The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	Travelling on circular road unsafe, say residents Road left unattended for past one year after NBCC laid pipes for sewage Amir Karim Tantray Tribune News Service Jammu, April 20 People living in and around the circular road here are a harried lot. Thanks to the apathetic attitude of the National Buildings Construction Corporation (NBCC), who abandoned the road last year after laying the pipes for sewage. The circular road from Deputy Commissioner’s office to Panjtirthi was left unattended, which has made the life of people living here difficult. It is the shortest-possible link for people to reach Raj Bhawan and Jammu-Srinagar national highway. Only light motor vehicles are allowed on the road, but since it was left unattended, it has become a cause of concern for everyone. Firdous Ahmad, a resident of Pir Mitha area, said: “We used this route to reach Panjtirthi and the national highway as it was considered safe. But plying on this road has become unsafe now.” As the road has not been blacktopped, area residents’ vehicles parked on the road gets covered with dust. An area resident said: “The dust enters our house even, but the government has done nothing to redress our problems.” Earlier, the Public Works Department used to blacktop roads where NBCC laid the pipes. But due to the non-availability of funds, now NBCC has been asked to takeover such roads for blacktopping. Sheikh Hameed, chief engineer Roads and Buildings Department (R&B), Jammu, said: “Few roads have been taken over by the NBCC and the R&B Department has no role in it.” When contacted NBCC general manager, Muhammad Rafiq, said: “Tenders have been floated and we will start the work after getting the approval from New Delhi. Blacktopping was not in the project. But when R&B Department refused to do it citing shortage of funds, we took over.” Rafiq said blacktopping would start on the circular road within a couple of days.
	PHE Dept gets Rs 41.44 cr under NRDW programme Vikas Sharma Tribune News Service Jammu, April 20 The state government recently sanctioned Rs 41.44 crore as central assistance in favour of the Physical Health Engineering (PHE) Department, Jammu, under the centrally sponsored National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP). Sources said besides sanctioning the amount, the PHE Department was also told that there should be no duplication in the adoption of works/ schemes and incurring of expenditure thereon to obviate any chance of misuse of funds. A statement from the state government said: “No diversion of funds from one head to another is allowed without the prior approval of the Administrative Department. The funds shall be strictly utilised as per the decision taken in the State Level Schemes Sanctioning Committee (SLSSC) meeting. No work should be taken in hand, in anticipation of the accord of administrative approval/ technical sanction by the competent authority.” Sources claimed the chief engineer has been asked to ensure that no new schemes are taken up out of the funds released which have not been approved by the SLSSC. Besides, the revision of the cost of schemes would not be allowed as well, they added. They said the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation in its recently held consultation with the secretary, in charge of Rural Drinking Water Supply, stressed upon the need to enhance drinking water supply besides introducing Piped Water Supply Schemes (PWSS) in rural areas of the state. About NRDWP * The government of India introduced the Accelerated Rural Water Supply Programme (ARWSP) in 1972-73 to accelerate the pace of coverage of problem villages with respect to the provision of drinking water. This was done to support states and union territories with financial and technical assistance to implement drinking water supply schemes in such villages. * To address major issues such as sustainability, water availability and supply, poor water quality among others, the Rural Drinking Water Supply guidelines were revised w.e.f. 1-4-2009. This revised programme was known as National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP). .
	Declare May Day as holiday : NMC Jammu, April 20 National Mazdoor Conference (NMC) president Subash Shastri today appealed to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to declare May Day as a gazetted holiday in the country. He said May Day should be declared as a holiday under the Negotiable Instruments Act as a tribute to martyred labourers. Addressing a rally of NMC activists at Utter-Behani, Shastri said the working class got their rights throughout the world because of May Day martyrs. He added that India, being one of the largest democracies in the world and a frontline welfare state, should also declare May 1 as a national holiday. — TNS
	Not responsible for killing anyone: Farooq Abdullah Says former Union Home Secretary responsible for Afzal Guru’s hanging Tribune News Service Srinagar, April 20 Union minister Farooq Abdullah, who is contesting the election from the Srinagar constituency, today said he was not responsible for the murder of a sarpanch in south Kashmir earlier this week. Abdullah dismissed the People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP) allegation that the killing of a sarpanch earlier this week in Pulwama district was the “direct result” of his statement. “Farooq Abdullah is not responsible for killing anyone. Rather, Farooq Abdullah’s people have died. I do not know how to even fire a gun, so how is Farooq Abdullah responsible?” he told reporters on the sidelines of an election rally in the city. Mohammad Amin Pandith, sarpanch of south Kashmir’s Gulzarpora village, was shot dead by suspected militants on Thursday evening. Pandith was affiliated with the PDP, the party which later accused the state’s ruling party of “creating violence to ensure a poll boycott”. Abdullah said the PDP had been filing complaints against him because “they have nothing else”. “They (the PDP) just do not know what to say. There are only two people whom they are targeting, Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah,” he said. Abdullah also blamed Union Home Secretary RK Singh for the hangin of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru. “I was a minister at the Centre, but no one talked to me. Azad sahib was there and we complained to the Prime Minister that we were not informed,” Abdullah said. “I think that the Home Secretary was responsible for it. Now, he is in the BJP. My charge is that it was the Home Secretary who did it,” he said. Abdullah contradicted Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s comment about BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi’s effect across the country. “I do not see any wave here in Kashmir. I do not know what is across the border of Kashmir. There is no wave of Modi in Kashmir and there is no doubt about it. There will never be a Modi wave since he stands for communal politics,” he said. The president of the ruling National Conference said Jammu and Kashmir was a “secular state”. “By the grace of God, it will always remain secular,” he said. Earlier, addressing a rally in the Palpora locality, Abdullah said his party had at every juncture chosen to stand by “the sentiments and issues of the people”. “Even when that meant staying away from compromised opportunities of power,” he said. Soon after the rally ended, protests erupted in the area and stones were thrown towards Abdullah’s motorcade, eyewitnesses said.
