Daily Excelsior.........State

Walls of hatred between
India, Pak to collapse
soon: Mufti

Excelsior Correspondent

POONCH, Dec 3 : Saying that the walls of hatred between India and Pakistan are gradually collapsing with cease-fire on the borders, Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today hoped that it would....more

Police constable
electrocuted; six
injured in accidents

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 3: A police constable was electrocuted while as six persons were injured in separate road accidents.......more

Start regular bus
service for Jammu
tourist spots: Minister

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 3: The Tourism, Housing and Urban Development Minister, Ghulam Hassan Mir today directed tourism authorities to start a regular tourist sight-seeing.........more

Lt Gen Ashok Kapur
takes over Command
of Nagrota Corps

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 3: Lt Gen Ashok Kapur, VSM, has taken over as General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the prestigious Nagrota Corps.....more

Madan pays surprise
visit to construction
corporation

Excelsior Correspondent

Jammu, Dec 3: Minister for R&B, Madan Lal Sharma today during a surprise visit to the office complex of JKPCC at Panama Chowk Jammu........more

Jammu and Kashmir

Cultural Academy catches them young
Bal Lok Rang
organised at Abhinav

By Lalit Gupta

JAMMU, Dec. 3: In this age of globalization and homogenization when indigenous culture and values are in a state of flux, it is the folk way of life that remains one of the bastions of our tradition and related practices.......more

Civil Defence awareness campaign concludes
Seminar on disaster
management held

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 3: One-month long Civil Defence awareness campaign concluded today with organising a seminar on ‘Disaster Management’ by the J&K Civil Defence in Jammu University auditorium.........more

Veteran NC leader
passes away

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Dec 3: Veteran National Conference leader and former Jammu and Kashmir Minister Abdul Salam Deva passed away today following a brief illness, a party spokesman said here. He was 72............more

Progress, prosperity
of State priority of
coalition Govt: Mehbooba

Excelsior Correspondent

Kupwara, Dec 3: The MLA and PDP president, Mehbooba Mufti has said that in view of the fact that both India and Pakistan have agreed to solve the long pending problems amicably, the gun should stop killing innocents.......more

Walls of hatred between India, Pak to collapse soon: Mufti

Excelsior Correspondent

Addressing a largely- attended public meeting at Panjari in Balakote area, the Chief Minister described the cease-fire as a major initiative taken by the two countries. He said the decision for restoring air link and holding discussions later this month on resuming train services would be other important confidence-building measures that would facilitate travel by people of both the countries.

The Mufti stated that the objective of opening Srinagar-Muzaffarabad and Suchetgarh- Sialkot roads was to help the divided families in meeting each other. This, in turn would create a more conducive atmosphere for friendship and enduring peace, he said. He opined that the possibility should also be explored for opening such a road link from Poonch as well in due course of time.

The Chief Minister said that the relaxation in the situation and peace on the borders would certainly ease the problems of the people of the border areas, which they had to face due to shelling and hostility between two countries. ‘‘Our people have suffered immensely due to confrontation between two neighbours’’, he lamented.

On the occasion, the Chief Minister launched a massive rehabilitaion project of Rs. 7 crore for 541 Balakote families uprooted due to the 2001 border build-up. The Mufti had visited Balakote area in April last and promised the people for early rehabilitation nearer to their agricultural land. The State Government had formulated a scheme for the rehabilitation and got it sanctioned from the Centre expeditiously.

He distributed cheques of Rs 50,000 to the each affected family as first installment. The second installment of the assistance would be provided after the completion of plinth of their houses.

The Chief Minister said they were being rehabilitated near their land holdings as they had agriculture as only source of livelihood. He said of the total amount Rs 5 crore would be spent on the construction of houses and Rs 2 crore on construction of roads, school builidings, health care and other amentities. He said the State Government had also decided to provide timber at concessional rates to them.

The launch of the rehabilitation project by the Chief Minister was received well by the affected families who had been waiting for this healing touch since 2001. They were especially happy that the Mufti had fulfilled his promise within six months. Some of the beneficiaries were heard saying that this was the difference of a government serious in its commitment to the people. Encouraged by the Chief Minister’s response, they projected more demands in the shape of a memorandum.

