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| Talks should be held with all sections of society: Bhalla Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, July 8: Senior Congress leader Mr Raman Bhalla today said that Congress...more Kashmiri
organisations submit memorandum Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, July 8: Joint Working Council of Panun Kashmir and Panun Kashmir Movement, the ......more By: Gopal Sharma JAMMU, July 8: Recent spurt in the movement of a large number of Burmese.....more IRCS to
provide more Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, July 8: The Secretary-General, Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS), Dr Vimla Ramalingam promised that more relief assistance would......more Kamal asks
people Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, July 8: Kabir Charitable Society, J&K celebrated Kabir Jyanti with great religious fervour and gaiety.....more |
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Excelsior Special Correspondent JAMMU, July 8: Recent spurt in the movement of a large number of Burmese nationals along Indo- Pak......more Yash Paul
Gupta re-elected Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, July 8: Mr Yash Paul Gupta has been unanimously re-elected as president of the Jammu Central Mahajan Sabha for second.....more Mahatma
Gandhi Forum Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, July 8: About five hundred active workers in a meeting held here today unanimously decided to set up Mahatma Gandhi Forum.....more Third
generation of Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, July 8: Ahead of Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf’s visit to India, refugees of Pak occupied Kashmir have once again vowed to.......more |
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Talks should be held with all sections of society: Bhalla Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, July 8: Senior Congress leader Mr Raman Bhalla today said that Congress party has a considered opinion that talks should be held with all sections of the society regardless of their political beliefs and perceptions. He said that as things stand the state’s ruling National Conference has no claim to represent people of the State and added that it is massive majority that has to be addressed and heard to evolve a package that will lead to peaceful solution of the problems faced in the State. Speaking at a public meeting held at Digiana Preetnagar of Gandhinagar constituency, Mr Bhalla said that he didn’t find any point in the continuation of the present NC Government when there is absolute chaos in the State. He said that Government coffers are empty and there is no matching fund for central schemes resulting in collapse of grant, employees and pensioners are not getting their dues in time, corruption is rampant and unemployment is growing. The senior Congress leader asked when NC Government has failed on all fronts why Dr Farooq Abdullah didn’t leave the chair? He said that whenever situation gets out of control he comes out with new slogans to divert the attention of people. Referring to Assembly elections in J&K, Mr Bhalla said that elections should be held directly under the Governor’s rule as past experiences prove that NC regime had rigged and manipulated elections all the time. Referring to local demands like irregular power and drinking water supply, drainage system, unemployment of educated youths, dilapidated condition of roads and lanes in Digiana area, Mr Bhalla assured the people that these will be taken up with the concerned authorities immediately. Prominent among others who addressed the meeting included Bupinder Kour, Jarnail Singh, Avtar Kour, Maya Kour, Kamlesh Rattan, Geeta Madan, Veena Mistry, Kamal Babu, Swarn Saini, M Sabharwal, Babu Ram, Harbans Lal, Harbhajan Singh, Amarjeet Singh, Amrish Sharma, Nishu Singh, Balbir Singh Manga, Nony Choudhary, Choudhary Billa, Dalbir Singh, Amrit Bali, Tejinder Singh, Balwant, Pawan Kumar, Soma Singh, Swarno Devi, Viney Datta, Ajay Foji and Dapinder SIngh. |
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Kashmiri organisations submit memorandum to UN Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, July 8: Joint Working Council of Panun Kashmir and Panun Kashmir Movement, the two major organisations of the Kashmiri Pandits have sought the intervention of the Secretary General of the United Nations to use his good office for the resettlement of displaced Kashmiris in view of the ensuing Indo-Pak summit. In a memorandum submitted to the Secretary General through the Head of United Nations Military Observer Group for India and Pakistan here today, the united council members said that entire Kashmiri Pandit community look at the proposed summit with hope and expectations that it would lead to the establishment of lasting peace and prosperity in South Asia and the world. It said the Pandits who have spent about 12 years in exile, invite attention of the world community to the genocide, exodus, ethnic cleansing or the apartheid against this community of the Valley by the Islamic fundamentalists and terrorists. This is now core issue which is involved in Kashmir tangle. The issue of displacement and the resettlement of the aborigines and indigenous people of Kashmir be recognised as legitimate geo-political concern in respect of the Kashmir tangle. The establishment of homeland for all the exiled members of the community of Pandits will enable them to maintain their distinct cultural identity and ethos only when their right to live in compact and cohessive manner within a specified territory in their homeland in Valley applicable fully to that territory with full political power in their hands alongwith an economic mechanism which can retain the community in the land of their origin. |
