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Jammu & Kashmir Votes 2014
Eyeing Kashmir, BJP skips pet themes
Modi, not saffron party, welcome in Kashmir valley
NC committed to AFSPA revocation, says Omar
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Elections no substitute to K-issue: AIP
Sure of support from Valley friends: Madhav
Constituency watch: kulgam
High voter turnout fine, but K-issue remains: Mufti
Rajnath to address rallies in Valley today
PM to address Udhampur, Poonch today
SAD(N) delegation calls on Guv
Handicraft workers’ losses go unnoticed in Kashmir
Include tobacco ban violations in monthly crime review, says DGP
JSSC to ensure all CBSE schools get mandatory accreditation
NMC seeks release of pending DA
Disbanded student union starts anti-poll campaign on KU campus
JU holds seminar on ‘Hindi literature in Sri Lanka’
Pandits say rehab packages not enough
Governor releases book in Dogri
Govt: Rs 133 crore disbursed among flood-hit
Four arrested for sarpanch’s death
Painters’ camp organised
Nagbani school win trophy in skating Girdhari Lal Dogra remembered on his
27th death anniversary 2 soldiers open fire at each other
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Eyeing Kashmir, BJP skips pet themes
Jammu, November 27 Fearing a backlash in the Kashmir valley, the BJP did not mention even a word on politically empowering the Jammu and Ladakh regions in its eight-page document. Most senior party leaders campaigning in Jammu skipped the function. State BJP president Jugal Kishore Sharma and Rajya Sabha member and state affairs in charge Avinash Rai Khanna released the document. Asked whether the party had dumped the issue of Article 370 due to a threat from its Amira Kadal candidate Hina Bhat or in a bid to appease former separatist leader Sajjad Lone, Khanna said, “Our stand on Article 370 is known to all and there is no need to incorporate it in the document.” “There is no question of succumbing to any pressure,” he asserted, but did not divulge what the stand of the BJP on Article 370 was in the present circumstances. The Amira Kadal candidate had threatened to pick guns if the party dared to even touch Article 370. The BJP abandoned the issue of discrimination against the Jammu region even though it largely depended on this region to achieve the required number of seats. Not a word was mentioned in the document regarding empowerment of the Jammu region. “We will present another document soon to address such issues,” said Sharma. He did not reveal whether the party would release this document before or after the Assembly polls. The Vision Document was divided into four sections — tourism, infrastructure, modernisation and empowerment. The party added a paragraph under the title “relief and rehabilitation” for victims of the floods. In 1996, 2002 and 2008, the BJP had promised a regional council for the Jammu region, but skipped it in the Vision Document this time around. It left out the demand for union territory status to Ladakh as well. In its document, the BJP excluded the issue of political reservation for Scheduled Tribes and quota for Other Backward Classes. Leaders leave midway
After their failure to satisfactorily answer mediapersons, BJP leaders left the press conference in a huff. Sharma and Khanna tried to give an impression that media should not worry about core issues as those were the sole right of the BJP. When mediapersons pressed for reasons, both leaders left midway. “No further question on the Vision Document,” said Khanna before leaving the dais. |
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Modi, not saffron party, welcome in Kashmir valley
For long, Kashmiris have had politicians promising them welfare measures during election time, and then not keeping their word when they come to power. While the main opposition PDP’s manifesto is still to come out with its manifesto, the NC manifesto demanding autonomy, protection of Article 370 and revocation of AFSPA and the Congress’s pledge on delimitation fit the proverb old wine in new bottles . The BJP’s “vision document” is neither here nor there. It is a pamphlet full of empty rhetoric on development, but where it stands on crucial issues such as Article 370 that grants special status to J&K and the uniform civil code and how it would make up for the discrimination that it had been alleging was meted out to Jammu and Ladakh regions over the years, it says nothing about them. In Kashmir, people, however, feel that Modi has already outlined his vision about the Valley, promising to make it an energy powerhouse and the ultimate tourist destination for the world. “This is what we want, and we trust Modi,” said Basharat
Banday, who is associated with the tourism ministry. “He can turn things around,” Banday added. The PM has the energy and is committed towards giving a boost to tourism and commerce as well as tackling unemployment. “He means what he says,” said Tahir
Rashid, a software engineer. “I am sure Modiji will keep his promise of kick-starting ‘skill India and digital India’ from here,” he said.
