SPECIAL COVERAGE
CHANDIGARH

LUDHIANA

DELHI



THE TRIBUNE SPECIALS
50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS
image
N A T I O N

Worst floods in Jammu & Kashmir in six decades
Most of Srinagar accessible by boats
Srinagar, September 15
It is over a week since Srinagar was flooded, with the Jhelum inundating the city on September 7. Since then, the Jhelum had receded well below the danger mark and water levels gone down, but large swathes of the city, including Lal Chowk, remain accessible only through boats.


An aerial view of Srinagar. Though the water level has receded, some areas are still under water. Tribune Photo: Anand Sharma

Rescue ops in Srinagar blur religious lines
Jammu, September 15
Heroic stories of people saving lives of others are slowly emerging from the ruins of Srinagar city, the summer capital of the state. In the aftermath of the floods, several individuals, including Kashmiri Pandit youth, cutting across religious and political ideologies, have rescued people from marooned localities of Srinagar.


EARLIER STORIES

Hundreds of Gujjars rendered homeless in Jammu floods
September 15, 2014
CM chairs all-party meeting on relief operations
September 14, 2014
Army to hand over relief ops to local admn
September 13, 2014
Army gears up for possible floods in N Kashmir
September 12, 2014
Waters recede in Jammu, but trauma continues
September 10, 2014
Many civilians, Army men remain trapped in Srinagar
September 9, 2014
Goyal trashes Hooda’s ‘conspiracy theory'
September 8
, 2014
CRPF suspends 17 men for inaction during Naxal ambush
September 7
, 2014
Delhi LG ‘move’ may pave way for BJP to name Mukhi as CM
September 6
, 2014
India’s growth story amazing: Oz PM
September 5
, 2014
Govt for cut in e-auction of coal to boost power scenario
September 4
, 2014
CBI chief scuttling 2G probe: Petitioner to SC
September 3
, 2014



When people helped each other
Srinagar, September 15
Srinagar, until recently a city living around a pristine lake with an easy-flowing river snaking from its south to north, is a place of disaster. For the last nine days, equaling to nearly 240 hours, hundreds of people continue to remain trapped with stinking water around them and with a lurking danger of epidemic diseases.

Sohni Mahiwal Point washed away in Chenab
Hamirpur Kona (International Border), September 15
Sohni Mahiwal Point was washed away when the Chenab diverted its flow between the border hamlets of Hamirpur Sidhar and Hamirpur Kona on the night of September 5. It was the spot where Sohni used to meet her lover Mehiwal during the late Mughal period.

The point on the banks of the Chenab where fabled Sohni and Mahiwal used to meet. Tribune Photo: Inderjeet Singh

Fertile fields in border area turn barren
Hamirpur Kona (international border), September 15
Silt accumulated on the fields has not only damaged standing crops, but also buried hopes and desires of hundreds of the ill-fated families of this border belt as nearly 1,200 acres of fertile agriculture land has turned barren in Hamirpur Kona village only. Located on the international border (IB), this hamlet, comprised of over 280 families, has bore the maximum brunt of the nature’s fury as the mighty Chenab changed its course and flowed through the standing crops.

Consider ex gratia to victims, SC tells govt
New Delhi, September 15
The Supreme Court on Monday asked the government to consider ex gratia to victims of floods in Jammu and Kashmir and set up an adequate number of relief camps for them, besides facilitating mobile banking services to enable them to meet their immediate expenses.

Snapshots
Landslide threat looms over Kishtwar
Over 80 families across 10 villages of Kishtwar district are living under the constant threat of landslides post incessant rain and flash floods in the region, said Deputy Commissioner, Kishtwar, Javed Khan.


ISRO gears up to put Mars spacecraft into orbit
Bangalore, September 15
As India’s Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) fast closing in on its target, ISRO scientists today said the operation to insert the spacecraft into the Martian orbit would be carried differently than what was planned earlier.


Over to Red planet: An artist’s impression of Mars orbiter’s journey and (below) Mars Orbiter Mission module’s file picture.

Embarrassed, Congress gags out-of-line speakers
New Delhi, September 15
Embarrassed by recent anti-leadership and anti-party line remarks by some of its leaders, the Congress today gagged its ranks saying not everyone has the liberty to speak on the party's behalf. Only official spokespersons can articulate the party's position on policy issues, signalled Congress leader Shakeel Ahmed, circulating a list of 18 spokespersons who, he said, must be contacted for party's views on critical issues.

Manish Tewari, former information minister

Western Command observes 67th Raising Day
Chandigarh, September 15
The Army’s Western Command observed its 67th Raising Day at the Chandimandir military station today. To mark the occasion, the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Command, Lt Gen KJ Singh, laid a wreath at the Veer Smriti War Memorial. A large number of officers attended the ceremony. A ceremonial Guard reversed arms while buglers sounded the Last Post as a mark of respect to martyrs.

Linking North-East top priority, says VK Singh
New Delhi, September 15
The Narendra Modi-led government will focus on the North-East, especially rail, road and air links to bring the eight states closer to other parts of India. Key work will include connecting the upcoming Silchar-Jirbham-Imphal highway with Mandalay, Burma, for onward road links with Thailand and Vietnam — both countries are vital for India in its “Look-East” policy.

