Mata Vaishnodevi pilgrim dies under
suspicious circumstances

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 18: A Mata Vaishnodevi pilgrim died under suspicious circumstances while as five persons were injured in road accidents.

Police spokesman said that a Mata Vaishnodevi pilgrim—Amit Kumar, son of Ajay Kumar Kashyap of Muradabad died under suspicious circumstances near Shree Durga Mandir at Bhawan.

Police has taken the cognizance of the incident.

Meanwhile, five persons—Ravi Kumar, son of Durga Dass of Akhnoor, Purani Bahu, wife of Sudesh Kumar of Billawar, Sudesh Bakshi, son of B M Bakshi of Roop Nagar, Inder Paul, son of Hans Raj of Udhampur and Inspector Mukhtiar Ahmed of Traffic Wing received injuries in separate road accidents at Jewel Chowk, Bakshi Nagar, Kachi Chawani, Udhampur and Muthi respectively.

All have been hospitalised and their condition was stated to be out of danger when reports last came in.

One Ashok Kumar, son of Om Parkash of Miran Sahib allegedly consumed poisonous substance at his residence. He was rushed to hospital when spotted unconscious by family members.

Doctors immediately provided him stomach wash treatment followed by other medicare. His condition was stated to be out of danger when reports last came in.

It could not be ascertained as to whether he intentionally consumed poison or swallowed the same mistakenly.

Jammu Boyz presents ‘Soni Kudi Live’

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 18: Well known for patronizing contemporary cultural trends and practices, the flamboyant former Chief Minister Dr. Farooq Abdullah, dressed in all black, was the star attraction which added fillip to the pop show that was held, here today.

The show, which looked more like a National Conference show with presence of large number of party cadre, was organised by Arohi Sangeet Vidyalaya in association with Entertainment Planet, Delhi. Titled ‘Soni Kudi Live’, the show, presented by Jammu Boyz was led by Yashvir Singh Jasrotia- a local singer who has made waves with his Dogri music album ‘Soni Kudi’ produced by T Series.

Today’s programme started with Vandana Bhardwaj singing old numbers. The special attraction of the programme was artiste Sonia, the channel Zee TV Miss Item Bomb. She and her troupe of dancers from Delhi danced to the tunes of re-mix old dance numbers.

Yashvir Singh Jasrotia, who started with a Punjabi number Ek Geda Gidde Vich Hor Ni Kudiye also sang his famous Dogri number Sab Ne Sha Soni Jammu Di Kudi . He was followed by Sonia who performed her famous dance number ‘Earthquake.

The show which provided a glimpse of the pop culture and the the fast growing entertainment industry to the Jammu audience was sponsored by leading business houses of the city.

The function was presided by Minister of State, Finance, Babu Singh, while Surjit Singh Manhas, Chairman J&K Housing Corporation was the guest of honour.

Several organisations not given permission
for meeting with PM

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 18: Several Jammu based organisations and political outfits had to face disappointment after they could not get appointment with Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh who was on his maiden visit to winter capital of the State, here today.

Duggar Pradesh Party, one of the organisations which were not granted appointment to have a meeting with PM, has accused organisors of the visit and local administration for not allowing their deputation to meet Dr Manmohan Singh for raising various important issues related to Jammu.

The party had applied for the appointment on November 15, 2004 with the Divisional Commissioner Jammu and only today on enquiring, it was informed that the Home Ministry did not clear the name of Duggar Pradesh Party deputation to meet visiting PM, said a release.

All J&K Backward Classes Union Jammu has also criticised the State administration and Prime Minister’s Office for denying an appointment to the OBC Union with Dr Manmohan Singh. The denying of appointment to OBCs with PM means that the backward classes are still considered slaves and second class citizens despite independence of the country, alleged a release issued by the Union.

SOS, an organisation of PoK refugees, also could not get permission for having a meeting with Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh despite the fact that it had applied for the permission on November 11. Yesterday when we enquired about the permission with the office of Divisional Commissioner Jammu, we were told that New Delhi had not cleared our organisations’s name, said Mr Rajiv Chuni.

PM's entry in their rooms was a moment of joy for them

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 18: Their joy knew no bounds as it was the visit of the top dignitary of the country to their quarter for the first time in last 15 years of their exile.

Tears rolled down from cheeks of Phoola Ji Raina , a 60 year old Kashmiri migrant lady when Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh along with Governor Lt. Gen. S K Singh, Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammed Sayeed all of a sudden entered her quarter No 463 in Muthi Camp Phase First during his visit to the migrant camps this afternoon.

