Jammu, November 3
More than 1,000 patients admitted to eight government hospitals of the city were not provided free food today as the contractor has stopped its supply.

The hospital administration has, however, requested the contractor to resume supply from tomorrow after giving him assurance of taking up the matter of payment of his dues with the state government.

More than 1,000 patients admitted to different hospitals of the city, who were waiting for their breakfast this morning, got nothing, but disappointment. Unlike other days, no one come in the wards to serve breakfast to patients as the date of the ultimatum served to the administration by the contractor had passed and the contractor stopped the supply of free food to patients.

Bashir Ahmed, a patient from Mahore admitted to Government Medical College (GMC), said, “A glass of milk and four slices of bread were being provided in breakfast by the hospital, but today neither the breakfast, nor the lunch was served.”

“We are very poor. We can’t afford costly medicines and if they even stop the free meal then it will be difficult for us to stay here for treatment,”  he added.

The Mahamaya Sales Corporation was providing food in eight hospitals — Government Medical College (GMC), Super Speciality Hospital, District Hospital, Sarwal, Gandhi Nagar District Hospital, Psychiatric Disease Hospital, Chest Disease Hospital, Ayurvedic Hospital and SMGS Hospital. The payment of Rs 1,61,68,841 is pending with these hospitals till September, 2014.

With the withdrawal of services by the contractor, the principal of GMC along with the medical superintendent of other hospitals hurriedly called a meeting with the contractor, in which they requested the contractor to restore the supply and assured him that they would take up his matter with the government after opening of Durbar in Jammu.

Dr Ghanshyam Dev Gupta, Principal, GMC, said, “We have assured the contractor that we will talk to the government and his payments will be made shortly. He has agreed to restore the supply from tomorrow.”

Rakesh Chowdhary of the Mahamaya Sales Corporation said, “As per our ultimatum, we have stopped the supply. As our conscious does not allow us to stop food supply to the patients, so after the assurance of the GMC principal, we have decided to restore supply from tomorrow.”

“We have extended our ultimatum to November 30. If they do not pay at least 50 per cent of the dues, we will stop the supply indefinitely,” he added.

We have assured the contractor that we will talk to the government and his payments will be made shortly. He has agreed to restore the supply from Tuesday.— Dr Ghanshyam Dev Gupta, Principal, GMC

Srinagar, November 3
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said he planned to develop Beerwah and Sonwar, from where he would contest in the upcoming Assembly elections, as tourist destinations.

Omar, who held meetings with delegations of party activists from the two constituencies today, shared plans to develop Beerwah and Sonawar as “model constituencies” that “epitomise infrastructure development, employment boom and an impetus to the tourism sector,” the National Conference (NC) said in a statement.

“Both Beerwah and Sonawar have enormous tourism potential and my dream is to see numerous world-class tourism destinations developed in these areas,” said Omar, who is also the working president of the NC.

Omar mentioned the Tosa Maidan meadow of Beerwah, which was formerly a firing range, promising he “will not rest” until it becomes a “premium destination” on the tourism map.

“Our efforts to develop Tosa Maidan as a tourism destination have borne good results in the initial phases as the meadow has been sanitised and the firing range moved. There are dozens of beautiful destinations in both Beerwah and Sonawar and I will not rest until each one of these places with high tourism potential become prominent and premium destinations on our tourism map,” he said.

The Chief Minister said his party would continue to lead the state towards development and take its “pro-youth policies and initiatives” forward.

“The National Conference successfully centered its policies, while in the government, around a core agenda of youth development and employment generation as the party believes in the youth of our state and their ability to lead the state towards new frontiers of dignity and economic independence,” he said.

Tribune News Service
In one sentence, the 2014 Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir is a definite referendum on Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. Curtains have already been drawn on what he rightly termed as the “first term” as Chief Minister, but what remains open to question is whether he will be making it to the second consecutive term. He is confident.

But his critics, particularly the PDP, has read part of the answer in his decision to contest from two seats --- something that no sitting Chief Minister has done ever before --- and calling off decades-old relationship with his family bastion Ganderbal. There may be something more than what appears to be true at this stage. Omar has offered his own logic for choosing the constituencies of Sonwar --- where he lives --- and Beerwah, where his ties date back to his grandmother’s days. It is a fact that he had told The Tribune months ago that he would not contest from Ganderbal. He never offered the reason for that, but he believed that each NC worker there had assumed the airs of being a Chief Minister and that was piling up problems for him and the party. The parliamentary polls had shown it amply.

This time Omar has to lead from the front and deliver. His mentor and father Farooq Abdullah is not well, and he has no second in command and for that matter not even a third anywhere close to his stature. The scion of the first political family in Kashmir is all alone in this battle in which he is in the line of fire of all his opponents and erstwhile allies.

One thing that no one in this political arena can ignore is that Omar is just 44. He has a long political innings to play, but it all depends on which path he will choose after the elections. If his party National Conference wins – which looks a distant dream at the moment given the public discourse against the government --- then everything is fine for him. And, if not, Omar has to demonstrate rare perseverance to stay afloat in Kashmir politics. He had lost the election in 2002, but his party had 28 seats and his father was active in politics to guide him and keep the flock together. Dissenting voices were kept in check. As to what he will do post elections, this question will be best answered by the poll results.

Standing in the streets of Srinagar post floods, the first impression that the residents give is that the government failed them. When translated, the government is not the whole of the government --- ministers, bureaucracy and other agencies of the establishment --- but Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. To all of them, he is the government. A bitter fact that he cannot escape.