Rs 16,000-cr projects okayed in 100 days: Gadkari
New Delhi, September 15
The government today said it had set a time frame of three years to achieve the target of constructing 30 km of road everyday and steps towards that have been taken with the clearance of projects worth Rs 16,000 crore in the first 100 days of the Narendra Modi-led NDA government at the Centre.

BJP leadership disowns ‘polarisation’ bid in UP
New Delhi, September 15
The central BJP leadership in Delhi is keeping a safe distance from certain Uttar Pradesh leaders’ attempts at polarisation, terming them their personal viewpoints. Taking forward Yogi Adityanath’s discourse, BJP’s Unnao MP Sakshi Maharaj yesterday alleged that children in madrasas were being trained to become terrorists, inviting criticism from the saffron party’s political rivals.

Lokpal search panel
Cong slams BJP on Rao’s inclusion
New Delhi, September 15
The Congress today slammed the BJP for its U-turn on the inclusion of PP Rao in the Lokpal Search panel, something it had vehemently opposed when the previous Congress government had made the proposal.

BJP credits Modi for dip in inflation
New Delhi, September 15
The BJP has credited initiatives taken by the Narendra Modi government for the decline in inflation and said it was committed to bringing down prices and improving the country’s economy to make the life of the common man easy.

India, Vietnam ink 7 pacts
Hanoi, September 15
Strategically important oil and gas cooperation and extension of a $100 million credit by India to Vietnam for defence purchases are among the seven pacts inked between India and Vietnam as they called for “freedom” of navigation in the South China Sea, a remark that could irk China which has been claiming territorial sovereignty over the high seas.

President Pranab Mukherjee and his Vietnamese counterpart Truong Tan Sang inspect a guard of honour in Hanoi on Monday. AP/PTI

India slams Pak for backing Saeed
New Delhi, September 15
India today reacted sharply to a statement by Pakistan that there was no case against Hafiz Saeed, with New Delhi describing him as the “evil mastermind” behind the 2008 Mumbai attacks and Islamabad should bring the Jamat-ul-Dawa chief to book for the crime.

Boundary row likely to be discussed during Xi’s visit
New Delhi, September 15
In a departure from custom, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will receive Chinese President Xi Jinping not in Delhi, but in Ahmedabad, where the dignitary will arrive to commence the September 17-19 bilateral visit to India.

Visitors’ list
Reveal source of info, SC tells Bhushan
New Delhi, September 15
The Supreme Court today directed advocate Prashant Bhushan, who has levelled allegations against CBI Director Ranjit Sinha of protecting accused in the 2G case, to reveal the name of the whistleblower from whom he got CBI documents and the guest list of the senior cop’s residence.

Accreditation must for all teacher training institutes, says govt
New Delhi, September 15
It will soon become mandatory for all institutes offering teacher education and training programmes to get their courses accredited. The HRD Ministry today emphasised the need for streamlining training systems and setting minimum benchmarks for quality attainment. The matter came up for discussion today at the meeting of Central and state university V-Cs and academic regulators, including the UGC and the National Council for Teacher Education which HRD minister Smriti Irani opened. Irani called for improvement in the standards of teacher education in the country and directed the NCTE, the apex body for teacher education, to prepare a database of all educators so that they can be trained further and their core competencies built. Irani addressed the meeting just a day after the retreat with V-Cs of Central universities which she held in Chandigarh over the weekend. TNS

‘Love jihad’ a political concept, says Muslim law board
Lucknow, September 15
‘Love jihad’ is a political concept and has no sanction in Islam, clarified the All-India Muslim Personal Law Board. Interacting with mediapersons and a cross-section of common people, a select band of AIMPLB’s members representing its Tafheem-e Shariat committee (committee to help comprehend Sharia laws) hit out at Unnao BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj for his statement about madrasas being the breeding ground of terrorists. At a meeting in Kannauj, the controversial BJP MP had claimed Muslim youth studying in madrasas were being motivated to practice “love jihad” by giving them cash incentives of Rs 11 lakh for luring a Sikh girl, Rs 10 lakh for a Hindu girl and Rs 7 lakh for a Jain girl. Madrasas are only spreading love and communal harmony through education claimed the ulemas representing the AIMPLB. TNS


star appeal: Hollywood actor Arnold Schwarzenegger with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa at the secretariat in Chennai on Monday. PTI

Amethi clash: FIR against MP’s son
Lucknow, September 15
The Akhilesh Yadav government has registered an FIR against the scion of Amethi’s royal family, Anant Vikram Singh, and 257 others for yesterday’s violence between his supporters and the police, leaving a constable dead and around 20 injured. Amethi District Magistrate Jagatraj held Anant Vikram Singh, the son of Raja of Amethi and Congress MP Sanjay Singh from his first wife Garima Singh, responsible for yesterday’s violence. Of the 257 people, seven have been named, while 250 remain unidentified. Those named in the FIR are: Vijay Pratap Singh, Chintu Kumar, Sanjay, Awadhesh, Binnu, and Sunil. The district administration said Anant had yesterday called his supporters to prevent the entry of his father Sanjay Singh to ‘Bhoopati Bhawan’. TNS

Govt okays setting up of Ayush mission
New Delhi, September 15
The Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi today approved the setting up of the National Ayush Mission (NAM) to plug gaps in healthcare delivery. Under the NAM, a special focus will be given to specific needs of vulnerable and far-flung areas of the country and allocation of higher resources in their annual plans. The mission will help improve Ayush education with the efforts of state/UT governments through quality enhancement in educational institutions, and better access to Ayush services. The mission will also help provide sustained availability of quality raw material for Ayush systems of medicine and improve availability of drugs through a rise in number of pharmacies and drug laboratories. TNS

