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Academic activities take back seat at JU as campus turns into ‘battlefield’
Road crossings turn into ‘death zones’ in Jammu
KV students excel in CBSE Class XII exams
Despite RBI’s appeal, currency notes continue to adorn garlands
Modi-Sharif dialogue rekindles hope for peace among border residents
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Two hideouts busted in Doda, arms recovered
LoC traders hope Indo-Pak talks will boost trade
Omar to take up LoC trade with Modi
Guv: Ensure timely arrangement of facilities for Amarnath yatris
Governor NN Vohra reviews arrangements for the Amarnath yatra during a meeting at Baltal on
Wednesday. A Tribune photograph
Cong leaders lobbying for Legislative Council seat
India, Pak can't achieve peace by ignoring K-issue: Malik
Awareness camp held to check female foeticide
Dilapidated bridge in Handwara poses threat to residents
Burning of stubble polluting air
Kralpora shuts against poor condition of roads
Check influx of Illegal Myanmar immigrants into Jammu: VHP
9 yrs on, Wagoora school runs from rented space
Anti-Cong wave led to Azad’s defeat: Experts
Support pours in for chief of doctors’ association
Omar inaugurates power dept’s customer care centre
Chairperson of APDP to deliver lecture in London
Promoted teachers adjusted in govt schools
Students raise Rs 1.1 lakh for HelpAge India
Fencing tourney starts
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Academic activities take back seat at JU as campus turns into ‘battlefield’
Jammu, May 28
The varsity administration has been found in a dilemma while issuing the official orders these days as it, often, withdraws the orders issued the day before - allegedly due to interference of some scholars and students associated with various political groups. Interestingly, it, however, claimed that it was not working under any influence and the ongoing protests were just a “misinformation campaign” against the university. Furthermore, the alarming situation on the campus could also be gauged from the fact that students' protests have become a routine. Apart from sporadic scuffles between student groups, the Vice Chancellor Secretariat has been resonating with dharnas and sloganeering of protesters, who have been accusing the varsity administration of working under the influence of some “political workers” who are allegedly bent upon spoiling their future. For instance, there was a scuffle between two groups of students a few days ago near the main gate of the campus. The university had lodged an FIR against one of the groups having “outsiders”. A counter FIR was also registered at the Gandhi Nagar police station in this regard. Similarly, activists of various student organisations held a protest against the Vice Chancellor of Jammu University today and alleged that the “unholy nexus” of some “politically influential touts” and some university officials was playing with the career of students and scholar community for their vested interests. They attacked the Vice-Chancellor for allegedly denying admission to genuine candidates and making illegal appointments on the campus. “It is all being done to appease some politically associated scholars and workers employed on the campus,” they said. “We are feeling duped by the varsity administration and higher-ups in the system as they are making hollow promise with the student community. The Vice Chancellor is playing in the hands of some masterminds of unholy nexus who have lured him with getting him an extension in his term,” they alleged. However, Vice Chancellor of the university Prof Mohan Paul Singh Ishar categorically rebutted the allegations of students and scholars saying the varsity administration was not working under any influence. “I don’t have any political pressure. Neither any officer from the government, nor any politician has ever tried to put pressure on me. Some anti-varsity elements are trying to indulge in such misinformation campaign against us,” he said. Prof Ishar Singh said, “As far as the issue of admissions of some students is concerned, the university would follow the laid-down norms and procedures. If someone legally deserves the admission, how the varsity could deny it”. He said they were in a process of streamlining the admission process in the Buddhist Department and Department for Strategic and Regional Studies. “I assure that no injustice will be done to any one in the university,” he said.