Floods have caused the severest of damage to the people and their properties. With winter setting in, the flood-hit people, especially those rendered homeless, are looking for someone to come to them and rescue them from the tragic situation. They want something more than mere assurances. The Supreme Court’s observations that the model code of conduct be relaxed for Jammu and Kashmir has substantiated Omar’s point that the code will pose hurdles in the relief and rehabilitation of the flood-affected population.

This is not all about the flood-hit people only but also about the entire population of the state which has devised its own yardstick to judge the performance of Omar Abdullah. Whether they will vote for the NC or its rivals, depends on the places where they live. But all of them are of the single view that this is going to be a referendum on Omar Abdullah, who was a man of the new dawn in 2009. Now he is carrying a baggage of the past six years.

Before he took over as Chief Minister in January 2009, Omar was believed to be a good administrator. It was thought that he would weed out corruption, make the bureaucracy accountable and force ministers to work. The transfer industry flourishing in the state had plagued governance.

There was initial enthusiasm, but his love for gadgets even in the most important meetings made ministers and bureaucrats take him non-seriously.

Ministers were indulging in corrupt practices, making money and buying land or building empires, but Omar looked the other way. Even when he wanted to act, he was told pros and cons. A lobby kept away from taking action. Corruption and the transfer industry bloomed. The hallmark is that no work is done without paying bribe.

Two things are clear about Omar Abdullah’s style. His style has been different from his predecessors. This was visible for the last six years. With his grasp over power of things told to him, Omar shows signs of impatience when someone keeps repeating things once explained.

That is not the way Kashmiris used to behave. His father Farooq Abdullah had often complained that his son was not warm to people. “Please tell him to be people-oriented and reach out to them,” Farooq had pleaded to his friends.

He is an introvert who rarely shares with others his feelings about things. Man of a close circle, details never reach him. There are iron curtains between reality and him. He was often told what would please rulers.

His style of staying isolated was sought to be compensated by full-page advertisements in newspapers and arranging interviews on television channels, which did more damage than good to his image. 

Omar was never comfortable with the idea of sharing power, but the electoral arithmetic of the 2008 Assembly polls made him accept that reality.

Both Farooq and Omar had stated that the NC-Congress alliance from 1986 to 1990 was the biggest blunder and the party would never commit that mistake again.

When the time came again, the NC wooed the Congress and the latter was keen to play the role of kingmaker. The wounds of betrayal by the PDP in the last coalition government were so fresh that the Congress opted for the NC, primarily because Rahul Gandhi and Omar were friends.

Omar did not share his ideas with Congress ministers. At times, Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand was informed about important meetings through Deputy Secretary level officers.

Omar took advantage of factionalism in the Congress by playing Ghulam Nabi Azad faction against Saifuddin Soz group and vice versa. At the end, both factions understood things, but it was too late.

The NC and the PDP have mutual hatred for each other. Omar and Mehbooba Mufti shared this legacy. To begin with, Omar tried to reach out to the Muftis. After becoming the Chief Minister, he visited their place and sought their cooperation. Things worsened within weeks and reached a flashpoint when the PDP alleged his involvement in the sex scandal in the Assembly in 2009.

“I can never forget the way Mehbooba nudged Muzzaffar Hussain Beig to rise and level charges against me,” Omar had told a reporter.

Mehbooba had alleged that Omar government made an attempt to get her murdered when she visited Shopian in 2009.

With killings on the streets in 2010, the PDP pointed fingers at Omar. In turn, he blamed the PDP for inciting the youth. In 2014, when the floods ravaged Kashmir, the blame game started again. The PDP accused Omar and his government of negligence. The timing of elections became an issue of mutual accusations. The PDP hailed the decision the day elections were announced while Omar claimed that the opposition party was power hungry.

Omar brought with him the image of impeccable secular person and champion of regional balance. During the Amarnath land row agitation in 2008, he had ridiculed the idea of the PDP that Jammu could take two and a half districts.

“The should know that there are tens of thousands of Muslims in what they call two and a half districts,” he had then said. The way he over focused on the Kashmir valley and ignored the other regions, particularly Jammu, gave a boost to regionalism.

Regionalism is at its peak now. Kashmiris distrust the people of Jammu and vice versa. There is no unifying force in the state. The NC had emerged as a pan-state party, but under the current regime, it followed the path of disintegrating the state on regional and communal lines.

2009

January 5: Takes over as youngest Chief Minister

February: Confrontation

with Army begins

February: Stone throwing starts in streets of Srinagar

May: Two Shopian girls allegedly raped and murdered

July: Omar resigns over sex scandal, resignation rejected

October: Raises issue of political solution of Kashmir

2010

February-March: Stone throwing picks up in Srinagar

May: Fake encounter of three Sopore youths at Machail

June: Teenager killed, street demonstrations intensify

July: Talks of father replacing him occur, Farooq refuses

October: Omar questions accession in Assembly

2011

April-May: Panchayat elections successful

October: Omar declares AFSPA will be withdrawn

November: Army says AFSPA cannot be withdrawn

2012

September: Death of NC leader Haji Yusuf after the interrogation at CM’s residence, judicial commission gives clean chit

2013

February 9: Execution of Afzal Guru, sparks law and order problem

2014

April-May: PDP & BJP win in General Election

September: Devastating floods in many parts of state, particularly Srinagar

Compiled by Arun Joshi

Jammu/Udhampur/Rajouri, November 3
A day after the BJP dropped eight sitting MLAs while releasing the first list of the party candidates for the upcoming Assembly elections, four legislators have raised a banner of revolt and announced to contest as Independents.

