NPP appeals
Hurriyat to join poll process
Excelsior
Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Feb 16: Prof
Bhim Singh, chairman JKNPP and
Member National Integration
Council (NIC) today appealed the
leadership of Kashmir including
Hurriyat Conference to accept the
reality of international
situation and join electoral
battle in forthcoming J&K
Assembly polls.
Prof
Singh said these words while
addressing a strong gathering of
party delegates at one day
convention here today Prof Singh
also called upon the angry youth
of the valley to join electoral
battle so as to represent the
sufferings of the valley people
from a legitimate platform.
Bhim
Singh urged the Prime Minister to
declare and grant general amnesty
to all prisoners held in
connection with militancy related
activities in the valley.
Prominent
among those who addressed the
convention included Bashir Ahmed
Kathu Advocate,vice president,
Farooq Ahmed Dar (State
secretary), Ghulam Rasool Nadim,
Haji Sheikh Abdul Khaliq, Ali
Mohd Dar and others.
Through
a unanimous resolution Panthers
Party demanded immediate
dismissal of coalition Government
for having lost the confidence of
the common people due to its
indulgence in corruption and
nepotism. The resolution also
demanded holding of Assembly
polls under Governor’s rule
and declared Prof Bhim Singh as
next Chief Minister of the State.
The Valley
beckons with a heartfelt appeal
to return
By Ravinder Kaul
‘Do
they still remember us’?
Living in forced exile, away from
their land of ancestors, this is
a question that every Kashmiri
Pandit has asked himself or his
fellow exile often for all of the
past 18 years.’They’ in
the question being the members of
the majority community. While
life has moved on and a new
generation, that was born and
brought up outside Kashmir, has
chalked out a future for itself
on a global canvas, this question
still haunts most of those for
whom the kind shadow of
benevolent Chinars and placid
waters of benign Dal are still
fresh in the reservoir of their
memory.
That
Kashmir still lives in the hearts
of all those who were compelled
to leave it, can be seen in the
entire body of literature that
has been created by writers
living outside Kashmir. The
literature, that has come to be
broadly described as
‘literature in exile’,
is replete with sweet and bitter
memories of what life was like in
Kashmir. Poets and writers like
Moti Lal Saqi, Arjun Dev Majboor,
Moti Lal Kemmu, Rattan Lal Shant,
Mohan Lal Aash, Agnishekhar, Dr.
K.L.Choudhary, Maharaj Krishan
Santoshi, Meera Kant, Kshama
Kaul, Chanderkanta, Maharaj
Krishan Bharat and scores of
others have poured their heart in
their poems, short stories, plays
and novels extolling the virtues
of the composite culture of
Kashmir. The subsequent fissures
in the centuries old tradition of
mutual co-existence also has also
not escaped their literary
scrutiny.
However,
strangely not much has been
forthcoming on the subject from
the other side of the Pir Panjal.
Barring Farooq Nazki, Gulshan
Majid and Shabnam Ashai (there
may be others not in my
knowledge), who have
‘dared’ to publicly
remember the warmth that once
existed between members of the
two communities, the literature
emanating from Kashmir has been
conspicuously silent over one of
the greatest catastrophes of post
independence India, thus giving
rise to the question in the minds
of the exiles, ‘do they
still remember us’?
An
answer to this question was
provided at a function organised
by Nagraad Adbi Sangam, in
collaboration with J&K
Academy of Art, Culture and
Languages here today, in which a
musical video album
‘Naad’ was released for
public viewing. The album is
based on the poetry of Riyaz
Anznoo and out of five songs of
the album, two are fully devoted
to the social phenomenon of life
in Kashmir without Kashmiri
Pandits. The remaining three
songs are devoted to pangs of
love and separation.
The
first song of the album is an
earnest appeal to the entire
Kashmiri Pandit community to
return to their land of
ancestors.
Watan
waalyo watan waapas tarakh na
Walo
berang nabas taarakh jarakh na
It
is a very moving song, sung by
Qazi Rafi and Tehsina and
picturised on five muslim young
men and a woman who are shown in
the video imploring the members
of the minority community to
return to Kashmir by saying that,
Mashith
gao bulbulan anhaar yikh na
Pagah
yina paam di agyaar yikh na
The
other song related to Kashmiri
Pandits in the album is even more
touching and charged with
emotions.
