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

Rehman terms India’s measures with Pak as political gimmicks

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 23: Sheikh Abdul Rehman, former MP has termed latest announcement of confidence building measures with Pakistan as a political gimmick and election jugglary on the part of BJP led NDA Government.

Though talks are always welcome to end impasse over Kashmir issue, it would have been more fruitful if a cease-fire could be agreed upon by both, the security forces and the militants, so that innocent people were not made fodder for guns, said Mr Rehman hoping that Pakistan reciprocated positively to make the atmosphere congenial in the interests of lasting peace in the sub-continent.

Mr Rehman, however, sought to remind that Government of India has not been consistent in its policies and decisions, citing examples. He said immediately after attack on Indian Parliament forces were deployed on border with an eye to eye situation, then recalling the same after 10 months and wasting hundreds of crores of rupees, initiating and revoking decisions over Hockey and Cricket matches between the two countries; announcement of extended hand of friendship by Prime Minister at Srinagar and then turning a U Turn at Panipat and Bhopal etc. He said all such steps speak volumes about the confusion in the Government corridors.

Mr Rehman said the need of the hour is that both countries should address to the domestic unemployment and poverty for the achievement of peace, progress and prosperity in the sub-continent.

Government for lowering cost of Sawalkote Hydel Project

Excelsior Correspondent

Srinagar, Oct 23: Financial reappraisal of 600 MW Sawalkote Hydel Project was examined at a high level meeting chaired by Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed here this evening.

Deputy Chief Minister, Mangat Ram Sharma, Finance Minister, Muzaffar Hussain Baig, Power Minister Mohammad Sharief Niaz, Chief Secretary, Dr. S.S.Bloeria and Financial commissioner Finance, Mr. Mohammad Shafi Pandit also participated in the meeting.

The Norwegian Consortium gave a detailed presentation on various facets of the project. The project was earlier estimated to cost Rs. 7500 crore which during the reappraisal asked by the Chief Minister has been slashed down by Rs. 1900 crore. The project was slated to be completed in seven and a half years which has been reduced by one year.

After two hour discussion on various components, the Government asked the consortium to explore the possibilities of lowering the cost and execution project to facilitate taking up the project in the State sector. All steps would be taken for its financial closure before. 60 per cent of the total project cost would be export credit from Europe. The process of consultations would be broadened to make the project cheap, best and competitive. The Consortium representative had a detailed discussion with the State Government authorities about the execution of the project.

Those who also participated in the meeting included Principal Secretary Planning and Development, Vijay Bakaya, Principal Secretary, Power Development, Anil Goswami and Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Mohammad Iqbal Khanday.

Muzaffrabad community lists demands

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 23: Muzaffrabad Displaced Community from PoK Chairman Joginder Singh Raina has taken exception to the Government of India for forgetting reign of terror let loose by tribals at the behest of Pakistan on October 22 over 56 years ago in a bid to change history and re-draw the boundaries of Jammu and Kashmir State, which was not even being mentioned anywhere by any one.

Mr Raina said it was time for the leadership of the country to show respect to the sense of history and recall the sacrifices of the people who were murdered, raped and looted on this day in 1947. The shackles of diplomacy and hands of fake friendship have to be broken to call spade a spade.

Mr Raina regretted that even royal family of Jammu and Kashmir too has forgotten the day and the miseries suffered by people of Muzaffarabad, now under control of Pakistan. He said Dr Karan Singh should have mentioned a word or two about the plight of the whole community that stands uprooted and looking for shelter and stability for the past 56 years.

The community while welcoming the initiative of starting bus service from Srinagar to Muzaffrabad, has called upon the union Government to assuage the sufferings of the displaced community at an earliest.

High Court staff expresses shock over explosion in court

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 23: J&K High Court Staff Welfare Association in its meeting under the chairmanship of S Joginder Singh, general secretary, have expressed shock over the explosion in the court of Additional District and Sessions Judge Kishtwar.

Association also expressed sympathies with the presiding officer and ministerial staff and prayed for their speedy recovery. Association also condoled the demise of police official and urged the Government that prosecuting agencies should be warned that whenever any explosive is brought before the court as evidence, it must be diffused properly so that such type of ugly incidents did not recur.