Kashmiris see in him the promise of keeping his word. To date, politicians have taken Kashmiris for a ride. That is the general refrain. There are many virtues in Modi that Kashmiris can count. But they are not happy with the BJP’s choice of candidates for the elections. “They are no different from the politicians that we have seen in the state,” said
Yasmina, who recently finished her graduation but has little hope of getting any job. “What I heard about the BJP leaders in the state is that they had indulged in cross-voting in the 2011 legislative council elections for some consideration,” Yasmina said. “I think that was corruption, so how is the BJP different from other parties.” The Kashmiris are angry with the BJP for not making its stand clear on crucial issues. Development is good but they want to know how their distinct identity would be preserved and how the party that carries the taint of corruption can help the state get rid of this menace. They understand that Modi cannot be doing everything. There are limitations. The PM, they say, has to attend to a number of issues at the national and international levels and cater to the needs of 1.25 billion people of the country. “Kashmir is important as he has admitted that Kashmir is dear to him. We hope that he will do something for us without imposing this condition of 44 plus on us,” Yasmina sums it up. |
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NC committed to AFSPA revocation, says Omar
Srinagar, November 27 “The NC is committed to its political agenda of seeking the restoration of internal autonomy, safeguarding Article 370 and the revocation of the AFSPA from Jammu and Kashmir,” Omar said while addressing rallies in Noorabad and Homshalibugh constituencies of Kulgam district in south Kashmir. He said the National Conference would continue to strive for the revocation of the AFSPA, an Act that has no place in a violence-free, modern and civilised society that has made a spirited recovery from a prolonged political turmoil. Omar also said the BJP should update itself with the glorious history of Jammu and Kashmir’s political struggle against autocracy, tyranny and suppression. “A slew of BJP leaders and RSS ideologues are making a bee line to Jammu and Kashmir and announcing plans to hold ‘closed-door’ meetings for their purported ‘Mission 44 plus.” “In Jammu and Ladakh, BJP leaders speak of abrogating Article 370 and in Kashmir they try their best to maintain a silence on Article 370,” the NC leader said. Another new slogan from the BJP was to change the name of Jammu and Kashmir and in doing so they want to “fragment the state by planting seeds of sub-regional animosity”, he alleged. While speaking about Article 370, BJP leaders invariably and intentionally refer to provisions of the state subject law thereby making it clear that the BJP was planning to fiddle with it, the Chief Minister said. On one hand the BJP says that Article 370 is not an election issue while on the other hand the Home Minister of the country says that Article 370 is a “national issue”. “This effort to speak in multiple voices is deliberate and the BJP has elaborate plans to harm our political individuality, special status and Article 370 under this smokescreen of confusion,” Omar alleged. Emphasising the Kashmir issue was not a matter of politics for his party, the NC working president said: “We don’t treat the Kashmir issue as a matter of electioneering or politicking like our opponents do. We have always, both in the opposition and while in power, advocated the acceptable resolution of the Kashmir issue according to the aspirations of our people and we will continue to do that.” |
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Elections no substitute to K-issue: AIP
Srinagar, November 27 “The elections are by no means a substitute to plebiscite or resolution of the Kashmir issue. These are conducted just for running the administrative affairs and governance-related paradigms,” he said. Rashid’s statement follows Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s assertion on Wednesday wherein he had said it was too early to call the large turnout of voters in the first phase of the Assembly elections in Kashmir a defeat of separatism. “Everybody is staking claim on Kashmir. Pakistan says Kashmir belongs to it, India says it is their integral part and states that the participation in the electoral politics is vote for India which is absurd,” Rashid said, adding that holding plebiscite is the best possible way to end the confusion.
