Srinagar, November 24
On the eve of the polling for the most crucial Assembly elections on Tuesday, the PDP is looking upbeat, the BJP’s is confident of accomplishing its Mission 44 plus while the ruling NC and Congress are struggling hard to retain what they had in the current Assembly.

Suddenly, the perception about the regional parties in J&K has started changing as the first phase of the five-phase polling approaches. More than one million voters are expected to vote for the 15 of the 87 seats in the sub-zero temperatures in all three regions of Jammu, Ladakh and the Kashmir Valley.

In Ladakh region’s Leh district, the contest is straight between the BJP and the Congress while in Kargil the PDP, Congress and the NC are in a triangular fight. In the Valley’s five seats, the battle is between the NC and the PDP while in the six seats of the erstwhile Doda district of the Jammu region, the BJP, Congress and the NC are the main contenders in the race.

In the Valley, where a fear looms large among residents about the RSS and the BJP trying to intrude into their exclusive territory, regional parties NC and PDP have begun to look more promising to voters. In Kashmir, national parties have not made much of a mark since the 1977 Assembly polls. It has been the NC for most of the years, and the PDP for three years. The Congress has ruled the state in alliance with the PDP and the NC since November 1986, the only exception being the six-year rule of the NC from 1996 to 2002.

At the moment, there are 123 candidates, six of them sitting ministers, in the 15 constituencies.

Anger against the NC was at its peak in the parliamentary elections and it went up further during the floods. About the PDP – the main opposition that is making a strong bid to capture power —- the voters in Kashmir feel on the eve of the polling say that “they are our own people, good or bad, we will not disown them”. Abdul Rashid, a shopkeeper in Srinagar, neatly sums up the situation: “Kashmiris need to be Kashmiris first.”

This sudden change in the attitude of voters in Kashmir who send 46 of the 87 MLAs to the Assembly is attributed to the perceived threat that their territory is being invaded by non-Kashmiris, who have prompted some of their fellow Kashmiris to achieve their mission. The reference is clearly to the BJP, which is showing the “lotus” blooming in the green portion of its advertisements. Saffron, the colour with which this 
party is identified, is missing at the moment. Green is the colour associated with Islam.

Kashmiris understand this. Tomorrow 13 of the 15 seats going to the polls have Muslim-majority population. This also explains Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s emphasis on “Kashmir” —- the land of the honest and hospitable people, who have the potential for making a mark worldwide. Though Modi was speaking from the Jammu region’s Kishtwar on Saturday, his focus was Kashmir, where he is trying to project himself as a man in love with the Valley. He also wants to convey the message that “religion should not be mixed with politics”.

The BJP is seen as a party of Hindus. Mod’s silence on Article 370, which grants special status to J&K, and the pledge to fulfil the dream of Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s mission of “Humanity, democracy and Kashmiriyat” has made some rethink. “Let’s see how he goes about in the future” is the view of the minority community in the state. The BJP banners display Vajpayee’s pictures above Modi’s while appealing to Kashmiris to help BJP fulfil its Mission 44 plus.

Tomorrow is the day when voters will set a trend. More than six million voters will follow in the next four phases, ending on December 20.

The Army displays arms and ammunition recovered from poll-bound Kupwara district, in Srinagar on Monday. PTI

Srinagar, November 24
A day ahead of the elections, Army’s top officer in Kashmir Lt Gen Subrata Saha said there were inputs of militants planning to disrupt the election process in the Valley and the Army was ready to deal with the challenges.

“We have inputs from various districts and tehsils and we are working on them. They are generally in line with what has been coming in the past so we are keeping a track of the trends,” General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Srinagar-based 15 Corps Lt Gen Subrata Saha told mediapersons in Srinagar on the sidelines of a function where arms and ammunition, recovered in north Kashmir on Sunday, were displayed.

Two districts in the Kashmir region —- Bandipora and Ganderbal —- are going to the polls on November 25 and the security grid in the districts has been put on an alert to ensure peaceful elections.

“We are having elections in two districts and we are prepared for that. In fact, I am returning from these two places. We are aware of the inputs coming in and will respond to the challenges that emerge,” Lt General Saha said.

The Corps Commander said the security grid was aware that militants could attack the soft targets in the run-up to the elections.

