Rains lash entire State, dip temperature
Highway re-opens partially after day long closure

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Apr 5: After remaining closed throughout the day today due to shooting of stones at highly vulnerable spot of Panthyal triggered by heavy rains, Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was partially reopened this evening and most of the stranded passenger vehicles were cleared till late tonight.

Though there was no impact of rainfall on the air service from here to the National Capital and summer capital of the State yet the chopper service between holy town of Katra and Sanjhichat remained affected throughout the day.

Official sources said that continuous rainfall since late last evening triggered shooting of stones at Panthyal and blocked the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway at around 11.30 am preventing movement of vehicles from both the capital cities of the State.

Since it was raining heavily and shooting of stones unabated, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) could not press its men and machinery to service till 5 pm when the road clearance operation was started following improvement in the shooting stones at Panthyal.

After about one hour long road restoration work, the BRO personnel partially reopened the highway and clearance of stranded passenger vehicles started.

SSP Traffic National Highway, Danish Rana also got extension from the concerned authorities for hours beyond mid-night to clear as many as stranded as well as load carriers from both sides, the sources said. A large number of stranded passenger vehicles and load carriers crossed the highly vulnerable spot of Panthyal and Jawahar Tunnel towards their respective desinations till the filing of this report.

Sources said that several passenger vehicles which reached Ramban late in the evening could not cross Panthyal and remained stranded on either side of the highway. Several load carriers carrying essential commodities were stranded.

"The normal traffic on the highway will be allowed only after improvement in the weather conditions tomorrow morning", the sources said.

Though there was no impact on the air service between the twin capital cities of the State and all the flights operated as scheduled yet the chopper service between the holy town of Katra and Sanjhichat remained suspended throughout the day due to poor visibility.

"Since morning there was poor visibility due to heavy rains and keeping in view the prevailing weather conditions the concerned authorities decided to suspend the service for the day", Superintendent of Police (SP) Katra, Ashok Sharma said.

He, however, added that the pilgrimage to the holy cave shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi was going on smoothly.

Meanwhile, the heavy rainfall lashed the entire State today dipping the temperatures considerably and forcing the people to take out the woolens.

According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) spokesman, Jammu recorded 25 millimeters of rainfall, Srinagar 2 mm, Qazigund 6.2 mm, Pahalgam 5 mm, Kupwara 3.2 mm, Banihal 17.5 mm, Batote 19.8 mm, Katra 31.1 mm and Bhaderwah 18 millimeters of rainfall.

The maximum temperature of Jammu has dipped to 18.2 degree celsius as against 25 degree celsius of yesterday while as the day temperature of Srinagar dipped from 19.2 degree celsius to 14.8 degree celsius.

The IMD spokesman forecast rains/snow at most of the places in Jammu and Kashmir during the next 24 hours.

People brave heavy rains to join welcome
‘Jagriti Yatra’ accorded grand reception in RS Pura

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Apr 5: Thousands of members from Sikh community and the people from various religions and faiths accorded grand reception to ‘Guru Manyo Granth Jagriti Yatra’ at Miran Sahib and R S Pura despite heavy rains today.

The holy ‘Guru Granth Sahib’ kept in the highly decorated vehicle (Rath) and weapons of Guru Gobind Singhji displayed for the public glimpse in the vehicle were main attraction of this grand religious yatra. Thousands of devotees followed the Rath and took part actively in this Jagriti Yatra.

The Jagriti Yatra reached at Nanak Nagar Gurudwara at 4 am this morning from Lakhanpur, covering a distance of nearly 90 kms in more than 12 hours as people enroute waited throughout the night braving heavy rains and cold wave to have a glimpse of the yatra and welcome it.

A large number of Sikh devotees from various parts of Jammu thronged different places to offer their prayers and have glimpse of the Guru ‘Shastras’ and the holy Granth enroute Lakhanpur and Nanak Nagar Gurudwara.

From Nanak Nagar, Jagriti Yatra left for Miran Sahib, Simbal Camp and R S Pura at 11.30 am. The yatra despite heavy rains went on smoothly and a large number of devotees accorded grand reception to it enroute despite heavy rains and a chilly weather. The yatra reached RS Pura at 9 pm after halt at various places.