Bypoll results today, stakes high for BJP
New Delhi, September 15
Counting of votes will be held tomorrow in three Lok Sabha and 33 Assembly constituencies spread across 10 states where byelections were held on September 13, with stakes high for the BJP. The three Lok Sabha seats are in Vadodara (Gujarat), vacated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Mainpuri (Uttar Pradesh) and Medak (Telangana), while 11 Assembly constituencies are in UP, nine in Gujarat, four in Rajasthan, two in West Bengal, five in Northeastern states and one each in Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh. Twenty-four of these Assembly seats were held by the BJP and one each by its allies Apna Dal and the TDP. — PTI

India slams Pak for backing Saeed
New Delhi, September 15
India today reacted sharply to a statement by Pakistan that there was no case against Hafiz Saeed, with New Delhi describing him as the “evil mastermind” behind the 2008 Mumbai attacks and Islamabad should bring the Jamat-ul-Dawa chief to book for the crime. Earlier, Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit said Hafiz Saeed is a Pakistani national so he is free to roam around. “So what is the problem...he is a free citizen so there is no issue as far as Pakistan is concerned. Courts have already exonerated him. There is no case pending against him.” Later, MEA spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said: “Our views on Saeed are clear. To us, he is the evil mastermind of the Mumbai attacks and one of the accused in an Indian court for the killings on streets of Mumbai. We have repeatedly asked Pakistan that he should be apprehended and taken through normal judicial process.” TNS





Top








 

Worst floods in Jammu & Kashmir in six decades
Most of Srinagar accessible by boats
Lal Chowk remains submerged, Bund area presents picture of devastation, Rajbagh in disarray
Ishfaq Tantry
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, September 15
It is over a week since Srinagar was flooded, with the Jhelum inundating the city on September 7. Since then, the Jhelum had receded well below the danger mark and water levels gone down, but large swathes of the city, including Lal Chowk, remain accessible only through boats.

A walk through the worst affected parts like Regal Chowk, Lal Chowk, Bund area, Rajbagh and other residential areas gave a sense of devastation caused by the overflowing Jhelum.

Lal Chowk: The Lal Chowk, the commercial hub of Srinagar, was still out of bounds for vehicular traffic. It could be reached by foot through the bund side or down the Budshah Bridge side.

It was impossible to take a walk in the centre of Lal Chowk even a week after the floods. The entire area was still in four and five feet of water.

The receding water had left its marks on shutters of shops and walls of buildings. The water had earlier risen up to eight feet, submerging the area and destroying almost every business.

The scene was no different in the Budshah Chowk area and along the Maulana Azad road up to the Dal Gate. As one moved down the Budshah Bridge towards Maisuma, the aftermath was visible with houses having collapsed in narrow lanes and bylanes of the congested locality.

To escape flood fury and gushing waters, scores of people had taken shelter in the Taj Hotel. People were coming down the building with a rope and jumping into boats, which was the only escape from the area.

The Budshah Bridge and the flyover were main points for relief distribution as truckloads of material was brought from Baramulla, Sopore, Handwara, Kupwara, Kulgam, Bandipora and other unaffected areas of Kashmir.

Though flooded areas were facing food shortage as stored supplies were vanishing fast, commodities in demand at relief distribution points were safe and clean drinking water and baby food items.

Bund area: The Bund area, behind the Lal Chowk, separating the commercial hub from the Jhelum, was a picture of devastation as the river had breached its embankments at several points, uprooting everything which came in its way. The Jhelum had flooded the lower court complex and devastated the buildings there.

The Bund area was cut off near the Khidmat Complex. The Jhelum had entered the Lal Chowk area and flooded the Press Enclave.

Along the way, the Jhelum had flooded a cemetery and opened some graves, which were now being relocated by local residents. It had flooded the Christian cemetery and filled it with mud and slush.

Rajbagh area: On the other side of the Bund area, Rajbagh presented a ghastly look in floodwaters. The area along the Jhelum embankment was accessible by foot. The inner lanes remain reachable only through boats.

The Lal Ded area towards the Zero Bridge on the right side was in six to eight feet of water. There was hardly any vehicular movement on the road stretch from the Lal Mandi to the Zero Bridge even though there were some groups of civilians carrying out rescue and relief work.

There were boats and local volunteers in lanes and bylanes. Villagers were distributing supplies. If water continues to recede at the same pace, the area would be clear in another eight or 10 days, said local residents.

“Three or four inches of water recede every 24 hours. It may take at least a week to get water out. The challenge is to clear the slush and mud which entered our houses,” said Adil Ahmad, whose triple-storey house and hotel were still flooded.

Houses along the Bund road were inundated up to the second floor. In the inner Rajbagh area, water had entered the third floor.

“Though the water is receding, the exact assessment of damage will be known after all areas are accessible on foot,” said Rashid A Dar, an elderly man distributing relief in the Rajbagh area. Many residents had taken refuge in multi-storey hotels as they were unable to reach their homes.

