• Scattered across the Valley, Pandit voters can decide the outcome of several Assembly constituencies if the election boycott call of the Hurriyat Conference has any effect on the polling percentage
• They will cast their franchise for constituencies they belong to in the Valley through postal ballot or at 26 special polling stations set up in Jammu, Udhampur and New Delhi
• From the day J&K acceded to the India Union, their choice has remained either Cong or NC as these were the two main parties in the state post 1947. However in the past few years, Pandits are moving towards PDP and BJP
• Habbakadal, Ganderbal, Kulgam, Anantnag, Tral, Amirakadal, Sopore and Khanyar have considerable number of Pandit voters
• Rehabilitation and employment are major issues confronting Pandits
• They are perhaps the only people in India who vote to choose their representatives while staying away from their constituencies

Srinagar, November 14
In the past six years, non-migrant Pandits have often raised their voice at various platforms only to face disappointment. Now, many will be voting for change while others have decided to stay away from the poll process due to neglect by successive regimes.

“The last six years will be remembered as a black era. The government only built castles in the air. All our problems related to rehabilitation and unemployment continue to remain unaddressed. The present regime has completely failed us,” said Bharat Raina, a resident of Tulsi Bagh.

Raina said the voters should vote for change as the government during the past six years had only raised slogans for the return and rehabilitation of Pandits, but failed to do anything concrete on ground.

Pertinently Rania had unsuccessfully contested from the Habbakadal constituency in 2008, but will not be contesting this year.

Hindu Welfare Society Kashmir (HWSK) spokesman Chunni Lal is sceptical over the poll process as he said the successive regimes had failed to address their concerns.

“There is no point in voting as they are all the same. Past regimes have only given lip service and most of our issues continue to remain unaddressed. The government has only been raising slogans,” he said.

Stating that the government is only concerned about the migrants, Lal said: “How can they bring back the migrant Pandits when they have failed to rehabilitate those who never left Kashmir even when the militancy was at its peak.”

The Pandits also claim that the government had not done much for those who had come back.

A local, Sanjay Sahib, said the facilities at the Sheikhpora migrant colony in Budgam district were still far from satisfactory. “Despite our objections, families are still made to share quarters,” he added.

He said he along with many other Pandits would vote for change as the government had failed to address their issues.

Jammu, November 14
Four Kashmiri Pandit candidates are in the fray for 44 Assembly constituencies in the Kashmir valley.

While the BJP has fielded three candidates, the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP), led by Union Minister for Consumer Affairs Ram Vilas Paswan, has fielded one candidate from Srinagar.

The LJP has fielded Sanjay Saraf from the Habbakadal constituency. Saraf had tried his luck in the 2008 Assembly elections.

Moti Koul, a prominent businessman, is fighting the elections for first time from Habbakadal and has remained a prominent face of the Pandit community at national and international levels, highlighting the plight of the community.

Ashok Bhat, a RSS worker, has been fielded from the Khanyar constituency in Srinagar, considered as the hub of separatist parties where voting percentage has remained low in the previous elections.

A social worker, Desh Kumar Nehru, will fight from Rafiabad. Nehru is a non-migrant Pandit.

Most of the migrants will cast their vote in 26 special polling stations, established in Jammu, New Delhi and Udhampur in the five-phase Assembly elections.

Jammu, November 14
The BJP hopes to win at least four seats in the Valley if it is able to garner Pandit votes after the poll boycott call issued by separatists.

With the saffron party aggressively pursuing its goal, the Pandit community has become an important part in the electoral strategy of the party, giving nervous moments to others.

Employment for the youth, rehabilitation and rise of fundamentalism in the Kashmir valley are the main issues before 92,000 Pandits living outside the Valley who will vote at 26 special polling stations in Jammu, Udhampur and New Delhi.

Community specific issues can play an important role in several segments if the election boycott call by separatists succeeds and the turnout remains low.

ECI data says Habbakadal in Srinagar has the largest number of 14,892 Pandit votes. Amirakadal has 4,107 Pandit votes, Budgam 3,039, Batamaloo 2,746, Hazratbal 2,147, Khanyar 1,219, Sonawar 1,058, Eidgah 581 and Zadibal 265.

