Pak for Kashmir solution through peaceful dialogue
We want guns to rust: Zardari
*Mehbooba-PPP leader meet for half an hour

ISLAMABAD, Mar 28: Voicing Pakistan’s resolve to move forward on the Kashmir issue through a peaceful dialogue with India, PPP chairman Asif Ali Zardari today said "action" should be taken on existing Confidence-Building Measures (CBMs) which will be taken to Parliament.

The PPP’s Kashmir policy and the existing CBMs will be taken to Parliament after discussions with the party’s "senior partners", Zardari said, adding "we want the guns to rust."

Zardari, who was talking to reporters after a meeting with visiting People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti, however said the new Government will continue with the CBMs initiated by the previous regime.

"We will examine these (CBMs) and take the Kashmir policy forward. We remember (PPP founder) Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto’s dreams and Benazir Bhutto’s sacrifices for Kashmir, the PPP’s role for Kashmir’s jehadi brothers and other friends and will take them forward. We have to bring in peace," he said.

"We are totally (involved) with Kashmir. We intend to solve the problem and not just to (do) shadow-boxing for it," Zardari said.

Asked if the new coalition Government led by his Pakistan People’s Party will continue the CBMs initiated by the previous administration, Zardari said, "we want not only CBMs but action. We want to move forward and to solve this issue.

"The PPP and the democratic forces of Pakistan have always said that democracies do not fight wars. Our message is of peace and we want peace. We want peace in the region and along all our borders," he said.

"We want the guns to rust and our future generations should not have to make the sacrifices that the current and past generations have made."

Further progress could be made towards resolving the issue if Kashmiris from both sides of the border could freely meet their kin. The true potential of the youth on both sides could be achieved if they were given a pen or a business instead of the guns they are wielding, he said.

The PPP’s Kashmir policy and the existing CBMs will be taken to Parliament after discussions with the party’s "senior partners", Zardari said.

He said, "we have always emphasized that dialogue is a political tool that we have to use. We’ve always believed in dialogue under any and all conditions. PPP has put Kashmir on its agenda since (the) Simla (agreement) and since 1988."

Sources said that during the 30-minute meeting, Mufti expressed reservations about Zardari’s recent comments that relations between India and Pakistan should not be held hostage by the Kashmir issue, which should be set aside for a future generation to resolve.

Zardari expanded on his earlier comments made in an interview and explained that the PPP wanted violence to end.

He explained that Pakistan had been affected by violence perpetrated by militant groups and the new Government wanted to usher in peace, sources said.

The PPP remained committed to the Kashmir issue which also found mention in manifesto, sources quoted him.

Mufti told the reporters that steps should be taken to build on the progress made in the past four to five years through the peace process in Kashmir. "Considerable progress has been made on the Kashmir issue and the time is appropriate to resolve the issue instead of putting it aside," she said.

"I think Kashmir has its own individuality. Relations between India and Pakistan do have an impact on the Kashmir situation but it’s not the only thing. Kashmir is growing in itself it’s like a mini-state in a country. So you just cannot stop the peace process and put it on the backburner, because if you put it there again you will have to start from zero," she added. (PTI)

Govt to set up 12 pollution monitoring stations in J&K

By Gopal Sharma

JAMMU, Mar 28 : Confronted with the massive public protests and opposition in view of increasing pollution level with the coming up of a large number of industrial units in the State, the State Government has decided to set up 12 pollution monitoring stations in the State.

A decision in this regard was taken after the Government had to face massive protests from the public of Samba and Kathua where new industrial areas are being developed by the SIDCO. These two districts have seen the investment worth over Rs 800 cr from outside the State in just past five years . A large number of pesticide units have come up at Samba where Government had to face wrath of the public in recent past following protests and long agitation. The Government had to intervene and even forced the temporary closure of these units for about one month till a special team of Pollution Control Board completed its inspection and gave findings. It was followed by protests in Kathua against growing industrial pollution. Kathua being closer to Punjab and being located on main railway line turned out to be first choice of many investors from out side the State and it witnessed massive industrial growth as compared to other towns in the State after Government offered special incentives.

