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| Sharifabad grid to be operational
in 6 weeks CM reviews power situation Excelsior Correspondent Srinagar, Oct 25: On the intervention of Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, the recently gutted Sharifabad power grid station would now be made operational within six weeks. Earlier, the scheduled time for restoration of the station was assessed......more Mufti, 3
others Excelsior Correspondent Srinagar, Oct 25: Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today took oath as member State Legislative Assembly following his victory in the recent by-election from Pahalgam constituency. The by-election............more Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Oct 25: A plumber was brutally assaulted by another plumber and and an electrician at Rehari Colony.........more Lalit
Magotra Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Oct 25: The nomination of Prof Lalit Magotra as member of the Press Council of India (PCI) which was announced last week by the Government of India, has not only come...........more Telecom
war all Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Oct 25: With the entry of another Telecommunication Company in the State of Jammu and Kashmir, the telecom war is all set to hot up as the competition..........more |
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Down
the memory lane Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Oct 25: Lauding the valour of Kashmiris in saving the Valley from the clutches of tribals in 1947, Governor, Lt. Gen. (Retd.) S K Sinha has expressed optimism about restoring peace by overcoming the challenge of militancy with the cooperation of the people..............more By Ravinder Kaul It was an encore that Jagjit Singh had promised precisely three and a half years ago when, on the occasion of his first performance in Jammu, he had assured the listners, disappointed on account of his bad throat, that he would once again perform in Jammu...................more MSTA
alleges harassment, Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Oct 25: Medical and Surgical Traders Association (MSTA) facing victimisation and harassment from the concerned department has sought the intervention of Minister for Health and Medical Education, Suman Bhagat.........more 2nd global
summit on Excelsior Correspondent NEW DELHI, Oct 25: Parvez Diwan the Resident Commissioner Jammu and Kashmir inaugurated the four day long 2nd global summit on medicinal and aromatic plants.......more |
Sharifabad grid to be operational
in 6 weeks Excelsior Correspondent Srinagar, Oct 25: On the intervention of Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, the recently gutted Sharifabad power grid station would now be made operational within six weeks. Earlier, the scheduled time for restoration of the station was assessed at six months. Relaxing rules, ex-gratia to the victims of the Zainakote tragedy was also announced by the Government today. Mr Sayeed called an emergency meeting here this afternoon to discuss the power situation arising out of torching of the Shariefabad grid station by miscreants and asked the concerned officials to speed up restoration work so that the inconvenience caused to the public is alleviated soon. Minister for Power, Mohammad Sharief Niaz, Minister of State for Power, Javed Mustafa Mir, Chief Secretary, Dr. S. S. Bleoria, Financial Commissioner, Home, S. D. Singh, Principal Secretary, Planning and Development, Mohammad Iqbal Khanday, Principal Secretary, Finance and Agriculture, B. R. Kundal, Secretary, Power Development Department, Basharat Ahmad and senior officers of the PDD were present. Following the directive of the Chief Minister, the meeting decided to temporarily restore the grid station within six weeks. Round the clock work would be taken up with emphasis on achieving the objective in the targeted time. The permanent restoration of the grid would take four to five months. Administrative bottlenecks and shortage of funds would not be allowed to delay the work in view of the importance of early restoration of power supply. Chief Minister asked the planning department to provide the Rs. 8.60 crores additionality projected by the power development department for complete restoration of the grid station. In another significant decision and in relaxation of rules, the meeting decided to grant ex-gratia of Rs. one lakh each to the next of kin of the deceased killed by snapping of the high-tension wire at Zainakote recently. The critically injured persons would receive Rs. 50,000 each. The Chief Minister expressed serious concern over the torching of the grid station by miscreants and putting the valleyites to inconvenience particularly during the holy month of Ramadan. He said the incident would be investigated and the culprits brought to the book. |
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Mufti, 3 others take oath as MLAs Excelsior Correspondent Srinagar, Oct 25: Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today took oath as member State Legislative Assembly following his victory in the recent by-election from Pahalgam constituency. The by-election was necessitated in the wake of Mehbooba Mufti getting elected to the Lok Sabha from Anantnag parliamentary segment. Speaker, Tara Chand, administered the oath to Mr Sayeed at an impressive function held in the assembly complex here today. Tariq Hamid Qarra (PDP), Sham Lal Sharma and Mrs. Kanta Andotra (both Congress) also took oath today. They were elected from Batamaloo, Akhnoor and Basohli assembly segments, respectively. Deputy Chief Minister, Mangat Ram Sharma, members of the council of ministers, MPs Chowdhary Lal Singh and Madan Lal Sharma, legislators, Chief Secretary and senior officers were also present who congratulated the Chief Minister and the three newly elected MLAs after taking the oath. They were garlanded and presented bouquets. Later, the Chief Minister inaugurated the newly constructed Library Block of the State Legislative Assembly. He went round various sections of the library and evinced keen interest in the valuable collection of books and reference material there. Deputy Chief Minister, Mangat Ram Sharma, Speaker Tara Chand, several ministers and Secretary, Legislative Assembly, Iqbal Ganai were also present. |
