BJP highlights Gangyal area problems

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 17: Mr Jaideep Sharma, president and Mr Vinay Gupta, general secretary of BJP Gandhi Nagar Mandal highlighted the problems of Gangyal Industrial area, where the condition of roads is worst and drains not functioning properly.

As per a release both the leaders appealed the concerned authorities for attending to the burning problems of the area so that the industrial area of Gangyal could be seen as developed as in the case of other industrial areas of developed states.

SAC conducts tour of Rajouri, Poonch area

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 17: Senior members of Sharnarthi Action Committee conducted a tour of Poonch and Rajouri districts under the presidentship of S Hardit Singh Panchhi and held several meetings enroute.

As per a release a public meeting was held at Poonch, in which displaced persons from different areas of the district participated. While addressing Mr Panchhi and Bakshi Hira Nand Suri asked rank and file of PoK Displaced Persons (DPs) to launch a forceful agitation at Delhi and Jammu as both the state and Central Governments have failed to solve the demands of DPs for which struggle is on since long. The leaders condemned the casual approach of the Government and criticised the policy of the Government for releasing relief package of August 2000 which was nothing but an eye wash as major demands contained in the petition have been deliberately dropped.

Every where the DPs expressed their solidarity with the Action Committee and pledged to make the movement successful.

Mr Panchhi was authorised to fix date for courting arrests before Parliament because despite of many commitments at the level of Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister, which did not yield any positive result.

Mr Panchhi urged the Prime Minister Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee to intervene personally and sort out the issue, before the situation took an ugly turn.

Others who spoke on the occasion included Bhagat Singh, general secretary, Dr Bodh Raj, S Fateh Singh, Kehar Singh, Mohan Lal and Labhu Ram.

Competition World organises Talent Search Examination

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 17: ‘Competition World’ a socio-educational society, today organised a Talent Search Mathematics Examination at Government College for Women Parade.

Nine hundred students from 45 schools of Jammu, participated in the exam. Results of the exam will be declared within ten days.

Appearing students from Vth to Xth were divided into three groups and were given separate question-booklets which they had to answer in two hours.

Before the exam, students were delivered a lecture by organisor-cum-advisor Mr Rahi. He stressed upon the need to learn basics of mathematics which are most important to get through any competitive examination.

On the occasion, students were also acknowledged with the statistics on the percentage of selection of candidates from J&K State at national level entrance examinations.

Many teachers from different schools rendered their services to make the programme a success.

Objective of the programme was to aware the students of J&K with the uprising competition standards at the national level.

Panjtirthi Mohalla organises public-police meeting

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 17: Panjtirthi Mohalla Sudhar Committee convened public-police meet through its convenor Mr Shiv Kumar Mengi at Mubarik Mandi today.

As per a release in the absence of Mr R V Raju, IGP, Dr S P Vaid, DIG Jammu-Kathua range presided over the function which was prominently attended by Messrs Pawan Kotwal, Administrator and Mr M L Padha, executive officer of Jammu Municipality, Mr R R Swain, SSP Jammu, SP Jammu Mr Sheetal Singh, K C Sharma, Tilak Raj Sharma, Jatinder Puri, Shiv Kumar, Mani Ram Abrol, president, secretary and members of Gali Agnihotri Association, Prithvi Kohli and Arvind Gupta.

The meeting was aimed at bringing a close rapport between the police and honourable citizens and create awareness about their related problems.

Dr S P Vaid while addressing the gathering appreciated the efforts of the committee to convene such meeting and assured the people a positive approach of police towards honourable citizens. He highlighted the problems being faced by the forces to combat terrorism on the one hand and maintain law and order on the other. He laid emphasis on the public to be vigilant against the nefarious designs of the enemy.

Others who spoke on the occasion included Messrs Narinder Singh, H S Dua, Col Dev Raj Sharma, Mool Raj Abrol and K K Chowdhary. All expressed satisfaction over the present set up of police.

For the devotion towards their duty Administrator Jammu Municipality, DIG Jammu-Kathua Range, SSP Jammu, S P City, SHO Pacca Danga and Chowki Officers were presented mementos by Messrs Dr Moti Lal, O P Sharma, Harbans Nagokey, L D Magotra and Joginder Kohli.

Dr S P Vaid also presented trophies to Mr Rohit Dev Singh and Mr Shamsher Bhagat, Chowki Officers.

The vote of thanks was presented by Mr Shiv Kumar Mengi while the distinguished guests were welcomed by Mr Shatrughan Jamwal and Mr Sunil Abrol, president and general secretary of the committee.

The programme was compered by renowned artist and announcer Mr Vijay Atri.

Women to get 33 pc quota in Panchayat polls: Slathia

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec. 17: Minister for Tourism, Mr S S Slathia has reiterated the Government resolve to bring the democratic process at the doorsteps of the common people through Panchayat elections. He was addressing a public gathering at village Badali in Vijaypur block of Jammu district today.

The Minister said that women will be given 33 per cent in the panchayat elections and if not elected they will be nominated by the Government to maintain their representation in the Panchayats. He said the women can play a vital role in the speedy development in the rural areas. He also called upon the youth to gear up their might in electing the honest, dedicated and right candidates in the Panchayat elections.

