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It’s final, Azad to contest from home turf Doda
Soz unhappy about seat pact with NC
LS elections not a referendum on my
govt: Omar |
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Police to detain troublemakers ahead of Lok Sabha elections
HC issues notice to J&K over state R-Day petition
Specify minimum facilities given to jail inmates: HC
Kashmir university official’s death
Detained separatists released
PDP tells people not to take LS poll lightly
PDP has ‘covert ties’ with BJP: NC
PDD tells consumers to pay dues by March 31 or face disconnection
Three file nomination for Jammu constituency
End dynasty rule in state: AAP
NC announces office-bearers
Rain fury leaves 70 girl students shelterless
In overcrowded Jammu hospitals, Taj reserves rooms for meetings
Construction of hospital begins without JMC nod
14 employees in Doda suspended
Guv: Kashmir Shaivism led to philosophical movement in J&K
Estates Dept employees threaten to hold stir
Govt employees threaten another round of protests
Moderate quake in Doda
Kupwara villagers face ration shortage
Special DGP reviews security situation in Kashmir valley
Cop’s UN deputation cancelled over his role in rights abuses: HR group
Team Anna visits Jammu (West) Assembly segment
State Bank of India donates computer to govt school
MDS aspirants accuse exam board of issuing wrong answer keys
Relief sought for traders hit by road widening
200 evacuated after avalanche warning
Governor launches IHRPC website
Children’s theatre camp starts today
Hindi play ‘Buss ek aur kadam’ staged
Rangoli competition held
Sufi singers enthral audience in Valley
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It’s final, Azad to contest from home turf Doda
Jammu, March 19 It was due to the intense pressure mounted by party workers and leaders that Azad agreed to contest from the Udhampur segment to check the Narendra Modi wave in Jammu and Kashmir. It will be the first time that Azad will be contesting a Lok Sabha seat in J&K. “As the JKPCC president, I announce that popular leader Azad is our candidate for the Udhampur-Doda Lok Sabha seat,”
Soz, who reached Jammu from Delhi this afternoon, told mediapersons. He exuded confidence that the political scenario would change after the decision of Azad to contest the election from the Udhampur-Doda seat. Earlier, Azad had been reluctant to contest the Lok Sabha elections due to his pre-occupation with party work.
Soz has reasons to say that Azad’s candidature is a “winning proposition” because he has influence on both Hindus and Muslims of this polarised region. The divide has further deepened after the Kishtwar riots of August 9, 2013. Due to his high-profile stature and rapport with residents of the erstwhile Doda district, comprising
Doda, Ramban and Kishtwar districts, Azad could consolidate both Hindu and Muslim votes in this mountainous region, say sources. To present Azad as the most acceptable leader of the region, Soz said both Hindus and Muslims of the Udhampur-Doda segment had urged Azad to contest the elections. “It was due to the repeated requests of people that Azad has agreed to contest the election,” Soz said, adding that Azad had given his consent to fight elections during the party rally at Surankote on March
15. Azad has never contested Lok Sabha elections in J&K. He has won Lok Sabha elections twice from the Washim segment of
Maharashtra. In J&K, Azad had created history by winning the Assembly elections from Bhaderwah in Doda district by a record margin of 58,015 votes in 2006. Azad had got 62,072 votes while the BJP candidate got only 4,057 votes. It will be Azad’s first LS poll from J&K
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Soz unhappy about seat pact with NC
Jammu, March 19 Soz, however, said as “disciplined solider” he would abide by the decision of the high command and would work for the victory of National Conference candidates
in Kashmir. “The high command has taken the decision in the interest of the coalition so we will work overtime to ensure victory of coalition candidates in all the six seats of the state,” the senior leader said. As per the seat sharing agreement between the coalition partners, the Congress would contest both the parliamentary seats of the Jammu province and the lone seat of
Ladakh, while the National Conference would contest on all the three Lok Sabha seats of the Valley.
