Ruling coalition has neglected weaker sections: Dr Satpaul

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 15: Bahujan Samaj Movement (J&K) has alleged that Coalition Government headed by Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has neglected the weaker and oppressed sections of the society.

Addressing a public meeting at village Vijaypur Kothe in Samba today leader of the Movement, Dr Satpaul alleged that all the political parties which remained in power here have neglected the weaker sections. This Coalition regime has proved to be worst which totally neglected the SCs/STs and OBCs besides other poor and oppressed sections of the society.

He alleged that even the local MLA from Vijaypur has neglected his entire constituency and the people will not spare him in the coming elections. The condition of lanes, drains and roads was worst and electricity and health care facilities were not properly available. He alleged that BSP leaders have deviated from the ideology of the Baba Bhim Rao Ambedkar and Late Kanshi Ram and the oppressed sections are being neglected by the new leadership under Mayawati. He alleged that Bahujan Samaj was feeling duped by the Party leaders who are involved in new experiments under Mayawati.

Krishan Chander, Pardeep Kumar, Khem Raj, Joginder Lal, Santokh Ram and H S Randhawa also spoke on the occasion.

People must have supervisory role in public affairs: Mula

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 15: Advocating for giving people a supervisory role in all public affairs, Minister for Rural Development Mula Ram on Friday said that monitoring of development activities by people themselves has become indispensable for the effective implementation of development schemes, particularly in rural areas.

Minister was addressing a public meeting at Billawar which was also addressed by Minister of State for Social Welfare, Education, CAPD, Forests and Tourism G M Saroori.

Listing the achievements of the coalition Government, the Minister said that the dream of Khushal Kashmir being perused by it under the stewardship of Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and liberal funding coming from Centre is fast becoming a reality. He said fast track development activities taken up over all these years have received unprecedented public support and added that today every individual wants to know as what is going around in his area. He said Chief Minister’s war against corruption and corrupt elements has infused a new confidence among people as they are volunteering to take over a supervisory role in all public affairs.

Terming the public cooperation as indispensable for effective implementation of developmental schemes, he said new precedence have been set at all levels where people are being made the real custodians of all activities being taken up in their areas.

He said only a day before Centre has conceded the demand of state government of extending the State Rural Development plan by two months, upto June 2008 by sympathetically considering the situation emerged in the state due to unprecedented snowfall experienced by the state this winter.

He said the state has also been favored by providing additional Rs 64 crore under Indira Awas Yojana and increasing the cost of household units under the scheme to Rs. Forty thousand for hilly areas and Rs thirty five thousand for plain areas against the existing limit of Rs twenty seven and twenty five thousands respectively.

Speaking on the occasion Mr. Saroori called upon the people to make best use of the welfare schemes being implemented through various departments. He also called upon people to keep a close watch on the development activities being executed in their respective areas.

He also gave a detailed account of welfare and self employment schemes available with various government agencies. He called upon the youth to come forward to avail the schemes and lead a respectable life.

LPEF’s plea to Chief Secy

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 15: All J&K Low Paid Government Employees Federation (LPEF) has urged upon the Chief Secretary and other concerned authorities to promptly reply to the clarification sought by the Accountant General with regard to the applicability of SROs and Government orders related to upgradation of Accounts cadre employees and Section Officers.

President of the Federation Abdul Majid Khan in a press statement issued here today said that a clarification in this regard may be issued by the Chief Secretary immediately in regard to the applicability of the SROs and Govt orders relating to the upgradation of Accounts cadre employees and SOs etc from 1-1-1996 notionally and from 19-2-2003 with monetary benefits in favour of those who have retired after 1-1-96.

Mr Khan pointed out that pay and other anomalies are created due to faulty implementation of 5th CPC’s recommendations as such employees retired after 1-1-96 are entitled to avail the benefits of upgradation like their inservice colleagues.

Federation chief demanded that retirement age of the employees be raised to 60 years at par with Central employees and medical allowance of the employees be enhanced from Rs 100 to Rs 500 per month.

