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‘Cong
committed to
secularism’
Azad
cautions people against
fundamentalist forces
Excelsior
Correspondent
JAMMU,
Dec 28: Cautioning
people against nefarious
designs of fundamentalist
forces, Chief Minister,
Ghulam Nabi Azad today
said that secularism was
the only force which can
unite country from
Kashmir to Kanyakumari.
Addressing
an impressive rally which
was organised by the
Pradesh Congress
Committee (PCC) to
celebrate 121st
foundation day of the
party, Mr Azad asserted
that it was all due to
the policies and
programmes of the
Congress party that unity
and integrity of the
country has been
strengthened. He said
that secularism was soul
of the country and
Congress was committed to
secularism and socialism.
"Strength
of the nation lies in the
principles and policy of
secularism adopted by the
Congress Party in this
country", he said
and warned against
dangerous consequences of
communal and divisive
policies.
He pointed
out that people have been
still bearing brunt of
the blunder committed in
1947 when country was
divided in the name of
religion. "We have
to learn lesson from 1947
blunder", he said
and exhorted the Congress
workers to shoulder
responsibility of
strengthening integration
of the country.
Making a dig
on the politicians
resorting to communal
politics, he said,
"these people should
learn a lesson from the
loss this part of the
world has suffered due to
communal division".
"Why do not these
people understand that
nation is still bearing
the fallbacks of the
partition of the country
on communal lines".
Recalling
history of the Congress
Party, Mr Azad said that
since its inception in
1885, this party has been
propagating and following
the principle of
secularism and socialism.
He reminded the gathering
that 3rd president of the
Congress, Badar Din
Tayabjee was a Muslim.
Recalling
the contribution of
Congress during national
movement, he said, the
birth of Congress opened
a new chapter in the
world of democracy, which
in the later years of
freedom struggle became
strongest medium for
reviving the secular
traditions of Indian
civilization. He said
that with the passage of
time Congress became a
platform, which
represented people of
every faith living in
India both during pre and
post-independence.
Speaking on
the occasion, PCC chief
and Minister of
Education, Peerzada
Mohammed Sayed said that
Congress party has always
stood for communal
harmony for which it had
faced stiff challenges
from both within and
outside the country.
Referring to
the uncertainty
prevailing in the State
for the last 17 years, he
said that Congress has a
reputation of solving
issues through dialogue
like it did in Mizoram
and Assam.
Health and
Medical Education
Minister, Mangat Ram
Sharma while addressing
the function, called upon
party workers to
frustrate evil designs of
communal forces. He said
that Congress was not
only a political party
but a movement for
uniting people. He said
that it was due to the
policies and programmes
being propagated by the
Congress party that
country has been facing
all challenges. He
recalled supreme
sacrifices made by
Congress leaders for the
unity of the country.
Security
personnel deployed for
the security of Chief
Minister and other
Cabinet ministers had
tough time to control
Congress workers who were
looking desperate to sit
on the stage. Security
personnel used mild force
to control Congress
workers who wanted to
register their attendance
before their leaders.
Earlier, PCC
chief hoisted the party
flag at PCC headquarters
followed by a procession
which passed through
different bazaars of the
city. The procession
passed through Residency
Road, Raghunath Bazar,
City Chowk, Kanak Mandi,
Rajinder Bazar before
culminating at PCC
headquarters.
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Kidnapped
teacher recovered from Bijbehara
Excelsior
Correspondent
DODA, Dec 28: Police today
recovered a kidnapped teacher of Primary
School and arrested her colleague for the
offence.
Police
spokesman said that on November 15 a
report was lodged with the Doda Police
that a Primary School Dherwana teacher
Geeta Devi, wife of Rajinder Singh of
Dhara was kidnapped by Azad Hussain, son
of Ghulam Ahmed of Dhara, who is also a
teacher in the same school.
During the
course of investigation, police came to
know that the kidnapped teacher was taken
to Srinagar. Subsequently, raids were
conducted in Kulgam, Anantnag and
Srinagar areas.
After
hectic efforts, the kidnapped teacher was
recovered from Bijbehara. The kidnapper
was also arrested.
Later,
Geeta Devi was restored to her in-laws
after all legal formalities.
Meanwhile,
Doda police today arrested three
absconders from different areas. They
have been identified as Mohd Sharief, son
of Nassarullah Malik of Bharat, Ghulam
Nabi, son of Abdul Gani Malik of Bharat
and Krishan Singh, son of Jameet Ram
Thakur of Bhagwah.
Mohd
Sharief was evading arrest since 1984
while Ghulam Nabi was wanted since 1996.
Krishan Singh was also evading arrest
since 1997.
Police
also challaned 14 vehicles for traffic
violation.
