VHP terms Resettlement Act as anti-Hindu

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 17: J&K unit of Vishav Hindu Parishad (VHP) has demanded that J&K Resettlement Act should be repealed forthwith to end any uncertainty among the people at large in general and those settled for the last 54 years on evacuee lands in the border areas in particular.

According to a press release, VHP said that any move to allow those who had migrated to Pakistan in 1947 or their inheritors to comeback to the state, settle here and stake claim to the properties will open Pandora’s box. It will let in motion a State of uncertainty and insecurity among the people here. VHP observed that any move by the State Government to permit their entry into J&K and confer citizenship rights to them and transfer the property right on them on evacuee land and property will resisted with all the force.

The release further stated that the Bill passed in 1982 by the NC Government with the motive to create communal polarization and deprive the minority Hindus of their rights. It was recalled that a strong agitation was launched against the Bill in Jammu as a result of which it was sent by the President to the Supreme Court for its opinion.

It was further observed that the Bill will open flood gate for the terrorists to enter the State and indulge in acts of sabotage and subversion and swell the rank of Pakistan sponsored terrorist to wage war on country for secession J&K from India.

At this stage when Pakistan sponsored terrorism in the State is at its height any move to implement the settlement law will provide fodder to the canon of ISI gameplan.

VHP further stated that the law itself was to diabolic conspiracy by the communal motivates NC Government to endanger the interest of Hindus in the state and reduce them in further minority and create conditions for their migration from the State. It was demanded that instead rights of ownership on properties allotted to the settlers and permanent citizenship right on them be conferred to end uncertainty and a sense of insecurity.

PDP holds meeting of Gujjars

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 17: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Gujjar and Bakerwals cell Jammu district organised a meeting of the party at Rattanpur Suhara Hiranagar tehsil.

According to a press release, meeting was largely attended by the member of these communities who are scattered in the surrounding of Samba and Hiranagar.

PDP chief Mufti Mohammed Sayed addressed the meeting and took special note of the various problems being faced by the members of these communities. PDP president emphasised the need to address their problems without any further delay and also said that the Government must fulfill the promises made to the member of there communities. The PDD president described it a very unfortunate to divert the funds meant for Gujjars and Bakerwals to other projects which he said was highly deplorable.

Mufti, however, promised that his party would give due consideration to the problems of these communities and other backward people and would fight to its best for their development.

Earlier, Ch Mohammed Iqbal, prominent Gujjar leader highlighted the problems being faced by them and demanded that immediate steps be taken from their redressal. Freed Choudhary, Anwar Choudhary and Ch Khadam Hussain also addressed the meeting.

Mr Ved Mahajan, Trilok Singh Bajwa, Mrs Shanti Devi, Baldev Slathia, Ashok Sharma, Manjeet Singh also addressed the meeting.

Trifurcation solution of J&K problem: JKNF

Excelsior Correspondent

KATHUA, Nov 17: Mr Kapil Dev, member of J&K Nationalist Front has claimed that tri-furcation is the only solution of the vexed Jammu and Kashmir problem.

Addressing a meeting organised to mobilise public opinion on statehood for Jammu, Mr Kapil Dev said that all the three regions of the J&K have different culture, language and history. These three distinct political entities were brought under one political entity by Maharaja Gulab Singh. Geographically Jammu is divided from Kashmir Valley by Pir Panjal, while Ladakh is divided by Zojila Pass.

Jammu regions has been spread over an area of 26,293 sq km, Kashmir valley has an area of 15, 858 sq km while Ladakh is spread over an area of 59, 241 sq kms. Jammu’s area is almost double than the Valley and both these regions have almost same population. Despite this all Jammu has only 37 assembly seats whereas Valley has 42 and Ladakh only four seats. Jammu region has two Lok Sabha seats, Kashmir have three whereas, Ladakh only one.

Under these circumstances, allotting of 46 assembly and three Lok Sabha seats to Kashmir and only 73 and 2 to Jammu , is a gross injustice and discrimination against Jammu region. This discrimination in the number of seats in the state assembly and Lok Sabha puts Jammu at political disadvantage and it is deprived of equitable share in power. With leader of the ruling party and the Chief Minister always from Kashmir, Jammu’s political importance has remained undermined. Only separate statehood would provide justice to the people here, he maintained.

Two culprits arrested, 3 absconds
Woman, child among 5 members of a family
stabbed in Brambhli

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 17: Five members of a family including a woman and child were seriously stabbed by a group of miscreants at village Brambhli in Phallain Mandal area under the jurisdiction of Satwari Police Station late last night. Two of the miscreants have been arrested while three others including kingpin are still absconding.

Police said that yesterday night a group of miscreants led by one Karan Singh entered into the house of Chaman Lal, son of Munshi Ram of village Brambhli and attacked him with sharp-edged weapon and ‘Lathis’.

Hearing the cries of Chaman Lal, his two brothers Darshan Lal and Beli Ram came to his rescue but the assailants also inflicted injuries on them with sharp-edged weapons leaving the trio unconscious.