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Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Oct 25: A plumber was brutally assaulted by another plumber and and an electrician at Rehari Colony under the jurisdiction of Sarwal Police Post. Police spokesman said that the victim—Narinder Kumar, son of Girdhari Lal of Orissa was called out of the house in Rehari Colony, where he was a tenant, by the accused. One of the accused caught hold of the victim while another hit on his head with iron rod wounding him critically. Both the accused fled from the spot leaving behind the victim bleeding profusely. On hearing the cries of the victim, the owner of the house came out and immediately informed Sarwal Police about the incident. A police team led by Incharge Police Post Gurpreet Singh immediately swung into action and shifted the victim to Government Medical College Hospital. The condition of victim was stated to be critical when reports last came in. The Sarwal Police under the supervision of DySP Bakshi Nagar Tanveer Jeelani conducted several raids and succeeded in apprehending one of the accused. A hunt was on to nab the absconding accused. During interrogation, the arrested accused—Kumbkaran Nayak alias Muttu Nayak of Orissa and plumber by profession had chalked out a strategy alongwith an electrician—Vikram alias Vicky of Orissa to eliminate Narinder Kumar after the victim took over Kumbkaran Nayak’s work in Bakshi Nagar area some days back. Police has registered a case under Section 307 RPC in this connection. |
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Lalit Magotra nominated to PCI Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Oct 25: The nomination of Prof Lalit Magotra as member of the Press Council of India (PCI) which was announced last week by the Government of India, has not only come as a great honour for the well known scientist, academician and Dogri writer but for the entire State. Probably the first one from J&K to be nominated to the 28 member body of PCI, for a period of three years, Prof Lalit Magotra has been nominated on the recommendation of Sahitya Akademi. Presently on a special assignment with University of Jammu (JU) as Advisor to JU for Modernization of University Infrastructure, Prof Magotra’s area of scientific research is high energy physics. He is also Principal Investigator for JU and Co-ordninator for All Indian Universities in the International Collaborative Research Project -ALICE- in High Energy Physics sponsored by Dept. of Atomic Energy and Dept of Science & Technology, Government of India. He has also been instrumental in bringing in multi-crore research projects for the JU Department of Physics. He is also member, Academic Council of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University. A multifaceted personality with a rare combination of science and arts, Prof Magotra is also a well known creative writer of Dogri language. He is also president of Dogri Sanstha, the pioneer literary and cultural organisation of Jammu. |
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Telecom war all set to hot up in J&K Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Oct 25: With the entry of another Telecommunication Company in the State of Jammu and Kashmir, the telecom war is all set to hot up as the competition to grab more subscribers has forced both the companies to draw plans to provide better services. To start with BSNL has drafted plans to take up the number of mobile lines to 2.8 lakh in the State. Out of these 150 thousand connections would be made available in the Valley alone. Sources in the BSNL disclosed that plans have been finalized to increase the number of mobile towers in Kashmir valley. This will be done to increase the connectivity besides, the quality of service available at present. Presently, BSNL has only 32 towers functioning in the valley and plans have been approved to increase the number to 114 by the end of this year. At present there is no Mobile Switching Centre (MSC) facility available with the BSNL in the valley therefore the mobile service is being run via Jammu. Now the BSNL has decided to commission MSC facility in Srinagar. Sources in the BSNL say that equipment worth Rupees 70 crore has been procured and within a span of one month MSC will be commissioned in the valley. This will help in shortening the signal traffic, added the sources. Besides, the BSNL has also started the Integrated Voice Response System (IVRS). This has been started to streamline the already arduous billing system that has been troubling the consumer in the valley. Not to be left behind Bharti Enterprises too has announced a series of initiatives to provide a better service to its 50,000 strong customer base in the valley. Bharti plans to cover more than 100 tonns with mobile connectivity across the valley by March 2005. The company has plans to invest more than rupees 125 Crore in the State during the next two months. Besides, Bharti Telecom plans to provide world class network, covering highways and rail routes in the State. In addition customer care service will be given much stress in order to woo maximum number of subscribers. Bharti has plans to provide single customer care number to its customers in the valley. The number will be valid across the country, which will enable its users to pay their bills in any part of the country. Interestingly, the competition among telecom giants has given the subscribers a reason to cheer about something. " I am happy that another Telecom Company has decided to test waters in J&K," says Haroon Rashid, a BSNL subscriber. " At least competition among the companies will drive them to provide better services because otherwise customers are taken for a ride if a single company has a monopoly in the market," he adds. " We also get a variety of choices in choosing a right tariff plan if there are more than one operators offering their services because earlier we had no such choice available," says Malik Ajaz, another subscriber, who feels that BSNL has not taken care of those subscribers who wish to choose a low tariff plan. |