Free ‘Langars’ had been organised at different places by the people.

Meanwhile, the ‘Jagriti Yatra’ which was scheduled to be taken tomorrow to MAM stadium from Digiana Ashram will now be taken to Maharani Chand Kour Samadh Gurudwara in view of continued rains. The yatra is scheduled to reach at Chand Kour Samadh at 10 am from where it will be taken to Rehari Gurudwara in the evening.

All along the route from Nanak Nagar Gurudwara to RS Pura, the ‘Jagriti Yatra’ was welcomed by the people who queued up on both sides of the road and greeted the yatra. From Nanak Nagar to RS Pura, the yatra took nine and a half hours in view of heavy rush of the people.

The local administration actively participated in the reception function in R S Pura when the Jagriti Yatra entered the border town. Minister of State Choudhary Gharu Ram received the yatra at RS Pura on behalf of the Government along with a large number of people besides Tarlok Singh Bajwa, MP. The yatra was expected to take halt for some time there and return to Digiana Ashram by mid-night. Mahant Manjit Singhji of Dera Nangali Sahib will be according grand reception to the Yatra along with many Sikh organisations at Digiana Ashram when it reaches here from R S Pura.

District Administration had diverted the traffic on R S Pura-Jammu road to the different alternative routes. Heavy deployment of security was witnessed on this sensitive border route besides the township of R S Pura in view of coming yatra today.

Shutdown in Valley over Geelani's call

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Apr 5: The separatist hardliner Syed Ali Shah Geelani's call for shutdown in solidarity with the prisoners and detenues evoked a substantial impact today as most of the shops and other business centers remained closed today and the public transport remained disrupted in the capital city as well as other district headquarters.

Geelani had called upon the Kashmiris to observe a daylong shutdown today to register their protest against, what he called,the inhuman treatment meted out to Kashmiri prisoners and detenues. PoK-based alliance of 13 guerrilla outfits, Muttahida Jehad Council (MJC), and some other militant groups had supported Geelani's call. In the afternoon yesterday, Geelani's men had approached different associations of traders and transport operators and asked them not to open their businesses on Saturday.

With the exception of two incidents of stone pelting, no untoward incident was reported from anywhere in Kashmir valley. Reports said that a group of youth indulged in stone pelting on shops and buses in Chhanapora locality and enforced shutdown. In downtown Srinagar, groups of youth gathered at a couple of places in Nowhatta-Gojwara area and they staged a demonstration against the Government. Even as they traded brickbats with Police and shouted pro-Azadi slogans, Police swung into action and apprehended some people.

Residents of the Mirwaiz stronghold of Nowhatta shouted slogans in solidarity with the Kashmiri prisoners. Police resorted to firing in air and also used tearsmoke to disperse the unruly crowds. A group of Geelani's activists took out a thin procession at his Hyderpora residence. They shouted pro-Azadi slogans and demanded release of "all political prisoners" while alleging that the jail authorities and Police had been meting out "inhuman treatment" to the prisoners. They called for an end to "State terrorism" and expressed solidarity with all those who have been detained on account of their separatist ideology.

Most of the shops in Srinagar were seen shut for the whole day even as transport operators kept their fleets off the road. Private transport, however, operated without any major disruption. Attendance in Government offices was thin but banks remained closed for the business.

Reports from the rural district headquarters said that Geelani's call, supported by militants, evoked considerable responsive. Most of the shops at different district headquarters and major townships remained closed. Reports said that at several places, even the Government offices and educational institutions did not open.

Meanwhile, senior separatist leader and Chairman of Jammu Kashmir National Front, Nayeem Ahmad Khan, appealed to the international community and human rights organisations to take notice of the miserable plight of the "unlawfully detained Kashmiris languishing in different jails of Kashmir and in different States of India".

While addressing party workers in Srinagar, Khan said that human rights of the detainees were continuously being violated and basic facilities including medical care were being denied to them.

Expressing concern over the recent disclosures of unidentified graves in Baramulla and Kupwara districts, Nayeem Ahmad Khan hoped that an international initiative at the level of UN human rights council would be initiated into the matter. He maintained that these graves were of those innocent Kashmiri youth who were subjected to enforced disappearances by the Indian troops.