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Road crossings turn into ‘death zones’ in Jammu
Jammu, May 28
Be at Gole Market, Asia crossing, Jewel Chowk or near the Green Belt Park crossing, most of the drivers feel quite afraid while passing through the areas as there is always possibility that some rashly driven vehicle could hit them. Further, majority of minibus drivers don’t follow the traffic lights, particularly at Janipur, Kachi Chawni and Indira Chowk, and drivers compete with one another to get passengers posing a threat to lives of pedestrians. “Crossings are really frustrating for me in the city whenever I have to drive from Gandhi Nagar to Parade. First at Green Belt Park, then at Asia crossing and Bikram Chowk, I always look two-three times before proceeding,” said Kanchan Sharma, a housewife. Thousands of people daily face risk to their lives by travelling in road monsters, called minibuses, and they are greater worry for the drivers of two-wheelers and cars. “You never know when the driver of a minibus will apply brakes and its always scary. I feel that there is need for some drastic change in the way traffic is being managed,” said Kapil Paul, a private sector employee. The playing of high-pitch music by the drivers, overcrowding and reckless driving have become a daily phenomenon,” said Dheeraj Gupta, a university student. The approved seating capacity of Tata 407 minibus is 17, while for Swaraj Mazada it is 21, but about 90 per cent minibuses are not strictly following the rules. The daily travel is not only frustrating, but a harrowing experience. The sudden stopping by Matadors on the busy roads has become a major cause of traffic jams and speeding by minibus drivers has already claimed several lives. The SSP (Traffic), Pawan Parihar, claimed that the department has already launched a drive against rashly driven minibuses, who flout rules. “We have adopted a strict policy against minibus drivers who violate the rules. There has been improvement over their functioning. However, road network is another issue that has to be solved by the government,” Parihar said. Despite several drives launched by the traffic police to streamline the traffic movement in the city, it seems that there is no one to rein in these monsters on wheels, travelling with total disregard for the rules.
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KV students excel in CBSE Class XII exams
Jammu, May 28 Principal of the school Rajesh Pandey expressed satisfaction over the result claiming that the institution had achieved best-ever result since its establishment in 1986. Six students have secured more than 90 per cent marks with Kishan Kumar Pandey and Akash securing 94.8 per cent marks. Prateek Koushal secured 93.2 per cent marks, while Akhil Pandey managed to secure 93 per cent. Suchita Sharma and Nidhi Bhat have secured 91 and 90 per cent marks, respectively. AS Gill, Assistant Commissioner, and AVLJ Rao, Deputy Commissioner, Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS), Jammu region, congratulated the principal of KV No 2 for the achievement of students.
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Despite RBI’s appeal, currency notes continue to adorn garlands
Jammu, May 28
It is nearly impossible to witness a marriage in which you do not see a bridegroom laden with garlands of currency notes. It is a display of economic status for the bridegroom and his family. As the wedding season is on, markets in Jammu are flooded with currency garlands. The garlands are being displayed openly. "It is the public demand and we are just fulfilling it. Not only the common masses, but also political parties buy them to garland their winning candidates or those who join the party fold. It's just like any other commodity we are selling. So what's wrong in it?" said a shopkeeper. "This culture of using currency garlands in weddings is just a unnecessary social obligation which has plagued our mindsets. It is only a way to display the social status," said Kiran Malhotra, a working women. "Instead of just a public appeal, the government should take strict action against people selling or buying such garlands," she said. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had earlier appealed to people of the country to stop using bank notes in garlands. The practice of making garlands with currency notes reduces the shelf life of notes. But there is hardly any response to such appeal.