Sources said sitting BJP MLA from Basholi Jagdesh Raj Sapolia was in touch with the Congress and the party was likely to field him from the Basholi segment.

The BJP has announced to field Choudhary Lal Singh, two-time Congress MP from the Basholi segment, from Basholi in place of Sapolia this time. Meanwhile, BJP MLA Bharat Bhushan from the Raipur-Domana (reserved) constituency said: “I will contest the elections as an Independent candidate because my supporters are exerting pressure on me.”

“The final announcement in this regard would be made on Wednesday,” he said and hoped that the voters from the Raipur-Domana segment would give a befitting reply to the BJP for its wrong decision. Raising a banner of revolt, MLA Reasi Baldev Raj Sharma today announced to contest the elections as an Independent candidate. “No question of accepting the wrong and unfortunate decision of the BJP high command,” Sharma said and regretted that the BJP leaders had victimised them without any reason.

“Some parties have not announced their candidates for the Reasi seat so let us explore the possibilities,” he said. Dropping Sharma, the BJP has announced to give ticket to Ajay Nanda from the Reasi seat.

MLA Bani Master Lal Chand has already announced to contest the Assembly elections as an Independent candidate. He has started a door-to-door campaign in the segment.

MLA from Hiranagar Durga Dass has termed the decision of the high command to drop eight sitting MLAs as unfortunate. He also hinted that he would contest the elections as an Independent.

After being denied party ticket, state secretary and senior BJP leader Pawan Gupta left the party today and decided to contest as an Independent candidate from the Udhampur Assembly segment. Gupta told mediapersons here today that he had been a victim of a conspiracy hatched by those sitting at the state BJP office. He said the process of selection of candidates adopted by the party was faulty and those who had worked for the party for years and had the potential to win were not given nomination by the party.

He accused state BJP president Jugal Kishore Sharma for having a nexus with Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party to weaken the BJP. Hundreds of supporters of Pawan Gupta today protested against the BJP for not giving ticket to him. He had contested from the Udhampur Assembly segment twice.

Meanwhile, annoyed at the BJP for denying him a ticket, three-time former district president, in charge, Poonch and Rajouri districts, and sarpanch Yogesh Sharma has resigned from the primary membership of the party. 

Jammu, November 3
To consolidate the displaced Kashmiri Pandit votes in the Valley, the BJP today decided to field three candidates from the community in the coming Assembly elections in Kashmir.

While Moti Koul, a prominent businessman who has highlighted the plight of Kashmiri Pandits at national and international forums since their exodus from the Valley in 1990, will represent the Habbakadal constituency, BJP has nominated party worker Ashok Bhat from the downtown Khanyar Assembly segment. Desh Kumar Nehru, a social worker, will contest the Rafiabad seat.

There are 92,000 Pandit voters spread in 44 constituencies of the Valley and the community could play an important role in several Assembly segments if separatists succeed in their election boycott campaign and the turnout remains low.

As per the Election Commission data, the Habbakadal segment has the highest number of 14,892 Pandit voters, followed by 4,107 in the Amerakadal. The Khanyar Assembly segment has 1,219 migrant votes.

At present the Habbakadal constituency is being represented by National Conference (NC) legislator Shamima Firdous.

Khanyar is considered as a hub of separatist politics and voting percentage has remained low in the segment during the previous elections. In 2008 Assembly polls, NC leader and Minister for Law and Panchayati Raj Ali Mohammad Sagar retained the seat.

Nehru, who would be contesting the Rafiabad seat, has not migrated from the Valley and the BJP is hoping to cash in on the anti-NC wave in the area.

The segment is being represented by NC leader Javaid Ahmed Dar.

From Amirakadal, which has also a sizable number of Pandit voters, the BJP has nominated Hina Bhat. Her father and NC leader Mohammad Shafi Bhat had represented the constituency in 2002.

At present, NC’s Nasir Aslam Wani represents the segment.

“In Habbakadal, Amirakadal and Khanyar, the voter turnout has remained low during the 1996, 2002 and 2008 Assembly polls and if the party is able to prevent a division of votes among the Pandit community, the seats could be easily won,” said a BJP leader working in Kashmir.

During the five-phase polls, most of the migrants will cast their vote in 26-special polling stations established in Jammu, New Delhi and Udhampur.

“My focus is on the entire constituency, but as I represent the community, our focus will be to get their support. I will be campaigning in Srinagar and Jammu,” said Moti Koul.

Srinagar, November 3
Union Food Minister and Lok Janashakti Party (LJP) chief Ram Vilas Paswan today nominated Sanjay Saraf for the Habbakadal Assembly segment.

The decision to filed Saraf from Habbakadal was reached after overnight deliberations on contesting various Assembly seats in the coming elections.

Paswan, who arrived here yesterday, held discussion with the party cadre before announcing Saraf’s candidature.

This will be the third time that Saraf would be contesting the Habbakadal seat.

Saraf, who is also the national vice president of the LJP, had unsuccessfully contested the last two Assembly elections from Habbakadal.

The constituency is currently represented by National Conference legislator Shameema Firdous.

“It has been decided that the party would participate in the Assembly elections. It was also decided that Sanjay Saraf will be the party candidate for the Habbakadal constituency,” Paswan told reporters.

“The party is also planning to field candidates in parts of Jammu and Udhampur districts,” he said, adding that the parliamentary board of the party, which is scheduled to meet in Delhi tonight, would discuss the matter.

Paswan further said the situation vis-à-vis the elections was different in the Valley and the Jammu region, where the National Conference, Congress, BJP and the Peoples Democratic Party were the major players.

