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After the break-up, the question arises: Will coalition government survive?
Doctors’ body resents use of expired tear gas
shells
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Magisterial probe ordered into teenager’s killing
Govt jobs under quota fail to enthuse sportspersons
On the frontline
‘We never saw such intense shelling, not even before 2003 ceasefire agreement’
Pakistani firing more dangerous than Chinese threat: Omar
Basmati cultivation takes another blow
De-silting at filtration plant affects water supply in city
Appointment of SHRC
members
Shoppers throng Valley markets ahead of
Eid
BJP hits out at J&K Govt over ‘graft, failure to utilise’ Central funds
Meet to discuss demands of PHE employees
Public transport goes off roads during dusk
Traders seek early resolution of K-issue
School holds orientation programme
IGP directs policemen not to resort to firing
Army man killed in accidental LoC blast
Lawyer Sunil Sethi joins BJP
Volkswagen launches new Polo car in Jammu
Need to adopt merit-based selection stressed at JKCA meeting Gandhi to organise solo art show in Chandigarh
2-day Islamic Art Festival concludes
Army organises 15-day tour for students
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After the break-up, the question arises: Will coalition government survive?
Jammu, July 20 The wheels of state politics have moved fast and now, when they are parting ways, it appears that it is a game they are playing as they have parted ways ahead of the elections, but are still in the government. An inevitable question that is being asked in political circles in Jammu and Kashmir is: if the two parties have decided to part ways and contest Assembly elections separately,
what will be the fate of the government? Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who is bitter over the “unilateral announcement of the break-up of alliance by the Congress”, however, asserted: “The NC and the Congress will continue to remain in the government till the end
of the term.” Congress ministers, too, have decided to stay in the government. They did not summon the courage in the past when NC ministers blocked their agenda, particularly in case of settlement of refugees and the development share for Jammu region, the bastion of the Congress. Now, it is too late for them in the day. While the scenario of parties falling apart surfaced a number of times – during the 2010 unrest in the Kashmir valley when questions over the style of governance of Omar were raised and governance deficit became its mantra or when the Congress pressed for rotational chief ministership in the run-up to the completion of Omar’s three years in office in January 2012 – the party had to succumb to directions of the high command. The flashpoint came during and after the parliamentary elections, when the two parties went to the polls as pre-poll allies. The Congress suffered a stunning defeat in Jammu and Ladakh and the NC in the Kashmir valley. There was a display of combination of Narendra Modi wave in Jammu and anger against the government that undid the Congress in Jammu. The NC lost because of the anger of not only the people but also its own cadres. It was realised that while the NC did not transfer its votes in Jammu to the Congress, the NC met the same treatment by the Congress in Kashmir. Both parties realised that the days of the alliance were over and it was just a matter of time. The clock struck that hour on Sunday when the Congress declared that there would be no pre-poll alliance with the NC. and Omar responded, “We had decided it long ago and conveyed it to Sonia Gandhi 10 days ago.” Effectively, it opens a channel for the Congress to have a post-poll alliance with the PDP, which surprised even its own workers by winning all three seats in the Valley. The PDP, as the buzz goes, will win more seats than other parties if the arithmetic of the parliamentary elections is applied in the Assembly poll. With leaders of the two parties having met in New Delhi and Srinagar in the last one month, it seems quite likely that the two may come together again – the two were allies from 2002 to 2008. But, that will become a reality only if the Congress, too, gets the numbers in the elections. As of now, the BJP is angling for 44 plus – a majority in the House of 87. It is eyeing most of the seats from the Jammu region, where it won both parliamentary seats. With the NC and the PDP fielding their candidates and the Congress having failed to work any miracle for Jammu, coupled with the low morale of party workers, it is not in a
happy situation. I see it as a Cong decision: Mehbooba
PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, reacting to the NC and Congress alliance coming apart, said: “It is interesting that they are parting ways ahead of the Assembly elections, but are still partners in the government. The NC and the Congress had been allies in the past (1980s) and their performance was as bad as it was this time.” “The primary responsibility lies with the leading party (NC). I see it as a Congress decision rather than that of the NC. The NC was saying all through that its president Farooq Abdullah would take a decision. Actually, they were waiting,” Mehbooba added. People will never forgive NC, Cong: BJP
