'Pen-wielding supporters deplored'
Some political leaders want violence to go on: Azad

Excelsior Corresodnent

Ganderbal, Apr 10: Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has cautioned people against political leaders and their pen-wielding supporters who want the atmosphere of violence and killings in the State perpetuate so that they could grind their own axe. He said these people representing only one percent of the population had full time engaged themselves in distorting facts and presenting a negative picture of the State.

Addressing a public meeting after launching 'Bharat Nirman Public Information Campaign' here today, Mr Azad termed this miniscule minority as enemies of development and people of the State. He asked the masses to watch against their activities and statements. He said the negative writings that their pen-wielding supporters contribute to newspapers were deplorable.

All this, he said, was aimed at depriving people of the fruits of development and keep alive an atmosphere of insecurity so that houses of the few were filled with fortunes while the people at large were made to suffer.

The Chief Minister said that there were some political parties and their leaders who did not want hospitals, schools, roads, colleges, universities and other public utility infrastructure to be constructed in the State because development goes against their agenda of continuation of violence and destruction. The atmosphere of uncertainty and insecurity makes their vocation of amassing wealth a brisk business while massive development activities, going on across the State, were sure to close down their shops, he said and asked them to shut down their anti-people firms as masses in the State had seen through their game plan and were in no mood to be hoodwinked anymore.

Mr. Azad asked people to see for themselves who had benefited from the situation the State was thrown into two decades ago. He said labourers, teachers, shopkeepers and other people who form majority of the population continued to have a hand-to-mouth living while some people amassed wealth and constructed palatial houses. Everybody knew where they get the money. He said he did not want to open pandora's box but at the same time warned them against continuing with their anti-people activities. He said for 60 years people of the State had seen that hollow slogans do not take them anywhere. He said he had spent several years of his life in Kashmir pursuing studies and knew well the negative politics of these leaders and political parties. He said empty slogans were no answer to the people's problems. He said destructive politics had ruined thousands of households and snatched as many lives of the innocent people.

It was about time, he said, that negative and destructive politics was given a burial and development provided a congenial atmosphere to carry on. He asked people to support development offensive launched by the Government in the State.

The Chief Minister said the State was currently witnessing an unprecedented era of infrastructure building. He particularly talked about public utility sectors where his Government, with liberal Central assistance, was raising infrastructure on a massive scale. He referred to flagship programmes of the Government of India and said that under the PMGSY, all villages in the State would be connected with roads. He said while from 2000 to 2006, Rs. 172 crores were spent on constructing 157 roads of 586 kms, during next three years since then, Rs. 2000 crores would be spent on construction of 3070 kms road length in the State. He said never in the history of the State had so many road projects been taken in hand.

In the health sector, the Chief Minister said that 20 district and sub-district hospitals were completed in one and half year. He said in a month or so equipment would be made available and the hospitals will be made fully functional. He said all district hospitals were being upgraded in next two years.

He said this year in Kashmir alone, 35 PHCs would be made operational round-the-clock. Blood banks, he said, would be constructed at block level. He said under National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, labourers were provided 100 days of employment within 15 days of their registration. He said if a labourer did not get work in stipulated time he or she would be paid while sitting at home.

The Chief Minister said that under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, all big and small cities of the State would have improved water, sewerage, road, power and drainage facilities. He said the scheme had been devised by him as the Union Urban Development Minister and while the funding pattern for other States was 50:50 between Central and the State Government, for J&K he made it 90:10 and the State had to pay only 10% of the total cost of the projects launched under the scheme.

About the power sector, the Chief Minister said that in next four years all villages of the State would be electrified. He said 390 MW Dul-Hasti project would be commissioned by the Prime Minister later this month while Baglihar project would start power generation this year. He said 80% of the power deficiency would be covered this year while in next year and a half the State would be self sufficient in power. He called for a check on power pilferage and urged people to recognize their duties as citizens of the State. He said the PHE sector was also poised for a promising progress, adding that several water schemes were in hand which would be completed by 2012 to provide drinking water to all people.