Posting,
adjustment of Assistant Surgeons
DB pulls up Director
Health Services for
non-application
of mind
Excelsior
Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 28: Division Bench of
J&K High Court Jammu wing comprising
Chief Justice BA Khan and Justice JP
Singh in a writ petition filed by
Assistant Surgeons, took serious note of
functioning of Director Health Services
Jammu and observed that Sr. Advocate AV
Gupta appearing for the petitioners has
submitted various orders passed by
Director Health Services Jammu, posting
the petitioner and other two
co-petitioners, who were fresh appointees
to the post of Assistant Surgeons by his
orders, which adjusted them against the
institutions they were presently working.
The
attention of the Court was drawn to
similar orders passed by the Director
Health Services Jammu in transferring
post from one CHC to another through
Stereo type and cyclostyled order
formats, in which spaces were left blank
and had been filled-up later. Upon this,
the Division Bench pulled up Director
Health Services and said that all these
orders speak volumes about the
non-application of mind by Director
Health Services Jammu.
The
Division Bench directed Principal
Secretary to Govt Health and Medical
Education Department, who was present in
the Court, to examine all such orders
passed by the Director Health Services
Jammu and to make a report and
suggestions for preventing any recurrence
in future and also to take remedial steps
under rules.
As regard
the case of Dr. Kiran Manhas, her case
was no different than other cases, where
she was posted against no post and that
too in a training institute. She will,
therefore, have to go to hold the post of
Assistant Surgeon against which she was
drawing her salary at CHC Reasi. She was
granted opportunity to make a
representation to the competent authority
for re-consideration of her posting on
whatsoever reasons available to her, in
which the concerned authority shall,
consider her representation and pass
appropriate orders in accordance with
rule.
People
protest, complete bandh observed in
Poonch
Excelsior
Correspondent
POONCH, Dec 28: A complete bandh
was observed in the township of Poonch in
protest against the State
Government’s callous attitude
towards the unemployed Physical trained
teachers of the district who are on fast
unto death.
The
vehicular traffic remained off the road,
shops and business establishments and the
educational institutions were closed
today whereas, the work in the banks was
affected due to the bandh call. Various
social, political, student and trade
organisations rendered full support to
the cause of unemployed youth who are on
agitational path for the last two months.
They are
sitting on dharna which entered the 60th
consecutive day here today whereas, chain
hunger strike continued for the last 39
days at the Fort building.
In absence
of movement of vehicular traffic in and
around Poonch town, the passengers had to
face tough time today.
The
agitating youth supported by students
from Degree College and Higher Secondary
school took out protest march in the town
and also forced the closure of market at
several places. Later, several local
leaders addressed the gathering at the
Fort building complex. The work in
several Government offices were also
affected with the bandh. The youth said
there was no recuritment of PT teachers
in Poonch district during last 17 years
while many posts were lying vacant. They
demanded that these youth be accommodated
under Rehbar-e-Khel scheme as SSRB
process was very lengthy and time
consuming.
Prominent
among those who spoke on the occasion
include-Lokesh Sharma, Shakeel Azad,
Sunil Kumar, Sarbjit Singh, Harjeet
Singh, Ramneet Kour, Jatinder Singh, Mohd
Azeem and others.
PK
observes 16th Homeland Day
Excelsior
Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 28: Terming demands
like autonomy, self rule and self
governance as "secessionist
propositions", Panun Kashmir today
warned the Central Government that any
move aimed at weakening Constitutional
integration of J&K with India will
deepen the crisis.
This view
was expressed by the leaders of PK at a
function organized in connection with
observance of 16th Homeland Day here
today. Reiterating the demand of
Homeland, the speakers described the
Margdarshan resolution of 1991 as the
roadmap for reversal of designed exodus
and the genocide of the community.
Addressing
the gathering, PK chairman, Dr Ajay
Chrangoo said that his party is opposed
to any move aimed at reversing the state
to pre 1953 status.
Chrangoo
said that Panun Kashmir will oppose all
those Machinations that are aimed at
weekening the Constitutional integration
of the State with the country.
Senior
vice president, Pradesh Bharatiya Janata
Party (BJP) Prof. Hari Om, reiterated his
solidarity with Kashmiri Pandits and the
cause of Panun Kashmir.
Dr M K
Teng, Chairman Advisory Committee,
accused Centre of pursuing weak policies
and compromising national interests.
Speaking
on the occasion, president of All
Kashmiri Pandit Solidarity Conference
(AKPSC), O N Trisal underscored the
relevance of Panun Kashmir and accused
the majority community of rejecting the
principle of co-existence.
P K
general secretary, Kuldeep Raina on the
occassion referred to Margdarshan
Resolutions of 1991, which according to
him, symbolises the aspirations of the
community.