Medical employees call off strike

Excelsior Correspondent

KATHUA, Oct 23: Negotiations between the striking Medical Department employees of Hiranagar and authorities were held today regarding assault on BMO Hiranagar.

The employees decided to called off the strike as Jagdish Raj Dogra, who has allegedly assaulted BMO has apologized in the presence of DDC Kathua, SSP Kathua, DHS Jammu and Dy CMO Kathua. Employees said that decision to call off strike was taken so that public should not suffer for want medical facilities.

Legal awareness camp at R S Pura

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 23: A legal awareness camp is being organised at Munsiff Court in R S Pura on Nov 10.

According to chairman tehsil Legal Service Committee, the camp is being organised to make people aware about the J&K State Level Service Authority Act 1997 which provides free legal aid to the needy and down trodden classes of the society and promote justice on the basis of equal opportunity.

Meanwhile, Lok Adalat is also being held on the same day. All the litigants whose cases are pending in the court of Munsiff R S Pura and also in the Court of Additional Munsiff R S Pura can be decided in the Lok Adalat and can be directed to approach the concerned presiding officers for fixation of their cases.

KU conducts seminar on Islam’s approaches and prospects
VC asks scholars to highlight tolerant face of religion

Excelsior Special Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Oct 23: Vice Chancellor of the University of Kashmir, Prof Jalees Ahmed Khan Tareen has urged the Islamic scholars and teachers to highlight the tolerant face of the religion. He was speaking at the inauguration of a two-day seminar of "Islam—Approaches and Prospects" organised by the Department of Islamic Studies at Gandhi Bhawan, inside the University campus the other day.

The chief guest on the occasion was a renowned Islamic scholar Prof Sheikh Mohammad Iqbal and the guest of honour was Dr Basir Ahmad Khan, former HOD Islamic Studies Hamdard University New Delhi.

The vice Chancellor in his presidential remarks exhorted the scholars and teachers of Islamic studies to broaden their vision and present the real, moderate and tolerant perspective of Islam before the not-Muslim world which is "confused" due to the all invigorating invasion of media. Islam has been made the target of all attacks by the "biased west" and the scholars of Islam need to come forward to combat these challenges on academic and intellectual levels. He said that the issue of fundamentalism has been handled by the orientalists in the totally wrong sense while as "every Hindu who performs his religious duties is a fundamentalist and so is every duty-bound Muslim". "In this sense even I am a fundamentalist", he said.

However he cautioned that we must make a distinction between fundamentalism and fanaticism which is most despicable a thing and which has damaged the cause and peaceful image of Islam beyond proportions, he said. He advised the scholars and teachers of the Department of Islamic studies to make their department most "vibrant and dynamic and do not remain isolated from the world and mainstream trends which are shaping the new world" .The Vice Chancellor promised that the department will be provided with a suitable new building very soon.

Prof.Sheikh Mohammed Iqbal enumerated the glorious contributions of Islam to the development of world civilization, and science and said that the "westerners are the greatest beneficiaries of Islamic contribution from medicine to astronomy". The crusades and Orientalism are the two factors that have perpetuated the perennial hatred and animosity of the western world towards Islam and Muslims. He laid emphasis on the point that it is our intellectual renaissance that will make us to usher into a new phase of our glorious future and not the mediocrity, second rate polemics, and degraded emotionalism that marks our scholarship sometimes.

Dr. Basir Ahmad Khan in his keynote address highlighted the areas in which Islamic scholarship is required to make its mark. While enumerating the remarkable contributions of Muslims in all spheres of intellectual activities, the learned speaker said that Ijtihad needs to be made the subject of deliberation and research in our institutions and a comprehensive educational scheme devised by modern Islamic scholars and the Madrasah ulama needs to be brought to fore keeping in view the Muslims of sub continent especially.

He stressed the need to combat the malicious theories like clash of civilizations, which provides the west an ideological justification to attack Islam and Muslim countries. He impressed upon the Kashmiri educational authorities to introduce the discipline of Islamic studies at higher secondary school levels for the value education and understanding of True humanist values of Islam for which humanity is craving.

