Mahashivratri celebrated with traditional fervour

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Mar 6: The festival of Mahashivratri was today celebrated with traditional fervour across the Jammu province as lakhs of devotees observed fast and thronged temples of Lord Shiva to offer special prayers.

Long queues were seen at temples with pilgrims rushing in to offer prayers to Lord Shiva since morning. Mahapooja and ‘Abhisheks’ were performed in the temples besides various religious programmes.

From wee hours, the devotees started crowding the temples to offer prayers, milk, flowers, fruit and incense to the Shivlingam. The chants like "Har Har Mahadev" reverberated the premises of the temples.

Enthusiasm among the devotees was much evident in Ranbireshwar Temple in the heart of city, Aap Shamboo at Roop Nagar and Bahu Fort temple that witnessed huge crowd. Among the devotees who visited the famous Ranbireshwar Temple were Governor Lt Gen (Retd) S K Sinha and his wife Premini Sinha. They also visited Har-ki-Pouri on the banks of River Tawi and joined Arti.

A large number of devotees also took a holy dip in the River Tawi which is also known as Suraj Putri, at Har-ki-Pouri while as a huge rush of the devotees was witnessed at Utterbehni and Purmandal, where they had holy dip on the auspicious occasion.

All the big and small Shiv Temples were tastefully adorned and visitedenqued by the devotees, who were offered ‘prasad’ by the management of the temple committees. Some people also offered a drink made with cannabis, almonds, and milk — at Shiv temples to the devotees.

In several temples various programmes including Rudra Abhishek and Shiv Baraat were organised to celebrate the occasion.

The police had made tight security arrangements at all religious spots as a precautionary measure to ward off any untoward incidents.

Reports from Reasi district said that more than 50,000 people offered prayers at famous Shiv Khori shrine in Ransoo area where elaborate arrangements were made for the pilgrims by the administration.

Huge rush of devotees was also witnessed at the religious place of Baba Dhansar where the main attraction is the naturally formed Shiv Lingam inside a small cave, carved out in a rock face. Along side the cave is a huge spring gushing out of the rock face and forms water body before cascading down from the hill in a number of waterfalls and forming a limpid pool of water before tumbling further to merge with the stream.

Meanwhile, at Panthal, Murti Satapna ceremony of Shiv Lingam, Hanuman, Durga Mata was also held in the newly constructed mandir and hall followed by Bhandara.

BJP flays Govt for misusing power to meet political ends

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Mar 6: Former Union Minister and senior BJP leader Prof Chaman Lal Gupta has assailed the ruling Congress for holding Kisan meet of Congress workers at the official residence of Chief Minister at Jammu.

Prof Gupta observed that this was wrong to hold political meeting at the official residence of Chief Minister, thereby misusing all the Government resources for political purpose by the PCC chief Prof Saif-ud-Din Soz.

Regarding loan waiver Prof Gupta questioned that whose loans were being waived off as the farmers have not obtained any loan for the past 20 years, and prior to that they had obtained loan from cooperative societies, majority of whom have become defunct by now and the farmers fighting litigations in the courts of law.

He described the present coalition dispensation as worst ever and most despotic. He added that it was height that SRTC employees have not been paid their salary for the past over five months and even their GP Fund has been swindled, and now that were being threatened with ESMA, when they are on roads to demand their wages.

MEF-O deputation meets Health Minister

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Mar 6: A deputation of Jammu Kashmir Medical Employees Federation Original (MEF-O) called on the Health Minister Mangat Ram Sharma and pleaded the cause of Female Multi-Purpose Workers Association.

The demands highlighted pertained to 100 percent promotions to the post of LHVs from trained FMPHWs, 25% promotion to the posts of Extension Educators out of FMPHWs and 25% promotion to the post of Junior Staff Nurses from FMPHWs.

The deputation was led by MEF-O president S Dharminder Singh Bhargav and Saroj Bala, president, Female Multiple Purpose Health Workers, and attended among others by S Paramjeet Singh, R K Sharma, Reham Din, Mrs Mamta Sharma, Neelam Kumari, Birta Devi, Laxmi Devi and Neelam Sudan.