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LS elections not a referendum on my
govt: Omar Jammu, March 19 In an exclusive interview with The Tribune today, Omar who turned 44 on March 10, said “The state government’s work will be a part of the elections but it is not purely a referendum on the state government.” “But, it definitely will be a part of the issues during these elections. The state government’s work will have influence on the elections. The new administrative units and implementation of MGNREGA and other Centrally sponsored schemes will be the issues. We are not going with a single slogan. It is not a single-slogan election,” he replied when asked as to what would be the USP (Unique Selling Point ) of his government in the elections. The Omar Abdullah-led National Conference-Congress coalition government’s rule since January 5 , 2009, is under scanner. While the government is banking on the panchayat elections in 2011, higher number of tourist arrivals and near-normalcy in the state, implementation of the Centrally sponsored schemes, its critics are pointing to the failure of the government to inculcate complete sense of security among the masses and growing alienation of the people. “An important factor to these Lok Sabha polls is that these have come months before the Assembly polls slated by the year-end and the two alliance partners National Conference and Congress are fighting jointly,” Omar said. “The Congress leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad and Saifuddin Soz have started the campaign from Rajouri and Poonch. “I will be campaigning in the coming days. The National Conference is fighting on three seats in the Valley, but I am camping here (Jammu) to campaign for the alliance candidates. Some of our opponents were hoping that the alliance should break up and they were making efforts in this regard,” Omar said in a clear jibe at the PDP. In Jammu, Omar said “The BJP has helped us by fielding relatively weak candidates from both Udhampur and Jammu (parliamentary constituencies). Had they fielded strong candidates, then it might have been a contest,” Omar said. “We will win all the six seats”. Of Modi wave in the state, Omar said, “It is in the lower regions of Jammu. When you move to mountains, it disappears. In the Valley and Ladakh, it is non-existent.” Why did the NC repeat all its three candidates? “It is because they did a decent job. They were vocal and raised all the issues concerning the state. That’s why Jammu and Kashmir received all the aid from the Centre.” Despite vowing that the “National Conference-Congress alliance is very strong”, the Chief Minister, who also is working president of his party, was uncertain whether the alliance would be there during the Assembly polls. “There are elements in both the parties opposed to the idea of an alliance during the Assembly polls. It is for the two parties to decide and it will be decided when we reach that stage.” About the contest for LS seats, he said it is between the NC-Congress alliance and the BJP-PDP friendship on the other hand. Look at the adulation Muzaffar Beig (PDP’s stalwart and party candidate from Baramullah constituency in Kashmir) showered on Narendra Modi, BJP’s prime ministerial candidate. “It is a well known fact that the PDP came into being during the BJP’s government (in 1999).” Omar, meanwhile, admitted that “the panchayat election process (that started in 2011) is incomplete because of several factors. There was a question of wider reservation and incorporation of some of the provisions of the 73rd and the 74th amendments. That task has been completed in the last Budget session of the state legislature. We wanted to have block-level elections and also that of the urban local bodies, but given the time left between the LS and Assembly polls, it looks unlikely that these polls can be held. Still, we are looking at the possibilities.” J-K CM confident
On Modi wave
It is in the lower regions of Jammu. When you move to mountains, it disappears. In the Valley and Ladakh, it is non-existent.~ Omar Abdullah on modi wave in the state.
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Police to detain troublemakers ahead of Lok Sabha elections
Srinagar, March 19 Sources said the police authorities had been asked to identify troublemakers immediately in their respective areas, so that they were taken into preventive custody for the smooth conduct of the polls. The state had already sought an assistance of nearly 30,000 paramilitary troops who would help the police and other security agencies for holding peaceful polls and also carry out counter-militancy operations, area dominance and handle law and order problem. Apart from apprehensions of militant violence, there is always a possibility that separatists might try to create law and order problem. While a decision on top separatists’ detention would be taken at a higher level, troublemakers and separatist leadership at the districts level would be taken into preventive custody before the polls, said a senior police officer. The hardline separatists have already called for a poll boycott and decided to carry out boycott campaign during the elections. South Kashmir’s Anantnag constituency is the first Lok Sabha seat in the Valley to go to the polls on April 24 followed by Srinagar and
Baramulla. The sources said police officials in sensitive areas of
Baramulla, Sopore, Bandipore, Palhalan, Hajin, Trehgam (in north Kashmir),
Shopian, Pulwama, Kulgam, Anantnag (in south Kashmir) and various areas of the old city had been told to ensure that those who had a history of being involved in stone throwing should be taken into preventive custody. “There are some grey areas, which are known for law and order problems. Being a mega event, we will create an environment so that electors come out to vote in a free and fair manner. Nobody will be allowed to prevent people from exercising their franchise, which is the right of an elector,” a senior police officer said. |
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HC issues notice to J&K over state R-Day petition