Ram Pyari, wife of Chaman Lal and Des Raj, son of Chaman Lal, who also came for the rescue of Chaman Lal, were too seriously assaulted with Lathis by assailants.

Hearing the cries of whole family, some neighbours rushed to the house of Chaman Lal but by that time all the assailants had fled away from the spot leaving behind the victims bleeding profusely.

All the injured were immediately rushed to Government Medical College Hospital and their condition was stated to be critical when reports last came in.

Getting the report of incident, a police party from Satwari Police Station rushed to the spot to take the cognizance of the incident. SP South Jagdish Lal Sharma also rushed to the spot and deputed police personnel to different areas to arrest the accused. Two of the accused namely Ranjit alias Pinka, son of Ram Dass of Brambhli and Joginder Singh, son of Naseeb Singh of Suhanjana were immediately arrested.

Three other accused including kingpin Karan Singh are absconding. A hunt was on to nab them but no arrest was made when reports last came in.

Police said that one of the accused was teasing the daughter of Chaman Lal and was repeatedly warned by Chaman Lal. Yesterday Chaman Lal once again objected to the attitude of accused and asked him to desist from teasing his daughter. But accused alongwith other miscreants came to his house in the evening and critically assaulted five persons including Chaman Lal.

Meanwhile, All J&K Guru Ravi Dass Sabha has condemned the barbaric attack on minority community. A deputation of Sabha led by its president Amar Nath called on DIG Jammu-Kathua Range Dr S P Vaid and SP South J L Sharma and demanded stern action against all the assailants.

CJL’s plea on referring back of Resettlement
Act to J&K by SC

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 17: Confederation of Jammu Lawyers (CJL) Jammu has expressed serious concern over the referring back of Resettlement Act to Jammu and Kashmir by the Supreme Court after 15 years.

The Confederation said that this development has posed a direct threat to the integrity of the country and if National Conference party goes ahead with its hidden agenda and notifies the Act, then a large number of anti-India and terrorist elements are likely to get settlement in Jammu and kashmir and disturbed the already disturbed conditions of the State.

The president Mr D K Khajuria and general secretary Rameshwar Singh Jamwal of CJL alongwith many other CJL senior leaders have stated that they would oppose this bill tooth and nails and Jammu region will rise in revolt is such a situation arises. These leaders have asked all the national political parties especially the BJP which is ruling the country to oppose this Bill with all their might and if the State Government still presses it, then the Centre should dismiss the J&K Government and impose President’s rule in the State.

The Confederation appealed all the social and other organisations of Jammu to gear up for opposing this move and proposed to write to all nationalist forces in this direction. The Confederation has also asked Dr Farooq Abdullah, who cries about his anti-Pakistan role day and night to prove his Nationalist credentials by not notifying this Act, otherwise his hypocrisy will stand exposed.

Other signatories to the Statement included Messrs V K Chopra, S Jaspinder Singh, B P Singh, Ajay Gandotra, Vinod Bakshi, V K Magoo, Mohinder Kapoor and Suresh Sharma.

Training programme for officers
J&K switching over to VAT in April 2003: Khan

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 17: Like other specially categorized states of the country, Jammu and Kashmir is switching over to Value Added Tax (VAT) system in April 2003.

Inaugurating the 6-day training programme on VAT here this morning, Financial Commissioner, Finance, Mr Jalil Ahmed Khan said to ensure smooth transition to the system, training officers of the Sales Tax Department and acquainting traders falling within the tax system has become imperative.

The training programme, organized by the Sales Tax Department in collaboration with National Institute of Public Finance and Policy (NIPFP), New Delhi, was attended among others by the Sales Tax Commissioner, Mr A R Mubarki and faculty members of NIPFP Dr P K Aggarwal and Dr R Kavita Rao.

In all 40 officers of the sales tax department, drawn from both the divisions of the state, would be trained in the current training programme. Similar programmes would be organized in future also to acquaint the officials about new tax regime. One training programme is slated to be held in Srinagar in April next year.

Emphasizing the need for acquiring the departmental officers about the necessity of getting trained in the new concept, Mr Khan exhorted them to benefit from such programmes. The functionaries are presently having knowledge of various stages of sales tax varying from assessment to recovery and therefore they should feel no problem in apprehending the new concept, he added.

Though the current programme is first in the series, the Financial Commissioner said every endeavor would be made to train the functionaries fully well before the state switches over to the new system. Other measures required to be taken at various Governmental levels are being taken well care of, he said.

He said the chamber of commerce and industry, various trade organizations and all concerned have to be made fully aware about the new concept for which interaction will be an important ingredient. A special sitting will be organized in Jammu next week in this year in this regard, he said, urging the trading community to participate in it in a big way.