The Mufti assured that the demands projected by the people of the area including upgradation of the local high school to the higher secondary level would be considered sympathetically.

Deputy Chief Minister Mangat Ram Sharma who also spoke on the occasion, said that the coalition government was taking all possible measures to provide succour to the people particularly those living on the borders. He said quick sanction of the scheme for rehabilitation of the affected people of Balakote area amply demonstrated the priority the government was according to solve the problems of the people.

Mr. Sharma assured the people that their demands pertaining to upgradation of school and setting up of SDM office would be examined sympathetically.

Among those present were Minister of State for Forests Puran Singh, Chief Secretary Sudhir S. Bloeria, Director General of Police Gopal Sharma and former minister Rafiq Hussain Khan.

Akhnoor's Army School organises inter-region contest

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 3: Northern Command Inter-Region English and Hindi Declamation competition was held at Sangha Auditorium, which was organised by Army School Akhnoor.

Twenty participants from seven different schools participated enthusiastically both in Hindi and English. The topics for Hindi and English declamation were extracts from plays and speeches of famous personalities.

Educationists from three different schools were invited to adjudge the competition. All the participants spoke exceedingly well which made the judges task very difficult. Audience was spell bound by the remarkable efforts put up by the participants.

The chief guest Col V R Navrekar, CO 287 Medium Regiment too accoladed the expressions, voice modulation, confidence and subject chosen by the children. In English declamation, Milly Dutta of Army School Kaluchak was adjudged the best speaker, Shranya Lal of Army School Nagrota was the second best speaker followed by Shikha Chahal of Army School Samba, Nikita Mehta of Army School Kaluchak were the third best speakers.

In Hindi Anuj Malhotra of AS Akhnoor was the best speaker, the second best was Gudia of APS Yol Cantt and third best speaker was Rituraj of APS Udhampur. For Hindi APS Yol Cantt bagged the best team trophy, APS Udhampur was second best team and AS Kandrori the third best team. In English AS Kaluchak bagged the best team trophy while second place went to AS Samba and third to AS Pathankot.

Army School Akhnoor had earlier hosted the Intra Region Declamation competition in English and Hindi on November 7.

The teachers of Army School Akhnoor who put their heart and soul in making this competition a grand success are Raj Kumar, Yugal, Neeraj, Ajay, Mrs Dipender Kour, Miss Meenakshi, Mrs Preeti Agarwal and above all Ashok Kumar Sharma, who was over all incharge.

All the teams appreciated the fair conduct of the competitions and then administrative arrangements made by Army School Akhnoor.

‘I made all Class 4th appointments on Nisar Khan’s orders’
Kukoo Wazir, Horticulture Minister’s driver claim innocence

Excelsior Special Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Dec 3: A week after this newspaper published an expose "Horticulture Department, Ministry run by Class 4th official", retired Director of Horticulture, Kukoo Wazir, and the Horticulture Minister Abdul Aziz Zargar’s driver, Abdul Majeed Dar, have contradicted the facts explained in the report.

Two 2-page statements, authored, typed and faxed by the same person, were delivered at Srinagar bureau and the editor-in-chief’s office at Jammu. One is from Mr Kukoo Wazir and another from Abdul Majeed Dar.

According to Mr Wazir, "all allegations are baseless, a bundle of lies just to malign the image on a honest and upright officer". In his statement, Mr Wazir has explained that Majeed Dar was a daily-wager in Horticulture Department since 1995, when G A Dar was the HoD. After DC Srinagar certified that Dar had performed election duty in 1996, the incumbent was regularised in government service as Helper in accordance with Government Order No: 355-GAD of 1994 Dared 30-04-1994.

"After rendering five years of service, he was promoted as cleaner on the basis of seniority. Again, it was no favour to the incumbent as many senior officials have been promoted even after 2-3 years from time to time in the Horticulture Department", says Wazir. He claims that "about 20,000 persons" have been appointed by HODs when Abdur Rahim Rather and Nisar Ahmed Khan were Ministers incharge Agriculture during the National Conference government in 1997-98 and onwards.