Srinagar, March 19 A Single Bench of the High Court comprising DS Thakur today directed the respondents to file their response/objections to the petition within four weeks. The petition, filed earlier in December 2013, had ruffled many feathers in the state and was opposed by the BJP and the Kashmir High Court Bar Association with separatist leanings. The BJP dismissed the petition as “incorrect and mischievous”, while the Bar had said it “strongly opposes” the “very thought of some people” who want that November 17 be declared as Republic Day of Kashmir. The Bar considers the final settlement of Kashmir pending and questions the accession of the state to India. Concerned about the “non-furling and non-use” of the state flag by the constitutional authorities in the state, petitioner Abdul Qayoom Khan has also sought directions for hoisting the state flag on every car or official building or properties used by the constitutional authorities under the J&K Constitution. As the petition was listed before the Single Bench of Justice Thakur in the regular cause list today, the petitioner appeared in person to plead his case. After going though the contents of the petition, the High Court issued notices to all parties arrayed as respondents in the petition, including the Chief Secretary, J&K. There was no one to represent the government in the petition. Jammu and Kashmir is the only state in India which has its own constitution apart from the Constitution of India. The state adopted its own constitution on November 17, 1956, and for formulating the same, the J&K Constituent Assembly was created in 1954. The J&K Constituent Assembly ceased to exist after it adopted the Constitution of the state on November 17, 1956. What the petition says
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Specify minimum facilities given to jail inmates: HC
Srinagar, March 19 The High Court has directed the authorities to furnish the rate list of items, including food, toiletries, clothing and bedding, provided to undertrials in other states, for its comparison with the rates in J&K jails. The directions were passed by a Division Bench of the J&K High Court headed by Chief Justice MM Kumar this week in a public interest litigation (PIL) by the Kashmir Bar Association. In the PIL filed in 2011, it had been prayed that the High Court direct the authorities concerned to provide better facilities and conditions to the jail inmates in the state and sought their lodging in jails nearer to their homes. “The issue pertains to government
(Detenue General) order of 1968 with regard to supplies of diet and toiletries. The aforesaid order is stated to have been amended in 2001, stating that the same facilities would be given to detainees which are given to undertrial prisoners,” the Bench observed in its orders. “However, the jail manual does not furnish any details of facilities to be provided to the
undertrials. Therefore, it needs to be clarified what exactly are the minimum facilities given to
undertrials,” the High Court further observed in its orders while asking the authorities to furnish comparable rate lists from other states. “It shall be mentioned what are the rates (of these items) furnished to
detainees/undertrials in other parts of the country so that the court may be assisted in comparing the rates in J&K and other states,” it said. On July 30, 2013, the High Court had directed the government to reconsider the rates fixed for food, toiletries, clothing and bedding items in jails so as to bring them on a par with the current price index. “No review has been undertaken except for revising the amount for food and toilet for class C detenues from Rs 17 to Rs 33. We have impressed upon the Additional Advocate General to reconsider the rates fixed in order of 1968 so as to bring it with ground reality and price index,” the Bench said in its orders dated July 30, 2013. The Bar Association has maintained that the “Detenue General Order of 1968” has not been implemented in “letter and spirit” and that the rates for food, toiletries, clothing and bedding provided to prisoners in J&K jails “continues to be static”. In its orders, the court has further directed the government respondents to file a latest status report with regard to the purchase of seven ambulances against a sanctioned amount of Rs 20.70
lakh, to be allocated to different jails. For better conditions in jails
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Kashmir university official’s death
Srinagar, March 19 Khan had died in May 2005 on the university’s Hazratbal campus while he was conducting inspection of the construction work of one of the blocks of KU on the campus. He suddenly fell off the under-construction building from the top floor. Around nine years after its top official's mysterious death, the university authorities told The Tribune that they would make the investigation report public. Khan's family had earlier alleged that the university authorities had been not making the contents of the report public. "I had approached everybody from the then Vice Chancellor to the head of the inquiry committee, retired KU faculty member Nissar Ali, to reveal the contents of the investigation report to the deceased's family. However, the university stated in an official communication to us that they are not in possession of any such report," Faizan Hassan Khan, said the deceased's son, who had filed complaints with the SHRC and the KU's information wing. University Registrar Zaffer Reshi said Khan's death had shocked the entire campus and a full-fledged inquiry committee was formed then to seek the details. “We have no objections in making the report public. If the family approaches us again, we will give them the report," Reshi said. Khan's family based in Srinagar had alleged that Khan died due to the inferior quality construction material
(fibre glass) used in the construction of KU buildings. "The then engineer, who was responsible for the constructions, is still employed there and no action has been taken against him," Faizan
said. Faizan has been knocking the doors of the Chief Information Commission
(CIC), public relation's wing, KU, and the SHRC for justice. On August 30, 2012, the CIC had tightened the noose around the first appellate authority (which was the KU inquiry committee) to submit the investigation report within 45 days, which the university failed to do. Case file KU’s former Controller of Examinations Abrar Hassan Khan died after he
accidentally fell off the top floor of the university’s under-construction building on the campus in May 2005 while he was conducting inspection of the construction work of one of the blocks of KU on its Hazratbal campus. Khan’s son attributed the death of his father to the
negligence of the university authorities and the engineering wing. |
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Detained separatists released
Srinagar, March 19 The authorities have lifted the restrictions on separatist leader and chairman of the moderate faction of the Hurriyat Conference Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who was put under house detention at his Nigeen residence. “After being kept under detention in his house, the leader today talked to different deputations,” the moderate Hurriyat said in a statement here. The authorities also released JKLF chairman Yasin Malik and second-rung leaders of his organisation, who were taken into custody, following the killing of Tahir Ahamd on March 14. The authorities released the Democratic Freedom Party leader Shabbir Shah and National Front Chairman Nayeem Khan. — TNS
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PDP tells people not to take LS poll lightly
Srinagar/Pulwama,