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Drug-peddler
held with charas
Excelsior
Correspondent
UDHAMPUR, Dec 28: Police today
arrested a drug-peddler and recovered
charas from his possession.
Police
spokesman said that during frisking of
pedestrians at a naka near Mian Bagh on
Dhar Road, Udhampur Police party led by
SHO Inspector Jagdev Singh under the
direct supervision of Additional SP
Udhampur Anil Magotra recovered 320 grams
of charas from the possession of one
Labhu Ram, son of Sant Ram of Ramnagar.
He has
been booked under Narcotics Drugs and
Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPSA).
Meanwhile
Udhampur Police foiled an attempt to
smuggle bovine animals to Srinagar and
arrested three persons.
The bovine
animals were being smuggled in a truck
bearing registration number JK01A-7640
when police team intercepted the vehicle.
All the
three persons travelling in the vehicle
were immediately arrested. They have been
identified as Saif Din, son of Jamal Din,
Mohd Ayub and Shafi, all the residents of
Baramulla.
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Kashmir’s
first integrated township coming
at Parihaspora
SRINAGAR, Dec 28
: The Kashmir
valley will soon have its first
ever integrated and model
township at the ancient capital
city of Parihaspora.
Real
estate giant Lakshmi Vatika
Limited (LVL) City, in
collaboration with KC Industries
of Jammu, today laid the
foundation stone of the township
on the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad
Highway at Parihaspora, about 19
km from here.
King
Lalitadatya had established
Parihaspora in Paraspor Pargana
as a Capital in the 8th century
AD. There are places of great
historical interest remained
unidentified till M A Stein
visited Parihaspora in 1892 in
connection with his translation
work of Kalahana’s
Rajtarangini.
The
integrated township would offer
duplex independent bungalows and
row houses, residential school,
hostel for teachers and children,
banquet hall, club recreation
centre, swimming pool, facilities
for indoor and outdoor games,
amusement park for kids, servant
quarters and garage for each
unit, wide roads and well
designed landscaped parks,
centrally insulated construction
to beat the cold as in
Switzerland and 24x7
state-of-the-art security system,
concealed wiring cable connection
intercom facility, wi-fi enabled
surrounding and automatic alarm
connectivity.
Speaking
on the occasion, LCL City
chairman,Devendra Kumar Aggarwal
said Kashmir is a flagship of the
company’s current drive.
"Our
vision is to provide an array of
housing solutions with world
class and state-of-the-art
technology customised to
Kashmir’s
specifications," he added.
Mr
Aggarwal said the vision of the
LVL City was to provide premium
quality projects by giving
state-of-the-art facilities and
to achieve total customer
satisfaction by synergising
professional skills with
personalised services.
He
said the company’s mission
hinges on transparency, honesty
and matchless commitment to
valued clientele in 24x7
environs.
The
integrated township at Srinagar
will be the first model township
of Jammu and Kashmir, Mr Aggarwal
said, adding it would be a
beginning of a new era in
affordable and aesthetic housing
in harsh and extreme climate of
the Valley.
He
said the township would be
self-contained and unique world
by itself, where man and nature
exist in harmony nurturing each
other and growing together. The
township will be an eco-friendly
township with holistic design,
the chairman said. (UNI)
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HC
issues warrants against DDC Poonch
Excelsior
Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 28: Justice Nirmal
Singh of the State High Court Jammu wing,
on the failure of District Development
Commissioner Poonch to appear before the
Court, issued bailable warrants against
him in the amount of Rs 10,000 with the
direction that the same will be executed
by the SSP.
The
serious note was taken by the Court when
Additional Advocate General Seema Shekhar
appearing for the State submitted that
she has communicated to the DDC Poonch
that the record is required in this case
adjudication of this petition. Despite
the communication received by the DDC
Poonch, he neither filed the reply nor
appeared before the Court along with
record as per the order of September 1,
2006 passed by the Court.
This Court
direction and warrants were issued in a
writ petition challenging the selection
of Physical Education Teacher of District
Poonch, as the petitioner claimed that he
was the highly meritorious and qualified
candidate for the post of Physical
Education Teacher and as per the
procedure has been adopted by the
respondents which has resulted
non-selection of the petitioner. The
petitioner challenged the selection and
the Court earlier directed the
respondents to file reply but respondents
failed to comply with Court direction.
Accounts
employees discuss demands, warn agitation
Excelsior
Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 28: Jammu Kashmir
Accounts Employees Coordination Committee
in its meeting under Chand Ji Bhat
reviewed the progress achieved so far
with regard to Central Pay Scales,
removal of ban on increment and delaying
tactics of State Government for
non-settlement of long pending issues.
The
meeting held that the Government despite
agreeing disparity in granting Central
pay scales in the light of Supreme Court
Judgment, did nothing in practical to
stem the rot.