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Down the memory lane Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Oct 25: Lauding the valour of Kashmiris in saving the Valley from the clutches of tribals in 1947, Governor, Lt. Gen. (Retd.) S K Sinha has expressed optimism about restoring peace by overcoming the challenge of militancy with the cooperation of the people. In a message on the eve of Infantry Day, the Governor said that the revival of weakened traditions of Kashmir, which he termed as Kashmiriyat, is a strong weapon to fight ongoing militancy. The Governor recounted the horrendous days of plunder and terror let loose by raiders in Baramulla and said that when he landed along with the Indian Army in Srinagar, he saw no panic among the inhabitants. He was overwhelmed to see the indomitable courage of the people of Srinagar to fight the raiders for saving Kashmir. Though they had no weapons, the people- young and old, women and children- stood with sticks and pledged to fight the enemy. The General said that as a young Major, he was incharge of the airlift of troops from Delhi to Srinagar in October 1947. With 60 Dakotas at his disposal, 800 sorties were flown in a fortnight starting from 27th of October. The Governor General Lord Mountbatten had described it something unique which he had not seen in his long war experience. Never in history had such a massive airlift carried out so successfully and at such short notice. The General said that he was highly impressed to see the morale of the Army that was now fighting for the first time in the field under Indian commanders, after having remained under the subjugation of British for 200 years. Besides that, the morale of the people of Srinagar was highly commendable, who did not panic though some refugees from Baramulla had arrived in the City with woeful tales of Kabalis mayhem. The Governor said that on the arrival of Indian troops, he had an opportunity to meet Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah whom he had met at his father’s residence at Delhi a few months earlier. He said he was also impressed by Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad and his young assistant S K Raina, who later became the Transport Commissioner. ‘Raina was my age and became my friend’, he said. Gen. Sinha said in a message, to be broadcast on Radio Kashmir Srinagar at 9. 10 am on Wednesday, the October 27, that the day had immense significance. The Valley in 1947 was a serene picture of communal harmony, quite in contrast to the communal violence unleashed all over the country in the wake of Partition. Gandhiji had saluted the people of Kashmir for their glorious tradition of amity by saying that he saw a ray of light emanating from the Valley while the Sub-continent was engulfed in darkness. The Governor said that on his arrival at Srinagar airport last year to assume his gubernatorial assignment, he kept wondering as to how he would contribute in restoring peace in the valley where thousands of innocents were being martyred by the militants for the past decade and a half. He said it was the same Airport where he had landed in 1947 to help Kashmiris save Kashmir. Of course the present Airport has improved beyond recognition from what it was in 1947 but the location was the same. He said that his inner voice told him that peace and harmony could be restored by reviving the Kashmiriyat tradition. He said he was determined to contribute in doing so. ‘Inshallah, with the forceful weapon of Kashmiriyat, we se shall conquer terrorism’, he added. |
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Bureaucratic hurdles stall implementation of Rs 24 crore Watershed Project in Doda Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Oct 24: Gross violations of guidelines and un-necessary impediments by the concerned Government agency amidst allegations of mis-appropriation of funds, have completely ceased progress of Centre Government’s ambitious Watershed Development Programme in militancy infested Doda district of the State. Even after lapse of more than three- fourth of the period prescribed for completion of the project, only six per cent of Watershed works have sofar been executed- thanks to non release of project funds in time and uncalled-for bureaucratic hurdles by Drought Prone Areas Programme (DPAP) Agency, Doda, in the working of Project Implementing Agencies (PIAs). And now the position is that works in all the watershed projects, involving Rs 24 crore, are closed while the governing body of DPAP has decided to withdraw all the projects assigned to NGOs and SKUAST Bhaderwah claiming that performance of these Project Implementing Agencies (PIAs) is not upto the mark. However, on the contrary, the PIAs and elected representatives of Doda district are holding the Government agency responsible for stalling ambitious watershed works in these disturbed areas and have termed the DPAP decision as a calculated move of the officialdom to forestall the involvement of voluntary organisation in developmental works so that public money in crores of rupees can be looted. MLA Ramban and a member of DPAP governing body, Chaman Lal even alleged that District Development Commissioner (DDC) Doda, who is also Chairman of DPAP, is solely responsible for poor progress of the watershed works because of later’s ‘vested interests’. MLA Kishtwar, Sajjad Kitchloo, who is another member of the DPAP governing body, also alleged that DPAP has made flagrant violation of guidelines by not releasing the funds in time and appointing nodal officers who were only creating impediments in successful implementations of the watershed programme by NGOs. "The NGOs have done excellent works despite so many hurdles created by DPAP and the proposed change of PIAs in the fourth year of the project period creates suspicion regarding misappropriation of funds by the Government departments," he observed in a