Wazir contends that "some people within Horticulture Department with vested interests only try to highlight this single issue to create confusion". He claims that the campaign is aimed at tarnishing the image of a "dedicated, sincere and honest officer, who had curbed the corruption with a heavy hand and had streamlined the working of the Department".

Wazir has described Minister incharge Mr Zargar as "very honest, competent and hard working" while complaining that his name was being dragged in "this dirty game" unnecessarily.

"With regard to allegations of certain fictitious cases with CID, Vigilance, SHRC, these are all concocted and baseless, manipulated ones which were dismissed by the concerned agencies since long", adds Mr Wazir in his statement.

In a separate but identical statement of the same wording, Abdul Majeed Dar has repeated what Mr Wazir has said. He has further claimed that his alleged involvement with militancy was "totally baseless". "It is unfortunate that unnecessarily, name of Mr Manzoor Ahmed Zargar son of Hon’ble Minister for Agriculture was incorporated in the press release only to affect my service career", says Dar. "The fact is that I was plying vehicle in the Horticulture Department and before Move of offices, I was attached in the Personal Section of the Hon’ble Minister to drive the vehicle, therefore the charge is totally concocted and baseless", he adds.

Tonight, Mr Wazir spoke to EXCELSIOR and said that Vigilance Organisation was investigating a "baseless case" against him. He admitted that he had appointed 121 Class 4th employees in the Horticulture Department in 1998 but claimed that the entire list had been prepared by then MInister incharge, Nisar Ahmed Khan. "I simply signed the appointment orders and issued the same on the instructions of the Agriculture Minister", Mr Wazir said. "If all HODs have made such appointments on the instructions of then Ministers, why am I being singled out for defamation?", Mr Wazir asked. He claimed that inspite of the Vigilance case pending against him, the state Vigilance Organisation has issued "Vigilance Clearance" in his favour.

As regards the judgement of Mr Justice G A Kuchai, Chairman SHRC, regarding a complaint filed against Helper Abdul Majeed Dar by female employees of Horticulture Department, Mr Wazir claimed that it was "totally fake". He also claimed that the reports of Additional DG CID and IGP Kashmir, as mentioned in Kuchai’s judgement, were also "totally fake".

However, EXCELSIOR is in possession of the SHRC judgement and reports of Additional DG CID and IGP Kashmir, and it has enough reasons to believe that the same are genuine. All documents and Government orders mentioned in the said story have already been quoted verbatim with respective number and date.

Mini power projects for Poonch, Rajouri on anvil: Niaz

Excelsior Correspondent

RAJOURI, Dec 3: The State Government has formulated an ambitious plan for harnessing the huge hydropower potential in the state estimated at 20,000 MW.

This was stated by Minister for Power Mohammad Sharief Niaz while addressing a mammoth gathering here today.

Giving the details, Mr. Niaz said that even for districts of Rajouri and Poonch, mini hydroelectric projects have been identified for which Rs. 100 crore are estimated to be spent. He said the state government has already notified 12 mini and micro hydroelectric projects for private investment and we are getting good response. Out of these, 2 are proposed to be executed in twin border districts, one at Thanna Mandi in Rajouri and another at Chingus in Poonch.

Elucidating the efforts being made by the government for making the state self sufficient in power generation, the Power Minister said that Rs. 1500 crore are being arranged for the completion of prestigious Bhagliar project to complete it within two years.

Mr Niaz urged the people to make judicious use of electricity and cooperate with Power Development Department in its drive to regulate better power supply. He said that construction of two receiving stations, one each for Thanna Mandi and Manjakote are also under consideration of the government.

Commenting on the ongoing violence in the state, Mr. Niaz said that gun culture breeds violence and destruction. He appealed to the misguided youth to shun violence and join national mainstream and added that the coalition government is committed to rehabilitate those youth who are willing to come back.

Bharat Scouts and Guides observes Disabled Day

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 3: International Day of disabled persons was organised by J&K State Bharat Scouts and Guides in the premises of Shangrilla Public High School, Sarwal. A function was also held at SAHARA, Trikuta Nagar.