State BJP president Jugal Kishore Sharma maintained that it was a “purely internal matter of both the parties”. He, however, said the people of J&K would never forgive the National Conference and the Congress for delivering “worst ever corruption and inept governance” during the last nearly six years. “By snapping relation with the NC, the Congress is trying to befool the people,” Jugal observed. “Gone are the days when the Congress used to hoodwink the people by such tactics,” he added. |
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Doctors’ body resents use of expired tear gas
shells
Srinagar, July 20 In fact, the High Court is already hearing a review petition by the Hurriyat Conference and the Kashmir Bar Association, wherein they have sought review of a previous court verdict which refused to ban the use of pepper gas and pellets guns on protesters in Jammu and Kashmir. These organisations are seeking a ban on the use of pepper gas and pellet guns in the state, especially in Kashmir, where many people were affected by pepper gas. Besides, many youths have lost their eyesight after being hit by the pellets fired from the pellet guns by the government forces. “It is shocking that the police on Wednesday used expired tear gas shells on protesters at Umarabad in Srinagar, who were remonstrating against the reckless driving by an Army vehicle that killed seven civilians,” DAK President Nissar-ul-Hassan alleged in a statement. “The use of expired tear gas canisters is inhumane and crime against humanity. The manufacturing label of a canister recovered from the site of the protest showed that it had expired in 2012,” Dr Nissar said. Explaining the health hazards of tear gas, the DAK president said, “Tear gas turns toxic on expiry which has dangerous health effects.” The doctors’ body in Kashmir said the tear gas could cause permanent blindness, chemical burns, miscarriages, fatal exacerbation of asthmatics, seizures and even death if canisters hit the person directly. “Long term health related complications of expired tear gas shells need to be seen,” it added. Outdated pyrotechnic items that include tear gas are considered hazardous waste as per the Resources Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 and disposal of these items must be done in accordance with Environmental Protection Agency waste management regulations. “All commercial gas munitions which include tear gas after the expiry date are no longer guaranteed to function as designated,” the DAK said. “Using outdated munitions are prohibited under law and open a liability on the operator. Besides, the use of tear gas in war is prohibited under Chemical Weapons Convention,” the DAK said while appealing to the High Court to take suo motto cognisance of this “grave matter” as expired tear gas is toxic and endangers human life.
Tear smoke shells: Facts
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Magisterial probe ordered into teenager’s killing
Anantnag, July 20 Talking to mediapersons, Kulgam Deputy Commissioner Nisar Hussain Wani said an
inquiry had been ordered to ascertain facts about the killing. “The Assistant Deputy Commissioner has been made the inquiry officer into the incident. He will submit his findings within 15 days,” Wani said, adding that establishing facts within the time limit would be the priority. Fourteen-year-old Suhail Ahmad Lone was injured on Saturday afternoon when a police party
fired at him. He was shot at in the chest and succumbed to his injuries at the District Hospital
in Anantnag. CRPF spokesperson Kishore Prasad said paramilitary personnel did not open fire on Saturday. “I have inputs from the ground that none of our personnel opened fire in Qaimoh,” he said. A complete shutdown was observed in Anantnag and Kulgam districts on Sunday following the shutdown call by hardline Hurriyat chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani. All commercial establishments in the twin districts remained closed. Clashes broke out in many places, particularly in
the Qaimoh area, where the teenager was killed on Saturday. At least six persons, including two CRPF personnel, were injured in clashes in the Qaimoh area on Sunday. The injured, who were taken to various hospitals, were in a stable condition. Clashes broke out at many places in the old town area in Anantnag. Police and CRPF personnel were deployed in huge numbers. |
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Govt jobs under quota fail to enthuse sportspersons