March 19 Mehbooba said due to the less number of seats, members from Jammu and Kashmir elected to the Lok Sabha did not have any major role in Parliament. She said they could represent the Kashmiris in a way that could change the perceived notions about Kashmir and Kashmiris in the rest of India. “Boycotts have given us those governors who are responsible for the
Meerut-like situation where students have been booked for mere cheering the best team in the game. These people never paid heed to establish new institutions in Jammu and Kashmir,” said
Mehbooba, adding that many politicians from Kashmir cheer for the Pakistani cricket team in Delhi but no action is taken against them. “The reign of terror that the PDP had put to an end has been restarted by the National Conference after it came to power in 2008,” she said. The PDP president said the NC was talking about stopping the ‘Modi wave’ and communalism but it was the same party that had supported NDA and the father-son duo had worked with the
BJP. Mehbooba said she had put the best lot in the field to contest the Lok Sabha elections such as Muzaffar Hussain Baig from the Baramulla constituency, Tariq Hamid Karra from Srinagar and Yashpal Sharma from the
Jammu-Poonch constituency. Baig, in a meeting with workers at Langate, said 2014 would be a year of reckoning for the National Conference. “The main aim of the NC has been to grab power by hook or by crook for which it pushed many generations of Kashmir out of the system, first by opening the separatist counter for plebiscite and later victimising the people who challenged it in the 1987 elections,” Baig said while addressing the workers. |
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PDP has ‘covert ties’ with BJP: NC
Srinagar, March 19 “PDP leader Muzaffar Hussain Beig’s adulatory and reverential comments on BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi while speaking to a TV channel recently were consistent with his party’s covert ties with the BJP,” Wani said in a statement. Wani alleged that the PDP has been asked by Modi to make the erstwhile covert ties public ahead of the parliamentary elections. “Such shyly laudatory comments about Modi have come from Mehbooba Mufti as well in the recent past,” Nasir said and emphasised on the need to ensure that the PDP is “defeated in its plans to trivialise the sentiments of the people” of J&K. Wani termed Modi as a “polarising and divisive” figure. He further said Beig’s lies on the Baghliar Power Project in the same interview would be “hilarious if they weren’t so ironic”. “The Baghliar Power Project was envisioned and launched by Dr Farooq Abdullah’s government,” Wani said. He said the PDP had “no role to play” in the Baghliar Power Project. “We understand the PDP’s need to manufacture lies in the absence of any tangible infrastructural achievements in the power generation sector in their tenure,” he claimed. |
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PDD tells consumers to pay dues by March 31 or face disconnection
Jammu, March 19 Sources said the department was facing an uphill task to achieve its revenue targets as power theft was still going on in the city, despite several steps taken by the government to curb it. A survey has also revealed that in some areas inhabited by businessmen and politicians, the transmission and distribution (T&D) losses have increased to 80 per cent, with most of them not paying regular tariffs amounting to lakhs of rupees, leading to failure in achieving revenue targets, forcing the government to divert money from developmental funds to purchase power from the Northern Grid. This fiscal Rs 1,300 crore is the target for Jammu and the same target has been set for the PDD in the Kashmir division. Chief Engineer, Electrical Maintenance and RE Wing, Ajay Gupta said, "All the electricity consumers of the Jammu province should clear their outstanding/current electricity bills immediately, otherwise action will be taken against them." Despite claims of crusade against power thieves by the government, defaulters have failed to clear pending power bills for years together. Even the amnesty scheme started by the department has not been taken seriously. The sources said rather than taking any tough action against the defaulters to recover money, an instalment scheme was introduced for these individuals allowing them to repay their arrears, raising doubts over the intention of the government. In the past few years the government has spent crores of rupees in improving the power sector in the state, but to some extent these measures have failed to curb losses, because government departments, ministers, MLAs are themselves major defaulters. Last year, the government had found 34,753 illegal connections across the state. "At places consumers are running their electrical gadgets by bypassing meters and at some places there is an active support of PDD staff members, who are taking money from people to allow them to use illegal means," said a senior official. Defaulters fail to clear pending power bills
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Three file nomination for Jammu constituency
Jammu, March 19 As of now, three candidates have filed their papers for this seat. Besides Ashok Bhagat and Labha Ram Gandhi, Vijay Kumar has also filed his papers for the seat. |
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End dynasty rule in state: AAP
Srinagar, March 19 Bhat has a strong foothold in various areas of Budgam district from where the AAP has fielded him against National Conference’s Farooq Abdullah. Bhat hails from Budgam district. While addressing a public gathering, he criticised the present NC-Congress coalition government for “failing” to tackle civic issues like snow clearance, power issues in the aftermath of heavy snowfall and soil erosion in various areas of Budgam. “There have been no visible improvements on the infrastructure front in the state,” Bhat said. |
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NC announces office-bearers
Srinagar, March 19 The announcement comes days after the party held a meeting of its working committee to discuss the parliamentary elections. Mohammad Syed Akhoon has been elected as the senior vice-president for Kashmir province, Nasir Aslam Wani said in a statement. Abdul Rashid Shaheen has been elected as the provincial vice-president in charge of north Kashmir’s Kupwara, Baramulla and Bandipora districts. Syed Abdul Rashid has been elected as the provincial vice-president in charge of south Kashmir’s Anantnag, Kulgam, Pulwama and Shopian districts. Sheikh Abdul Rehman has been elected as the provincial vice-president in charge of central Kashmir’s Srinagar, Ganderbal and Budgam districts. Showket Ahmed Mir has been elected as the provincial secretary. Ghulam Nabi Bhat and Abdul Rashid Haroon have been elected as the provincial joint secretaries for office affairs and public relations, respectively. Raja Nasir Khan and Deen Mohammad