The chief guest of the function was S S Jamwal, president J&K Confederation of Voluntary and Social Charitable Organisations Jammu and president of ALMI Khudai Khitmatgar. Other prominent citizens present on the occasion were I D Soni, State Commissioner, J&K Bharat Scouts and Guides, Romi Wani, vice president (additional secretary, Planning and Dev Department), Sureshta Khajuria, Sehaj Singh and Gurcharan Singh.

Students from various schools participated in the symposium conducted on the topic ‘role of Scouts and Guides to render healing touch to the persons who have become incapable, impair or cripple due to their destiny.

Mr Soni introduced the students on the topic encouraging them to help disabled persons, he motivated them to joins hands with the disabled persons and treat them at par with other members of the society. Mrs Wani also spoke on the occasion giving emphasis on stopping discrimination of disabled persons mental and physical. She was encouraged by the role played by the State Bharat Scouts and Guides and said that disabled persons must be given more respect and opportunities so that they can lead a normal and respectable life.

Another function was organised by SAHARA in connection with International Day for disabled at Trikuta Nagar. Volunteer of Bharat Scouts and Guides also participated in the function with SAHARA.

Addressing the function, Renu Nanda, prominent social worker asked the students to encourage disabled persons. She said that volunteers of Bharat Scouts and Guides have attended the function only encourage disabled persons.

SAHARA is a home for mentally challenged children. SAHARA has nearly 26 mentally challenged children on roll with 4 staff and 2 helpers.

Police-public meeting held at Jakhole

Excelsior Correspondent

KATHUA, Dec 3: A police public meeting was held today at Jakhole located in the Kandi belt and higher reaches of police station Rajbagh, Billawar where the brave people of the area have recently disarmed a Pakistani terrorist leading to his eventful death at the hands of J&K Police.

Sarpanches of the area were also present who highlighted the problems faced by the people in the far-flung area of district Kathua. DIG Jammu range, Farooq Ahmed, SSP Kathua M K Sinha and SDPO Border Kathua, Jugal Kishore were also present on the occasion.

Besides large number of people, VDC members and SPOs were also present.

SSP Kathua, Mr Sinha gave details of the operational activities in which VDC and SPOs had associated themselves with the police and security forces. He exhorted the SPOs to work whole-heartedly towards the elimination of any terrorist, who may find his way into the area.

DIG Jammu range while distributing the engagement letters to the SPOs thanked the people for their whole hearted support to the police and administration in maintaining peace that was necessary for the progress and development of this backward area.

He thanked the people for donating two kanals of land for the construction of police post at Jakhole. He assured the Sarpanches that the construction work shall be got sanctioned through PHQ shortly.

Rajouri-Poonch Welfare Forum deputation meets CS

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 3: A deputation of Rajouri-Poonch People’s Welfare Forum today met the Chief Secretary Dr S S Bloeria in his office chamber and apprised him of various issues and demands.

The Forum deputation submitted a charter of demands to the Chief Secretary.

The main demands included, regional council status to twin districts on the pattern of Leh and Kargil, ST status , resumption of Mughal Road construction , special industrial and employment package, generation of tourism industry in the region, hostel facilities for students of twin districts at Jammu, liberal loans from the banks and separate Parliamentary constituency.

CM to inaugurate Kissan Ghar at Delhi

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 3: Rs 1.33 crore Kissan Ghar complex at Shalimar in New Delhi is nearing completion and is expected to be commissioned by the Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed by the end of current month. The complex shall have 24 double bed rooms with attached baths and a Conference Hall and Reception Centre. Fruit growers of the state would be provided accommodation in the complex during their stay in Delhi in connection with the sale of their fruit produce.

This was stated by the Minister for Agriculture and Cooperatives, Abdul Aziz Zargar at a meeting held here today to take stock of the availability of standard quality fertilizers and pesticides to the farmers.

The Principal Secretary, Agriculture Production, Mr. B.R. Kundal, Registrar Cooperatives J&K, Dr. G.N. Qasba, Managing Director, JAKFED and General Manager representatives of Agro Industries were present in the meeting.

It was decided that the ban on import of fertilizers in Jammu and Kashmir through trucks would continue this year also to check adulteration, as the experiment has proved very successful. It was decided that a conference of all leading fertilizer and pesticides manufactures and dealers of the country and state especially IFFCO, NFL, IPL and Chambal would be convened during first week of the next month to make foolproof arrangements for import of quality fertilizers and pesticides in the state.