Jammu, July 20 Sources in the autonomous sports body have claimed that the crucial meeting will be held under the chairmanship of the Sports Minister, who is the vice-president of the state sports council, the date of which is yet to be finalised. “One of the major issues to be taken up at the meeting is regarding the promotion policy for outstanding sportspersons who have represented J&K in international level competitions, both in India and abroad,” one of the members of the standing committee told The Tribune. “In fact, the Centre government in 2011 in its Cabinet decision had announced to give promotions to international sportspersons in a time-bound manner which is right now applicable in other states, except our state. We will urge the minister at the meeting to make necessary amendments in the SRO-349 so that the stagnation that the sportspersons are facing due to lack of promotion avenues will come to an end,” he maintained. “Another important issue which is to be discussed in the meeting is increasing quota of number of job vacancies from the existing 25 to around 50 so that more players will be adjusted in various departments of the state government,” the member added. “Unfortunately, there is no cash award for sportspersons who win medals in international championships abroad, whereas states like Punjab announces cash award for the medal winner even before he/she returns to the state. There should be certain criteria to be fixed by the state government to give cash award to medallist, whether he won at national or international level,” another standing committee member said. “For example, the state government can announce cash prize of Rs 7 lakh for gold medallist at an international competition, while Rs 5 lakh and 3 lakh for silver and bronze medallists. Similarly, in national competitions, the government can make a provision to facilitate gold medal winner by giving a cash prize of Rs 3 lakh, Rs 2 lakh for silver medallist and Rs 1 lakh for bronze medallist,” he added. Sources said discussion on setting up of athletics track, providing modern equipment to the players in their respective disciplines, strengthening of sports infrastructure, regular coaching camps, refreshment to players during camps and other important issues are also likely to be taken up during the meeting. |
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Protests in Valley: Let the repeat of history be
halted
Arun Joshi Anybody with the slightest knowledge of history of protests in Kashmir could have easily foreseen the shape the anti-Israeli protests against the killing of Palestinians in Gaza would take. A known fact about protests in the Valley is that these have a tendency to swell and turn violent, provoking retaliation from the law-enforcing agencies. And, as it happened a teenager, Suhail Ahmad Lone of south Kashmir district of Kulgam, died on Saturday. Questions and doubts as to whether or not he was part of the protests are not going to bring him back to life. He has been buried and buried forever. The police claim that they have filed an FIR and would investigate the case is ludicrous, to say the least. Didn’t the people of Kashmir read the same set of bulletins in 2010, the year which has left festering wounds in the lives of many? The question is what happened to the past investigations, and the answer is “nothing”. The inquiries are on even four years after the unrest, which convulsed the whole of Kashmir. The tragedy cannot be fathomed by those who give a call for the unending cycle of protests. These leaders of Kashmir, aware of the fact that the people in the Valley take to the streets on emotive issues, give calls for shutdowns and protests on any issue — whether it concerns their land or the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in West Asia. They exploit the protests, and the others regret the killings without attempting to put an end to the same. To put it frankly, there is a great deal of politics involved in all this. Kashmir is lost in its own conflict since 1990 onwards. For almost two decades, Kashmiris have seen destruction and blood in their own land wreaked by armed militancy and the counter- militancy operations. At the same time the fact is that in the 1960s and ’70s, Kashmiris would protest against any assault on the Palestinians because they thought that it was their fundamental duty to protest for their co-religionists in Palestine. History has a harsh tendency to repeat itself. In the continuing conflict between Israeli forces and the armed wing of Hamas — Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades — the two sides have been inflicting casualties on each other. The ground for the latest conflict was laid when the Israelis saw the bodies of three of their missing teenagers. An outcry followed and the retaliation has left more than 320 Palestinians of all age groups, including children, dead. Initially, Kashmir protests were small in nature, but later they assumed the shape that was rooted in the history of the 1960s and ’70s. When the protests started this time early July, the state government took the most convenient but plausible step of sending school and college students on summer vacation to save the situation from getting out of control and prevent the repeat of the street protests and killings of 2010. But that didn’t happen. Suhail Lone lost his life. To date, Kashmir has not come out of the shadow of the year 2010, when the killing of a teenager Tufail Matoo in a tear gas shell led to an endless series of violent protests across the Valley and left more than 120 youth, including girls, killed. The killing of Suhail has the potential of becoming a dangerous phenomenon. Now, protests will start against the killing. The protests against the Israeli aggression have taken a new turn now. The killed one is a Kashmiri. It is for the government to see how the situation has to be tackled. It should ensure that history is not repeated.