Candle light rally against female foeticide

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 15: The students from various schools took out a candle light rally against the female foeticide in the city under the banner of J&K Children’s Welfare Society, here today.

Leader of the opposition and senior National Conference leader, Abdul Rahim Rather flagged off the rally. Legislators Dr. Mustafa Kamal, Devinder Singh Rana, Mushtaq Ahmed Bukhari were also present on the occasion.

Addressing the students, Rather said due to selective abortion, male-female ratio in the society has undergone imbalance. He underscored the need of regular assessment of indicators of status of women in society.

The schools which participated in the rally included Lawrence Public School, Presentation Convent School, Madr-e-Meharban Institute, Kawa Institute, New Era Environmental School, Shanti Saroop Memorial School, J K Public School and B N Higher Secondary School.

45-day long Road Safety drive begins

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 15: Minister for Transport Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen today inaugurated the Road Safety drive by flagging off a rally of school children at Gandhinagar.

This state level function was organized by the Transport and its line departments to aware the people about the rules and regulations of the traffic system and observing Road Safety measures in the State. The drive will continue upto ending March, 2008.

Speaking on the occasion, Hakeem Yaseen stressed to restrict the child driving and evolve a consensus for safe driving in the State. He emphasized for taking effective measures to minimize the mishaps on the state routes, adding that Government would introduce an effective mechanism for checking the menace of over loading and enforcement of all traffic rules to reduce the graphs of traffic accidents in the State. He said rules and regulations would be implemented strictly to ensure smooth plying of traffic and for providing transport facilities to the people in the State.

Underlining the need to introduce traffic rules in the educational curriculam for the awareness of younger generation, Hakeem Yaseen stressed to organize programmes on large scale to aware the general public about the rules and regulations of the traffic system by launching a massive drive across the State. He stressed for close coordination between the various agencies of Transport department and traffic police for better management and implementation of traffic rules besides smooth playing of traffic.

Saying that the Government would strengthen the infrastructure and functioning of the transport sector, the Minister said that a proposal would be moved, under which new infrastructure would be developed in the state with the public participation. He assured that Government would provide safe, secure and regular transport facilities to the people of the State.

Hakeem Yaseen asked the concerned authorities for regulating transport system smoothly along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway so that foodgrains, LPG, K.Oil, and other essential commodities reach to the valley well in time.

NC extends support to ITI electricians

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 15: National Conference (NC), the main Opposition party in the State has extended its support to the agitating unemployed ITI electricians who have been demanding their absorption in Power Deve-lopment Department (PDD).

Today, the leader of Opposition Abdul Rahim Rather along with other NC leaders including Dr. Mustafa Kamal, Th. Kashmira Singh and Dy Mayor Dharamveer Singh met ITI electricians and extended support to their agitation. He also assured to take up their demand with the State Government.

Meanwhile, round the clock dharna of electrician diploma holders under the banner of All J&K Unemployed ITI Electrician Diploma Holders Association has entered 317th consecutive day. Rakesh Sharma, chairman of the association is leading the agitation.

Army organizes awareness tour

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 15: With an objective to spread goodwill and awareness in insurgency ridden areas of Gool, Gulabgarh and Mahore in Reasi, army today organized a tour for a team comprised of Sarpanches, Naib Sarpanches and religious clericks of the areas.

As a part of fifteen days long tour, the team would visit places like Ambala, Shimla, Chandigarh, Dheradun and Amritsar. The tour which is organized by Rashtriya Rifles (RR) under Operation Sadhavna was flagged off today by Commanding Officer of RR unit. The tour party is scheduled to return on February 29.

According to a press handout issued here today, need for ushering in a new era of peace and development in turmoil hit parts of the state was emphasized by the army.

Nidhi Kaila adjudged best in Light Vocal Solo

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 15: Nidhi Kaila from Government College for Women (GCW) Parade was adjudged as the best singer in the Light Vocal Solo competition held under "Display Your Talent" at University of Jammu (JU), here today.