written reply to the proposal for withdrawal of NGOs from the projects and entrusting the works to DPAP Doda for execution. Sources said despite clear cut instructions that the guidelines should be taken as general principles for implementation of the Watershed Development Programmes and not be used as a tool to make their implementation a complex exercise, un-necessary official impediments were created in smooth working of PIAs. Officers having no concept of WDPs, were appointed as nodal officers with absolute powers of supervision, verification, drawal and disbursement without any accountability. And this was done without any provision for appointment of the same in guidelines notified by the Department of Land Resources, Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, sources added. Ironically, at the same time, the District Watershed Development Committee, which is the only decision making body at the district level, does not exist in Doda district at all. Sources pointed out that the era of impediments in PIAs working and gross violation of guidelines ensued with the transfer of then DDC Doda Shalinder Kumar. "Since then, DPAP is leaving no stone unturned to step into the shoes of these voluntary organisations as PIAs of WDP to misappropriate and pocket huge amounts out of the project funds," alleged MLA Ramban while talking to the Excelsior. PIAs were kept on tenterhooks of six monthly extensions even after the expiry of initial phase of 9-12 months of probation period. Ignoring guidelines, the project funds in the first year as the first installment of 15 per cent (9 per cent to the PIAs and 6 per cent to the Watershed Committees) were not released in time. Instead of nine per cent, only 3.33 per cent as the Ist installment was released on July 2001 to the PIAs after keeping them idle for 14 months without any reason. The first installment of six per cent to be released in the Ist year to Watershed Committees, was released in June 2003 i.e. after the lapse of long period of 38 months, the sources said. Even as the works were successfully executed by the PIAs and Watershed Committees well in time after release of funds, no funds as the second installment have been released so far when the 4th year of the project is nearing its fag end, the sources further said. Meanwhile, people of Doda have demanded a high level enquiry to probe into the matters of gross violation of guidelines by DDC Doda and Project Officer DPAP Doda. Till the report of inquiry is received, the accounts of DPAP Doda may be seized to save the public exchequer and these officers be restrained from changing the PIAs in WDP in larger interest of the society, said a memorandum submitted to the Centre Government . |
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MSTA alleges harassment, seeks Suman’s intervention Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Oct 25: Medical and Surgical Traders Association (MSTA) facing victimisation and harassment from the concerned department has sought the intervention of Minister for Health and Medical Education, Suman Bhagat for the release of their bills worth over Rs 6.5 crores pending for last about one year. Chairman of the Association Ramesh Gupta while talking to newspersons said that unnecessary delay is being caused in the release of pending bills by the officers of the Medical department and the traders who have made supplies worth lakhs are facing lot of harassment. These traders are providing supplies to Government on tender basis and have procured equipment/ medicines and other items for the hospitals from various companies. Referring to an incident of mal-practice and act of favouritism in floating tenders, Mr Gupta said that a tender notice issued by the member secretary is full of contradictions and clearly violates the norms laid down in the financial code. The tender notice has been published in the leading newspaper, Daily Excelsior on Oct 22, 2004 whereas the date of purchase of tender documents is Oct 20, 2004 and the last date for the submission of tender is Oct 27. This is the height how State level Purchase Committee members are openly indulging in violation just for favouring their blue eyed persons and for vested interests. He demanded that two separate committees for Jammu and Kashmir provinces be set up as it earlier existed. It is regretted that some committee members are imposing their own terms and conditions just in tenders issued just to harass the traders despite the fact that firms are registered with the Department after paying registration fee of Rs 10,000. President of the Association, S K Chopra alleged that system of making purchases of medicines and equipment at state level has been paralysed and most of the firms are not coming forward in quoting their rates. He urged upon the Health minister to streamline the system and come to the rescue of the Medical & surgical traders who are facing harassment and other problems. General secretary, Sandip Singh also spoke in the conference. |
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2nd global summit on
medicinal, aromatic Excelsior Correspondent NEW DELHI, Oct 25: Parvez Diwan the Resident Commissioner Jammu and Kashmir inaugurated the four day long 2nd global summit on medicinal and aromatic plants being held from 25th to 29th of October at Hotel Ashoka New Delhi. The delegates from more than 30 countries are taking part in the conference which was organised by the Century Foundations in association with Banglore University with the support of National Horticulture Board Ministry of Agriculture Government of India, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research Ministry of Science and Technology Government of India, Ministry of Environment and Forests Government of India and Government of Jammu and Kashmir Medicinal Plants Board. The conference will deliberate on wide range of issues pertaining to Medicinal Aromatic Plants from cultivation to marketing. Dr. Ab. Kabir Dar, Chief Executive Officer, Jammu and Kashmir State Board of Medicine plants and various scientists and experts from diverse fields from Jammu and