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Sure of support from Valley friends: Madhav
Srinagar, November 27 Before polls, top BJP leaders had met several leaders of smaller parties, including Sajjad Lone (People’s Conference), GH Mir (Democratic Party Nationalist), Hakeem Yaseen (Peoples Democratic Front) and Engineer Rashid (Awami Itihad Party), fuelling speculation of post-poll alliances. Alleging that the other main political parties of the state lacked vision and had nothing to offer to the people, Madhav said the National Conference manifesto released yesterday was a “carbon copy of 2008”. Asserting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a “vision” for the development of the state and that is why the BJP manifesto was called a “vision”. He said if voted to power, the party’s would focus on job creation, development of industries and turning Srinagar into a tourist city. Madhav reiterated that the party mission was to help the state get rid of dynastic rule and end the “cycle of loot”. He accused other political parties of playing politics in the name of seeking rehabilitation for the flood victims. |
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Veteran Tarigami faces NC, PDP challenge
Ehsan Fazili Tribune News Service
Kulgam, November 27
Mehbooba Mufti-led party had managed to pocket 10,112 or 60.97 per cent of the total votes polled in the segment, followed by the NC with 5,043 votes. The National Conference has fielded Imran Nabi Dar, son of a slain party leader and former legislator Ghulam Nabi Dar, from the constituency while the PDP has nominated Nazir Ahmad Laway for the seat. The presence of BJP candidate Ghulam Hassan Zargar may also have an impact on the final outcome in Kulgam in case of a close contest. The segment has 2,376 migrant Kashmiri Pandit voters, who might lend their support to the saffron party this time around. The migrant voters are likely to play a vital part in the Kulgam Assembly segment given the fact that Tarigami had won the previous poll by a margin of just 236 votes. The Congress is being represented by Peer Nizam-ud-din. The voters in the constituency are known for electing representatives from ideologically divergent groups like the Jamaat-e-Islami in the past. And in the last three Assembly polls they have opted for the leftist CPM. Tarigami was elected for the first time from Kulgam Assembly segment in 1996. Interestingly, the National Conference had not fielded any candidate against the veteran leader then. However, in the subsequent state elections the constituency witnessed a close contest with the both the NC and the PDP staking their claim on the seat.
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High voter turnout fine, but K-issue remains: Mufti
Kulgam district will vote in the second phase of elections on December 2 while Anantnag will go to the polls in the fourth phase on December 15. Addressing the rallies, Mufti said: “The participation of people in large numbers is encouraging but it in no way should be misconstrued that the problem has disappeared without being addressed,” Mufti said. The PDP patron said: “It must be addressed at the earliest.” Mufti said the renewed trust that people of the state had reposed in the democratic institutions offered a fresh opportunity. “The opportunity should be used to work for the resolution of the Kashmir issue through peaceful and reconciliatory means,” said Mufti, adding that it should be done in a manner that balances and promotes enduring political and economic stability in the state and the region. Mufti called for expansion to the Indo-Pak peace process to find a substantial solution to the problem of Jammu and Kashmir and address the legitimate aspirations of its people. “The PDP stands for a space of dignity, opportunity and prosperity for the people of Jammu and Kashmir in the paradigm of friendship and cooperative relationship between India and Pakistan,” he said. Mufti recounted the work he did within a ‘short’ stint as the Chief Minister. He called the opening of the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad and the Poonch-Rawalakot routes a feat that was unimaginable before his party came to power. |
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SAD(N) delegation calls on Guv
Jammu, November 27 He expressed concern over the need to ensure fair compensation to persons displaced from Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir in 1947. He said families of displaced persons who had been left out should be brought under the ambit of the Central package for one-time settlement. He requested the Governor to intervene and impress upon the Centre and the state to decide the compensation after taking into consideration their material and physical losses. The SAD(N) demanded constitutional safeguards, representation in the legislature, extension of the National Minority Act to the state, benefits under Central schemes for minorities, reservation in government jobs for Sikhs and stronger framework for teaching of Punjabi in the state. The Governor assured the delegation that he would take up their demands with both the Central and the state government authorities. |