The
speakers in the meeting who included Prem
Paul Singh, Kuldeep Raj Sharma, Girdhari
Lal Chanda, Hanif Chowdhary, Kulwant
Singh Sambyal, Pradeep Sharma, K S
Khalsa, Suraj Parkash, Mohd Akram,
Amarjeet Singh, Ram Paul Sandhu,
Kulvinder Singh, Sham Lal, Romesh Raina,
Alyas Raina, Sham Lal, Jugal Kishore and
Ganesh Dutt, strongly supported the
demands.
The
meeting felt that the Government was
compelling the Accounts Cadre to adopt
agitational path and come on the roads to
get their demands conceded at an
earliest.
ALSUJ
celebrates Losar-cum-New Year
Excelsior
Correspondent
Jammu, Dec 28 : All Ladakh Students
Union Jammu (ALSUJ) celebrated
Losar-cum-New year festivities with
religious fervour and gaiety.
Minister
for Health and Medical Education Mangat
Ram Sharma was the chief guest while
Minister for Social Welfare Haji Nissar
Ali was the guest of honour on the
occasion. Minister for Power Nawang
Rigzin Jora presided over the function.
Congratulating
the students, Mr. Sharma hoped that this
year would herald a new era of peace and
prosperity in all the three regions of
the State. He said that the rich cultural
traditions of the region symbolizes
secularism, mutual brotherhood and
communal harmony which is an asset of age
old ethos of our nation. He extolled the
spirit of the people of the region for
upholding the patriotism in odd
circumstances and have always stood by
their brethren for the cause of the
nation even at the cost of their lives.
He further said that despite the invasion
of ultra modern cultural synthesis world
over. Ladakh has successfully maintained
its indigenous cultural mores.
Elaborating
numerous development projects launched by
the present Government for improving
socio-economic conditions of the region,
the Minister said that for providing
better power supply to the people of the
regions, two mega power projects one each
at Leh and Kargil have been established
with the liberal assistance by the
Central Government. Mr. Sharma said that
the Central Government is extending all
possible help for the development of the
region.
The
Minister assured all possible help to
Ladakhi students studying in Jammu and
outside the State so that they could
compete in today’s globalized era.
Greeting
the students, Mr. Jora hoped that the
coming year will shower upon people of
the State flowers of love and tolerance.
He impressed upon the students to engross
themselves in their studies besides
concentrating other competitions.
Asking
students to get inspiration from Chief
Secretary Phunsog who has even in
difficult times struggled to get higher
studies and achieved a high status, the
Minister enthused them to avail complete
benefit of all facilities being available
to them.
Haji
Nissar complemented the people of Ladakh
on f Losar and hoped that New Year will
be an year of peace and progress for the
people.
Earlier,
the function started by lighting the
traditional lamp followed by welcome
song. Attired in bright Ladakhi dresses,
the students presented a mesmerizing
cultural programme, which spellbound the
audience.
The chief
guest distributed prizes among the
meritorious students in various
disciplines.
Later,
President and General Secretary ALSUJ,
Toshi Angchuk and Choldam presented a
charter of demands.
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Hamari Beti
Riya
Blood no
more thicker than water
By Ravinder Kaul
The
"Festival of Plays"
being organised by J&K
Academy of Art, Culture and
Languages got under-way at
Abhinav Theatre here today with
presentation of the play "Hamari
Beti Riya" by the
theatre group Natyakarmi. This
Festival comes close on heels of
a very successful "Festival
of Plays" organised by the
Academy in Srinagar only a few
weeks ago. Both Festivals are
being organised after a
substantial time gap although
earlier these used to be an
annual feature on the cultural
calendar of the State. While
welcoming the guests, Dr. Rafeeq
Masoodi, Secretary, spoke about
the initiative taken by the
Academy in promoting theatre
activities in the entire State.
A
distinguishing feature of the
inaugural day of the Festival was
the choice of the Chief Guest.
Vijay Bakaya, the Advisor to the
Chief Minister, has himself been
an active theatre artiste and, in
his address, he recalled his
association with the arc lights
and the greasepaint. He narrated
his close links with theatre and
the masters like Ebrahim Alkazi
and others with a fondness that
can emanate only from an immense
love for the form. One wishes
that there were more Chief Guests
of that ilk but one also knows
that the choice before the
organisers, in that case, would
be very very limited.
Now
let us get on with today’s
play. I have been closely
following the works of Rajneesh
Gupta, a playwright from Jammu,
many of whose plays have been
staged by various theatre groups
in the past. I think he is quite
talented and if he is able to
hone his writing skills, he has
the potential of making a mark
not only within the State but
also at the national level at a
time when the dearth of good
stage-worthy plays in Hindi is
being acutely felt all over. As
of now, although his plays
possess a strong central idea and
an interesting storyline, these
are beset with the problems of
being repetitive, sometimes
monotonous and often
melodramatic.
