Civil Defence Committee holds meet at Nowshera

Excelsior Correspondent

NOWSHERA, July 2: A public meeting of Civil Defence Committee Nowshera was held at Patel Chowk on June 30 to discuss the situation created due to Pak firing on the border.

As per a release, the meeting was chaired by Dr Satya Paul Sharma, chief warden. The meeting paid rich tributes to defence personnel who laid down their lives for the protection of national integrity and sovereignty.

Speaking on the occasion Messrs Satya Paul Sharma, Suraj Parkash Gupta, Vinod Gupta, Bharat Bhushan Gupta, Paramjit Singh and Raj Kumar condemned Pakistan for thrusting a war on India in Kargil. A demonstration was also held in the town latter in which the protestants burnt the effigy of Pak Premier Mr Nawaz Sharief.

In another meeting of wardens, volunteers and other citizens in the town held under the chairmanship of Dr Satya Paul Sharma, chief Warden Defence Committee the participants were imparted first aid training so that they can face any eventuality.

The training was imparted by Dr Satya Paul Sharma. He also imparted training on different topics pertaining to health. The meeting besides him was attended by tehsildar Nowshera and Block Medical Officer also.

Mahajan visits Kargil

Excelsior Correspondent

KARGIL, July 2: The Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Mr Pramod Mahajan alongwith the Minister for Information, Science and Technology, Mr Ajatshatru Singh visited Kargil to take on the spot inspection of the prevailing situation here today.

At the helipad, they were received by the Minister of State for Works, Mr Qamar Ali Akhoon and the Dy Commissioner Kargil. The Ministers visited the Doordarshan relay station for making on the spot assessment of the damages caused to the station due to the continuous shelling across the border. They also visited the All India Radio Station at Baroo and reviewed the functioning of the station. The station has also been targeted several times.

The Information and Broadcasting Minister announced that in order to cater to the needs of the local people as also to counter the propaganda across the border, installation of a ten KW capacity mobile station at Kargil is under active consideration of the Union Government, he added. He said necessary steps willalso be taken to change the low power transmitters (LPTs) into high power transmitters (HPTs) presently functioning in different villages of Kargil district.

In response to the demand made by the MoS Works, Mr Qamar Ali Akhoon, the Union Minister assured that recruitment of the local un-employed educated youth in AIR Station Kargil, would be considered sympathetically.

Discussing the problems of the staff members of AIr and Doordarshan in view of the present situation, Mr Mahajan assured that their security arrangements shall be strengthen on priority basis.

In a message to the migrants of Kargil and Drass, Mr Mahajan assured them that the streneous efforts are being taken for their safe return to their respective homes shortly.

Qawali organised

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, July 2: Anjuman Minhaj-e-Rasool, a Delhi based spiritual organisation in collaboration with J&K Tourism Department organised a Qawali programme at Dargah Peer Baba Budan Shah near Jammu last evening. Moulana Syed AH Dehalvi, the Chairman of the organisation was the chief guest.

Mr Dehalvi while addressing the audience said that the objective behind organising qawali programme is to bring awareness among the people about the Suffiaism style of obtaining spiritualism and religious fervour which will bring peace and tranquility among the different nations as well as communities. He said that such programmes will be organised at almost all the main Ziarats of Jammu especially at Shahdra Sharief in Rajouri district to bring it on the national map of tourism and boost influx of pilgrims tourism.

Referring to the Kargil conflict, Mr Dehalvi said that there is no place in the Islam who brings miseries and destruction for innocent people. The Pakistan in my opinion is busy in un-Islamic activities and helping intrusion and insurgency in the State with the result several people were killed and other became houseless, Mr Dehalvi added.

Later, Mr Dehalvi and his party prayed at Dargah for granting peace to the martyrs of the country who laid their lives in preserving integrity of the country.

Donation made to PM Relief Fund

Excelsior Correspondent

UDHAMPUR, July 2: Vivekananda Blood Donation Club, Udhampur has contributed Rs 21000 to the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund and sent the amount through the State Bank of India here today.

As per release, the amount has been collected by the members of the club, who are mostly educated youth of the town. The contribution is meant for the welfare of the Army jawans engaged in bitter fight against the enemy in Drass-Kargil sector. Mr Suresh Kumar and Mr Rajeev Verma, both members of the club have appealed the people to donate generously towards Prime Minister’s Relief Fund so that welfare schemes for the Army jawans are implemented.

Organiser of the club, Mr Umesh Modi has disclosed that it is proposed to arrange blood donation camps as well.

Natrajan lambastes State Govt for neglecting
border migrants

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, July 2: National Students Union of India (NSUI) has extended its full support to Government and defence personnel in flushing out the intruders from Kargil Sector of Ladakh region.

Stating this while talking to media persons here today, Miss Meenakshi Natrajan, All India president of NSUI, said country’s security should be above the party politics and other considerations.

Miss Natrajan who is on her maiden tour to J&K State after taking over the reigns of NSUI three months back said her organisation will take the onus of distributing relief and other necessary commodities among the displaced people from border on war footing.

