BJP, Left, UNPA paralyse proceedings
Price rise issue rocks Parliament

NEW DELHI, Apr 15: Opposition and the Left parties today stepped up pressure on the Government in Parliament on the issue of spiralling prices on the opening day of the second part of the Budget session, forcing adjournment of the two Houses for the day.

Though the Government was ready for a discussion on the issue, BJP, Left and the UNPA members paralysed proceedings in the two Houses giving vent to their anger on inflation which has touched a three year high of 7.41 per cent.

It was trouble from the word go in the Lok Sabha on the issue, while in the Rajya Sabha protests erupted after the new members were sworn in.

All hell broke loose in the lower House as soon as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh introduced his new council of ministers. Several members of the Samajwadi Party and few of the BJP stormed the well protesting against the spiralling food and fuel prices.

They chanted slogans like "Joh Sarkar Nikaami Hai, Woh Sarkar Badalni Hai (we have to change the incompetent Government)".

Members from the BJP as also its allies in the NDA and from the Left were also up on their feet on the issue.

In the Upper House, the Opposition and the Left members began protests after 50 newly elected members took oath.

"Price rise is the only question today," senior BJP member Murli Manohar Joshi said.

Earlier, Left and UNPA members staged a dharna on the issue on the Parliament premises after marching from Mavlankar Hall near the Parliament House.

"We will protest on the streets against rising inflation till April 23 along with UNPA leaders to pin down the Government on inflation", CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury told reporters.

As the Lok Sabha reassembled at 1130 hours after the first adjournment, there was uproar again on the issue.

Amid the din, Speaker Somnath Chatterjee read out a message from President Pratibha Patil acknowledging the members’ ‘Motion of Thanks’ for her address to the joint sitting on February 25.

The Speaker tried in vain to pacify the members and also warned them of "proper action" if they failed to take their seats but finally adjourned the House for the day.

In the Rajya Sabha, the troubled started soon after the new members took oath. Chairman Hamid Ansari adjourned the House for 10 minutes at the fag end of the Question Hour. When the House reassembled, the Prime Minister introduced his new Council of Ministers.

But when the Chair wanted to take up other listed business, the members from BJP, Left and UNPA stood up to raise the issue and started shouting slogans.

Sensing the mood of the House, Deputy Chairman K Rahman Khan adjourned the House for the day after the papers were laid. (PTI)

‘Create facilities to woo tourists’
Early opening of highway to boost Ladakh’s tourism: Azad

Excelsior Correspondent

DRASS, April 15: Describing the all time earliest opening of Srinagar-Leh Highway today as a record in the history of Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said that the aim of throwing open the highway early was to promote tourism and generate economic activity in the region besides minimising the difficulties of the people.

Addressing a public meeting here today after flagging off traffic on the highway, Mr Azad said that it had been the endeavour of the State Government for the last 2-3 years to pre-pone the opening of the vital road link to the region so that people were benefited and it was the result of the endeavour that last year the opening was advanced to May 1 and this year the history has been created by opening it in mid April, Mr Azad said.

The early opening of the highway was indicative of how much the State and the Central Governments were concerned for taking steps to mitigate the difficulties of the people of Ladakh region, the Chief Minister said and announced that during summer months the highway will remain open round the clock for convenience of the people.

He said early opening of the Srinagar-Leh highway would attract tourists to Ladakh via Drass and Kargil much earlier than they used to arrive here. This, he said, would promote economic activity in the region.

Mr Azad said that tourist season in Kashmir had also been advanced by about two months by creating facilities that could attract tourists much ahead of the beginning of the traditional tourist season. He referred to the laying out of the Asia’s largest Tulip garden in Srinagar and increase in air flights to the State.

He stressed on the need to have more tourism related facilities like hotels and restaurants so that more and more tourists visit the Ladakh region. He asked the local people to open up small hotels and eating places in Drass, Kargil and other places especially along the highway as besides promoting tourism, it would also grow local economy.

The Chief Minister also stressed on the need to utilize the peculiarity of the region to woo tourists and suggested setting up of a tourist village comprising some twenty houses to showcase the rich traditional heritage of the area. In this connection, he also sought the cooperation and guidance of the elders of the area.

He said pilgrim tourists visit Jammu in lakhs to pay obeisance at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine while Kashmir was known the world over for its salubrious climate, beautiful gardens as also Amarnath cave shrine. Likewise, Ladakh which had beautiful peaks was visited by foreign tourists and trekkers. He said more places needed to be identified and developed as tourist spots in the region.