Top

 

Rescue ops in Srinagar blur religious lines
Sumit Hakhoo
Tribune News Service


An Army soldier carries a patient in Srinagar. Tribune Photo: Anand Sharma

Jammu, September 15
Heroic stories of people saving lives of others are slowly emerging from the ruins of Srinagar city, the summer capital of the state. In the aftermath of the floods, several individuals, including Kashmiri Pandit youth, cutting across religious and political ideologies, have rescued people from marooned localities of Srinagar.

One such person is young Kashmiri Pandit and telecom professional Sanjay Razdan and Aircel, administration head, Rakesh Singh Jamwal, who have saved several stranded people, including Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and tourists from the worst-hit areas of Rajbagh, Rambagh and Jawahar Nagar in Srinagar.

“I am posted at Baramulla with Aircel and we had a meeting on Sunday, September 7 in Srinagar. Suddenly, water came gushing from everywhere, trapping us in our office. It was only hours later that we regained our composure and plunged into rescue efforts,” said Sanjay while talking to The Tribune over phone from Jawahar Nagar where he is still helping out people.

Sanjay resides in the Subash Nagar area of Jammu. Though, his family had shifted from the Valley before the eruption of militancy, several of his relatives migrated from the Valley after the mass exodus of the minority community in 1990 when militancy started.

“We rescued people, irrespective of religion. Local volunteers and members of the Defence forces did a superb job. Humanity is supreme in distress. It is a shame that in this hour of devastation, some people are trying to hamper the rescue operations,” he said.

The members of his rescue team included Major Ashish Sharma, Lt Col Prashant Mishra, Captain Pradeep, Inspector Rajinder Singh, Sunil Chib, Manjit Singh and Subedar Sikander Khan from the JAK Light Infantry.

Sanjay also guided an Army rescue team, unaware of the topography of Rajbagh, Rambagh and Jawahar Nagar, and rescued hundreds of people.

Top

 

When people helped each other
Azhar Qadri
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, September 15
Srinagar, until recently a city living around a pristine lake with an easy-flowing river snaking from its south to north, is a place of disaster. For the last nine days, equaling to nearly 240 hours, hundreds of people continue to remain trapped with stinking water around them and with a lurking danger of epidemic diseases.

The first victim of the unprecedented flood was the state’s government and its entire machinery.

On the intervening night of September 6 and 7, when the Jehlum erupted with an unseen and unheard fury, the state government lost its address. The government’s helpline numbers were the first to shutdown, even before the mobile connectivity got snapped in the region.

Lal Chowk, the commercial nerve centre of Srinagar city, and its adjoining localities continue to remain flooded for the ninth day today. The entry to civil secretariat, the headquarters of state government in the summer capital here, and its adjoining state High Court complex is through four feet of water.

Over the past nine days, since Jhelum’s fury moved devastatingly through Srinagar’s southern and western neighbourhoods, it is the people helping each other.

Young men swam over flooded roads to rescue trapped residents and provided life-saving water and food to those who could not be evacuated.

Community kitchens were established everywhere across the old city, where the residents of southern and western neighbourhoods of the city and other flooded areas had taken refuge.

Tons of ration and vegetables were ferried from villages and other districts of the region as far as Karnah, Lolab, Memendar-Shopian and Doda. At Hari Parbat, the hillock around which the old city lives, volunteers were cooking seven to eight quintals of rice everyday.

The Self Help Group For Kashmir Flood Victims, an informal association of volunteers, became the postal address and a helpline for non-resident Kashmiris to know about the situation.

Top

 

Sohni Mahiwal Point washed away in Chenab
Flooded river changed its course on night of September 5, residents want spot to be rebuilt
Dinesh Manhotra
Tribune News Service

Hamirpur Kona (International Border), September 15
Sohni Mahiwal Point was washed away when the Chenab diverted its flow between the border hamlets of Hamirpur Sidhar and Hamirpur Kona on the night of September 5. It was the spot where Sohni used to meet her lover Mehiwal during the late Mughal period.

It was part of folklore was that the wedding of Sohni was solemnised at Hamirpur Sidhar village, situated on the right bank of the Chenab, 64 kilometres west of Jammu. Mahiwal stayed in a hut at Hamirpur Kona village on the left bank of the Chenab in the guise of a beggar.

Legend has it that Sohni regularly met Mahiwal in his hut at Hamirpur Kona village. After the love story ended with the deaths of both lovers in the Chenab waters, a memorial was set up in place of the hut where Sohni used to meet Mahiwal.

Sohni reportedly used to cross the river with the help of a pitcher (‘gharha’) every night. “Since time immemorial, the spot was known as Sohni Mahiwal Point, where the two lovers used to meet,” said Falel Singh, sarpanch of the local panchayat.

He added, “Our village became popular due to the spot and people used to visit it.” There was no historical evidence that the wedding of Sohni was performed at Hamirpur Sidhar village.

Due to popularity of the spot, tourists and the youth in particular, regularly visited this spot in large numbers. As the spot attracted tourists, the local Defence authorities had developed the place to provide good facilities to visitors. The Sohni Mahiwal Point was located on the international border. Security agencies were involved in managing the place, which had now been washed away in the floods.

Local residents were demanding that the spot should be rebuilt as it was the only tourist spot in the area. Agriculture was the only source of income for people. “The point is of historical significance and should be rebuilt,” the sarpanch said. He added that the devastating floods had not only caused huge losses, but washed away the symbol of eternal love as well.