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‘We never saw such intense shelling, not even before 2003 ceasefire agreement’
RS Pura/Arnia, July 20 People recalled the horrifying pre-2003 period when there existed no truce deal between the two neighbouring countries and flying bullets and mortars were the order of the day. “Like us, several other villagers remained in their houses hearing around 40 mortar explosions overnight,” Yashpal Singh said. “We never saw such an intense shelling, not even before the 2003 ceasefire agreement,” he recalled. Pakistani Rangers on Sunday fired with impunity 81 mm mortars, a battalion level weapon that has a range of 4-5 km and has a capability of causing widespread damage after hitting the target. Octogenarian Hashim Din of Jeora Farm, a small hamlet of 80 Gujjar families that lies close to the Zero Line, said: “Around 2 am Pakistan started firing and around 3.30 am when the entire hamlet was getting ready for sehri (early morning meals) in this pious month of Ramzan, mortars started exploding around us.” “Had any of the mortars landed on our kutcha houses, it could have wreaked havoc,” feared Hashim Dev. “We could not take sehri properly because of a deceitful neighbour. Our children and womenfolk kept praying throughout the night,” said Noor Ali. Jagdish Raj of Gharani Village, one kilometre from the border, said: “Amidst firing a mortar landed on the roof of my house around 2 am and exploded with a bang. It pierced the roof, but luckily the ceiling didn’t cave in.” Surinder Choudhary of Gharana village, half a kilometre from the border, said: “Around 1.30 am one of the mortars exploded in the village killing two of my cows and injuring another.” “Uncertainty looms large over the lives of hundreds of villagers living close to the border in the wake of Pakistani shelling,” said octogenarian Devinder Singh. “We don’t know when they (Pak Rangers) would start firing mortars at us, a weapon which they usually avoided firing at the villages in the past,” he said.
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Pakistani firing more dangerous than Chinese threat: Omar
Jammu, July 20 Talking to mediapersons on the sidelines of a function, Omar said, “China does not irritate us much; Pakistan does through firing on the border. This has become problematic as it is leading to loss of lives, cattle and property.” The Chief Minister was reacting to the recent firing on the international border, in which a BSF man was killed and a few others injured. The shelling from the Pakistani side had increased the woes of people living in the area, who were not able to go to the Zero Line for agricultural purposes. Maintaining that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should tell Pakistan to stop firing, Omar said, “Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif have developed good relations and are communicating through Twitter. I think it should be made clear to Pakistan that we want cordial relations with them and ceasefire violations will not do any good to the cause.” Omar categorically said Modi should talk tough to Pakistan as ceasefire violations were annoying the people. Replying to a question whether bad days were back for border residents, Omar said, “It is a difficult time for them as they are facing a loss of life, property and cattle. They know how much they are suffering.” Opposing the stand of the Congress on Ved Pratap Vaidik’s recent meeting with Hafiz
Saeed, Omar said, “There is nothing wrong in meeting anybody, whether it is Hafiz or anyone else. There is no harm whether Yasin Malik or Vaidik meets Hafiz. It is a fact that Hafiz’s ideology is different from ours, but meeting him is no big deal.” |
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Basmati cultivation takes another blow
Jammu, July 20 At least three labourers from Bihar and a local youth were injured in firing in the Arnia area of RS Pura sector on July 16. The RS Pura sector, known as the rice bowl of the state, produces the world-famous basmati rice. The state has recorded a shortfall of nearly 39 per cent rain this monsoon and Jammu district has recorded a rain deficit of 79 per cent. “While 33,000 kanals between the barbed fence and the Zero Line from Allah Mai de Kothe to Devigarh and Trewa in the RS Pura sector remains unused, 3,000 acres close to the fence faces a threat to basmati cultivation,” said Choudhary Dev Raj, president of the RS Pura Basmati Growers’ Association. “Nearly 5,000 quintals of basmati rice could have been grown on this 3,000 acres or 2,400 kanals, but Pakistani firing spoiled our prospects as migrant labourers fled the fields