The Chief Minister said the Central and State Governments were alive to the problems of the region and making all out efforts to address these. He said two years back on the recommendations of the State Government, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh declared Srinagar-Leh road as National Highway and work on it was taken up immediately.

The focused attention was given to the economic and educational development of Ladakh region, he said, adding during the past 60 years these activities were never on the scale presently going on. He said Hill Councils were empowered and Cabinet Ministerial status accorded to the Chief Executive Councillors and Deputy Ministerial status to the Executive Councillors.

Mr Azad said the power sector was also accorded priority to generate economic activity in the region. He said work was going round the clock on two hydro power projects in Ladakh to overcome power shortage in the region, particularly in winter months.

He said the two projects, aimed to suffice the power requirements of the region, would be completed in two and a half years ahead of the targeted date. He said thus Ladakh would be the first region in the State to achieve self sufficiency in power within next two to three years. He said power sufficiency would also generate industrial activity in the region and further improve the economic scenario.

Minister for Technical Education, Haji Nissar Ali, MLC Nassarullah, Chief Executive Councillor, LAHDC Kargil and other leaders were present on this occasion.

Pilgrimage touches 15 lakh
Navratras rush crosses 2 lakh first time

By Sanjeev Pargal

JAMMU, Apr 15: An all time high 2.01 lakh pilgrims visited holy shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi ji during just concluded 9-days Navratra festivities surpassing the previous best Navratra figure by over 7,000.

Overall yatra to the cave shrine during first three and a half months in 2008 has also gone up by 1.52 lakh as compared to corresponding period last year.

According to official sources, the previous best figure of Navratras had been recorded in 2005 when 1.94 lakh devotees had paid obeisance to Goddess Vaishno Devi. However, during these Navratras, which concluded yesterday, 2.01 lakh pilgrims visited the shrine located between Trikuta hills.

Of 2.01 lakh pilgrims, 7185 performed yatra obtaining yatra slips on-line while 1.94 lakh had darshan in routine.

Last year the Chaitar Navratras had fallen between March 19 to March 27 while this year they came between April 6 to April 14. This year 27006 yatris visited the shrine during first Navratra as compared to 12,151 last year, an increase of 14,855. On second Navratra, the pilgrimage came down to 19,129 but still it was up by 9,586 as last year only 9,543 yatris had darshan of the shrine.

During third and fourth Navratras, 17,883 and 18,265 pilgrims offered prayers to the Goddess while as during last year 13,402 and 14,099 yatris had darshan of the shrine respectively. On fifth and sixth Navratras 17,825 and 19,332 yatris paid obeisance at the cave shrine while during corresponding days last year 16,100 and 22,140 pilgrims had visited the cave.

Maximum rush during Navratras was witnessed on seventh day when 34,717 yatris came to the shrine while the number last year was 21,700, an increase of 13,017 this year. On Ashtami and Navmi, 23,353 and 16,949 yatris performed darshan, the figure being 17,271 and 16,766 last year.

Last year, only 1.43 lakh pilgrims had prayed at the shrine during Navratras while this year the figure jumped to 2.01 lakh, an increase of 58,000.

Upto April 15 this year, 14.95 lakh pilgrims have trekked through 13 km track to pay their obeisance to Goddess Vaishno Devi as compared to 13.42 lakh during corresponding period last year, an increase of 1.52 lakh so far.

In January this year, 3.40 lakh devotees visited the shrine while the number in the same month in 2007 was 2.92 lakh, an increase of 47,663. However, the month of February this year saw a decline in yatra by 29,236. While last year, 2.54 lakh pilgrims had visited the shrine, the number this year came down to 2.25 lakh.

The pilgrimage witnessed a steep rise in the month of March this year when 6.18 lakh people performed yatra as compared to 4.89 lakh last year, an increase of 1.28 lakh.

In the month of April so far, 3.03 lakh pilgrims have visited the shrine as compared to 3.05 lakh last year, the yatra going down by 2,000.

It may be mentioned here that in 2007, nearly 7.4 million people had performed pilgrimage of Mata Vaishno Devi shrine. This was for the first time when yatra had crossed seven million mark as in 2006, the seven million mark was missed by just 50,000.

In future, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) is gearing up to receive one crore pilgrims annually.

Ultras attack picket
Jawan killed, civilian injured

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Apr 15: An Army jawan was killed and troops and police thwarted two attacks on their posts in Ramban and Reasi districts while a civilian was shot at and seriously injured in Darhal area of Rajouri district.

Official sources said a group of militants fired upon a security forces patrolling party at village Khari in Banihal tehsil of Ramban district in wee hours of this morning.