Chairman of the State Pollution Control Board, Dr C M Seth told the Business Standard that in view of these problems, a decision was taken to regularly monitor the air and water quality in these trouble prone areas to set up most modern pollution monitoring stations. He disclosed that a total 12 such stations are being set by the PCB with the assistance and guidance from Central Pollution Control Board.

Out of the total three pollution monitoring stations are being established at Industrial area Bari Brahmana near Jammu, another one at Kathua and the third at Samba. Three old stations exist in Jammu city but to keep check on air quality in city areas like Jewel Chowk, Narwal and Gangyal. Six pollution monitoring stations in Kashmir region are being set up at industrial area Khanmoh, Khrew, Lachhipora, Srinagar city centre at TRC, Lasjan and Gurez.

Dr Seth further disclosed that three more stations in high altitude areas in Kargil and Leh in Ladakh region are also being set up. The purpose of establishing Labs and pollution monitoring centres in high altitude areas is to monitor the major environmental changes taking place globally. The teams of experts will be regularly monitoring air and water quality. The capable Scientists would be placed for the task and a proposal has been sent to the Government for the same.

Responding to a question PCB Chairman said the land for the stations is being acquired and three Jammu stations will come up within three months. The other stations will also come up in next 4-6 months. Funds to the tune of nearly six lakhs will be spent on each station apart from the cost of land but the modern laboratories will be added in near future. The government has already constituted Pollution Monitoring Committees including experts from various concerned departments/ agencies and a few public representatives in these industrial towns, he maintained.

CBI intimates inability to take up Chopras murder

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Mar 28: Central Bureau of India (CBI) intimated to State High Court its inability to take up investigation of the much publicised murder of cement tycoon R B Chopra, his wife, daughter and two servants.

Filing its objections in a petition filed by Puneet Chopra, son of deceased R B Chopra seeking handing over of the investigation to CBI from Jammu and Kashmir, the Counsel for the CBI submitted that the Government of J&K Vide Notification dated September 25, 2006 requested the Central Government to entrust the investigation of Chopras murder case to CBI and the central agency after due examination had intimated to the Government of India that the case was of local in nature and didn’t require intervention by the CBI.

Subsequently, the Department of Personnel and Training, Government of India on November 2, 2006 conveyed the decision to the Jammu and Kashmir Government. A fax message was also sent by the CBI to State Government on November 13, 2006 intimating its inability to take-up the investigation.

The objections filed by the Superintendent CBI, SCB, Chandigarh through their counsel further submitted that J&K Police during the course of investigation arrested some of the accused persons involved in the case and special investigation team has examined more than 150 suspects and looked into every possible motive for the murder.

It was also submitted that the SIT has also mentioned that they have resorted to scientific methods of investigation and suspects arrested have been subjected to lie detection, brain mapping and narco analysis tests which resulted in detection of the case.

The arrested accused have also confessed the crime and details of money looted by them and distribution of the same amongst the members of the gang.

The State Police has been conducting investigation from all possible angles therefore, CBI’s intervention in the matter was not required, the Counsel for central agency further submitted.

It is pertinent to mention here that High Court on February 15, 2008 had directed the Counsel for the CBI to file objections.

Over 200,000 participate in prayers
Milad Friday observed with prayers for peace in Valley

Excelsior Special Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Mar 28: Friday following Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi, birth anniversary of Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him), was observed with traditional enthusiasm in Kashmir valley today.

National Conference patron, Farooq Abdullah, and senior vice president of Jammu & Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee and Minister of Social Welfare, Abdul Gani Vakil, were among over 200,000 devout Muslims who participated in the massive Friday prayers congregation at Hazratbal shrine---repository of the holy relic. SP Hazratbal, Javed Kaul, claimed that nearly 300,000 Muslims participated in the five time prayers from morning to the evening at Hazratbal today.

Devotees were as usual offered glimpse of the Prophet's relic at the conclusion of prayers for five times. Men and women occupied every inch of the spacious lawns and gardens so much so that droves of devotees were seen performing the Friday afternoon prayers in dingy lanes and by-lanes as also on the small boats buoyed on Dal Lake. On a sunny day of the pleasant spring, it appeared as if all roads were leading to Hazratbal. Devotional enthusiasm was so overwhelming that the highly protected politicians like Farooq Abdullah and Abdul Gani Vakil were calmly involved with their prayers even as their security guards were all lost in the crowds.