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Modi-Sharif dialogue rekindles hope for peace among border residents
Suchetgarh (Indo-Pak Border), May 28 Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart, Nawaz Sharif, today held a meeting in New Delhi. “We are the victim of hostility between the two countries. It is our desire that the process of dialogue should be taken to its logical conclusion so that lasting peace is established in the region,” said Rashpal, a resident of Suchetgarh village. He added that people of the border areas had pinned their hopes on the beginning of a dialogue between the two countries. Border residents appreciated Prime Minister Narendra Modi for inviting Nawaz Sharif to his oath-taking ceremony. “It is really a good beginning. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken a very bold step,” said Shashi Pal, another Suchetgarh resident, situated near to the international border. He said the decision to invite Nawaz Sharif would set an agenda for peace in the region. Pointing towards bullet holes on the walls of houses in the village, Pal said firing from across the border was a routine affair before the announcement of the ceasefire on the borders in November 2003. He said after the ceasefire, the border residents, by and large, had been living peacefully but due to some incidents of ceasefire violation by Pakistan, there was no permanent peace. “We want complete peace on the borders and this can be achieved only by a comprehensive dialogue between India and Pakistan,” said Ravinder Kumar, who runs a shop in the village. Ravinder said it was the result of prevailing peace that farmers could go up to the Zero Line to cultivate their fields. ‘Victims of hostility’ "We are the victims of hostility between the two countries. It is our desire that the process of dialogue be taken to its logical conclusion so that lasting peace is established in the region" — Rashpal, a resident of Suchetgarh village
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Two hideouts busted in Doda, arms recovered
Doda, May 28
Acting on specific inputs about the presence of hideouts, a joint operation was launched by the Army and the police in Naglattan forest area of Gandho and huge recovery of arms and ammunition was made from the area. War-like stores, including one AK-56 rifle, 10 AK-56 magazines, 555 rounds of AK-56, one SLR, three SLR magazines, one Chinese pistol, two country-made rifles, two radio sets and one Chinese magazine, were recovered during the search, a Defence official said. Later in the day, security forces along with Jammu and Kashmir Police also busted a hideout in the Bhukunoh forest area in Gandho and recovered two country-made pistols, 30kg RDX (approx), 20 UBGL grenades, four Chinese grenades, two electronic detonators, 173 detonator caps, five radio sets (three ICOM and two Motorola), one binocular, one solar battery charger panel, two cassette players and a packet containing 500gm shrapnel. — OC
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LoC traders hope Indo-Pak talks will boost trade
Poonch, May 28 The cross-LoC trade between India and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir via the Poonch-Rawlakote and Uri-Muzaffarabad roads was started in 2008 as part of the confidence-building measures between the two countries. State president of the Cross LoC Traders Association Pawan Anand said the Narendra Modi-led NDA government would make a new beginning by adopting result-oriented policies. He said as both prime ministers met and discussed issues, this indicates their seriousness towards strengthening the bilateral trade and travel and the betterment of the people living in both parts of Kashmir. “At a recently held traders’ meet at Chakan da Bagh, Poonch, traders from both sides said there was a need to give a fillip to the trade as it could not survive on few items such as banana, red chilli and herbs. There is a need to review the list. “We hope that the new govt will issue a list of contraband items so that tradable items are increased,” Anand said. “We have submitted a list of items to the Ministry of Home Affairs on a consumption basis on both sides of the LoC,” he said. Anand said more than 160 traders were engaged in the cross-LoC from this side while over 165 traders from across the border were engaged in the trade. He said if both countries agreed to revise the list of items, it would give impetus to the trade.
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Omar to take up LoC trade with Modi
Srinagar, May 28 During a meeting with a deputation of the Jammu and Kashmir Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JKJCCI) here, Omar said he would take up issues related to the cross-LoC trade with the new Prime Minister so that the important confidence-building measure (CBM) could be further strengthened. The Chief Minister said the state government had already made Centre aware of the difficulties of traders. “I will once again take up this and other issues with the Union Government,” he told the JKJCCI deputation led by its president Y V Sharma. In its memorandum, the JKJCCI delegation highlighted the demand for revision of list of tradable items.