Zinda
rozan kis byapaaras manz, asi
malyae ti gayi asi janyae ti gayi
Pyo
krooth safar lokchaaras manz, asi
malyae ti gayi asi janyae ti gayi
The
song, sung by Waheed Jeelani,
Qazi Rafi, Muneer Mir, Raja Bilal
and Tehseena, vividly records the
contribution of Kashmiri Pandits
to the society and culture of
Kashmir by naming some of the
major literary and cultural icons
belonging to the minority
community like Mohan Lal Aash,
Betaab, Moti Lal Saqi, Pushkar
Bhan, Vijay Malla, Bhajan Sopori
and Kailash Mehra in the song. It
also highlights, in detail, the
rituals, festivals and customs
associated with the Kashmiri
Pandit way of life. The visual
depicts a Kashmiri Pandit couple
in traditional costumes. Both the
songs are generously peppered
with footage of Pandits paying
their obeisance at the Kshir
Bhawani temple. The shots of
Kashmiri Pandits living in exile
also form a part of the visual
imagery depicted in both the
songs. At one point in the second
song the poet addresses the
youngsters among the migrated
community in Urdu, on the premise
that in exile they would have
forgotten their mother tongue,
Tu
laut ke aa ja us ghar mein
Jahaan
yaad tumhari rehti hai
Saanson
mein tumhari khushboo hai
Titli
kaliyon se kehti hai
Ye
jheelen jharne ye chashme
Tumhe
yaad bahut karte hain yahaan
Ye
saaye chinaron ke ab tak
Chaahat
mein teri marte hain yahaan
Ye
mandir soone soone hain
Koi
deep jalaane aa jao
Bhagwaan
ki aankhen tarsi hain
Kisi
ek bahaane aa jao
Although,
the question of return of
Kashmiri Pandits to their beloved
valley is dependent upon many
factors, not all of which can be
answered with poetry and
literature, yet creative outputs
of this kind can certainly go a
long way in evolving an
atmosphere that will one day see
the the exiled people going back
to their land of ancestors with
honour and dignity.
Power
shut down
Excelsior
Correspondent
JAMMU,
Feb 16: In order to carry out the
thickening of 33 KV
Akhnoor-Jourian line emanating
from 132/33 KV Grid-Station
Akhnoor, the power supply shall
remain affected at part of
Akhnoor town, Burmal, Shohal
Bhalwal, Jourian, Keleeth, Khour,
Pallanwala, Pahariwala, Jogwan
and other adjoining areas on
February 18, 2008 from 9 AM to 1
PM and on February 19, 2008 from
9 AM to 5 PM.
According
to SE, M&RE, the shut down
shall be subjected to fair
weather conditions.
Rs 2 cr incurred
on afforestation of 1533 hectares
of land
Excelsior
Correspondent
Jammu, Feb 16: Over
Rs.2 crore have been spent over
aforestration of 1533 hectares of
land with the plantation of over
8 lakh plants upto end of
January. The plantation aimed at
rehabilitation of waste lands
besides promoting green cover in
the state.
This
was stated in a review meeting of
the department of Social Forestry
held here today with Minister for
Forests and Environment Qazi
Mohammad Afzal in chair.
Addressing
the meeting, Qazi Afzal asked
concerned officers to submit a
comprehensive proposal for
afforestration, harvesting
schemes, rehabilitation of
degraded forest land etc. for
next year so that green cover
activities could be timely taken
without any delay.
The
Minister impressed upon the
officers to work with zeal and
dedication. He asked field
functionaries of the department
to identify land to be
rehabilitated on priority. He
called for prioritizing waste
land while taking up plantation
drives, saying vulnerable spots
including those having erosion
threat need to be attended on
preferential basis.
Threadbare
discussions were held with regard
to various issues including
construction of office complex of
the Social Forestry department.
The meeting was informed during
last four years the department
has planted 71 lakh plants over
6362 hectares of land, of which
14 lakh plants were distributed
to farmers for supplementing
government efforts in
rehabilitation of demanded
forests.