	Panchayat members quit after sarpanch murder Our Correspondent Pulwama, April 20 At least nine panches and sarpanches have resigned after unidentified gunmen killed a local sarpanch in Pulwama district of south Kashmir on Thursday evening. Sources said some panches and sarpanches forwarded their resignations in writing while others made the announcement at the local mosques. They are sarpanches Ghulam Nabi Dar of Palpora and Mohammad Ayoub Mir of Zahid Bagh in Watchi and panches Shahzada Begium and Farooq Ahmad Mir of Rakhi Litter in Pulwama, Hameeda Bano and Mohammad Ramzan Reshi of Zahid Bagh in Watchi, Mustaq Ahmad Itoo of Nownagri and Nazir Ahmad Bhat of Parreypora. The panchayat members had also put up posters in their respective areas, announcing their resignation and disassociation from mainstream parties. Handwritten posters of militant outfits Hizbul Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Toiba had been put up in many areas, urging the people to stay away from mainstream political activists and activities.
	We will stop Modi, says NC leader Wani Azhar Qadri Tribune News Service Srinagar, April 20 Nasir Aslam Wani has a busy schedule these days travelling across Kashmir — from south to north, from quiet villages to urban neighbourhoods — as he administers the campaigning of the candidates of the National Conference-Congress alliance. Wani, in his late forties, is the chief administrator — provincial president — for the Kashmir region of the National Conference, Jammu and Kashmir’s oldest political party, whose members are always hated by separatists and often hunted by militants. It is a tough position which Wani has been handling for the last one year as the state heads towards two crucial elections that will decide the country’s and the state’s fate. In an interview with The Tribune, Wani, who says “it was in my genes to come into politics”, talks about the challenges, opportunities and alliances faced by the party. “I think that now things are much better, shaping up in a better way in support of the party. Wherever we have gone, our candidates have gone, our leadership has gone, the response is much better,” Wani said. The focus of electioneering has shifted from Jammu to Kashmir, where polling will take place in three constituencies next fortnight. The rise of Narendra Modi as the prime ministerial candidate of the BJP, which is featuring prominently in all electioneering rallies of the National Conference, has also been a precursor to the party’s pre-poll alliance with the Congress as Wani projects it as a fight to safeguard the country's secular credentials. “We have had difference of opinion. The National Conference and the Congress have traditionally fought against each other. It takes time to work with each other, but now, both have understood that coalition is the need of the hour,” he said. Wani said there was “no choice” other than an alliance with the Congress. “It is not about gains or losses. The most important thing is how to safeguard the country’s secular credentials against communal forces and the fascist system,” he said. What if Modi wins? “I hope and pray that such a day never comes when a person who wants to impose Hitler’s system runs this country,” Wani said. Wani, legislator from Amira Kadal constituency and close aide of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, has been accompanying the party’s top leadership and candidates on the campaigning trail everywhere in the region. The response of the people has varied from a welcome approach to outright rejection. The shutdown in some areas where the National Conference leadership, including the party’s working president Omar Abdullah, had gone for campaigning, was not exclusive to one party alone, Wani said. “Certain areas are totally against the concept of mainstream, they are totally against the concept of elections. It is not only for us, it is also for other mainstream parties,” he said.
	NC president responsible: Beig Our Correspondent Handwara, April 20 Senior Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader and Baramulla candidate Muzzafar Hussian Beig today accused Dr Farooq Adullah of being responsible for the killing of the PDP sarpanch in south Kashmir. Beig urged the National Conference leadership to refrain from sensational and provocative statements. He was addressed election rallies in Ashpora, Badra Payeen and Monbal villages of Handwara tehsil in Kupwara district. “Just a few hours after Farooq threatened in his speech to wipe out all PDP men if he had resources like bombs and grenades, gunmen shot dead the party sarpanch in the south Kashmir village,” said Beig. “The NC has always resorted to sensational and intimidating statements, but the PDP is the people’s party and will give a reply to the ruling party by democratic ways and means,” he added. The PDP leader said his party made the police, the Army and other security agencies accountable during its regime and people were feling immense insecurity due to the anti-people policies of the present government. “We put an end to the reign of pro-government gunmen in the state and made all security agencies accountable. At present, people are feeling immense insecurity to their lives as government forces have been given a free hand to commit excesses on the people under the pretext of maintaining law and order,” Beig added. Strongly reacting to assertions of the NC leadership that the PDP was supporting the BJP and its policies, Beig said the BJP was a creation of the NC. “That is why ideologies of the BJP and the NC are similar. People trust the PDP as a democratic party and will vote the party to power in upcoming Lok Sabha and Assembly elections,” he said. Other party leaders, including Irfan Ahmad Panditpuri and Ghulam Nabi Panditpuri, also addressed the people.
	BJP confident of winning Jammu, Udhampur seats Tribune News Service Jammu, April 20 Buoyed by the high voter turnout in both the Jammu-Poonch and Udhampur-Doda parliamentary constituencies, the BJP said it would win both the seats. “The BJP will win the Jammu seat with a huge margin of over three lakh votes and the Udhampur seat with a margin of over one lakh votes,” said Hari Om, senior BJP leader and political advisor to party state president Jugal Kishore Sharma. He also exuded confidence of pocketing the Ladakh parliamentary seat. “We will replicate it (victory in the Jammu province) in Ladakh and will win this lone Lok Sabha seat comfortably,” Hari Om told reporters here yesterday. He also took on the political rivals for senselessly opposing the Union Territory status to Ladakh. “Their bitter opposition to the age-old demand in Ladakh for UT status is communally motivated,” Hari Om said. “Kashmiri leaders of all hues have ganged up to scuttle the genuine demand of the economically ignored and politically marginalised Ladakhis seeking segregation from Kashmir,” he said.
	PDP files complaint Tribune News Service Srinagar, April 20 The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has filed a complaint with the police against ruling National Conference president and nominee for the Srinagar parliamentary seat Farooq Abdullah. “A complaint has been lodged at Rajbagh Police Station seeking registration of an FIR against Farooq Abdullah, who had claimed that if he had resources he would attack the PDP,” a PDP spokesperson said. The spokesperson, however, said by refusing to formally register an FIR, the police were conveying a “clear bias” in favour of the ruling party candidate, who had issued serious threats to the PDP. “The statement of Dr Farooq Abdullah is criminal in nature and a cognisable offence of which the police should have taken suo moto notice,” he said. He also regretted the “inability” of the Election Commission to take action on the complaints from Jammu and Kashmir and said it reinforces the feeling that double standards were being practised. The PDP in its complaint has stated: “The statement made by Dr Farooq Abdullah is an open threat to the cadres of the PDP. It has raised an alarm in the people affiliated with the PDP and the people in general. Those who are ideologically opposed to the NC are contemplating not to vote after being intimidated by the NC president.”