Kashmir are also participating in the summit. Hon’ble Health Minister and Medical education and Hon’ble Minister for Forests and Environment Jammu and Kashmir Government are also expected to join during the later part of the summit. Among other world renowned dignitaries who attend the summit include Dr. R.N.Shetty, Chairman, AICTE- South Western Region, Dr. G.V. Subramanyam, Director, Ministry or Environment and Forest, Government of India, Dr. Bala V. Manyam, Director, Plummer Movement Disorders Centre, The Texas A&M University System, USA, Dr. V. Shivram, Dr. Anita Menan. During his inaugural address Parvez Diwan conveyed good wishes from Government of Jammu and Kashmir and said that the conference was to be inaugurated by the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Mufti Mohammad Sayeed but because of his busy schedule today he could not attend the conference. He said that Mufti Mohammad Sayeed is keenly interested to develop this sector in Jammu and Kashmir and hoped that the 3rd Global Summit on Medicinal and Aromatic Plant will be held in Jammu and Kashmir. Which has a rich diversity of medicinal plants, because of the varied Agroclimatic conditions. In view of a very large number of medicinal plants in India in general and Jammu and Kashmir in particular where reportedly 50% of medical plants used in British Pharmacopoeia do exist, making it hot spot of medicinal and Aromatic plants in the world. The speaking in the occasion he said that medicinal plants play an important role in human life to combat diseases since time immemorial. The supply base of 90% herb and raw drugs used in manufacture of Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homeopathy systems of medicine are largely supplied from India. The need of the hour is to protect this wild assets for conservation and sustainable use which is speedily shrinking day by day. He thanked to the organizers on behalf of Jammu and Kashmir Government and extended their full support to the visiting Foreign delegates. |
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26 units cleared under Single Window Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Oct 25: The 4th District Level Single Window System meeting today held under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner, Jammu Dr. Pawan Kotwal in his office chamber. In the meeting, 29 cases of different units were discussed, out of which 26 units were cleared. The cleared units include M/S Shree Man Packers, M/S Milky Food Products, M/S Hi-Choice Wire and Cable industries, My Oyster Technologies, M/S Sainik Shoes Industries, M/S Modern Papers, M/S Gulati Metal and Alloy, M/S Sovereign Foods, M/S Jay Ambey Aromatics, M/S Jammu Steel Industries, Jammu, M/S Saachi Fabrication Industries, M/S Maha Lakshmi Steel Fabrication Industries, M/S Power Flow Industries, M/S Pasura Bio-Tech (P) Ltd., M/S Vidyat Udyog, M/S Bharat Minerals, M/S Trikuta Industries, M/S J&K Metals, M/S Shivgiri Metals, M/S Viraj Industry and M/S Nav Bharat Metals of Bari Brahamna besides M/S R. R. Medicine Products, Birpur, M/S B.S.A.S. Industries, Gangyal, M/S/ Raj Nandani Readymade Garments IGC and M/S J. K. Leather IGC of Samba. An amount of Rs. 15 crore will be advanced as loan for setting up their own entrepreneurs. |
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Cong Seva Dal holds convention Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Oct 25: One day convention organised by J&K Congress Seva Dal at Srinagar. Deputy Chief Minister, Mangat Ram Sharma was chief guest in the function. While addressing the convention, Mr Sharma called upon the Seva Dal workers to be vigilant against those forces which have been trying to exploit sentiments of the people for personal ends. He said that Seva Dal means to serve the people and the big service is to work for the integration of the country. Addressing the convention, Lok Sabha member Madan Lal Sharma hailed the sacrifice of Mrs Sonia Gandhi, who prefer unity of the country rather to hold office of Prime Ministership and thereby defeated evil designs of communal forces, which are hell bent to create turmoil in the country. Speaking on the occasion, senior vice-president of the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC), Abdul Gani Vakil made it clear that Congress party will never prefer to be subservient to anyone and no body will be allowed to make the party to play at any one’s tune. He said that strengthening of Congress in State will serve the national interest and any kind of weakness of the party will adversely affect the interest. Minister of State for Works, G A Mir, R S Chib, Khem Lata Wakhloo, Sham Lal Sharma, Abdul Majid Padder, Mohammed Anwar Bhat, Amreena Baddar, Surjit Singh Bakshi, Balvinder Singh Sambyal chairman of the Congress Seva Dalalso addressed the convention. |
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PNB organises Kissan Goshthi in Akhnoor Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Oct 25: With a view to create awareness among the farmers about various agriculture schemes of the Bank and boost the agriculture credit, a Kissan Goshthi was organised at village Daskal by Punjab National Bank the other day. Senior Regional Manager PNB J&K Region C R Khajuria was the chief guest on the occasion. Nirupam Dham, Asstt General Manager, NABARD, Dr M D Bali District Coordinator PNB were also present. Several Sarpanchs and Panchs and farmers attended the programme. While speaking on the occasion, Mr Khajuria said that need of the agriculture growth is must for progress of the country and PNB is ready to provide all type of financial assistance for the welfare of farmers. They should also make all efforts in increasing agriculture production, which will ultimately have effect on their living standard as well as development of area. He informed the farmers that they should not be dependent on others. Dr Bali apprised the participants about various schemes of PNB which are helping the farmers for increasing their agriculture production like Kissan credit card, Sampuran Yojana, Green House farming, Vermi compost, Minor irrigation, Farm mechanisation, Self Help Groups , Vishesh Krishi Upaj Yojana etc. He informed that farmers having 20 kanals of irrigated land can avail finance for purchase of tractor now. Only 10 percent margin money is required for such loans. D V Jain PNB Akhnoor branch highlighted the achievements of the bank as well as of the branch. |