The NC, the PDP, the Congress and the BJP have been promising rehabilitation to displaced Pandits with initiation of several plans since 2005, but are apprehensive as there is no clarity on implementation.

“I have been living with the stigma of a migrant. I voted in the last two elections. People want to resettle in Kashmir and only a strong government can take an initiative for it,” said BL Raina, a voter from Amirakadal.

Thousands of displaced Pandits have been deprived of their democratic right mainly because of the complex registration process.

Jammu, November 14
The “overenthusiastic” BJP today announced that it would contest only 70 of the 87 Assembly seats of the state.

The party, which is looking ahead to pocket “44 plus” seats in the coming polls, had earlier said it would contest all the Assembly segments.

The BJP, however, made it clear that the party would contest elections on its own and there was no question of the pre-poll alliance with any other group.

The BJP is fighting elections by fielding 70 candidates to form its own government in J&K, BJP national general secretary Ram Madhav told reporters here today.

The climb-down from its earlier stand is seen as a follow up of the BJP’s warming up to some of the former separatist groups in the Valley.

Recently, Peoples’ Conference chairman Sajjad Lone had met Narendra Modi in Delhi and since then he has been showering accolades on the Prime Minister.

Addressing a joint press conference with Union Minister Jitendra Singh and state president of the BJP Jugal Kishore Sharma, Madhav said all the leaders of Kashmir valley were welcomed to hold talks with the Union Government provided they shun the ideology of separatism.

“Instead of knocking the Pakistan Embassy’s door, the leaders of Kashmir should approach the Union Government for the solution to their problems and join the political mainstream,” Madhav said.

“Anyone who is ready to strengthen the hands of Prime Minister is welcome. Come to Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi, the doors are always open,” he added.

The RSS ideologue, however, parried the questions whether party has decided to leave 17 seats to adjust some former separatist groups of the Valley.

“In Kashmir valley we are fielding candidates on winnable seats only,” he said.

“We will not join hands with the separatists, but having said that we appeal to all sections of society to leave the path of separatism and join the political mainstream. Come forward, doors are open for you,” the BJP national general secretary said.

On BJP’s chief ministerial candidate in J&K, Madhav said the party would allow the elected party legislators to select the Chief Minister after the elections.

Srinagar, November 14
Considered to be the National Conference bastion, the Kargil Assembly segment is set for a tough contest this time around with the Congress nominee and Chief Executive Councilor of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Kargil, Asgar Karbalai is riding high on his popularity.

The "internal bickering" among the National Conference might only add to its woes in the area.

The NC dumped the incumbent legislator from the constituency Qamar Ali Akhoon, who served as a minister in both the Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah led Cabinet, and replaced the 57-with Dr Kachoo Hussain.

Dr Hussain is a prominent surgeon of the region and son of a former Kargil legislator.

Akhoon was in 20013 "mysteriously" dropped from the Omar Cabinet. In his place the Chief Minister had inducted Zanaskar legislator Feroz Khan into his council of ministers. However, he too didn't find any favours from the party this time around.

Sources said the National Conference was "forced to dump Akhoon" following the "internal conflict" in the party at the district level.

Karbali, on the other hand, is positive about his chances as he had earlier managed to stick to the chair of the Chief Executive Councilor despite stiff resistance from the NC.

However, the challenge from the BJP and the PDP cannot be discounted.

The BJP in particular is looking to cash in on the popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

During his visit to Kargil in August, Modi had held a rally which was attended by a large number of people. The party has fielded former revenue officer Aziz Munshi for the seat.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is also staking its claim on the seat and has nominated youth president of the Islamia School Kargil Anayat Ali from the segment.

Jammu, November 14
BJP candidate Hina Bhat’s controversial statement on Article 370 has created a furore in the Sangh Parivar as various organisations of the Parivar have taken a serious note it.

The Sangh Parivar is mounting pressure on the BJP to take action against Hina for challenging the core ideology of the Parivar.