	Modi may address election rally at Leh BJP re-devises its strategy for Ladakh Lok Sabha seat, Naqvi to visit Kargil Dinesh Manhotra Tribune News Service Jammu, April 20 BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi in all likelihood would address an election rally at Leh in the first week of May, as the state unit has sent an official request to the party high command and to those in charge of scheduling the tour programmes of the Gujarat Chief Minister. The move is a part of the BJP’s “re-devised” strategy for the election to the Ladakh Lok Sabha seat. Highly placed sources said filing of nomination papers by the Congress rebel candidate Ghulam Raza as an Independent from Ladakh has rekindled a new hope in the BJP and the party had convened a meeting of its senior leaders on Saturday to devise a fresh strategy. Raza, a former MLA, has resigned as the district president of the Congress to contest elections from Ladakh parliamentary constituency. Keeping in view the recent development, the BJP is hoping to win Ladakh seat for the first time, a source said. “After the meeting on Saturday, BJP leaders officially wrote a letter to the high command and asked for arranging a rally of Narendra Modi at Leh,” the source said. “The central office of the BJP has given an encouraging response and Modi’s rally is likely to be held in the first week of May,” the source said. As part of its fresh strategy, the BJP has also decided to utilise services of its national vice president Mukthar Abbas Naqvi in the Shia dominated Kargil district of the Ladakh region. “By organising Modi’s rally at Leh, the party will try to mobilise the Buddhist vote. Similarly, Naqvi will spend a couple of days in Kargil and adjoining localities to make inroads in the Shia dominated areas,” a source said. He said Naqvi would reach Kargil on May 1. “Naqvi would address a public meeting at Bokdang in Turtuk area of Kargil on May 2. He is also schedule to address another rally at Husaini Park in Kargil on same day,” the source said. Sources said Naqvi was also likely to hold interaction with prominent Shia leaders of Kargil to mobilise support for the party candidate. The BJP has fielded veteran Buddhist leader Thupstan Chhewang from Ladakh and it is important for the party to garner the support of Shias to ensure his victory, sources said. For the last one year, the BJP has been trying to woo the Shia population living in Kargil and has raised the issue of discrimination with the community from time to time. Modi, while addressing the ‘Lalkaar rally’ at Jammu on December 1, last year, had raked up the issue of discrimination with Shias to reach out to this section of society. The BJP had earlier vociferously highlighted atrocities on “deprived and subjugated” Shias of Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan at different platforms on the national level to woo the Shias community living in Kargil. Shias in Kargil have ethnic, cultural and religious similarities with the residents of Gilgit-Baltistan.
	Ladakh cauldron boils over UT status Kargil-based religious bodies oppose the demand Arteev Sharma Tribune News Service Jammu, April 20 The political atmosphere in Ladakh parliamentary constituency is getting charged with the two powerful religious bodies of Kargil — the Islamiya School Kargil and Imam Khomeini Memorial Trust — vociferously opposing the Union Territory (UT) status to the region. Their opposition comes after the Congress flip-flop over the demand of UT status to the Ladakh region. “We don’t endorse the demand for UT status to Ladakh,” said Haji Anayat Ali, a member of the Ulema Council of the Islamiya School. “We are drafting our manifesto and it will be released in the next couple of days. We are going to the people with important local issues, including better connectivity on highway, expansion of airport in Kargil, non-implementation of centrally-sponsored schemes in Kargil and representation of Kargil youth in Ladakh Scouts…the UT status to Ladakh doesn’t hold much importance to us,” Anayat Ali told The Tribune over phone from Leh. Anayat Ali, who filed his nomination papers as a covering candidate of the Islamiya School backed nominee for the Ladakh Lok Sabha seat, exuded confidence that the organisation would get overwhelming support from the people of the region. The Islamiya School is supporting Aga Syed Kazim Sabri, who filed his nomination as an Independent candidate, while former Member of Legislative Assembly from Zanskar Ghulam Raza is backed by the Khomeini Trust. Raza filed his nomination papers as an Independent yesterday. “The Anjuman-e-Sahab Zaman Tai-Suru, a local organisation, and other groups are supporting us and we are 100 per cent sure of winning the seat,” Anayat Ali said. Anayat Ali further said the Islamiya School had requested the Khomeini Trust to support its candidate, but they didn’t respond. He said the Congress was a divided house and the organisation would have better chances to win the seat in the current scenario. The Islamiya School has traditionally supported the National Conference, while the Khomeini Trust generally backs the Congress. However, both the religious bodies are supporting Independent candidates for the Ladakh seat this time around, putting the Congress-National Conference alliance in trouble. The alliance partners have fielded Tsering Samphel for the seat, while the BJP has nominated Thupstan Chhewang, winner from the constituency in 2004 parliamentary polls. A total of nine candidates have filed their nomination papers for the Ladakh seat. The last day for withdrawal of nomination papers is April 23. Haji Asgar Ali Karbalai, Chief Executive Councillor of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Kargil, who is also an active member of Khomeini Trust, said: “We don’t support the idea of Union Territory status to Ladakh. We have fielded our own candidate and we are hopeful of winning the seat.” The Congress, in its local manifesto released on April 15, had demanded the grant of UT status to Ladakh. However, the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee chief Saifuddin Soz denied that the UT Status to Ladakh was a part of the party’s manifesto in the state. Phuntsog Namgyal, senior Congress leader and four-time winner of the Ladakh parliamentary seat, too had endorsed the demand of UT status with separate Assembly for Ladakh. The BJP, on the other hand, has been openly demanding the UT status to Ladakh. A total of 1,59,631 voters may exercise their vote at 531 polling stations in the Ladakh segment on May 7.