Commissioner/Secretary,
Forests Atul Dulloo, Director,
Social Forestry, Moulvi Shafat
Ahmad and other senior officers
of the department attended the
meeting.
Anusuchit Jaati
Morcha of BJP holds protest
Excelsior
Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 16: Anusuchit
Jaati Morcha of BJP, Jammu
district, under the presidentship
of Balwan Singh, held a protest
dharna outside Raj Bhawan against
reducing reservation to SCs in
promotion from 8% to 4% for
community employees.
State
president of Morcha Narsingh Dass
Rajwal said State Government has
not given any heed to their
demand of amendment in SRO 294,
despite assurances to this effect
having been received from the
Chief Minister and also other
fora, where the demand stands
projected so far.
Other
senior Morcha leaders of State
BJP who addressed included Morcha
Prabhari Bali Bhagat, State
general secretary, senior Morcha
leader Bansi Lal Bharti, Morcha
general secretary Adarsh Bhagat
who demanded 15% reservation to
SC community. The leaders also
demanded implementation of SC/ST
(prevention of atrocities Act
1989), which was made to provide
protection to weak, poor and down
trodden citizens of India.
Others
who also spoke included Balbir
Ram, Surinder Bhagat, Ashok
Gandhi, Manohar Lal, Raj Kumar,
Mrs Sakina Bano, Vijay Thappa,
Ajay Kumar, Alok Nath, Arun
Bhagat, Raman Bhagat, Om Parkash,
Meera Samral, Dalip Kumar,
Krishan Samral and Rajinder
Kumar.
Teacher hangs
himself to death
Excelsior
Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 16: A teacher
allegedly committed suicide by
hanging himself at his residence
at Panjtirthi under the
jurisdiction of Pacca Danga
Police Station.
Police
spokesman said that 42-year old
Government teacher Randeep Singh,
son of Kartar Singh hanged
himself with the ceiling fan at
his residence. He was rushed to
Government Medical College
Hospital when spotted by family
members. However, doctors
declared him as brought dead.
The
body was, later, handed over to
family members for last rites
after all legal formalities.
Police
has registered a case in this
connection and started
investigations to ascertain the
cause behind this extreme step.
Meanwhile,
one Mohd Shafiq, son of Mohd
Younis of Rajouri was killed in
road accident at Nowshera.
Tribunal orders
demolition of shopping complex
Excelsior
Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 16: D K Kapoor,
Judicial Member, J&K Special
Tribunal has directed Municipal
Authority to demolish the
unauthorized shopping complex at
Chowgan Fattu.
After
hearing Advocates Sunil Sethi and
Rakesh Sharma appearing for the
appellant and Advocates S S Nanda
and K B Gupta appearing for the
Municipal Corporation and others,
Mr Kapoor observed "there is
not even iota of rebuttal by the
appellant about the violations
alleged by the respondents",
adding "the appellant has
also failed to substantiate his
case as such the appeal
fails".
The
respondents have also established
that the land use of this pocket
was earmarked as residential but
the appellant has constructed 10
shops in the already congested
Mohalla of old city thus creating
acute congestion, the Tribunal
further observed.
The
Court said that none of these
violations can be termed as
offence of minor nature that may
be taken for compounding.
With
these observations, the Tribunal
directed the respondents (JMC) to
demolish the unauthorizedly
raised shopping complex at Fattu
Chowgan within a period of one
month from the date of this order
with intimation to the Tribunal
of the action taken.
Non-gazetted
agriculture graduates project
demands
Excelsior
Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 16: Non-Gazetted
Agriculture Graduates Association
today projected their various
long pending demands and sought
expeditious action by the
Government.
Addressing
the press conference here today,
Pradeep Sharma, president of the
Association strongly pleaded for
tackling the problem of rank
stagnation among the Junior
Agriculture Assistants (JAAs),
removal of pay parity and also
change of designation.
Mr
Sharma said stagnation in the
State Agriculture Production
Department caused a great concern
among the trained graduates and
affected their work efficiency.
He said only way is for mass
promotions as per new rules
governing the Gazetted cadre in
the Department.