She was followed by Rahul Kumar of Institute of Music and Fine Arts and Priyanka Langeh of GCW Gandhi Nagar, who claimed second and third prizes respectively in the event. The certificates of merit were awarded to Vikas Bawa of MAM College (Evening), Gagandeep Kour of Ashoka College of Education, Chaman Lal of Gen Zorawar Singh Memorial Degree College Reasi and Kulwinder Kour of GCW Gandhi Nagar.

Among the adjudicators were Prithvi Raj Sharma, Neluvarinder Kour and Arvind Kumar. Dr. P S Pathania, Dean Students Welfare distributed the prizes amongst the winners.

NPP, CPI(M) fume over hike in oil prices

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 15: National Panthers Party (NPP) has described the recent hike in oil prices as highly discriminatory and an open assault on the poor’s right to ‘life and liberty.’

In a press statement issued here today, party supremo and Member National Integration Council, Prof Bhim Singh accused the Government of doulble standard for hiding enoromous excise duty upto 34 percent being imposed on import of crude oil.

Mr Singh claimed that international rates of tea, coffee and food are hundred times higher in India as compared to rest of countries in the world. He further questioned that whether the Government follows the international rates on all the essential commodities.

He also flayed the Government for reducing excise duty on ‘Scotch’ whisky-a product consumed by the rich.

Meanwhile, regional Secretary of Communist Party of India (Marxist) Sham Prasad Kesar also strongly criticied the Union Government for increasing the rates of Petrol and Diesel.

In a press statement, he described the Government’s move as anti-people. He anticipated that hike in prices of oil will further enhance the prices of other essential commodities.

NC activists stage protest dharna

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 15: National Conference activists staged protest dharna at Bahu Fort in Gandhinagar assembly constituency here today.

This protest program was organised under the leadership of block president Rajesh Bakshi near Police Station Bahu Fort. The NC workers were raising slogans against the Azad Government for its alleged failure on all the fronts.

Former minister and senior NC leader, S. Harbans Singh while speaking on the occasion alleged that people of the State were facing lot of problems but the Coalition Government has failed to address the basic issues of the public. It has miserably failed on all the fronts and was trying to divert the attention of the people from basic issues.

Mr Singh pointed out that prices of essential commodities have gone sky high. There was no check on price hike. The problem of unemployment has been aggravated and there was no proper policy for the unemployed educated youth of the state with the present Government. Those appointed on contractual basis were crying for regularisation.

The NC leader alleged that all the exposed corrupt ministers were still continuing in the Government and Azad’s claims of war against corruption have proved hollow. He said the public can not be befooled for long. The former minister claimed that NC would form next government and the people will give strong reply to this Government in coming elections.

Others who spoke on the occasion included-Bimla Luthra, Surinder Singh Bunty, Ch Akhtar Hussain, R K Mehra, Anoop Sharma, Nirmal Rana, Vyaso Devi, Rashida Begum, Surinder Singh Jamwal, Vaishno Kapoor, Jamit Raj, P S Chauhan and Ram Paul.

Mega AIDS awareness event organised

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 15: Minister for Health and Medical Education Mangat Ram Sharma today inaugurated a Mega AIDS awareness event at General Zorawar Auditorium, Jammu University.

The mega event was organized by J&K Aids Control Society in collaboration with Big 92.7 FM with the motto "Spread Aids Awareness" across the State and educate the youth on HIV virus.

Minister of State for Health Peer Mohammad Hussain, Director Health Services Jammu Dr. Jasbir Singh, Director J&K AIDS Control Society, Cluster Head Big 92.7 FM J&K Jagmeet Singh Bahri and doctors, health workers besides large number of youth and prominent citizens attended the function.

On the occasion, skits and songs for making aware masses about AIDS were staged by the famous artists of the state including famous comedian Bhagwant Maan.

Addressing the occasion, the Health Minister said AIDS is one of the most challenging public health problems in the world, which has social, economic and development dimensions. He said it has already taken an epidemic form globally and has spread its tentacles throughout the country with the State of Jammu and Kashmir being no exception.