	NC, PDP pushed J-K into darkness: Sajjad Lone Our Correspondent Kupwara, April 20 Chairman of the People’s Conference Sajjad Gani Lone today accused the National Conference (NC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of pushing Jammu and Kashmir, especially frontier Kupwara district, into backwardness and underdevelopment. Sajjad Lone said the people of Kashmir, especially the youth, wanted change and would defeat the NC and the PDP in the elections. He was addressing a public gathering at Main Chowk in Kupwara. Sajjad said his party would strive to form a democratic government in the state and put an end to corruption, inflation, and unemployment. “Successive regimes, especially of the NC and the PDP, have exploited resources of Kashmir and its people. People are suffering due to lack of basic amenities and want an end to corruption and other basic problems,” the People’s Conference chairman said. “The People’s Conference will strive to reach the man on the street and address the problems of the people by providing them good governance,” he said. “The NC and the PDP have neglected Kupwara on all fronts. The people of this district want change and I am confident they will demonstrate to them (both parties) the power of a common man in the elections,” said Sajad. He accused PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed of mass rape of scores of women by Army men in Kunan Poshpora village of the district. “Mufti’s government protected the Army men who tarnished the chastity of women in Kunan Poshpora over two decades ago. Now, it is high time to get rid of the autocratic rule and vote the People’s Conference to power,” he said. Amid pro-party slogans, Sajjad led a rally in Kupwara town, which culminated near the Deputy Commissioner’s office.
	Omar smells rat in Modi-Geelani controversy Suhail A Shah Anantnag, April 20 Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today suspected foul play in the recent claims by separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani that Narendra Modi's emissaries had met him. Omar said either Geelani had some confusion or the Modi camp was lying. Chairman of the hardline faction of the Hurriyat Conference Syed Ali Geelani had on Friday said BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi had sent two emissaries to meet him while he was undergoing treatment in New Delhi. There was a subsequent denial and a demand for an apology from the Modi camp. “Either Geelani Sahib has some confusion about the whole issue or the Modi camp is lying,” Omar today said while talking to mediapersons on the sidelines of a rally at Aishmuqam in Anantnag district. Omar today addressed rallies in many parts of Anantnag district, including Khiram and Shangus. The Chief Minister said whatever the truth might be, but one thing that he is sure of is “that there is something very fishy about the whole issue.” “Modi, in his denial, has also denied being part of any dialogue process to address the long-pending Kashmir issue,” said Omar, adding that this ‘denial’ is an answer to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which has been seeing Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s shadow in Modi. Omar attacked the PDP for being a ‘power-hungry’ party which was supporting Modi, “the man responsible for genocide of Muslims”, only for its vested interests. Terming Narendra Modi as the ‘godfather’ of the Mufti’s, Omar said they had to pay back for their political existence to the BJP. “They owe their creation to the BJP and they will have to pay back,” Omar said, adding, “They will surely pay back by dividing our state on communal and regional lines.” Omar was today asked about his inability to get the Armed Forces Special Powers Act revoked. He said he was not talking about it because of the Model Code of Conduct. “I’m not talking about it but it does not mean that we are not trying. We are working on the issue,” Omar told mediapersons.
	Mufti hopes new govt at Centre will carry forward peace process with Pak Tribune News Service Srinagar, April 20 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today expressed hope that the new government at the Centre would carry forward the peace process with Pakistan in the interest of the people of the region. “The onus shall now lie on the new government in New Delhi to consolidate the peace initiative, launched by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee from Srinagar in April 2003 and carried forward by Manmohan Singh through the cross-LoC confidence-building measures. The fruits of peace and prosperity will be shared not only by the people from all regions of the state, but also by the subcontinent,” Mufti said while addressing a rally in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district. Hitting out at the National Conference, he said: “I challenge the present government to show a single project of public importance that it has accomplished during the past five and a half years of its rule, while on the other hand, the signposts of development initiatives by the PDP-led government are visible in every nook and corner of the state.” Mufti urged the voters to support PDP candidate Mehbooba Mufti by pressing party symbol ‘ink pot’ on the electronic voting machine. Mehbooba is contesting the Lok Sabha elections from the Anantnag constituency, going to the polls on April 24. Meanwhile, Peoples Democratic Party candidate for the Srinagar parliamentary constituency Tariq Hameed Karra held a roadshow at the Hazratbal area of Srinagar today. Karra flayed the NC for making ‘menacing statements’.
	Ask Modi who met me, Geelani tells BJP Tribune News Service Srinagar, April 20 Hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani today said the BJP should ask its prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi about the identity of the emissaries who were sent to him with a message on the Kashmir issue. “The BJP is asking us to name the persons who were sent by Modi to meet me. I tell them that you should ask Modi. He knows who the persons sent to meet me were,” Geelani said while addressing a function at his residence. The hardline Hurriyat faction today shared the video of the function on its social networking pages, in which Geelani was seen replying to a question about the controversy triggered by his recent disclosure. Moderate Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and the BJP had questioned Geelani over his claim that Modi’s emissaries had met him and other separatists for help in resolving the Kashmir issue. Amid a raging controversy, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had jumped in and asked Geelani to identify the two emissaries who approached him on Modi’s behalf. Geelani, who returned from New Delhi on April 16, told reporters on Friday that Modi’s representatives met him on March 22. He claimed that the BJP had established communication with other separatists, which drew a furious reaction from the moderate separatist chief. Geelani said he had "promised" the emissaries that he would not name them, but had told them that he would inform the people about the meeting. “I have given them a commitment that their names will not be revealed. They are Kashmiri Pandit brothers. Now, if the BJP wants to know who they are, it should ask Modi,” he said. Geelani said he would not respond to Mirwaiz's furious comments yesterday, in which he said "who the hell is Geelani".
