Samooh stages Bichde Bikhre at Parade College

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 4: The Samooh Theatre staged an Urdu play on Kashmiri titled "Bichde Bikhre" at Women College Parade Jammu. The play was directed by Sudhir Mahajan and written by Manoj Sheeri while Mr Bhupinder Singh was music director.

The play was about the members of two communities living in Kashmir and their separation. Main focus of the play was hatred which has been created by the fundamentalists.

Mr Kiran Bakshi, Principal Women College was the chief guest. While addressing the gathering, she said that play depicts present burning problems of Kashmir where both the communities Kashmiri Pandits as well as Muslims have suffered from same miseries for which they are not responsible. She congratulated the Samooh Group for organising such a play in the College to educate the students about the Kashmir problem.

In the end she thanked Mr Amandeep from N.Z.C.C for sponsoring the play.

Messrs Rajesh Kotru, Manik Jasrotia, Rajeev Kumar, Satish Kumar, Swatantra Bharat, Sheikh Mohammed Kalyan, Rajinder Pandita, Kulvir Singh, Varsha Dogra, Rakesh Kumar, Monika Khurana, Dhanesh Dogra, Shiv Dev Singh and others acted in the play.

The play was recommended to the N.Z.C.C. by Balwant Thakur, secretary J&K Academy of Art Culture and Languages.

Petro-products’ price hike criticised
AIYC president describes NC-BJP alliance as
unholy, opportunistic

Excelsior Correspondent

RANBIR SINGH PURA, Oct 4: All India Youth Congress president Mr Randeep Singh Surjewala has charged the ruling National Conference and Bhartiya Janata Party with befooling people and termed the BJP-NC alliance as un-natural and unholy.

"The BJP and NC, which have the history of bitter enmity for each other, joined hands in the lust of power and to loot the public exchequer," said Mr Surjewala while addressing a public rally at R S Pura, here today.

Describing the National Conference Government as most corrupt Government in the country, the Youth Congress leader claimed that if an inquiry be initiated, not even a single Minister in the Farooq Cabinet could be proved clean.

Mr Surjewala held the policies of Farooq Government responsible for rampant unemployment in the State and alleged that lakhs of people have become migrants in their own country only because of the inefficiency of the Government.

Launching a scathing attack on the Vajpayee Government, Mr Surjewala criticised steep hike in prices of petroleum products and countered the Petroleum Minister’s claim that the hike in prices was unavoidable in view of the hike in international market prices.

"Petro prices in international market were hiked for various times in past but such a hike in prices was never made during the Congress regimes," he said and added that the Central Government could have reduced the tax on petroleum products to decrease the burden on poor masses.

Terming the Vajpayee Government as anti-poor and anti-farmers, Mr Surjewala alleged, "this Government did not spare even people below poverty line and increased the prices of goods under Public Distribution System".

The Youth Congress leader alleged that the Bhartiya Janata Party which used to claim itself a party of patriots, committed blunders after assuming power in the Centre and succumbed before militants.

He exhorted people to fight against the wrong policies of the Government and uproot the corrupt State as well as Central Government to pave the way for Congress to provide a good governance.

Speaking on the occasion, all India general secretary of Youth Congress, Mr Jagat Singh claimed that the general masses have now fed up with the BJP and National Conference because of the wrong policies of the Central and State Governments.

Referring to the framing of false cases against some local Congress leaders for their alleged involvement in the incidents of violence in R S Pura following a sacrilegious act, the Youth Congress leader assured that the party will raise the issue in forthcoming session of the Parliament.

Mr Janak Singh disclosed that he alongwith Randeep Singh Surjewala have been specially deputed by the party president Sonia Gandhi to personally inquire the whole matter and get her apprised of the grievances of R S Pura people.

Expressing his shock over the torture of Congress workers by police, Mr Jagat demanded a judicial probe into the entire episode to identify the real accused.

Earlier, addressing the rally, president of State unit of Youth Congress Mr Yogesh Sawhney alleged that militancy in the Jammu and Kashmir has increased after the installation of Farooq Abdullah Government.

