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Modi wants to destroy secular fabric of country, says
Soz
Sikh committee against use of religious places by vote seekers
With ERA’s tenure ending in 2016, uncertainty prevails over incomplete projects
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Garbage containers not being emptied regularly in Jammu
Army contractor fears threat after assailants get bail
Children of Samba villages have to walk 10 km to reach
school
Probe sought into allotment of quarters at Jagti
Coaching camp for climbers ends
Modi lacks representative character: Omar
Cong will easily win LS seat as BJP non-existent in Ladakh: Spalbar
‘Rolling’ canvas to promote art, Kashmir tourism worldwide
Azad on whirlwind tour of Ramban district
State gears up for ‘green’ elections
Bad weather hampers election campaigning in Valley
Newly formed party PUF not to contest Lok Sabha polls
Campaigning hots up in Ladakh constituency
Awareness programme organised for haemophilia patients
Will win both LS seats in Jammu: BJP
Hip replacement surgery performed at Jawaharlal Nehru hospital
Far-flung areas used as vote-bank pockets: BJP
Plantation, sale of poplar trees banned in Valley
Doda police holds seminar to promote peace
HPS students shine in debate
Congress forms election committee for Baramulla
Northern Command chief pays tributes to martyrs
Girl’s body fished out from Jhelum after 15
days
Rahul to address rally in Reasi
Rain lashes city, Met Dept predicts more
Omar mocks Modi’s chopper delay complaint
Police holds seminar on communal harmony
Shafaat Noor is vice-chairman of LAWDA
Eve-teasers arrested in Batamaloo
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Modi wants to destroy secular fabric of country, says
Soz
Anantnag, April 2 The party workers’ convention was held soon after National Conference leader Mehboob Beg filed his nomination papers for the Lok Sabha elections before the returning officer in
Anantnag. Beg was accompanied by NC president and Union Minister Farooq Abdullah and other senior leaders of the Congress and the NC. Urging people to vote for the coalition candidates, Soz said a vote to Beg will be a vote against
Modi. “Modi wants to destroy the secular fabric of our country, which is known for its secular credentials all over the world," Soz said, adding that Modi should not be the Prime Minister. In Modi's vision of India, Soz said even BJP leaders like L K
Advani, Jaswant Singh and Sushma Swaraj did not feel safe. The minorities would be suffocated if Modi ever came to power, he added. “His
(Modi's) vision of India is nowhere close to what Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru had in mind,” said
Soz. “Only the Congress can make sure that India remains a secular country and people live in harmony with each other.” He termed the reports of internal bickering among the coalition partners as sheer propaganda. Tie-up with Cong for keeps: Farooq NC president Farooq Abdullah on Wednesday said the NC-Congress coalition with the Congress would be “till death”. “Some people are trying to create fissures within the coalition but let me make it clear that such people are going to be chased away,” Farooq said while hitting out at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Farooq was talking to mediapersons after Mehboob Beg filed his nomination papers. When asked about his statement regarding Chief Minister Omar Abdullah moving to New Delhi after his tenure, Farooq blamed the media for fabricating stories. “He (Omar) belongs here and will stay here to serve the people of Kashmir,” said Farooq. |
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With ERA’s tenure ending in 2016, uncertainty prevails over incomplete projects
Jammu, April 2 The agency is a special purpose vehicle with a mandate to undertake projects, which include drinking water supply, roads, bridges and sewerage lines. Though the government has submitted in the Legislative Assembly that extension could be considered if the ERA gets new funds after 2016, but many are sceptical about projects running behind schedule. "Its up to the ADB to extend loans to the ERA after 2016. Most of the manpower has been hired from different civic departments, which could affect the work," official source claimed. Even the Comptroller and Auditor General
(CAG) report claims that the agency had allotted 125 sub-projects/contracts for execution at a cost of Rs 1,346.37 crore during the period 2005-13, but there was a limited competition when they were allotted. "Out of 112 contracts, 38 contracts had been allotted on a single-bid basis and 43 contracts on the two-bids basis. The lack of competition, coupled with lack of benchmarking of costs/prices, during project formulation and tendering indicate that there is no assurance on "reasonability" of costs and prices and justification for taking up individual projects,” the audit claims. The audit claims that there was a overrun between one month and four years in 93 sub-projects and as against due performance security of Rs 50.85 crore, the agency had obtained performance security of Rs 36.15 crore. The organisation structure and internal controls of the ERA are structured to diffuse accountability because there are no formal rules of procedure delineating areas of accountability through proper delegation of technical, administrative and financial powers. “The agency has no system of project/contract appraisal, where any individual functionary of the society, government or any committee accords formal, documented technical and financial sanction for the scope of work included in any contract,” the audit says.