The Chief Minister appreciated the holding of the Bharat Nirman Public Awareness Campaign in the State and said this would help masses to know about the schemes meant for them and allow them take maximum benefit of these.

Minister for Forest and Environment, Qazi Muhammad Afzal, in his address, dwelt in detail on achievements of the coalition Government. He said an all round development was visible across the State. He said the development activities launched by the coalition Government in 2002 had been speeded up during the stewardship of Ghulam Nabi Azad.

Rising prices can derail economic reforms: PM

NEW DELHI, Apr 10: The Government today admitted that rising food prices would make the task of containing inflation a more difficult exercise and may hurt economic growth and reforms process, but ruled out any "blind controls" to rein in the increasing rates.

"Efforts to promote reforms and more open economies would be derailed in the face of persistent food shortages and rising food prices...A steep rise in food prices will make inflation control more difficult and can thereby hurt the cause of macro economic stability," Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said at Global Agro Industries Forum here.

"The constituency for economic reforms, so necessary for growth, would also diminish. Pressures would mount for restrictive trade practices," he added.

Wholesale prices-based inflation has already touched over a three-year high of seven per cent and various think-tanks— IMF, ADB and Prime Minister’s Advisory Council— have projected a moderation in economic growth for this fiscal.

However, Singh said the situation cannot be resolved by returning to an era of "blind controls" and by depressing agriculture’s terms of trade as it would hurt farmers’ welfare as well as the long-term growth of economy.

"We in India too are deeply concerned about rising global commodity and food prices. Sharply rising food prices can slow down poverty alleviation, impede economic growth and retard employment generation," he said.

While this will harm global economy in general, developing world will be "seriously hurt", Singh said, after receiving the Agricola award by FAO for his contribution to the farm and social sector.

He said increasing global shift to bio-fuels in the face of galloping oil prices is making the situation of food shortages more complex.

The Prime Minister said the problem of rising demand for food not being met by the supply side is not confined to India alone and the entire world is also facing such a situation.

Referring to the growing demand for bio-fuels, he said: "the situation is becoming more complex due to the alternative uses being developed for food crops."

It is particularly worrisome that the new economics of biofuels is encouraging a shift of land away from food crops, he said and added that for the first time there is a direct linkage between oil prices and food prices.

"Food markets have got interlinked to oil markets, making food policy complex and uncertain," Singh noted.

The Prime Minister termed the prospect of food shortages and rising food prices as "most important challenges" and urged the world community to tackle this problem head-on.

"We need a second green revolution. We need new technologies, new organisational structures, new institutional responses and above all a new compact between farmers, technologists, scientists, administrators, businesses, bankers and consumers," he said.

The Prime Minister said that welfare of farming community and livelihood of agricultural workers would be better ensured through higher investment in rural infrastructure and farm development.

"Farmers and workers seek incomes, not subsidies. They seek markets and employment, not hand-outs," he said. (PTI)

Creamy layer excluded from benefit
SC upholds 27 pc quota to OBCs

NEW DELHI, Apr 10: In a major boost to reservation, the Supreme Court today upheld the Constitution amendment law providing for 27 per cent quota for OBCs in IITs, IIMs and other Central educational institutions but excluded the creamy layer from the benefit.

A five-Judge Constitution bench by a unanimous verdict cleared the Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Admission) Act, 2006 providing for the quota.

The bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan excluded the creamy layer among the OBCs from the quota benefit.

The court held that the Act does not violate the basic structure of the Constitution.

The verdict came on a bunch of petitions by anti-quota activists challenging the Act. They vehemently opposed Government’s move saying caste cannot be the starting point for identifying backward classes.

The inclusion of creamy layer in the reservation policy was also questioned by the anti-quota petitioners.

With this judgement, the interim order of March 29, 2007 staying the implementation of the Act has been lifted.

In effect, the reservation policy can be put in place for the 2008-09 academic session.

The Court held that the Constitution (93rd Amendment) Act, under which the Government came out with the law providing 27 per cent quota in Centrally-aided institutions, was not violative of the basic structure of the Constitution.