Cheetah have been elected as the provincial organisers for the Gujjar affairs and Pahari affairs, respectively. Mohammad Amin Khan has been elected as
the provincial organiser for workers and employees unions. The party’s provincial president termed the “successful conduct and completion of the vibrant internal party elections” as the vindication of the National Conference’s commitment to democracy and empowerment. Wani congratulated the office-bearers. |
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Rain fury leaves 70 girl students shelterless
Doda, March 19 The girls, some of whom are orphans and belong to remote parts of the district, have been forced to take shelter at the house of a local resident. “About 70 to 80 girls belonging to poor family background and from remote areas like Padder, Marwah and Dacchan were pursuing there studies at the madarsa. But since the past few days these girls are forced to live at the mercy of villagers. They have lost their shelter in rain,” said Javed Hussain, a local. The villagers alleged that the madarsa was damaged because of the underconstructed road running alongside it. Six rooms of the madarsa were collapsed, a villager said. “Now these poor girls are forced to take shelter at the house of one Talib Hussain,” he added. The girls have sought government intervention to get the institute repaired. Tehsildar, Doda, Tanvir Ahmed said the district administration was aware of the damage, but expressed ignorance about the condition of students. Ahmad, however, assured that he will take up the matter with his superiors and said immediate action would be taken to make alternate arrangements for the girls. |
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In overcrowded Jammu hospitals, Taj reserves rooms for meetings
Jammu, March 19 These rooms normally remain locked and come to use only when the Minister wants to chair some “emergency or important” meeting of heads of various departments, registrars and other officials. A single visit to the newly-inaugurated 220-bedded Super Speciality Hospital, where Taj has reserved a room for “better monitoring” of services, is enough to gauge the sorry state-of-affairs at the facility. The basic sanitation facility at the multi-storied building offers a poor picture and often puts patients and their attendants to inconvenience. Floors and staircases are covered with dust and waste material and the sanitary staff is conspicuous by their absence. Sources said the minister has also reserved two rooms, one in Government Medical College and Hospital, Jammu, and another at Chopra Nursing Home, adjacent to the hospital. The conditions are even worse at Government Medical College and Hospital. Toilets are in bad shape and no thought has been put to maintain the facility for some time now. In some wards, water was overflowing from the toilets causing inconvenience to passersby. “What is the fun of having three rooms reserved for the personal use, if health services at main hospitals are on crutches?” a senior doctor at the Government Medical College and Hospital asked. “The hospital is facing major problem of overcrowding, but the Minister concerned has never shown any interest in dealing with the situation,” the doctor said. “We fail to understand the reason for reserving these rooms in hospitals. The meetings, which are convened in these rooms, can easily take place in his office chamber at the Civil Secretariat. Besides, healthcare services get affected every time the minister decides to convene a meeting at the hospital as staff remains busy making arrangements for the interaction,” he said.
Tripta Sharma, who was accompanying a patient at the Super Speciality Hospital, said, “Leave aside other facilities, the hospital authorities have not installed benches for attendants. People are forced to sit on dust-laden floors. Constructing big buildings will not improve healthcare, the authorities must ensure that patients get proper treatment and good sanitation facilities.” When her attention was drawn towards a room reserved for the minister at the hospital, she said, “The minister can reserve 10 rooms for himself. There is no one to question him. He must explain to the public why he has this privilege.” The hospital authorities remained tight-lipped over the issue, while Taj was not available for comments. |
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Construction of hospital begins without JMC nod
Jammu, March 19 This has been revealed in the Physical Verification Report of the Chief Minister’s Monitoring Cell. The report also mentioned, “The JMC did not verify if the work is being carried out by the executing agency as per the norms.” It also raised questions over the site selection, saying, “The government needs to take notice of the issue and seriously review the decision of site selection before it is too late. This is necessary for planned development of Jammu city.” “Moreover, when crores of rupees of tax-payers' money is being invested for creating a tertiary health infrastructure it needs to be ensured that every penny spent is accounted for,” the report added. “The executing agency must immediately process the papers and drawings to obtain permission from the
JMC. Rather than raising observations, if any, at a later stage, the JMC needs to ensure that all the required papers and drawings of the maternity hospital complex are made available to it by the Chief Engineer, R&B, Jammu, so that these are examined in time,” it said. The new 200-bedded maternity hospital at Jammu is being constructed on 5 kanals and 15 marlas of land within the premises of the Government Hospital, Gandhi
Nagar. The report, however, claimed that the space available for the construction of the seven-storey building was “inadequate”. “In a city where the rural-urban fringe is volatile there is always scope for acquisition of land, especially when it comes to setting-up a vital health institution which would not just cater to the residents of Jammu city but to the entire population of the Jammu division,” the report stated. “Such a piece of state land, on which development activity is yet to be carried out by the government and is a temptation for the encroachers when left unattended, should have been chosen for constructing the hospital,” the report stated. Physical verification report The executing agency must immediately process the papers and drawings to obtain permission from the JMC. Rather than raising observations, if any, at a later stage, the JMC needs to ensure that all the required papers and drawings of the maternity hospital complex are made available to it by the Chief Engineer, R&B, Jammu, so that these are examined in time |
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14 employees in Doda suspended
Doda, March 19 During inspection of the Education Department, four employees were found absent from duty while the officials found six employees of the Public Health Engineering Department absent from duty. Four employees of the Horticulture Department were found absent from duty. The absent employees were placed under suspension pending inquiry. — OC |