He stressed that thrust of the campaign is to start a sustained fight against AIDS by involvement of more people from different walks of life including individuals, groups, trade unions, faith groups or members of any society.

The Minister appealed to all sections of the society to join hand and pledge total commitment for ensuring a sustained fight against this dreaded disease, which is threatening the very existence of very mankind.

Minister of State for Health and Education also spoke on the occasion and threw light on the initiatives taken up by the Government to fight against this dreaded disease.

IHS inculcating Indian heritage among students

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 15: Indian Heritage School (IHS), located on Pathankot-Dalhousie Road, in Bungal area is inculcating the values of Indian heritage among its students through meaningful learning experience.

The school envisages global education, which will prepare the children to confidently face challenging demands of 21st century. It places equal importance to the cultural heritage and ethos of India. The institution is committed to provide education with a fine sychronization between traditional Indian values and modern international education, school management claimed.

They further claimed that IHS has been set up to provide top quality education to the children of the region and beyond. It will ensure all possible exposure through a well defined system of study tours, creatively designed programme for co-curricular activities, games and sports, said Principal of the school.

However, chairman HIS, Sunil Joshi said, "We believe every child has many facets and the purpose of a school is to empower him to uncover the various facets and explore their potential".

Unemployed enggs seek filling up of vacant posts

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 15: All J&K Unemployed Civil Engineers Association has demanded filling up of all the vacant posts lying in the PWD’s Civil and Hydraulic wings in the State.

In a meeting of the Association held here today under the chairmanship of Sanjay Kumar Atri, the unemployed engineers discussed their problems. They pointed out that with the promotion of 146 JEs recently, the same number of posts have fallen vacant. They urged the R&B/PHE authorities to refer these posts to SSRB so that same can be filled up as several educated engineers were going to be overaged.

It was further pointed out by Mr Atri that 96 posts of JEs Civil were advertised on 3-7-2007 but till date no interviews were conducted by the concerned authorities. They demanded that now total 242 posts were lying vacant and the same be filled up immediately on the permanent basis through SSRB.

Jugal for mobilizing youth for upliftment of nation

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 15: Minister for R&B Jugal Kishore Sharma has advocated for mobilizing the youth for the upliftment of the nation as they are full of energy and enthusiasm. He said that history is witness to the fact that student unions have been responsible for making watersheds in the annals of many nations.

He was addressing an impressive student convention organized by National Student’s Union of India (NSUI) J&K at the Auditorium of Jammu Club today.

Speaking on the occasion, Pratiba Ragubanshi, Vice President All India NSUI said that students should unite against the communal and regional forces. She appealed the student to co-operate the NSUI.

General Secretary NSUI J&K, Manjeet Singh Jatt also spoke on the occasion and give brief resume about the achievements of the Union. He highlighted the problems being faced by the student community and unemployed youth of the State.

Others who spoke on the occasion including Parvinder Singh, Mehboob Azad, Vivek Gupta, Virinder Singh Chib. Ajat Shatru Sharma, Surinder Sharma, Jatinder Choudhary, Sunil Choudhary, Yawar Butt and Mubishar Butt.

On the occasion hundred students joined NSUI.

Ex-policemen demand reservation for children

Excelsior Correspondent

RAJOURI, Feb 15: Ex-Policemen Welfare Association has demanded reservation for their children in jobs and professional colleges and other institutes.

In a meeting of the Association held here today under the chairmanship of Harmesh Sharma district president, the members expressed their concern over the neglect by the previous government and hoped that present Government would do some justice with them.

They demanded that reservation be granted to their children in police department and other departments besides professional colleges. It was alleged by the speakers that previous government has shown an attitude of neglect ignoring the aspirations of the retired police personnel by not issuing proper order despite assurance. They said that ex-policemen had lot of hopes from the present Government and urged the Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad to look into their long pending demands.