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Sikh committee against use of religious places by vote seekers
Srinagar, April 2 In a joint statement issued here, leaders of various Sikh groups under the banner of the APSCC said people should be vigilant against the politicians who might use or facilitate the usage of religious space for political reasons while seeking votes. The leaders said, "Political parties who have exploited Sikhs for their own benefit deserve no sympathy whatsoever from the community members." "We have written a letter to the Chief Election Commissioner asking him to direct the state election authorities to stop the political parties from addressing people who assemble at religious places purely for religious purposes. Any violation in this regard is a violation of the model code of conduct and as such necessary action warranted under law should be taken," said Harjeet Singh, president of the Sikh Students Federation. Referring to the formation of minority cell by a political party, Master Kuldeep Singh, former President of the Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (GPC), Srinagar, said, "This move is aimed to give an impression that this political party is serious towards the problems of Sikhs." He said some other political parties were thinking of forming minority cells in order to "befool" the masses. "We have raised the issues being faced by the Sikh community with the state government, including the Chief Minister, many a time, but the government has always turned a deaf ear to our issues. The important demand of granting minority status to Sikhs by extending the National Commission for Minority Act has been kept on the back burner by the state government despite the fact the community members are facing huge hardships," said Bikramjeet Singh, former Secretary, GPC, Srinagar. APSCC Chairman Jagmohan Singh Raina said, "In the past many political parties through their sycophants have managed to enter gurdwaras and deliver political speeches even though the occasion and stage was not meant for that." Raina said political parties would feel the absence of Sikhs during the parliamentary elections adding that more befitting treatment would be given at the time of the Assembly elections.
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Inadequate parking lots lead to chaos in city
Srinagar, April 2 “Footpaths are occupied by vendors and roads are occupied by cars, due to which pedestrians suffer,” said Sajad Ahmad, a resident of Srinagar. The shopkeepers in the business hub of the city are also up in arms against the violators saying the government should act tough against them. “The authorities concerned should impose a fine on such uncivilised people who create trouble for us as well as common commuters,” said a shopkeeper in Residency Road here. Officials of the Traffic Department in the city also admitted that lack of proper parking spaces had led to traffic jams. “The vehicles are increasing day by day. This increasing number of vehicles in proportion to the inadequate parking space on the already clogged roads certainly leads to chaos and causes frequent bottlenecks in and around the city,” they said. The worst-affected areas are Panjtirthi, Sabzi Mandi, Parade, Pir Mitha, Kanak Mandi, Canal Road, Raghunath Bazaar and Residency Road. “There is a pressure of tourist vehicles. At present, we have a parking space for 5,000 vehicles, but we require space for at least 15,000 vehicles,” said Superintendent of Traffic, city, Haseeb-ur-Rehman. “As there are 4 lakh registered vehicles in Kashmir, the pressure is much on the city. Now, we have proposed parking spaces on Exhibition Road and at KMD bus stand in Srinagar, which will be hi-tech,” the official added. A local said, “Finding a parking spot is a big hassle. Most of the people in the city not just park their vehicles, but abandon them. This ultimately reduces the parking space and people are left with no other option, but to park their vehicles on internal roads, by-lanes and even on the footpaths. The prevailing parking lots in the city are already cramped and remain jam-packed all the time.” The problem has also compounded due to absence of proper parking spaces in newly built shopping malls in the city. Some of the malls don’t have parking space at all. Officials of the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) have been accused of giving permission to such malls to run without facilities. “Parking is a big problem that has been neglected by the SMC. They should not give permission to malls without requisite parking lots. They should be closed down,” said a local, Abdul Ahad. GN Qasba, SMC Commissioner, said they were planning two big parking spaces in the commercial hub of Srinagar. He added that he would take action against the malls having no parking space. “We are planning two big parking spaces in Srinagar that will be hi-tech; I have also observed during inspections that people are responsible behind the chaos as despite having a parking space, some still park cars on roads. I will also look into the matter of malls having no parking facilities,” said Qasba. Observers say besides development of footpaths, there should also be construction of bus bays, subways, overhead bridges and passenger sheds at several places across the two cities to curb the traffic chaos.