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Guv: Kashmir Shaivism led to philosophical movement in J&K
Jammu, March 19 Speaking on the occasion, the Governor said Kashmir Shaivism had witnessed signal growth during 8th-12th century AD and contributed to the evolution of philosophical and theological movements in Kashmir during the period. The Governor congratulated Prof Ved Ghai for being honoured with Padma Shri this year for her contributions towards the enrichment of Sanskrit language and for enhancing educational opportunities for children of the less-advantaged segments of society. The Governor also released “The
Vaishnavi”, a souvenir of the Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan, on the occasion. The function started with “Vaidik
Mangalacharnam” and lighting of the ceremonial lamp. The proceedings of the function included addresses in Sanskrit by Prof NR
Kannan, Vice Chancellor, Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan, Prof Ved Ghai and Prof VM
Shastri, ex-principal, Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan. “Saraswati
Vandana” and a flute recital were also presented during the function. The welcome address was given by Prof PN
Shastry, Principal, Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan, and the vote of thanks was delivered by Prof Sharad Chander Sharma. |
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Estates Dept employees threaten to hold stir
Jammu, March 19 The Coordination Committee of the Estates Employees Association has alleged that despite assurances by the government for the last six years, their demands have not been considered. “The government has always deceived us by assuring us that our demands will be accepted soon. But for the last six years, it has been doing nothing about it. This is our last warning,” said senior leader of the Estates Employees Association Prem Singh
Bawa. Apart from regularisation of daily wagers, the Estates Employees Association is demanding that there should be amendment to service rules, holding of regular Departmental Promotion Committee
(DPC) meetings, construction of building for housing the office of Deputy Director, Estates, and construction of staff quarters. “There has been no reorganisation in the department for the last over two decades and hundreds of daily wagers, engaged before 1994, are waiting for their regularisation of services. Is this the justice of the government?” said Yash Pal Sharma, another employee leader. The Estates Employees Association, which has organised regular demonstrations outside the office of the Estates Department, also want special consideration to be give for the appointment of next of kin of deceased employees under SRO-43 and stopping the outsourcing of the government department. |
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Govt employees threaten another round of protests
Srinagar, March 19 “The government takes shield under the garb of model code of conduct and plays with the sentiments of the employees. We will shortly announce a strong protest programme and the whole responsibility shall lie with the government,” Employees Joint Action Committee
(EJAC) president Abdul Qayoom Wani said after chairing a meeting of the Joint Consultative Committee
(JCC), which is an amalgam of various employee bodies. The meeting was called to chalk out the future course of action as the JCC in the past has staged several rounds of street protests. Stating that the government had always dilly-dallied on the promises made to them, Wani also urged the employees to stay away from poll rallies as the parliamentary elections were drawing near. “We are not the slaves of any politician or ruler but we are the servants of public… so employees should not become part of political processions,” he said, adding that the employees would come up with an ‘apt reply’ once the model code of conduct got over. The employees demand release of arrears recommended by the Sixth Pay Commission, enhancement of retirement age from 58 to 60 years, removal of pay anomalies and regularisation of daily wagers and casual workers working in various government departments. The other JCC demands are inclusion of five years of contractual service of Rehbar-e-Taleem teachers in the service book and regularisation of education volunteers after seven years of service. |
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Doda, March 19 There was no official confirmation of any loss of life or damage
to property but locals said they felt two minor jolts at 7.48 pm yesterday and 4 am today. — OC
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Kupwara villagers face ration shortage
Kupwara, March 19 Poshpora residents visited Itrat Hussian Rafique, Deputy Commissioner,
Kupwara, seeking his personal intervention in making ration available at depots. Though the Deputy Commissioner told the assistant director, Food, to make ration available at the depot at the earliest, so far noting has been done. “If ration is not made available at the earliest, we will be forced to come on streets against the department,” said Mohammad Sadiq of
Poshpora. The residents of other villages reeling under shortage of ration said depots were lying empty and they were facing starvation-like conditions. “There is no ration at the depot for the last two weeks. We are forced to purchase ration on high rates from open market,” said Riyaz Ahmad
Wani, a resident of Batergam. Ghulam Hassan from Maidanpora said, “We visited the office of the assistant director, Food,
Kupwara, Mushtaq Ahmad Bhat, yesterday with the request to provide the depot with ration, but nothing has been done so far”. Irfan Bahadur, assistant director, Food, Kupwara, said, “We faced shortage of ration in March, but we received about 5,000 quintals of ration yesterday. We have requested the Directorate, Food, to supply more ration so that people do not suffer”. |
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Special DGP reviews security situation in Kashmir valley
Srinagar, March 19 Kumar was chairing a high-level security review meeting in Srinagar ahead of the elections. The meeting was attended by senior police and paramilitary officers. An official spokesman said the Special DGP impressed upon the participants to implement the action plan strictly for the security of candidates and polling booths. “The security arrangements for polling booths should be put in place keeping in view the sensitiveness of the area. Besides maintaining law and order during the election campaigning, security of candidates should be focused on priority so that people could participate freely in democratic process,” Kumar said. The officer stressed for better coordination among the forces to ensure free and fair elections, the spokesman said.