	It’s Geelani’s turn to be accountable to Kashmiris In the hullaballoo over the assertion of Syed Ali Shah Geelani, a separatist leader of Kashmir, that Bharatiya Janata Party's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi had sent two emissaries to him to soften his stand on the resolution of the Kashmir issue, there has been no effort to understand what his idea was in making this 'genuine' or 'contrived' disclosure about the meeting. Locally, there is pressure on him to come clean on the whole issue. At the same time, the BJP has denied that Modi ever sent any emissary to Geelani to talk about Kashmir. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah wants him to name the emissaries. The same is the call of moderate Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who has gone to the extent of using the words 'who the hell is Geelani'. Both Omar and Mirwaiz may be having their reasons to know the truth about this particular episode, which only Geelani knows. It becomes his duty to come out with the names and the nature of conversation he had with Modi's men. It becomes more important in the backdrop of the fact that he had refused to meet three interlocutors appointed by the Centre -- journalist Dilip Padgaonkar, academician Radha Kumar and former bureaucrat MM Ansari — in 2010 when Kashmir was burning, literally. There were protests all across the Valley and clashes between the police and the youth on the streets were adding to the toll of death and destruction. It was known that the interlocutors had the mandate to talk to people from all walks of life. A sad fact about them, however, is that their work for one year has gone down the drain. Their report regretted that they could not make the separatists to board the bus and it was gathering dust on the shelves of the Union Home Ministry. No one is even talking about it. So, Geelani should have no hesitation in naming the emissaries of the BJP's prime ministerial candidate, who is convinced that 'Ab ki baar, Modi sarkar' (This time, it will be a Modi-led government), which some dismiss as wishful thinking and others see as an imminent reality. The BJP has denied that Modi ever sent any emissary to Geelani on March 22, the day the separatist leader claims to have entertained them because they were 'two Kashmiri Pandit brethren'. It is surprising that he entertained them, if at all this meeting took place, knowing that they were the men of Modi, whom he had called a 'butcher' way back in 2003 and an 'anti-Muslim' person. The counter argument is that there have been several attempts by the Centre and the national leadership to meet him in the past. He was approached by emissaries of the NDA government led by Atal Behari Vajpayee to open a dialogue with the Centre. It also is a fact that he and his group were invited to take part in the three Round Table Conferences held to work out a workable solution. Similar invitations were sent to other separatists, particularly Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, in 2006 and 2007, during the tenure of the UPA government. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, too, had made passionate appeals to the separatists to come and sit across the talks table. Mirwaiz had not taken part even though the Pakistani government had suggested that he should go to the Second Round Table Conference in Srinagar in May, 2006. If it is true at all that Modi had sent the emissaries to meet Geelani, then it should be remembered that not long ago, speaking at a rally in Hiranagar in the Jammu region on March 26, Modi declared that he would carry forward the legacy of Vajpayee by invoking 'Kashmiriyat' (composite culture of Kashmiris), 'jamhhooriyat' (democracy) and 'insaaniyat' (humanitarian values). Geelani needs to explain to the people whether the emissaries had met him in that spirit. The BJP, too, has a strong reason to deny the supposed meeting. Its leadership cannot be seen talking to the hardline separatist leader who doggedly calls Kashmir 'an international dispute'. In September, 2010, when an all-party delegation visited the Valley to understand the reasons behind the anger on the streets, two BJP leaders, Arun Jaitley and Sushma Swaraj were the only exceptions. They did not visit separatist leaders' residences. At a time when elections have been polarised, the party cannot be seen as even having any room for debate on Kashmir with the diehard anti-India voice. Geelani's other claim that a 'pro-freedom group' is engaged in talks with the Modi group on Kashmir. Though he did not name anyone, hints were picked. Mirwaiz reacted so sharply that even those who had seen his anger were surprised at the intensity of anger. Now, for the sake of the people of Kashmir and his own credibility, Geelani should relay the whole episode verbatim to the people of Kashmir to set the record straight, otherwise his own reputation is at stake. As he seeks accountability from each and every one in public life and transparency over Kashmir dealings, Geelani cannot exempt himself from this clause.
	407 industries being run without permission in J&K Sumit Hakhoo Tribune News Service Jammu, April 20 Flouting the Supreme Court (SC) directives and anti-pollution laws, 407 industrial units are running unauthorisedly in the state as their ‘validity of consent’ to operate has expired about a decade ago. State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) officials said as per the provisions of the Water (Protection and Control of Pollution) Act 1974, no person without the validity of consent of the board could establish any industry in Jammu and Kashmir. They said a recent audit had revealed that hundreds of units whose permission had expired between March 2001 and February 2013 were still operating. Further, the Environment Protection Act and Rules empowered the board to regulate the management, handling and disposal of hazardous and biomedical wastes in a scientific manner but records show that the board did not formulate any action plan for the purpose. SPCB chairman Arun Tikku said they had started the process of registration since the past one year. “I cannot say what happened in the past, but a mechanism has been put in place and several industries have been inspected and they have completed the required formalities,” Tikku said. A total of 1,449 industries in Jammu and Kashmir are now listed in the red category, a label given to highly polluting industries which are a threat to ecology. In 2010, the number was 850. “There are clear directions by the Supreme Court to close down polluting industries but the board has failed to take any action. Only warnings have been given to such units,” claimed a source in the SPCB. Though officials said some of the units had installed control devices, a majority of them had failed to adhere to the norms set by the government. Under the Central Pollution Control Board guidelines, industrial units are categorised as red, orange and green, according to the level of pollution they emit in air, water and on the ground. As per the guidelines, units falling under the red and orange categories have to install special anti-pollution devices and set up treatment plants before disposing of effluents from their industries.
	J-K Centre for Creative Arts holds exhibition in Amritsar Tribune news service Amritsar, April 20 The Jammu and Kashmir Centre for Creative Arts (JKCCA) in collaboration with the Indian Academy of Fine Arts (IAFA), Amritsar, organised the All-India Art Exhibition at an art gallery in the city. The exhibition was inaugurated by Rajinder Mohan Singh Chhina, president, Indian Academy of Fine Arts. The exhibition has been organised with an aim to promote artists from the region. Thirty art works of 24 artists from different states of the country are on display at the exhibition. Committed to promote art, culture and literature in the state, the IAFA has organised such exhibitions in the past too. Speaking on the occasion, Rajinder Mohan Singh Chhina said it was a welcome step by the JKCCA that it decided to organise the exhibition in Amritsar. Among the artists who are participating in the exhibition are Chandana Khan from Hyderabad, VS Rahi and Badal Chitrakar from New Delhi, ND Jamwal, TS Batra Bhushan Kesar, Jang S Verman, OP Sharma, Subhash Anand, Reecha Gupta and Amrit Kaur from Jammu, Dr Mamta Singh from Dehradun, Neelima Gupta, Meerut and Pratima Singh from Lucknow, Nathu Lal Verma and Govind Srivastava from Jaipur, Aslam Naqshbandi from Srinagar, Prabhinder Lall from Chandigarh, KS Gill, Dharmender Sharma, and Narinder Singh from Amritsar, Shantala Madhu, Bangalore and Romika Bhasin from Bhopal.