“The forces would provide a safe environment to village heads,” said the GOC. 

Srinagar, November 24
The main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was restrained by the Election Commission from releasing its election manifesto, saying it was a violation of the model code of conduct ahead of the elections.

The PDP was to release its election manifesto this morning at the official residence of party patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.

Sources in the party were told by the J&K Election Commission officials on Sunday evening that the party could not release the manifesto as it would be violation of the model code because the polls were scheduled to be held in 15 Assembly segments on Tuesday.

“The election guideline bars display of any election matter or manifesto 48 hours before polling. We could have still released the manifesto, but we had to delete the party poll plans for the areas going to the polls tomorrow,” said a PDP leader.

“We have now rescheduled the release of the manifesto for November 26, a day after the polling finishes in 15 Assembly segments,” he said. The sources said the PDP manifesto included self rule, Article 370, amnesty to stone-throwers and rehabilitation of the flood victims.

Poonch, November 24
The National Conference (NC) and the Congress have been traditional rivals in this constituency for the past so many elections. The BJP and the PDP are also not new in the electoral arena here, but the difference this time is that these two parties are challenging the traditional rivals as never before. Here, caste, sub-caste, linguistic and ethnic identities have determined the outcome of Assembly elections.

PDP candidate Shah Mohammad Tantary and BJP’s Pradeep Sharma have emerged as serious contenders this time. Bashir Naaz of the Congress and sitting NC MLA Aijaz Ahmed Jan are feeling the heat of the two major parties. The PDP is having a support base among the Muslims, while the BJP is hoping to cash in on the Modi wave.

In all, there are 10 candidates, but the contest revolves around the NC, the PDP, the BJP and the Congress.

Mohammad Nazir, a 21-year-old unemployed youth from Digwar village near the LoC, said, “My forefathers used to vote for the NC. My father and uncles too voted for the party, but nothing has been done by them for our village for decades now. This time we have more options like the BJP and the PDP, so we will think twice before casting our vote.”

Voters of this constituency, especially the youth, are inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which may turn the votes towards the BJP.

Davinder Singh, sarpanch of Digwar village, said, “I think voters are confused this time as the sitting NC MLA has done nothing for the border villages. Though people are loyal to his party, the Modi factor may divert votes towards the BJP. The PDP also has an edge this time. So, it has become difficult for the people to predict anything in this constituency.”

There are dozens of village, which are 500 m to 3 km inside the LoC depending upon the terrain on the other side of the fence. There are gates to reach these villages, which get closed at 5 pm and after that there is no movement. Villagers have a long-pending demand to shift the fence to the Line of Control. Their misery has been multiplied by Pakistani firing on the villages. Continuous ceasefire violations are making their lives even more miserable.

The Poonch constituency has 99,735 voters, which is going to the polls in the second phase on December 2.

Srinagar, November 24
Amid tight security and boycott calls by the separatists, five Assembly segments are going to the polls in the first phase of the Assembly elections in two northern and adjoining districts of Bandipora and Ganderbal in Kashmir on Tuesday.

The elections in Bandipora and Ganderbal districts will seal the fate of three ministers and one sitting MLA, seeking re-elections to their respective constituencies.

Mohammad Akbar Lone (Education Minister) is seeking re-election from Sonawari, Mian Altaf (Forest Minister) from Kangan, Nazir Gurezi (Public Health and Engineering and Animal Husbandry) from Gurez and Nizamuddin Bhat (PDP MLA) from Bandipora.

From Ganderbal, won by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in 2008, the National conference has fielded Shiekh Ishfaq Jabbar, as incumbent MLA Omar chose to contest from the Sonawar and Beerwah constituencies.

During the polls, 3,75,454 voters will decide the fate of 47 candidates in the five Assembly segments of Bandipora, Gurez, Sonawari in Bandipora district and the Ganderbal and Kangan constituencies in Ganderbal districts.

A total of 471 polling stations have been created to facilitate smooth polling.

Jammu, November 24
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today dubbed Congress manifesto as “old wine in new bottle”, saying the party (Congress) had been repeating the same promises in its election manifesto since 2002.