after the Arnia incident. Wherever farmers had sown paddy, crops almost died because they could not irrigate those because of the firing,” he added. “While 33,000 kanals, which can produce 66,000 quintals of basmati rice, remains unused because of the fencing and restrictions, cultivation on 3,000 acres behind the fence on the Indian side has come to a halt in the wake of firing. We have little hope of cultivating it on time,” he said. “Growers cultivate the crop by July 30. The scanty and delayed monsoon has delivered a setback and Pakistani firing and shelling delivered another blow. Growers in RS Pura could sow only 15 per cent of the crop by July 15 because of deficient monsoon, power crisis and firing. Basmati is cultivated on 60,000 hectares in 50 villages close to the Zero Line in the RS Pura sector, including the Bishnah belt,” he said. During the Kargil War in 1999, farming had come to a halt between the fencing and the Zero Line because of intense firing by Pakistan. The fields turned barren over the years. The BSF, in coordination with local residents, had made it cultivable after the 2003 ceasefire agreement. |
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De-silting at filtration plant affects water supply in city
Jammu, July 20 In most of the affected areas, people are without water supply for the last two days, while the PHE has asked them to use water judiciously till the plant is again made functional. “Due to the flashfloods and muddy water in the Tawi, work regarding de-silting of water tanks at the filtration plant at Sitlee has been taken up between July 19 and 20 leading to reduced supply from Sitlee to Manda and Lohar. Due to this, the water supply in old Jammu city, Sarwal, Rehari, Subash Nagar, Janipur, Bakshi Nagar and Roop Nagar has been disrupted,” officials said. “Close to 25 million gallons of water is lifted every day and the department has no alternative as it is the only natural river flowing through the city,” said a senior official. The Tawi is a major source of drinking for 15 lakh residents of the temple city supplementing 60 per cent of the requirement of its people. At the moment, the city has requirement of 42 million gallon litre (MGL) of water per day and the net requirement of potable water against this population is 45 MGL of water per day. “The water supply will be restored by July 21. In view of the increasing population, such project was a must as the Tawi will not be able to cater to the needs of a large population in the next 20-30 years and an alternate source to meet the requirements of the future is needed,” said an official from the PHE Department. Like every summer, many areas of Jammu city are still facing an acute shortage of water during the summer months despite claims of the department concerned to enhance water supply. City areas like Roop Nagar, Janipur, Indira Colony, Buta Nagar, Naseeb Nagar, Ploura, Durga Nagar, Muthi, Ban Talab, New Plots, Sainik Colony, Bathindi, Sunjwan, Narwal and Greater Kailash are still reeling under water shortage. |
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Govt considering panel names suggested by Law Department
Before giving nod for selection committee meet, CM seeks opinion of stakeholders Ishfaq Tantry Tribune News Service
Srinagar, July 20 The rights commission that has a strength of five members, including its chairman, has been rendered defunct since June 28 this year, when its remaining two members competed their term. However, sources in the Law Department said the file regarding selection of the SHRC chairman and its members has already been forwarded to the Chief Minister, who is yet to take a call for fixing the dates of the selection panel to finalise the SHRC members. “The file is with the Chief Minister and we are awaiting communication so that the dates for the meeting of the committee can be fixed,” said J&K Law Secretary Mohammad Ashraf Mir. From the judicial side, it is the Law Department’s duty to forward a panel of the available retired High Court judges for consideration to the post of commission chairman, after which it is the choice of the selection committee to finalise the candidate and other members. However, sources said from the panel forwarded by the Law Department, the government is seriously considering several names and seeking opinion from different quarters before the selection committee meets and finalises the names. In this regard, the Chief Minister, who also holds the Home Ministry portfolio, recently had a meeting with the stakeholders to seek their opinion with regard to several names in the panel and also to know more about the functioning of the