It was agreed upon in the meeting that newly created districts shall be provided required/ additional staff by making promotions from the category of FMPHWs and that their promotions for the above posts would be considered in the next Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) meeting.

Silver Jubilee Kafila of NPP reaches Hiranagar

Excelsior Correspondent

KATHUA, Mar 6: Silver Jubilee Caravan of the National Panthers Party (NPP) led by Prof Bhim Singh arrived Kathua and Hiranagar towns today.

The NPP leaders were given warm reception at different places during the awareness yatra taken out in the district. Senior Party leaders Harshdev Singh, Yashpal Kundal (MLAs), State president Bansi Lal Sharma, H C Jalmeria and other leaders addressed the gathering at Kathua, Hiranagar, Sherpur and Samba today.

Prof Bhim Singh while addressing gathering called upon all the secular and nationalist forces in the country to mobilize the national opinion to empower Parliament of India to legislate in respect of the subjects which were included in the Instrument of Accession by Maharaja Hari Singh in 1947 to the minimum. He favoured distribution of legislative powers within the State between the two provinces so that each province shall have Legislative Assembly to legislate in respect of the matters within the mandate of the State-list.

The NPP supremo appealed the youth and the students to sacrifice the coming six months for the sake of their future by supporting Panthers Party in the forthcoming Assembly elections.

Several other leaders also addressed gathering and assured that Party would emerge more stronger after coming elections.

Talks with Pandey remain inconclusive
Clerical employees to intensify agitation

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Mar 6: Clerical cadre employees of all the departments of State Government have resolved to further intensify their strike as even fourth-round talks of the employees leaders with Divisional Commissioner Jammu failed today.

The apex body of the Central Executive including employees from district and tehsil units of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh All Departments Clerical Staff Association held deliberations with the Divisional Commissioner Sudhanshu Pandey. Ram Kumar Sharma was leading the talks.

Though talks continued for several hours, yet could not yield any fruitful results. The employees leaders realising rigid attitude of the Government have decided to intensify agitation. These employees are demanding that anomalies in the pay grades of clerical staff including junior, senior and head assistants be removed. They have sought the intervention of Chief Minister to resolve the issue.

The apex body further unanimously authorised Ram Kumar Sharma, coordinator as spokesman of the Association. It was later decided that strike will continue and side by side dialogue will also be continued with Government till settlement of demands.

A 15-member Negotiation Committee led by Ram Kumar Sharma was also constituted today. The other members of the committee are - Rehmat Ullah Malik, Ravi Singh Bhau, Anil Kumar Mehta, R P Sharma, Bashir Malik, Sukhbir Singh, Ravi Razdan, K A Deewani, Ravi Kumar, Roshan Lal, Sushil Gupta, Anoop Sharma, C L Koul and Syeda Bano.

The central body asked all the units to intensify their strike in the State. A massive rally is being held on March 8 at Exhibition Ground near Press Club (Tawi bridge) at 11 am.

Thefts at Sewa project solved, 4 held

Excelsior Correspondent

KATHUA, Mar 6: Basohli police claimed to have solved several theft cases which took place at Sewa Hydel project site in the last one year with the arrest of four members of a gang operating in the area.

A police party established the clue after it intercepted a Jeep No. JK08A/7455 carrying stolen goods on Bani-Basohli road today. After seizure and clue from the driver, four members of the gang were nabbed. They are identified as Dev Raj, resident of Gatti village, Ashok Kumar, son of Tara Chand, Ankush Raina residents of Basohli and Lalit Kumar from Plasi.

ASP Kathua, Benam Tosh said raids were being conducted by SHO Basohli and Bani to nab three more absconding members of the gang. They had stolen copper wires, batteries, sheets, motors and other spare parts belonging to Gammon Company Ltd and Patel Engineering Works at Sewa Hydel power project site at Hutt Mashkan and Gathi. Stolen goods worth lakhs were also seized. Further investigation was in progress.

Contractual period of teachers extended

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Mar 6: The Government has authorized District Development Commissioner, Doda to extend the period of contractual appointment for teachers in the district till such time the posts were filled.