Mangat awards certificates, mementoes to 20 ISM officials

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 15 : Efforts must be intensified to popularize and improve the Indian System of Medicines Treatment (ISM), stressed Minister for Health and Medical Eduction Mangat Ram Sharma while addressing doctors and para medical staff of ISM at a function here on Friday.

The function was organized by ISM department to honour the medicos and para-medical staff for their outstanding performances.

The Minister said that ISM system of treatment has no side effects with lot of foreign countries having adopted this system of treatment. He said that need of the hour was to strengthen the ISM department and assured that every kind of support would be extended for improving the system of medicine across the State.

Enumerating measures initiated for improving indigenous method of treatment, Mr. Sharma said that three pronged strategy has been put in for strengthening ISM in the State under which infrastructure development, capacity building and awareness to the people about the system has been focused attention.

He said 14 projects for infrastructure development have been taken up involving a cost of Rs 43 crore adding that two projects of state level pharmacist institute and drug testing laboratory at Jammu have been completed at the cost of Rs 2 crore while as regional unani research with 50 bedded capacity at Naseem Bagh Srinagar has been made functional. The work on 100 bedded unani hospital at Shaltaing Srinagar is apace, he added.

The Minister recognized the meritorious services of 20 medicos and para-medicos of the department for their outstanding contribution in providing healthcare facilities to the people and presented them with mementos and certificates on behalf of the department.

He said Government has decided to honour such employees who work with dedication and devotion for the welfare of the people and punitive actions against those don’t follow the prescribed rules and regulations while in service.

Mr. Sharma said that allopathic and ISM systems of treatment are being brought under one roof for choicable medicare facilities to the people across the State adding posting of 400 ISM doctors on contractual basis in all PHCs are on final stage.

On the occasion, the Director ISM Dr. Abdul Kabir highlighted the achievements registered by the department and said that for the first time on the instructions of Health Minister, department started issuing appreciation certificates to officers and officials for recognition of their outstanding performances and meritorious services in the department adding such appreciations definitely boost the morale of ISM doctors and para-medicos and manufacturers.

The doctors and para-medial staff who were honoured included, Dr. Ved Pal Gupta, Dr. Varinder Mahajan, Dr. Prem Choudhary, Dr. Roop Lal Sharma, Shreyansh Jain, Dr. Dev Raj Sharma, Dr. DeepakRajan, Dr. Makhan Lal, Dr. V.P. Kotwal, Dr. Amanpreet, Dr. Raiyaz Ahmad Dar, Dr. Waheed-ul-Hassan, Dr. Arfat Hussain, Dr. Hakim Tariq, Dr. B.R. Dubb, Dr. Abrar, Dr. Aditi Sher, Dr. Farhat-un-Nisa Khan, Dr. Rohit Gupta and Mukhtar Ahmad Rather.

Ministerial staff to observe mass casual leave on Feb 22

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 15: The Ministerial staff cadre will observe two day mass casual leave on February 22 and 23 in protest against pay anomalies of the cadre including Junior Stenographers.

The decision was taken in a meeting of Ministerial Staff Association held under the chairmanship of C L Koul, president All Ministerial Staff of Health Department.

All the employees will assemble in the lawn of Directorate of Health Services on February 22 for further march towards the office of Divisional Commissioner Jammu where day long dharna will be held in order to get the pay anomalies of all ministerial cadre removed.

The meeting was among others attended by Susheel Sudan, president JK Medical Employees Federation, Ram Kumar Sharma, convenor Ministerial Staff Association, Anil Kesar, senior vice-president, Darshan Khajuria, joint secretary, Tilak Raj Sharma, vice-president, Surdeep Singh, Mohd Saleem, member secretary, Rakesh Verma, publicity secretary, Rakesh Khajuria, assistant secretary, Parminder Kumar, Swaran Singh, Nirmal Kumari, Yoginder Bhat and Kuldeep Saraf.

Snow bound Poonch areas neglected: NC legislators

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 16: National Conference legislators from district Poonch, Mushtaq Ahmed Bhukhari, Javed Rana and M R Qureshi have alleged that Azad led Coalition Government has totally ignored the snow fall hit areas of districts Poonch and Rajouri and no relief and rescue operation was launched there.