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Garbage containers not being emptied regularly in Jammu
Jammu, April 2 "Suraj Pandita, a resident of Janipur, said, "The MC has installed a garbage container in our locality, but no one comes to collect garbage from it. When the garbage starts overflowing, stray dogs and cattle spread the garbage in the entire locality." "When we approach the MC authorities twice or thrice only then they bother to empty the container and then again leave it as it is for couple of months together," he added. Many of the places in the city are without garbage containers and garbage lie on the roadside and abandoned plots, which pollutes the locality and spreads
diseases. Sunita Raina, a housewife from the Roop Nagar locality, said, "We have to go to the next lane to throw the garbage in an abandoned plot as there is no garbage container in the locality." "We approached the authorities, but they have shortage of containers," she added. When contacted, Dr Saleem Khan, Health Officer, Jammu Municipal Corporation, passed the buck to the Chief Transport Officer saying, "This is the duty of the Chief Transport officer." However, Deepak Gupta, Chief Transport Officer, claimed that the garbage from all the containers is being disposed of on daily basis." "However, there is shortage of containers as a new lot of containers was rejected by the department last year due to technical faults. But new containers will be available within a week," he added.
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Army contractor fears threat after assailants get bail
Jammu, April 2 One of the assailants was arrested, while others managed to flee. But now when he has got bail from the court, the family of Charanjit Singh is living under threat. According to the police, accused Vijay Kumar, son of Krishan Lal, Narinder Singh, alias Boby, son of Ajeet Singh, and Bharat Bushan, all Army contractors, managed to flee, while Akhil Uppal was arrested. A case under Sections 452, 427, 323, 504, 506 and 3/23 of the Arms Act was registered. "Akhil Uppal, who was arrested, got bail from the court and the main accused Vijay kumar has also got an anticipatory bail," said Charanjit Singh. "Now, I am worried about my family. They may go to any extent to harm me or my family," he added. Charanjeet Singh of Bakshi Nagar reported to the police that a group of contractors barged into his house at around 12 midnight. "They started beating up my parents, wife and children. Later they threatened to kill me," stated Charanjit to the police. After a preliminary verification, the police registered a case against the four Army contractors. According to the FIR, the complainant, Charanjeet Singh, has informed the police that Vijay Sharma, who is a close associate of Nagar Singh, an undertrial in the Amandeep murder case, has openly threatened him that he had sufficient quantity of arms and ammunition and would not spare him or any member of his family.
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Children of Samba villages have to walk 10 km to reach
school
Samba, April 2 Villagers are forced to take tough terrains to reach their destinations. Besides, people have to cross 1-km-long Basantar river to reach their destinations. The situation becomes worse during monsoon as these villages lose connectivity with other areas. It also has a negative impact on the education of children. Villagers alleged that politicians visited these neglected areas only during elections and leave after giving false assurances. "This time, we will certainly question candidates seeking votes. Even the district administration never conducted a Janta Darbar in these villages," said Major Singh, a resident of Janda village. Development of these areas has become a victim of
red-tapism in the administration. "A couple of years ago, construction of a road was started to connect these villages with link roads, but the Forest Department raised an objection and got the work stopped. After that the authorities have not taken any serious initiative to get the work restart," said Ranjeet Singh, sarpanch of a local
panchayat. Local MLA Yash Pal Kundal said, "The Forest Department has claimed right on the land and demanded money in exchange of land. The work could not start due to non-availability of funds." He added that now a survey had been conducted under the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development
(NABARD) scheme and the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) to construct the road. "Under PMGSY and NABARD schemes, there is a provision of funds for land acquisition. So, I am hopeful that after the approval of the project from the government, the work would start soon," he added. Neglected lot
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Probe sought into allotment of quarters at Jagti
Jammu, April 2 In a statement, J&K BJP Working Committee member Sheela Koul Handoo alleged that the relief organisation had adopted the pick-and-choose policy in the allotment of quarters to 700 families and no list had been displayed despite requests being made by migrants to the Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner. “The allotment slips are being issued even after the Model Code of Conduct came into force. These facts have already been brought to the notice of the administration and general public during my press briefing held around a fortnight back,” Handoo claimed. Sheela Koul Handoo alleged that during the intervening night of March 28 and 29 one of the leaders of the National Conference (NC) forcefully entered four quarters by breaking open the locks and managed to settle four families without any allotment. “Due to our intervention, the police and relief commission team reached the spot and the families said they had paid Rs 30,000 to one Nanaji Dembi and he assured them that allotment letters would be provided to them after they pay the balance amount of Rs 30,000," Handoo claimed. Sheela Koul Handoo demanded that the police authorities should take action against the persons who were taking money from people and allotting them two-room sets, while the genuine families had been denied their right.