Rajendra also sought reports from the participants about security scenario in their respective areas. He said joint efforts should be put in place to ensure peace and security at all places and to thwart any sinister designs of anti-national elements. The officer also urged for greater synergy among the agencies involved in the process for smooth conduct of elections. Earlier, the Inspector General of Police, Kashmir zone, AG Mir apprised the meeting of the steps taken for deployment of personnel in different constituencies. He also briefed the meeting about the movement of forces from one constituency to other, the spokesman said. |
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Cop’s UN deputation cancelled over his role in rights abuses: HR group
Srinagar, March 19 In a statement issued here today, the Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Societies
(JKCCS) said Superintendent of Police (SP) Altaf Ahmad Khan, who currently heads an armed police unit, has been accused of human rights violations and the State Human Rights Commission has already recommended action against him in this regard. The JKCCS said in September 2013, reliable information suggested that the state government was considering deputing Khan, posted at
Zewan, to the United Nations peacekeeping forces. “In response to the government attempt to further reward SP Khan with a UN deputation, separate communications were sent to the Principal Secretary to the government, Home Department, J&K, and the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations
(DPKO), New York, objecting to his deputation,” it said, adding that these communications were also made public. “Based on reliable information received, due to these communications and the ongoing public campaign, Khan’s deputation to the UN was cancelled,” the JKCCS claimed in the statement. Accusations and SHRC recommendations Evidence suggests that SP Altaf Ahmad Khan, along with other alleged perpetrators, is allegedly responsible for the rape and torture of a woman from Kupwara district on July 3, 2004, and the “torture and custodial killing” of a Sopore youth in July 2011, the human rights group claimed in its statement. “In both the cases, the State Human Rights Commission
(SHRC) confirmed the crimes and the role of SP Khan and recommended action against him, including further inquiries. No action has been taken against him to date,” the JKCCS added. |
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Team Anna visits Jammu (West) Assembly segment
Jammu, March 19 A meeting was organised by Vijay Kumar Sharma at Lakarmandi, Janipur, wherein a large number of local residents participated. Om Parkash Sharma and Rishi Prasher of Team Anna were informed by the gathering that they were fed with the corrupt politicians. Om Parkash Sharma informed the local residents that if there was no candidate of their choice, they could use NOTA, which had the power to reject the undesirable candidates. Those who attended the meeting included Ravi Lal Sharma, Kalidas, Vishal Mahajan, Vijay Gupta, Vikas Dass, Mohinder Pal, Rakesh Sharma, Rajinder Chib and Vipan Sharma. |
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State Bank of India donates computer to govt school
Jammu, March 19 Rajiv Mengi, Branch Manager, welcomed the gathering and apprised it of various initiatives taken by the branch in particular and the bank in general under the community banking service. SK Kapoor, Region Head, SBI, while addressing the gathering said each branch in Jammu and Kashmir had donated computers to schools this year. He said this was in addition to the fans and water purifiers donated in the previous year.
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MDS aspirants accuse exam board of issuing wrong answer keys
Srinagar, March 19 The BOPEE conducted the MDS exam on February 20 and after the students protested the board came up with a new key, according to which one question had a wrong answer and the other’s option was changed. Candidates blamed the paper-setter as they claimed that they consulted best possible books and according to them the answer provided in the key was wrong. The candidates said they sent a fax of answers with references from the book to the BOPEE authorities, but they clearly said nothing could be done and no further representations to the keys would be entertained. “We consulted the world’s best books and in accordance to them the answer in the answer key was wrong. It seems the experts and paper-setters in BOPEE are incapable or they are deliberately doing it out of their own interest,” said one of the aspiring candidates. Nearly 900 candidates had appeared in the entrance exam throughout the state and the seats according to the students are only nine. “When we approached the BOPEE office here, they said the office is in Jammu, but when we called the Jammu office, we got a cold response,” said another candidate. “I am in a fix. With all right answers I am getting 232 points and if they consider the wrong answer my one mark will be deducted, which means a lot for my career. Either they should cancel these two questions or they should produce the revived keys with right answers,” said a candidate from Kashmir. The candidates said the questions, which carried wrong answers, were question numbers 75 and 118 from series 3.
BOPEE chairman RD Sharma, however, said, “The answers have been checked by experts. Students can say anything. We have produced the keys after the expert’s consultation and nothing is above that. Besides, nobody has approached me so far.” Students’ claim The Board of Professional Entrance Examination had
conducted the entrance examination for Masters of Dental Surgery (MDS) on February 20. After the students
protested, the board gave a new key, in which one question had a wrong answer and the other’s option was changed. Candidates claimed that they consulted best possible books and according to them the answer provided in the key was wrong. Nearly 900 candidates had appeared in the entrance exam throughout the state and the seats according to the students are only nine. |
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Relief sought for traders hit by road widening
Srinagar, March 19 “It is unfortunate that the authorities insist on paying the same compensation decided 15 years ago for acquiring shops. It makes no sense. It only shows how cruel the authorities are towards the people of the Valley,” said KEA chief spokesman Siraj Ahmad in a statement. The KEA urged the government to pay compensation as per the prevailing market rates and rehabilitation requirements and costs to meet the demand of the displaced shopkeepers. Siraj added that the KEA rejected the recommendations made by a high-level committee formed in this regard. “It is more than a decade ago that the high-level committee had decided to pay a uniform compensation for the demolition of shops, irrespective of their size, location and the nature of business they used to operate,” he added. — TNS
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200 evacuated after avalanche warning
Srinagar, March 19 “In view of an apprehended avalanche threat, the police evacuated 36 families to safer locations at various places in the hilly regions of the Valley,” a police spokesman said. The families were evacuated from south Kashmir’s Anantnag district, north Kashmir’s Bandipora district and central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district. The spokesman said 130 civilians belonging to 20 families were shifted from Bataknar-Herdandipora village of Anantnag to safer locations. In Ganderbal district, the police shifted 12 families comprising 86 family members from Hari Ganwan village, the spokesman said.