Addressing a joint press conference here today, these NC leaders alleged that entire state administration, the ministers and even the Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad himself rushed to Doda and Kishtwar area after heavy snowfall and launched massive rescue operation. Most of the PDP leaders and ministers concentrated on Kashmir Valley but it was surprising that there were no takers of the people belonging to Poonch area which experienced snow-fall ranging from two to six feet and even ten feet in the higher reaches of Loran and Mandi.

Mr Bhukhari pointed out that about 70 % of the Poonch district is snow affected and till today nobody from Administration paid visit or launched rescue and relief operation. Many houses have collapsed and the electricity and water supply stands snapped. The road and tele-communication has been badly hit. He strongly condemned the attitude of the Azad Government for discriminating this belt and demanded immediate launching of relief and rescue operation.

Mr Rana and Qureshi said crops of the farmers have also been affected with this snowfall and they should be provided compensation/ relief. Many people whose houses were damaged in earthquake were languishing in old tents and this snow has badly affected them. There was a need to provide them proper shelter and immediate relief. They also demanded free ration and alleged shortage of foodgrains, kerosene and LPG in the entire area. They also demanded that road clearance work be launched on war footing in the area.

ARTO Budgam placed under suspension

Excelsior Correspondent

Budgam, Feb 15 : Deputy Commissioner, Budgam Farooq Ahmad Renzu has constituted 13 teams headed by senior level officers to monitor the availability of essential services and allied activities in the district.

Today, the team headed by Additional Deputy Commissioner, Budgam inspected office of Assistant Regional Transport Officer and found him absent.

Earlier, people from different remote areas had complained that Assistant Regional Transport Officer is not monitoring transport services properly as a result of which some Sumo operators are charging high rates. Tehsildar Beerwa has already booked six Sumo drivers in this connection.

The casual approach of Assistant Regional Transport Officer and his absence from duty was seriously noticed by the district administration. Deputy Commissioner Budgam has approved the recommendations of the team for placing Assistant Regional Transport Officer, Budgam under suspension. The matter has been brought to the notice of higher authorities including the Transport Minister.

The Deputy Commissioner has ordered that till further action is taken against Assistant Regional Transport Officer, Assistant Commissioner Revenue, Budgam, Mohammad Ayub will hold the charge of the office. He was directed to immediately ensure that all kinds of transport services to far-flung areas are made operational. Besides, all the teams deputed have been advised to inform the Deputy Commissioner about the availability of transport services in all the areas of the district.

Meanwhile, during a surprise visit of Industrial Training Institute Ganderbal, the Additional Deputy Commissioner, Ganderbal found several employees of the institute including its Superintendent absent from duty.

The Additional Deputy Commissioner directed the concerned authorities for immediate initiation of disciplinary action against the absentees.

Driving training to be imparted through ITIs

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 15: A high level meeting of tripartite committee on road transport was held here today to discuss and finalize strategies for providing social security benefits to un-organized transport workers of the State.

The meeting was chaired by Minister for Labour and Employment Mangat Ram Sharma who is also chairman of the committee. The meeting was attended all the committee members including Principal Secretary Labour and Employment B. L. Nimesh, Labour Commissioner, P. P. Betab, Commissioner Secretary Technical Education, Commissioner Secretary Finance, Secretary Tourism, Transport Commissioner, MD RTC, President Workers Union SRTC and President Transport Association Workers Jammu.

Threadbare discussion were held on the agenda points in the meeting and it was decided that a notification under MTV would be issued for extension of social security benefits such as provision fund and Employment State Insurance (ESI) benefits to un-organized transport workers of the state.

The meeting also decided that a strategy would be framed under which the driving training would be imparted through Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) of the State. To facilitate the regular health check up for un-organized workers and transport health care facilities would be set up at bus stands and truck terminals, the meeting decided. A registration fee of Rs. 200 and a renewal for Rs. 50 would be charged from them for the purpose.