	Pahari leaders to canvass for PDP leader Our correspondent Rajouri, April 20 Pahari leaders from Rajouri and Poonch districts have decided to campaign for Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Muzaffar Hussain Beigh, contesting from the Baramulla parliamentary constituency. Various Pahari organisations held a meeting at Rajouri on Thursday and decided that a 20-member team would visit Baramulla and urge the people there to vote for Beigh. The meeting was organised by Shahbaz Khan, chief executive, J&K Pahari People Movement (JKPPM), and was chaired by Mohammad Azam Sagar, provincial president, JKPPM. The meeting decided that a team of Pahari leaders would also visit Uri-Karnah to support Raja Aijaz Ali, former Inspector General of Police, and veteran Pahari leader Kafeel-ul-Rehman, vice-chairman of the Pahari Advisory Board. Khan said the team comprised of prominent Pahari leaders MA Sagar Vijay, Kochhar, Manjit Singh, Nazik Hussain Shah, MB Rathar, Shieraz Inqlabi, Kramat Malik, MS Mughal, Jawaid Mughal, Haji Mohammad Shafi, Nazir Ahmed, Amjad Ali, Mohammad Sayeed and Jammet Raj.
	Idea’s ‘ullu banawing’ ad evokes ire in Valley Bismah Malik Tribune News Service Srinagar, April 20 Idea Cellular’s “no ullu banawing” advertisement has suddenly become an eyesore for its alleged projection of Kashmiri craftsmen in a bad light. The advertisement shows a trader trying to sell a pashmina shawl to a group of women who tell him not make a fool of them by selling them a fake pashmina shawl. The women customers in the advertisement, who are non-locals, are shown telling the seller that they know the real pashmina shawl is supposed to pass through a ring, so he cannot make them ‘ullu’ (fool). The advertisement has evoked condemnation in the Valley. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah took to microblogging site Twitter yesterday against the advertisement. While addressing Idea Cellular in his tweet, he said their advertisement was “wrong and misleading”. He said pashmina shawls were not supposed to pass the ring test. “It is a shahtoosh shawl which is supposed to pass the ring test,” Omar wrote on Twitter. He wrote the advertisement was an insult to hundreds of honest Kashmiri craftsmen who were being projected as crooks. Kashmir’s civil society and the business fraternity have also trained their guns on Idea Cellular for projecting Kashmiri businessmen as dishonest. Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KCCI), executive member, Gazalla Amin said, “The advertisement is an unfortunate display of defaming Kashmir’s famed craft of pashmina shawl making.” Gazalla said the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries would take legal action against the company, if it did not drop the advertisement. Senior bureaucrat and social activist Aamir Ali said a written petition should be sent by the members of the civil society to Idea and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, lodging a protest.
	Over 100 walnut tress felled in Shopian Our Correspondent Pulwama, April 20 More than 100 walnut trees have been allegedly felled during the past few days in Shopian’s Moshwara village. The villagers said despite indiscriminate felling of these trees the Revenue Department failed to act against the violators. “The people involved in the act are very influential and it is very difficult to stop them from felling these trees. Moreover, there is a nexus between the revenue officials and the offenders,” a villager alleged. Despite repeated complaints, the revenue officials did not act against the offenders, the villager said. “We complained to the tehsildar concerned, but he did not initiate any action,” the villager said. “It took them more than five days to cut down these trees, but the officials did not visit the village even once. They did nothing to stop the miscreants,” said another villager. Deputy Commissioner, Shopian, Bashir Ahmad Bhat said the issue has been taken into notice and action would be taken against culprits. “The officials who failed to respond to repeated complaints of the villagers and allowed the indiscriminate cutting of the trees will be dealt under law,” the Deputy Commissioner said. The accused, meanwhile, claimed that felling of trees was done to clear the land to build a Higher Secondary School, a veterinary, a dispensary and a power receiving station.
	Itoo hopeful of NC win in Anantnag Majid Jahangir Tribune News Service Noorabad (Kulgam), April 20 Nearly a week ahead of the polls in south Kashmir's Anantnag Lok Sabha seat, Social Welfare Minister and senior National Conference (NC) leader Sakina Itoo is hopeful that the ruling coalition candidate, Mehboob Beg, would win from Anantnag as there is anti-incumbency factor against Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) MLAs. "We are sure that we will retain the Anantnag seat," Itoo told The Tribune at her fortified residence at Noorabad. "There is tough fight in this seat, but there is a huge anti-incumbency factor against the sitting PDP MLAs and that will work for us," she added. PDP president Mehbooba Mufti is pitched against sitting NC MP and medico-turned politician Mehboob Beg for the Anantnag seat, which comprises four districts - Anantnag, Pulwama, Shopian and Kulgam. The constituency would to go to the polls on April 24. Noorabad is the only Assembly segment in the Anantnag constituency where NC's Itoo emerged as winner in the 2008 Assembly elections. Twelve out of 16 Assembly segments are with the PDP. Itoo is the only woman minister in the Omar Abdullah government. She claims that the party still has an edge in her Assembly segment. "This time too I am sure that from Noorabad Assembly segment, our party will get a lead of 12,000 votes," Itoo said. Itoo had joined politics after her father was killed in a militant attack in 1990. She had herself survived nearly a dozen militant attacks since joining active politics in 1996.