Instructions were passed during a high level meeting chaired by the Chief Minister.

During the meeting, the DDC, Doda, Khurshid Ahmad Bhat drew the attention of the chair that he was facing difficulty in running schools in the wake of expiry of contractual appointment of teachers and requested that the period may be extended, as had been done in the case of other districts, for smooth functioning of schools.

Upon this, the Chief Secretary authorized him to extend the contractual period of teachers in the district by one year or till the posts are substantively filled, which ever is earlier.

CM for joint survey of PMGSY projects

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Mar 6: Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has emphasized on joint survey by revenue, forest and R&B departments to clear road projects taken up under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna (PMGSY) in Jammu & Kashmir and setting up of a monitoring committee for their speedy implementation.

Mr. Azad was chairing a high level meeting to discuss how to eliminate delays in the implementation of PMGSY projects and take measures for their early completion.

Minister for Forests, Qazi Mohammad Afzal, Minister for R&B, Jugal Kishore, Minister of State for R&B, Gharu Ram, Minister of State for Forests, G. M. Saroori, Chief Secretary, B. R. Kundal, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Anil Goswami, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Commissioner/ Secretary, Forests, Commiss-ioner/ Secretary Law, Secretary, Revenue, Secretary, R&B and Deputy Commissioners of all districts of Jammu province were present.

The meeting was taken in the backdrop of the recent discussion the Chief Minister had with the Union Minister for Rural Development, Raghuvansh Prasad Singh in New Delhi where the Union Ministry approved 378 new roads for the State under PMGSY, costing Rs. 1175 crore. The projects are expected to cover some 700 rural habitations in the State.

The Chief Minister impressed upon the concerned officers to accord top priority to the speedy implementation of the road projects and remove bottlenecks by a mechanism of joint survey and monitoring.

The meeting decided that land acquisition cases under PMGSY would now onwards be directly sent by DCs to the revenue secretary for approval to save time. The cases would be sent through special messengers instead of normal dak to cut on transmission time. Likewise, delegation of powers was also decided to be effected in the forest department for similar objective. A monitoring committee would be set up under a tehsildar comprising officials of Revenue, Forest and R&B departments to oversee the implementation of PMGSY projects.

The meeting also discussed the dearth of Revenue officials coming in the way of speedy settlement of land acquisition cases. It was decided to make contractual appointment of honest and capable retired patwaris, girdawars and naib tehsildars to meet the shortage of officials.

SRTC employees protest outside GM’s office

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Mar 6: Employees and workers of the J&K State Road Transport Corporation held a protest demonstration and dharna outside General Manager’s office here in support of their demands.

Despite holiday on account of Maha Shivratri today, the employees continued their indefinite strike throughout the State. Non-operation of Govt Transport fleet continues and the SRTC is losing revenue worth lakhs per day. The Corporation workers at Srinagar, Jammu and other parts of the State held demonstrations and dharnas today.

In Jammu, the workers staged dharna at Bikram Chowk office/ Yard of the SRTC. Ashok Mehra, D R Bali, Pawan Sharma, A S Soodan and other leaders of the workers addressed gathering and criticised the Transport authorities for not accepting the demand of the employees. They also condemned the police action in which family members of the SRTC workers were dragged on the roads and packed into the vehicles by police after arrest. They condemned brutal action of Kashmir police.

These agitating employees are on strike for the last over sixteen days demanding release of their five months salary and pending 42 slabs of COLA while the Government is willing to provide only 4 months salary. The Transport authorities have failed to resolve the crisis and they have only adopted the attitude of suppression. Their three rounds of talks with Government representatives have failed to yield results.

Meanwhile, J&K Employees’ Joint Action Committee (EJAC) in a meeting held under the chairmanship of Abdul Qayoom Wani (State president) took stock of the situation arising out of the strike of SRTC employees and it was felt that Government should shun its stance of suppression. They demanded that Government should lift ESMA and release pending wages and COLA slabs. Mr Wani alleged that imposing ESMA on SRTC workers amounts to curb their fundamental rights. He also demanded that all the arrested workers be released immediately otherwise all the employees and workers will join hands. He said ESMA was no solution to the problem. Government itself was responsible for the current situation.