Militants fired on the patrol party with AK rifles and lobbed a couple of grenades. The Army personnel retaliated and a heavy exchange of gun fighting ensued between the two sides which continued for two hours.

On the gunbattle, an Army jawan identified as Dalip Singh was killed. The militants, however, managed to disappear in surrounding forests. Additional re-enforcement of troops rushed to the spot and launched a search operation for the militants. However, the ultras remained untraced.

Number of the militants, who ambushed Army patrol, was stated to between three to five and they reportedly belonged to Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) outfit.

A massive cordon and search operation has been launched by security forces to apprehend the militants.

Body of Army jawan is in the process of being sent to his native town, sources said.

Meanwhile, a group of seven Hizbul Mujahideen militants barged into the house of Abid Hussain son of Sonaullah, a resident of Budhknari in Darhal area of Rajouri district late last night and kidnapped him at gun point.

The militants took him to a surrounding field where they handed over severe thrashing to him describing him as an informer of security forces.

After about an hour long thrashing and questioning, the militants fled from the field leaving behind Abid Hussain in a seriously injured condition. In the morning, some local people saw Abid lying in the field and sounded police which shifted him to hospital for treatment, sources said and added that police and security forces have launched a search operation for the militants.

The ultras were believed to be locals but they have not been identified so far.

In another incident, a group of militants fired upon Dewal police post under the jurisdiction of Mahore police station in Reasi district. Police personnel retaliated. An exchange of firing between the two sides continued for about one and a half hour.

Sources said effective retaliatory firing by the cops forced the militants to flee.

Leafs from historical records
J&K had once witnessed fall of snow with snakes, stones

By Mohinder Verma

JAMMU, Apr 15: Fall of snow with snakes and stones separately! It may sound fairy tale but it is a fact that Jammu and Kashmir had once witnessed such horrifying happenings which not only shook the mankind in this State but strengthened the faith in the Almighty God.

According to the records displayed by the Archives Department here today, the fall of snow with stones was first and last time experienced in Shopian area of Kashmir valley about 96 years back, in 1912 during the regime of Dogra ruler Maharaja Partap Singh. This terrific incident forced the Maharaja to depute well reverred sufis and saints to perform Shanti Puja (peace prayers) in the area so that such incident didn’t recur in future.

Exactly after two years, in 1914 the Kulgam area of Kashmir valley experienced more horrifying incident and this time the people witnessed snowfall with snakes. Both the incidents had shaken the mankind in the princely State upto such an extent that even those who had only heard of such happenings started finding it difficult to have sound sleep.

Since it was the question of restoring people’s mental peace and ensuring that more such happenings don’t take place in the State, Maharaja Partap Singh again approached sufis and saints and after thorough discussion got performed Shanti Puja at large scale. Following the prayers, these terrific incidents neither took place during the period of Maharaja Partap Singh and nor even after that.

The information about these incidents among several others from the historical records of the State can be availed from the depository of historical documents and records available with the Archives Department. For the first time, the Department has put on display the important archives for the common man.

Director Archives, Khursheed Ahmed Qadri, when contacted, said "I am too small a person to comment on these incidents but it is available in the leafs of historical documents written in Persian and English".

The historical records also reveal the visionary approach of the Dogra rulers of this princely State particularly of Maharaja Partap Singh towards the development of the State.

The train service between twin capital cities of the State, which is presently being undertaken by the Northern Railways, was first planned in 1899. At that time it was planned to lay railway line between Jammu and Srinagar via Banihal or Abotabad (now on other side of the Line of Control in Pakistan). Moreover, the proposal about Jammu-Reasi railway line was mooted in 1902 and Mr B Thornhill was appointed as Chief Engineer, the records indicate and mention that work on constructing railway lines was also executed in some areas.

In 1915, the Maharaja again mooted a proposal to construct rope-way between Jammu and Srinagar but due to certain problems the proposal could not see the light of the day.

According to the records, Maharaja Partap Singh was one of the special invitees to the foundation stone laying ceremony of Banaras Hindu University for his keen interest in spreading education which can be gauged from the fact that on his directions Bhagat Narayan Dass had prepared a detailed note on education policy in Jammu and Kashmir in 1907 for expansion of primary education.

The records pertaining to Zanana Park which was established in 1927 and earlier known as Shalimar Garden of Jammu and conquest of Ladakh by General Zorawar Singh complied by Captain Dharam Chand Gandotra of 4th J&K Infantry are among the other interesting leafs from the history of the State from 1724 AD onwards.

The Persian record from 1724 to 1925 besides English, Revenue, Pre and Post 1947 and Political records are among the huge collections being maintained by the Archives Department.