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Vajpayee still dominates campaigning in J&K
Jammu, April 2 Parties are invoking Vajpayee for different reasons but all of them are appreciative of his bold peace initiatives with regard to Kashmir. The NC and its coalition partner Congress have been invoking Vajpayee to undermine the stature of BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra
Modi, while the PDP has been highlighting the role of Vajpayee to ensure free and fair elections in J&K. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, while addressing a public rally in the Surankot area of Poonch said the NC worked with Vajpayee because he had a vision for Kashmir. “Had Vajpayee be the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate in the Lok Sabha elections, our perspective on the BJP would have been different,” he said. Similarly, Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad termed Vajpayee as the BJP’s tallest leader while addressing rallies in Banihal and Ramban areas on Tuesday. The PDP is openly playing the Vajpayee card to substantiate its oft-repeated allegation that democracy was never allowed to flourish in J&K. “It was all due to the personal intervention of Atal Bihari Vajpayee that the fairest possible elections were held in J&K during 2002,” PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed said while addressing a rally at Nagrota on Sunday. Mufti mentions Vajpayee almost at every poll rally. He recalls the former Prime Minister’s rally in Srinagar on April 18, 2003, wherein he had extended a hand of friendship to Pakistan. Although Vajpayee has almost disappeared from the posters of the
BJP, Modi promised to pursue Vajpayee’s policies on Kashmir while addressing a rally in Hiranagar on March
26. Modi had stated that the path of “insaniyat (humanity), zhamuriyat (democracy) and Kashmiriyat (brotherhood)” shown by Vajpayee would be carried forward. “Had the
Vajpayee-headed NDA government got another five years, all problems of Kashmir would have been solved,” Modi had said while promising that the BJP would fulfil the unfinished agenda of
Vajpayee.
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Coaching camp for climbers ends
Jammu, April 2 Along with the 20 selected climbers, training was also imparted to another 10 talented climbers from Udhampur, Reasi and Jammu. The camp, sponsored by the J&K State Sports Council, was part of a short-term measures initiated by the association to adequately prepare the state team for better performance in the upcoming North Zone Champions Trophy. Later, a competition was also conducted. Abhishek Slathia in the boys' category and Ajay Deep and Arun Deep Singh in the sub-junior category bagged positions. Similarly, Shilpa Charak in the girls’ category and Shivani and Nitya in the sub-junior category secured positions. Meanwhile, the six winners along with Mrityunjay Sharma have been selected by the association for an advance coaching camp to be organised at the international standard climbing walls at the Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF), New Delhi.