Mr Slathia advised the people to constitute development committees to monitor the development activities being executed in their areas and ensure that the funds are utilised properly.

The Minister said that the present Government inspite of financial constraints and disturbed conditions is committed to provide equal opportunities of development irrespective of religion and political affiliations of the people.

Referring to the demands of the people, Mr Slathia announced that black-topping of Badali road from main road to temple would be taken up in the next financial years. He also issued instructions to the PDD authorities for arranging two improvised transformers and electric poles for the village at the earliest.

Hurriyat not real representatives: Dar
JD (United) to start second phase of peace Yatra today

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 17: In continuation of the Party’s peace mission launched on November 3 this year from Border Tehsil of Uri in Kashmir valley to Lakhanpur in Jammu Region, the Janata Dal (JD) United has decided to launch the second phase of yatra starting from here tomorrow.

This was stated by Party State president and former Minister of State for Home, Mr Mohammed Maqbool Dar while talking to media persons here today.

He said the the five day long Yatra which will start from Panj Bakhtar Road here tomorrow will culminate at Akhnoor on its return from Poonch on December 22.

Mr Dar said the Yatra will leave via Kalakote Town and have a night stay at Rajouri tomorrow. Next day it will leave from Rajouri to Poonch via Mendhar, he added.

He said on December 20 it will leave the Poonch town for Surankote via Thanamandi and have a night halt at famous religious place Shahdara Sharief to pay obeisance.

Next day it will leave Shahdara Sharief to Sunderbani via Rajouri and after a night halt there it will proceed for its final sojourn on December 22 and culminate at Akhnoor Tehsil.

The former Union MoS said the State of J&K in general and Kashmir valley in particular has suffered a lot of devastation during 12 year long turmoil and people are now craving for peace.

He said people of Kashmir valley have given a tremendous response to his Party’s peace Yatra last month which is a testimony to the fact that they are with him who will work for restoration of peace and order in the state.

He said during the last month’s yatra public meetings were held at different places enroute from Uri to Lakhanpur and people in large numbers participated in them. Even in the militancy prone areas like Khanabal and Qazigund in South Kashmir the public meetings were held.

Mr Dar said the main aim of this Yatra is to awaken the people about the devastation caused by the militancy and Pak gameplan.

He said 60 partymen will participate in the yatra tomorrow which will be flagged off by him.

When asked will the cease-fire declaration by India bear fruit, he said this is a step in right direction as Pakistan is also under tremendous pressure due to which she was compelled to restraint firing on borders.

The JD (U) leader expressed the hope that good sense will prevail on Pak rulers and they will stop cross border terrorism and help in restoration of everlasting peace in this border state.

He said the peace is the only solution to present problem as the 12 year old gun culture has given nothing except destruction and devastation.

He while expressing his optimism that cease-fire will be extended by the Indian Government however maintained that ball is in the court of Pakistan and militants and they have to reciprocate properly to Indian efforts. Mr Dar however, did not term the Hurriyat as the real representatives of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and asked the Central Government not to hold parleys with them by ignoring the real representatives of masses.

He held Hurriyat responsible for bringing gun culture to state and said that the real representatives of the people of Valley who were given mandate by the people and who worked tirelessly for restoration of peace and normalcy should not be ignored.

The JD leaders Dr A K Khuru, S P Mangotra and Ghulam Mohid-u-Din Shah, Party general secretaries, Sanjeev Mangotra, state Youth JDU chief its secretary general, Joginder Singh Manhas, Ravi Rohmetra, Distt, Jammu Urban chief and Kamal Suri district president JDU were also present.

NTUF warns to launch dharna at Srinagar,
Jammu on Jan 4

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 17: National Trade Union Front (NTUF) has warned to launch provincial level dharna in front of Divisional Commissioners’ offices both at Jammu and Srinagar on January 4.

This was declared by the State NTUF president, Mohammed Gafoor Dar while talking to reporters here today. He said the dharnas in Winter and Summer Capital will be held in protest against the State Government’s indifferent attitude towards the employees.

Mr Dar while criticising the Government alleged it backtrackted from the assurances given to employees leaders last year on the basis of which 42 day long strike was called off.

NTUF chief warned that in view of the delaying tactics adopted by the Government towards the genuine demands of the employees the working class is left with no alternative except to adopt the path of peaceful struggle.

He said the decision to launch the dharna was held in the one day session of NTUF here.

Not disclosing as what will be the future course of action in case the Government does not give any positive response, he said the same will be announced later on.

However, he claimed that State Government employees have achieved a lot since the formation of this Front 10 years back through the struggle.

He alleged that the Government by treachery deceived the employees during the last year’s, struggle after promising them that all the genuine demands will be redressed.

But the demands like regularisation of daily wagers, release of third installment of Fifth Pay Commission arrears and three percent DA, taking of GP Fund Pass books as authentic records, enhancement of retirement age to 60 years, change of designation of helpers and enhancement of daily wagers rate are still hanging fire, he alleged.