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Governor launches IHRPC website
Jammu, March 19 The website has been developed by the Council to reach out to all those people whose rights have been violated and to take cognisance of any incident which is inimical to a dignified life. The website will also be used for countering anti-national and anti-social propaganda, meant to disturb peace and harmony in the state. President, IHRPC, AN Bharadwaj was present. — TNS |
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Children’s theatre camp starts today
Jammu, March
19 Giving details about the camp, Director,
Natrang, Balwant Thakur said Natrang would organise the 10-day theatre workshop, which would culminate on March 29. The timings of the camp would be 2 pm to 4 pm daily. The students would get an opportunity to get learn theatre from professionally trained directors. Children between the age of seven to 14 would be considered for the
programme. "Theatre is one of the most effective medium of personality development and self-exploration. Natrang has been trying to introduce theatre in Jammu in a professional manner for the last 30 years. Through workshops and exclusive training programmes an effort has been made to popularise this art among children. Children cannot make an independent choice and all depends on the taste he parents," a press note from Natrang said. Balwant Thakur made an appeal to parents to avail themslves of the opportunity for training their children in the art of theatre. The workshop is being conducted by Neeraj Kant and Aarushi
Thakur. — TNS
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Hindi play ‘Buss ek aur kadam’ staged
Jammu, March 19 “Buss ek aur kadam”, written and directed by Vijay Malla, is a story of a common man who is facing various handicaps, hindrances and hurdles in his daily life because of bad habits, like drug addiction, among youth. The play made an appeal to parents to check wrong activities of their children in the initial stage so that their children are not trapped in wrong company. “Our senior citizens should act as 'watchdogs' in their localities so that there is no anti-social and anti-national element emerging around. Our elders should reveal our culture, history and traditions to our young generation so that they are well-informed about them. We must create a healthy atmosphere in and around us so that our festivals like
Diwali, Eid, Holi, Shivratri and Lohri are celebrated with great love, affection and brothethood in our society,” an office-bearer of the ESRM said. Prominent among others present on the occasion included ML
Dogra, Chairman, BLSKS, MC Kotwal and Gopal Verma. Those who acted in the play included Ripu Daman
Parihar, Anuroop Pathania, Atul Mehra, Qurat-ul-Ain, Nazuk Kumari, Deepak Kumar
Dogra, Raj Kumar, Romesh/Pappu, Rakesh Katoch, Chankaya Sharma,
Shivani,Balvinder/Richoo (dhol master) and Vijay Malla. |
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Rangoli competition held
Jammu, March 19 In all, 36 students participated and made colourful
rangolies. KB Sethi, former Principal of Government BEd College, Jammu, Meena
Verma, senior lecturer, and Rajni Bambroo, senior lecturer, of the college, were the judges in the competition. Principal of the college Dr SD Gupta in his address encouraged the students to develop skillful and colourful attitude in life. He also lauded the efforts of the staff members for organising such programmes in the
college. Kanchan, Monika and Renu bagged the first, second and third positions, respectively, in the competition. |
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Sufi singers enthral audience in Valley
Srinagar, March 19 Various Sufi music groups comprising young artists enthraled the audience.
Sufiana maestro Shiekh Mohammad Yaqoob was the chief guest on the occasion. The artists were dressed in traditional attires and played the traditional music with conventional musical instruments. In his address, Yaqoob congratulated the academy for organising such a function and said such function should be organised regularly.
Arvinder Singh Amn, Additional Secretary, Cultural Academy, highlighted the importance of organising “Pholven
To’er”, which provided a platform to young Sufi singers. |
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Book on santoor maestro
Jammu, March 19 On the occasion,
“Antardhawani”, a biographical documentary on the life and works of Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma, was also screened before a large audience. The Governor paid compliments to Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma for making santoor popular all over the world and observed that such eminence could have been achieved only by a person with such sustained dedication, perseverance and visionary ambition. The Governor also thanked him for his valuable contribution as a member of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board for the past several years. Ina
Puri, editor of the book, presented a review of “Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma, The Man and His Music” at the function. The welcome address was given by Shiv Kumar Gupta, joint director, Tourism, Jammu.
Shantmanu, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, was also present on the occasion. |
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Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee
(JKPCC) chief Saifuddin Soz today announced the candidature of Union Health
Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad for Udhampur-Doda LS seat.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah stated that the “Lok Sabha elections are not a referendum on his government”, though he admitted that the performance of the state government will be part of the debate and discussions during the campaign for these polls.
The State Human Rights Commission has sought the investigation report from Kashmir University on the accidental death of KU's former Controller of Examinations Abrar Hassan Khan.
Khan had died in May 2005 on the university’s Hazratbal campus while he was conducting inspection of the construction work of one of the blocks of KU on the campus.
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president and Lok Sabha candidate for the Anantnag parliamentary constituency Mehbooba Mufti today told the people not to take the parliamentary elections lightly and vote for the party in large numbers.
Recent rains and snowfall in Doda district have rendered over 70 girl students without shelter as the madarsa at Paranoo village, where they were studying at, was totally damaged in the heavy downpour.
The girls, some of whom are orphans and belong to remote parts of the district, have been forced to take shelter at the house of a local resident.
In a blatant violation of the municipal building norms, the Roads and Buildings Department (R&B) here has commenced the construction work of a 200-bedded maternity hospital without obtaining the necessary permission from the Jammu Municipal Corporation
(JMC).
Employees of the Estates Department today issued a five-day ultimatum to the government to accept their demands or face agitation. The employees are demanding regularisation of daily wagers and reorganisation of the department.
The Jammu and Kashmir Cultural Academy organised a Sufi music function at its head office in Lal Mandi here today. The function - “Pholveun
To’er”- marked the arrival of spring in the Valley.