meeting. A source said, “It appears the Chief Minister is serious about constituting and making the SHRC functional at the earliest.” It is also learnt through sources that the three names suggested in the panel for nomination are being seriously considered by the government. These include Principal District and Sessions Judge Muhammad Nazir Fida (retd), Syed Shareef Geelani, a High Court lawyer from Handwara, and Rafiq Fiada, who recently completed his term as the acting SHRC chairman and has his previous performance on his side. Since the name of former High Court judge, Justice Bashir Ahmad Kirmani (retd), is also in the panel forwarded by the Law Department for consideration as the SHRC chairman, sources added that there are some technical glitches as far as nomination of Kirmani is considered, which also came up for discussion during one such meeting with the Chief Minister. As per the Jammu and Kashmir Protection of Human Rights Act, 1997, the chairman of the commission should be a retired High Court judge, with an upper age limit of 70. “However, Justice Kirmani retired as an additional judge from the High Court and age is also not on his side,” a source added. It was also during one such meeting that the Chief Minister conveyed his seriousness and urgency to fix the meeting of the selection panel to finalise the appointment of the members, they added. The SHRC timeline
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Shoppers throng Valley markets ahead of
Eid
Srinagar, July 20 People were seen shopping new clothes at garment shops and from roadside stalls. “This is a very important occasion for us, especially children. I am shopping for them, but the rates have increased drastically because of Eid as it is the both earning time and spending time for people,” said Taniya, a mother who was shopping for her children at a shop in Hazuri Bagh, Srinagar. Though there are still nine days to go for Eid, several places witnessed huge rush of customers coupled with increased vehicular movement that caused traffic jams. The police also swung into action today led by senior officials at Maharaja Bazaar and Hari Singh High Street and removed hawkers and vendors who had illegally occupied the roads. “There is still much time left for Eid, but there was a huge rush today. I had to cross from Gonikhan Lane to Hazuri Bagh but there was hardly any space to walk,” said a local, Lateef Ahmed. The markets of Moulana Azad Road, Residency Road, Amira Kadal, Batamaloo and Karan Nagar were crowded and vehicles were moving at snail’s pace. The traders, however, expressed their happiness with the rush of shoppers in the market. “We always wait for this day, when we are almost unable to handle all customers. I hire extra salesmen for this month keeping in view the demand of people. This year we are witnessing more rush much before Eid and the sales have also increased,” said a trader in Hazuri Bagh, Srinagar, who deals with children’s garments. |
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BJP hits out at J&K Govt over ‘graft, failure to utilise’ Central funds
Srinagar, July
20 “Corruption exists in the state and funds are being misused… that is why poverty and unemployment exist in the state. The Central government gives the maximum to the state but the state government is not properly utilising the money and other schemes for the benefit of the common man,” Nadda said during a party function here. Asserting that the Valley has gone through “tough times” for the last 25 years during which major developmental works remained stalled and people became victims, he said the BJP would focus on developing the tourism and trade sectors so that more employment avenues were created. Nadda said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s dream was to bring Kashmir on the world tourist map to give a boost to J&K’s economy. He reiterated that Modi would fulfil former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s dream of finding an amicable solution to the Kashmir issue within the “ambit of humanity”. Speaking on the occasion, in charge of JK affairs and MLA Delhi, RP Singh held the National Conference (NC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) responsible for “exploiting” people and spreading the false notion that the BJP was a communal party. Earlier, several local leaders of the Janata Dal (United) led by Ghulam Qadir Wani joined the BJP in the presence of Nadda and Singh. Welcoming the entrants, Nadda said: “People are fed up with the PDP and the NC… it is due to the clear and transparent policies of the BJP on development and peace that the JD(U) leaders joined the party.”