Sonia's April 12 visit linked to poll campaign in J&K

By Gopal Sharma

JAMMU, Apr 5: All India Congress president and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi may kick-off poll campaign on her visit to J&K on April 12 for the forthcoming Assembly elections scheduled to be held later this year.

Talking to reporters after addressing meeting of the J&K Mahila Congress workers at party headquarters here today, Pradesh Congress Committee chief and Union Minister for Water Resources Prof Saif-ud-Din-Soz indicated that visit of the AICC president to Jammu is being viewed as the launch of party’s poll campaign in the Jammu and Kashmir. "The timing of her visit to the State this time is very crucial as elections are drawing near," he added.

Prof Soz, who was accompanied by All India Mahila Congress president and Member Parliament, Dr Prabha Thakur said that women will have bigger role in the party in J&K in comings years. Moreover, in the new PCC the women will have sufficient strength. A process has already been started to identify talented women and they will be given the responsibilities at some senior positions. They may get good share of the party seats in the forthcoming elections in the State.

Responding to a question on the significance of Pugwash conference with a view to improve relations between the two countries, the Congress leader said this platform provides opportunity to the political and other leaders of both the sides to sit together and discuss issues. Such initiatives and developments are always good for the region.

Replying to another question, Prof Soz said opening of Uri-Muzaffarabad road was possible only with the support of the Union Government and the Congress Party. So, nobody single-handedly can claim credit for the same.

"We took up the issue of increasing rent for the land of J&K farmers in the occupation of Army with the Union Defence Minister A K Antony during his Kashmir visit and he agreed to it and ordered enhancement. This is good welfare measures for the people of this State and if anybody claims credit, it will be half-truth," he maintained.

Commenting on PDP president Mehbooba Mufti’s statement on duel control over Kashmir, Prof Soz said, " Congress need not to react on this issue. We are committed to the agreement of CMP with the PDP and beyond that if that party goes, it is up to them. It does not mean that Congress supports them on all issues. We are in perfect harmony with them as per the Coalition Dharma is concerned for the purpose only up to CMP. Congress may differ that party on many issues or they may differ on several other issues with us."

Dr Prabha Thakur said it was a matter of honour and pride for the women of this State that AICC president Sonia Gandhi was going to launch her election campaign in J&K in the rally being organised by Women wing of the PCC.

She said that Mahila Congress has geared up its activities in all the districts and blocks of the State. They will get good share in the State politics in the coming years. The process of re-organization has already been set in the State.

Congratulating State Mahila wing president Ms Swarn Lata for being nominated as chairperson of Social Welfare Advisory Board, Ms Thakur said it indicates that Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad himself was committed to the upliftment and providing due share to the women in the J&K politics.

She said Sonia Gandhi was committed to provide due justice to the women at all levels. Even she proposed to raise the seats of women in the Rajya Sabha from two to four. She hoped that ensuing Congress rally would get tremendous response and a large number of workers would participate in it.

Earlier, both of them addressed Mahila Congress rally and asked the party activists to mobilize public opinion and carry on the message, programme and policies of Congress party up the public to all the corners of the State.

Front to go all out to defeat Cong
LUTF to contest 3 Assembly seats in Leh, Kargil

By Sanjeev Pargal

JAMMU, Apr 5: Gearing itself up much in advance for Assembly elections in the State, Leh Union Territory Front (LUTF) has decided to contest three out of four Assembly seats in Ladakh region and was ready for a pre-poll understanding or post-poll alliance with the parties, which support the LUTF’s cause, to defeat Congress.

"The LUTF, whose main electoral plank will be Union Territory (UT) status for Ladakh, has decided to field its own candidates for Leh and Nobra seats in Ladakh district and Zanskar in Kargil district", all important LUTF leader and Ladakh MP Thupstan Chhewang told the Excelsior.

Once a prominent Congress leader, Mr Chhewang has now described the Congress as "enemy no. one" of the people of Ladakh and declared that people of Ladakh will ensure that Congress was routed out in the entire region.

Charging the ruling Congress with having let loose a reign of terror in Ladakh which he equated with "state terrorism", the high profile Ladakhi leader said the people have made up their mind to defeat the Congress.

"The ruling Congress during last two and a half years had done so much damage to the interests of Ladakh that it can’t be forgiven by the Ladakhis. The people will give their reply to the Congress in the Assembly elections", Mr Chhewang said.