	Election fever yet to grip Anantnag constituency Ehsan Fazili Tribune News Service Anantnag, April 20 With intermittent rains dampening the atmosphere, the usual cacophony around the elections in this south Kashmir constituency is missing. There are hardly any rows of colourful party flags. However, a number of hoardings of different political parties dotting the highway present a pointer to the activities related to the forthcoming parliamentary elections in the area. A few selected spots, which are being used by the political rivals, particularly the National Conference (NC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to address the masses, give a semblance of the polls in the segment comprising Anantnag, Pulwama, Shopian and Kulgam districts. The extended winter has left the roads in bad shape. The 70-km-long stretch of the vital Srinagar-Jammu national highway, which cuts through the constituency, is also crying for attention. The inner roads are no exception, with the residents ruing the VIP movement and running of security and election cavalcades through waterlogged potholes. Long rows of shops displaying local-made cricket bats along the Awantipora-Sangam stretch of the highway wear a deserted look with no tourist cabs halting for the purchase. “The tourist arrival these days has declined due to elections. It was unexpectedly high in March,” said Abdul Rashid, a shopkeeper at Sangam. The common man, however, has his long list of issues, which remained untouched despite assurances by the elected representatives over the years. “I do not believe in these elected representatives as they have not solved any of our problems,” said Abdul Ahad, a mechanic in Awantipora. “I have four educated and qualified young members in the family but they are not getting jobs…. I deserve a BPL (below poverty line) card, but that is being provided to those who are well off. My power tariff is equivalent to that of posh bungalow…,” he goes on. Things are no different for Kanwalnain Singh, who owns a tiny shop in the market. “Power, drinking water and road issues are common to all and need to be addressed. But there are other issues as well. My son holds an MBA degree and is searching for a job for the last three years. I have two commercial vehicles…the government did not take any steps to waive off the interest on the bank loans when there was no work for five months during the 2010 summer unrest,” Singh said. Gearing for polls * Anantnag LS seat is scheduled to go to polls on April 24 * 12.74 lakh voters will decide the fate of sitting MP and NC-Congress nominee Mehboob Beg and PDP’s Mehbooba Mufti, besides 10 other candidates
	Sharp rise in cases of dog bite in Valley Bismah Malik Tribune News Service Srinagar, April 20 Medicos in the Valley have raised an alarm regarding dog bite incidents and advised the state government to check the growing number of street dogs in the Valley. As per a study conducted by the Department of Plastic Reconstructive Surgery, Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Soura, dog bite cases now accounts for 1 per cent of all trauma cases at the Valley’s only tertiary hospital. The study, which took into account 128 dog bite cases (between January 2011 and June 2013) corroborated that 52.3 per cent victims were children in the age group of 1- 6 years. Men seemed to be the vulnerable target of dog bite incidents compared to women as per the study. “Man accounted for 66.4 per cent of the patients, who were treated at the hospital. The people from rural areas were also attacked more by the dogs than urban people as 65.5 per cent of patients were from the rural background,” the study said. Dr Ovais Habib, Dr Adil Hafeez and Dr MA Darzi conducted the study. The study further said the face was the most commonly affected part of the body, especially among children. In older age group, limbs were the mostly attacked part. It analyses that most of these dog bite cases have been unprovoked. “As many as 96.1 per cent of the patients had between one and five injuries all over their body,” the study indicated. The study concluded that the dog bite incidents could be decreased or prevented if the number of street dogs in the state was brought down.
	Pacemaker implanted at JLNM hospital Tribune News Service Srinagar, April 20 For the first time in the Valley, a pacemaker was implanted outside a tertiary care hospital. “A life saving device, permanent pacemaker, was implanted in the cardiology unit of Jawahar Lal Nehru Memorial (JLNM) Hospital on a complete heart block in a 50-year-old patient by Dr Shahid Iqbal Tak and Dr Kaiser Habib,” an official of the Directorate Health Services said in a statement. “This is for the first time that such a landmark procedure has been done outside a tertiary care hospital in Kashmir. Procedures like these performed at peripheral hospitals will be a boon in health reforms and needy patients can avail tertiary care at their doorsteps,” he added. Meanwhile, Director Health Services, Kashmir, Dr Saleem-ur-Rehman appreciated the operative team and the administrator of the hospital on achieving the remarkable feat.
	Civil society group calls for election boycott Our Correspondent Srinagar, April 20 On the 10th death anniversary of journalist-turned-human rights activist Asiya Jeelani, civil society members and human rights activists today claimed that there had not been fair and honest elections in Kashmir since 1951. Civil society member and human rights defender Jeelani was killed in 2004 in a blast in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district. “There can be no fair elections in Kashmir until there is self-determination. Since 1951 there have not been fair and honest elections in Kashmir,” said civil society member Dr Altaf while addressing people in a discussion “Elections under occupation”. “You are not allowed to sit peacefully at a place for discussion. This shows holes in the tall claims of democracy,” the members said. “Elections cannot be fair at a place where you have 7 lakh soldiers surrounding you. Occupation and democracy cannot go hand in hand,” said a member, Dr Javaid Iqbal. Calling for election boycott, the civil society members said “elections and occupation could not go well together”. There was a good participation of youth and some of them also spoke at the event. For the first time, the Doctors Association of Kashmir (DAK) also participated in the civil society event. “Elections in Kashmir are a foul game. We should self-introspect ourselves and firmly boycott this election,” Dr Nisar Ul Hasaan, president of DAK, said. Parvez Imroz, a lawyer and human rights activist, said every Kashmiri should ask a question to himself/herself, how they were going to respond to the elections. The event was attended by human rights activists from Baramulla, Bijbehara, and Kunan Poshpora.
	Batamaloo bus stand cries for attention Our Correspondent Srinagar, April 20 In the absence of any maintenance work, the general bus stand in the city’s Batamaloo area is in a shambles. It is becoming a source of inconvenience for commuters who visit the city. People of the area blame officials’ apathy for the neglect. The area witnesses a huge rush of people and vehicles everyday, particularly from north Kashmir’s Baramulla, Sopore and Bandipora, for whom it is the centre point and first stop of the city. Hundreds of students and office-going face inconvenience everyday due to the deplorable condition of the bus stand. “We travel distances to reach here every day, but there is so much dirt and filth everywhere. The authorities seem to be in a deep slumber and make us suffer,” said Ishfaq Ahmed, a postgraduate student from Baramulla. Another local said the situation worsens during the rains and people had to wait for buses in the open due to absence of proper passenger sheds. “I left home in the morning wearing new clothes as I had to go for an interview, but due to non-availability of passenger sheds here at the bus stop, all my clothes got dirty due to the rain,” said a local. Shopkeepers in and around Batamaloo are also aghast over the mismanagement of the general bus stand. Commuters, drivers and shopkeepers complain of filth and dirt everywhere due to the improper drainage system. They said, “Dirt and water overflows in the area and there are huge problems of waterlogging in the interiors of the bus stand during rainy rains”. “The rain had turned the interior of the bus stand into a cesspool,” said a shopkeeper at Batamaloo. He said the defunct drainage system was causing a lot of problems for vendors and shopkeepers in the busy area. “We are compelled to stay indoors when it rains, because mild rainfall creates chaos here,” he added. Other problem which the locals have been facing is illegal encroachment from vendors and hawkers, who have extended their carts on the main road, thus creating problems for the movement of passenger vehicles and narrowing the pedestrian space. “Vegetable and fruit vendors have occupied almost half of the road. There is hardly any space left for the pedestrians. The authorities should do something about it as it is a decade-old bus stand, besides the fact that the area apart from being commercial is a residential area,” said the locals. Despite repeated attempts, the officials concerned could not be contacted.