The meeting also discussed the norms under Motor Transport Act facilities like canteens, first aid facilities, regulation of hours of work, rest rooms and leave with wages for the transport workers working in such establishments at present where five or more workers have been employed.

Fake currency haul, two Kashmiri youths arrested

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 15: Police today arrested two Kashmiri youths from Narwal Fruit Mandi and recovered Rs 70,000 worth fake currency from their possession.

They were arrested from Narwal Fruit Mandi this afternoon when they were trying to settle a deal for purchasing an old Maruti car using fake currency, official sources said.

They have been identified as Siraj Ahmed Khan son of Wali Mohd Khan, a resident of village Guddar in Kulgam district of Kashmir and Sajjad Ahmed Naik son of Abdul Aziz Naik, a resident of Naikpora, Kulgam.

Both of them were apprehended by a District Special Branch (DSB) team led by DySP Pritam Singh under the supervision of DIG Jammu range Lalat Indu Mohanty and SSP Jammu Parminder Singh from Narwal Mandi when they were negotiating a deal with a trader to purchase his old Maruti car with fake currency.

Arrests were made on a specific information developed by the DSB that a group from Kashmir had come here to use fake currency by making some purchases.

The DSB sleuths recovered Rs 70,000 worth fake currency from the accused.

The currency was in denomination of Rs 500 and Rs 100 notes. A casual look at the currency made it look like a genuine one.

Both the accused were immediately whisked away to a police station in the City where they were subjected to sustained questioning during which they disclosed that they had been given currency by a businessmen in Kashmir.

As they were unable to use the currency in Kashmir, they travelled to Jammu and were in the process of using it here when they were captured, sources said.

Police authorities have established a contact with their Kulgam counterparts to make further arrests in the Valley.

Though the sources ruled out any immediate connection of arrested persons with Kashmiri militants but they said such a link can’t be denied as fake currency was mostly being used by the ultras, who were receiving it from across the border.

A case against the accused is being registered at Trikuta Nagar police station under whose jurisdiction the Narwal Fruit Mandi falls from where they were picked up.

They were likely to be send to Joint Interrogation Centre (JIC) after completion of legal formalities to ascertain whether they had any militant connections.

BJP denounces UPA Govt for hike in oil prices

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 15: Protesting against the Congress led UPA Government for hike in the petrol and diesel prices, the State Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) today carried out a protest rally under the leadership of its State President Ashok Khajuria.

The protest march started from Mubarak Mandi and after passing through main bazar, culminated at city chowk where an effigy of UPA Government was burnt. The protestors were shouting anti-Government sloagans besides slamming the latter for alleged anti-poor and pro-rich policies.

While addressing the gathering at City Chowk, Mr Khajuria criticized the Congress-led UPA and anticipated that the recent hike in oil prices will further multiply the problems of common masses who are already bearing the brunt of heavy prices of all basic commodities.

Drawing comparisons between the erstwhile regime of NDA Government and the present UPA Government, Mr Khajuria maintained that during the current regime Government has failed to check the soaring prices of all the essential commodities which were easily affordable to the poor under NDA’s regime.

Besides party workers, prominent party leaders who took part in the rally included Chander Prakash, Shamsher Singh, Yudvir Sethi, Sat Sharma, Pramod Kapahi and Rajesh Gupta.

ICFAI conducts seminar on ‘Time Management’

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 15: ICFAI University conducted a seminar cum workshop on ‘Time Management’ for its working executives, here this afternoon.

Abhajit Bhattacharya, corporate training faculty of ICFAI was the resource person for the seminar. He spoke in detail about the techniques of time management.

Bhattacharya stressed on the goal making abilities of the individuals and its effect in achieving positive results. He said the need is having smart goals than having big goals, which should be specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-bound.

He also dealt with the constraints of time management and spoke on the importance of prioritizing the work, avoiding procrastination etc. While talking about prioritizing, he stressed on planning, delegation, de-stressing etc. for effective time management.