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Guv: Ensure timely arrangement of facilities for Amarnath yatris
Srinagar, May 28 The yatra will commence from June 28. The Governor, also the chairman of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, gave the directions after inspecting the status of arrangements for the yatra at Baltal and the access control gate at Domel. Earlier, the Governor conducted an aerial reconnaissance of the Baltal route. He was accompanied by Rakesh Kumar Gupta, Chief Executive Officer of the Shrine Board. At a meeting with the Ganderbal district administration, the status of snow clearance on the Baltal route and the repair and upgrade of the entire Baltal track were reviewed. The Roads and Buildings Department informed the Governor that the first 7 km of the track from Baltal had been cleared till today. The Governor discussed department-wise the yatra facilities and particularly reviewed the power and water supply and medical facilities in the yatra area. He directed the Labour and Animal Husbandry Departments to ensure timely and proper registration of ponies, ponywallas, dandiwallas and palkiwallas to ensure against unauthorised persons crowding narrow tracks. Arrangements regarding the provision of safety measures at the Baltal camp, particularly fire and emergency services and setting up of a joint control room, were discussed with the Fire Services Department and the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir. The Board chairman reviewed steps being taken by the Sonamarg Development Authority for collection and disposal of waste generated during the yatra. Arrangements for sanitation and cleanliness of areas within and outside the Baltal base camp were also discussed. After his visit to Domel and Baltal, the Governor visited Neelgrath to inspect facilities being created for helicopter services for the yatra. He was told that the required facilities would be put in place by June 20 for the convenience of the yatris. The review meeting was attended by AG Mir, IGP, Kashmir, Sarmad Hafeez, Deputy Commissioner, Ganderbal, Maj Gen ST Upasani, General Officer Commanding, Victor Force, Farooq Jeelani, Conservator of Forests, Ganderbal, Shahid Mehraj, Senior Superintendent of Police, Ganderbal, PP Singh, Additional Chief Executive Officer (CEO), SASB, Farooq Ahmad, CEO, Sonamarg Development Authority, Ajaz Ahmad, IAS, Javed Koul, Superintendent of Police, Traffic (Rural), MR Gasi, Additional District Development Commissioner, Ganderbal RK Bhat, Assitant Deputy Commissioner, Ganderbal, NA Wani, ACR, Ganderbal, Mehmooda Kar, Chief Medical Officer, Ganderbal, RK Pandita, General Manager (Works), SASB, and Arif Mohammad Imran, Assistant Labour Commissioner, Ganderbal.
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Cong leaders lobbying for Legislative Council seat
Jammu, May 28 Gupta, who belongs to Kathua district of the Jammu province, completed his term on April 1. Over half a dozen leaders are staking claim to the seat allotted to the Congress as per the seat sharing agreement with the coalition partner National Conference. Sources said former Lok Sabha member Chowdhary Lal Singh, who was promised to accommodate in the Legislative Council, has been mounting pressure on the high command to fulfil the commitment. Singh, a two time Lok Sabha member from the Udhampur-Doda segment, was denied ticket of the parliamentary elections with the promise that he would be accommodated as a Member of Legislative Council after the polls, a source said. However, as Lal Singh remained inactive in the Lok Sabha elections, a number of leaders are strongly opposing his candidature, the source said. Enraged over the denial of ticket, Lal Singh had withdrawn himself from campaigning for the Udhampur-Doda seat. Former Union Health Minister and Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad lost the Udhampur seat to BJP’s Jitendra Singh. As he remained inactive in the Lok Sabha elections, supporters of Azad and some other leaders are firmly opposed to Lal Singh’s candidature for the Legislative Council seat. Sources said Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) chief Saifuddin Soz has proposed the name of Kashmir-based leader for the seat. Soz is working assiduously to ensure that his loyalist would be accommodated on this seat, a source said. Former Member of Legislative Assembly from Bani, Prem Sagar Aziz is also staking his claim on the seat. Azad, meanwhile, has yet to open his cards as he has maintained a silence after the Lok Sabha elections. A number of Azad loyalists, including outgoing Legislative Council Member Subash Gupta, are projecting themselves as deserving candidates. Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Council consists of 36 members.
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India, Pak can't achieve peace by ignoring K-issue: Malik
Srinagar, May 28 “All roads to trade and friendship, development and construction, stability, peace and prosperity go through Kashmir; ignoring this issue or putting it on the back burner and thinking of fulfilling these goals is futile,” Malik said in a statement. Malik made this comment on the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, held in New Delhi yesterday. The JKLF chairman said if Modi chooses to follow the “dangerous agenda” of enacting a common civil code, construction of the Ram Temple and merger of Jammu Kashmir with the Indian Union, “it will ignite the whole subcontinent (and) prove disastrous”. “If he refrains from the said agenda and follows the path of peace, he may well establish his statesmanship … (however) recent developments clearly show that Modi Sahib has chosen the path of the RSS agenda and instead of promoting peace, (he) has started following and practising the radical agenda,” Malik said. “Whatever has come out of the recent summit between Nawaz Sharif and Modi ji proves this very fact,” he said. Malik said if India and Pakistan intend to enhance trade relations, they would not be able to achieve this goal by keeping “millions of Kashmiris hostage”. “They cannot achieve this goal by pushing a nation to the wall,” he said.