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Meet to discuss demands of PHE employees
Jammu, July 20 During the meeting, the speakers criticised the authorities for not releasing wages of daily wagers for the last 20 to 24 months. “The daily wagers are facing severe financial hardships in the absence of salary, while the authorities are doing nothing besides giving assurances,” they said. The meeting also discussed various demands of the association, including meeting shortage
of staff in the department, holding DPC meeting as early as possible, change of designation of workers as per nature of working and enhancement of daily wages from Rs 150 to Rs 350. Addressing the meeting, Sharma urged the government for early release of pending wages of the Public Health
Engineering workers. He also urged the government to release 10 per cent DA from January 2014, enhance medical allowance from Rs 300 to Rs 1,000 and create technical posts from top to bottom to remove stagnation. The speakers urged the PHE employees to unite and come on one platform to get their demands redressed properly. Others who spoke on the occasion included Vinod Kumar, Raman Kumar, Ajay Kumar and Radhay Sham. |
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Public transport goes off roads during dusk
Srinagar, July 20 Usually, people try to rush home to break the fast in dusk hours and it is the time when public transport facilities are in great demand. The offices also close before Iftar (when the fast is broken) to ensure that employees reach homes earlier. However, the absence of public transport has posed problems for people who commute around that time. There is also limited presence of traffic cops on the roads which makes it further worse for the commuters. The State Transport Department and the Traffic Police are yet to chalk out schedules for public transporters so that they remain available for the public during evening hours. With no rules in place, the public transporters operate at their behest and are taking commuters for a ride. “We usually wait for hours together for bus or a Sumo to arrive. The auto-rickshaws that ply during dusk charge high rates especially at this time, taking advantage of unavailability of other public transport vehicles. The common man is the victim, who are compelled to give whatever the auto-rickshaw drivers ask for,” Zuhaib Butt, a banker said.
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Traders seek early resolution of K-issue
Srinagar, July 20 He said the BJP must start a meaningful dialogue process with all stakeholders to find a peaceful and enduring solution to the Kashmir issue. Khan regretted that the recent union budget had disappointed the Valley traders. “The budget was disappointing and discriminatory as an IIT was sanctioned for Jammu region only. Besides, there was nothing much for the Valley businessmen,” he said. KEA chief spokesman Siraj Ahmad termed the budget “not so healthy”. He also said Rs 50 crore for Pashmina promotion was nothing. “Pashmina is not the only ailing sector and Rs 50 crore is nothing. The condition of Kani shawl is worse and other sectors such as wood carving too are ailing,” he said. Siraj said there were other areas that required more attention and the budget had disappointed them. Even as the KEA said it would welcome the migrant Pandit ‘brethren’ if they resettled among the Muslims, Khan opposed their resettling in separate colonies.
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School holds orientation programme
Jammu, July 20 He said the orientation programme would help in familiarising parents about the new initiatives taken by the Central Board of Secondary Education, knowledge of which would help them to making a proper decision for their ward regarding choice of stream in future. Later, parents were told about the importance of taking part in all activities that were part of the teaching process through a Powerpoint presentation. They were told about the mode of conduction of examinations and how the system works. The parents were told about the latest assessments, including problem solving assessment, assessment of listening and speaking skills and open textbook assessment. |
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IGP directs policemen not to resort to firing
Srinagar, July 20 The IGP has asked his subordinates to be well equipped to handle law and order situation. “Every district has pump action guns, but officers are not carrying them even in law and order situations,” the directive said, adding that it was compulsory that the police must be properly equipped during the law and order situations. The IGP also asked the Deputy Inspector Generals and district Superintendents of Police to talk to all the DSPs and SHOs and ensure that firing was not resorted to in law and order situations. This is not first time the police have asked subordinates to ensure bullets are not fired during law and order situations. After the hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru last year, directions were issued to the police and paramilitary forces not to carry firearms in maintaining law and order situation. |
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Army man killed in accidental LoC blast
Srinagar, July 20 Defence sources said a soldier was killed in a grenade explosion last night, when troops were carrying counter-infiltration operation close to the Line of Control (LoC) in the Gurez sector. The Army, meanwhile, called off the operation today morning after carrying out extensive search in the forest area. In the wee hours on Friday, a group of four to six militants had tried to sneak into the Valley through the Gurez sector, but the Army had foiled their attempt. Sources said militants returned to Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir after the exchange of fire. The Army had later launched a massive search operation in the area to trace if any militant had managed to sneak in.