Top

 

Fertile fields in border area turn barren
Dinesh Manhotra
Tribune News Service

Hamirpur Kona (international border), September 15
Silt accumulated on the fields has not only damaged standing crops, but also buried hopes and desires of hundreds of the ill-fated families of this border belt as nearly 1,200 acres of fertile agriculture land has turned barren in Hamirpur Kona village only. Located on the international border (IB), this hamlet, comprised of over 280 families, has bore the maximum brunt of the nature’s fury as the mighty Chenab changed its course and flowed through the standing crops.

The fields, where paddy crop was standing, turned into gorges as flow of the water was so strong and it took away everything with it.

“Within no time, the fertile land turned barren and fields took shape of gorges,” bemoaned Rattan Singh, a farmer of Hamirpur Kona village, whose three acres of land has virtually turned barren as nearly 2-ft silt has accumulated on it.

“It will be difficult, rather impossible, to cultivate this land in future because it requires filling of the entire area with soil which is not possible for farmers like us,” Rattan Singh said.

Falel Singh, sarpanch of the local panchayat, said the border belt bore the maximum brunt. In Hamirpur Kona village crops in over 1,200 acres are washed away and fertile fields have turned into gorges,” Falel Singh pointed out.

Top

 

Consider ex gratia to victims, SC tells govt
R Sedhuraman
Legal Correspondent

New Delhi, September 15
The Supreme Court on Monday asked the government to consider ex gratia to victims of floods in Jammu and Kashmir and set up an adequate number of relief camps for them, besides facilitating mobile banking services to enable them to meet their immediate expenses.

A Bench headed by Chief Justice RM Lodha passed the order after petitioners pleaded in a PIL that people of the state were facing a cash crunch as banks, which closed their operations on September 5 after the floods, were yet to be reopened, with most of the areas still waterlogged.

Appreciating the massive rescue and relief work being carried out in the state, particularly by the Defence forces, the Bench asked the Centre as well as the state to ensure that not a single victim was left out. The main focus should be on provision of food, medicine, clothes, blankets and fuel, it said.

Pointing out that PILs were not adversarial litigation, the Bench said the Centre and the state should provide “all necessary provisions for survival of victims” and ensure that these reached “the last man”. The apex court said rescue and relief work appeared to be focussed on worst-affected Srinagar.

Top

 

Snapshots
Landslide threat looms over Kishtwar

Over 80 families across 10 villages of Kishtwar district are living under the constant threat of landslides post incessant rain and flash floods in the region, said Deputy Commissioner, Kishtwar, Javed Khan.

Train services partially resumed: After remaining disrupted for 11 days, the Railways today partially resumed train services in Kashmir valley following restoration of tracks damaged by flood waters. Train services commenced between Srinagar and Baramulla.

Congress MP donates Rs 25 lakh: Former Law Minister and Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab Ashwani Kumar today released a sum of Rs 25 lakh from his MPLADS Fund for the relief and rehabilitation efforts in flood-ravaged Jammu and Kashmir. Kumar conveyed his decision in writing to the Rajya Sabha Secretariat.

Control room to trace the missing: The state government has set up a central control room called ‘J&K Connect Centre’ at Jammu to trace the missing persons after rains and floods from various parts of the state.

Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Shantmanu said the centre would work on the lines of a call centre and remain active till the list of missing persons was reduced to nil.

He said initially four numbers would be operational, which are as 0191-2471522, 2471922, 2472022 and 2472322.

Jitendra visits Reasi: Minister of State in the PMO Dr Jitendra Singh on Monday took stock of the rescue and relief measures put in place to provide necessary help to the landslide and flood victims in Reasi district. Singh was informed by the Deputy Commissioner, Reasi, Shabir Ahmed Bhatt about the present situation in the district. The minister assured all possible help to the flood victims. He asked Bhatt to submit a comprehensive memorandum of losses occurred due to floods/landslides to the government as soon as possible.

Mobile, internet connectivity hit: More than a week after floods wreaked havoc in the state, mobile and internet connectivity remain affected in most of the city. Though the mobile and internet connectivity had started improving for the last two days, residents, especially those having BSNL numbers, complained that on Monday they again faced problems.

J&K Bank gears up for insurance claims: With insurance claims expected to touch crores once normalcy returns after the floods in the state, a special team has been formed by the Bajaj Allianz General Insurance and the J&K Bank to deal with such cases on a priority basis.

Top

 

ISRO gears up to put Mars spacecraft into orbit
Shubhadeep Choudhury
Tribune News Service

Bangalore, September 15
As India’s Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) fast closing in on its target, ISRO scientists today said the operation to insert the spacecraft into the Martian orbit would be carried differently than what was planned earlier.

Initially, ISRO’s plan was to insert the spacecraft in the Martian orbit by firing only the liquid apogee motor (LAM) aboard the orbiter. However, it has now been decided that the LAM and eight small engines (called thrusters) aboard the orbiter will be simultaneously fired for the crucial insertion operation on September 24. Thrusters are otherwise used for course correction of a spacecraft during its journey and later when it enters the orbital phase.

ISRO scientific secretary V Koteswar Rao said it has been decided to deploy the thrusters during the operation (lasting for about 24 minute) to give the spacecraft a better orbital position. He said the MOM had already crossed the first two hurdles — the launch phase and Trans-Mars Injection (TMI) and has covered more than 90% of its 666 million km journey from Earth to Mars.