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Awareness camp held to check female foeticide
Udhampur, May 28 District Development Commissioner (DDC), Udhampur, Yasha Mudgal was the chief guest. The DDC said the awareness camp was aimed at increasing the sex ratio in the district and preventing pre-birth elimination of the girl child. She said besides safeguarding the rights of the women, the Act also provided information and awareness programmes. The low sex ratio is due to the prevailing dowry system and the paternalistic mindset of society, she said. The official said the world was incomplete without women, but instances of girls being killed in the womb were raising manifold and women needed to come forward to stop the killings to ensure a balanced society. She called upon the people to educate themselves and help in preventing criminal acts. Social activist Swatanter Dev Kotwal and advocate Sanjeet Kumar, spoke about the Act. They said the country had witnessed advancements in all fields but bias against the girl child was prevailing and the social evil was deep-rooted in the Indian ethos. They said innovative and high-end technologies were brutally killing the girl child. — OC
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Dilapidated bridge in Handwara poses threat to residents
Handwara, May 28 The villagers said they were facing serious danger as the decaying bridge could collapse any moment. The bridge connects Mawar, Lahikoot and Monabal villages with Handwara town and people have no choice but to cross the bridge to the other side of the stream. “The old-bridge has become unsafe. People, including schoolchildren, have no option but to cross the bridge to reach the other side. We had put additional support under the decaying bridge for the past many years, but it is now too old to withstand any support and can come down any time,” said Tahir Majeed, a lawyer. Mohammad Abdullah, a local resident, said a concrete and motorable bridge should be erected on the stream so that people don’t suffer inconvenience. “People here are living in threat. Every time you cross the bridge you are worried about your safety. The life of children is particularly at stake because of this bridge,” Abdullah said. The locals said in 2001, two children drowned after falling from the bridge. The villagers said they visited the office of the Deputy Commissioner, Kupwara, many times with the request to construct a concrete bridge over the stream, but all their pleas fell on deaf ears. “We appeal the minister concerned to pay a visit to the village and see for himself the problems being faced by the people,” said Abdul Ahad Zargar of Monabal village. He said if the government didn’t address their grievances at the earliest they would be forced to launch an agitation against the administration. “If our problems are not addressed at the earliest we will be left with no choice but to protest,” Zargar said. He said the problem gets compounded at the time of emergency “It is really difficult when you have to rush any injured or ill to the hospital on the other side of the river,” Zargar added.
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Burning of stubble polluting air
Jammu, May 28 Officials say the use of combine harvesting technology, which has become common in rice and wheat growing areas of the country, including J&K, has become a major reason for farmers resorting to burning large quantities of straw left behind by modern machines. The authorities concerned have persuaded people to abandon the practice, but it is going on unabated in the state, particularly in border areas of Jammu region, a major wheat and rice growing area. Agriculture constitutes an important sector of the state economy as around 70% of the population of J&K derives its income directly or indirectly from this sector and it is one of the sectors that has a major impact on the environment. Agriculture absorbs 49% of the total working force of the state with 42% as cultivators and 7% as agriculture labourers depending directly on agriculture for their livelihood. "It's harmful to burn stubble in fields and neighbouring states Punjab and Haryana have banned it. The problem in J&K is that the administration here has not taken the issue seriously and people are freely burning the straw to prepare the fields for new crops," said Tejinder Singh, a farm leader from RS Pura. He claimed that another worry for the farmers was power distribution lines that usually pass through fields and at times lead to fires. According to the data gathered by the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB), Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM) and Respiratory Suspended Particulate Matter (RSPM) has witnessed a steep rise in the past two decades, crossing the limits suggested as safe by health experts. Pollution Control Board (PCB) chairman Arun Tikko, however, claimed that they had been spreading awareness among the farmers on issues related to environmental protection . "I think that the problem is more in other states as wheat and rice cultivation is going on at large scale. In J&K, only a few farmers have been using harvesting machines," Tikku said.