Then Chief Minister, Farooq Abdullah had been booed by a group of separatist activists when he had appeared to participate in the Milad prayers at the same spot in 1998. However, none of the separatist leaders or hostile crowds appeared to be in the congregation today.

The second largest congregation of the day was witnessed at the historic Jamia Masjid in downtown Srinagar where more than 50,000 people are estimated to have performed the Friday afternoon prayers. In his key sermon, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who is Chairman of Awami Action Committee (AAC) as also head of the separatist Hurriyat Conference, dwelt in length on the socio-economic problems afflicting the community of Muslims all over the World. Significantly, he steered clear of politics and confined himself to the religious significance and philosophy of Prophet Mohammad's birth 14 centuries ago.

Mirwaiz, who will be shortly completing and submitting his doctoral thesis on the religion and mysticism to the University of Kashmir, elaborated on the socio-religious responsibilities of Muslims all over the world. He exclaimed with grief that large number of Muslims had deviated from the path of righteousness and they had been hankering after money and other materialistic splendour.

Reports said that thinner assemblies of special prayers were held at most of the grand mosques all over the Valley where Muslims prayed for peace and prosperity of the Valley. No reports of any untoward incident had been received from any part of Kashmir valley till late this evening.

High alert on Jammu Fest

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Mar 28: Security arrangements have been beefed up in the entire City following reports that militants were planning strikes on the occasion of a fortnight long Jammu Festival starting here from April 1. Police sources confirmed that there had been intercepts suggesting that militants were trying to make their presence felt in the temple City during the historic event.

"In view of the intercepts, security arrangements have been tightened all around the City and outskirts. Besides increase in nakas, plainclothesmen have been deployed in several areas to keep a strict vigil on the anti-national elements who were plotting to create terror in the City", they said.

This year three day long Jammu Festival has been extended to a fortnight. Starting April 1, it will conclude on April 13 coinciding with Baisakhi Festival.

Virtually entire Jammu City will be covered during the Festival which include cultural extravaganza, Sonu Nigam Night, artistes performing ‘nukad’ and other shows in all Chowks, eating stalls and events displaying the culture of Jammu.

As a large number of local people from different parts of Jammu as well as tourists including pilgrims of Mata Vaishno Devi shrine were expected to throng the City to watch Jammu Festival, the police is on tenterhooks to ensure the peaceful Festival.

Another big event during the festival is ‘Jagriti Yatra’ carrying ‘Shastra’ of a great Sikh Guru Govind Singh Ji, which will enter Lakhanpur on April 4.

The yatra, which is a nation wide event, will be received by the State Government besides religious leaders of all communities at Lakhanpur.

The yatra will reach Digiana Ashram and then will travel to different Gurudwaras including Maharani Chand Kour Samadhi. It will stay here till April 7 and end with a ‘Vishal Langar’, sources said.

In the ‘Jagriti Yatra’ also, the authorities were expecting a large number of people to participate which required massive presence of police personnel.

The Special Operations Group (SOG) of Jammu Police has been activated by police authorities and asked to intensify security arrangements to ensure that both major events pass off peacefully.

Authorities have also alerted all police station and police posts especially in the City to step up vigil in their areas during next fortnight.

Computerised working from Navratras
SMVDSB’s bonanza for ‘pithoos’

By Sanjeev Pargal

JAMMU, Mar 28: Few days after uproar in Lok Sabha on the tax imposed on ‘pithoos’ by Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB), the Board has come up with a slew of measures not only to ease working conditions of the ‘pithoos’ but also help them monetarily.

Official sources said the Board has developed a new software under which the rates of ‘pithoos’ will be decided as per the weight they had to carry including the weight of child and luggage. The new software, which is being launched in coming Navratras in first week of next month, will give the yatris and ‘pithoos’ a computerised slip approving the payment to be made to them according to the weight they would carry to any destinations on 13 km track of Mata Vaishnodevi ji shrine.

