Singh Bandhus to perform in Jammu Varsity

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 12: The famous Khayal vocalist duo, Singh Bandhu of New Delhi will perform at the invitation of the local chapter of the society for promotion of Indial Classical Music and Culture Amongst the Youth (SPIC-MACAY) here in the Jammu University auditorium on Monday.

The performance to be hosted by the GEET sub-group of the society will be part of the lec-dem series 1998 and will be supported by the Student Welfare Wing/Campus Cultural Committee of the Jammu University.

Another concert by the duo will be held on Tuesday the 15th December at the Government College for Women, Parade Ground Jammu at 10.30 am, a press release issued by Mr Neeraj Sharma, Jammu Chapter Coordinator of the Society informed here today..

REC camp students allege out of course papers

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 12: The Regional Engineering College Srinagar, Camp Jammu students of third semester have alleged that Machine Drawing paper, conducted today was out of syllabus.

The concerned students told Excelsior that photostat papers provided to them at the MAM College examination centre were totally illegible with faded outlook and misprint dimensions which led to chaos amongst the candidates.

The students alleged that the teacher concerned did not appear at the examination centre, though he was supposed to visit the centre and correct the misprints. They alleged further that the examiners on duty declined to show them the original paper and instead misbehaved with them.

The aggrieved students asserted that the paper was so lengthy that even the person who had set the same couldn’t have solved it in the given time.

They stated that this was not for the first time that they were subjected to face such irregularities as they have been facing such problems since their selection because the concerned Kashmir University authorities were deliberately playing with the career of students studying at REC Camp Class Jammu.

To substantiate their view point they mentioned that they were selected by the Competent Authority in August 1996 and still they were in third semester (2nd Year) while those nominated outside in the same selection list were in the sixth semester.

The aggrieved students have urged the higher authorities concerned to intervene and provide them with due justice.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 12: Dogri writers, scholars, members of Dogri Sanstha and participants of the "Telescript writing workshop" took strong exception to the step-motherly treatment meted out to the Dogri language and the people of Jammu by the Central Government, especially the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

In a press release issued by the Dogri Sanstha here today, it was stated that the members expressed deep sense of regret and anguish over the refusal of the Central Government to start a Dogri news bulletin from PGF centre, Jammu and making it a full-fledged Doordarshan Kendra.

The release added: "to further rub salt on the wounds the Central Information and Broadcasting Ministry has issued an order, which is being already implemented by Jammu centre since December 9, to beam hours programme from the Kashmir Kendra through Jammu Doordarshan."

The writers, scholars and other Dogri lovers taken it as invasion on the cultural and social life of Jammu . The Sanstha laments that instead of conceding the genuine demand of the people of Jammu to increase the broadcasting time from Jammu centre, the I&B ministry has reduced it.

The release has stated that the I&B Ministry should revoke order otherwise the people of Jammu will be left with no other choice except resorting to agitation and other measures of strong protest.

PSA strike in 3rd day
Broadcast of important Progs affected in RKJ

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 12: The total strike by the Programme Staff Association (PSA) of All India Radio and Doordarshan entered third day today.

The Programmes on the primary and Yuv- Vani Channel continued to get deviated and no scheduled and fresh programme was produced and recorded due to the ongoing strike.

A PSA release issued here today, said that in order to avoid the total black out over the microphones, the authorities substituted the film music to keep the transmission going.

It said the important programmes like "Shubh Prabhat", and"Yeh Jammu Hai", went off the air on the primary channel, while the "Young World"and "Pichhla Hafta" could not be broadcast over the Yuv Vani Channel.

It said for the first time since its inception the news related programme "Radio Akhbar could not go on the air.

The strike called by the PSA got the added teeth today when engineering associations like Association of Radio & Television Engineering Employees (ARTEE) and TEA under the banner of Sanyukt Sangharsh Samiti joined hands to press for demands like implementation of already ratified pay scales by Prasar Bharati Board.

Both PSA and engineering associations jointly staged dharna in front of premises of Radio Kashmir and PGF Jammu.

The PSA said the agitation will continue indefinitely as per the decision of Central Body.

Meanwhile in the separate handout issued by the ARTEE, 48 hour strike has started from today morning. It said the engineering employees of PGF and Radio Kashmir, Jammu struck their work from the morning in support of their demands.

NC leaders lambast Mufti

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 12: National Conference (NC) has lambasted the senior Congress leader and MP Mr Mufti Mohammad Syed for his recent utterances.

The Party’s Anantnag and Srinagar district committees have urged the Congress leader to understand the realities and stop misguiding the people of the state any more.

The Party in a statement while declaring Mr Mufti as a leader of "Mufti clan" said his close confident Mr Taj Mohideen was an important functionary of Muslim United Front (MUF) which later on converted into All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC).

The NC leaders Messrs Ghulam Mohammad Dar, Ghulam Nabi Bhat, Sheikh Abdul Rehman and Irfan Shah alleged that the Congress leader was involved in many scams and has taken huge bribe from a chief engineer who was involved in many scams.

The NC leaders while expressing concern over the dubious role of Mufti Sayeed said when he was not allowed to campaign for the Congress candidates in 1987 elections Mufti canvassed for MUF candidates.

The NC leaders said the role of Mufti was only confined to toppling the democratically elected governments in the state in past.

They said gone are the days when any one can indulge in toppling a democratically elected government in the state. They warned that the people of the state will not tolerate any attempt of such harbourers of militants.

They also asserted that no one sitting at the helm of national affairs may opt to repeat the past blunders as the entire world knew that it is only the National Conference (NC) which is a bridge between the state people and Union of India.

The NC leaders also condemned the APHC malicious and motivated campaign against the NC Government and warned that the hard earned peace and tranquility will not be allowed to endangered again.