The
rapid promotion of JAAs will open
up avenues for the
Rehbar-e-Zairat (REX) by
adjustment them against available
substantive posts of JAAs.
A
case was built up by the GNAGA
leaders for higher payscale in
view of their qualification also
pay parity with veterinary
doctors.
The
JAAs have also been demanding a
change in designation to
Assistant Agriculture Officer and
Junior Agriculture Officer.
The
president and other NGAGA leaders
like Randhir Singh, Pradeep Anand
and Harbinder Singh also sought
the intervention by the Chief
Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad and
Agriculture Minister, Abdul Aziz
Zargar and Agriculture Production
Commissioner to concede their
demands at the earliest.
Ansering
a question, Mr Pradeep Sharma
said " we will adopt all
constitutional means to get our
demands tackled by the
Government.
Convocation
of Regional Centre held
IGNOU
playing important role in
spreading education: Jain
Excelsior
Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 16: The
10th Convocation of Regional
Centre of Indira Gandhi National
Open University (IGNOU) was held
at Auditorium of the Indian
Institute of Integrated Medicines
(IIIM), here this evening.
Pramod
Kumar Jain,
Commissioner-Secretary, Higher
and Technical Education, who was
the chief guest at the impressive
function, lighted the traditional
lamp to mark convocation function
of IGNOU Regional Centre, Jammu.
Two
hundred and elevan students, who
passed out various post-graduate,
graduate or under-graduate degree
or diploma courses were awarded
degree by the
Commissioner-Secretary.
Regional
Director, Regional Centre, K K
Bhat, while welcoming the guest
of honour, made presentation of a
detailed report about the
activities and achievements of
the centre.
Mr
Bhat said this IGNOU has spread
its wing across Jammu region,
reaching out to the far-flung
areas and weaker sections of
society to provide education
facilties in the distance
education mode. The IGNOU has
opened its centres in remote
areas of Doda, Bhaderwah,
Kishtwar, Poonch and Rajouri.
He
also disclosed launch of new
training programme in Dogri
cuisines as also computer
literacy, awareness about
HIV/AIDS, family health,
self-governance and medicinal
plants.
The
Commissioner-Secretary Jain,
while congratulating the students
for successfully completing their
courses of study, said
IGNOU’s distance education
system is playing an important
role in spreading eduction among
the masses, especially in remote
areas and weaker sections of the
society through application
advanced communication technology
and modern methods.
Mementos
were given to four prominent
persons as Friends of IGNOU who
were Prof Ashok Aima,
Co-ordinator, IGNOU; Anil Padha,
Secretary, Red Cross; Prof Ajit
Angral, president, College
Teachers’ Assocation and
also S K Kakru.
For
merit mementos were awarded by
the chief guest to Ashwani Kaul (
Environment Science), Dr Mohammad
Sharief ( PG Journalsim and Mass
Communcation) and Sanjay Jamwal,
TMT.
The
chief guest distributed degrees
and diplomas among the students.
As
per past practice, the 17th
Convocation was held at IGNOU
headquarters at Maidan Garhi, New
Delhi where the Vice President of
India was the Chief Guest.
The
convocations were also
simultaneously organised in each
and every regional centres in the
country.
Meanwhile,
IGNOU’s convocation, was
held at Government College of
Education, MA Road, Srinagar as
well where VC, Kashmir
University, Prof Riaz Punjabi,
distributed degrees and diplomas
to the students.
Regional
Director, RC Srinagar also spoke
on the occasion.
Lal Singh for
proper monitoring of
developmental works
Excelsior
Correspondent
UDHAMPUR, Feb16 : To take
stock of physical and financial
achievements made under centrally
sponsored schemes of various
departments, the Member
Parliament, Choudhary Lal Singh
who is also Chairman of District
Level Vigilance and Monitoring
Committee, convened a meeting of
official and non-official members
of District Level Vigilance and
Monitoring Committee meeting ,
here today.
The
District Development
Commissioner, Udhampur, O.P.
Kalandaria, Additional Deputy
Commissioner, J.L. Sharma, Chief
Planning Officer, Rakesh Jamwal,
Superintending Engineers of PHE,
PWD, Assistant Commissioner,
Development, non-official members
Sayeed Shakeel Shah, Ashwani
Khajuria, Thakur Dass, Haji Saif
Ali were present in the meeting.