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Handicraft workers’ losses go unnoticed in Kashmir
Srinagar, November 27 The handicraft sector that is already struggling for its survival in Kashmir has faced a setback due to the September 7 floods. Srinagar, the capital and the hub of handicrafts in Kashmir, was among the worst-hit, leaving thousands of people associated with the business shattered. “Our losses were not even considered by the government. No one from the handicraft department visited us or assessed our losses. We are poor people who earn less than Rs 100 per day, but even that is gone now. We are left without any work,” said Neelofar Amin, an artisan who makes hand-woven pashmina stoles. According to the handicraft department, the industry has suffered a loss of Rs 450 crore as per the initial assessment. The semi-finished goods and other raw material lying with the artisans throughout the Valley got damaged and several handicraft showrooms in Lal Chowk also got damaged in the floods. “We are left with no work now, we have lost our goods and our work in floods,” said a paper mache artist whose products were washed away in Bemina, Srinagar. The artisans said they approached the government many a time to bring into their notice the damages caused to poor artisans in Budgam and Srinagar, but there was no positive response. “We work like labourers on daily basis, but no compensation has been announced for us. We went to several offices, but did not receive any positive response,” said Abdul Ahad, an artisan. The president of the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce said the whole handicraft industry had been affected by the floods and the government had not yet announced any package for the sector which was already dying a slow death in the Valley. “We had a meeting with the government. Let’s hope they will do something soon,” he said. The artisans are in distress as their houses, work and their crop have been damaged in the floods. Some are even discouraged to continue the work for meagre amount. Big jolt
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Include tobacco ban violations in monthly crime review, says DGP
Srinagar, November 27 The direction is aimed at strengthening the public health measures at the district and sub-district level in the state. In an order issued last week, the DGP has asked all district heads to collate the violations for strengthening institutionalisation of the mechanism and to forward the details on the monthly basis to the Superintendents of Police in the districts. The COTPA-2003 was implemented in the state in 2010. However, the Act was not implemented fully as violations of the Act continued unabated. “It has also been emphasised that the violation of the COTPA-2003 should be incorporated as one of the agenda items in the monthly crime review meetings at the district level,” the circular issued by the DGP said. The order has come into force with immediate effect and all ADGPs, IGPs, DIGs, district SSPs, CEOs and principals of schools have been directed to implement the provisions of the COTPA. The COTPA was enacted in 2003 to discourage the consumption of tobacco products through progressive restrictions and protect non-smokers from passive smoking. “The order has come as a huge encouragement for the entire team of Voluntary Health Association of India (VHAI), who had put in all their efforts to get the order issued,” Bhavna Mukhopadhyay, Executive Director, Voluntary Health Association of India (VHAI) said. She said a delegation from the VHAI met the DGP and apprised him of the COTPA violations taking place in the state. Notably, the state police had challaned 521 people and collected Rs 46,100 as fine from them across the 12 districts of the state for violating COTPA during October 2014. Central survey
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JSSC to ensure all CBSE schools get mandatory accreditation
Jammu, November 27 The Tribune had earlier reported that the CBSE,
on the directions of the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD),
had issued a circular to all its affiliated schools in the state to
apply online for mandatory accreditation process called the School
Quality Assessment and Accreditation Scheme (SQAAS). To apply online
for accreditation, the schools need to fill the “form of intent” on