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Rich tributes paid to Pt Prem Nath Dogra Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Oct 25: Floral tributes were paid to legendary leader of Jammu Pt. Prem Nath Dogra on his 121 birth anniversary by Pt. Prem Nath Dogra Vichar Manch. A function was held in this regard at Pt. Prem Nath Dogra Bhavan Kachi Chawni, here under the presidentship of Pt. Som Nath Sharma. Among others the function was attended by Pt. Bishan Dogra, Rishi Kumar Koshal, ex MLA, Chander Mohan Sharma, Kuldeep Raj Gupta, Suraj Dev Singh, Rajiv Chuni, Madan Lal Gupta, Surinder Sharma, Master Mukand Lal and Master Sohan Lal. The function started with solemnization of Yagya. Speaking on the occasion the leaders of Vichar Manch recalled the services and contribution of Pt. Prem Nath Dogra in shaping the state under the hostile conditions. They said this great leader of Jammu along with other contemporaries launched a long drawn struggle for the integration of the state with rest of the country and for the interests of the Jammu, Ladakh and other nationalist forces of the state. They said the Praja Parishad movement has the relevance even today due to wrong and biased policies of the successive governments. These disgruntled politicians are taking the state back to pre 1953 position, they added. |
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Scouts, guides wing of NCC inaugurated at Miran Sahib Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Oct 25: Boys Scouts and Girls Guide wing was inaugurated at J&K Police Public School Miran Sahib Jammu today in which DIG Jammu Range Farooq Ahmed was the chief guest, and Commissioner of Boys Scouts and Girl Guides, Mr Soni the guest of honour. A batch girls and boys of the school took oath in the auditorium of the school on the occasion which was also graced Principal Mrs Neerja Mehta and other staff members of the school. Speaking on the occasion Mr Farooq Ahmed exhorted the new scouts and girl guides to dedicate their lives to the welfare of nation and inculcate a sense of discipline in the youth. Mr Soni threw light on the history and importance of the Scouting movement, which existed at present in the world. Mrs Neerja Mehta, announced that the school will continue to grow with talented boys and girls in search of excellence. |
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VHP leader welcomes move of Army Chief Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Oct 25: Dr Rama Kant Dubey, State president of Vishaw Hindu Parishad has welcomed the positive approach of Army Chief Gen N C Vij in having consultations with former Army Chiefs on various issues of strategic importance facing the security of the country vis-a-vis terrorism in J&K. Dr Dubey stressed the need for a concerted action to put these suggestions in practice without much loss of time. The experience, he said, shows that Army and security forces have not succeeded in eliminating roots of terrorism from the State in spite of the fact that Indian Army is one of the finest force in the world. He said, "it is all due to lack of political will and resoluteness of purpose on the part of our political masters that country’s interests are lying in jeopardy" and added that Army and security forces are not to be blamed for that. According to him the example of team work if fructified would definitely pay rich dividends to the security and integrity of the country. He said our political bosses should try to emulate this example of united team work despite their affiliation to different political parties. This was essential, said Dr Dubey, to make the country politically and militarily strong enough to thwart any attempt from within and outside, from destabilizing and that at the same time try to ensure that anti-national forces did not raise their head against broader national interests of the country. |
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Imams, scholars justify
Kohli’s election as Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Oct 25: Justifying the election of Abdul Ghani Kohli as the chief of Seerat- ul- Nabi Conference, the prominent scholars and ulmas of Jammu today said that they don’t recognize any other person than him as the head of this religious body. Talking to reporters here this afternoon along with Mr Kohli, Kh. Ghulam Ahmed, Imam Jama Masjid near Police Lines, Gandhi Nagar, Din Mohammed Razvi, general secretary , Seerat-ul-Nabi Conference, Moulana Zakir Hussian , Imam Jama Masjid Bhatindi and other prominent Muslim scholars said Haji Abdul Majid has no right to speak on behalf of the Conference. They said only Mian Bashir Ahmed Larvi who is the patron of organisation, Moulana Din Mohammed and Mr Kohli have the right to speak on behalf of this religious body. They said the election of Mr Kohli as the president of the Seerat-ul-Nabi Conference was held at a meeting of prominent Muslim scholars and Imams on October 11 at Jama Masjid Baba Roshanshah Wali Gummat. The meeting was attended by the Imams of entire J&K State who unanimously elected Mr Kohli as the president of the Conference after replacing Haji Abdul Majid. They said all the speakers in that conference stressed on the Muslim community to work for unity and brotherhood. They said during the meeting it was also decided that a close liaison will be made with all the Khatibs for redressing their grievances. Mr Rizvi also blamed Abdul Majid for creating a wedge among the Imams and Moulvis who ignored the people from J&K State by preferring the outsiders. The Muslim scholars and Imams while stressing on unity said by floating other body on the name of Seerat will in no way benefit the community. |