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Modi lacks representative character: Omar
Poonch, April 2 He said Modi carried the stigma of “communal bias” and his past would continue to haunt him. “Modi lacks representative character, a pre-requisite for the post of the Prime Minister,” Omar said while addressing election rallies in support of coalition candidate Madan Lal Sharma in Poonch and Surankote. The Chief Minister said Modi did not show enough courtesy to apologise for the killings of innocent people in Gujarat in 2002 and therefore does not “suit to be the Prime Minister of a great country like India, which is a pluralistic society with diversity of cultural heritage and faiths.” “Modi symbolises a particular ideology based on dividing the society on religion and regional lines,” Omar said. The National Conference leader was, meanwhile, all praise for Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, saying the leader represented the aspirations of the people of all the sections of the society and was a “torch bearer” of “secular democratic India”. “He deserves to be the Prime Minister,” Omar said, adding that the Gandhi scion would ensure equitable and inclusive development, irrespective of religion, caste, creed or colour. Drawing parallels between Modi and former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Omar said, “There is a big difference between the two. Had Atal Bihari Vajpayee been the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate our opinion would have been different.” Pointing out at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) nominee for Jammu-Poonch constituency, the Chief Minister said the choice made it amply clear that the party was attempting to divide voters of Poonch-Rajouri belt to help Modi and the BJP. The PDP has fielded Arshad Malik from the Jammu-Poonch segment. “The secret alliance between the BJP and the PDP has now come out in the open. When Modi says that new members have come to his support from Kashmir he refers to the PDP,” Omar said. The NC leader urged people to be aware of the “divisive tactics” of the BJP and the PDP. “You should vote in great numbers in favour of the NC-Congress candidates and foil the attempts of vested interests and communal forces to grab power at the Centre,” he said. The Chief Minister said the holistic and all-round development that has ruled the roost in the state during the last five years speaks loud and clear of the “unprecedented support” provided by the UPA government led by the Congress at the Centre to Jammu and Kashmir. He also mentioned the keenness of Rahul Gandhi for the all-round development of Jammu and Kashmir and mentioned the efforts taken by the leader to see the state on road to progress and development. “Rahul Gandhi is the person who could wholeheartedly help Jammu and Kashmir to overcome its difficulties and be a place of peace and economic prosperity,” Omar said. |
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Cong will easily win LS seat as BJP non-existent in Ladakh: Spalbar
Jammu, April 2 It has also ruled out any factionalism in its Ladakh unit saying the decision of the party high command is acceptable to one and all. "There is no Modi wave in Ladakh. The BJP is non-existent in the region and we are hopeful of winning the Lok Sabha seat easily," Rigzin Spalbar, senior Congress leader and Chief Executive Councillor (CEO), Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Leh, told The Tribune over phone. To a query about the differences within the Congress unit over the nomination of Tsering Samphel for the Lok Sabha elections, Spalbar ruled out any differences, saying, "We are satisfied with the decision of the party high command and the party unit is working unitedly to win the parliamentary seat. On a question about the "weak position" of the Congress in Kargil following its serious differences with National Conference councillors over the post of chairman, LAHDC, Kargil, Spalbar said the party had improved its position in Kargil and they had been running the LAHDC there. Ladakh will go to polls on May 7. A notification in this regard would be issued on April 12, while the candidates can file their nomination papers up to April 19. The scrutiny of nominations will take place on April 21 and the candidates can withdraw their nomination papers till April 23. The Ladakh seat, having four Assembly segments, has only 1,59,949 voters, comprising 81,168 males and 78,781 females. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has fielded Thupstan Chhewang, who had won the seat as an Independent candidate in 2004, while its arch-rival, Congress, has nominated Tsering Samphel, president of the District Congress Committee (DCC), Leh, for the seat. Samphel has been contesting the prestigious election for the first time. The Congress has won this seat six times, while its alliance partner National Conference has registered its victory twice. Independents have won the seat thrice. The sparsely-populated region has always witnessed high turnout of voters as the total poll percentage was recorded at 73.52 per cent in the 2004 Lok Sabha elections there, while it was 61 per cent during the 2009 parliamentary polls. Tsering Samphel has claimed that there was no "Modi wave" in the Ladakh region and said they were getting overwhelming support of people.
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‘Rolling’ canvas to promote art, Kashmir tourism worldwide