He appealed people to remain cautious from some elements in Congress who are hell bent to create factionalism in the party and urged them to strengthen the hands of Sonia Gandhi.

Senior Congress leader and former Member of Parliament Mr Mangat Ram Sharma, while speaking on the occasion highlighted the problems being faced by the border area people and urged Mr Randeep Singh Surjewala to apprise the party high command about their grievances.

He demanded that areas in Kathua and Hiranagar near the International Border be declared backward areas and people of these areas be given all benefits under this category.

Prominent among others who addressed the rally included Ashok Sharma (MLA), Choudhary Lal Singh (MLA), Gulchain Singh Charak, Choudhary Garu Ram, Ashwani Puri, Ramesh Mottan, Ravinder Slathia, Sanjay Sawhney, Hukam Chand, Rajkumar, Dr Gurdeep Singh and Ramesh Billa.

All the speakers held local police responsible for the incident of violence in R S Pura following a sacrilegious act and appealed Mr Surjewala to apprise Sonia Gandhi about the whole episode.

KP leaders join agitating camp college students

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 4: Continuing their stir against the State Government decision to merge the camp colleges with Jammu University, the students of camp colleges boycotted their classes for the 15th consecutive day today and held a massive demonstration.

The agitating students gave a three day ultimatum to the State Government to revoke the merger decision and warned the authorities of dire consequences if no decision was taken within three days.

The students were joined by some prominent Kashmiri Pandit leaders including Dr Agnishekhar, Mr O N Trishal and J L Khar who assured them that whole KP community was with them for their genuine demand.

The agitators staged a dharna in front of MAM College and raised slogans against the State Government, Education Minister and Commissioner Secretary Education Department Ms Sushma Choudhary.

Addressing the students, convenor of Panun Kashmir Dr Agnishekhar criticised the negative approach of the National Conference Government for playing with the sentiments of Kashmiri Pandit students.

Mr O N Trishal, president of All Kashmiri Pandit Solidarity Conference, while addressing, urged the Government to revoke the decision of merger of camp colleges with Jammu university, immediately.

Others who addressed the students included Vikas Pandita, Sanjay Koul, Satish Pandita, Vinod Pandita, Sunandan Koul.

Meanwhile, a meeting of Bhartiya Janata Yuva Morcha, Kashmir unit was held today under the chairmanship of its president Mr Ashwani Pandita wherein the Government was asked to revoke the decision of merger.

During the meet, Mr Pandita alleged that by ordering merger of camp colleges with Jammu University, the State Government has tried to create a wedge among various sections of the society in Jammu.

Declare Rajouri, Poonch as disturbed area: BJP

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 4: State Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) vice president Mr Kuldeep Raj Gupta while expressing his serious concern over the increasing attacks of militants in twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri demanded that both these districts be declared as disturbed area and handed over to Army.

Talking to newsmen here today, Mr Gupta said the people in this hilly range are terrorised and they feel totally insecure following the intensification of militant activities.

Seeking the direct intervention of the Central Government he said the State Government has failed to flush out the militants and hence it is the prerogative of the Union Government to take the strict measures so that the people will regain the confidence in the authority of law.

Mr Gupta said people in both the districts are totally scared as 17 mortar attacks have been made by the militants during last one week but fortunately they missed the target and no loss of life was reported.

He said the yesterday’s attack by militants on the Romeo Force camp is second of its type in last few days and previously the militants also attacked the 25 Div Army Camp.

He demanded that the VDCs be strengthened in the border belt and their members be equipped with sophisticated weapons.

He said the VDCs be also constituted in all the militancy infested villages.

Strongly advocating for creation of special cell to contain the militancy said the entire border with Pakistan be fenced and heavy deployment of the security forces be made near the ravines to contain infiltration.

Alleging the discrimination with the people of this border belt he alleged that among 500 militancy victims many families have been deprived of exgratia relief till date.

He said the families of three persons who were kidnaped by militants on January 9 this year have been totally deprived of ex-gratia relief.

He said BJP stands for creation of Regional Council for Jammu to end the discrimination with the region so that every district gets its equal share in development.

The BJP leader also alleged that development works in the entire border belt are standstill and no attention is being paid by the Government towards the development of this backward and hilly area.