Replying to a question on prospects of a pre-poll alliance with BJP or NC, the LUTF leader asserted that the Front was ready to seek assistance or enter into an understanding with any party which was ready to defeat the Congress. He pointed out that the BJP has always supported the demand of Ladakhi people for granting UT status to Ladakh.

On post-poll support to any party to form the Government, Mr Chhewang was of the view that it would depend on the scenario emerging after the elections. But, he clarified that in no case the LUTF will support the Congress.

Ladakh region has four Assembly constituencies—two each in Ladakh and Kargil district. While the LUTF has decided to contest both Ladakh seats including Leh and Nobra, it will field its candidate in Zanskar seat of Kargil, which has significant Buddhist population. The LUTF was ready to support a candidate in Kargil who had the potential to defeat Congress.

Mr Chhewang recalled that the LUTF had in November 2002 agreed to support the Congress keeping in view its "political interests". However, he regretted that one of the LUTF MLA, who was made the Minister, ditched the Front and joined the Congress "just for the sake of a Ministry".

"This time, we have decided to field the candidates who are loyal to the LUTF", he said, adding the contestants will be finalised in consultations with the people of Ladakh and those associated with the LUTF.

Mr Chhewang maintained that the LUTF will contest next election on the plank of UT status for Ladakh.

He was all praise for three year tenure of Mufti Sayeed led coalition Government during which Ladakh’s demands were viewed very sympathetically. He said the people of Ladakh had very high hopes from Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad when he took over in November 2005 but he has belied the hopes.

Azad invites President to J&K

Excelsior Correspondent

New Delhi, Apr 5: President Pratibha Patil is expected to visit Jammu & Kashmir sometime in summer. The dates for the visit would be finalized later, even as she has accepted the invitation of a visit extended by Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad here today.

Mr Azad met the President at the Rashtrapati Bhawan and discussed with her current development and political scenario in J&K.

He extended invitation to the President to visit the State during summer. The President accepted the invitation. The dates for the visit, however, would be finalized subsequently.

During the meeting, lasting about 45 minutes, the Chief Minister briefed the President about development works initiated by the State Government in various sectors and expansion of public utility services across J&K, especially in remote and far-flung areas.

The growth in education sector with special reference to expanding reach of university and college education in the State was also highlighted. The Chief Minister unfolded the changing face of rural Jammu & Kashmir following infrastructure development programmes initiated under his stewardship.

The President evinced keen interest in ongoing development schemes in the State.

17 Tibetans detained under PSA

Excelsior Correspondent

LEH, Apr 5: Seventeen Tibetan refugees were today arrested under Public Safety Act (PSA) for trespassing a restricted area here.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Leh said that 17 Tibetan refugees including 15 males and 2 females were arrested soon after they crossed the Ultsi Check Post, 17 kilometres from Leh town, without acquiring an inner line permit.

A case under Public Safety Act has been registered against them for not possessing the valid documents required to move beyond the Ultisi Check Post as "it is a restricted area".

The SSP said that the refugees seemed to be on their way to the neighbouring town of Nyoma. "For entering restricted areas in the Leh the Tibetan refugees require inner-line permit and violation of the same is a cognizable offence", he said, adding "a challan against the arrested refugees will be produced in the court of law on Monday".

Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind splits

NEW DELHI, Apr 5: One of the oldest and most influential Muslim organisations in the country, the Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind today formally split, with the faction led by Maulana Mahmood Madani claiming to be the real Jamiat, dismissing the other as "null and void".

The organisation dating back to the pre-Independence era has been marred by continuous internal rivalry, which became public when Mahmood, its general secretary, came out in the open against president Maulana Arshad Madani, who was later expelled from the body by a working committee meeting of the Jamiat on March 6.

Arshad Madani, in turn, had formed a Jamiat executive committee, claiming it to be the real Jamiat.

In a meeting of the Central Managing Committee (CMC) today, hundreds of representatives from 14 State units of the organisation elected working president Qari Mohammad Usman as its president and Maulana Mahmood Madani as its general secretary.

The procedure for ratification of expulsion and new election was conducted before the two observers Justice (retd) Nassmuddin Siddiqui and ITPO General Manager Safdar Hussain Khan.