Resolve Kashmir according to wishes of people: Gillani

ISLAMABAD, Apr 15: The resolution of the Kashmir problem in accordance with the wishes of Kashmiris can ensure lasting peace, Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gillani has said, even as President Pervez Musharraf insisted that Islamabad was taking a "bilateral approach" to the issue.

Pakistan will "continue to extend moral, social, political and diplomatic support to the Kashmiri brethren for their just cause of self-determination", Gillani told the "President" of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, Raja Zulqurnain Khan, yesterday.

An official statement quoted Gillani as saying that "the resolution of (the) Kashmir issue in accordance with the wishes of the people of Kashmir could ensure lasting peace in the region and bring about much needed progress and prosperity for the people".

He also said that Pakistan "believes in the peaceful resolution of the Kashmir issue through dialogue" and expressed "confidence that India would also reciprocate positively in this regard".

The statement came on a day when Musharraf said Pakistan is taking a "bilateral approach" to amicably resolve the Kashmir issue for the economic benefit of the people and hoped "good sense" will prevail on both sides.

In his first public comments on Kashmir yesterday after the Gillani-led Government assumed office last month, Musharraf chose to sing a different tune with an emphasis on resolving the "festering" issue bilaterally, a departure from its traditional stance for third party mediation.

"...The dispute with Kashmir, as far as Pakistan is concerned... May I say very proudly that we are going on a bilateral approach with India," Musharraf, who is on a six-day visit to close ally China, told teachers and students at the elite Tsinghua University in Beijing.

"We hope that good sense prevails on both sides to resolve this long standing dispute amicably between our two countries for the economic benefit of people of these two countries," the President had said.

Gillani also told the PoK leader that former Prime Minister and Pakistan People’s Party founder Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and his daughter, slain former premier Benazir Bhutto, had raised the Kashmir issue at every forum.

The Prime Minister said his Government will extend all possible support for the rehabilitation of people affected by the 2005 earthquake and for the development of infrastructure in the region.

Khan briefed Gillani "about the sentiments of the people of Kashmir for the support that Pakistan has been extending to the just cause of the Kashmiri people", the statement said. (PTI)

Two SHOs posted, range of 10 others shifted

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Apr 15: Police authorities today ordered posting of two Station House Officers (SHOs) and transferred range of 10 Inspectors.

Official sources said Inspector Tejinder Singh has been posted as new SHO Janipura police station against a vacancy arising out of the transfer of Inspector Zahid Wani few days back.

Inspector Subash Chander has been posted as SHO Trikuta Nagar police station, also against a vacancy, which had arisen after the transfer of Inspector Purshotam Mengi as SHO Katra.

Both Inspectors Tejinder Singh and Inspector Subash Chander were presently posted in District Police Lines (DPL).

Meanwhile, Police Headquarters has also shifted range of 10 Inspectors.

BJP condemns Mufti on currency issue

NEW DELHI, Apr 15: Taking strong exception to former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed for advocating the use of Pakistan’s currency along with Indian currency in the State, the BJP today termed the statement "condemnable, outrageous and anti-national."

The BJP said Mr Sayeed and his daughters were in the habit of making objectionable statements and referred to the one when they talked of joint control of India and Pakistan for running the administration in Jammu and Kashmir.

Talking to newspersons, BJP Parliamentary party spokesman Vijay Kumar Malhotra said the BJP had a very firm stand on the issue that it would not allow pre-1953 situation in the State. It had rejected the special status to the State and would never support two constitutions, two Prime Ministers and two flags.

Till now, none had talked about two currencies, Mr Malhotra said, wondering what made Mr Sayeed to make such a pro-Pakistani statement. The Congress, which was ruling the State with support from the PDP should make its stand clear on the issue and must "severe its ties with such a separatist party," he said.

For BJP, the Jammu and Kashmir was an integral part of India and it would thwart all efforts by the separatist elements to separate the State from the country, he added. (UNI)

Retired SE re-employed, 2 promoted as SEs

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Apr 15: The Government today re-employed a retired Superintending Engineer of R&B department and promoted two Executive Engineers ( Xens) as SEs in the Mechanical wing of the R&B department.

SE Doda (Retd), Chamail Singh Rana has been re-employed as SE in the R&B department for a period of one year.

Mr Rana will report to Administrative department till further orders.

Meanwhile, the Government promoted Executive Engineer, Hospital Mech Division, Keshav Singh Jamwal and Executive Engineer (Mech) P K Gorkha as SEs today.

Mr Jamwal has been posted as SE to Thein Dam Project while Mr Gorkha will report to Chief Engineer Mech Jammu till further orders.