About 90 percent PHE schemes in the district are a total failure he claimed which is the main cause of water scarcity in the area.

He said many villages san road link and 150 schools in far-flung areas of twin border districts are still closed.

Navratra celebrations at Vaishno Devi unabated

Excelsior Correspondent

KATRA, Oct 4: On the 6th Navratras day of yesterday, the religious celebrations at the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji were unabated. As usual one km long procession was taken out from Asia Chowk after the Additional Chief executive officer of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, Mr M K Diwedi lit the traditional lamp. After passing through the Katra Bazar the procession culminated at Higher secondary School Katra. Devotees who joined the procession sang devotional songs dancing to the drum beats. Several Jhankies also formed part of the procession.

The Director Tourism, Mr S S Bhalla, President Chamber of Commerce Katra, Mr Jugal Sharma, president Hotel association, Mr Shiv Kumar Sharma, President Travel Association, Mr Surinder Khajuria, President Cultural Association Katra, Mr Surinder Kumar, President Shiv Mandli Katra, Mr Kewal Padha, prominent citizens from all walks of life besides Shri Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrims participated in the procession.

In the evening all bazars of the town were dazzling with the colourful illumination. All business establishments, hotels and buildings of the Shrine Board were fully illuminated.

The other attraction of the Navratra festival was cultural programme presented here by the Song and Drama Division Jammu in the Higher Secondary School, Katra. Thousands of people including Shri Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrims witnessed the cultural programme comprising skits, dances and songs of different states. The programme was highly appreciated by the audience.

Earlier, the cultural programme started with lighting the lamp by the Additional SP Katra, Mr Parbhat Singh. Among others Director Tourism Mr S S Bhalla, prominent citizens of Katra, Mr Bharat, Mr Virender Kesar, Mr O P Bali, Anil Dubey and other members of the Navratras Festival Celebration Committee were present on this occasion.

Action Committee of Coop LDB employees
threaten struggle

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 4: A meeting of Action Committee of J&K Cooperative Central Land Development Bank Employees Association Jammu was held under the presidentship of Mr Ashok Sharma and the State president Mr Tara Singh Bhall.

As per a release a deputation of the Association met the chairman under the leadership of Mr Ashok Kumar Sharma and discussed the demands of the employees. The release added that since the chairman was not in a mood to listen to the demands, the association staged walk out as a token of protest.

Later the working committee and association members in a meeting chalked out future course of action in order to achieve basic objective of the action committee, which included removal of unconstitutional chairman, removal and reversion of Incharge Managing Director and deputy General Manager who have been holding the posts without approval of the Board for the last one and a half year, inquiry into gross financial irregularities by the incharge officers at the behest of the chairman by State Vigilance Organisation and Crime Branch, to protest against the failure of the management to obtain Government Guarantee, deputation of a senior IAS officer as chief executive of the bank and chairman and constitution of new board for Bank in accordance with provision of new Cooperative Societies Act 1989.

The meeting held that the trophies awarded to bank for the period 1998-99 were not given because the present chairman but the former chairman, while the present management has even failed to implement the 5th Pay Commission recommendations, grant of DA and Bonus as also leave encashment and other genuine claims of the employees.

It was resolved that if the demands of the employees were not conceded within 10 days, the Action Committee and Employees Association will observe two day strike on October 16 and 17.

Farooq reiterates LoC conversion into IB

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, OCT 4: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah today reiterated that conversion of Line of Control into International Border is the only tangible way to solve problems between India and Pakistan.

During 2-hour interaction with a 5-member British Parliamentary delegation-Labour friends of India-here this afternoon, the Chief Minister extensively dwelt on Indo-Pak relations, India’s initiatives of peace with the neighbouring country and Pakistan’s active abatement to terrorism in the State.

He said the Lahore initiative by Prime Minister Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee was a major opening towards normalising relations with Pakistan, which unfortunately received serious setback due Kargil incursion engineered by the other side. India did not close its doors for dialogue but easing of border tension and stopping terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir is imperative for picking up the threads of talks again. He, however, ruled out any third party mediation and said all issues with Pakistan have to be sorted out bilaterally.