All the Judges favoured periodic revision on the implementation of the 27 per cent quota.

The Court ruled that the delegation of power to the Centre to determine OBCs was valid.

The parameter applied for identifying the creamy layer among the OBCs for jobs as per the office memorandum of September 8, 1993, will be applicable, the court said.

It also held as valid the exclusion of minority institutions from the ambit of quota under the Act.

Besides the Chief Justice, the Bench comprised Justices Arijit Pasayat, C K Thakker, R V Raveendran and Dalveer Bhandari. (PTI)

PM's Pak visit will re-activate sagging peace process: Mufti

Excelsior Correspondent

Mendhar, Apr 10: PDP patron and former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed has expressed the hope that proposed upcoming visits of Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and External Affairs Minister Parnab Mukherjee to Pakistan would reinforce resolve of the two democratic Governments to reactivate and carry forward the sagging peace process.

"Not only the people of the State but whole sub-continent are yearning for sustainable peace and progress and I hope political leadership of the two countries would address the issues in good faith and with sincerity of purpose to realize the dream of a peaceful, prosperous and progressive South Asia," Mr Sayeed said at a public meeting here today.

He said peace process has become a necessity for the two countries and there is a reciprocal acceptance of its legitimacy at the people's level. "While various CBMs have been initiated to make peace process substantive, much more has to be done to realize true potential of confidence building process," he said and added that this could be achieved by exploring new avenues of cross-border cooperation in the fields of trade, commerce, communication, travel and tourism, especially through the State.

"While the people of Jammu & Kashmir would welcome enhanced trade between the two countries, simultaneous progress on Kashmir would accelerate normalization process to great advantage of the two countries," he said, addding the leadership of India and Pakistan shall have to demonstrate strong political will to free the people of J&K from shackles of the security syndrome that bedevils both the countries. "What is needed at this juncture is the creation of conditions for facilitating the two sides of Kashmir to link up in as many areas as possible, so that there is not only a free flow of goods but of ideas and culture as well," he said.

The PDP patron said the CBMs have contributed towards improving quality of lives on both sides of divide and cease-fire on the Line of Control has made life easier for those living close to the border. "The exchange of visits by the leaders and civil society members have also helped to relax the tension and these measures need to be carried forward and strengthened to impact the ground situation," he said and added that while the whole State would benefit from cross-LoC exchange of goods, the areas like Poonch and Rajouri would have added advantage for being closer to the LoC.

The Mufti said on domestic front the Government of India should implement the recommendations of the Working Groups without any further delay to address political, economic and social concerns of people in the regions and sub-regions of the State. He said besides rehabilitation of all the victims of violence, the Government must also rehabilitate and retrench all those boys, who have shunned the path of violence, in normal vocations of life so that they do not face any social or economic problems. He said the boys, who had gone across for arms training and are now willing to return and live normal lives, should be facilitated to cross-over to join their families.

Welcoming the recent visit of Pakistani pilgrims to Mata Vaishno Devi, Mr Sayeed said similar facility should be extended to the pilgrims from across the border intending to visit Shahdra Sharief and other shrines in the State. "Similarly, the pilgrims from the State should be allowed to visit the shrines across the border," he said.

PDP leaders Rafiq Hussain Khan, Murtaza Khan, Abdul Hamid Manhas, Nissar Ahmad Khan, Master Tassaduq Hussain and Mohammad Sharief Tariq also addressed the meeting.

HM militant held in Valley

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Apr 10: Security forces have arrested a Hizbul Mujahideen militant and recovered huge quantity of arms and ammunition in Kashmir valley.

An official spokesman said that the militant, Mansoor Ahmed, was nabbed during a joint operation launched by Army and Police at village Naiyun in the district last evening. Mansoor had joined Hizbul Mujahideen in June 2001.

In another operation, troops of Rashtriya Rifles and Infantry Battalion launched a search operation in the same village and recovered an AK rifle, its four magazines, 62 rounds, a revolver, an under barrel grenade launcher with four grenades and four hand grenades.

Meanwhile, security forces recovered deadly RDX, mortar shells and grenades in Kupwara district where one person was abducted overnight, official sources said.