" I could not believe for some time that Prime Minister has really visited our quarter", said Phoola to a group of journalists later. The poor lady who pins high hopes in Dr Singh said "the moment the Prime Minister was in my small room I thought God himself has visited us".

The family had been one hour in advance of the PM’s visit informed by the security officials manning the camp that Dr Singh perhaps may visit their quarter. What this poor lady could have to offer the Prime Minister except some dry fruit which she placed on a small plate and as a goodwill gesture Dr Singh showed no hesitation in accepting a piece from it.

Dr Singh inquired from her son Ramesh Raina that from how many years they have been putting up in the quarter and what kind of problems they were confronted to?

While narrating their tale of woes to Prime Minister, Ramesh said that besides permanent rehabilitation in Kashmir Valley, we want employment for the community youth who are hard pressed under prevailing circumstance.

Ramesh also apprised Dr Singh that he has no source of income as he could not get a Government job though his father died over 20 years back while performing the Government duty.

He also informed Dr Singh that this small room was not sufficient to accommodate the five members of their family.

The Prime Minister also shook hands with two kids of Ramesh, 12 year old Amit and eight year old Shafali and patted them.

Later Dr Sing also visited the quarter of Bhushan Lal Bhat of Teng Puna in Pulwama district who resides in the one room tenement adjacent to quarter of Phoola Ji.

The inmates of quarter while narrating their woes to Dr Sign informed him that they were facing the accommodation problem. "Neeru a B A final student and daughter of Bhushan Lal told Dr Singh that who soever visits the camps promises construction of two room sets but till date no one kept his promise.

At the Director Education Office, the venue of today’s rally some Kashmiri women were waiting to handover their applications to Prime Minister but they were not allowed to seek an audience from him by the security personnel deployed there.

Kishni Pandita a resident of Waterkhai Kupwara in her application addressed to Prime Minister had sought his intervention to get the compensation of the two residential houses which were set ablaze by militants in 1995 while Shela Koul of Kuchawa Muqam Baramulla in her application wanted to seek Dr Singh’s intervention to get 27 kanals of agriculture land and 300 kanals of orchard evacuated from the land grabbers.

The kids of Abhay Public School attired in colourful costumes with pla- cards and national flags in their hands wanted to convey their message and sufferings the community has undergone due to terrorism.

The placards which these tinytots had in their hands read provide an employment package to community youth, absorb the community youth against the posts lying vacant due to retirement of the Pandit employees.

Kanhaiya Shah Education Trust presents
awards to students

Excelsior Correspondent

KATHUA, Nov 18: The 8th annual awards presentation ceremony of Lala Kanhaiya Shah Education Trust was held at Government Higher Secondary School, Mahanpur in Kathua district. SDM Basohli, Sourbh Bhagat was the the chief guest at the function which was presided by Mr LD Gupta.

The Uttam Vidyarthi award carrying cash prize of Rs 4000 was given to Iesha Mahajan while Virender Sharma got Laksh merit scholarship and Maneesha Mehra bagged Achhri Devi merit scholarship. Sheetal Bharti and Abhinav Sharma also received honour for topping in respective exams.

Financial assistance was also extended to deserving, meritorious and handicapped students. Students were provided mementos, certificates and set of books.

The SDM, Basohli, lauded the efforts of the trust in promoting education and encouraging deserving students. He advised the students to develop spirit of healthy competition and hard work.

Swami Parmanand Sarswati, chairman Cosmic Heart school, called for character building alongwith academic pursuits.

Dr J L Gupta, Managing Trustee of Lala Kanhaiya Shah Educational Trust, in his address, outlined the activities of this Trust. A colourful cultural programme was also presented by the students on the occasion.

Army organises national integration tour
of militancy-affected children

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 18: As part of the Indian Army’s efforts to integrate the terrorism affected population of Jammu and Kashmir with the national mainstream, a national integration tour has been organised.

Under the aegis of OP Sadbawana, 30 students are being taken to different places in the country to acquaint them about the diverse and rich cultural heritage.

The Army is arranging for children’s visit to Jammu, Chandigarh, Jalandhar, Delhi, Jaipur and Ajmer. The tour also provides the students an opportunity to reach beyond the isolation of their own habitat.

These 30 students from Pine Wood school, located somewhere on Line of Control in Northern sector have been victim of trans-border shelling and violence unleashed by terrorists against the innocent civilians.

The national integration tour is key step in the efforts of the Indian Army to eliminate the trauma of cross-border terror from the impressionable minds of these school children.