"It will be totally transparent system both for the ‘pithoos’ as well as the pilgrims. None of them will feel cheated", they said.

In another major decision, the ‘pithoos’ will not have to wait to take their payment from the middlemen or the contractors as is the case presently. The Board has reached a tie-up with the bank to issue ATM cards to all registered ‘pithoos’ under which they will be entitled to their due payment within 36 hours after their trip.

The locking period of amount for 36 hours has been kept to ensure that there was no complaint registered against the concerned ‘pithoo’ by the pilgrims which required deduction of his amount. The ATM cards will save the ‘pithoos’ from any possible harassment at the hands of middlemen, sources said.

The SMVDSB will also ensure that all ‘pithoos’ get almost equal work. Some times it has been observed that some ‘pithoos’ managed to get two trips a day while others couldn’t get even a single trip. For fair treatment to all the ‘pithoos’, the Board’s computerised system will ensure that preference is given to ‘pithoos’ who have not undertaken a single trip during the day.

Insurance of ‘pithoos’ is also being increased from Rs 25,000 to Rs 35,000 while it is being doubled for ‘pony pithoos’ from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 2 lakh. They will get the insurance amount in case of any eventuality with them anywhere. A survey has also been ordered to identify the ‘pithoos’ falling under Below Poverty Line (BPL) category for their Medclaim insurance which will cover them for any disease.

The bonanza for the ‘pithoos’ has been worked out by Additional CEO SMVDSB Manoj Kumar Dwivedi and Deputy Commissioner, Reasi, Sanjeev Verma.

Meanwhile, in view of rush of yatris to Katra which was leading to traffic congestion on one kilometer Katra-Ban Ganga road, the authorities have converted the road into one way traffic lane. The Circular Road has been opened for down traffic. Widening of Katra-Ban Ganga road was in full pace, sources said.

PDD gears up to recover power dues
14,226 electricity connections disconnected

By Mohinder Verma

JAMMU, Mar 28: Girding up its loins to recover outstanding power dues which run into several crores of rupees and burgeoning with every passing month, the Power Development Department has disconnected a total of 14226 domestic, commercial and industrial connections besides those of several State and Central Government departments across the State.

The sword of snapping electricity supply is looming large over remaining defaulters as the recovery drive which has been initiated in the State for the first time on such a large scale, will continue till all the defaulters cough up the outstanding dues.

Authoritative sources told the EXCELSIOR that since the figure of outstanding dues against all sorts of consumers was increasing rapidly and consumers were not ready to pay the power consumption charges, the Power Development Department, on the directions of Power Ministry, prepared lists of the defaulting consumers across the State in the last week of February, 2008.

"The defaulters were warned about the stern action in case they don’t come forward to clear the outstanding dues", the sources said, adding "as the defaulters ignored the last warning of the Department, the lists were circulated to the field staff to come down heavily on them by resorting to disconnection of their electricity connections".

During the current month, a total of 14226 electricity connections of defaulters were disconnected across the State. "Of these, 12926 are in Kashmir division while remaining fall in Jammu region", the sources said, adding in the Kashmir province, the PDD disconnected 11250 domestic connections, 1560 commercial and 95 industrial connections besides 21 Central and State Government departments and several crores of rupees were outstanding against them as power dues.

In Jammu region, about 350 industrial connections in Bari Brahamana, Gangyal, Kathua and Udhampur have been disconnected besides 950 domestic ones to realise the outstanding power dues, they said, adding in some of the industrial cases of Jammu more than Rs 50 lakh was also outstanding as power dues.

"Though the number of disconnections in Jammu region is far less as compared to the Kashmir province yet the figure is all set to go up considerably as large number of defaulters are yet to be covered by the Department", the sources said, adding "the drive in Jammu province is being intensified within next few days".

When contacted, Minister for Power, Babu Singh said "this is for the first time that recovery drive is being initiated on such a large scale and stern action is taken against the defaulters", adding "none of the defaulters will be spared while making recovery of the outstanding arrears".

"The disconnected electricity connections will be restored only after they pay the outstanding power dues", the Minister said, adding "the consumers are themselves responsible for such an action on the part of Power Development Department as they had developed habit of not paying tariff".