Awami National Conference gears up for Assembly polls

Excelsior Correspondent

BARAMULLA, Mar 6: A convention of party workers of Awami National Conference was held here today to gear up for forthcoming Assembly elections in the State and explain the party’s ideology to the people.

The convention was attended by the top leadership of the party led by general secretary Mir Mohammad Shafi and senior party leaders Muzzaffar Shah, Ghulam Mohiuddin Udi as also district presidents of Srinagar, Bandipora,Pulwama, Kupwara etc.

Some important steps taken by party president G M Shah to come out of the difficult situation prevalent in the State and to write a new chapter in the history of Jammu and Kashmir were discussed in the convention which could guarantee a secure, bright and honorable future to the State.

"Herath" celebrated with religious fervour

SRINAGAR, Mar 6: The main festival of the Kashmiri Pandits —"Herath" (Maha Shivratri) was celebrated throughout the Valley by members of the Pandit community who participated in night-long prayers.

Today is "salam" when the members of the community, after night-long prayers in their homes, greet each other and also receive their Muslim brethren.

Emotional scenes were witnessed at Sheikhpora in the central Kashmir district of Budgam where 15 Pandit families were celebrating the festival for the first time after getting into the flats allotted to them.

A number of Muslims, particularly elders, were seen greeting the Pandit families on the occasion today.

The turmoil for years has separated our bodies but our soul remains one, Muslims and Pandits said in one voice after greeting each other.

However, adequate security forces had been deployed in and outside the flats, constructed for Pandit families.

Out of 30, only 15 families have so far started residing in the flats, official sources said.

Reports of herath celebration were also received from other parts of the Kashmir valley where Muslims greet their Pandit brethren.

The divisional authorities had made all arrangements to ensure supply of essential commodities including fish, vegetables and walnut for the Pandit families.

Majority of Kashmiri Pandits, working in different Government and semi Government departments, are celebrating the festival with their families in other parts of the country, including Jammu, Delhi, Mumbai and Udhampur.

In Kashmir, the people generally consider ‘Herath’ as the marriage day of Lord Shiva with ‘Uma’ while outside Kashmir, it is taken as the day when Lord Shiva manifested in human form on earth to bless his devotees and redeem them.

Shivratri in Kashmir is popularly known as ‘Herath’. All through the ages people have given various meanings to ‘Herath’.

Some trace it back to the times of the Pathan occupation of the Valley, when alien rulers forced the people to celebrate the festival in the summer month of ‘Asada’, instead of ‘Phalguna’.

They said the forced alteration in the timings of these celebrations brought a lot of misery in the Valley. There were inexplicable changes, snowfall in the summer months that resulted in crop failure and consequent famine.

The Pathans later called it ‘Hairath’, which is a Persian word. The word ever since has clung on to the memories of the Kashmiri people.

It starts from the first day of ‘Phalgun’, dark fortnight Hur Okdoh and ends on ‘Tela Ashtami’, Lunar fortnight of Phalgun, which as the common belief, signals that the cold and wintery days are on way to bid goodbye and are heralding the approach of summers.

From this day, the entire house is cleaned and washed - the walls, floors, linen, utensils, everything receives a face lift and is made to look "wonderfully perfect."

on ‘Hur Ashtami’ that comes in-between, on the eighth day, people organise religious kirtans and jagran originally at ‘Hari Parvat’, ‘Pokhribal’ and ‘Khirbhawani’.

Fish is a very important item to be cooked on all these days of fun and merry making. On ‘Dyara Daham,’ the day of the Laxmi, the new brides come wearing new clothes and bring with them ‘Herath’ Bhog’

‘Gad Kah’ comes soon after on the eleventh day when fish is bought home and cleaned and fried for the main day, followed by ‘Wager Bah’, the day when new earthenware, specially prepared for the occasion is installed in the ‘puja room’.

Pooja starts at ‘Pradosh Kala’ (dusk) and all the family members take part in it and the same carries on till late in the night.

The fast is broken with boiled rice and a variety of cooked vegetables.