Speaking
on the occasion, Choudhary Lal
Singh stressed upon the official
and non-official members of the
Vigilance and Monitoring
Committee to make extensive
touring of remote corners of the
district to monitor the pace of
works besides holding interaction
with people to enlist their
genuine problems and demands. He
also called upon the monitoring
committee members to furnish the
reports about the quality of
works executed by keeping the MP
and DDC abreast about it so that
remedial measures could be taken
in case of any default.
To
provide road connectivity to
rural and hilly area habitations,
the Member Parliament called upon
the Engineers to prepare a
comprehensive plan to connect
areas under Prime Minister’s
Gramin Sadak Yojna (PMGSY) having
population of 250 souls. He
stressed for preparing plans
under this scheme on war-footing
basis as PMGSY is a totally
centrally sponsored scheme and
the objective of this scheme is
to provide road connectivity in
rural areas to the best possible
extent.
To
provide shelter to poor sections
of the society under Indira Awas
Yojna (IAY), Choudhary Lal Singh
stressed upon the officers of
Rural Development Department to
bring flexibility in rules by
considering the widow of a
deceased labour as Below Poverty
Line as in most such accidental
deaths the name of the
beneficiary did not figure in BPL
list. Similar consideration
should also be given to those
whose houses get totally
destroyed due to fire etc.
The
schemes discussed in length and
breadth included Swarn Jayanti
Gram Swarozgar Yojna (SGSY),
Sampooran Gram Rozgar Yojna
(SGRY), Indira Awas Yojna (IAY),
Swajaldhara and ARWSP, Technology
Mission of Agriculture and
Horticulture, MP LAD schemes,
Watershed and Haryali.
Gharu reviews
progress of various departments
Excelsior
Correspondent
RAJOURI, Feb 16 :
Minister of State
for R&B, Agriculture and
Co-operatives Ch Gharu Ram
convened a meeting of officers of
various departments to review the
progress made during the current
financial year in the district.
Member
Legislative Council Ashok Kumar
Sharma, Vice President Pahari
Advisory Board Shabir Khan,
President Municipal Committees,
Corporators, District Development
Commissioner Rajouri Rafiq Ahmed
Sheikh, Superintending Engineer
R&B Hamid Sheikh, Additional
District Development Commissioner
K. L. Khajuria, Chief Planning
Officer, Executive Engineers from
PDD, PMGSY and other senior
officers were present in the
meeting.
District
Development Commissioner gave a
resume of the financial
achievements registered during
the current financial year. He
informed that Sunderbani Town has
been chosen for construction of a
model town under Urban
Infrastructure Development Scheme
for Small and Medium Towns
(UIDSSMT) at a cost of Rs. 28
crore. The work over the project
would be started soon.
It
was also given out in the meeting
that 296 schemes are under
execution in the district
including 38 schemes under State
Sector, 24 under NABARD, 144
under district plan normal, 24
under BADP, 8 under UIDSSMT in
Sunderbani town and 20 in Rajouri
town.
The
Minister asked the officers to
complete the ongoing development
works with in a stipulated time
frame for the benefit of general
masses. He said the people have
lot of expectations from the
Government and as such any laxity
found would be taken seriously.
He laid stress on the quality of
works and urged the district
officers to monitor the works for
yielding satisfactorily results.
JK Bank adopts
Muradpur village
Excelsior
Correspondent
RAJOURI, Feb 16: Jammu and
Kashmir Bank’s Zonal office,
West Rajouri has adopted village
Muradpur in district Rajouri
under the bank’s recent
policy initiative of
‘financial inclusion’,
in a function held here today.
District
Development Commissioner Rajouri,
Rafiq Ahmed Sheikh was the chief
guest while Bank’s
vice-president, Madan Gupta
presided over the function.
Village Muradpur has now achieved
the distinction of being the
first village in the State to
receive wide ranging benefits
under the village adoption
project.