The CM emphatically stated that though India yearns for peace, it couldn’t be discussed under pressure or threats. For this onus of creating congenial atmosphere by showing sincerity of purpose lies on Pakistan. Muslim Pakistan, he said, has fueled hostilities with India for over half a century that could jeopardize relations of Indian Muslims with their compatriots. If sincere efforts are not taken to grapple with the situation, innocents may become victims, he said, adding that status quo will lead to animosity between various communities in the country.

He said Pakistan should reconcile with the reality and help in bringing about peace in the region. Pakistan could also consider giving greater autonomy to PoK, where the people have no rights or the Government any powers.

Dr Abdullah said Pakistani shelling on borders, though reciprocated with matching response from India, has made life of border people miserable. For their safety, erection of massive bunkers has become a necessity together with ex-gratia to those who have left their homes and hearths in the wake of continued shelling.

Describing Jammu and Kashmir as proud part of India, the Chief Minister said it would be prudent for Islamabad not to create hype of Kashmir becoming Pakistan. In fact, Pak leadership has been thriving on this bogey for 53 years and the time has come for a bold leadership to emerge there to call spade a spade.

Dr Abdullah said that leaders of different view points in Hurryiat Conference are so confused that some talk of plebiscite, some of so-called azadi and others are for merger with Pakistan. He said people of the State are fed up with gun culture unleashed at the behest of elements from across the border and want return of peace. He agreed that talks were necessary for bringing about peace in the region and said the recent Centre-Hizb talks fizzled out in just seven days because of Pakistani sabotage. "Talks would have at least given a chance to peace for some time", the CM observed.

On a volley of questions on autonomy, the Chief Minister said the demand for restoration of eroded autonomy does in no way mean secession or weakening of relations of Jammu and Kashmir with rest of the country. Autonomy and regional autonomy are for satiating the urges and aspirations of the people living in three distinct regions and several sub regions of the State. He said the demand is nothing new and is within the Constitution of India.

He said a countrywide campaign was launched to clear misunderstandings about autonomy and present it in right perspective. He said he and his ministers met a cross section of people besides all major political parties and briefed them about the autonomy.

He said awareness about autonomy all over the country has cleared misunderstandings on the issue and people are appreciating the demand in right perspective. He said the Centre has agreed to constitute committee for discussions on it and expressed confidence that a movement forward on the issue would be achieved.

When asked about reaction of Congress and BJP on the demand, the Chief Minister said the Congress, by and large, subscribes to autonomy but wants 1975 Indira-Sheikh accord to be its basis. The Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs, Mr P L Handoo distinguished 1975 accord with the pre-1953 status of the state.

Dr Abdullah said some organisations are opposed to autonomy and advocate abrogation of Article 370, giving special status to Jammu and Kashmir. He, however, said that in an era of coalition governance such parties would not be in a position to further their views of the Article.

In response to several queries, the Chief Minister gave a development profile of the State including steps being taken to reconstruct the militancy damaged infrastructure and giving fillip to state economy. He said though the state continues to be deficient in foodgrain production, much headway has been made in agriculture, horticulture and pisciculture.

He emphasised need for peace saying that the people of India and Pakistan would prosper if the tension between the two countries is eased out. He said trade and tourism between the two neighbours could also take off once peace prevails in the region.

The delegation too appreciated the importance of return of peace in, what they called the beautiful land on the earth. They evinced keenness about various areas of development in Jammu and Kashmir.

The CM also told the parliamentarians about constitution of State Human Rights Commission, formation of new jail manual and visit of IRC team to jails in the state.

The Ministers, Mr Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din Shah, Mr P L Handoo, Mr Abdul Rahim Rather, Mr Mohammad Shafi, Choudhry Mohammed Ramzan and Mr S S Slathia were present and had interaction with the delegation.

The visiting parliamentarians included, Ms Linda Perham representing Illford North, Mr Gareth Thomas of Harrow West, Mr Tony Coleman, Putney, Mr Ian Davidson, Glasgow Pollock and Dr Desmond Turner representing Brighton Kemptown constituency.

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