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Spurt
in movement of Burmese poses security threat in J&K By: Gopal Sharma JAMMU, July 8: Recent spurt in the movement of a large number of Burmese nationals along Indo- Pak border of the Jammu sector and other areas, is posing a major security threat in the region. Continuous infiltration of armed intruders from the Pakistani side along 210 kms of the International Border and the areas of the Line of Control involving Akhnoor, Rajouri, Poonch, Uri, Baramulla and Kupwara has already become a major threat for further sustaining decade old militancy in the troubled State. The arrival of various groups of Mayanmar (Burmese) nationals from Pakistani side and also through trains from North East for the past several months has become an issue of serious concern for the intelligence and the security agencies operating in the Jammu and Kashmir. A senior intelligence official said that in first six months of this year 35 Burmese were arrested by the Border Security Force, the Army and the Border Police district Jammu. Not only this, the figures of the apprehensions effected last year (2000) are very alarming for the security agencies here. The arrest of 92 Burmese last year along the International Border and interior areas of Jammu sector drew the attention of the Union Home Ministry, which reportedly pulled up the heads of various security and the intelligence agencies operating in the region and directed to keep a strict check on the activities of not only the Burmese but the increasing number of Bangla nationals, too. The sources pointed out that unarmed foreigners ( Burmese/ Bangladeshis) are sometimes made scapegoats by the ISI officials which are pushing several groups of armed militants into this side of the border. In order to ensure the safe infiltration of heavily armed militants, they forcibly push a group of Bangladeshis and if they find that BDs crossed over to that side safely, then they push the trained armed group, carrying explosive devices and ammunition etc. This tactics is being adopted for the past several months now. The reports indicated that a good number of Burmese and the Bangla nationals are involved by the Pak agencies in collecting intelligence about the vital installations and other relevant inputs from these foreigners. They used to move on the either side of the International Border. Last year alone, 352 Bangla nationals were arrested while in first five months of this year-2001, 192 Bangladeshis were apprehended in Jammu sector. BSF Sector Commander for Jammu, DIG Ashok Sethi when contacted claimed that compared to the figures of last year, there has been some decline in the infiltration and ex-filtration of Bangladeshis and the Burmese this year. Most of them were captured when they were trying to cross over to Pakistani side. They arrive here from Calcutta and other parts of North East by trains and carried closer to the border by the guides. In response to a question he denied to have any knowledge about presence of a large number of such people in slum areas of Jammu but maintained that in Calcutta, Delhi, Amritsar the problem is similar. " I don’t see much security threat from these people in this part of the region by their activities and movement,"he responded to another question. In response to yet another question, the DIG said that immediately after their arrest by BSF or the Army, they are handed over to the local police as per the instructions from the Centre. It is the duty of police and law and order agencies to keep them in lock ups, produce before the magistrate and get them punished. Their fate remains with the police and the judiciary, he maintained. The police on the other hand says that keeping a large number of Bangladeshis and Burmese in lock ups or at Thanas has become an issue of headache for them. They consume the ration supplied for the jawans at Thanas. It has become an additional burden and rather a liability on the J&K Police which is fighting militancy and other law and order related problem. After being arrested by the BSF, Army or any other agency, they are handed over to police. But police does not own a huge number of groups as they do not have much space to keep them in Thanas. So majority of them keep on wandering at Railways Stations, Bus Stand, busy markets of the city or wherever they wish. In the winter capital city, a good number of these foreigners are putting up in the slum areas of Railway Station, Narwal, Bye Pass, Kunjwani, Gorakh Nagar, Bahu Fort and Satwari. These places have become safe dens for them. They may carry on their activities in these huts un-noticed and after accomplishing the task after a temporary stay here, they may take another trip to Pakistan. Several such groups are making easy money in these trips on the either side. But the agencies have so far failed to make any good success in this direction. |