She said the instructions have been given to her Party unit in J&K to take necessary steps in this regard.

While expressing her total solidarity with the defence personnel she said blood donors registration camps will be organised by NSUI throughout the country on July 18. Besides this from July 5 to 7 flag distribution for Kargil martyrs will be held and money thus collected will be deposited in PM’s Relief Fund.

The NSUI chief said to show solidarity with the defence personnel the students all over India will be sending post cards to soldiers fighting the enemy in Kargil.

She also made an appeal to the NCC cadets owing allegiance to NSUI to keep themselves ready for meeting any challenge at border alongwith the soldiers of Indian army.

Admitting that style of functioning needs to be changed in her organisation , she expressed the hope that NSUI cadres in J&K will face the challenge boldly.

Regarding the revitalization of the organisation in the state to ensure the enrollment of more students in it she said 10 school toppers will be awarded with Indira Gandhi Puraskar by NSUI and 12 school toppers will be presented Rajiv Gandhi Puraskar by it.

Besides this other programmes will be organised which include Inter College Patriotic Song Competition and Book Bank Programme.

Miss Natrajan toured the border areas in Jammu. She was accompanied by Mr Virender Sharma, NSUI observer for Kargil and its J&K chief Mr Rajeev Saraf.

She took the State Government to task for its failure in not providing the relief to migrants who have been forced to leave their homes and hearths due to unprovoked shelling of Pakistan.

She said that Government has provided no facility to these migrants who are living in inhuman conditions at various schools. She alleged that except the verbal assurances the Government has done nothing in practical for them.

Highlighting the plight of the border people who could not cultivate their land due to unprovoked firing from Pak troops, she demanded compensation scheme be announced for them.

She also demanded that ban on export of paddy to outside be lifted immediately in view of the disturbance in border areas and the people living on international border be declared backward.

Mendhar killings widely condemned

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, July 2: Various organisations have condemned the brutal killing of nine members of a particular community in Mendhar, Poonch during the late night yesterday.

The Pradesh Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) held a meeting under the chairmanship of its president Mr Daya Krishan Kotwal here today and expressed its deep shock and anger over this dastardly act.

The Party said the killing has generated a lot of resentment among the peace loving people all over the state.

It said in Poonch the masses held a demonstration in protest against the killings and observed a complete bandh today.

It said the repeated killings was the result of security lapses on the part of administration. Mr Kotwal demanded strengthening of VDCs by providing them sophisticated weapons. He demanded proper security for the people living in the sensitive areas.

Pradesh Congress secretary Mr Raman Bhalla has also expressed his shock and grief over the killing of nine innocent people by militants in Mendar.

Mr Bhalla while terming it a dastardly act blamed the State and Central Governments for its total failure in providing security to innocent people.

He said it was for the first time in the decade long militancy in the state that 38 people were gunned down during the three days.

Mr Bhalla said the speed with which the militants struck these places has revealed beyond doubt that Government has made no suitable arrangement for protecting the lives of innocent people. He said no pre-emptive measures were taken to keep the mercenaries at bay who have intruded in the border districts of Rajouri and Poonch despite the reports.

Pradesh Janata Dal vice president Mr Dhanraj Bargotra has also strongly condemned the killing of 9 people by militants in Mendar. He also expressed his shock and grief over the gunning down of 12 brick kiln labourers in Anantnag district on Tuesday night.

He urged the Government to take effective measures to overcome recurrence of such acts in future.

General secretary district Congress Committee Rajouri, Mr Kamal Bakshi has also condemned the killing of nine innocent people in Mendar yesterday.

In a statement issued here today, he termed it an inhuman and savy act of militants.

He also blamed the State Government for its total failure in containing the militancy in the state and termed all the claims made by the Government regarding the return of normalcy totally hollow and baseless.

BJP Raipur Damana Mandal vice president Mr Omi Khajuria and Jammu Rural development chief, Dr Kulbhushan Sharma have also condemned this dastardly act.

The BJP leader from Poonch, Mr Khandhari while condemning the killing in Surankote and Mendar blamed the State Government for its ineffectiveness in containing the militancy.

He demanded strengthening of VDCs and protection to people living in sensitive parts of the state.

Power engineers demand security for staff, sub stations

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, July 2: Power engineers and PDD staff has expressed serious resentment towards the apathy of the authorities for not providing security to the staff manning the sub stations.

In a handout issued here today, Mr Mohan Singh, president of JKEEGA said that despite the requests made many times no action was taken by the administration in this regard.

He said that it has become a routine affair that frenzy mob come to stations and start pelting stones on the equipments, manhandle the staff and even ransack the residences of the concerned officers.

He said this trend has created a terror among the staff who feel insecure. He said these incidents have already been brought in the notice of Chief Secretary, Divisional administration and PDD authorities who were urged to provide security for men and equipment so that this vital sector is attended properly and power supply is maintained but till date the authorities have turned a deaf ear to this.

He said it is feared that the staff under these conditions can not discharge their duties especially during the odd hours. He said it is unfortunate that the department which is working round the clock under such worst conditions but the authorities and the public instead of encouraging and giving cooperation are adding to the problems.