Abhajit Bhattacharya, a seasoned campaigner of training programmes, has over 15 years of experience in human resource development, training and consultancy, which includes overs nine years of expertise in corporate training.

Arun elected ICAI chairman

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 15: The J&K branch of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) today elected its team of office bearers for the term 2008-09.

All the members were elected unanimously. They included Arun Gupta as chairman, Wig Sinbad as vice-chairman, Hardeep Aggarwal as secretary and Lalit Kumar Gupta as treasurer.

Prof Ali is Chief Co-ordinator PG centres

Excelsior Correspondent

Srinagar, Feb 15: Prof Nisar Ali , Dean social sciences has been appointed, Chief co- ordinator PG centers. Consequent upon this Prof Abdul Aziz as Department of mathematics has been appointed as new dean academics till further orders.

In, another order, Prof M A Peer, Director computer sciences has been appointed as CO-ordinator, University Grants Commission (UGC).

Meanwhile, Dr Nisar Ahmad Rather, Reader Department of Mathematics has been appointed as Deputy Chief Proctor forthe University of Kashmir.

PHE daily wagers seek Govt attention

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb15: PHE Daily Wagers Welfare Association has warned the State Government intensify their struggle in the days to come provided the latter further ignores long pending demands of the association.

While addressing a media conference here today, president of the association and executive members of the association in a joint statement said that last year also they had held a demonstration in favour of their demands but the same have not been addressed till today.

Underlining the demands, they said that inspite of working hard, daily wagers are not disbursed regular pay due to which their families have to suffer in the wake of soaring prices of all essentials. The demands which were raised by them included parity of wages with their counterparts in Kashmir division, regularization of daily wagers after seven years of continuous services as per the rules framed by the State Government, Insurance cover and GPF etc.

Court denies bail to fraud couple

SRINAGAR, Feb 15: A local court has rejected bail application of a couple who duped innocent people after promosing them jobs in the Government departments.

Rejecting the bail application of Abdul Hamid Khan and his wife Zahia Khan, the Judicial Magistrate said if the accused are released on bail, they might tamper with evidences.

The prosecution said on December 29 last year one Javaid Ahmad Khan, resident of Batmaloo lodged a complaint that on December 22, 2006 Khan and his wife demanded money from him and other unemployed of the area for providing them jobs in the Government departments and plots in Government colonies.

However, after receiving the money, the accused provided copies of land allotment in their favour. But the documents later proved to be fake, the prosecution said adding the accused were arrested on February 8. (UNI)

Protest against mismanagement in DDE

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 15: The members of Jammu University Research Scholars Executive Association (JURSEA) today held a protest demonstration in Distance Education complex of the university against the alleged mismanagement. Leading the protest, JURSEA president Vikas Sharma raised the issues of students who suffered due to prevalent mismanagement in the Directorate of Distance Education (DDE) of the university.

He criticized Prof. B P S Sehgal, director for his complete failure to overhaul the system here. He disclosed that the M.Ed list for the year 2007 was yet to bring out and there were several other issues being confronted by the enrolled students of this wing.

He further pointed towards the lack of other basic facilities in the distance education complex. Those who joined the protest included Rajneesh Sharma, Muneesh Gandotra, Uday Singh, Rakesh Chib, Sandeep etc.

Supreet memorial seminar in GCW Parade

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 15: The Department of Computer Sciences, Government College for Women Parade organized "Supreet Kour Memorial Kidney Awareness Seminar" in the college, here today.

Dr. Meenakshi Kilam, Director College Development Council, University of Jammu (JU) was the chief guest while Principal Usha Jayee was the guest of honour.

In the seminar, three students spoke over the kidney ailments and made student aware of various precautions to be taken to avoid kidney diseases. A presentation was also made on the life and achievements of Supreet Kour, a final year student of the department who died in recent past due to kidney failure.

On the occasion, Best Student trophy and Most Appreciated Student trophy named after her were also given away to two students of the department. The event was conceived by Prof. Parveen Singh, head of the department.