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Lawyer Sunil Sethi joins BJP
Jammu, July 20 Prominent citizens of Jammu were also present on the occasion. Known for his proximity with the Sangh
Parivar, Sethi has remained president of the Bar Association, Jammu, on two occasions. Welcoming Sethi into the party fold, Khanna said: “With each passing day the BJP is getting closer to the ‘mission 44 plus’ and now it seems that the party will cross 50 seats in the forthcoming Assembly elections and surely will form its own government in J&K.”
Jugal Kishore Sharma, while addressing the function, welcomed Sethi by calling him the “intellectual iron man of J&K”. |
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All that was projected as a “formidable alliance” between the National Conference (NC) and the Congress came apart on Sunday, after a little over five and a half years of their partnership in ruling the state.
The Doctors Association Kashmir has resented the use of expired tear gas shells by the police on civilian protesters.
A magisterial probe was ordered on Sunday into the killing of a 14-year-old boy during anti-Israel protests in the Qaimoh area of Anantnag district in south Kashmir.
Violent clashes between youths and government forces continued in
the area and other places in south Kashmir throughout the day, resulting in injuries to at least six persons.
Intense Pak shelling on Sunday sent a chill down the spine of hundreds of villagers living along the international border in the RS Pura sector of Jammu district.
“Four mortars exploded in my house in a span of half an hour between 1 am and 1.30 am injuring livestock. My family and I were lucky enough to survive as we live in another house,” said Yashpal Singh of
Kaku-de-Kothay, a village barely 500 metres away from the Zero Line.
Jammu, July 20
Several areas in Jammu city are facing water shortage for the last two days as the Public Health Engineering
(PHE) Department is carrying out de-silting process after the recent flashfloods in the Tawi damaged some portion of tanks at the filtration plant.
In most of the affected areas, people are without water supply for the last two days, while the PHE has asked them to use water judiciously till the plant is again made functional.
Senior lawyer of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court Sunil Sethi today joined the Bharatiya Janata Party
(BJP) along with his supporters. Sethi joined the BJP in presence of state president Jugal Kishore Sharma, in charge Jammu and Kashmir
BJP, Avinash Rai Khanna, Ashok Khajuria, Dr Nirmal Singh, Shamsheer Singh Manhas, Kavinder Gupta and Bali
Bhagat.
Gangyal. Speaking at the launch of the new car, Devinder Singh, general manager sales, Indus Autowheels Private Limited, said, “With its best-in-class build quality, outstanding driving dynamics and safety credentials, the Volkswagen Polo has already established itself as a leading contender in the premium hatchback segment in the Indian car market.”
TNS
Eminent artist from the state KK Gandhi (see pic), whose art has been appreciated by every section of society making him one of the finest landscape artists of the country, will exhibit his solo show in Chandigarh from July 25-28.
Showing interest and admiration towards the distinct yet popular style of working of Gandhi, the Kadamb Art Society for Environment Awareness in association with “Saplings” has invited Gandhi to exhibit his solo show in Chandigarh.
”The event will be a small gesture for appreciating, recognising and admiring the art work of Gandhi,” the chairperson of the society said.
This forthcoming solo exhibition at Chandigarh will be Gandhi’s 16th solo show. Besides, he has participated in more than 40 group shows in India and abroad and 33 national and international camps.
TNS