Virtually putting the BJP in a tight spot, Hina, saffron party’s new face in the Kashmir valley and candidate from the Amira Kadal Assembly constituency, yesterday threatened to pick up gun, if any attempt was made to abrogate Article 370. She had said she would be the first to pick up gun, if Article 370 was abrogated ever.

The BJP, traditionally, has always stood for the abrogation of the Article. Although the BJP has maintained a guarded silence over Hina’s statement, Vishwa Hindu Parishad state president Leela Karan Sharma has termed Hina’s statement as “anti-national”. 

Srinagar, November 14
The Congress today claimed that nobody will enter into an alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party even as BJP national general secretary Ram Madhav had recently met several political leaders.

“The RSS is fighting elections here as well as in New Delhi, not the BJP… 1,000 RSS workers are roaming in the Valley… but people here have not sold their conscience yet… he (Ram Madhav) will not find anybody here,” J&K Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president Saifuddin Soz said during a function at the party headquarters here.

Incidentally, Madhav had met several leaders of smaller political parties, including separatist-turned-mainstream leader Sajjad Lone, fuelling speculations of post-poll alliances.

Asserting that no “Modi magic” would work in the Valley, Soz said the BJP would never succeed in its ‘mission’ of abrogating the Article 370, implementing a uniform civil code and construction of Ram Mandir.

Warning that a “calamity” would befall if the BJP came to power, the JKPCC president said he would make the people aware of the matter while campaigning for the Congress in the coming days.

He said All India Congress Committee (AICC) president Sonia Gandhi and vice-president Rahul Gandhi too would start campaigning across the state in the coming days.

Soz said he was confident that no coalition government would be formed in the state without the support of Congress. He claimed that the Congress could “even now” emerge as the single largest party in the upcoming Assembly polls.

The JKPCC chief downplayed reports of resentment within the party after several senior Congress leaders were denied party ticket.

On Mangat Ram’s joining the Peoples Democratic Party, Soz said Mangat was getting old and weak and was not a “political force” anymore.

The RSS is fighting elections here as well as in New Delhi, not the BJP… 1,000 RSS workers are roaming in the Valley… but people here have not sold their conscience yet… he (Ram Madhav) will not find anybody here.
—Saifuddin Soz, jkpcc president

Rajouri, November 14
Annoyed at the party’s decision to field former minister Mirza Abdul Rashid from the Rajouri constituency, former National Conference MLA (Rajouri) Aslam Khan has decided to contest as an Independent.

Accusing senior leaders of the National Conference of betraying him, Aslam Khan said he was promised by the party that he would be given the candidature from Rajouri, but was denied at the 11th hour.

Khan’s decision to contest as an Independent has shocked many in the party. If he does not withdraw his name, he can affect the wining chances of sitting Congress MLA Shabir Khan and Ch Talib Hussain of the BJP.

Aslam Khan and Shabir Khan both belong to Manajakot town and have their supporters in Manjakot tehsil.

While making announcement to contest the elections, Aslam Khan said, “Sitting MLA Shabir Khan has ignored the common man and was openly involved in huge embezzlement of funds, including scam in the CAPD Department, back-door appointments in the National Rural Health Mission and other departments while he was the minister. He urged the people to vote for him to get rid of corruption.

Khan said Mirza Abdul Rashid belongs to Darhal and has no major footing in Rajouri and the decision to field him would prove “disastrous” for the party.

He said his prime motive to contest from the Rajouri constituency was to defeat the NC candidate. 

Srinagar, November 14
Senior PDP leader and MP Tariq Hameed Karra today accused the BJP of using proxies to divide majority vote in the state.

“Whether it is so-called Third Front or some other pocket-sized politicians in Kashmir, all of them have become BJP’s paid cronies to facilitate the saffron party implement its dangerous agenda of divide-and-rule in JK,” Karra said while addressing a rally at Chrar-e-Shareef. “Unfortunately, the BJP and RSS have started resorting to polarising tactics in the sensitive Chenab valley and Poonch-Rajouri to divide people on religious and ethnic lines for electoral gains,” he said. — TNS 

Jammu, November 14
Governor NN Vohra today stressed the importance of collaborative linkages being developed among the universities and other research and academic institutions in the state to secure optimum utilisation of all available resources.