The insertion in the Martian orbit on September 24 (between 7.30 am and 8 am) would be the last and bigger challenge for the MOM. Commands are being uploaded for the task, he said.

However, before that, the LAM will be test-fired on September 22 for about four seconds and this brief operation will have a crucial bearing on the success of the mission. While the MOM was launched from Sriharikota near Chennai on November 5 with the help of a polar satellite launch vehicle (PSLV), the LAM aboard the spacecraft was last fired in December 2013 to push the spacecraft away from Earth's influence (TMI). Since then for about 300 days, the LAM has remained idle. In view of this, the LAM will be test-fired on September 22 to check its preparedness before the D-day. In the event of the LAM being found unresponsive, the thrusters will be brought into play and insertion will be carried out with the help of the thrusters. In the second scenario, almost all fuel aboard the spacecraft will get consumed. The orbiter, even if reaches the orbit, will be in no position to be controlled by ISRO.

Mars, here comes MOM

  • Orbiter is moved into a hyperbolic trajectory so that it escapes Earth’s influence
  • Flight path is about one half of ellipse around the Sun. This path is possible because Earth, Mars and Sun are at an approximate angle of 44 degree in a gap of 780 days

Date with Mars

  • September 24: The liquid apogee motor and eight small engines (called thrusters) will be simultaneously fired for inserting the mission in the Martian orbit
  • Commands are being uploaded for the 24-minute exercise which aimed at slowing down the Mars Orbiter Mission
  • September 22: The liquid apogee motor will be test-fired for about four seconds to check its preparedness

Top

 

Embarrassed, Congress gags out-of-line speakers
Aditi Tandon
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 15
Embarrassed by recent anti-leadership and anti-party line remarks by some of its leaders, the Congress today gagged its ranks saying not everyone has the liberty to speak on the party's behalf. Only official spokespersons can articulate the party's position on policy issues, signalled Congress leader Shakeel Ahmed, circulating a list of 18 spokespersons who, he said, must be contacted for party's views on critical issues.

Led by former ministers Anand Sharma, Ghulam Nabi Azad, P Chidambaram, Salman Khurshid and AICC general secretary Mukul Wasnik, the list excludes two vocal Congress men - former Information Minister and Ludhiana MP Manish Tewari and veteran leader Rashid Alvi - who have routinely been spotted taking positions other than the Congress line.

Party sources admitted that today's warning on "out-of-turn speech" was primarily meant for Tewari and Alvi. The two quickly rebutted the move with Tewari tweeting, "I ceased to be the national spokesperson for the INC in October 2012. When I intervene in the public discourse I do as an ordinary Cong worker who has served the party for 34 years. There are certain core convictions I believe in. When they are assaulted I do not require a noun or an adjective behind my noun to intervene in the public discourse as a party activist. I do not hold myself out as the spokesperson."

Congress' message, meanwhile, sources said, was also meant for seniors like general secretary Digvijay Singh who has been airing views against Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi in the recent past. Digvijay has said unlike BJP's Narendra Modi, Rahul was unable to attract the youth.

He had once said Rahul wasn't the leading types; on another occasion Digvijay described Rahul's decision to decline the Leader of Congress post in the Lok Sabha as unfortunate.

Embattled, the Congress today used a public platform to discipline its ranks. Asked if Congress men had any right to speak after all, a senior leader said, "Everyone can speak, but the official line will only be conveyed through spokespersons. Non-spokespersons must clarify that they are airing their personal views. That's not happening."

Tewari recently embarrassed the Congress by defending the BJP government's decision to elevate former Chief Justice of India P Sathasivam as the Kerala Governor. A day earlier, Congress spokesman Anand Sharma had trashed the move as "political quid pro quo". Likewise, though the Congress has officially decided not to react to BJP's polarising tactics in UP, its leader Alvi has been routinely making comments on related issues, including "Love Jihad".

The party was recently in a spot when former Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit said the BJP should be allowed to form the government - a view Congress has officially opposed from day one.

Tewari, Congress clarified, was a media panelist who could represent the party in TV debates. “Alvi is not even a panelist. All panelists must air party views. We email them official lines every day,” sources said.

Top

 

Western Command observes 67th Raising Day
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 15
The Army’s Western Command observed its 67th Raising Day at the Chandimandir military station today. To mark the occasion, the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Command, Lt Gen KJ Singh, laid a wreath at the Veer Smriti War Memorial. A large number of officers attended the ceremony. A ceremonial Guard reversed arms while buglers sounded the Last Post as a mark of respect to martyrs.

As part of the Raising Day commemorations, a new initiative has been launched to re-skill the retiring junior commissioned officers and other ranks to acquire expertise which will help them in getting a second career in the corporate world. The one-month course aims at empowering them with English-speaking abilities, handling IT and mobile communication devices that are Internet enabled, soft skill training and visits to various factories and installations. The first course commenced with a strength of 30 personnel who are on the verge of retirement.

The Command was raised in 1947 as the Delhi and East Punjab Command with headquarters at Delhi. It was re-designated as Western Command in January 1948. The genesis of Western Command was forged on the anvil of one of the most tragic trans-border migration of human population. In 1954, the headquarters of the Command moved to Shimla. After the Indo-Pak conflict of 1971, Northern Command, with its headquarters at Udhampur, was carved out of Western Command to assume operational responsibility of Jammu and Kashmir. Later, the Western Command headquarters moved to its present location at Chandimandir in 1985.