Addressing a series of public meetings, Bali Bhagat, BJP candidate from the Raipur-Domana constituency, ridiculed the Congress for repeating the same promises in its 2014 manifesto which the party had included in its 2002 election manifesto.

“The Congress manifesto is the reflection of party’s failure on all fronts,” he said and pointed out that the Congress had been in power in the state since 2002, but failed to fulfil even a single promise which it had been repeatedly making with the people.

Bali Bhagat, who is also the general secretary of the state BJP, said, “It appears the only aim of the Congress is to enjoy the power by bartering the wishes and aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said, adding that “In 2014 election manifesto, the Congress leadership has offered nothing new, but only changed the date as the document is the same, which was released in 2002”.

He said by incorporating same promises in the 2014 election manifesto, the Congress had officially admitted its failure to fulfil promises made to the people.

Mocking at the Congress for promising “regional council” for the Jammu region, the BJP leader asked the Congress leaders what they had done for the people of the Jammu region during the last 12 years.

Exhorting people to ask Congress leaders to highlight their achievements in 12 years, he said instead of highlighting their achievements Congress leaders were brazenly making hollow promises with people.

Seeking support of people in the current Assembly elections, he said the BJP would create history in the state because the party was going to form government in Jammu and Kashmir.

Poonch, November 24
Senior BJP leader and party spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain has held the ruling coalition and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) responsible for the plight of Jammu and Kashmir.

“People of Jammu and Kashmir lack basic facilities. They are facing unemployment and terrorism,” Shahnawaz said, adding that regional parties always exploited the people of the state.

The BJP leader was addressing election rallies in Mendhar, Surankote and Mandi areas of Poonch last evening.

Shahnawaz without naming National Conference president Farooq Abdullah said: “Leaders who remain in power get treated in London, but the people of Jammu and Kashmir have been deprived of basic healthcare.”

He accused the Abdullah and Mufti families of looting the public money and urged people to teach them a lesson in the coming polls.

“The Congress, the PDP and the National Conference have developed a sense of insecurity among the Muslims so that they can enjoy power. But now, the atmosphere has changed. People have understood nefarious designs of these parties and are coming out in large numbers in support of the BJP,” the BJP spokesperson said.

Shahnawaz also lambasted the Hurriyat leaders and alleged that they earned huge money in the name of terrorism in the state.

The kids of Hurriyat leaders have been getting education in English medium schools, but kids of common people are forced to sit out in the open and that too without any furnishing, he said.

“There is need to develop tourism in Jammu and Kashmir and the BJP is committed to do so,” the senior leader said.

Srinagar, November 24
All India Congress Committee (AICC) vice-president Rahul Gandhi is all set to address his maiden election rally in Kashmir in the Lolab area of Kupwara district tomorrow.

The visit takes place on the day when 15 Assembly seats across seven districts of the state go to polls in the first phase of elections.

Earlier, Congress president Sonia Gandhi had addressed her maiden election rally at Bandipora.

It is for the first time that the Gandhi scion will be campaigning in the Valley and not sharing the stage with his friend and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.

State Congress leaders are pinning hopes on Rahul to woo the electorate, particularly in north Kashmir districts of Baramulla, Kupwara and Bandipora.

Unlike the Lok Sabha elections earlier this year, the top brass of the Congress has launched a massive campaign in the state, particularly in the Valley to persuade the voters.

Jammu, November 24
It seems there are no takers for the Swachh Bharat campaign, launched across the country by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The civic authorities and inhabitants of the city continue to ignore the transformation of city into a huge garbage dump.

Be it the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC), entrusted with keeping the city clean, or the Irrigation and Flood Control Department, which takes care of the canals, no efforts have been made to make the cleanness drive a mass movement.

The Ranbir Canal and its offshoots, which pass through many localities of the city, have become a dumping ground for garbage and almost clogged by polythene and other solid waste dumped by the people.

Though strict instructions have been passed that it will be cleaned regularly and action would be taken against people caught dumping their garbage in it, nothing have been done to keep the canal clean, which irrigates thousands of kanals of agricultural land in Jammu.

Carrying along sewage, it usually flows in summers from Akhnoor to the tail end of Bhagwati Nagar, Talab Tillo, Gajansoo, Trikuta Nagar, Satwari and other interior areas.