The Shivratri comes to a close in the evening of ‘Amavasya’. The walnuts in the pitchers are taken out and washed. Pooja is once again performed, signifying the culmination of the festival. The ‘Samgri’ and the flowers used are immersed in the river.

Walnuts are used as prashad and distributed amongst the neighbours and friends.

Muslims and people belonging to other faiths greet their Pandit brethren on the occasion and enjoy fish, nadroo and rice besides walnuts. (UNI)

Old Samba-Kathua road to be upgraded

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Mar 6: The old Samba-Kathua road would be upgraded for plying of traffic to facilitate a large chunk of population living across the road.

It was decided in a high level meeting held between the Minister for Health and Medical Education Mangat Ram Sharma and Minister for R&B Jugal Kishore Sharma here.

The meeting was also attended by Secretary Roads and Buildings, Chief Engineer R&B Jammu and other senior officers and engineers.

The meeting was decided that a project report would be formulated and submitted to the Central Government for approval of NABARD funding for the purpose. It was also decided that till NABARD approves project, the patch work of the road would be taken up to avoid inconvenience to the people and transporters.

The meeting was informed that patch work on 7 km Puli morh to Nagri-Parole road would also be made and also renovation work of all link roads connecting national highway in Kathua district would be given priority.

Religious places schools of reforming mankind: Mangat

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Mar 6: Minister for Health and Medical Education Mangat Ram Sharma has called upon the people to nurture traditional characteristics of amity, brotherhood, tolerance and secular temperament, the State has been abode, of since ages.

Addressing public meeting at Panjan after inaugurating Guru Naba Dass Temple today, "he said religious places are schools of reforming mankind and inculcating spirit of God fearing, truthfulness, public service and brotherhood. Religion is the best medium to create a disciplined society where love and spirituality should rule the roost", he added. "Religious should not be used to create conflict and prejudice as no religion spreads hatred", he said.

Mr Sharma said Government was committed to the development of all sections of the society, as such, multilateral and multi-pronged development programmes have been launched across the State.

Saying that Jammu and Kashmir is marching towards peace, progress and prosperity, the Health Minister said "it only became possible by the efforts of Mr Azad for equal development".

Mr Sharma said that last two years of Azad led Government were revolutionary in so far as infrastructure development in the State was concerned, adding that areas neglected for decades witnessing all round development. He said a new work culture was created in the State and hundreds of mega projects started on fast track.

Making the fervent appeal to the people for taking full advantage of the golden opportunity provided to them by way of liberal funding for their welfare, he asked them not to give any heed to the hollow sloganeering by some political groups who believe in narrow political ideology. He also urged upon them to strengthen the hands of Government with wholehearted cooperation for achieving the goal of Khushal J&K.

He assured the people that their demands with regards to construction of roads and other basic amenities would be looked into sympathetically.

Earlier, the Health Minister visited Primary Health Centre Dansal and took round of all the sections of the hospital. He enquired the welfare and medicare facilities of indoor patients in the hospital. He also visited Kishanpur Health Centre and took stock of healthcare facilities.

Interacting with the people, the Minister said that Primary Health Centre Dansal now brought under the control of Directorate of Health Services Jammu and all the vacant posts of doctors, para-medical staff would be filled soon besides repairs and renovation works be also taken up at the earliest. He expressed his displeasure over the uncleanness of the wards of the hospital and instructed concerned authorities to ensure cleanliness of the hospital.

Zardari's statement is harbinger of peace in J&K: Vakil

Excelsior Special Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Mar 6: Congress party has finally broken its silence over Asif Ali Zardari's historic statement on Kashmir as its senior Vice President for Jammu & Kashmir and a Cabinet Minister, Abdul Gani Vakil, today welcomed the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader's suggestion of leaving the bloody political crisis to the posterity for finding its solution at an appropriate time.

Addressing a well-attended rally of his party at Dooru Shahabad, in Anantnag district, Minister of Social Welfare and Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad's close confidante, Abdul Gani Vakil, asserted that Mr Zardari's views were not only realistic but also "highly encouraging" for those who wanted to get Kashmir out of its 20-year-long bloodshed. "Zardari Sahab has wrightly said that the Kashmir imbroglio can not be allowed to hold hostage entire gamut of relationship between India and Pakistan. His suggestion of putting the problem into hibernation is a remarkable breakthrough in the process of harmony, relationship and economic cooperation between the two countries", Vakil told a responsive gathering.