They said Bomb Disposal Squad of State Police averted a major tragedy when they detected and defused two mortar shells in a garden at Reshigund in the frontier district of Kupwara.

Security forces recovered ten kg of RDX, three UBGL grenades, one wireless set and about two kg other explosives from a hideout at Bandipora.

They said unidentified persons abducted one Nazir Ahmad at Ganderbal last evening.

Threat of recycling looms large
Govt to review 60 Pakistanis' deportation

By Sanjeev Pargal

JAMMU, Apr 10: With Assembly elections round the corner and a number of surrendered or released militants recycling themselves into militancy, the Intelligence agencies were having a second thought on deportation of nearly 60 Pakistani nationals and PoK citizens fearing that they might be pushed again by Pakistan army to create disturbances during the electoral process in the State.

"While there was no problem in repatriation of Afghanistan and lone Tazhakistan nationals, who have served their sentence and whose consular access was under completion, the list of Pakistan and PoK citizens, which had nearly been finalised for deportation, is being reviewed", official sources said.

There were about 60 Pakistanis, who were awaiting deportation to their country as they had completed the sentence awarded to them for their involvement in militant activities or illegal border crossing. To keep them in jails, pending repatriation, the authorities had imposed Public Safety Act (PSA) on them.

A maximum of 25 Pakistanis, who have completed the imprisonment awarded to them, are presently lodged in high security Kot Bhalwal hail.

"Yes, the Intelligence agencies have taken a fresh view of the deportation of Pakistani and PoK citizens especially the militants. While the illegal border crossers have been cleared for deportation, the cases of Pakistanis, who have remained active militants, during past few years, is being reviewed afresh", sources said.

They added that fresh thinking was necessitated following Intelligence inputs that repatriated militants could once again be used by Pakistan army and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) for militancy in the Valley especially on the eve of Assembly elections. These militants, during their present stints here, were well versed with topography of the area and could resume their activities very easily.

To win such militants was also not a difficult task as they could be easily lured by money, sources pointed out.

They noted that there had been a number of instances within the State where the militants released after completion of their sentence or after surrender have rejoined their outfits either for financial gains or were lured away by the leadership of different outfits.

However, according to sources, the Government was ready to repatriate illegal border crossers and other Pakistanis who were not hardcore militants, and have completed the term awarded to them.

The list of deportation of nearly 60 Pakistani nationals, which was about to be forwarded to External Affairs Ministry for consular access, is being reviewed and will now be forwarded after the review is over. The review is being done by State Intelligence, police and other concerned agencies.

Sources said the Government was clear on repatriation of half a dozen Afghanis and one Tazhakistan national, who too have completed their sentence, on the ground that both countries were now quite friendly to India and there were no chances of their recycling into militancy and coming back to Kashmir for jehad.

Core Group reviews situation

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Apr 10: The Core Group today reviewed security scenario in the State especially with regard to arrangement for Darbar Move scheduled for April 25.

Security scenario was reviewed in the Core Group meeting held at Nagrota. The meeting was chaired by Security Advisor and General Officer Commanding (GOC) 16 Corps Lt Gen R K Karwal and was attended among others by DGP Kuldeep Khoda, Commissioner SB, IGP Jammu K Rajendra, Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Sudhanshu Pandey, Deputy Director Intelligence Bureau (IB), IGs of BSF and CRPF and GOCs of various formations.

In his address, Lt Gen Karwal hoped that relentless counter insurgency operations would continue to facilitate speedy return of normalcy in the region.

The DGP stressed the necessity of ensuring a secure environment in run up to the elections scheduled for later part of the year.

Lt Gen Karwal reiterated that there will be zero tolerance to human rights violations and collateral damaged. He asked security forces to exercise utmost restraint in this regard during conduct of elections.

Karachi riots toll rises to 12

KARACHI, Apr 10: The death toll in rioting in this Pakistani port city today rose to 12 as the Provincial Government ordered a probe into the violence that erupted following clashes between lawyers supporting President Pervez Musharraf and their rivals.