"Hamari
Beti Riya" is
the story of a talented and
bright young girl who is born out
of an illicit relationship
between her mother and a person
with whom she fell into love in
order to avoid the monotony of
being married to a physically
challenged person. The mother has
died and the father has learnt
from her diary that he is not the
actual father of the girl whom he
considers his daughter. So he
hates the girl to the extent that
he tortures her and plots to get
her killed. No one knows as to
why he has waited for the girl to
grow up to the age of a young
woman for taking this ultimate
step when he could have easily
got her eliminated when she was
young.
In
an over-dramatic turn of events,
the assassin that he chooses to
kill his daughter turns out to be
the actual father of the girl.
The assassin comes to kill the
girl, learns the reality, changes
tracks and prepares himself to
kill the father with the help of
the daughter and take over the
property. The girl oscillates
between two extremes and finally
decides to disown both her
biological father and the person
who has brought her up. Now she
wants to have her own identity.
Tum
Hata Lo Apne Ehsanaat Ki
Parchhayiaan
Mujh
Ko Jeena Hai Tau Apna Saybaan Ban
Jaoonga
Well,
well, well!!! Too far-fetched one
would say, with a strong
influence of Bollywood masala
films. Yet, there were some
poignant moments in the play. The
dialogue at times struck a chord
with the audience. There were
many other redeeming features.
The artistes had done their
homework well. Sapna Soni is a
very talented actress and she
could effectively convey the
distress and dilemma of a young
woman torn between two extremes.
Rajesh Raina as Anuraag, Jatinder
Dhameer as Taneja and Anjana
Misra as Kamini also acted well.
Soul stirring music by Arvind was
one of the highlights of the
play. Particularly, the aalaap
was very effective in creating
the right mood in various
sequences.
Raghunandan
Bali, the director of the play,
is a veteran of Jammu stage. The
hard work put in by him in
preparation of the play was all
too obvious. Yet he could have
given some more meaningful
movements to the artistes in
order to break the monotony,
particularly in the earlier parts
of the play.
Natraj
Natya Kunj presents its play "Passport"
in the Festival of Plays
on Friday. Abhishek Bharti
directs.
Mayor inaugurates
Facers Infotech
Excelsior
Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 28: Mayor of
Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC)
Ch Manmohan Singh today
inaugurated Facers Infotech at
Gandhi Nagar, adjoining Laxmi
Narayan Mandir.
The
showroom has wide range of latest
models of laptops and desktop
computers of HP, Compaq, IBM and
Lenovo besides printers of HP and
their cartridge and toners.
Speaking
on the occasion, the Mayor said
that as technology was moving at
a very rapid pace such dealers
provide better service to the
customers.
The
showroom is owned by Raj Kumar,
the well experienced and
technically sound person in the
field of Information Technology.
He assured the best services to
the customers.
Blankets
distributed among needy women
Excelsior
Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 28: A function
was held today to distribute
blankets and other materials to
the needy women. Relief material
was distributed to more than 700
women.
Women
wing president of the
Peoples’ Democratic Party
(PDP), Shanti Devi, MLA along
with general secretary of PDP
Dhaman Bhasin distributed relief.
This relief was sent by the Hind
Samachar Group for the poor and
needy people of the State.
Addressing
the function, PDP MLA appreciated
the Group for dispatching this
relief material for the poor
people of the State. She said
that service of human beings was
the real service to the God.
Representatives
of Hind Samachar Group were also
present on the occasion. Women
from Rajiv Nagar, Qasim Nagar and
some other localities received
blankets and other material from
the team.
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Electric
Deptt Linemen Union discuss
demands
Excelsior
Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 28: All J&K
Electric Department Linemen and
Workers Union in a meeting under
Rattan Singh discussed the
problems confronting them.
The
meeting while welcoming the
election notification issued by
the Department stated that first
of all the PDD authorities should
fully implement the pending
demands of the PDD employees
which have been hanging fire for
the past considerable time at all
levels.
The
Union demanded adequate
facilities for the field staff
which were being ignored at the
official levels. They also
reiterated their long pending
demands which stand presented at
different fora to the authorities
concerned.
Their
other demands pertained to
maintenance of record at
divisional level, inclusion of
day to day entries in service
books of employees, time bound
promotion, annual increment, two
and a half day salary, which
entries must be incorporated in
the service books of employees.
Others
who spoke included Kartar Chand,
Suram Singh, Suresh Anthal, Madan
Lal Chalotra, Girdhari Lal,
Koushal Kumar, Hakikat Singh,
Romesh Chand and others.