He, however, said: “The decision lies with the people.”

Replying to a question, the Union Minister said the people of the state were not satisfied with the coalition government led by the National Conference.

Asked about nominating its candidates against the coalition partner BJP, Paswan said though the LJP was an ally of the BJP at the Centre, it was taking decisions on the participation in elections on its own and in the interests of the party.

The Habbakadal Assembly segment of Srinagar had the highest number of Kashmiri Pandit voters prior to their migration in 1990.

The constituency, therefore, has the highest number of migrant voters as compared to any other Assembly segment in the Valley.

As per the data, the constituency had 52,790 registered voters, including 14,892 migrant voters, in the last Lok Sabha elections.

Sanjay Saraf, a Kashmir Pandit, who is also the national Vice President of LJP, unsuccessfully contested the last two Assembly elections from Habbakadal. 

Jammu, November 3
The National Conference (NC) today lashed out at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) alleging that it was “spreading falsehood with an aim to grab power”.

Interacting with the party workers here, NC vice president Rattan Lal Gupta said: “The NC-led government has transformed the developmental landscape of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh in the last six years. It has given a new dimension to the governance by making the government accountable to the people.”

Gupta urged people to extend “full support” to the National Conference candidates, saying: “It will be a support to the forward looking policies and programmes being implemented by the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah-led government.”

NC state vice president Thakur Kashmira Singh exuded confidence that the party would register a resounding victory in the coming elections and said that strong and stable government alone can meet the challenges faced to the state.

“Time has come for the people to choose a strong government which can take care of their aspirations,” Singh said.

Addressing a series of public meetings in the Vijaypur Assembly segment, NC candidate Surjeet Singh Slathia said the party was the “real secular and democratic political party” which represents the aspirations of the people of all three regions of J&K.

“The defeated politicians and vested interests don’t want the NC to raise peoples’ socio-political issues in the highest corridors of power. These elements are hell-bent upon weakening the NC and throttle the voice of people. They will not succeed in their nefarious designs.” — TNS

Jammu, November 3
While BJP leaders accompanied their candidate during the filing of nomination papers for the Doda Assembly constituency, no National Conference (NC) leader was present when the Doda candidate of the party filed his papers today.

Hundreds of supporters accompanied NC candidate Khalid Najeeb Suharwardy and BJP candidate Shakti Parihar when they filed their nomination papers in Doda.

Sources in NC said the party had not yet finalised the campaigners for the six constituencies of Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban districts which will go to the polls in the first phase of elections on November 25. The party is hopeful of improving its tally this time in the constituencies.

“No senior leader was directed to reach Doda and accompany the NC candidate,” a source said.

The BJP candidate was accompanied by Union Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office Jitendra Singh and BJP J&K in charge Avinash Rai Khanna, which boosted the morale of the party workers.

The Doda constituency is going to the polls along with 14 others constituencies in the first phase. The last date for filing of nomination papers is November 5. The scrutiny of papers will be done on November 7. November 10 is the last date of withdrawal of papers.

Eyewitnesses said many vehicles, carrying supporters of the BJP candidate, accompanied him to Doda. They raised slogans in favour of the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Though the rally of the NC candidate was bigger than that of the BJP’s, the absence of a senior party leader was felt badly.

Jammu, November 3
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) today alleged that the BJP was aiming at increasing its presence in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly through a “divisive agenda” and said the party remains “unflinchingly firm” on resisting any such plan.

“The state is facing an entirely new political scenario with the BJP emerging in some areas as a major force and aiming at increasing its presence in the Assembly through a divisive agenda that is based on communal polarisation and sectarian differences,” PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said while addressing a public meeting at Banihal.

“The BJP won three seats in the last parliamentary elections by promoting communal polarisation and is now planning to create sectarian division even within the Muslim community.

The PDP remains unflinchingly firm on resisting this divisive agenda of the BJP,” she said.

The PDP leader said the people of Jammu and Kashmir need to rise above the “sectarian division” and “communal polarisation” to give a decisive and inclusive mandate to the PDP for equitable development of all regions and sub-regions of the state.

Invoking Kashmiri Pandits and their return to the Valley, Mehbooba said the BJP was converting the community into a “political commodity”.

“While the PDP will seriously work on dignified return and rehabilitation of the migrant Pandit community, the BJP is now converting them into a political commodity by banking on their votes in a few Kashmir constituencies….The BJP is hoping that the poll boycott will help them in their designs,” she said.

“Such a negative strategy is harmful for any society, but for a sensitive state like J&K this could be out-rightly disastrous,” cautioned Mehbooba.

She also said the state NC-Congress government has earned the anger and disapproval of the people all across the state because of its “misdeeds, corruption, scandals, and inefficiency”.

“The formation of the next government by the PDP is a foregone conclusion. But it is in the hands of the people how strong a mandate they will give to Mufti Mohammad Sayeed to address the heavy challenges the state is faced with,” she added. — TNS

Jammu, November 3
Congress leader and Minister for Urban Development Nawang Rigzin Jora today filed his nomination papers from Leh.

The Congress candidate was accompanied by senior party leaders and supporters to the office of the Returning Officer. With his nomination, there are now two candidates in the fray for the Leh seat so far.

The BJP candidate for the seat, Chering Dorjay, has already filed his nomination papers.

For the two Assembly seats of Kargil and Zanskar no nomination was filed today. The last day of filing nomination papers is November 5.