Earlier, Mr Mubarki gave a brief account of the measures taken at the national level during the past five years, which would pave a way for introducing VAT. He said that in respect of specially category states, a concession has been given in view of their level of preparedness so that these switch over to the new dispensation by April 2003. He dwelt on the measures initiated in the shape of training programmes for functionaries, awareness campaigns for traders and legislative measures before adopting new tax administration. All efforts would be made to acquaint officers fully before the new system is given a practical shape, he said.

Dr Aggarwal and Dr Kavita Rao also spoke on the occasion and assured full co-operation in training functionaries of the sales tax department and other related matters.

Malhi inspects work on Jammu Urban HAAT

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 17: Financial Commissioner, Industries and Commerce Mr I S Malhi today visited the upcoming Urban HAAT at Jammu and took stock of pace of work on the project designed to facilitate marketing of traditional state craft.

Director Industries, Mr M Saleem Beig and Managing Director, J&K Handicraft (S&E) Corporation, Mr Irfan Yasin accompanied the Financial Commissioner.

The Urban HAAT, under execution in the exhibition grounds here, will provide a show window facility to the artisans of Jammu and Kashmir to exhibit and sell the products locally manufactured directly to the potential cliental. This will end the role of middlemen, who generally exploit the craftsmen and enable remunerative prices to the manufacturers.

Mr Malhi also visited the product display-cum-sale centre set up by SICOP in the exhibition ground. The Director, Industries briefed him about the functioning of the centre.

After assuming the charge as FC Industries and Commerce, it was Mr Malhi’s first visit to the famous exhibition grounds- a venue for promotion of industries.

A similar HAAT is proposed to be set up at Srinagar, blue print for which has already been prepared. General Manager, District Industries Centre, Jammu, Mr S C Sawhney was also present.

DAHWA team holds meet at Kambel Danga

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 17: Destitute And Handicapped Welfare Association (DAHWA’s) Zila Saksharta Samiti held its meeting at Kambel Danga in Thati block under the chairmanship of Master Pardeep Singh, block president.

As per a release the speakers told the audience about Total Literacy Campaign and held that the first fully literate Panchayat would be provided with a vocational centre by DAHWA for a Sakshar Dehat.

Speaking on the occasion Mr Surat Singh Sumbria stressed on the need of making all the people literate. He laid special emphasis on education of girl child and held that only an educated mother can contribute towards a literate society because a literate mother can nurture a best lot for the society. He also stressed on the DAHWA’s mission of ‘Jago Jagao and Padho Padhao’ and called upon the youth contribute their might for making their villages literate as also for maintaining unity and communal amity.

Educational kits were made available to deserving people. The DAHWA team comprised of Messrs Dr Prince Mohan Sharma, M L Sharma, Balwan Singh, Nanak Singh, Pardeep Singh, Om Parkash Chingari, and Lehar Singh.

A committee was constituted for Thati block with Nek Ram Sharma as president, Madan Lal Sharma as secretary, Heera Lal and Vishal Abrol as joint secretaries and Isher Dass, Veer Chander Sharma, Master Som Raj, Rattan Chand and Prem Nath as members.

Later the DAHWA team met the District Development Commissioner and apprised him of DAHWA’s mission and its endeavour to eradicate illiteracy from the district.

Meanwhile a team of DAHWA’s Zila Saksharta Samiti constituted body for block Pouni Bharakh with Mr Ajit Singh as president and Jai Singh as Coordinator for Pouni Bharakh block. The meetings were attended by Sarpanches and Panches of villages villages Sade, Kala Thanadia, Aalia, Poora Kotla, Katal and Shangarh. The people were issued TLC forms under the DAHWA’s Zila Saksharta Samiti for eradicating illiteracy under the guidance of Mr Surat Singh Sumbria, president of Zila Saksharta Samiti of DAHWA.

Interactive session conducted by Leadership foundation

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 17: It is easy being number one, you Just need a solid foundation—— this was a message delivered by Vaman Sharma and Vishal Gupta, the two locals from Jammu studying at Symbiosis Centre for Information Technology, Pune on their visit here.

The duo were speaking at a free interactive session conducted by Leadership foundation for the benefit of the students aspiring for the best careers nationally and internationally.

Speaking to the aspirants of MCA/MIT/MBA, they discussed the importance of checking the course curriculum of an institute before selecting their colleagues. They also delivered in detail about the upcoming trends in career options in the field of computers.

Talking about the preparation for the entrance tests of these course they stressed upon an overall personality enhancement alongside scholastic aptitude development. They passed the credit of their own success to the foundation programme and lauded the efforts made by Leadership Foundation in not only informing the aspirants about the areas specific to entrance tests in specific institutions but also in developing a wholesome personality in individuals.

It may be recalled that leadership Foundation conducted similar sessions in GCW Parade and SPMR College of Commerce earlier in the month.

These sessions were sponsored by Tejpunj, an NGO working for the cause of youth in J&K.

| home | state | national | business| editorial | advertisement | sports |
| international | weather | mailbag | suggestions | search | subscribe | send mail |