N-G Forest
officials flay provincial
seniority list
Excelsior
Correspondent
DODA, Dec 28: All J&K
Non-Gazetted Forest Officers
Association as also Class IV
employees of Bhaderwah Forest
Division held a meeting at
Bhaderwah under the chairmanship
of Zaffarullah Sheikh, district
president.
In
the meeting the participants
expressed concern over issuance
of seniority list at provincial
level, while as it was maintained
to issue the list at district
level as per SRO 459 and 149 of
1992. In the meeting it was held
that despite submitting timely
objections and court stay through
various quarters, the said
seniority list been issued.
The
employees of the Department of
Doda stated that even if the list
is cleared for implementation,
they would launch agitation the
consequences of which would be at
the risk of the Government.
The
demands of the employees included
immediate cancellation of the
seniority list issued by CCF
Jammu at provincial level;
continuance of seniority list
already issued at district level,
immediate regularization of daily
wagers, sanction of charge
allowance in favour of officials
already holding the office and
promotion of those officials nd
officers who have been
officiating against vacant posts
in Doda district.
Young J&K
artist brings laurels
Excelsior
Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 28: A little
and budding artist from J&K
state has brought laurels to the
state by winning gold medal and
first prize in Shri Baba
Harballabh Sangeet Pratiyogita
held at Jallandhar on Dec 20.
At
the tender age of just 13, Mayank
Raina has innumerable awards and
appreciations in his kitty. Much
has been said about this little
maestro, who has been time and
again proved his mettle by his
spell binding performances on
various occasions.
Mayank
did pride not only to his
illustrious Guru Pt Omkar Nath
Raina and his father Sunil Raina,
eminent artists but also to the
state because it is for the first
time that any one from the State
has won this competition.
Inspite
of being the youngest participant
in junior category of 13-19
years, Mayank’s electrifying
Sitar recital held one and all
spell bound. He has also won
first prize in on the spot music
competition organised by J&K
Academy of Art, Culture and
languages this month.He has also
been awarded cultural talent
search scholarship 2006 given by
Centre for cultural resources and
training, New Delhi.
Hakeem
Manzoor remembered for literary
work
Excelsior
Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec
28: Homage was paid to
Hakeem Manzoor, a renowned Urdu
poet at a memorial function held
at K L Sehgal Hall at Cultural
Academy complex, here today.
Organised
by Jammu and Kashmir Academy of
Art, Culture and Languages in
collaboration with
Anjuman-e-Farog-Urdu, a literary
organisation, various leading
writers and poets praised the
poetic standard of Hakeem
Manzoor, who breathed his last a
few days back.
This
Kashmir’s Urdu poet had
created a niche for his Urdu
poetic compositions and gained
popularity in and outside the
Jammu and Kashmir State.
Speaking
on the occasion, Dr Rafeeq
Masoodi, Secretary, Academy of
Art, Culture and Languages said
Hakeem Manzoor’s
contribution to Urdu poetry and
literature is praise-worthy.
It
was announced that a Special
Number of Sheeraza on Hakeem
Manzoor’s life and works
will be published by the Academy
of Art, Culture and Languages
shortly.
M
Y Taing, former MLC and ex-
Secretary of Cultural Academy,
also spoke on the occasion.
Paying
homage to Hakeem Manzoor, Prof
Zahur-ud-Din spoke about the high
quality of his creative poetic
works in Urdu.
Sayeed
Khursheed Hussain Kazmi, general
secretary, Anjuman-e-Farog Urdu
and stressed for remembering
those who have made literary
contribution.
HC stays SAC
proceedings against Satvir Gupta
Excelsior
Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec
28: The State High
Court has stayed the proceedings
against former Deputy Inspector
General of Police Satvir Gupta
which are pending before State
Accountability Commission.
In
his order, Justice Y P Nargotra,
while issuing notice to the
respondent returnable within four
week, directed that the
proceedings against Satvir Gupta
shall remain stayed till further
orders. This order, the court
held, shall be subject to the
objections from the other side.
Senior
Advocate U K Jalali and Advocate
Anil Khajuria appearing for the
petitioner submitted that there
was no provision under the
J&K Accountability Commission
Act, 2005 to take suo-moto action
against any person, moreover when
the complaint was filed by an
anonymous person.
The
petition has prayed to quash and
set-aside all the proceedings of
the Accountability Commission as
the same are against the
principles of natural justice and
beyond the competence and
jurisdiction of the Commission.
He
also prayed for declaring the
Regulation 9 of J&K
Accountability Commission
Regulations 2005 as ultra vires
the parent act.
Book on
Swami Govind Kaul released
Excelsior
Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec
28: Pushkar Nath
Kaul’s book on the life
history of Param Sant Swami
Govind Kaul of Wanpoh,Kashmir was
released at a function held at
Ishwar Ashram, Mahinder Nagar
here today.