	Public fury forces NC-Cong to shift venue of its meeting Baramulla, April 20 A day after Minister for Higher Education Mohammad Akbar Lone was forced to shift his meeting in Shahgund Hajin in Bandipora district, public wrath forced the NC-Congress alliance workers to shift the stage in Dagerpora village of volatile Sopore town. The workers were reportedly denied space to set up a stage at Eidgah and were forced to shift the venue to a local MLA’s house. The alliance supporters were busy setting up the stage for a workers meet and garner support for sitting NC Member of Parliament Shariefuddin Shariq when some youth thrashed them and dismantled the stage. Following the incident, workers were forced to shift the venue to the house of NC MLA from Sopore Mohammad Ashraf Ganie. “We shifted the venue after locals denied permission to set the stage at Eidgah. No stones were thrown at our workers,” Ganaie said. — OC
	Yasin urges Hurriyat factions to maintain restraint Tribune News Service Srinagar, April 20 Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik today termed the latest infighting between the two separatist factions of Hurriyat as a “state of disorder” and said the exchange of hostile statements between moderate and hardline groups was “most unfortunate”. “The hostile statements can actually bring leniency in the determination of people and even the resolve of political workers and activists in resistance camp can get shattered because of this hostility,” Malik was quoted in statement issued by his party. “These differences can be and should be resolved in closed rooms, but if our worthy leaders still think of putting them in public domain, they should at least keep the timings in consideration,” he added. Malik appealed to both the factions to show restraint and stop making adverse statements. Hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani on Friday disclosed that two of the emissaries of BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi had met him in New Delhi in March and sought his help in resolving the Kashmir issue. He also said the saffron party was trying to rope in other leaders from the separatist camp. “May be the people, who have been saying good things about Modi, won’t tell you that his emissaries also met them,” Geelani had said. His statement, however, drew a sharp reaction from the moderate separatist amalgam led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who rejected the senior separatist leader’s assertion as “baseless and mischievous” and accused him of making “irresponsible statements”.
	AAP suspects foul play by NC Says not called during EVM randomisation by election officials Tribune News Service Srinagar, April 20 The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has criticised the district election authorities in Budgam of not apprising the party about randomisation of electronic voting machines (EVMs), which was held in District Election Office (DEO), Budgam, on April 17. AAP leader and Srinagar parliamentary candidate Raja Muzaffar Bhat said all the representatives of political parties were called to the DEO except AAP, which raises his suspicion of foul play by the rival party, National Conference. “When the representatives of other political parties were invited, why not us? This indicates that something fishy is going on and we are sure that the NC is planning to rig the Lok Sabha elections,” he said. “They (NC) may be even misusing the official machinery to ensure use of unfair means and techniques during the elections,” he added. Meanwhile, while addressing public gatherings at various places in Budgam district, Muzaffar attacked the ruling NC of not paying any attention towards Budgam district. He addressed public gatherings at Soibugh, Hakarmullah, Watrewan, Garendh, Muqam Watrihal and urged people of these areas to vote and support the AAP. He said, “We hope that you will rise up and fight back to get your rights with dignity and this is only possible when you will support the AAP in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls,” Muzaffar said.
	Mirwaiz's social reform drive Srinagar, April 20 Moderate separatist chief Mirwaiz Umar Farooq today asked for the support of people and clergy for his campaign of social reform. Mirwaiz urged the clerics, mosque imams, religious groups and social organisations to fulfil their responsibilities towards the reformation of society. While addressing a function that was organised as part of the campaign in the city here, he said the creation of a religious and clean society was a responsibility. — TNS
	Pashmina activists meet Hamid Ansari Jammu, April 20 Pashmina activist Babar Afzal called upon Vice President of India Hamid Ansari to discuss the three-point programme for the Global Pashmina Goat Project. Babar said he has been working on this cause for the past several years and has put together a programme wherein ‘Care for Pashmina Goat Campaign’, ‘Pashmina Fair Trade Expositions’ and ‘Pashmina Testing Service for Purity’ would come up. He told Ansari how erratic climatic condition in the Himalayas was killing pashmina goats threatening supply of silky cashmere wool used to make high-end scarves.— TNS
	‘Educate farmers about mFMS’ Tribune News Service Jammu, April 20 A meeting to review the implementation of Mobile Fertilizer Monitoring System (mFMS) was held at the Directorate of Agriculture. Director Agriculture, Jammu (Controller of Fertilizer, J&K), Dr S S Jamwal asked fertiliser companies to organise awareness programmes for wholesalers/ retailers to sensitise and educate them about mFMS. He directed the companies to give dealer-wise details of wholesale supplies periodically and show their active involvement to make this system effective. He said it would promote the off-take and timely availability of fertilisers to farmers. The companies were also asked to help wholesalers for provision of ID numbers to retailers under their jurisdiction. Earlier, Ashok Malhotra, Joint Director of Agriculture (Extension) while outlining various aspects of mFMS said the system would help in effective monitoring and tracking the supply of fertilisers to farmers. He said the main objective of the scheme was to provide subsidy directly to them. The meeting was also attended by CM Sharma, Deputy Director (Central) Deepak Kachroo, I/C Fertilizers, Pardeep Sharma and other officers of department were also present.
	Zeenat wins debate competition Jammu, April 20 Adarsh College of Education organised an inter-college debate competition on ‘Why govt teachers send their children to private schools, why not in their own schools’. Zeenat of Khalsa College of Education was adjudged the winner, while Mamta Vohra and Simranmeet Kaur of Adarsh College of Education were declared second and third, respectively. The college also released its newsletter ‘Adarsh Bulletin’. Desh Bandhu Gupta, Director, College Development Council, University of Jammu, was the chief guest while Mohammad Yousuf Malik, Assistant Commissioner (Revenue) presided over the function. — TNS
	Sonali, Rajesh win handwriting contest Jammu, April 20 Sonali Pandita and Rajesh Muduli of May Fair School, Janipur, brought laurels to the school by winning gold medals in National Handwriting Competition 2013. The competition was organised by Smart Write, a handwriting clinic. A total of 50 May Fair School students from Class I to VII took part in the contest. — TNS