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Police solve Lower Munda IED blast case Excelsior Correspondent Srinagar, Oct 25: Kashmir Police has solved Lower Munda IED blast case in which 32 BSF personnel had lost their lives while travelling in a bus towards Jammu. The militants trigged an IED blast on May 23, 2004 destroying a bus in which the BSF personnel were traveling. The Police Station Qazigund had registered a case under FIR NO. 199/2004 and started investigation to apprehend the culprits. Giving details, the Inspector General of Police K Rajendra Kumar said that on a specific information Kulgam Police alongwith BSF and RR launched a joint operation in village Churrat Qazigund on 23rd August 2004 and apprehended two persons namely Mukhtar Ahmad Bhat and Mukhtar Ahmad Shah r/o Churrat and recovered some arms, ammunition and explosive material from their possession and accordingly an FIR No. 201/2004 was registered in Police Station Qazigund. The IGP said that during the course of investigation and sustained interrogation the confessed their involvement in the IED blast also in which 32 BSF personnel were killed on 23rd of May 2004 at Lower Munda. He said that arrested persons were motivited by one over ground worker Abass Ahmad Naik and Khursheed Ahmad Teeli, to join him on an important mission of IED blast and a meeting to this effect was held at Y.K.Pora village were Ashiq Hussain, Khursheed Ahmad Teeli, Yaqoom Teeli, Mukhtaq Ahmad Shah, Abass Naik and Tariq Mir (Van Driver) participated and the plan to carry on IED blast was chalked out . They also discussed the plan with Muslim Bhi, an LeT militant and Abid, a HM militant. He said that during the intervening night of 22/23 May all group members were given Pistols except Ashiq Hussain Rather who was given UMG with sufficient ammunitions. They headed for the site of explosion in a van driven by Tariq. Abu Toyyab R/O Mandhole, Muslim Bhai, Abid R/O Manzmoh Kund ,Reyaz R/O Pamzath, Abu Mussa R/O Katran and other militants including an IED expert of HM were already present and every terrorists identified his position. However, Ashiq Rather and Khursheed Teeli IED expert went in to the Culvert and placed IED. The IGP said that on May 23 the group finally met at Y.K.Pora and left for Lower Munda at 0800 hours to carry on the mission. Muslim Bhai alongwith others terrorist took position at vintage points near the site of explosion and Ashiq , Abu Khurshid was assigned with a pivotal task of triggering the remote. At around 0945 hours Toyyab who was at Qazigund gave the signal on mobile that the BSF convey was on his way to Lower Manda and on reaching Lower Manda the militants who were already at the explosion site trigged the IED through remote control and blasted the vehicle which killed the BSF on spot. Opening of women college at Kathua demanded Excelsior Correspondent KATHUA, Oct 25: Prominent citizens of Kathua, representatives of NGOs and Social OrganiSations held a meeting here yesterday evening under the banner of Mahila College Sangharsh Samiti (MCSS), which was presided over by Thakur Fateh Singh, social worker. MCSS convenor Dr Ram Murti presented the case in favour of Mahila College giving statistics about infrastructure and strength of the students in percentage of boys and girls. Mr Pitamber Dev Sharma conducted proceedings of the meeting. Prominent speakers included Dr S P Bhagat, Ch Chaggar Singh, Naresh Sharma, K K Bakshi, S Hajoora Singh, S Kartar Singh Rishi, Rishi Kumar Verma, Daya Nand Sharma, S Charanjeet Singh Bhola, S D Singh, Master Gajjan Singh, Karan Singh Andotra, Sarpanch Parshotam Singh, Sarpanch Chagar Singh, Rattan Chand and Shiv Dass. The gathering unanimously resolved to start a peaceful agitation in case the Government failed in opening a women college at Kathua. Samiti general secretary I D Khajuria thanked all the participants for extending full support to the just cause as in Kathua Degree College there are 1900 women and 1400 boy students, which clearly prove that ther demand is a fit case to be vigorously. Before dispersing peacefully and taking out a procession, the leaders of MCSS to hold a meeting on October 31 at Brahman Sabha Kathua to chalk out future course of action. AKPSC calls for powerful social reform movement Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Oct 25: All Kashmiri Pandit Solidarity Conference (AKPSC) in a meeting here today held under the chairmanship of its president O N Trisal discussed the various problems confronted to displaced people. The meeting alleged that the Indian secularism has completely failed in Kashmir to protect the minorities who being the aborigines of the Valley were forced to flee from their homes and hearts by the Muslim fundamentalists in 1989 and 90.Since then the community has been languishing in subhuman conditions in various camps at Jammu and other states of the country. Addressing the meeting Mr Trisal said the KP youth under a deliberate plan have been denied their share in employment, the religious places, temples, movable and immovable properties of the community have been grabbed under a well thought design and plan in Kashmir Valley. The meeting in an appeal to the KPs who have moved prior to the mass exodus of 1989-90 from the Valley urged them to mobilize their resources by building institutions to help the poor and marginalised people of the community. Addressing the meeting the Women’s Wing chief of the organisation, Mrs Rajni Bhat expressed grave concern over the increasing number of family disputes in the community. She said this will lead to the social disintegration if not checked immediately. Rajni said that a powerful social reform movement is needed to fight this growing menace as this malady needs social intervention. She said there is also a need to involve our medical professionals and social activists to address the problems of health disaster. Among others the meeting was attended by Opender Krishan Bhat and Hira Lal Bindroo. JU gets project on