As per the affidavit, Jora has movable assets worth Rs 11.83 lakh in his name, Rs 10.05 lakh in the name of his wife and Rs 24.65 lakh in the name of dependents.

He has immovable property worth Rs 269.97 lakh in his name and Rs 102 lakh in his wife’s name. It includes 1.16 kanal non-agricultural land with a current market value of Rs 14.40 lakh, a hotel in Leh worth Rs 95.20 lakh and two residential buildings, including an apartment in Rajender Nagar, Delhi, valued at Rs 1.10 crore. The minister has a liability of Rs 5 lakh.

Jora’s wife owns a plot in Nidesh Colony, Jammu, with a current market value of Rs 22 lakh, a joint apartment at Rajender Nagar, Delhi, and another apartment in Sidhra, Jammu, worth Rs 80 lakh. 

Jammu, November 3
The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) has started eight day-long camp for the displaced Kashmiri Pandits living in Jammu city to fill M-Forms for the first and second phase of the Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir.

Assistant Returning Officer (Migrants) (ARO-M) Sachan Dev Singh said Kashmiri migrants, who wished to cast their vote would have to fill M- Form and give choice of the polling station. “Those who want to cast their vote through postal ballot may apply on Form 12-C and submit in the offices of the ARO (Migrants) in Jammu, Udhampur and Delhi, so that postal ballots are dispatched to addresses,” Sachan Dev Singh said.

He said inclusions and corrections would be made up to the last date of nomination for a constituency concerned.

Displaced Pandits have been alleging that cumbersome process to fill M-Form has deprived thousands of community members from exercising their franchise in the Parliamentary and Assembly elections in the state.

Officials said keeping in view the problems faced by the Pandits, special camps would be set up ahead of every phase of polls to ensure that they were able to cast their votes.

During the Parliamentary elections, even community members who had filled mandatory ‘M-Forms’ were turned back from the polling booth at several places after they found that their names had been deleted from the rolls. This led to protests by people at Muthi, Purkhoo, Jagti and Nagrota camp townships against the Election Commission of India (ECI) and Relief Commission.

Jammu, November 3
The Third Eye Anti-Crime Team, an NGO, received an award from MLA from the Bishnah constituency Ashwani Sharma for performing duties in border relief camps.

The camps were established at Golden Palace, Deoli, and Royal Farms, Natral, of Jammu district during cross-border firing.

Chairman of the organization Sham Lal Gupta and members were invited to Neelam Palace, Bishnah, wherein the award was presented by Ashwani Sharma. The Third Eye Anti-Crime Team performed duties for 17 days in which its 64 volunteers participated.

Speaking on the occasion, Ashwani Sharma appreciated the NGO for its efforts toward humanity and hoped that it would continue doing it with same zeal in future as well.

Sahil Gupta, Bachan Kumar, Rashpal Chand, Raj Kumar, Ankush Kumar, Dr Ghara Singh and Charan Dass were present. — TNS

Jammu, November 3
Ahead of the Assembly elections in the state, the Army in tandem with other security forces and Intelligence agencies today reviewed security scenario in the twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch at the Romeo Force headquarters in the Palma area of Rajouri.

“A joint security group conference was organised at the Romeo Force headquarters to take stock of the prevailing security situation in the area and chalk out a joint strategy to keep Rajouri and Poonch districts free of any untoward incidents in view of the forthcoming Assembly elections,” said defence spokesperson Lt Col Manish Mehta.

The meeting was chaired by Maj Gen PS Rajeshwar, General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Romeo Force, and was attended by Jitendra Kumar Singh, Rajouri Deputy Commissioner, Mohammed Hussain Malik, Poonch Deputy Commissioner, Haseeb Mughal, Rajouri Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), and other representatives of the civil administration, police, security and Intelligence agencies, the defence spokesperson said.

Poonch and Rajouri districts have been the soft target of the Pakistani troops. The Pakistani troops have been targeting Indian positions and civilians in the two districts, besides trying to push in militants into the state to flare up insurgency.

Meanwhile, there are apprehensions among the security forces that Pakistan may again start firing and increase intrusion bids to disturb the elections.

Major General Rajeshwar appreciated the high level of synergy in operations exhibited by all security agencies in recent times. He encouraged all of them to overcome contemporary challenges and work towards enhancing confidence among people.

He further emphasised the need to remain vigilant, alive and responsive to the developing situation so as to maintain peace and ensure a peaceful and conducive environment.

The Rajouri SSP briefed the gathering on the prevailing internal security situation and steps initiated to ensure communal harmony in the region.

Participants expressed their views on various issues and management of environment prevailing in the region. 

Anantnag, November 3
General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Victor Force Maj Gen ST Upasani today said the security apparatus in the Valley was well-prepared to ensure that the forthcoming Assembly elections were held peacefully.

“We are in the know of everything that has been happening in terms of security. The forthcoming elections will be conducted peacefully and smoothly,” the GOC said.

He was talking to mediapersons on the sidelines of a relief distribution programme held by the 1 Rashtriya Rifles at the High Ground in Anantnag.

A blood donation camp was also held by the Army today.

Dismissing concerns that the growing number of youths, joining the militant ranks, was a threat to the Assembly elections, Major General Upasani said various security agencies were working in tandem.

“We have Intelligence inputs regarding everything and I don’t think the youth joining militant ranks are a cause for concern as far as the elections are concerned,” he said in reply to a question.

The relief distribution camp was a part of the series of similar camps held in many parts of the Valley.

The GOC said the blood donation camp by Army personnel was the biggest in the Valley. He said 564 units of blood had already been donated.