PSA expresses gratitude to Education Minister

Excelsior Correspondent

KATHUA, Dec 3: Private Schools Association has welcomed the announcement of Education Minister Harsh Dev Singh in favour of private schools viz granting of permanent recognition, removal of non-involvement certificate and delegation of powers to Director School Education for granting recognition upto the level of 8th Class.

Association termed it as a landmark decision in the history of private schools, which was all due to efforts of Mr Kamal Gupta president of Private Schools Association Jammu province who has been fighting this cause since long back both at personal as well as Association level.

Association further demanded from the Education Minister that another long pending demand of grant-in-aid to private schools be fulfilled and rationalised as majority of the schools who have been deprived of the same are unable to compete those who are getting the same since long.

Meanwhile PSA has appealed all the private schools to follow norms strictly as laid down by the Government so that image of private schools be maintained and commitment in this regard with the Minister be fulfilled.

Those who attended included Gandharb Singh Kattal district president, Kapil Sharma general secretary, Hari Dutt Shishu vice president, Randhir Singh senior vice president, Sat Paul Badyal, Mrs Santosh Mahajan, Mrs Rajni Khullar, Harsh Mahajan, Mahi Pal Sharma, Ravinder Singh Jasrotia, Diwakar Singh and others.

Culture Corner
Need of the hour
Impart moral & spiritual education

By O P Sharma

The urgency of imparting moral and spiritual education to the general masses, especially the youth in the country, can't be over-emphasised. Indeed, in view of the prevailing scenario of fast crumbling moral values and prevalence of stress and strain in the society, a thrust on infusing moral education and spiritual enlightenment must be launched- and immediately at that.

For any soceity to advance forward, it is essential that the virtues of truth, humanism, honesty, patriotism are inculcated among the citenry. These principles are in our ancient scriptures and form an integral part of our proud cultural heritage.

Ancient Wisdom

India, in the ancient past, enjoyed the lofty status of a " Jagad Guru" due to high moral standards and spiritual attainments. Our saints and seers, pirs and faqirs, preached purity of life and supermacy of spiritualism. They, in fact, practised it in their life and set examples for the common folks to follow.

In the present environ of mad rush for materialistism, the moral values get severely jolted causing turmoil in the society. The result of it all are numerous scams and scandles as also stress and strain .

Dire necessity is to impart moral and spiritual education. For more fruitful results, it is imperative that the youth are made the focal point of this process. The best way will be to introduce moral and spiritual education in all the education institutions.

Its Urgency

The education institutions should make a start by introducing this vital programme of moral education every day. It needs to be stressed that in our secular polity, moral and spiritual education can be imparted as it is quite distinct from religious preachings.

Let’s Give Lead

Excellent teachings from various scriptures can form the basis of this education. Spiritualism and yoga can also be taken up for the benefit of the students and the society at large. The mode in such institutions can be lectures, discussions in special periods.

The media, both print and electronic, should be effectively and efficiently deployed for optimal results in spreading the eternal message of high moral values and spiritual enlightment among the massses especially the youth and students.

The Jammu and Kashmir State can certainly give a lead to the country by adopting the moral education system. Let the Government constitute a team of men of deep knowledge as also high calibre and integrity comprising among others by legislators, religious leaders from various faiths, educationists, academicians, leaders of public opinion, educationists, to evolve a standardised system and selected messages for moral education for delivery in the educational institutions.

The moral education must be so designed that it includes that the virtues like compassion, hard and honesty work, truth, peace, secular outlook, scientific temper, universal brotherhood, patriotism, punctuality and sense of duty.

Aiming Big

This State is certainly making a laudable headway in univeralisation of education and even in the higher education sector tangible achievements are being registered. It would be more purposeful and productive when students and youth— the future citizens of the nation— are equipped with moral values, discipline and patriotism during the impressionable period of their lives. Admittedly, we need such virtues more as our people should not lag behind in any sphere, much less in this crucial ground.

In view of the importance of yoga for physical, mental and spiritual development, it would be very essential to have yoga also included in the overall education system in Jammu and Kashmir. This will make the nation more stable and strong.