‘Study of Genomic Diversity Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Oct 25: Jammu University in collaboration with Guru Nanak Dev University Amritsar, Punjab University Chandigarh and Kurukshetra University, has been given a project on the ‘Study of Genomic Diversity of Human Population of North-West India’. This prestigious project is funded by the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, at the total cost of Rs 68.82 lakhs. Aim of the project is to find out the differences at DNA level amongst different human populations of North-West India. The study has been aimed at to find out as to why some populations are prone to certain diseases while others are resistant to these diseases. Under this project, attempts shall be made to find out an answer in the Genetic material of different populations of North-West India. The study shall give a lead to the Human Geneticists to help the clinicians in handling the Genetic Diseases in a better way. Dr Subash Gupta, Professor, Department of Zoology, JU and Dr T R Raina, Professor, GMC Jammu, shall be the Principal Investigators of this prestigious project. BCWF flays Govt for not implementing reservation Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Oct 25: A meeting of All J&K Backward Classes Welfare Federation was held under the chairmanship of Mr Abdul Gani Teli, Federation president at village Rahya in tehsil Samba. while addressing Mr Teli held the Government responsible for neglecting the genuine demands of Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and for not implementing the decision of Supreme Court in this regard in the light of Mandal Commission recommendations for providing 27% job reservation to OBCs. He said plight of OBCs was very miserable as all being members of down trodden strata of life have been living from hand to mouth. Mr Bua Ditta, senior vice president of ther Federation stressed the need for constitution of a separate Advisory Board of OBCs so that the welfare schemes of the Government could be implemented for the needy and deserving people amongst OBCs. Both the leaders appealed the president and other leaders of BCWF to get united under one platform for a joint struggle to achieve the long pending demand of reservation which was a legal and constitutional right of OBC people. Others who addressed included Messrs Jagdish Raj, Sher Mohd, Prem Lal, Chaman Lal, Mohd Munshi and Mohd Hussain. College Teachers Association constitutes executive body Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Oct 25: All J&K College Teachers Association (Jammu Wing) has constituted its new executive body and presidium. Prof Renu Goswami of GCW Gandhi Nagar was unanimously elected as vice-president while for the post of general secretary, Dr Avinash Kumar Gupta of GGM Science College, defeated Prof Anil Ganjoo by a margin of 22 votes. Prof N K Gupta of Government Degree College Kathua, Prof Shakeel Ahmed Raina of Government Degree College Rajouri, Prof Bipan Chander Verma of Government Degree College for Women Udhampur and Prof S K Dhar of GDC Bhaderwah were nominated as vice-presidents of muffasil colleges. Prof K C Badgal of GDC Kathua, Prof Shafkat Hussain Rafiquee of GDC Bhaderwah, Prof V K Bakshi of GDC Rajouri and Prof S K Mangotra of GDC (Boys) Udhampur were nominated joint secretaries for the respective colleges. The nominations were made by Prof Vijay Kumar Sharma, who was recently elected president of the College Teachers Association. The president also nominated Prof Rakesh Gupta, Prof Meenu Mahajan, Prof Kuldeep Pandita, Prof Narayan Dutt Sharma, Prof Hakim Singh and Prof R N Thapa as joint secretary, joint secretary (Female), publicity secretary, treasurer, organising secretary and secretary, respectively. Agriculture employees, PHE Union support call for strike Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Oct 25: More organisations of employees have extended their support to Government Employees Joint Action Committee’s call for strike on October 26. A meeting of All J&K Agriculture Employees Association, Jammu, was held under the chairmanship of its provincial president Joginder Singh wherein a unanimous decision was taken to actively support the strike. The meet discussed long pending demands of the employees and criticised State Government’s insensitive attitude towards the demands. Those who attended the meeting, included, Kishore Kumar, Joginder Pal, Balwant Singh, Kulbir Singh Samyal, Sanjeev Suden, Tarlok Singh, Susheel Bakshi, Ravi Kant, Ram Parkash, Bodh Raj, Ram Kumar, Arjun Dev Singh, Koshuri Lal, Ashok Kumar, Susheel Kumar, Geeta Charak, Baby Neelam Kumari, Sudesh, Isam Din, Zaffur Ullah, Kura Ram, Balraj Kotwal, Vijay Kumar Sharma, Deep Kumar, Parshotam Singh etc. J&K PHE Employees Union Jammu has also extended its support to ELAC’s call for strike on October 26. A decision in this regard was taken during the central executive body meeting of the PHE Employees Union. Provincial president of the union, Darshan Magotra appealed to rank and file of the union to actively participate in the mass rally on October 26 at Exhibition Ground to press the State Government to concede demands of employees. Tarigami asks Govt to concede employees demands Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Oct 25: State secretary of CPI (M), M Y Tarigami, has asked the State Government to concede the demands of J&K Employees vis-a-vis merger of 50% Dearness Allowance into basic pay and release 5% DA instalments in their favour, already released in favour of Central Government employees. In a statement issued here Mr Tarigami has asserted that in consequence to the Central Government policy for merger of 50 percent DA, it was obligatory for the State Government in view of the agreement reached upon earlier to accommodate the demands of the State Government employees. Mr Tarigami has also urged the Government to release the salary of various public sector employees and remove the pay anomalies of teachers. Mr Tarigami stated that the State employees were striving for their just and genuine demands since long but the Government seems in no mood to negotiate with the representatives of the State employees. Mr Tarigami asked the Government to settle the issue with the employees, the sooner, the better. |
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