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IRCS to provide more relief material to J&K: Ramalingam Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, July 8: The Secretary-General, Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS), Dr Vimla Ramalingam promised that more relief assistance would be provided to the trouble-torn Jammu and Kashmir to mitigate the sufferings of the affected people. Speaking at a variety show organised by the Jammu District Youth Red Cross volunteers here this evening, Dr Ramalingam said the assistance and relief material to the possible extent will be provided shortly to J&K Red Cross Society. The people of J&K state, affected by both man-made and natural calamity, she said have suffered much and need soothing touch. She said after going back to national headquarters at New Delhi, some relief material will be despatched to the state Red Cross Society for the affected persons. The Secretary-General, IRCS, who is on 3-day tour to Jammu, visited the border areas in Jammu district and saw the plight of the people who had to face death, destruction and much miseries due to firings on the borders. Such victim have to be provided early help and assistance, she added. Appreciating the culutral programme presented by the junior Red Cross vounteers, Dr Ramalingam pleaded that more youth including girls should be involved in the noble work of Red Cross to make it more effective. The Secretary, State Red Cross, Qazi Mohammad Amin, while speaking at the function said that J&K branch was not lagging behind in providing relief and help to those who were worst target of militancy or affected by any natural calamity. Mr Amin said that State Red Cross is supplementing the efforts of the Government in this task. He wanted the IRCS to come forward in a big way in this humantarian work in Jammu and Kashmir, he added. Mr R K Goel, chairman, Jammu District Red Cross Society, said the Red Cross did play its part in providing relief to the needy and sufferers especially in the border areas. Earleir, Junior Red Cross volunteers presented a variety show which was interesting and informative. Mr Dinesh Gupta, secretary, Jammu District Red Cross Society, prominent citizens, Red Cross officials and workers were present. |
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Kamal asks people to follow teaching of Sant Kabir Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, July 8: Kabir Charitable Society, J&K celebrated Kabir Jyanti with great religious fervour and gaiety at Kabir Bhawan, Krishana Nagar here today. The Minister for Industries, Dr Mustafa Kamal was the chief guest while the Minister of State for Agriculture, Mr Ram Paul presided over the function. Eminent preachers of teaching of Sant Kabir Ji from various parts of the country participated in the Jyanti celebrations, which include head of Kabir Math, Mahant Raj Paul Ji and Mr M C Bhagat, president of the Sant Kabir Society. Speaking on the occasion, Dr Mustafa Kamal said that proper homage to Sant Kabir Ji would be if we follow and practice his teaching. He said that teaching of Sant Kabir were of immense importance especially in present days context. Referring to the demands of Kabir Charitable Society like allotment of 10 kanal land in Jammu city for establishing Kabir Institute of Moral Education, setting up of a Kabir chair in Jammu and Kashmir Universities and declaration of holiday on Kabir Jyanti, the Minister said that the demand for allotment of land in under process with the government and the matter of setting up of chair in universities will soon be put up with the Vice-Chancellors of both the universities while declaration of holiday on Kabir Jyanti is also under active consideration of the administration. Paying tributes to Sant Kabir Ji, Minister of State for Agriculture exhorted upon the people to act upon the path shown by the great saint. He said that we should be sufficient bold to get our rights. He further said that late Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah had visited the birth of Sant Kabir at Varanasi at attend Sant Kabir Samelan over there. The function was attended by a large number of devotees of Sant Kabir Ji who had gathered from different parts of the State and outside. |
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192 Bangladeshis, 33
Burmese nabbed along IB Excelsior Special Correspondent JAMMU, July 8: Recent spurt in the movement of a large number of Burmese nationals along Indo- Pak border of the Jammu sector and other areas, is posing a major security threat in the region. Continuous infiltration of armed intruders from the Pakistani side along 210 kms of the international border and the areas of the Line of Control involving Akhnoor, Rajouri, Poonch, Uri, Baramulla and Kupwara has already become a major threat for further sustaining decade old militancy in the troubled state. The arrival of various groups of Mayanmar (Burmese) nationals from Pakistani side and also through trains from North East for the past several months has become an issue of serious concern for the intelligence and the security agencies operating in the Jammu and Kashmir. A senior intelligence official said that in first six months of this year 35 Burmese were arrested by the Border Security Force, the Army and the Border Police district Jammu. Not only this, the figures of the apprehensions