schemes such as the Sher-e- Kashmir Welfare Employment Programme failed to boost job prospects. “Authorities, including the Chief Minister, earlier said no more government jobs were available in the state and the youth should look for entrepreneurship and opportunities in the private sector. How will new government jobs be offered by the creation of these units? These are mere political moves aimed at befooling the people,” Khan said. Fasiam Agro Farms CEO Gazalla Amin said, “Although I appreciate the idea of transfer of power to people through this move, but the economic implications should not be ignored. I think all stakeholders, including various trade and industrial bodies, should have been consulted beforehand so as to avoid an upcoming crisis.” The state budget for 2013-2014 had invited private sector’s ire for bringing real estate, automobile services, property dealers and consultants, under service tax net and increasing toll tax on various commodities imported into the state. Cost factor The setting up of units and filling vacancies of unit staffers will cost the state ~7,000 crore. The maintenance cost of these units will be around Rs 2,000 crore per annum
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Engg students accuse Kashmir University of delaying exams
Srinagar, February 2 They said they would lag six months behind from the actual duration of the course. However, the university authorities blamed technical considerations behind the delay. The students of BE/BTech of the college, the only private engineering college in the Valley affiliated to Kashmir University, said they were supposed to finish their four-year professional engineering degree in September 2013, but due to "unnecessary" delay in exams, they would lag behind. "To our dismay, we are still lingering in the seventh semester from our official course completion time period," said a student. "Throughout the course, we pressed the university authorities to hold our exams on time and declare results, but unfortunately they never paid heed to our genuine grievances and instead made repeated errors and ruined our professional careers," he said. The students alleged that they were unable to go for higher professional exams or apply for job recruitments. The students said in January, the university finally notified the date sheet of which several papers were held without any hindrance, but one paper was again postponed, date-sheet of which is yet to be notified, making students wait. "We were supposed to finish our exams on January 24, but again the paper was postponed. We visited the examination controller repeatedly, but he said the exam would be conducted in March. We even took official letters from our college, but of no use," the students added. The Controller of Examinations said, "There is division among college students as parents of some students wanted the exam to be postponed as their wards had to appear in Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) exams, while other students opposed the demand." He said the delay in exams was due to technical considerations. "The students are not content with anything. This college has no solution. The students are there just because of money. There is no seriousness among them," said Prof Abdul Salam Bhat, who is the Controller of Exams at Kashmir University. |
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Focus on designing quake-resistant school, hospital buildings: KU VC
Srinagar, February 2 The workshop was organised by Academic Staff College in collaboration with Department of Geography and Regional Development, KU. Vice Chancellor, KU, Talat Ahmad, who chaired the concluding session of the workshop, said special care should be taken while designing the structures of schools, colleges and hospital buildings, which were vulnerable to tragedies in the wake of any disaster. Distributing the certificates, Talat said, “Special attention needs to be given while planning and designing school, college and hospital buildings because these places house the most vulnerable sections of society, which include schoolchildren, young students and patients, and whenever a disaster strikes they suffer the most.” Around 60 research scholars and faculty members participated in the concluding function today. Referring to a series of earthquakes and subsequent aftershocks witnessed in the Bhaderwah-Kishtawar belt of the state in the recent past, Talat said, “While I was part of a team which went to this particular belt after it witnessed several earthquakes last year we observed that those areas in this region faced the major brunt which were close to MCT area or often referred as Main Central Thrust Area. We also noticed that buildings and structures built on columns and beams did not suffer much damage as compared to those which were not designed on scientific lines.” He added that the aim of organising such workshops was to bring this message to the people that though earthquakes and other disasters could not be stopped, the impact and the damage they cause could be minimised by building better structures and buildings. Senior Professor at the Department of Geography and Regional Development, KU, Tasavur Kanth said, “The chances of survival under such circumstances lies in the fact that we have to learn to co-exist with such disasters and other natural phenomena and try to improve our mitigation measures.” Earlier, Ishtiyaq Mayer, course coordinator of the workshop, said, “Disaster management has become a global concern and the workshop aimed to stress on the need for capacity building of young scholars and faculty members so that the message gets multiplied when they share it with their students and other masses of society.” Meer said the workshop had some practical sessions, which included a mock drill by the State Disaster Reduction Force.