The CMC, the highest-decision making body of the Jamiat, also dismissed Maulana Arshad Madani and his supporters from primary membership of the organisation.

"Maulana Arshad Madani was involved in anti-Jamiat activities. He had dissolved elected units and disintegrated its democratic structure to establish his personal rule," said the CMC resolution.

Addressing the convention, Mahmood Madani said, "it is a new start for the Jamiat, which has a glorious past due to its endeavours for the welfare of the Muslims and the country. We are pledged to take up the community’s cause with new strength and fervour."

The CMC meeting also passed several resolutions on terrorism, reservation for Muslims, prevention of communal riots and Dalit-Muslim unity.

The committee also passed a resolution against Israeli aggression in Palestine.(PTI)

EU Parliament rejects reference to Kashmir

Brussels, Apr The European Parliament (EP) has rejected an attempt to include a reference on Kashmir in its latest global annual report on human rights but went ahead to criticise the worsening rights situation in China and Pakistan.

An attempt by British EP member of Pakistani origin, Sajjad Karim, to include a reference on Kashmir in the report was rejected, the EUAsiaNews said.

The EP report noted the worsening human rights situation in Pakistan throughout 2007, including in particular the threats to the independence of the judiciary and the freedom of the media.

The report hopes that those responsible for the assassination of slain former premier Benazir Bhutto are identified and held responsible as soon as possible.

The EP report also criticised the human rights situation in China, Iran, and Russia.

It expressed "its disquiet at the serious human rights violations" in China and stressed that, despite promises made by Beijing with a view to the forthcoming Olympic Games, the situation on the ground regarding human rights "has not improved".

The report deplored the "ongoing violations of human rights and democracy" by the military junta in Myanmar and supported the European Union's commitment to attaining its stated objectives, namely the establishment of a legitimate, democratic civilian government, which respects the human rights of its people and restores normal relations with the international community.

The EP report, however, condemned the fact that the European Union is still far from conducting a "coherent and hard-hitting policy" to uphold and promote human rights around the world. (PTI)

Garib Rath chugs between Jammu, Nainital

JAMMU, Apr Railway Minister Lalu Prasad today flagged off the Jammu-Kathgodam Garib Rath from here, linking popular tourist destination of Nanital (Uttrakhand) with the picturesque Jammu and Kashmir.

Mr Prasad, who was here on a two-day visit, also laid the foundation of the 170 crore project for electrification of Jammu Tawi-Suchipind Railway line on Jammu-Jalandhar section of Northern Railways.

The Garib Rath, which provides all Air Conditioned (AC) compartments to the passengers in about 30 per cent low fare, will be the first service weekly between Jammu Tawi and Kathgodam in Nanital district of Uttrakhand.

"I am happy to launch the Jammu-Kathgodam Garib Rath, which would connect two revered tourist destinations of the country," Mr Prasad said, expressing his commitment to give "top priority" to the railway projects in the "neglected" Jammu & Kashmir State.

The Railway Minister, who gave the green signal to fully-decorated Garib Rath from Jammu Tawi at 1200 hrs, said "we will also consider if Udhampur (the last station at Northern end) will be made the starting place of this train, as recommended by member Parliament Choudhary Lal Singh"

"J&K has been a neglected area which will be placed in the main stream," he said while taking dig at predecessor NDA regime.

Accusing the NDA Government of pushing the railways into financial crises, Mr Prasad said the BJP-led Government had failed to pay attention towards the poor.

The Railway Minister recalled Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s speech from Lal Qila, wherein he had said the Indian Railways would be made number one in the world from the third place.

"We have brought the railways out of its bad days, and that also with reducing its fares in successive budgets," he emphasised.

Mr Prasad said his ministry would focus on infrastructural development in Jammu and Kashmir, where its working on extending its network in the Kashmir valley.

He said the suggestions of the State Government, which also included survey of Jammu to Poonch for a railway line as recommended by Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, would be given due consideration.

The electrification of Jammu-Jalandhar section, Mr Prasad said, "will be completed in the next two years."

On his arrival, the Railway Minister was extended a warm welcome by the red-apron clad coolies, who weighed Mr Prasad with coins. (UNI)