effected last year (2000) are very alarming for the security agencies here. The arrest of 92 Burmese last year along the international border and interior areas of Jammu sector drew the attention of the Union Home Ministry, which reportedly pulled up the heads of various security and the intelligence agencies operating in the region and directed to keep a strict check on the activities of not only the Burmese but the increasing number of Bangla nationals, too. The sources pointed out that unarmed foreigners ( Burmese/ Bangladeshis) are sometimes made scapegoats by the ISI officials which are pushing several groups of armed militants into this side of the border. In order to ensure the safe infiltration of heavily armed militants, they forcibly push a group of Bangladeshis and if they find that BDs crossed over to that side safely, then they push the trained armed group, carrying explosive devices and ammunition etc. This tactics is being adopted for the past several months now. The reports indicated that a good number of Burmese and the Bangla nationals are involved by the Pak agencies in collecting intelligence about the vital installations and other relevant inputs from these foreigners. They used to move on the either side of the international border. Last year alone, 352 Bangla nationals were arrested while in first five months of this year-2001, 192 Bangladeshis were apprehended in Jammu sector. BSF Sector Commander for Jammu, DIG Ashok Sethi when contacted claimed that compared to the figures of last year, there has been some decline in the infiltration and ex-filtration of Bangladeshis and the Burmese this year. Most of them were captured when they were trying to cross over to Pakistani side. They arrive here from Calcutta and other parts of North East by trains and carried closer to the border by the guides. In response to a question he denied to have any knowledge about presence of a large number of such people in slum areas of Jammu but maintained that in Calcutta, Delhi, Amritsar the problem is similar. " I don’t see much security threat from these people in this part of the region by their activities and movement,"he responded to another question. In response to yet another question, the DIG said that immediately after their arrest by BSF or the Army, they are handed over the local police as per the instructions from the Centre. It is the duty of police and law and order agencies to keep them in lock ups, produce before the magistrate and get them punished. Their fate remains with the police and the judiciary, he maintained. The police on the other hand says that keeping a large number of Bangladeshis and Burmese in lock ups or at Thanas has become an issue of headache for them. They consume the ration supplied for the jawans at Thanas. It has become an additional burden and rather a liability on the J&K Police which is fighting militancy and other law and order related problems. After being arrested by the BSF, Army or any other agency they are handed over to police. But police does not owns a huge number of groups as they do not have much space to keep them. So majority of them keep on wandering at Railways Stations, Bus Stand, busy markets of the city or wherever they wish. In the winter capital city, a good number of these foreigners are putting up in the slum areas of Railway Station,Narwal, Bye Pass, Kunjwani, Satwari and other city slums. These places have become safe dens for them. They may carry on their activities while sitting in these huts and after accomplishing the task after a temporary stay, they may take another trip to Pakistan without Visas. Several such groups are earning easy money in these trips on the either side. But the agencies have so far failed to make any good success in this direction. |
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Yash Paul Gupta re-elected president of Mahajan Sabha Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, July 8: Mr Yash Paul Gupta has been unanimously re-elected as president of the Jammu Central Mahajan Sabha for second term. Election of the Mahajan Sabha was held today at Mahajan Sabha Hall at Ranbireshwar Temple Chowk. Eight other candidates namely Manohar Lal Mahajan, Joginder Pal Gupta, Om Parkash Mahajan, Surinder Kumar Gupta, Ajay Gupta, Ramesh Gupta, Ram Dass Gupta and Rakesh Gupta have also filed their nomination papers for the post of the president of the Jammu Central Mahajan Sabha. But on June 27, on the date of withdrawal of nomination paper, all eight candidates withdrew their papers. As Mr Yash Paul Gupta was the only candidate in the fray he was declared unanimously elected as president of the Sabha. Earlier, Mr Yash Paul Gupta, presented his performance report for his tenure and income/expenditure account upto March 2001. Copies of the reports were also distributed among the members. Both the reports were passed unanimously by the House. Election Commissioner, Mr Jugal Mahajan announced election of Mr Yash Paul Gupta as president of the Jammu Central Mahajan Sabha. After announcement of his re-election, in his presidential address, Mr Yash Paul Gupta thanked the members in particular and the whole Mahajan Biradari in general for his re-election as president. His suggestion for associating some more office bearers to handle the increasing work-load of the activities of the Sabha was readily approved by the