Prof SyedYunus Gilani introduced the subject and highlighted the achievements of the department. He asked the university authorities to install the already sanctioned Mushirul Haqq Chair in the department and demanded also that at least two new lecturer posts may be given to the department which has the highest score of NET qualified students in the University numbering 35. All of them are without job despite fulfilling the criterion laid down by the UGC due to unavailability of positions in the university, colleges and Higher secondary schools. He also requested to the authorities to provide one-time big library grant for procuring the required books to meet the syllabi and research needs of the department. The inaugural session concluded with the vote of thanks read by Dr Naseem Ahmad Shah, reader of the department. Dr. A.R.Bhat, senior lecturer of the department, conducted the programme.

In the afternoon session Prof Ghulam Rasool Malik, Kalimullah Khan, Dr Naseem Ahmad Shah and Jenab Ghulam Ali Gulzar presented their papers on various aspects of Quranic studies and orientalism etc. The papers were followed by a live discussion. Prof. Abdul Wahid, the senior most and learned professor of the university presided over this session .In his presidential remarks he impressed upon the teachers of the department to press for their genuine demands and present their case before the concerned in the most vigorous manner.

On 22nd Oct, in the first session Dr.Hamid Naseem Rafiabad, Dr.Muzzafar Nadvi, and Dr Rafique Ahmad presented several papers, on comparative religion, science and Islam and Quranic studies, which generated a very fruitful discussion in which students research scholars and the outside scholars participated enthusiastically. The session was chaired by the most renowned historian of Kashmir Prof. Mohammad Ishaq Khan, who in his presidential remarks highlighted the need for academic discussions and commented upon the papers in his erudite scholarly manner. The session was conducted by Mr.Sheikh Jamiel Ali a promising young scholar and teaching assistant of the Department.

In the post Lunch session, several research oriented papers were presented by Dr.G N Khaki, Dr.Maroof A Shah, Dr.Sanauallah Mir (Parwaz) A.M.U, Aligarh, Miss Syeda Afshana (AVRC, Kashmir University) and Dr.Hayat Aamir (A.M.U.Aligarh) on development of Quranic studies, approaches to Islamic studies, women’s position in Islamic societies world over and the methodological issues in Islamic studies. The session was presided over by Dr.Baseer Ahmad Khan and conducted by Dr.Manzoor Ahmad Bhat, lecturer of the department. The session was very fruitful from academic point of view as it generated heated debate on various issues touching upon Islam and Islamic studies in the context of modern world.

Professor Gilani ,in his particular style, summed up the proceedings of all the sessions in his concluding remarks and exhorted all the participants to remain in constant touch with the department and use their knowledge and expertise at their disposal for the service of Islam and humanity.

The seminar was concluded with the vote of thanks presented by Dr Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi, the seniormost Reader of the Department. He thanked the University authorities especially Prof Jalees Ahmad Khan Tareen, theVice Chancellor, for providing financial assistance and moral support for the conduct of the seminar and other such academic activities .He also thanked the respectable delegates who had come from Delhi, Aligarh and other far flung places of Kashmir to attend the seminar and for their academic contribution as well. He said that conduct of such seminars should become a routine and should generate questions that may provide an agenda for the onward progress of knowledge and advancement of the department in the unexplored realms of Scholarship.

Several resolutions were moved in the seminar, which were passed with the complete support of all the participants regarding introduction of Islamic studies at higher secondary and undergraduate levels as in absence of value education and moral sciences, the students are left ethically bankrupt. It was strongly felt that Introduction of Islamic studies at higher secondary, school and college level will go a long way to provide the much orchestrated value education as study of major world religions being an integral part of the syllabi of the discipline.

It will also help in maintaining the harmonious relations at the societal level among various denominational groups based on understanding and mutual respect

Spl squads for traffic management

SRINAGAR, Oct 23: To further streamline traffic management in Jammu and Kashmir, traffic police has decided to constitute special squads for checking overloading and overcharging of fare by transporters particularly mini buses and auto rickshaws, Inspector General of Police, Traffic, Ram Lubhaiya said today.