With “Ever Westwards” being its calling card, the Western Command was instrumental in blunting the Pakistani aggression in 1947, 1965 and 1971 and subsequently carrying the battle into enemy territory. Its formations and units have participated and distinguished themselves winning a large number of gallantry awards, including 11 Param Vir Chakra.

The Command has time and again provided succour to the civilian population during natural calamities.

Top

 

Linking North-East top priority, says VK Singh
Trans-ASEAN highway to come up through region
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 15
The Narendra Modi-led government will focus on the North-East, especially rail, road and air links to bring the eight states closer to other parts of India. Key work will include connecting the upcoming Silchar-Jirbham-Imphal highway with Mandalay, Burma, for onward road links with Thailand and Vietnam — both countries are vital for India in its “Look-East” policy.

The road is also referred to as the ASEAN highway and will cut short dependence on circuitous sea-going trade routes. India has target of $100 billion trade with the 10 members of ASEAN.

General VK Singh (retd), Minister of Development for North Eastern Region (NE region), said today that enabling infrastructure would be created. He set a target of five years to complete the pending work of rail links on both banks of the Brahamputra. General Singh was addressing a press conference to mark 100 days of the new government.

He conceded that the progress on rail links in the past 10 years had been very tardy. The grand plan of linking state capitals of the northeastern states through railways will fructify but not at least for one year, surveys will be done, the former Chief of the Indian Army added.

“At the moment we want to look at what is doable, weather it’s rail link to Sikkim, to Aizwal or extension of Dimapur line further into Nagaland,” he said.

On if he could set a timeline to link the state capitals of the NE states, General Singh said: “I cannot predict a time line. So much work is left, if I can complete it in five years it will be biggest achievement.”

Top

 

Rs 16,000-cr projects okayed in 100 days: Gadkari
Girja Shankar Kaura
Tribune news Service

New Delhi, September 15
The government today said it had set a time frame of three years to achieve the target of constructing 30 km of road everyday and steps towards that have been taken with the clearance of projects worth Rs 16,000 crore in the first 100 days of the Narendra Modi-led NDA government at the Centre.

Addressing a press conference on the achievements of the Ministry of Road Transport, Highways and Shipping, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said besides clearing the projects worth Rs 16,000 crore that he has been at the helm of the three ministries, 1,000 km roads have been constructed and 350 km strengthened which though is much below the set target.

He said that government was moving fast to clear the infrastructure projects. During the current financial year, 6,300 km have been targeted for construction in this financial year out of which 1,000 km have been constructed and 350 km strengthened so far.

He said CCTVs were being introduced at all toll plazas during the current year and all road toll points would be connected with e-governance system. The minister said modern amenities for passengers will be provided on road sides, which will also generate employment opportunities. Cashless treatment of road accident victims during critical golden hour will be launched. Gadkari said a project was underway in Uttarakhand to prevent damage to roads due to rains. E-rickshaw notification will be issued in the next 10 days. The e-rickshaws numbering around two lakh are banned in Delhi following a HC order.

Top

 

BJP leadership disowns ‘polarisation’ bid in UP
Vibha Sharma
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 15
The central BJP leadership in Delhi is keeping a safe distance from certain Uttar Pradesh leaders’ attempts at polarisation, terming them their personal viewpoints. Taking forward Yogi Adityanath’s discourse, BJP’s Unnao MP Sakshi Maharaj yesterday alleged that children in madrasas were being trained to become terrorists, inviting criticism from the saffron party’s political rivals.

Senior BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi says his party does not support or endorse such views. “This is not the party line. If someone has information, it should be shared with the government instead of issuing sweeping statements,” Naqvi said.

But coming after Gorakhpur MP Adityanath’s aggressive comments in the run-up to UP byelections, which is said to have even led to an increase in demand from BJP candidates for him electioneering in their constituencies, senior party leaders see another reason behind this spurt in such statements from other leaders.

They say it could be an attempt to attract the attention of those who matter (the senior BJP leadership and the saffron party’s ideological mentor RSS) to their talent and merits. “It could be their individual attempts to air their views and be noticed,” they said.

Top

 

Lokpal search panel
Cong slams BJP on Rao’s inclusion
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 15
The Congress today slammed the BJP for its U-turn on the inclusion of PP Rao in the Lokpal Search panel, something it had vehemently opposed when the previous Congress government had made the proposal.

Congress general secretary in charge of communications Ajay Makan led the attack on the BJP saying: “The BJP as Opposition never wanted Lokpal and opposed PP Rao in the selection committee then. But now it is supporting the same. It objected to the move in the past just to stop the Lokpal Bill.”

Congress spokesperson Shakeel Ahmed said: “If PM Narendra Modi was so interested in rooting out corruption, why did it spend crores to prevent the appointment of a certain Lokayukta in Gujarat when he was the CM?”

Two days ago, the BJP government defended in the Supreme Court the Lokpal selection panel it had opposed when in the opposition.

The BJP-led NDA government filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court defending the appointment of senior advocate PP Rao as the eminent jurist to the Lokapl panel. Earlier, the BJP had opposed Rao's nomination to the panel calling him a loyalist of the Congress.

Top

 

BJP credits Modi for dip in inflation

New Delhi, September 15
The BJP has credited initiatives taken by the Narendra Modi government for the decline in inflation and said it was committed to bringing down prices and improving the country’s economy to make the life of the common man easy.