More than 200 artists from 12 countries are getting together to paint a ‘rolling’ canvas. The work on the canvas will begin here from April 14 to 19. Over one year, it will travel to 12 countries, including China, Pakistan, the UK, South Africa, Australia, Switzerland and the US. Artists from these countries, who will also be in touch online, will contribute to the work of art. The canvas will return to Kashmir after a year and be displayed on the banks of the Dal Lake in Srinagar. Syed Mujtaba Rizvi of the ‘Kashmir Art Quest’ group, managing the project, said their aim was to interpret Kashmir visually, establish an international network of artists and put the Valley on the international tourism map. “The project involves a travelling canvas (33x5 foot) which brings together over 200 artists from 18 cities in 12 countries to produce a single work of art. The final artwork will become a permanent public art installation at Zabarwan Park. The project is being carried out in association with the Tourism Department. The network will be the first of its kind which will act as a resource point for Kashmiri artists to collaborate with international artists independently,” Rizvi said. On how the project would promote tourism, he said: “It will launch Kashmir on the international art map like never before. Art and culture is always part of tourism. And, by literally going around the world, we are not only promoting contemporary artists but also Kashmir.” Around 10 local artists will start work on the project. Rizvi said it would be interesting to see how much of the visual narrative by Kashmiri artists remains on the canvas by the end of the project. Painting Kashmir
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Azad on whirlwind tour of Ramban district
Gool (Ramban), April 2 Azad, Union Health Minister, alleged that despite hurdles created by the BJP in passing the Food Security Bill in Parliament, the UPA government got it passed to mitigate the affects of inflation on the common man. The Congress leader said this while addressing a series of public rallies at Gool, Chanderkot, Banihal and Ramban during his two-day tour of Ramban district which concluded last night. While addressing a rally of labourers at Chanderkot, he acknowledged their contribution and said despite risk to their lives at work places, they were working at various hydel projects in the state. He called the Congress as the messiah of the people and added that it was concerned about development and progress “unlike some smaller parties which banked on inciting religious passions”. While addressing a gathering at Banihal, the Union Minister alleged that Narendra Modi was “nominated as the Chief Minister of Gujarat by LK Advani without ever being the MLA, MP or getting elected to any organisation then. He castigated the BJP for backing Modi only because of the financial support of capitalists of Gujarat to him and the BJP. Azad gave credit to the UPA government for providing railway connectivity, four-lane roads, improved medical and educational facilities and employment to people in J&K through various flagship schemes such as Bharat Nirman. In his address at Ramban, he credited himself and the UPA government for the development in the erstwhile Doda district. Azad also held a joint meeting with National Conference and Congress leaders and workers at Chanderkot last evening.
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State gears up for ‘green’ elections
Srinagar, April 2 The guidelines issued by the Election Commission suggest that candidates should try and avoid the use of plastic/polythene in banners, posters, etc… in the interest of environment protection. The state also became the first one to declare all the polling booths as “no-smoking zones” last week as per the Section-4 of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act 2003. The Act prohibits smoking at all public places. The ecologically fragile Jammu and Kashmir has the J&K Non-Bio Degradable Material (Management, Handling and Disposal) Act 2007 in place, which prohibits and regulates handling and disposal of non-biodegradable material in the state. A legislative Assembly committee had last year recommended complete ban on the use of plastic/polythene in the state and directed the district administrations to take all necessary measures to prevent the use of non-biodegradable substances. The authorities here said polls usually leave a serious impact on the environment and increases the pollution level, besides defacing the city. The Baramulla and Anantnag constituencies have taken the lead in the “green election” campaign, urging the candidates to be more sensitive towards the environment.
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Bad weather hampers election campaigning in Valley
Srinagar, April 2 The notification for south Kashmir’s Anantnag constituency was issued on Saturday and the poll process was set into motion from Srinagar today. Political parties say they have been focusing more on workers’ meetings and door-to-door campaigns. The two main political parties in the state —National Conference (NC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) — have not held any major rally so far, which otherwise used to be a norm after the election notifications were issued. The political parties say the subdued political campaign in Anantnag and Srinagar was largely due to bad weather that prevailed in the Valley and the new security guidelines for holding the political rallies. “Yes, the poll campaign has not picked up in the Valley. This is because bad weather has played a spoilsport. Besides, the security guidelines, as per which the rallies are to be held at designated places, are not helping the poll campaigns,” said a senior PDP leader. “At the same time, we are holding workers’ meetings regularly and party president Mehbooba Mufti has held many roadshows in south Kashmir,” he said. The NC and the PDP brief party workers about the campaign at leaders houses or at the party office. “The workers are told to go to their respective areas and hold door-to-door meetings with people,” said an NC leader. Residents in south Kashmir said the election campaign was yet to pick up. “There are no election songs, market places are not exhibiting any election campaign, there are less buntings and the entire election campaign is subdued,” said Tariq Ahmed, a resident of south Kashmir’s Anantnag town. “The candidates, after filing their nomination papers, hold meetings with workers and this is the only thing that was noticed by a common man,” he said.