members. Listing his achievements, Mr Gupta said that renovation work on Mahajan Bhawan has started and will be completed very soon. He further said that Sabha has started Hans Raj Mahajan Woman and Child Welfare Society for the upliftment of poor and need section of the society. He said that Society has started Fashion Designing Centre for the women. Newly elected Mahajan Sabha president further said that improvement has taken place in Marriage Bureau. He informed the gathering that large number of people have been utilising services of the Marriage Bureau. Regarding improvement in the Justice Meter Chand Mahajan Charitable Hospital, Mr Gupta said that Hospital has been taking services of the experienced Gynecologist. He said that new Microscope machine has been brought to provide services to the patients. Mr Sanji Ram Gupta, Manohar Lal Gupta, Om Parkash Goel, Dr K L Gupta,Inderjeet Gupta, Y R Gupta, Romesh Gupta, Madam Vir Kanta and Mrs Krishana Gupta also addressed the function. Prof J K Gupta, general secretary, conducted the proceedings of the meeting. Those who present in the meeting included patrons of the Sabha, members of the working committee and elected delegates from all the 25 wards of the Jammu. |
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Mahatma Gandhi Forum constituted in Jammu Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, July 8: About five hundred active workers in a meeting held here today unanimously decided to set up Mahatma Gandhi Forum with some specific aims and objectives of fighting against communal forces, corruption, discrimination, poverty unemployment and rights of women. According to a release, Mr B L Choudhary was unanimously elected as president while Noor Jehan Choudhary as general secretary of the Association. Ghulam Hassain Thakria would be the vice-president while Veena Choudhary as Treasurer of the Association. A spokesman of the Forum said that a large gap has come between the poor and the rich. The poor are becoming poor and the rich are becoming more rich. Because there is corruption, injustice, favouritism, nepotism and political corruption. This material attitude has ruined the society and forgotten the humanity. Public funds are being misused for selfish motives. The rural people are not getting educational and employment facilities whereas, on the other side rich people are getting all facilities because of the support of the Government. A committee has been constituted for the smooth functioning of the organisation. It aims to fight against corruption, nepotism, favouritism, discrimination, black marketing, communal forces, poverty, rights of weaker sections, STs/ SCs/ OBCs, gambling, social evils and unemployment besides eradication of child labour. |
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Third generation of PoK
refugees vow to Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, July 8: Ahead of Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf’s visit to India, refugees of Pak occupied Kashmir have once again vowed to liberate their motherland and sought attention of the world towards their miseries. However, the mode of highlighting their voice was slightly different, as this time children of PoK refugees came forward and organised a march for the liberation of Pakistan occupied territory, here today. Holding placards in their tiny hands with the slogans like ‘Liberate PoK", ‘Justice to our long pending demands’ and ‘Reservation in professional colleges and Government jobs’, the third generation of refugee vowed to continue the struggle for liberation of their motherland. The march began from Mahesh Pura Chowk and after passing through various areas of the city, culminated near the office of United Nation Organisation at Trikuta Nagar where a memorandum was submitted to UNO officials. The march was organised by SOS- an international organisation for PoK refugee, and led by Mr Rajiv Chuni, chairman of the NGO. Through the memorandum, ‘SOS’ sought the intervention of United Nations Organisation to get the Pak occupied Kashmir vacated and urged the world body to use its good offices to redress the genuine grievances of the refugee community. Talking to EXCELSIOR, Mr Rajiv Chuni alleged that nothing has been done by the successive Governments at New Delhi to get back one third area of Jammu and Kashmir State which is still under the illegal occupation of Pakistan. He lamented that on the one hand, the Central Government passed a resolution in the Parliament with one voice that they would get back the PoK, on the other hand it remained mum when Pakistan submerged the movable and immovable property of Mirpuris in Mangla Dam. Alleging discrimination with PoK refugees, Mr Chuni compared the treatment meted out by the successive Central as well as State Governments to the community viz-a-viz the migrants from Kashmir valley . He also appealed the United Nations Organisation to recommend the Government of India to provide immediate monetary and other relief to each refugee family as per UN charter till the dispute over PoK is finally settled. Mr Krishan Dev Raina, another leader of PoK refugees, also reaffirmed the community’s resolve to liberate their motherland and pledged that the community will oppose any attempt or suggestion for conversion of LoC into International Border. |
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