BJP secretary Shrikant Sharma said: “Due to continuous efforts taken by the Narendra Modi government, inflation has started coming down slowly. It is a result of better management and a number of initiatives taken by the government, which will continue to work towards easing inflation and improving the state of the economy.”

Sharma said the BJP government had taken a number of initiatives since its formation, including tough action against hoarders and limiting export prices of essential commodities.

The government, he said, was committed to improving the state of the economy, which was left “in a shattered state by the previous Congress-led UPA government due to mismanagement and corruption”. — TNS

Top

 

India, Vietnam ink 7 pacts

Hanoi, September 15
Strategically important oil and gas cooperation and extension of a $100 million credit by India to Vietnam for defence purchases are among the seven pacts inked between India and Vietnam as they called for “freedom” of navigation in the South China Sea, a remark that could irk China which has been claiming territorial sovereignty over the high seas.

The agreements were signed during the second day of the four-day state visit of President Pranab Mukherjee who held talks with his Vietnamese counterpart Truong Tan Sang here.

Both countries decided to strengthen and deepen bilateral ties. They decided to step up collaboration in the economic sector, science and technology, culture and people-to-people links.

Daily flights to Ho Chi Minh

For the first time, India and Vietnam will have direct daily flights from November 5 with domestic carrier Jet Airways connecting Delhi and Mumbai to the historic Ho Chi Minh City. — PTI

Top

 

India slams Pak for backing Saeed
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 15
India today reacted sharply to a statement by Pakistan that there was no case against Hafiz Saeed, with New Delhi describing him as the “evil mastermind” behind the 2008 Mumbai attacks and Islamabad should bring the Jamat-ul-Dawa chief to book for the crime.

Earlier, Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit said Hafiz Saeed is a Pakistani national so he is free to roam around. “So what is the problem...he is a free citizen so there is no issue as far as Pakistan is concerned. Courts have already exonerated him. There is no case pending against him.”

Later, MEA spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said: “Our views on Saeed are clear. To us, he is the evil mastermind of the Mumbai attacks and one of the accused in an Indian court for the killings on streets of Mumbai. We have repeatedly asked Pakistan that he should be apprehended and taken through normal judicial process.”

Top

 

Boundary row likely to be discussed during Xi’s visit
TNS & PTI

New Delhi, September 15
In a departure from custom, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will receive Chinese President Xi Jinping not in Delhi, but in Ahmedabad, where the dignitary will arrive to commence the September 17-19 bilateral visit to India.

Modi will welcome Xi, accompanied by a high-level delegation, including two senior members of Polit Bureau and the Chinese Commerce Minister, in an Ahmedabad hotel.

Modi has attached special importance to the visit can be gauged from the fact that he has issued a statement stating that he is looking forward to welcome President Xi as the visit will strengthen Sino-Indian ties. The two leaders will witness signing of agreements in the state.

It is expected that the visit will address the "interests and concerns" of the two countries and that "all substantive" issues having bearing on the ties, including the boundary dispute, will be discussed.

"As regards to issues on the table, sure there are unresolved issues, including the boundary question.... Yes, it will be discussed," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said.

On being asked about the expectations from the high-profile visit, he said, "The key expectation is that we address issues of interests and concerns to each other. The path towards solution is based on the beginning of addressing those issues."

Asked whether Kashmir, Tibet and stapled visa will figure in the talks, the spokesperson said the two countries know the "sensitivities" of each other and it was the intention of both the countries to try and work out issues accordingly.

On issuance of staple visa to people of Arunachal by China, he said India's stand has been that no differentiation should be made to people from any part of India.

Apart from big announcements in the economic sector, including big Chinese investments in railways networks, industrial parks and smart city projects, Xi and Modi are expected to discuss cooperation in the nuclear energy, trade deficit and visa regime.

The PM will host a private dinner for President Xi on the Sabarmati riverfront after which the Chinese leader will depart for Delhi, the spokesperson said.

Top

 

Visitors’ list
Reveal source of info, SC tells Bhushan
R Sedhuraman
Legal Correspondent

New Delhi, September 15
The Supreme Court today directed advocate Prashant Bhushan, who has levelled allegations against CBI Director Ranjit Sinha of protecting accused in the 2G case, to reveal the name of the whistleblower from whom he got CBI documents and the guest list of the senior cop’s residence.

The SC said it would go into the merit of allegations against Sinha after knowing the name of the whistleblower who leaked the documents, including the purported entry register of the Sinha’s residence.

A Bench of Justices HL Dattu and SA Bobde said the affidavit filed by Bhushan was not in consonance with the SC rules and asked him to reveal the source from whom he got all documents.

Sinha’s senior counsel Vikas Singh said an English daily had published a news item on September 8, stating that petitioner Prashant Bhushan for the Centre for Public Interest Litigation (CPIL) would submit to the SC later in the day a guest entry register maintained at the gate of Sinha’s residence to substantiate the allegation that 2G accused had in fact visited the CBI Director many a time.

This turned out to be correct when Bhushan submitted the register to the Bench hours later, Singh said. While doing so, Bhushan had told the Bench that a whistleblower had come to his house the previous night to hand over the register, requesting anonymity. Bhushan opposed to reveal the name of the whistleblower.

Top

 





HOME PAGE | Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir | Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs | Nation | Opinions |
| Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi |
| Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | E-mail |