They also questioned the APHC leaders authenticity in making a hue and cry for human rights violations, when the conglomerate was observing a complete silence on killings of innocent people by militants.

The NC leaders also alleged that as Home Minister Mufti Sayeed tried his best to create a destablisation in Jammu and Kashmir.

JAC observed dharna, warns 2-day stir on Dec 19 & 21

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 12: Under the banner of Jammu and Kashmir Government Employees Joint Action Committee, one day mass dharna and rally was observed in front of Raj Bhavan Jammu in which thousands of male and female employees participated.

As per a release, the dharna was observed to stress on the State Government to concede the burning demands of 2.75 lakh Government employees at an earliest.

The demands of the employees included disbursement of Central 5th Pay Commission arrears due from January 1, this year in cash and release of 6 percent Dearness Allowance from July 1, last in cash. They have also demanded enhancement in daily wage rate and their regularisation, transfer of G P Fund Accounts of State Government employees to Nationalized banks with introduction of pass book system, enhancement in Medical Allowance from Rs 80 to Rs 200 per month and bonus to all the State employees and workers.

The day long dharna was addressed among others by the leaders of different trade union organisations, who were the constituent of Joint Action Committee, prominent of them being Messrs Lekh Raj Khajuria, president Jammu Kashmir Government Employees and Workers Federation, Pardeep Kumar, president Lower Grade Employees Federation, Gafoor Dar, president National Trade Union Front, Subash Chander, general secretary National State Government Employees Federation, Girdhari Lal Chanda, president Confederation of State Employees, Anwar Beg, president Handicrafts Employees, Mohd Maqbool, president Coordination Committee of Employees, Chaman Lal Bamzai, secretary general Government Employees and Workers Federation, Balwan Singh, president Combined Mechanical Employees Union, Sham Parshad, president USTA, Rehmatullah Malik, Doda district president of Joint Employees Front, Mr Darshan Mangotra of NTUF, Abdul Majid Bichoo, Sham Lal, S K S Khalsa, Vijay Chandel, Ravi Kumar, Kartar Chand, Parshotam Singh Chib, Kavi Raj, Mrs Shashi Bala and Rattan Singh.

The stage was managed by Mr Satish Kumar, general secretary USTF, Mr Sushil Sudan, vice president medical Employees Federation and Mr Mushtaq Ahmed Khan, leader of NTUF.

The speakers expressed their resentment over the Government for conceding their long pending just and genuine demands that too at a time when the prices of essential commodities have sky rocketed.

The JAC of employees warned the Government to concede their demands within seven days otherwise otherwise the committee would be forced to go on two day Kaam Chhor Hartal (work down strike) on December 19 and 21 and the Government would be entirely responsible for the consequences arising due to the strike.

Advances in information technology have
revolutionised mass media

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 12: The advances in information technology has brought about tremendous changes in both the print as well as electronic media and there are prospects of faster transmission of audio, visual and picture bringing knowledge at the doorstep of the people.

This was stated by Prof Abhiman Singh of Delhi University while delivering the Yog Prakash memorial lecture, organised by the Department of Physics and Electronic at University Auditorium here today. The topic was : "Futurology of Information Technology ‘.

Prof Singh, Director, South Campus of Delhi University, traced the growth of means of communications from mechanical to electronics since 1902. The computers and satellite system in the present times with world-wide internet linking has revolutionised the information technology.

The internet system, he said has brought the world closes and made the assess to knowledge easy and prompt. This is vital for the mass media for fastest transmission of voice, picture and written matter. One can get information from any part of the world and it has now turned into " an excellent extension of library".

He underlined the importance of" achieving minimum level of literacy in information technology and understanding of basic computer language among the youth in the country so that "we are not left behind in technology". Dr Singh, however, lamented that the cost of internet and other hi-tech methods are on the higher side and not affordable by many institutions and individuals.

Pay tributes to Prof Yog Prakash, he described him as the builder of institution like the Physics Department of the University. He appreciated that the Jammu University has introduced the memorial lecture of the founder Head of Physics Department but added that in Delhi varsity even noted scientist Dr D S Kothari has not got this distinction.

Prof Verinder Gupta, Head, Department of Physics said that the memorial lecture was instituted to commemorate Prof Yog Prakash who founded the Physics department in March, 1967 and developed it into a seat of high learning. He said a Jammu Physics Society has been set up. The memorial lecture was introduced last year with renowned scientist Prof Yash Pal delivered it.

Prof J R Rathore, former chairman, State Education Board said that the computers and new technology is very useful but it is a challenge that it is made available to the people. The computer education must be spread vigorously, he added.

A number of students, scholars, faculty members of the University attended the lecture.

Pargwal people bid farewell to Brig Deepak Kapur

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 12: A touching farewell was accorded by the people of border areas and Pargwal Island to Brigadier Deepak Kapur, Garrison Commander of Jourian Sector at a function held at Pargwal about 50 kms from here, today. A large number of villagers ex-servicemen and School children had gathered to thank and bid farewell to the commander, who is proceeding on posting shortly.

Speaking on the occasion, Brigadier Deepak Kapur complimented the villagers for close co-operation with the Army in carrying out various tasks and said that the role of the civilians was equally important for the defence of the country. He said let us remain united and work with each other in close harmony to make India a strong country in the world. Let us resolve, he said, not to allow the evil designs of our adversaries to take root in this area in any shape.

Earlier, complimenting Brigadier Deepak Kapur for his great contribution to the people in the area, Mr Ram Nath Manhas, ex-MLA and a local leader said that during his command besides, ensuring safety and security along the borders, the Army had worked day and night to provide succour to the people in the hour of need. The Jat Paltan under the Command of Colonel AKR Tripathi had contributed tremendously to help the civilians and ex-servicemen through arranging various civic actions for the betterment of the local population.