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Kralpora shuts against poor condition of roads
Kupwara May 28 Later in afternoon, traders and locals held a protest and blocked the Kralpora-Tanghdar road They demanded black-topping of roads at the earliest. “The authorities have ignored roads in the town, making us to suffer. Dust emanating from the dilapidated roads has led to breathing problem among people, especially school children, in the town. If the road was not macadamised, we will be forced to intensify the protest,” said Altaf Ahmad Wani, a trader. — OC
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Check influx of Illegal Myanmar immigrants into Jammu: VHP
Jammu, May 28 Addressing mediapersons here, the state VHP patron Ramakant Dubey drew the attention of the Centre to the “unprecedented inflow” of Bangladeshis and people from Myanmar into the state in a “most systematic” and “planned manner”. He urged the Centre to take reconciliatory measures on war-footing to reverse the disturbing trend. Illegal Myanmar immigrants are settling down in clusters in the winter capital here and they seldom go to Kashmir. An Intelligence source said these illegal immigrants from Myanmar do not go to Kashmir and were settling down in and around Jammu. “In this context we have been sending our reports to the Union Home Ministry at regular intervals,” the source said. The Jammu and Kashmir Police have put the number of illegal immigrants in the city at 2,500, but going by the claims of the immigrants their number is well over 16,000. “Since most of our brethren are living in Jammu, we decided to settle down here,” said 45-year-old Syed Hussain, an illegal immigrant from Myanmar. Hussain is living in a shanty in Bhatindi area in the outskirts of the city along with his wife and seven children. Syed Hussain, 50, who puts up at Narwal along with his wife and five children, said: “We don’t go to Kashmir. We feel comfortable in Jammu. We get almost everything of our daily requirements here in zakat (charity) and some NGOs also help us.” “People from our country work here as labourers, scrap dealers and domestic aids,” he said. Shamsuddin, another illegal immigrant, said: “The weather in Jammu suits us and moreover in the heterogeneous society of Jammu we amalgamate easily than in Kashmir.”
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9 yrs on, Wagoora school runs from rented space
Baramulla, May 28
The school, which was established in 2005 under the flagship scheme Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), lacks proper accommodation and other facilities, putting students and teachers to inconvenience. “The infrastructure of the school is so ailing that the students are forced either to sit in the open or in the two dark rooms,” said Khurhid Ahmad, a local. The schools is pathetic condition and doesn’t even have a toilet, the locals alleged. The school is operating from two dilapidated rented rooms, in which 35 students, from kindergarten to class V, hurdled together. Besides, essentials like mid-day meals are also stored in the same accommodation. Not only this, the same room is being used as staff room, local alleged. They added that the work on the building “Three buildings were sanctioned for the school. Among these, one was shifted to some other school while another one is housing the Zonal Education Office. The third one is incomplete for the last two years. At least 75 per cent of money meant for the construction of this building has already been withdrawn,” said Mohd Ashraf, a teacher posted in the school. Locals said they brought the matter to the notice of the authorities but nothing substantial was done. Chief Education Officer, Baramulla, Syed Abdul Rouf while talking to The Tribune admitted that work on the school building was left midway. “The total outlay of the school building was Rs 4.60 lakh. It was later revised by the government. Beside, minimum release of funds hampered the construction work,” Rouf said. “But I have send a fresh proposal to the higher-ups and as soon as it gets the nod the construction will be completed,” he said.