Special squads for checking overcharging and overloading by transporters will be constituted for the convenience of the commuters and a time schedule for the passanger services will also be ensured strictly, Lubhaiya told reporters here.

He said his department realised about Rs 1.50 crore as fine during past four months from traffic violators in Kashmir valley alone. Two lakh offences under various traffic violations have been registered upto September end, he added.

The IGP said although there has been sharp upswing in the number of vehicles from mere 1.61 lakh in 1993 to 3.98 lakh in 2003, no attention has been given to the proper road maintenence.

He said the relative disparity with regard to roads and number of vehicles was a matter of great concern for the planners whose responsibility was to move the state towards better road network.

Lubhaiya attributed increase in the traffic to rapid urbanization followed by high standard of living of a section of people.

The Traffic Police Chief said militancy in the State has compounded problems to his department in maintaining and managing the traffic.

Due to security scenario not only the free and safe flow of traffic was affected but the police were put into an embarrassing position while performing their duties that too without any arms on the roads, he said.

Replying to a question, he said parking lots as well as bus stands in Srinagar was on the priority agenda of the traffic department and the matter in this regard has been taken up with the Transport Commissioner. (PTI)

Governor convenes SKUAST Council meeting

Excelsior Correspondent

Srinagar, Oct 23: The Governor, Lt. Gen (Retd) S.K. Sinha has called upon the Management of Agricultural Universities of the State to come up with practical agricultural policies and job oriented courses to cater the needs of the farmers and general public.

The Governor, who is also the Chancellor of Sheri-e-Kashmir University of Agriculture, Sciences and Technology, Kashmir (SKUAST) was addressing at University Council meeting here today.

The Governor, giving the reference of various seminar and conferences organized by the SKUAST-Kashmir expressed his satisfaction over the performance of the University Management said that Sher-e-Kashmir expressed his satisfaction over the performance of University management said that Sher-e-Kashmir University is heading other Universities in the field of development and research work.

The Governor said that our universities should launch practical demonstration programmes and research work in the field to popularize the new schemes and projects among the farmers. He said our Universities are required to provide quality education for better production and research facilities to the agriculture scientists research scholars and students for a rapid green revolution in the State.

While taking past in discussions the Agriculture minister, Abdul Aziz Zargar said that agriculture farming is the main occupation of the people in the State and majority of them is dependent on agriculture production. The Minister said our State has not natural resources and it is responsibility of our educational institutions to shone sufficient flexibility and adaptability to respond the needs of farmers. The Minister said that State Government is always ready to provide all type of necessary help to the University and management in its endeavours.

The Vice- Chancellor of the University, Anwar Alam while giving the resume of the achievements of the University raised academic related issues for the smooth functioning of the University and the Chancellor confirmed various official decisions taken by the University administration.

Besides, others Principal Secretary Agriculture, B.R.Kundal, Vice- Chancellor SKUAST-Jammu, Hashmatullah Khan, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Khursheed Ahmad Ganai and Registrar SKUAST, Kashmir also attended the meeting.

Polytechnic students chain hunger strike enters 2nd day

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 23: Chain hunger strike by agitating Polytechnic students entered into second day today.

This morning, second batch of Polytechnic students, comprising Usha, Nadeem, Ranjeet Kour, Rahul, Javed Chowdhary, Mokshi and Saima Javed replaced the first batch and began their 24 hour fast.

The ongoing chain hunger strike and agitation are being launched by the Polytechnic students in protest against alleged irregularities in their examination results and in favour of their demands. They are demanding a thorough probe into the irregularities, punishment to the erring officials of J&K Technical Board, re-evaluation of their answer scripts, introduction of carry-on system, declaration of with-held results and separate Technical Board for Jammu Polytechnics.

Meanwhile, All Polytechnic Students Association, which is spearheading the ongoing agitation, has alleged that police was forcing students to call-off their stir. According to APSU spokesman, police also beat-up Parveen Singh, who is chairman of the Union and was observing fast yesterday.

The spokesman also announced that the Government decision of conceeding demand for re-evaluation was mere eye-wash and an attempt to shield erring officials of the Technical Board.