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Wani congratulates Omar on formation of new admn units
Srinagar, February 2 Wani, a legislator from Amira Kadal constituency, termed the creation of new units as “a historic, landmark and structural reform” that will bring governance within the “reach of the common man”. The announcement of creation of new administrative units was made by the Chief Minister yesterday. “This exercise will go down in the history of this state as a testament to Omar Abdullah’s vision of transparency, good governance and pro-people politics,” Wani said in a statement. He said, “The creation of new administrative units will help in dispensing good governance, ensuring effective utilisation of funds and beneficial implementation of welfare, poverty alleviation and development schemes”. Wani thanked the Chief Minister and the Cabinet Sub-Committee for accepting most of the recommendations that were made by the delegations from Srinagar. Wani, who had personally led a provincial representation to meet the Cabinet Sub-Committee, said the “decentralisation exercise” added to the “potency of earlier transparency and accountability initiatives”. “It also paves way for full empowerment of panchayats in the state which is a cherished vision and dream of the Chief Minister,” he said. |
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Employees hail approval of 10% DA
Srinagar, February 2 In a statement, EJACK president Aijaz Khan and other employee leaders, including Haji Nazir Zargar and Ishtiyaq Baigh, expressed satisfaction over yesterday’s cabinet decision of releasing 10 per cent DA. The committee thanked the Chief Minister and Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather for the decision. The employees also hoped that the government would address other demands of the state employees. “We appeal to the Chief Minister to take steps for the regularisation of daily wagers, ad hoc and contractual employees and other such employees,” the statement said.
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KU appoints Shafi DIQA Dy Director
Srinagar, February 2 The work profile envisages monitoring and accelerating the quality education delivery both at academic and research levels at the university. Former faculty with the Department of Media Education Research Centre (MERC) at KU, Shafi has served at various positions at the university, besides editor, students’ publications and KU newsletters. Known for his organisational capabilities and professional skills in mass communication, he has won several awards and honours, including KU gold medal in media education. |
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Jammu dominate in kho-kho tourney
Jammu, February 2 A total of nine teams from Pulwama, Anantang, Baramulla, Srinagar, Poonch, Kathua, Rajouri, Samba and Jammu districts are participating in the tournament, which was declared open by Navin Agarwal, Director General, Youth Services and Sports. In his address, Navin Agarwal said games like kho-kho, which were played in every nook and corner of the state, needed to be encouraged. Harbans Singh, former Sports Minister and president of the Kho-Kho Association, urged the government to provide job opportunities to sportspersons. Manmeet Singh, Managing Director, Ranjeet College of Education, Kuldeep Gupta, general secretary, J&K Amateur Kabaddi Association, Manjeet Singh, secretary J&K Korfball Association, Tarlok Singh and BS Tirthi, general secretary of the J&K Kho-Kho Association, were present on the occasion. Meanwhile, in the matches played, Jammu defeated Rajouri by 8 points and one innings and Srinagar by 10 points and one innings. Rajouri defeated Srinagar by 16 points and one innings. Baramulla scripted narrow win over Samba by 1 point and one innings. Kathua outplayed Anantnag by 11 points and one innings and Pulwama defeated Poonch by 2 points. The matches were officiated by Vishal Malhotra, Pankaj Malhotra, Ramandeep Kralia, Dheeraj Sharma, Santosh Sharma, Rahi Jamwal, Heena Khan, Dolly, Shinnu and Ankush Sharma. |
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CRPF T20 tourney ends
Doda, February 2 The final was played between the Young Star Cricket Club and the Youth Combine Cricket Club, Bhaderwah. Fayaz was adjudged the man of the match, while Abid Pathan was declared the man of the tournament. — OC
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Jammu, February 2
The Jammu and Kashmir Sikh United Front (JKSUF) today demanded that the Special Investigation Team (SIT) should nail the Congress leaders involved in the 1984 riots during its probe. They also demanded a similar probe into the 1989 Jammu riots.