“It is not only the department which is responsible for the plight of the water body, but also people living around it. It’s quite unfortunate that we cannot not take care of our water bodies and for the same reason we have not been left with enough water,” said environmentalist Nadeem Qadri.

The inaction of the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) in lifting garbage from various parts of the city is becoming a major health hazard for the residents. Further, the absence of containers in several localities is adding to the woes of residents.

At the moment, the Municipal Corporation collects garbage from 453 collections points within its limits by means of men and machinery and disposes it of into deep trenches on the city outskirts.

Jammu, November 24
In order to train teachers on the use of information and communication technology (ICT) in the teaching and learning process, a workshop was held at MV International School here today.

Teachers from class I to X learned about the modern techniques of teaching which were aimed at empowering and improving their teaching skills. Each topic was dealt comprehensively with appropriate examples and exercises, best suited to learners. The workshop was organised in collaboration with Cordova Publication.

The resource person inspired teachers by sharing innovative and interesting activity-based teaching approaches. Review papers, model test papers and lesson plans were included for effective evaluation. He impressed the teachers by books, software and web supply links. — TNS

Jammu, November 24
A telecom operator is conducting a “health walk” on the University of Jammu (JU) campus tomorrow to encourage people to do yoga, exercise and routine health check-ups.

“Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise — an age-old saying and a very wise one indeed. Add yoga, exercise and routine health check-ups to this saying and you are well and truly on your path to a healthy and fulfilling life.” Vodafone India has taken upon itself the responsibility of spreading this message amongst the populace of Jammu.

In this regard, Vodafone is conducting a “health walk” at Jammu University on Tuesday with an aim to creating public awareness about the importance of physical fitness and well-being.

The “health walk” will begin at Jammu University with a crisp introductory speech at 6 am. Following this a light exercise and yoga session will be held for residents of the city for which Vodafone has invited fitness and yoga experts at the venue. During the session, which will last for 30 minutes, the participants will be explained about the benefits of regular physical exercise and yoga and will be taught the correct techniques for practicing the same.

Subsequently, there will be a 30-minute health check-up session, where professional doctors will conduct a routine medical check-up, including BP check. Post-medical check-up, the entire team of Vodafone officials, volunteers, doctors and the residents will proceed for the health walk covering the entire periphery of the university.

During the health walk, Vodafone volunteers will promote the message of physical exercise, yoga and routine medical check-ups, thereby taking the health walk initiative a step further.

Kupwara, November 24
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) supporters today protested against the National Conference (NC) in front of the Kupwara Deputy Commissioner’s office for alleged ‘cash-for-vote’ deal of the NC in the Kalaroose area of the Lolab constituency.

The protesters were carrying placards showing the photograph of an arrested person, Hafizullah Wani of Kalaroose, standing besides NC candidate for the Lolab constituency Qaiser Jamsheed Lone. They raised slogans against the NC and disrupted traffic movement on the Sopore-Kupwara road for some time.

Along with Wani, the police yesterday arrested three persons in Kalaroose on charges of giving cash to electorates in the area, falling in the Lolab assembly segment. The incident happened when senior PDP leader and Member Parliament Muzaffar Hussain Baig was addressing an election rally in the area.

“Sensing defeat in the Lolab constituency, the NC workers are luring voters by giving them money. Yesterday, the police arrested three of them and to cover up their misdeeds, NC workers started blaming the PDP for the wrongdoing,” Kalaroose panchayat member Ghulam Rasool said. The protesters demanded stringent action against the arrested persons and the NC candidate consenting elections in the Lolab constituency.

Meanwhile, NC candidate Qaiser Jamsheed Lone said, “The PDP has sensed defeat in Lolab and has resorted to such illegal practices to lure electorates. My picture has been edited and the arrested person has been projected as an NC worker.”

“The accused persons were caught red-handed distributing cash,” he added.

Syed Itrat Hussian Rafique, DC, Kupwara, said, “The police is investigating the matter and there are conflicting reports which suggest that the arrested person belongs to the NC, PDP, or the Panthers Party.”

“I have asked the police to thoroughly probe the matter and establish the party affiliation of the arrested persons,” he added.