He said such an approach is necessary for ensuring that the students who pass out after successfully concluding their courses possess varied skills, which are required in the job market.

He awarded 265 PhD degrees and 367 gold medals, cash awards and endowment medals to former meritorious students who passed out from the university during academic sessions from 2006 to 20012 and wished them continuing success in their future careers. He also conveyed his best wishes to their parents.

The Governor, who was addressing the students, their parents, faculty members and civil society members at the special convocation of the University of Jammu (JU) here, noted that such linkages are also necessary to make the entire scheme of the “choice-based credit system” truly workable and productive.

Vohra emphasised that the attainment of such an objective would also involve accreditation arrangements between state and national-level institutions and, soon enough, with renowned institutions abroad.

“Such arrangements will provide the students opportunities of benefitting from various universities and other academic and research institutions, which have known capacities for teaching and skill upgradation,” he said.

The Governor noted that it is not enough to merely think in terms of securing well-paid jobs. For this purpose, he said, “Our qualified youth must contribute towards the determination of practical solutions to the various problems and challenges, which are facing our country and the state, particularly those which relate to shelter, health, safe drinking water, literacy, energy and in various other arenas which are standing in the way of our country moving rapidly forward.”

The Governor said the global environment is knowledge driven and highly competitive. “To achieve success and advancement in their careers, our students need to possess both knowledge and the relevant skills to be able to effectively face and survive in the highly competitive environment in which they have to function,” he said, adding that it is also necessary that the skills, once acquired, are constantly upgraded to remain abreast of the latest available knowledge and technologies.

He observed the real challenge before the university is to ensure that every course is attractive to the students and is of interest to the world of business and industry.

For gaining positive outcomes, he said the curricula and the course contents need to be kept under continuous watch for ensuring that the learning being imparted to the students remains continuously relevant.

He said it is equally necessary to ensure that no off-site campus should commence functioning unless it has adequate infrastructure and suitably qualified and experienced faculty.

The Governor urged the Vice Chancellor and all his colleagues to undertake a continuing audit of all the academic programmes and noted that a critical evaluation of the existing programmes would enable the university to suitably reshape them and perhaps also introduce new courses, as may be required.

He asked teachers and members of the faculties to play an effective role as motivators and counsellors and get meaningfully involved in the character building of their students.

He said the teachers have the high responsibility of ensuring that their pupils are imbued with moral and ethical values and are able to contribute towards the establishment of sound and stable societies.

The Governor wished the Vice Chancellor and all his colleagues high success in all their efforts to take the university forward on all fronts at a fast pace and to see that the institution achieves a reputation for high excellence.

Earlier, Prof RD Sharma, acting Vice Chancellor, Jammu University, presented the Vice Chancellor’s report. He highlighted the achievements of the university and its future plan of action. He thanked the Governor for taking keen interest in the growth and development of the university.

The proceedings of the special convocation commenced with Prof Manoj Dhar, Registrar, Jammu University, seeking permission of the Chancellor and declaring the special convocation open. Present on the occasion were members of the faculty, students, parents of students and many distinguished guests.

Jammu, November 14
Excitement and emotional scenes were witnessed today among the former meritorious students and their parents who had turned up at General Zorawar Singh Auditorium in the University of Jammu —the venue of the special convocation of the university.

Students who passed out in academic sessions from 2006 to 2012 of the University of Jammu were awarded 265 PhD degrees and 367 gold medals, cash awards and endowment medals by Governor NN Vohra, who is also the Chancellor of the university.

Interestingly, the recipients of PhD degrees and gold medals also comprised of an IAS officer, other officials in various departments, university faculty members and college and school lecturers as the convocation was held after a gap of seven years for the students who qualified their degrees in 2006 academic session.