He further said that all the defaulting Government departments will also be covered during the drive which will continue for unspecified period.

Kandahar decision was collective: George

NEW DELHI, Mar 28: Senior BJP leader L K Advani’s claim that he was not in the loop on Jaswant Singh accompanying terrorists to Kandahar in 1999 was today hotly contested by former Cabinet colleague George Fernandes who said the decision was not unilateral but taken collectively by Ministers.

"Yes, all Ministers were present", he said in an interview to Karan Thapar on CNN-IBN programme ‘Devil’s Advocate’ on being asked whether Advani was present when the decision was taken that Singh, then External Affairs Minister, would accompany the terrorists.

Singh was on a special flight to Kandahar ferrying three terrorists who were to be exchanged for hostages of an Indian Airlines flight.

IC-814 with 189 passengers and crew members was hijacked on Dec 24, 1999 and was first flown to Amritsar and then to Kandahar in Afghanistan. The hostages were released after the terrorists were freed.

Fernandes’s comments are in stark contrast to Advani’s account of this episode as contained in his memoirs and his recent interviews.

The BJP leader has clearly said that he was not consulted about Singh accompanying the terrorists and only came to know that the Minister actually got on the plane. Advani has also stated that the Cabinet Committee on Security did not took the decision to send Singh.

Singh had accompanied Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Maulana Masood Azhar and two other terrorists-Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar and Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh-to Kandahar.

The militants were freed in exchange for the passengers of the hijacked Indian Airlines’ flight IC-814.

Fernandes said there was a discussion amongst the Ministers on the issue and replied in affirmative when asked if they decided that Singh should accompany the terrorists and it was not a unilateral decision.

"Yes, I am sure, I am certain that was the case," he said.

Fernandes said he himself was present at the meeting. And when asked if senior Ministers were present, he said, "Yes, all Ministers were present".

Further, when asked if Advani, as Home Minister, was present at the meeting, he said, "Yes, all of us were present".

However, when asked about Advani saying he was not consulted on Singh accompanying the terrorists, he said, "Perhaps it means that at that point of time he might not have been there".

"I don’t think that he was lying or anything," the NDA convener said to a query.

But Fernandes said "Yes, that can happen," when asked if the then Home Minister could be wrong in his memory. (PTI)

Advani to visit Jammu on Apr 27

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Mar 28: Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha and National Democratic Alliance’s (NDA) Prime Ministerial candidate, Lal Krishan Advani will visit Jammu on April 27 to address the Party’s Vijay Sankalap rally at Parade Ground, here.

This was disclosed by BJP State president, Ashok Khajuria here today. He said this rally was earlier scheduled to be held on March 23 but was postponed due to security reasons.

Two officers transferred

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Mar 28: The Government has ordered transfer and postings of two officers.

Tanveer Iqbal, Sub Divisional Magistrate, Mahore has been transferred and posted as General Manager, District Industries Centre, Rajouri against an available vacancy.

Choudhary Rashid Azam Inqilabi, Administrative Officer in the office of Project Director, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, has been transferred and posted as SDM Mahore in place of Mr Iqbal.

Shortage of staff in Armed forces

ALLAHABAD, Mar 28: Noting that the shortage of staff in Armed forces was a "cause of concern", Defence Minister A K Antony today said the Government has sought a report from the Army, Navy and Air Force to address the issue.

"The shortage (of staff in Armed forces) especially at officers’ level, is indeed a cause of concern and we have asked the authorities in the Army, Navy and Air Force to carefully study the scenario and come out with a report on the possible ways to make a career in the Armed forces more attractive for the younger generation," Defence Minister A K Antony told newsmen here.

Antony, accompanied by Minister of State for Defence M M Pallam Raju, was here to inaugurate the Defence Pension Training Institute.

Earlier, while addressing the inauguration ceremony, Antony asserted that the Government was committed to ensure "a life of dignity for people who have retired from the Armed forces".

"An important step in this direction would be to develop a grievance-free pension sanction and disbursal system, and the new institute has been set up to overcome the skill deficit that has been coming in the way of achieving the end," Antony said.