JE held accepting bribe

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Apr 15: State Vigilance Organisation (SVO) has caught red-handed Junior Engineer of R&B Division-III while accepting bribe of Rs 25,000 from a contractor for releasing his payment.

An official spokesman said that one Balvinder Singh, son of Jagat Singh of Nanak Nagar lodged a written report with Police Station, Vigilance Organisation stating therein that the work for execution of construction of a road between Jeevan Nagar-Maralia was allotted to him after participating in the tendering process convened by the Chief Engineer, R&B Jammu in December 2006 at the estimated cost of Rs 21 lakh.

So far, he received a payment of about Rs 18 lakh against the construction of the road from the R&B authorities and Arvind Gupta, JE, who was posted in Division-III and supervising the construction of road, was always harassing him for preparation of bills against the progress of the work.

Recently, the complainant completed the construction of about 300 metres of the road length for which an estimate of Rs 2.22 lakh stands already sanctioned. When the complainant requested the JE to prepare the on account bill due to the former the latter refused to do so and demanded illegal gratification of Rs 25,000 for preparation of bills.

Acting on the complaint, Vigilance sleuths laid a trap and caught Arvind Gupta while demanding and accepting bribe of Rs 25,000 from the complainant at Panama Chowk, in the vicinity of PWD complex.

The tainted money was recovered from the possession of JE in the presence of independent witnesses. His hand wash was taken which tested positive.

The accused JE has been taken into custody for further investigation.

Jaundice breaks out in Sudh Mahadev

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Apr 15: Leakage in water sources has led to outbreak of jaundice in Sudh Mahadev town in Udhampur district. About a dozen people have been taken ill after being affected by jaundice.

Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Udhampur Dr B B Sharma said a team of doctors along with necessary drugs has been dispatched to Sudh Mahadev and it was still camping there treating the patients and educating to take preventive measures like consumption of boiled water.

He said condition of all patients was stable.

The PHE authorities have been informed about leakage in pipes and asked to plug them to ensure supply of clean water to prevent spread of jaundice in other villages, official sources said.

A trekking camp, which was scheduled to leave for Sudh Mahadev from Udhampur, has also been advised by the authorities to take preventive measures.

Srinagar-Leh highway closes again due to heavy snowfall

SRINAGAR, Apr Heavy snowfall and threat of avalanches forced the authorities today to close the 434-km long Srinagar-Jammu National Highway, which was declared open by Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad yesterday.

The highway was closed again because of heavy snowfall during the past 24 hours, the Beacon Project Chief Engineer A K Bhotany said.

He said the entire area from Baltal onwards, including Zojila to zero point experienced one and half a feet to two feet of fresh snowfall since yesterday.

Mr Bhotany said there was also a report of snow avalanche at some places.

"We cannot compromise with the lives of passengers," he said adding it would take 48 hours to clear the accumulated snow on the highway.

The Chief Engineer said traffic on the highway would be allowed only after getting green signal from Beacon officials working at different points that there was no threat of avalanches.

He said he was confident that traffic on the highway would be resumed after three to four days, provided if there was no further snowfall.

This was for the first time in the history that the highway was closed in the month of April. However, it had remained closed for winter months in the past. (UNI)

Pak erected nine mobile towers along Indo-Pak border: Govt

NEW DELHI, Apr Pakistan has erected nine mobile towers in its territory along the Indo-Pak border which have security-related implications for India, the Government said today.

A survey conducted in February along the Indian side of the border has found that Pakistani mobile signals were reaching 39 locations inside Indian territory, Minister of State for Home Affairs Radhika M Selvi informed Rajya Sabha.

"Government is aware that Pakistan has erected nine mobile towers in its territory along the border areas. The mobile signals are reaching in Indian territory," Selvi said.

The survey was conducted at 44 locations on the Indian side of the border by the Vigilance and Telecom Monitoring Cell of Department of Telecommunication to ascertain the extent of reach of mobile signals in Indian territory, she said.

"It has been found that at 39 locations, Pakistani mobile signals reach Indian territory," she said.

Acknowledging that the reach of Pakistani signals in the Indian territory have "security related implications", she said that necessary remedial steps were taken from time to time to deal with the situation.

Borders: A total of 1912.31 kilometre of Indo-Pak border has been fenced till February this year whereas a total of 2,572.10 km border between India and Bangladesh was fenced till the same period.

The proposed length for fencing for Indo-Pak border is 2007.63 km while the same for Indo-Bangla border is 3,406.87 km, Selvi said.

The total length of Indo-Pak is 2,308 km and that of Indo-Bangla border is 4,096.70 km. (PTI)