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Anti-Cong wave led to Azad’s defeat: Experts
Jammu, May 27 Earlier, Azad had lost Assembly election from his native Doda district in 1977. However, he became the first Chief Minister of the state, who belongs to the Jammu region in November 2005, but again in 2008, during the Amarnath land row, the coalition partner People Democratic Party ditched him by withdrawing support. Prof Hari Om, a noted political analyst, said, “Though the state has given a lot to Azad, as he became the Chief Minister and was also elected in the 2006 bypoll and 2008 Assembly elections from Bhaderwah, it is true that he failed in his own state.” Rekha Chowdhary, former HoD, political science, Jammu University, said, “Azad’s defeat was just because of the wave against the Congress in the country as well as Jammu and Kashmir.” Azad’s role in other states and in the Congress was far better than J&K as he delivered victories in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. Azad's forte is his organisational skills, having been the AICC general secretary for a record nine times and member of the Congress Working Committee for 18 years. After being elected to the 7th Lok Sabha from Maharashtra's Washim Lok Sabha segment in 1980, Azad became the Deputy Minister in charge of Law, Justice and Company Affairs in 1982. He was elected to the 8th Lok Sabha in 1984 and became a Rajya Sabha member in 1990. |
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Support pours in for chief of doctors’ association
Srinagar, May 28 Dr Nissar-ul-Hassan was suspended on Monday following his statement against the J&K Police, in which he had rued the presence of police personnel inside the hospitals in Kashmir. Soon after this statement, Nissar was arrested by the police and released only after securing bail from the court. “The Jama’at-e-Islami condemns the unjustified, undemocratic and whimsical suspension of Dr Hassan. He was first arrested on baseless charges and then suspended from the service, which is blatant injustice,” Jamaat spokesperson said in a statement here, while demanding immediate revocation of this “imperialistic” order. “His only fault was that he raised voice against spurious drug scam, protested against highhandedness and harassment of patients admitted in hospitals by the police and forces,” the Jamaat pokesperson said. “This is not only the democratic right of every citizen, but is also the legal duty of any person holding higher position in any organisation,” Jamaat said in the statement, adding, “Whosoever raises his voice on these issues in Kashmir is dubbed as anti-national and implicated in baseless and frivolous cases to suppress his voice forever.” Condemning the government’s decision to suspend doctors’ body chief Dr Nissar-ul-Hassan, the Kashmir High Court Bar Association said, “The action amounts to victimisation and muzzling the voices concerning public issues. The order of suspension of Dr Hassan is not only against public interest and patient care, but is also an act of victimisation to muzzle the doctor from raising issues concerning the public.” The Kashmir Bar Association alleged that the doctor, who is working as an assistant professor in medicine at Shri Maharaja Hari Singh (SMHS) Hospital, Srinagar, was placed under suspension by the government at the behest of the principal of Government Medical College, Srinagar, who had intimated the government through a letter dated May 21, 2014, about the matter. Doctors threaten indefinite strike The protesting doctors and paramedics in tertiary care and peripheral hospitals of the Kashmir valley on Wednesday wore black badges in response to the call given by the Doctors’ Association Kashmir, spokesperson for the association said in a statement here. He said the call to wear black badges was given in protest against the “unjustified” suspension of the DAK president. The spokesperson warned that if suspension order of Dr Hassan was not revoked by Thursday, the doctors and paramedics in the Valley hospitals would go on an indefinite strike.
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Omar inaugurates power dept’s customer care centre
Srinagar, May 28 “The centre has been built under Restructured Accelerated Power Development Reforms Programme (R-APDRP) and aims to tone up the power supply system in the two capital cities and other towns of the state,” an official spokesman said. The centre will provide services to all customers to ascertain details of their bills and payments. The customers can also obtain duplicate bills, inquire about the cause of power shutdown, repairs to transformers, registration of new connections and also seek details about the supply and distribution of power in their areas. The centre will also be available to the public to lodge complaints related to power supply and redress grievances. “The special drive launched by the government to ensure substantial increase in power generation in the state by approving mega, small and micro hydel projects in the state sector, IPP and PPP mode will yield fruit in next few years,” he said after inaugurating the centre. Omar said the enhanced power generation in the state would benefit not only the domestic and industrial consumers, but also transform Jammu and Kashmir from power deficit area to energy surplus state. Omar termed the inauguration of the centre as a “landmark achievement” of the programme under implementation in the state under Re-structured Accelerated Power Development Reforms Programme (R-APDRP) to tone up the power supply system in two cities and 28 towns of the state. The programme would facilitate 2,56,679 consumers in Kashmir division and 2,37,002 in Jammu division, the spokesman said. The chief minister directed the Power Development Department to involve “Khidmat Centres” in the programme so that people other than the Internet users could take advantage of the centre, the spokesman said. The centre is located at Bemina here and has been executed by the JKPCC at a cost of Rs 8.5 crore. The main building houses centralised consumer care and state-wide 24X7 help desk and server frame with 54 services for customer care. Minister of State for Power Vikar Rasool, Batmaloo MLA Irfan Ahmad Shah, Commissioner Secretary of the Power Development Department AK Mehta, various chief engineers of the Power Development Department, district development commissioner, Srinagar, and other senior officers were present at the function.