The Chicken Neck Brigade of Tiger Division played host to the participations of the tour which included 20 boys and 10 girls in the age-group of 13-15 years. These children were welcomed at Damana and shown popular film " Veer Zaara".

Before flagging off the children for the nest leg of their trip today, Brigadier PP Toor, Commander Chicken’s Neck Brigade, exhorted them to spread message of national integration, literacy and development and hoped that the tour would bring awareness among the younger generation regarding their surroundings.

Deputations call on PM, submit memorandums

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 18: Deputations of various political and social organisations today called on Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on his maiden visit to Jammu and submitted him memorandums of demands for his earnest consideration.

The deputations were from Bharatiya Janata Party, National Conference, People’s Democratic Party, J&K National Panthers Party, trade and industrial associations, ex-servicemen, Pahari Forum and others organisations.

While the BJP deputation was led by former Union Minister Prof Chaman Lal Gupta, Ajay Sadhotra headed the NC deputation. Prof Bhim Singh, Major General (Retd) G S Jamwal and Ram Sahai headed the deputations of JKNPP, Ex-Servicemen and Chamber of Commerce and Industry, respectively.

While welcoming the Prime Minister, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in its memorandum demanded augmentation of power sector in the State by expediting the completion of power projects already under construction. It also demanded taking up the new power projects as well as speedy construction of those which have already been identified.

CCI also demanded Central package to entire J&K State, promotion of tourism in Jammu, waiver of interest on previous loans to taxi owners, grant of interest free loan to the tune of Rs three lakh as done in Kashmir valley for purchase of new taxis and three percent interest subsidy to trading sector for compensating their losses.

Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP) demanded that Parliament should extend its legislative powers on Jammu and Kashmir as well. In its memorandum submitted to Dr Manmohan Singh the Party said this has been the main reason for the present problem in the state. It also demanded that those people who are surviving on foreign doles and have no representative character be excluded from dialogue process, rights be given to refugees from Pakistan, PoK refugees be accorded status of refugees, reservation to Gujjars, and Bakerwals and Giddies in legislature, implementation of Wazir Commission report and special tourism package for Jammu.

Federation of Industries in its memorandum to the Prime Minister demanded Income Tax holiday for the existing new industries in J&K at par with states of North East, power supply to J&K industry exclusively from Central pool and handing over of the power projects presently under NHPC. It also demanded that Jammu and Kashmir be notified as industrial backward state, Defence and paramilitary forces be issued directives to lift their supplies form local industrial units, those industrial units which have turned deflators may be granted debt relief, extension of transport subsidy scheme for J&K till 2012, special concessions in the excise notification for the textile industries of J&K and scientific development of forest wealth of the state.

OBC Cell of J&K Pradesh Congress Committee submitted a memorandum to PM seeking implementation of Mandal Commission report in toto in J&K State.

In the memorandum the Cell, appealed the Prime Minister to insist upon the State Government to provide 27 per cent reservation to the socially and educationally backward classes, review section 2(0) of J&K Reservation Act 2004, provide reservation to backward classes in J&K State Legislative Assembly, Legislative Council Local Bodies, Municipal Corporations, Municipalities and Panchayats, and constitute J&K Backward Advisory Board.

Front for Trilateral Resolution of JK Problem, in a memorandum to Dr Manmohan Singh, listed some suggestions for a permanent solution of Kashmir problem and return of peace in the State. The suggestions included unilateral cease-fire by India, release of all political prisoners in J&K, stoppage of all human rights violations by security forces, withdrawal of troops from Kashmir Valley and appointment of a jointly agreed Indo-Pak Commission to investigate into the complaints of human rights violations.

Nationalist Congress Party also submitted a memorandum to Dr Manmohan Singh demanding that an effective mechanism be evolved and strictly enforced for ensuring equal distribution of funds for Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh according to the area and topography of the regions so that no region suffer from the feeling of neglect.

NCP also demanded launching of a special employment drive for educated youth of the State and a package for rapid industrial development of the State with stress on setting up locally available raw material based units.

All J&K Sikh Awareness Society presented a memorandum to PM demanding declaration of public holiday throughout India on Shri Guru Granth Sahib’s Prakash Utsav and direct J&K Government to release innocent Sikhs imprisoned in jails. The Society also appealed Dr Manmohan Singh to take up the issue of visa-free pilgrimage by Sikhs to Gurdwaras in Pakistan with the neighbouring country.