The
function was organized by Swami
Govind Kaul- Kamlavati and Pandit
Dayal Ashram in connection with
Nirwan Divas of Mata Kamlavati. A
large number of devotees of the
Ashram participated in the
function. The book was released
by Prof. P N Trisal in
association with H K Raina and Dr
P L Kachroo.
Speaking
on the occasion, Prof. Trisal
acclaimed the efforts of Mr Kaul
in writing the book.
He
said Swami Govind Kaul was among
the great Saints of Kashmir who
had an influence of Rishi
Prampara of Kashmir and Radha
Swami sect.
Speaking
on the occasion, Dr Kachroo threw
light on spiritual life of Swami
Ji. Describing Swami Ji a great
Yogi, he said his practice of
yoga was basically based on sound
and light.
He
said Swami Govind Kaul was mystic
poet but none of his works on
poetry have been published during
his life time.
Hari
Krishan Raina who has been an
inspiring factor for Mr Kaul to
write the book on Swami Ji,
highlighted the speeches and
references of Swami Ji on
spirituality.
PNB launches
Farmers Club at Bishnah village
Excelsior
Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec
28: Punjab National
Bank launched another Farmers
Club at village Treva in tehsil
Bishnah under the leadership of
Zonal Manager, Vivek Arya today.
The
Club has been named as Treva
Farmers Club. It shall cater to
the needs of two other villages
namely Chak Gorian and Kotla Camp
lying close to international
border. About 150 villagers
participated in the launch
function.
Major
Singh and Parkash Chand were
elected as Chief Coordinator and
Associate Coordinator of the
Club. Bank officials namely-D V
Jain from Arnia, A K Mota Distt
Coordinator, Adarsh Aggarwal and
Rohit Rana Agri Officer of the
bank informed the gathering about
various loan schemes and
requested the farmers to avail
loan from these schemes as
directed by the NABARD. The
farmers were also requested to
open accounts with zero balance
in terms of latest government
guidelines on financial
inclusion.
It
was informed by the Bank
officials that 80 Kissan Credit
cards had been issued by the Bank
in the area since April 2006 and
the bank had also financed 5
tractors to the farmers of these
three villages during the current
financial year.
Estates
employees flay Govt policies
Excelsior
Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec
28: Estates Department
Employees Association in a
meeting under Prem Singh Bawa,
president, criticised the anti-
employees policy of the State
Government for not conceding the
just and genuine demands of the
employees.
Their
demands pertained to
re-organization of the Department
as various posts have fallen
vacant due to retirement of
employees vis-a-vis ban on
recruitment as a result of which
work load on existing staff
increased manifolds.
Those
present in the meeting included
Tilak Raj, Yuv Raj Bhatti, Puran
Chand, Kewal Krishan, Bachan Lal,
Mohinder Pal, Rattan Lal,
Girdhari Lal, Raju, Ritu Gill and
Sagar Masih.
Camp
dwellers warn agitation
Excelsior
Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec
28: A delegation from
United Displaced Coordination
Committee from Purkhoo,
Mishriwala, Muthi and Nagrota
migrant camps that visited the
proposed site for two room sets
to be constructed for Kashmiri
migrants at Jatti Dhamni near
Nagrota today warned the
Government that they will resort
to agitation if their camps were
shifted to such far off and
remote area.
The
delegation in a joint statement
alleged that shifting of the
camps to proposed site will be
fourth migration for the
community since 1989.
As
first they came to Geeta Bhawan
where from they were shifted to
tented accommodation or
government schools and later to
single room tenements in Muthi,
Nagrota, Purkhoo and Mishriwala
camps.
Moreover
the migrants if shifted to Jatti
will face the problems of
education to their children as
there were no schooling
facilities available in the area
which is 18 kilometers away from
Nagrota market and 26 kilometers
from Jammu. Even the displaced
children will face problems in
pursuing higher education and
youth can not attend their jobs
in factories and other work
places in and around Jammu.
Moreover,
there is every apprehension of
land erosions at the proposed
site because its land which is
dumy.
The
camp inmates include T K Dhar, B
L Raina, A J Kaul and Santosh Ji
from Purkhoo, Bansi Lal Raina,
Bushan Lal Dhar and Sanjay Kaul
from Mishriwala, S N Dhar, Rattan
Lal, Piyaray Lal Bhat, P N Dhar,
B L Pandita from Muthi and Chand
Ji Khar and Ashok Ji Kaul from
Nagrota.