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Newly formed party PUF not to contest Lok Sabha polls
Srinagar, April 2 The CPM and the CPI state units and four other regional parties floated the PUF on October 30 last year as an alternative to three major political parties in the state, the National Conference, Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party. Leaders of the two major constituents, MY Tarigami of the CPM and Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen of the Peoples Democratic Front, are the sitting
MLAs, while others are former legislators. “The participants discussed the present elections threadbare and felt that in view of varied aspects and the modest resources at its disposal, it should not contest the elections. It decided to focus on basic and urgent issues being faced by the people of the state,” a PUF spokesman said. The meeting was attended by MY
Tarigami, Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen, Sheikh Abdul Rehman, Abdul Rashid
Kabli, Abdul Rehman Tukroo and ID Khajuria. “In the present elections, people have a choice among parties and individuals and not in terms of alternative policies,” the meeting said. The members observed that the
BJP, the main opposition party at the national level, was claiming to be an alternative to “misgovernance, corruption and UPA’s failures”. They said that the party
(BJP) had no different and distinct policies to help the country come out of the “present quagmire”. “As such, the people of the country must rise to the occasion and defeat the designs of this rabid communal platform,” the Front said.
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Campaigning hots up in Ladakh constituency
Leh, April 2 Although the political parties are yet to announce their election manifesto, BJP candidate Thupstan Chhewang and party workers are appealing to the people to vote in his favour. The Congress is seeking votes by promising prosperity and development in the region. Urban Local Bodies Minister Nawang Rigzin Jora, Chief Executive Councillor of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Leh, Rigzin Spalbar and Congress nominee Tsering Samphel campaigned in Bodh Kharbu and Garkon villages of Kargil district on March 30 and 31. Today, they addressed members of the youth wing of the District Congress Committee in Leh town. Senior Congress leaders have told the youth wing members to ensure the party's victory. They also campaigned in upper areas of Leh town today morning. BJP nominee Thupstan Chhewang and party workers concluded their campaigning in the Saspol block of Leh district on March 31. They started campaigning in the Khalsi block today and visited Kanji, Domkhar and Lama Yuru villages of the district.
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Awareness programme organised for haemophilia patients
Jammu, April 2 On the occasion, Bharat Heavy Electrical Limited (BHEL-India) distributed anti-haemophilic factors (AHFs), popularly known as "lifeline", to eight students from far-flung areas to extend the golden hour during any emergency. The programme was organised with an aim to increasing knowledge and management of haemophilia among the affected persons, especially children. A large number of students and faculty members participated in the programme. Besides this, some 50 affected children were also present, who remained the main beneficiaries of the programme. Project Director, NRHM (J&K), Dr Yash Pal Sharma was the chief guest, while project coordinator BHEL (India), Sarin Hari Sondawale, Principal of school Farida Begum and president of the host federation Rohit Jandial also shared the dais with the chief guest. Speaking on the occasion, Dr Yash Pal Sharma gave a brief, but expert note talk on how to live with haemophilia and underlined that counselling to patients and precautions were the key to prevent any emergency. He also appreciated the initiative undertaken by the host organisation to hold an awareness-cum-support programme for affected students.
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Will win both LS seats in Jammu: BJP
Jammu, April 2 Talking to mediapersons here today, Ashok Khajuria, Leader of BJP Legislature Party in the Assembly, said: “The people of Jammu province and the Ladakh region are determined to decimate the pro-separatist Congress and the NC and contribute to BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi’s 272+ Congress-free India
mission.” The BJP would also perform reasonably well in the Kashmir valley where the people have endorsed the policies of Narendra Modi, Khajuria said, adding that the people of Jammu province and the Ladakh region were fed up with the alleged anti-people, anti-democratic and corrupt NC-Congress government. “The people want a government at the Centre that delivers and ensures the development of the state and empower the neglected regions of Jammu and Ladakh,” Khajuria said.
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Hip replacement surgery performed at Jawaharlal Nehru hospital
Srinagar, April 2 He said this was for the first time that such an advanced surgery, usually performed at the tertiary-level institutes, was successfully performed at JLNM, the apex hospital of DHSK located at Rainawari area of the city. “JLNM hospital has already performed a knee replacement surgery prior to this,” the DHSK
official added. Meanwhile, Director Health Services, Kashmir, Dr Saleem-ur-Rehman appreciated the administrator of JLNM Hospital, Dr Mohammad
Iqbal, and the operative team for attaining the “remarkable feat”. He assured them of all logistical support so that quality health care was provided to needy patients at peripheral hospitals of the
DHSK. |
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Far-flung areas used as vote-bank pockets: BJP
Jammu, April 2 On his election tour of Gool, Mahore, Darmari and Arnas, Singh said these areas had suffered on account of accessibility which had deprived people of education, employment and health facilities. "Every time on the eve of election, the Congress and the NC make false promises to these innocent people and then leave them to their fate. This is nothing but a worst kind of exploitation," he said, adding that their areas had been a victim of militancy and deserve special attention. "The BJP is against the use of militancy for political ends and has from time to time exposed political parties which did this. The village defence committees and special police officers have done a commendable job during difficult times and we are committed to redress their grievances," Jitendra said.