People of Paddar block in Doda district in their memorandum demanded grant of Hill Development Status to the area, handing over of Saphire Mine to a national firm on contract basis for extraction of Saphire, granting of Scheduled Tribe status to the area, appointment of local youth in the Forest Department for protection of green gold, construction of remaining part of the Kishtwar Sansari road by GREF and construction of Hydel Project Kirthayee.

A delegation of Akhil Bharat Rachnatmak Samaj, that also called on Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, briefed him about the peace activists working on voluntary basis in J&K . The delegation also apprised the Prime Minister about the J&K Peace activists’ last pilgrimage to Pakistan shrines and Pak pilgrims’ tour to J&K. The Prime Minister was also apprised of the forthcoming tour to Lahore by J&K peace activists to participate in Aman Mela being organised by APA.

Kashmiri Migrants delegation from various camps and non camps that called on Prime Minister Dr Singh this evening demanded age relaxation for displaced youth in employment, opening of employment avenues in public and private sector for the displaced youth, enhancement of cash assistance, deputing a team from Prime Minister’s Office to assess and ascertain the problems of the displaced people and construction of two room sets.

The delegation was led by H L Pandita, general secretary PCC Migrant Cell and Apex Committee Member. It’s other members were Roshan Lal Raina, Member Apex Committee, B L Thusoo, Madsudhan Bhat and Vir Jee Bilow.

Indian National Trade Union Congress which submitted the memorandum to Prime Minister demanded regularisation of daily wagers, special recruitment drive for Jammu youths, preference be given to local youths in employment, risk cover and transport facilities be provided to workers, enhancement of daily wagers rate to Rs 150 per day, regularisation of service of Rehbar-e-Taleem and Anganwari workers, merger of 50 per cent DA into basic pay and grant of field service concessions.

Earlier hundreds of activists of the INTUC led by its chief Shiv Kumar Sharma, Th. Raghubir Singh Chib, general secretary, Shyam Prashad Sharma, R S Reen, Ranjeet Singh Raina vice presidents, Jugal Kishore Sharma and Joginder Paul secretaries held a welcome rally at Company Bagh.

Jammu and Kashmir Gurdwara Prabhandak Board in its memorandum demanded extending the jurisdiction of Minority Commission to J&K, representation of Sikhs of J&K in talks with Pakistan, permanent settlement of displaced persons of 1947, reservation of seats for Sikhs in the state Legislature, increase in the quota to visit Pakistan, elevation of Minister of State to the rank of Cabinet Minister and Recruitment of Sikh youth in All India Service, Defence and sate services. The delegation that called on Prime Minister was led by T S Wazir president State Gurdwara Parbandhak Board.

National Mazdoor Conference (NMC) chief Subash Shastri who also headed a delegation of his organisation to Prime Minister demanded immediate constitution of sixth National Pay Commission, the proceedings of which be completed before December 2005 and recommendations of the same be implemented wef from first January 2006. He also demanded release of Rs 350 crore to the state as already agreed, merger of 50 per cent DA with pay and release of five per cent DA installment in favour of state Government employees and regularisation of daily wagers.

A deputation of Border Area Development Society, J&K (Regd) under the chairmanship of Ashish Sharma

submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and urged him to solve problems being faced by the border people. Society demanded rehabilitation of border people and demanded allotment of 5 marlas plot to those who have been living on border. Society also demanded construction of alternative accommodation for border people.

Society also demanded that 10 KMs area of LoC and IB should be declared as Backward Area and special package should be announced for construction of roads from Kathua to Chamb.

Deputation also demanded that recruitment of local youth should be made in different industrial units of Samba. It was also demanded that comprehensive water supply scheme should be started for Kandi area.

Plea to ensure smooth supply of fertilizers

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 18: Director Agriculture Jammu, Vinod Bala Sharma has asked field officers and Chief Agriculture Officers heading various districts to keep a check on the black-marketing of fertilizers and ensure its smooth supply to the farmers.

In a meeting of the officers held here the Director reviewed the supply position and asked all the district and block officers to channelise the proper distribution of fertilizers to farmers. In view of reports regarding shortage of DAP fertilizers especially in Kathua area, the director said that there has been high demand of fertilizers during this period of sowing but there has been shortfall in receipt of fertilizers supplies from the manufacturing companies. Several other states are also facing such problems.

She said while 4500 MTs of DAP have already been received by the state and distributed among the farmers over the next two weeks. Fresh supplies to the tune of 9000 MTs fertilizers are expected soon. She said after receiving the consignment the scarcity of fertilizers will be over. The distribution agencies JAKFED and Agro have also been requested to keep check of black-marketing and ensure smooth supplies.

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