He also urged the Central Government that the J&K be given the liberal financial assistance to come out from present financial crunch.

Mr Dar ruled out that there is any proposal of formation of Employees Joint Action Committee (EJAC) this time saying if such a body is formed all efforts will be made that those leaders are not included in it who betrayed the cause of employees in last year’s struggle.

He also denied that there is any conspiracy to launch strike when the offices shift from Kashmir to Winter Capital saying that trade union activities were paralysed in Kashmir during last 12 years turmoil and naturally the Jammu took the lead.

He also announced that NTUF general secretary Mr Dass Ram Kandley has been appointed as chief advisor of the organisation while Darshan Mangotra provincial president will be its state general secretary now.

Besides, he said Bishan Dass, Sewa Ram and Rajinder Rathore will be as joint secretary, publicity secretary and office secretary of NTUF respectively.

Surinder Singh dares Wazir to prove charges
Vested persons trying to divide Community: DGPC

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 16: Criticising the working of State Gurdwara Parbhandak Board (SGPB) Chief, Mr Sudershan Singh Wazir, the District Gurdwara Parbhandak Committee (DGPC) blamed him and Mr Rangil Singh for trying to sow the seeds of disunity among the members of Sikh Community for their vested interests.Interestingly both Mr Wazir and Rangil Singh are the active members of ruling National Conference (NC).

This was alleged by Mr Surinder Singh, president DGPC, Jammu at a joint press conference organised by the Committee and some prominent persons of Sikh Community here today.

He while condemning the recent suo moto action of Mr Wazir who suspended the DGPC said the action of SGPB chief was totally arbitrary in nature.

He termed unfortunate the attempt made to suspend the duly elected body of the Sikh Community by Mr Wazir which generated a lot of misunderstanding in the Community.

Challenging the locus standi of Mr Wazir he said the DGPC is an elected body and it has been given mandate by the people for full five years term.

He said number of attempts were made to bring the DGPC into minority by the vested persons and even money was offered to the members for withdrawal of support previously. But when they failed in it then attempts were made to defame DGPC by these very persons be levelling serious allegations.

Mr Surinder Singh said if any of the allegations levelled by Mr Wazir against the DGPC is proved by him, at the very moment I will quite as DGPC president.

He also maintained that no Sikh leader is dragging the name of Mahant Manjeet Singh in any controversy as alleged by Mr Wazir saying that every member of Sikh Community has true faith in the Baba Nangali Sahib. But the name of Mahant is being dragged by these vested persons by their wrong deeds, he asserted.

He alleged that SGPB has become totally defunct and during the last three years not a single Gurdwara Committee out of 12 was asked to pay the one tenth to Board and all allegations levelled by Mr Wazir in this regard are totally baseless, he said.

He also turned the allegations totally baseless that FIRs have been lodged against the DGPC at various places for misappropriation of funds saying except one FIR there is no case against the Committee and in that case the some unscrupulous elements were removed from the Gurdwara to restore the same to the community.

He alleged that Mr Wazir did not take any of his office bearers into confidence before taking such an arbitrary decision nor did he serve any notice to DGPC in this regard.

Surinder Singh said that Mr Wazir is dragging Mahant to protect him for his deeds and the community members have lost all faith in him (Wazir).

He said the Gurupurab will be celebrated as usual this year also with full religious fervour and gaiety.

Meanwhile, Akali Dal (AD) Badal in a statement today endorsed the working of DGPC, Jammu and assured full cooperation to it in future also.

In a statement issued here today, it said the AD Badal in a meeting here today, held under the chairmanship of its president Mr Harjinder Singh Raina endorsed the resolution adopted at a huge gathering of Sikh Sangat at Nanak Nagar in which the resignation of Mr Wazir was demanded.

Mr Raina said Mr Wazir has no right to stay in office for his anti community activities.

He alleged that Mr Wazir has tried to divide the community for his personnel gains and during his tenure nothing has been done for the betterment of the community and the Gurdwaras.

Students should have self confidence and values of life:Shafi

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec. 17: Students should come up with in built self-confidence and values of life as good citizens to face the challenges of present competitive world, stated the Education Minister, Mr. Mohammad Shafi while speaking at the annual day function of Xavier Public School, Nagrota here today, who was the chief guest on the occasion.

Mr. Shafi said that children should be given best exposure at pre-primary level of education, to sharpen their latent talents for better development of their all round personality.

While lauding the multi-faceted activities of the school, the Minister congratulated the staff and management for establishing the school, in the memory of Mahatma Budh Singh. Who was an embodiment of sacrifices and played a significant role alongwith Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah in the social and political life of the State.

Earlier, the Principal of the School, Mrs. Trehan, in her welcome address while giving brief resume of the school curriculum, said that the institution is committed with a missionary zeal to groom up children so that they may be fully equipped with better mannerism to play their role in national life with excellence.

The Minister gave away prizes and certificates to students on the occasion.

A colourful cultural programme was also presented by the students depicting various aspects of social life.

A large number of students, their parents and people from other walks of life graced the occasion.

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