Mr Mohan Singh has demanded that adequate security be provided to stations and staff manning them to avert any mishap in future.

Ayiaz’s demise mourned

Excelsior Correspondent

RAJOURI, July 2: Rajouri Press Club held a meeting here today to condole the untimely demise of Mr Ayiaz Khan, Editor of News Caster and "Angarwadi" who died few days back.

As per a release, the meeting while paying rich tributes to departed soul said his death has created a void which can not be fulfilled.

Costliest DD Serial 'Noor Jehan' being shot in Valley

From Ahmed Ali Fayaz

SRINAGAR, July 2: Native broadcaster-turned-scriptwriter Pran Kishore is obsessed with his motherland to frightening extents. One among the few Kashmiri Pandits who refused to migrate from his home "Pragash'' even in the thick of militancy, Pran Kishore continues as a household name in Kashmir. As for the field of broadcasting Pranji is being viewed as an institution.

Having directed and produced over 200 plays for Radio Kashmir Srinagar, Pranji shot into prominence in the field of television with the phenomenal success of Doordarshan's "Gul Gulshan Gulfaam'' in 1989—the last year of peace in Valley. Now the same literary genius has scripted 52 episodes of Cinevista's mega-serial "Noor Jehan'' which is currently being shot on picturesque valley locals.

"Noor Jehan is definitely going to be Doordarshan's costliest serial as its budget has been fixed between Rs. 20 to Rs. 25 crore,'' says Director Imtiyaz Khan, brother of Bollywood's number one Villain Amajd Khan. He informed that Kashmir would figure in as many as 40 to 50 episodes of the serial. The producers are planning to shoot 156 episodes of 60 minute duration each, though DD has approved just 104 episodes. Britania and Nirma are among the 5 prominent sponsors who have been the promoters of India's largest production house Cinevista.

Gauri Pradhan, the girl from Puna whose father had shown her the Valley in 1982 when he was an Army Officer at Udhampur, has no hesitation in saying that 'Noor Jehan' was going to be her first and the last love in the glamourous field of film and television. "I have never acted before but still I am confident that I would do it well, upto the end,'' she told EXCELSIOR immediately after shooting a romantic sequence in a dcorated Shikara on the Dal lake. Gauri is playing the lead role of Noor Jehan in the serial opposite to reputed model-turned-actor Milind Suman.

Attired in the typical royal costume of Saleem, Milind has no idea of how many Saleems were killed and dumped into the Dal for the last 12 years of militancy. He is not traumatised with any remiscences of how guerrillas shot dead the bathing herd of CRPF men near Nehru Park and how the rockets pierced through the bodies of paramilitary personnel at a hotel on the Boulevard. He is jovial for he has not seen that gory face of the Dal when 6 Indian tourists were gunned down just 5 years back.

Gauri has a veritable challenge in hand as she is playing Noor Jehan from 16th year of her age to 58. She has her role in as many as 136 episodes. While shooting at Gulmarg and Mughal gardens here besides in Mumbai and Rajasthan, Imtiyaz Khan is relieved to an extent as 20 initial episodes are almost complete. The telecast is scheduled to begin on DD-1 from September 15 this year.

While the Kashmir anecdotes are being filmed at the real locales of Nishat, Shalimar and the Dal, Kabul and other places of Afghanistan have been re-created at Jodhpur and Jaisalmer in the desert State of Rajasthan. Pranji informs that the interior of several Chak and Mughal monarchs' palaces have also been fully re-created in Mumbai and nothing has been compromised be it the wooden partition wall "Uroosi'' or the geometrically-designed false ceiling "Khatamband.''

"Noor Jehan is not essentially a love story of Jehangir and his lady love. It covers history from Akbar to Shah Jehan,'' says Imtiyaz Khan. With the famous cricketer-turned-actor Salil Ankola playing Yusuf Shah Chak, the serial has several episodes on Kashmir's Chak period as also how Akbar The Great annexed this sovereign State with his great Indian Empire. So, naturally the poetess-queen Habba Khatoon, being played by Mrinal Kulkarni is back home after her first round of shooting in the Valley.

Pranji, who directed the first ever Kashmiri feature film "Maanz-i-Rath'' in 1966 was also associated with Balraj Sahni's "Shayir-e-Kashmir Mehjoor'' which was extensively shot in the Valley in 1967-68. Parikshit Sahni (then called Ajay Sahni) played the hero poet Mehjoor in the second Kashmiri feature, film and the same man is now Gayas Beg, queen Noor Jehan's father.

Whether or not Akbar, the great (Mangal Dhillon) would conquer Kashmir, how Noor Jehan's elder brother Asif Jah-landscape architect and planner of the famous Nishat garden-would deal with Jehangir are no matters of speculation in the serial, for the history is clear. However, what remains to be seen is practically more significant: Would the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah and his enthusiastic, energetic Commissioner Tourism Parvez Dewan succeed in selling Kashmir's beauty (and, indeed normalcy) to the world through 'Noor Jehan.'

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