Srinagar, November 24
The Moderate Hurriyat Conference headed by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has condemned the arrest and detention of scores of its activists and other separatists in Bandipora and Ganderbal districts, which are going to the polls on November 25.

“The arrest of youths in Ganderbal and Bandipora under the garb of so called elections, large scale arrests of Hurriyat workers and activists, and imprisoning of parents of Hurriyat leaders is condemnable,” a Hurriyat spokesman said in a statement here, while terming these arrests and detentions by the administration “as a clear case of frustration.”

He said while travelling to Frisal, Kulgam, Hurriyat leader Syed Bashir Andrabi was arrested by the forces and lodged in the Pulwama Jail.

The spokesman in the statement strongly condemned the arrest of Andrabi. “Such cowardly acts would not deter the Hurriyat leadership from pursuing the cause of freedom struggle till it reaches its final destination,” he said.

He said Bashir Ahmad Andrabi accompanied a Hurriyat delegation, which visited Frisal, Kulgam and Pulwama on the instructions of Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, to “pay tributes” to three militants killed by the police during an encounter in Tral recently.

“While paying their tributes, these Hurriyat leaders said the conglomerate would protect the priceless asset of sacrifices offered by the nation at any cost. Besides, it would continue to fight for the right to self-determination on social, political and diplomatic level on local and international front,” the spokesman said in the statement.

Meanwhile, the Tehreek-e-Hurriyat lead by hardline Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Geelani in a statement today condemned the arrests and detention of youth and its activists by the police across Kashmir. It said on the eve of elections, an environment of terror and harassment had been created by the security agencies by resorting to “wanton” arrests and detentions.

While reiterating his election boycott call, Geelani in a separate statement today asked the people to “stay away” from polling stations and not get “swayed” by the statements of mainstream political parties and leaders.

Srinagar, November 24
To ensure that all children are healthy and are recovering from post-flood affects, a special counselling and screening session was organised for orphan children at the J&K Yateem Trust, Srinagar.

During this special counselling-cum-screening today, nearly 210 children from Rahat Manzil, which is being run by the Yateem Trust, were given deworming tablets by a team of doctors from the Srinagar medical administration and Doctors For You, an NGO.

“Dr Syed Abid Rasheed Shah, SDM, Srinagar, stressed on good hygiene, nutrition and healthy habits. He started mass deworming session by chewing a deworming tablet to make children comfortable with the medicine,” a statement from the NGO said.

Post deworming, a BMI check-up, psychological counselling and a general health check-up was conducted for all children.

The NGO said deworming was important because each worm in the body sucked 0.2ml of blood for their survival and these worms existed in thousands of numbers.

The team also stressed on joining hands with other NGOs and corporate because there were around 400 similar trusts in the Kashmir region and according to a health assessment by the NGO, most of the primary health centres and subsidiary centres needed support to become fully functional.

“It is of high importance to strengthen the existing health facilities before the arrival of the harsh winters,” the NGO said.

Srinagar, November 24
The Jammu and Kashmir Bank has revised its sports recruitment policy. Officials of the bank have made it clear that preference in recruitment will be given to talented players.

The chairman of the J&K Bank has recently approved the revised sports recruitment policy of the bank, where they said national and international players would be given special consideration. “Also, preference will be given to talented players of the state on merit basis,” the officials of the bank said.

They said under this revised policy, the present players had also been given promotions, who had assisted the team in various football competitions within and outside the state.

Meanwhile, The Jammu and Kashmir Football Association has welcomed the new policy. “This is sympathetic and encouraging sports policy, which will go a long way in boosting and promoting the game in the state,” said Abdul Hamid Banday, who heads the Sports Board of JK Bank.

Srinagar, November 24
Two semi-final matches of Coca Cola Inter-School football Tournament-2014 were played at the Gindun Football Field, Rajbagh, Srinagar, today.

The first match was played between Green Land School, Aluchibagh & Burnhall School, and the second between Tyndale Biscoe School & Algazali Public School.

In the first match, Green Land School won the match via tie-breaker with score 3:1 goals and in the second match, Tyndale Biscoe School won by 1:0 goals

The finals between Tyndale Biscoe School and Green Land School, Aluchibagh, is being played at same venue tomorrow, the organisers said. — TNS