— TNS
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Plantation, sale of poplar trees banned in Valley
Srinagar, April 2 The cotton like material that sheds from these trees, usually in the last half of April and May, has been causing severe allergies to the people across the Valley. “The pollen becomes an irritating nuisance for the general public, particularly persons suffering from chest disease and small children. The health of general public is of paramount importance and as such it is necessary to take measures to safeguard the human health. Therefore, a complete ban has been imposed on the sale, purchase and plantation of the Russian poplar trees in the district,” an official order stated. The Russian poplar tree was introduced in the state in early 1980’s and is cultivated for monetary benefits. People in the past have been witnessed using surgical masks to avoid the pollen infection and voices have been raised for axing all such trees.
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Doda police holds seminar to promote peace
Doda, April 2 District Development Commissioner Mubarak Singh was the chief guest on the occasion. Senior police and Army officers were present. Speakers stressed the need for promoting communal harmony, peace and secularism. Calling the youth as the backbone of the nation, speakers urged them to work as the ambassadors of peace, communal
harmony and national integration. The speakers exhorted the youth to contribute towards society to eradicate social evils, crimes, hatred and communalism. Speakers, Dr Aktar Hussain and social activist Mehboob Kraipak, impressed upon the youth and locals, particularly students, to excel in all spheres of life. Doda Superintendent of Police Mohammed Sharif Chouhan told the participants that the aim of organising the programme was to inculcate the values of brotherhood and communal harmony among all sections of society, especially the youth. Certificates of participation were given to
schoolchildren and participants who spoke on the occasion.
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HPS students shine in debate
Jammu, April 2 The topic of the debate was "Road safety", wherein DIG, Jammu-Samba-Kathua Range, Sakeel Ahmed Being was the chief guest. Around 35 students of various institutions participated in the competition. Aditya Yadav of Class VII secured the first position and bagged a cash prize of Rs 1,000. Anuradha of Class IX secured the third position and a cash prize of Rs 300. Other students of the school, namely Tania, Sumita, Vaishali, Shewani Manhas and Itika Atri also performed well in the debate competition. Gaurav Charak, Principal of the school, along with Anku Charak, Vice-Principal, felicitated the meritorious students.
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Congress forms election committee for Baramulla
Srinagar, April 4 Saifuddin Soz, JKPCC president, said the committee has been constituted for effective liaison with the National Conference, with whom the party has entered into a pre-poll alliance. Senior Congress leader and JKPCC vice president Gulam Nabi Monga has been nominated as the chairman of the 21-member committee. The JKPCC chief said Monga would immediately get in touch with the NC leadership to ensure effective coordination during the campaigning at the district level. Baramulla is scheduled to go to polls on May 7. Monga to lead Senior Congress leader and JKPCC vice president Gulam Nabi Monga was
nominated as the chairman of the 21-member committee
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Northern Command chief pays tributes to martyrs
Udhampur, April 2 During a ceremony held at the unit at Udhampur on the occasion of its golden jubilee, the Lt General Chachra said: “As part of a large family in olive green, we must learn from the experience of our veterans and elders and endeavour to ensure that our veterans are looked after and our veer naris receive the honour and place of pride that they deserve for their as well as their husband’s supreme sacrifice made for the sovereignty and honour of our nation.” Anshul Chachra, regional president of the Army Wives Welfare Association, distributed financial assistance
to the veer naris on the occasion. — OC
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Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) Saifuddin Soz today called BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi a fascist and compared him to Adolf Hitler.
Minister Omar Abdullah today said the leader lacked the “representative character” and added that the leader “does not suit” to be the Prime Minister of pluralistic India.
Gool (Ramban), April 2
witnessed a lengthy winter and received heavy snow and rainfall in March, which was unprecedented in the recent decade.
The state Meteorological Department in its forecast bulletin said, “Light to moderate rain and thundershowers will occur at many places over the state in the next 24 hours ending Thursday evening.”
The department said scattered to fairly widespread rain and thundershowers were likely in the region from April 5 onwards.
TNS
Srinagar, April 2
Srinagar, April 2