Vakil said that the "frustration" generated among the "merchants of death" by Mr Zardari's statement was understandable as, according to him, it was bound to shut the shops of all those who had developed vested interest over the death and destruction in Jammu & Kashmir. "But, it is surprising that even some senior leaders of Kashmir's mainstream political parties have not wasted a second to discourage the moderate Zardari Sahab and encourage the extremist elements with their politics of camouflage", Vakil said without mentioning any names. He asserted that "all those flourishing on political uncertainty, instability and extremism" required to open their eyes after the recent Pakistan elections, followed by the February 25th Deoband declaration against terrorism, as the sun had set on those who wanted to continue bloodshed in the name of Jihad and Azadi in the sub-continent.

"One hundred thousand Kashmiris have got killed. Thousands of properties have got destroyed. Our culture and value system has been shattered. What's the outcome of all this? Are they still thirsty of the blood of hapless Kashmiris? Are they still hungry after getting one poor people killed? Do they want one Lakh more bodybags?",Vakil asked and asserted that the leadership from New Delhi to Srinagar should enthusiastically welcome Mr Zardari's path-breaking views on Pakistan's Kashmir policy.

Vakil said that the vexed Kashmir problem has to be taken out of its emotional quagmire and has to be resolved by way of building consensus not only between the leadership in Islamabad and New Delhi but also all political parties in Jammu and Kashmir. He said that it was not the exclusive domain or competence of any single political party. Had it been so, National Conference stalwart Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah would have resolved it long back. He said it was utterly unfortunate that many political leaders, including the masters of vested interests in mainstream parties, had been issuing statements brazenly detrimental not only to the interests of the Kashmiri people but also to both India and Pakistan.

Vakil said it was highly reassuring that the new political leadership in Pakistan was adopting realism and culling out emotion from the policies which had caused damage to the state of Pakistan for the last six decades. He said that Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad had played a significant role in bringing relief to the people of Kashmir as it was he who had contributed to shaping of the friendly relationship between India and Pakistan. He said that Azad had launched a massive developmental programme and he required to be given a massive mandate for its implementation for the next six years.

While addressing the gathering, Minister of Power, Babu Singh, said that Ghulam Nabi Azad's government had managed to get the compensation of the 1960 Indus Water Treaty, between India and Pakistan, in the form of a Rs 4,000-Crore thermal power project who would produce 1,000 MW of power round-the-clock and round-the-year. He said that Rangarajan Committee had proposed just the transfer of 300 MW capacity Dul Hasti project as compensation of the Indus Water Treaty to J&K but Mr Azad had managed to get 1,000 MW thermal project which, according to them, was a historic achievement.

Babu Singh said that J&K had a hydroelectric generation potential of 20,000 MW and with the addition of all geo-thermal and solar resources it could be taken to 50,000 MW. He said that the total requirement of the state at this stage was just 2500 MW. While the state was producing a maximum of 309 MW, its total availability with the inclusion of 12% royalty on the projects of NHPC was around 1800 MW. He explained that with the exploitation of the hydroelectric potential as well as geo-thermal and solar resources with PM's Rs 18,000 Cr special financial assistance, J&K would be in a position of exporting a huge quantity of power and thus earning substantial revenues. He said that proper exploitation of tourism and power potential was answer to Kashmir's poverty and J&K would soon prosper, perhaps better than any other Indian State.

Former Minister and MLA Dooru, G A Mir, also addressed the rally.

Meanwhile, here in the capital city, senior PDP leader and Minister of Finance, Tariq Hameed Qarra, addressed a gathering of his party's workers from Batmaloo and Khanyar segments. He said that getting rid of National Conference was the "greatest Azadi" for the Kashmiris as that party, according to him, had pushed Kashmir to destruction. He said that Srinagar would transform into a fully developed city if the people came out and voted for PDP. He said that Batmaloo had already become a model constituency in the capital city.