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Chairperson of APDP to deliver lecture in London
Srinagar, May 28 The daylong conference has been organised by the Department of Politics and International Relations (DPIR), University of Westminster, and the Institute of Advanced Study, the Department of Sociology and the Connecting Cultures as well as the International Development Global Research Priorities Networks, at University of Warwick. Ahangar will rub shoulders with Ananya Jahanara Kabir, professor of English literature at the Department of English, King’s College London, Andrew Whitehead, Editor of BBC World Service News, Dibyesh Anand, head of the Department of International Relations, University of Westminster, and Kashmir-born London-based novelists Mirza Waheed and Nitasha Kaul, who are the co-speakers at the event. The event aims to focus on the sufferings of people of Kashmir and not just view Kashmir as a problem between India and Pakistan. “This conference seeks to make sense of the contested presents of Kashmiris as a people and of the possible futures that put them and not the nation-states of India and Pakistan as the primary actors to be acknowledged and respected,” the event’s online page read. Ahangar co-founded the APDP in 1994.
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Promoted teachers adjusted in govt schools
Srinagar, May 28 “As many as 480 master grade teachers have been adjusted in various schools of the Kashmir province on the available vacancies who were promoted sometime ago. This step will help strengthen the school education system on the academic front,” a DSEK official handout read. Meanwhile, Director, School Education, Kashmir, Mir Tariq Ali leading a team of officers today conducted inspection at schools and subordinate offices of Srinagar, Budgam and Baramulla districts. He also inspected Higher Secondary School, Gund Hassi Bhat, Boys High School, Narabal, Zonal Education Office, Magam, and Zonal Education Office, Kunzer. The Director School Education, Kashmir, ordered action under rules against the absentee employees and other management deficiencies in the offices.
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Students raise Rs 1.1 lakh for HelpAge India
Jammu, May 28 Breaking its own previous record of collection of Rs 70,000, this time, the students of Jesus Cares Convent School have done a wonderful job in the social service and collected a handsome amount as a fund for HelpAge India, an international-level organisation working for the welfare of senior citizens. The amount was handed over to the HelpAge India by Principal Renu Anthony. The students have mobilised their resources and collected the amount to help the elderly people. Appreciating efforts of school students, senior executive, HelpAge India, Neeru Deepak Khajuria said this was a big contribution by the students and staff for the welfare of the elderly.
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Jammu, May 28 The champonahip is being organised by the Jammu District Fencing Association in callaboration with the J&K State Sports Council wherein 200 fencers, including boys and girls, of different schools are participating in different age groups. The championship was declered open by MJ Sharma, president, J&K Amatuer Fencing Association, and Baljit Singh, Principal of the school. Rashid Ahmed, member of the J&K State Sports Council, was also present. — TNS
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Cross-LoC traders have expressed the hope that the talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistan counterpart Nawaz Sharif will boost the trade.
The cross-LoC trade between India and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir via the Poonch-Rawlakote and
Uri-Muzaffarabad roads was started in 2008 as part of the confidence-building measures between the two countries.
Governor NN Vohra today gave instructions to the authorities to put in place all arrangements well in time for the comfortable pilgrimage of those who visit the Amarnath shrine this year.
Burning of crop residue post harvest in the fields by farmers in the state has become a major source of air pollution and cause behind field fires.
Officials say the use of combine harvesting technology, which has become common in rice and wheat growing areas of the country, including J&K, has become a major reason for farmers resorting to burning large quantities of straw left behind by modern machines.
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Tuesday urged the BJP-led NDA government to stop the “unprecedented influx” of illegal immigrants from Myanmar and Bangladesh to Jammu and Kashmir.
Addressing mediapersons here, the state VHP patron Ramakant Dubey drew the attention of the Centre to the “unprecedented inflow” of Bangladeshis and people from Myanmar into the state in a “most systematic” and “planned manner”.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah inaugurated the state Power Development Department’s data and 24X7 customer care centre here today.
“The centre has been built under Restructured Accelerated Power Development Reforms Programme
(R-APDRP) and aims to tone up the power supply system in the two capital cities and other towns of the state,” an official spokesman said.