The 1 Rashtriya Rifles had identified 34 flood-affected families from the Nai Basti area of Anantnag to whom the relief material was given today.

The GOC, while praising the Army for its efforts during the floods, said the cooperation of the local boys was phenomenal. “Local boys have been at the forefront. The Army has played a supporting role,” he said. 

Jammu, November 3
On the occasion of the Vigilance Awareness Week, Army Public School, Damana, organised an awareness programme on the theme, “Combating corruption: Technology as an enabler” on the school premises here.

Rajesh Bakshi, Chief Prosecuting Officer, J&K Police, was the chief guest. He spoke on “How e-judiciary has helped making court proceedings more transparent”.

He laid emphasis on the transparency and accountability of the system with corruption-free functioning, besides focusing on the modernisation of world with e-governance, e-mailing and e-judiciary, etc.

Bakshi also stressed on carrying, managing and monitoring the problems in a crystal clear manner so as to deliver and receive justice. He also introduced the benefits of e-judiciary and how it has helped in making court proceedings more transparent.

Various activities like seminars, slogan writing and debates were also conducted to create awareness on combating corruption. A seminar was conducted wherein Loveneesh Kapoor was the resource person. The programme concluded with the national anthem.

Jammu, November 3
A grand “Gurmat samagam” was held at Digiana Ashram in connection with the 23rd death anniversary of Mahat Bachiter Singh, the 12th Mahapurash of the Siromani Dera Nagali Sahib, Poonch.

Akhand path was organised on November 1. A large number of Sikhs from many parts of the state participated in the religious event. Religious preachers and leaders of various social and political organisation also participated and paid tributes to Mahant.

While addressing the gathering, Minister for Housing Raman Bhalla appreciated the role of religious leaders in the service of humanity and in every field of life.

Srinagar, November 3
To provide succour to the flood-hit people, the Chief Justice of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court has asked the judges of the High Court and all district judges of the state to contribute towards the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund for the flood victims.

After collecting the relief amount, the Registrar General of the High Court has been asked to issue a consolidated cheque in favour of the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.

Many judges and judicial staff were affected by the floods which devastated Srinagar city and other parts of the region in September.

While the deluge on September 7 inundated the High Court in Srinagar, the floodwaters also entered the official residence of Chief Justice MM Kumar in the Sonawar area of Srinagar city.

As per the orders issued by the Chief Justice, it has been decided that the Chief Justice and all judges of the High Court would contribute Rs 10,000 each towards the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.

Likewise, all district judges of the state have been urged by the Chief Justice to contribute Rs 5,000 each towards the relief fund.

“All civil judges (Senior Division)/sub-judges and civil judges (Junior Division)/munsifs of the state may contribute Rs 2,500/- each for the CM’s Relief Fund,” read the administrative order, circulated by Registrar General Suresh Kumar Sharma to the state judiciary this week.

Besides, the gazetted officers of the High Court and sub-ordinate courts of the state have been asked to contribute Rs 1,000 each to the relief fund, while the non-gazetted employees/officials of the High Court and all other sub-ordinate courts have been directed to contribute Rs 500 each to the fund.

As per the orders, all Principal District and Sessions judges of the state have been directed to deposit the collected amount with J&K Bank at the High Court in the Jammu wing.

Srinagar, November 3
There is no official record or precedent to suggest a breach of the Jhelum at Kandizal could have saved Srinagar from the kind of floods which were witnessed in September.

Critics are of the opinion that had the authorities acted swiftly and made a breach in the Jhelum at Kandizal, Srinagar city would have been saved from the devastating floods of September 7.

The Irrigation and Flood Control (I&FC) Department has already completed a preliminary survey for the construction of an alternative flood spill channel from Dogripora in Pulwama to Niglee in north Kashmir. It is awaiting the government’s nod to prepare a detailed project report in this regard.

Chief Engineer, I&FC, Javed Jaffer, whose department is facing flak for mismanaging floods, told The Tribune that by the morning of September 4, a breach of about 400 feet had naturally developed at Kandizal. This was followed by more beaches at Kakpora Dogripora and Khandermoh by September 6.

“I have not come across any official record or instance to suggest breaching of Jhelum at Kandizal during flood alerts. I checked with former and retired engineers of the department who also denied knowledge about any such practice or official procedure adopted in the past,” Jaffer said.

He said the notion about not breaching the river at Kandizal was incorrect as the huge discharge had pre-empted such an action.

“This notion is illogical as saving Srinagar city at the cost of other populated areas is not the solution. The long-term solution lies in the construction of an additional flood spill channel from Dogripora in Pulwama to Ninglee in north Kashmir with a carrying capacity of 60,000 cusecs,” Jaffer added.

He said even the Army authorities, who were in constant touch with the civil administration from September 3, were informed about the breach at Kandizal on September 4.

The Army in a statement on October 18 had said that the breach of the Jhelum embankment at Kandizal would have saved Srinagar from the floods. The statement had drawn flak from the state government.

“Before the formulation of a detailed project report about the new flood channel, we need to carry out a detailed survey. That will need government approval,” the Chief Engineer said.

He said the department was also preparing a detailed report about “Floods in Kashmir — Future Initiatives” which would be shared with the public. 

Srinagar, November 3
Chairman of moderate Hurriyat Conference Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has condemned the government crackdown on the separatist leaders of Kashmir ahead of the Assembly elections.

In a statement here, the moderate leader also criticised the authorities for imposing restrictions in Srinagar city to thwart Muharram processions.