Raju, while stating that the Government has declared 2008 as "the year of ex-servicemen", assured that all possible measures would be adopted "to make things easier for the nearly 22 lakh Defence pensioners in the country".

Financial Advisor (Defence Services) N K Narang and Controller General of Defence Accounts H K Pannu also spoke on the occasion. (PTI)

Cop injured in firing near PMO

NEW DELHI, Mar 28: Tense moments were witnessed today outside the prestigious South Block, housing Prime Ministers’ Office, when the revolver of a policeman went off accidentally injuring a Delhi Police Commando.

The incident occurred around afternoon when Head Constable Suraj Pal and a Delhi Police Commando Sanjay were starting their lunch inside the roadside cabin located outside the South Block.

According to sources, Pal, who is on the verge of retirement, was demonstrating to the Delhi Police Commando Sanjay Kumar that the first chamber of his revolver is kept empty.

However, while pressing the trigger, the bullet, in the supposed to be empty chamber fired and pierced through Kumar’s left thigh.

The Prime Minister was not inside the office when the incident occurred.

Pal was arrested by police and a case of negligence on duty was registered against him, a police spokesman said.

Sanjay, posted in the Third Battalion of the Delhi Armed Police, was rushed to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, where his condition is stated to be out of danger, they said.

"Only one shot was fired. We are investigating the matter," DCP (New Delhi District) Anand Mohan, who visited the spot, said. (PTI)

HC lifts stay on action against Natwar

NEW DELHI, Mar 28: The Delhi High Court today vacated its stay on proceedings initiated by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) against former External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh and his son Jagat Singh for alleged foreign exchange violations in the Iraqi oil-for-food scam.

Directing them to appear before the ED on April 24, a bench comprising Justice T S Thakur and Justice Kailash Gambhir also rejected the father-son duo’s plea seeking copies of all the documents, related to the scam, available with the Government.

The Court was hearing their petition challenging an order by a single judge bench which rejected their plea seeking copies of all the documents related to the scam.

The Court on August 6 last year had reserved its order on the petition after hearing both the sides.

The ED had in September 2006 issued show-cause notices to the former Minister and his son along with four others for alleged violation of Foreign Exchange Management Act in the scam.

Natwar Singh and his son had contended that they should be given copies of even those documents which were not relied upon by the ED while issuing show-cause notices to them. They also wanted copies of those documents which have been brought by the special envoy of India to United States in connection with the scam.

The Government, however, opposed the contention saying the law did not permit it to share with the petitioners documents which had not been relied upon by the ED.

The suspended senior Congress leader and his son approached the Court when the ED refused to provide all the 83 documents brought by India’s special envoy Virender Dayal from the US on the oil-for-food scam. The Government had only supplied copies of only 22 documents to Singh. (PTI)

Sonia stresses on collective effort for total peace in J&K

Srinagar : UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi today said there was decline in militant activities in Jammu and Kashmir and stressed upon the need for a collective endeavour to bring about total peace in the state.

"There is much less tension in this area (J and K) now. Let us all work together to bring about complete peace in the state", Gandhi said after dedicating Asia's largest tulip garden to the nation here today.

Noting that tourism had suffered a setback due to militancy in the valley during the past 20 years, Gandhi said the situation had improved a great deal and would improve further.

"With this initiative (laying of the tulip garden) and others being taken by the government, the economy of the state will look up and the youth will get employment in the tourism sector", she said.

Pointing to a marked decline in militant activities in the valley, she said, "I pray this trend continues, so that the sufferings of the people of the state come to an end."

Terming the laying of the garden as a fantastic idea, Gandhi said not only the domestic tourists but international holiday-makers will come here to enjoy the scenic beauty of the state.

Named after former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, the "Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden" is 2700 ft long and 1400 ft wide.

In all over 12 lakh tulips of 60 early and late varieties spread a rainblow of different colours in the garden as the AICC Chief addressed the gathering.

Earlier, accompanied by the Union Defence Minister A K Antony and Water Resources Minister Saifuddin Soz, Gandhi arrived here today on a day's visit to the valley. (PTI)