Meanwhile
, NC Minority Cell leader Ashok
Hangloo has also supported these
camp dwellers demand saying the
proposed site was not suitable
for the rehabilitation of the
displaced people.
|
Qarra
releases village amenity
directories of all districts
Excelsior
Correspondent
Jammu, Dec 28 : Minister
for Finance Planning Law and
Parliamentary Affairs Tariq
Hameed Qarra today released
Village Amenity directories of
all the districts of the State
containing information of over 90
components on basic data
pertaining to infrastructure and
amenities available at the grass
root level for the period
2005-06.
Mr.
Qarra said these directories have
been prepared on modified format
devised by the Directorate of
Economics and Statistics and
would be of immense help to the
Government functionaries and the
public as well.
The
Minister said that the current
publication of village amenity
directories covers both rural and
urban areas of all the 14
districts of the State besides it
also gives information about
amenities at the village level in
the rural blocks of the districts
and it also provides information
for urban wards which has been
prepared for the first time.
Director
Economics and Statistics
G.A.Qureshi was also present on
the occasion.
Vakil hails
Sonia's steps on J&K
Excelsior
Correspondent
Srinagar, Dec 28:
Senior Vice
President JKPCC and MLC, Abdul
Gani Vakil today said that people
friendly steps taken by AICC
President Sonia Gandhi have given
new lease of life to Congress
party. He said "it is due
her dynamism, that Congress Party
is in power at Centre and
J&K".
Mr.
Vakil was addressing a public
rally at Janistan Sonawari
Baramulla to celebrate Congress
Foundation Day.
Mr.
Vakil appealed AICC President to
take more innovative steps in
JKPCC to make it more vibrant and
effective for the people of
State, so that the party will
come with full majority in next
assembly election.
Lauding
the role of Chief Minister Ghulam
Nabi Azad in bringing about
change in the work culture paving
way for good governance, Mr.
Vakil said that under the last
one year Chief Ministership a
significant decisions were taken
relating to war against
corruption, making the
administrating and political
affairs transparent, constitution
of Finance Commission, creation
of new administrative units,
preponement of budget session has
built strong edifice to achieve
lasting peace and prosperity in
all areas of the State.
The
other’s who spoke on the
occasion include General
Secretary, Mohammad Anwar Bhat
and Mrs. Amerina Bader.
|
LPEF
demands release of payment to
daily wagers of
PHE Bijbehara
Excelsior
Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Dec 28:
All J&K Low Paid
Employees Federation (LPEF) in a
meeting at Anantnag today, while
highlighting the problems of the
working class has expressed grave
concern over the failure of the
PHE Department to provide justice
to its 171 daily wagers in
Bijbehara Division who have been
denied of their wagers for over
last 10 years.
Addressing
the meeting general secretary,
LPEF , Mir Ghulam Rasool
criticised the PHE authorities
for their failure in releasing
the salaries of these poor
workers. He also criticised the
Department for its delay tactics
to submit the list of these daily
wagers to General Department for
their regularisation.
Warning
agitation Mir alleged that the
authorities of PHE have also
failed to take action against the
defaulters responsible for the
plight of these hapless workers
whose families are at the verge
of starvation due to non payment
of their wages.
He
demanded immediate action against
the erring officials and release
of wages to the daily wagers of
the PHE Division Bijebehara.
The
meeting, further demanded two and
half days extra pay, promotion
benefits to employees and
immediate conduct of DPC. It
alleged that most deserving and
senior employees in PHE
Bijbehara, Qazigund and Kulgam
have been deprived of promotion
benefits due to non conduct of
DPC.
The
meeting was addressed by LPEF
leader Gh. Hassan Malik, PHE
Employees Union leaders Abdul
Rashid Bhat, Abdul Rashid Wani
and Mohammed Maqbool Hajam.
|
STD PCO
holders’ plea to
Communication Minister
Excelsior
Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 28: A
meeting of All J&K STD PCO
Holders Association held under
the comradeship of Swaran Dass
expressed concern over short or
non supply of SIM cards and ITC
cards to SRD PCO Holders
franchiese and making bulk supply
to the main distributors by the
BSNL, J&K Circle.
The
meeting held that STD PCO holders
were contributing crores of
rupees to Government and BSNL by
selling the said material at a
commission of 3% as against 5%
commission being paid to the main
distributors.
The
meeting held that by making 2%
more commission to the main
distributors, the BSNL
authorities were causing loss to
the Department. The participants
in the meeting demanded a CBI
probe inthe entire episode. The
speakers in the meeting also
demanded intervention of union
Minister for Communication and
Chairman BSNL, New Delhi for
issuing suitable instructions in
this regard to curb the
discriminatory policy of BSNL in
Jammu and Kashmir. The speakers
in the meeting included Rajinder
Gupta, Gurdial Chand, A K Koul,
Paramjeet Singh, Satnam Singh,
Surinder Sharma and others.
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