“The crackdown on the Hurriyat leaders in the garb of so called Assembly elections is highly condemnable,” Mirwaiz said in a statement here, adding, “People of Kashmir cannot abandon their struggle for freedom.”

As part of its crackdown ahead of the forthcoming Assembly elections, the J&K Police had on October 30 raided and rounded off several separatist leaders from different parts of the Valley, which included Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front chairman Yasin Malik, senior Hurriyat leader and Democratic Freedom Party chairman Shabbir Shah, National Front head Nayeem Khan, hardline Hurriyat chief Syed Ali Geelani’s aide and general secretary of the Tehreek-e-Hurriyat Mohammad Ashraf Sehrai, Geelani’s spokesman Ayaz Akbar and other second-rung leaders and activists. He criticised the authorities for imposing restrictions on Muharram processions.

Srinagar, November 3
Air Commodore MY Marathe took over the command of Air Force Station, Srinagar, as Air Officer Commanding (AOC) from Air Commodore B Balachandran subsequent to a ceremonial parade which was held at the Air Force Station here today.

Air Commodore Marathe was commissioned in the Indian Air Force as a fighter pilot on June 13, 1987. He had been posted to various fighter squadrons and has a vast experience in fighter operations.

A spokesman for the Defence said Marathe was a Fighter Combat Leader and a Pilot Attack Instructor.

He has undergone the prestigious Defence Services Staff College Course.

During his illustrious career, Air Commodore Marathe has held many important assignments and staff appointments, including the command of an Air Force Station and a fighter squadron, the Defence spokesman added.

Srinagar, November 3
The J&K Light Infantry Regimental Centre organised a wreath-laying ceremony in honour of one of the gallantry martyrs of the Indian Army, Major Somnath Sharma, at the Major Somnath Sharma Memorial located at the Srinagar International Airport.

Brigadier Pankaj Sinha, Commandant, JAK LI Regimental Centre, laid the wreath on the behalf of Chinar Corps as a mark of respect to the martyr.

Brigadier Sinha said the supreme sacrifice of Major Sharma had set an example of courage and leadership qualities that would seldom be equalled in the history of the Indian Army. Besides officers and men of the Indian Army, representatives from the BSF, JKP and airport authorities also laid the wreaths and attended the event to pay homage to the brave son of India.

Major Sharma, son of Major General Amarnath Sharma, was born on January 31, 1922, in HP.

On October 22, 1947, when Pakistan launched the tribal invasion of Jammu & Kashmir with intention to grab the Kashmir valley by force, the D Company of 4 Kumaon, led by Major Somnath Sharma, was airlifted to Srinagar on October 31 as part of the Indian Army’s response after the Instrument of Accession was signed.

Major Somnath Sharma with his arm in plaster, on November 3, 1947, established a base at Bagdam against raiders approaching Srinagar from the northern direction. In the contact that followed, despite facing a numerically superior enemy force of about 700 raiders supported with small arms, mortars and heavy automatics, Major Sharma and his troops held on to their positions and did not let the enemy succeed in his designs.

The effort of the soldiers stemmed the tide of the enemy advance on Srinagar and the airfield for some crucial hours. In this decisive battle of Badgam, Major Somnath Sharma along with one JCO and 20 other ranks made the supreme sacrifice defending their country against all odds. For his unparalleled courage, Major Sharma was honoured with the Param Vir Chakra. 

Srinagar, November 3
Besides immense loss to the heritage of Kashmir, the floods on September 7 left a trail of devastation in the historical graveyard and century old Christian cemetery. The destruction washed away graves, leaving mud and slush everywhere. Both burial grounds are in the city.

In the old city’s Zaina Kadal, the ravaging floodwaters broke the wall of the 15th-century graveyard on the right bank of the Jhelum. It is near Zainakadal and is known as the graveyard of sultans. It is the ground where bodies of Zain-ul Abideen, his mother and Mirza Hyder Dughlat were buried.

The floodwaters damaged its architecture, which was a remarkable example of the Shahmiri school. It spoke of ages-old heritage. Near his ‘mazaar’ is a tomb of Zain-ul Abideen’s mother. He ruled from 1420-1470 and got it constructed in 1465. He is considered to have introduced love of art in Kashmir.

“It is known as the graveyard of monarchs and is one of the oldest burial grounds in the Valley. The site of the tomb of Zain-ul Abideen is where bodies of rulers of Kashmir and their families were buried,” said poet and historian Zareef Ahmad Zareef.

When the level of the Jhelum rose above the danger mark, it washed away a part of the graveyard. Many graves were washed away, including that of a Mughal emperor.

“Among graves which were washed away was that of Haider Duglat. He was a chronicler of history of Mughal era, author of Tarikh-i-Rashidi and cousin of Mughal emperor Babur. This graveyard is also known as Mazaar-e-Salateen,” said Saleem Beg, INTACH head in Kashmir.

The floods damaged the centuries-old Christian cemetery as well. Located in Sheikh Bagh near Lal Chowk, the cemetery lies adjacent to the Bund on the bank of the Jhelum near a Christian missionary school. The concrete wall which marked its boundary was washed away by the ravaging Jhelum waters.

“Bodies of most British army officers associated with the Residency and medical and educational missionaries are buried here. Many of these graves were washed away in the floods,” said the historian. A well-known grave is that of British army officer Robert Thorpe. He had arrived in Kashmir in 1865 and fought for Kashmir’s right to self-determination. “He was killed in 1868 by forces of Gulab Singh for highlighting in the international media the misery of Kashmiris,” said Zareef.

Nearly two months after the floods, many crosses are visible atop graves in the cemetery. The floods left marks with slush covering Kashmir’s history.