The event, however, turned a bit emotional when Navneet Singh, a Class VII student of J&K Police Public School, Miran Sahib, came on the stage to receive the PhD degree on behalf of his father, Gurcharan Singh, who passed away in January this year. Gurcharan Singh had completed his PhD in Urdu in 2008, but could not get it because no convocation was held at that time.

The Deputy Commissioner, Leh, Simrandeep Singh, who completed his Bachelor in Science (BSc) in 2006, was also awarded university gold medal. The level of enthusiasm could be noticed from the fact that a PhD degree holder, Arti Durani, who recently met with an accident, came on stage with fractured leg and received the degree from the Governor.

The Governor observed that the special convocation had been specially organised to enable former students, who had passed out from the university during 2007-12, to receive their degrees and prizes, which could not be done during the 14th convocation of the university held on September 1.

The Governor also made it clear that a decision had been taken in consultation with the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who is also the Pro-Chancellor of the university that henceforth all the state universities would organise convocations on an annual basis.

“I am happy to receive medals from the Governor after a gap of seven years. Currently, I am a doctor at Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Jammu. It is my desire that the youngsters in schools and colleges would work hard and receive medals in the coming years,” Pallavi Sharma, who received five gold medals at the convocation.

Joginder Sharma, who was awarded PhD degree in Sanskrit, said, “I have completed the degree in 2010 and the university took almost four years to award the degree. The convocation should be a regular feature in the university as it would enhance the sense of competition among students.”

Jammu, November 14
First Lady Usha Vohra visited Government Degree College for Women (GCW), Parade, to attend the Children’s Day function organised by the Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam Welfare Society (VKWS) here today.

Students of different schools being run by the society; GCW, Parade, and Government School, Shyama Chak, presented a cultural programme based on the theme of “Swachh Bharat”, which included skits, poetry recitation and dance items.

The First Lady appreciated the cultural programme presented by the students and complimented the society for providing quality education to the children belonging to the disadvantaged section of society.

Describing the virtue of confidence as the cornerstone of personality development, she said confidence and exuberance displayed by students was indicative of their all-round development.

She, on behalf of the Governor, assured full support to the society in advancing the noble cause of education to the children belonging to the underprivileged section of the society. She also presented scholarships to the meritorious girl students on the occasion.

President of VKWS Prof Ved Kumari Ghai presented the welcome address and highlighted the ongoing projects of the society. Working president of the society Ruby Sharma presented the formal vote of thanks.

Besides Hemla Aggarwal, Principal, GCW, Parade, a large number of students and many distinguished guests were present.

Jammu, November 14
Vice Chancellor of Kashmir University Khurshid Andrabi called on Governor NN Vohra, who is also the Chancellor of the varsity, at Raj Bhawan today.

Andrabi briefed the Governor about important matters relating to the functioning of the varsity and its off-site campuses. The Governor stressed the importance of maintaining highest academic standards and decorum at the university.— TNS

Jammu, November 14
Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board today discussed various measures to augment water and power supply in Katra and en-route Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine.

At a meeting held in Katra today, under the chairmanship of Dr M K Bhandari, Chief Executive Officer of the Shrine Board, special focus on ensuring sufficient and uninterrupted supply of water and power was laid. The measures were taken in view of the damages caused in September and considering the increase in the pilgrimage being witnessed every year during December.

Dr M K Kumar, Additional Chief Executive Officer, SMVDSB, Devinder Singh Bhau, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, P C Tanoch, Executive Engineer, SMVDSB, Rajan Gupta, Executive Engineer, EM&RE Division, Reasi, K K Magotra, Executive Engineer, PHE, Reasi, and engineers and officials of the Shrine Board participated in the meeting.

All ongoing works and new schemes which are to be executed to meet the emerging requirements of the pilgrims were reviewed. This was followed by a field visit by all the officers for inspection of the water supply schemes and related facilities.

Handwara, November 14
Farhat Manzoor (14), was crushed to death when a vehicle drove over her at Wangam in Langate area of Kupwara today.

Soon after the accident, residents from Wangam and adjoining areas protested against the Army. The Army, however, denied the involvement of an Army vehicle in the accident. — OC