While
speaking on the occasion, Mr
Gupta disclosed that JK Bank will
adopt one village under each
branch in Rajouri, Poonch and
Reasi districts of Zone West to
provide intensive banking
facilities. He told that a
special counter at Rajouri branch
of the Bank would be opened to
facilitate villagers.
On
this occasion, the Bank also
sanctioned 127 KCC cards, 37 SGSY
cases, 15 JKSES, 35 KVIB and 20
Agriculture term loan cases.
Among
others present on the occasion
were K.L. Khajuria, Additional
Deputy Commissioner, Kamal Gupta
(Branch Manager) and Project
Officer, DRDA. The DDC lauded
J&K Bank’s initiative of
taking up socio-economic growth
of the area with well formulation
strategy and asked for more such
efforts in future.
HC quashes
detention of PDP zonal president
Excelsior
Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 16: Justice J P
Singh of State High Court has
quashed detention of Abdul Rahim
Shan, Zonal President of PDP and
alleged Over Ground Worker of
Hizbul Mujahideen on technical
ground.
According
to the detention order, Abdul
Rahim Shan remained in constant
touch with the HM Divisional
Commanders Mustaq Ali and Mohd
Ashraf and number of other
hardcore militants. He also
remained in the association of
dreaded Pakistani national having
code name Qari.
On
this ground, District Magistrate
Ramban detained Abdul Rahim Shah
under PSA on July 27, 2007 which
was challenged by the detenue on
various grounds.
After
hearing both the sides, Justice J
P Singh observed that the
District Magistrate has issued
the detention order on the basis
of dossier and other connecting
documents which are stated to
have been supplied by the
Superintendent of Police, Ramban.
"The
record indicates that the
petitioner was in custody when he
had been ordered to be detained
by the DM under PSA and that too
without recording requisite
satisfaction that the petitioner
was likely to be released from
custody and when so released
would indulge in activities
pre-judicial to the security of
State", the Court further
observed.
"Absence
of such satisfaction hints at the
manner in which the power has
been exercised by the District
Magistrate demonstrating his
complete non-application of mind.
The order issued by the DM
detaining the petitioner in
preventive custody is found to be
unwarranted and illegal as such
quashed", Justice JP Singh
said and ordered that he (Abdul
Rahim Shan) be set to liberty
forthwith if not required in any
other case.
Maikash
Kashmiri’s poetry book
released
Excelsior
Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 16: Famous
Urdu writer, Kailash Nath Kaul
Maikash Kashmiri’s fourth
poetic collection titled "
Saz-e-Rag-Jaan" was released
at a function held at K L Saigal
Hall, in the Cultural Academy
complex here today.
Organised
by the Maikash Kashmiri Literary
Society and Cultural Academy, the
function was presided over by
Khizar Mohammad Wani, Secretary,
Education.
Amin
Banjara, convenor of the society,
in his welcome address threw
light on the aims and objectives
as also the contribution of late
Maikash Kashmiri to Urdu language
and literature.
Aseer
Kishtwari presented a paper on
the literary merit of
Maikash’s poetry
composition. Jatender Sharma and
Yash Sharma, two old associates
of Maikash Kashmiri also spoke on
the occasion.
A
special issue of Sheeraza in Urdu
focussed on Maikash Kashmiri was
also released at this function.
Seema
Anil Seghal , renowned singer,
sang Maikash’s composition
and regaled the audience.
GCW Gandhi Nagar
first in Group Song competition
Excelsior
Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 16: Government
College for Women (GCW) Gandhi
Nagar has claimed the first
position in inter-collegiate/
departmental Group Song Indian
competition held under
"Display Your Talent"
contest in University of Jammu
(JU), here today.
GCW
Parade and GCW Udhampur clinched
the second and third positions
respectively in the contest.
Certificate of merit was awarded
to Gen Zorawar Singh Memorial
Degree College Reasi.
Parduman
Singh, Brij Mohan and Dr. S B
Garg from Bhatinda were among the
adjudicators. Each team was
required to present two songs
including a folk song from any
region.
Prof.
G S Sambyal, Registrar, who was
the chief guest, distributed
prizes among the winner teams.
Prof. N R Sharma, Chairman Campus
Cultural Committee and Dr. P S
Pathania, Dean Students Welfare
were also present on the
occasion.
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