the CBSE website. The accreditation process entails three phases with
the first being the submission of online application along with relevant
evidence to support the data. Under the process, schools will be
evaluated on scholastic and co-scholastic processes, infrastructure,
human resource management and administration, leadership and beneficiary
satisfaction – further divided into 250 areas such as life skills,
value systems, visual and performing arts, health and physical
activities, classrooms, libraries, labs and transportation facilities
among others. The CBSE started the process last year as a pilot project
for 100 schools. To get accreditation, schools should get at least 75
per cent marks, with at least 50 per cent marks in each domain. Once
accredited, the school’s name and its best performing domains will be
listed on the CBSE website. This would also help parents make decisions
with regard to schools. “The accreditation process is now must for
CBSE-affiliated schools. The awarding of accreditation is a proof that
the school has met the desired standards at an acceptable level and is
willing to maintain those standards and to improve its educational
programme by implementing the recommendations of the visiting
committee,” sources in the JSSC claimed. The sources added that all
the CBSE-affiliated institutions in J&K are equipped with all
necessary facilities, but still there are some areas on which they are
focusing so that they did not lag behind other CBSE-affiliated schools
outside state. They added that the accreditation process is not to rank
schools, but to provide quality benchmarks in the establishment and
running of schools. Quality assessment scheme
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NMC seeks release of pending DA
Jammu, November 27 “Now the state government should not take the model code of conduct as an excuse to not release two instalments of pending DA in favour of 4.5 lakh employees and 1 lakh pensioners,” the NMC president said. Shastri hoped that the new state government should take positive decision in this regard and release both instalments of DA at the earliest so that the salaried class and pensioners get some relief. Other demands of the NMC included removal of all pay anomalies in SRO 93, particularly clerical staff, inclusion of Jammu city in the proposed 100 smart cities, grant of 20 per cent of interim relief to both Centre and state government employees and pensioners, enhancement in the wages of daily wagers to Rs 10,000 per month, amendment to SRO 64 and issuance of orders of regularisation of services of 180 daily wagers. Among other who spoke on the occasion were Rajan Babu Khajuria, Sunil Kochhar, Surinder Kumar, Mohammad Shafi, Darshan Lal, Bhopinder Singh, Barkat Ram, Sudesh Kumar, Parmjit, Vijay Kumar, Sukhdev Singh, Karan Singh and Ravinder Kumar. |
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Disbanded student union starts anti-poll campaign on KU campus
Srinagar, November 27 Members of the union urged the students not to participate in the electoral process. They said at a time when serious human rights violations were being committed across the state, participation in elections would be a futile exercise. This is for the first time that a KU faculty member, Mohammad Yusuf Ganai from the History Department, KU, is contesting the elections from the Shangus constituency in Anantnag as an Independent candidate. Former Vice Chancellor Talat Ahmad had banned all political activities inside the campus although several mainstream political parties have formed their student wings in KU. Various separatist and mainstream leaders also visited the KU campus which was also frowned upon by the KU management. The banned students’ union of Kashmir, however, has been mobilising the students in the university and has also urged VC Khursheed Andrabi to lift the ban on students’ union on the campus. A first
This is for the first time that a KU faculty member, Mohammad Yusuf Ganai from the History Department, KU, is contesting the elections from the Shangus constituency in Anantnag as an Independent candidate |
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JU holds seminar on ‘Hindi literature in Sri Lanka’
Jammu, November 27 Dr Subhashini Rathnayake from the University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, delivered a lecture on Hindi language and literature in Sri Lanka. She said there are 17 universities in Sri lanka, but the Hindi departments are existing in four universities. There are 300 students and scholars enrolled in the Hindi Department of Kelaniya University. “It is the need of the day for every foreign country to speak and understand Hindi language to understand the Indian culture and Indian market. Hindi movies are playing a pivotal role in creating interest for this language,” she said. Earlier, Prof Parmeshwari Sharma, Head of the Hindi Department, welcomed the guests, including Prof Kedarnath Sharma from the Sanskrit Department, Prof Parvinder Kour, Dr OPN Dwivedi, Dr Ashok Kumar, Dr Rajni Bala, Dr Anju Thapa, Dr Parshottam, Dr Jagmohan and Dr Vandana Sharma. — TNS |