Srinagar, November 3
Kashmir Book Trust Private Ltd today inaugurated its first online bookstore by the name “Online Book Store”.

The bookstore was inaugurated by Kashmir University Chief Librarian AM Baba, Deputy Director, Directorate of Internal Quality Assurance (DIQA), Showkat Shafi and Director, Centre for Career Planning and Counselling, Farooq Ahmad Khan on the Auqaf complex opposite Sir Syed Gate, Kashmir University.

During the inaugural function, Baba while applauding the initiative said, “To have online book stores is the need of the hour. During the recent devastating floods 
many rare books were washed away. They would have been saved, had we made online editions of these books.”

“It’s really encouraging to get such online bookstores in the Valley where the youth are in quest for study material and other information sources. We don’t have enough space to adjust all books from different national and international journals. Hence, e-libraries play a vital role here,” he added.

“We started this endeavour in order to give an extra edge to the education system in Kashmir keeping in view the various problems students face, who don’t have an easy access to internet to subscribe e-books. The students, who hail from far-flung areas, can also avail benefit from our free-of-cost door-to-door delivery system,” said Sameer Nazeer and Mudasir Ahmad, managing partners of Online Book Store.

“Our main aim is to reach out to the students as well as the educational institutions from Jammu and Kashmir. This will definitely help our students who suffer due to lack of e-bookstores in the Valley. Besides, we also provide reasonable discounts,” they added.

During the inaugural function, Shafi spoke on the need to introduce e-book system in the Kashmir valley. He said, “Ten years ago, I used to purchase books from bookshops and we had to toil hard to get a specific book, but now the book purchasing system has been revolutionised due to e-book subscriptions. Nowadays, while sitting at home one can avail any kind of book just by single click,” he added.

Students, mediapersons and various academicians were present on the occasion.

Srinagar, November 3
The winter secretariat set up in Srinagar, following the move of the offices to Jammu, started functioning in the civil secretariat here today. Chief Secretary Mohammad Iqbal Khanday and other officers attended their offices.

The Chief Secretary reviewed the arrangements made for the functioning of the winter secretariat with Secretary, GAD, MA Bukhari.

A delegation of the J&K Hoteliers Club led by its Chairman Mushtaq Ahmad Chaya also called on the Chief Secretary in his office and discussed the matters related to relief and rehabilitation of the hotel industry.

The Chief Secretary assured the delegation that the government was aware about the difficulties being faced by the hotel industry in view of the recent floods and in the memorandum for Central package sent to the Union Government, the difficulties of the hotel industry have been taken note of.

The Chief Secretary will review the relief and rehabilitation work in the flood-affected areas in the Valley with the officers concerned and the Deputy Commissioners here on Wednesday.

Srinagar, November 3
Disbanded Kashmir University Students’ Union (KUSU) today wrote an open letter to the newly appointed Vice Chancellor of the university, Khursheed Iqbal Andrabi, urging him to end “VIP culture in the university”.

“The unabated promotion of VIP culture has hurt the overall academic ambience of this university,” KUSU wrote in its letter to the VC.

The KUSU said food prices in KU canteens were unaffordable and a majority of students could not afford the same. “We request healthy and affordable food at standardised rates be provided for everyone in the university,” they said.

“The funds allocated to the departments have often been misused. The university must ascertain how the departments spend funds allocated to them and see to it that the departments address students’ concerns in their budgets,” the letter said.

The KUSU maintained that the courses, including Diploma in Human Rights, which was discontinued should be resumed at earliest.

“To enhance the academic standard of the university, the culture of independent research journals should be encouraged. If research journals seem unfeasible then the faculty must be encouraged to publish in research journals from other universities,” it read, adding that the university should make it easy to appoint visiting professorships or short-term appointments for external faculties. 

Srinagar, November 3
One person was electrocuted while two others suffered serious injuries after they came in contact with a live wire at a shrine in Anantnag district of south Kashmir, the police said today.

The three were repairing the public address system at the shrine of Shah Asrar at Watnard village of Kokernag, 70 km from here. — PTI

Jammu, November 3
The state sub-junior kabaddi teams of both boys and girls have left for participating in the 26th Sub-Junior National Kabaddi Championship to be held at Patna (Bihar) from November 5 to 9.

Surinder Gupta, joint secretary, J&K Amateur Kabaddi Association, and Anil Modi, organising secretary, distributed sports kit to the selected players.

The boys’ team comprises Varun Sharma, Amandeep, Gourav Chib, Sahil P Manhas, Aman Dogra, Karan Sharma, Ajay Kumar, Simran Pal Choudhary, Vasu Randhawa, Baljeet Singh, Navjot Singh and Sahil Kumar Sharma.

The girls’ team comprises Pallavi, Simran Sharma, Sakashi Pawar, Komal Shangloo, Taniya Choudhary, Pawandeep Kour, Taniksha Sangral, Aayushi Gupta, Palvi Seth, Komal Vaid, Simran and Avantika Sethi.

Jammu, November 3
Inter-house boys’ kho-kho matches were organised on the premises of Humanity Public School (HPS), Bari Brahmana.

The teams of four houses, namely Agni, Prithvi, Akash and Trishool, participated. The matches were played on the knock-out-basis in the preliminary phase, which were followed by quarterfinals and semifinals.

The final was played between the Akash House and Trishool House, whererin Trishool House emerged victorious with a margin of one point (12-11).

Earlier, in the first semifinal, Akash House defeated Agni House, while in the second semifinal, Trishool House toppled Prithvi House. — TNS