Six persons, including a woman, were burnt alive after a mob yesterday torched a building near the city courts that has the offices of several lawyers. Two other persons were shot dead in incidents of firing while four more succumbed to their injuries in hospital.

The trouble started shortly after a group of lawyers affiliated to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement organised a demonstration to protest the manhandling of PML-Q leader and former Federal Minister Shar Afghan Niazi by a mob of lawyers in Lahore on Tuesday.

The MQM alleged its lawyers were attacked by a rival group from the Karachi Bar Association. The association refuted the claim and said its rivals had attacked its office and members.

Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah said two persons had been arrested in connection with the riots and arms recovered from them. He ordered a probe into the violence and said the report of its findings will be made public within three days.

Shah also directed law enforcement agencies to restore normalcy in the city and ordered the paramilitary Pakistan Rangers to increase patrolling.

Following the clashes between lawyers, violence spread to many parts of the city, including Gurumandir, Malir, Korangi, Landi and new Karachi. Markets and shops across the city were closed as gun-wielding men on motorcycles opened fire at several places.

Mobs set ablaze a bank and over three dozen buses, trucks and cars in different parts of the city.

The office of the Malir Bar Association was torched and an intense exchange of fire between two groups was witnessed in the area. There was also heavy firing in Shah Faisal colony, Malir, Burns road and Jamia cloth market.(PTI)

RS Pura transporters block road

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Apr 10: The transporters of R S Pura route today blocked Satwari road in protest against the issuance of a mini-bus permit for the route in violation of rules and regulations.

Reports said that a large number of transporters gathered at Satwari Chowk and blocked the road against alleged violation of norms while issuing route permit for a mini-bus.

Shouting slogans against RTO Jammu, they said that despite expressing concern over the issue, the concerned authorities have not taken any action forcing them to come on roads. They alleged that the permit was issued on the directions of a Minister.

On getting information about the protest by the transporters, Member Parliament T S Bajwa visited Satwari Chowk and gave patient hearing to the protesters.

Later, he discussed the matter with the Deputy Commissioner Jammu, who also heads Regional Transport Authority (RTA) and it was only after the assurance by the officer that the transporters lifted the blockade and dispersed.

In the evening, the RTA suspended the permit and decided to review the case again.

Youth impersonating as CBI officer held

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Apr 10: Police today arrested a youth who was impersonating as CBI officer and extorting money from the people on the pretext of getting their kin recruited in Government jobs.

He has been identified as Ghulam Fareed son of Mohd Iqbal, a resident of Ari, Mendhar, presently putting up at Bantalab.

Rs 60,000 which he had extorted from the people were recovered from his possession, police said.

They added that police acted on a tip off given by three women—Surjeet Kour, Darshana Rani and Rajinder Kour that they had been duped by Ghulam Fareed who claimed himself to be a CBI officer and extorted Rs 5000 each as advance for arranging jobs from them.

He was arrested by a police party led by SDPO City Sawtantar Arora and SHO City Inspector Jatinder Samyal when he had come to the house of one of the woman demanding more money.

A case against him has been registered at City police station under Sections 419 and 420 RPC for further investigations.

Police said some letter pads of Scheduled Caste Democratic Party were also recovered from him.

Two cars seized, lifters held

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Apr 10: Banihal police today recovered two stolen cars and arrested two car lifters at Banihal on Jammu-Srinagar national highway. The cars were being shifted from Jammu to Srinagar.

Police said both cars were having different registration numbers on front and back. While one of the Maruti car was bearing 5566 JK02AF number plate on its front, another was having 0686 JK13A registration number.

On back side, they were having 4168 PB46E and 9913 HR61G number plates.

Two car lifters, who were arrested by police, have been identified as Fayyaz Ahmed son of Mohd Shaffi R/o Jawahar Nagar, Srinagar and Junaid Ahmed son of Ghulam Mohd R/o Naik Bagh, Nogam.

A case has been registered against the car lifters for further investigations at Banihal police station. Arrests were made by a Banihal police station party led by SHO Inspector Nazir Dar.