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Pandits say rehab packages not enough
Jammu, November 27 Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju told the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday that J&K had sent a proposal for revision of the existing Prime Minister’s Package — 2008, seeking enhancement of financial assistance. All Party Migrant Coordination Committee chairman Vinod Pandit said the return of the Pandits was only possible when their political aspirations were addressed. “Even the Prime Minister Narendra Modi government is now treating our exodus from the Valley as a economic issue. We need political rights and a strong mechanism to live without fear of terrorists in our homeland,” Vinod said. The Panun Kashmir, a Pandit organisation, said it wants the Centre to involve representatives in any process of rehabilitation. |
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Governor releases book in Dogri
Jammu, November 27 The Governor suggested publication of a half yearly newsletter, containing information about all Dogri works, brought out in the preceding months. For wide dissemination of significant literary work, the Governor advised their introduction in all school, college and district libraries of the state. Rakesh K Gupta, Principal Secretary to the Governor, Prof Nilamber Dev Sharma, Prof Shashi Pathania, Prof Veena Gupta, Prof Lalit Magotra, Joginder Chhatrapal, Prof Shiv Dev Singh Manhas, Dr Jitendra Udhampuri and Shailender Singh were present on the occasion.
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Govt: Rs 133 crore disbursed among flood-hit
Srinagar, November 27 For the purpose, Rs 5 crore was released in favour of the Public Works Department (PWD) to fast track the shelter construction process. This information was given at a meeting held by Chief Secretary Mohammad Iqbal Khandey here today to review the status of rehabilitation, including shelter facilities, for flood victims. An official spokesman said the Chief Secretary also reviewed the district-wise status of rehabilitation work from the deputy commissioners through video conferencing. |
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Four arrested for sarpanch’s death
Srinagar, November 27 The personnel were deployed in the wake of the yesterday incident where a sarpanch identified as Abdul Rashid Wagay, son of Abdul Gani Wagay, was injured in a scuffle with a gas dealer. The injured, who was admitted to SKIMS, Soura, succumbed to his injuries today, following which his supporters protested and set ablaze several shops at Kathpora. The accused have been identified as Shakeel Ahmad Khan, Mushtaq Ahmad Khan, Showkat Ahmad Parray and Firdous Ahmad Parray. |
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Jammu, November 27
Chief Minister and working president of National Conference Omar Abdullah today said his party was committed to restoration of internal autonomy and revocation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act.
Bharatiya Janata Party general secretary Ram Madhav today said it would take support of its “friends” to form the next government in case it did not get an absolute majority.
“We are confident of forming the government on our own. In case we fall short of majority, we will take support from our friends,” Madhav told reporters here without naming anybody.
Balwan Singh files papers from Marh
Jammu, November 27
Students of Maharaja Harisingh Agricultural Collegiate
(MHAC) School, Nagbani, brought laurels to the institution by winning the overall trophy in skating in the recently concluded DAV National Sports at the zonal level held at DAV Public School,
Patiala. Ashima clinched the gold medal in quad rink-1 300 m, while Ujjwal also fetched the gold medal in quad rink-II.
In skating (inline 500 m), Komal Sharma claimed the silver medal. In athletics, Aditi Uppal bagged the gold medal in 100 m sprint followed by bronze in 200 m race.
TNS
by his family
members, luminaries and political leaders. National Conference (NC)
provincial president Devinder Singh Rana also paid tributes to the
late leader. Pradhan described Dogra as an epitome of simplicity and
dedication who had served the people of the state with dedication.
“He was a great soul and a real friend of the poor who made a
significant contribution towards helping the downtrodden,” the
minister said. TNS
Srinagar, November 27
Anantnag, November 27
