Joint
KP delegation calls on British High
Commission
Excelsior
Correspondent
JAMMU, May 9: A joint delegation
of All India Kashmiri Samaj (AIKS) today
called on the visiting high level
delegation of British High Commission
comprising of British High Commissioner
In India, Richard Stagg, First Secretary
Foreign and Security policy, Political
Department, Victoria Whitford and
Political Advisor, Sushil Aaron.
The
visiting delegation was submitted in a
joint memorandum by AIKS, KP Sabha,
Jammu, ASKPC and Youth Wing AIKS. The
delegation urged the High Commissioner to
diplomatically assist the exiled KP
community by making the International
Civil society aware of the violation of
basic human rights of the hapless and
peace loving community. AIKS regrets that
in the past 18 years no developing
country has kept the issue of exiled
Kashmiri Pandits in particular on its
agenda during the parlays which took
place worldwide on Kashmir.
The AIKS
also pleaded that International Red Cross
operating in India should be permitted to
study the effects of exodus on Kashmiri
Pandits.
The
delegation urged upon the British High
Commissioner to play a proactive role and
ensure that the peace process with
Pakistan initiated by India does not get
derailed due to any reason whatsoever.
This was essential for peace and economic
development of South Asia.
The
members of the delegation included H N
Jattu, Prof A N Sadhu, V K Kashkari, H L
Chatta, B B Gosani and R K Bhat.
3-day
JKNDF National Executive meet begins
Excelsior
Correspondent
JAMMU, May 9: The three- day long
National Executive meeting of Jammu
Kashmir National Democratic Front (JKNDF)
which started here, today to take the
stock of the political activities in the
State will focus on the strategy to be
adopted by the party in the forthcoming
elections.
As per a
release, in his inaugural address the
Party national convenor, R K Mattoo
cautioned the Partymen of possibility of
early elections in the state. He urged
the workers to gear up for the same.
During the
discussions, it was felt that JKNDF
should immediately name the candidates in
some key constituencies so that they can
do the field work well in advance.
A
Committee was also framed to short-list
the names for at least ten constituencies
and the first list of candidates for five
constituencies will be announced soon.
The Party
working president ,A K Dewani was asked
to select the aspiring candidates for the
remaining constituencies. The JKNDF
handout issued later said the Party is
also in touch with other political
parties on electoral alliance.
The
National Executive members from South
India, New Delhi and NCR Kolkata,
Rajasthan are attending the meeting.
Scintillating
performances enthrall audience
Dogri dance programme
"Duggar Di Jhankar" at JU
Excelsior
Correspondent
JAMMU, May 9: The Department of
Students Welfare (DSW), University of
Jammu (JU) today organized a special
programme on Dogri folk dance
"Duggar Di Jhankar" at Brig
Rajinder Singh Auditorium of the
university.
The
students from various teaching
departments of the university performed
Dogri dance items during the programme
and enthralled the audience. Prof N R
Sharma, Chairman, Campus Cultural
Committee was the chief guest on the
occasion.
Students
who performed included Manu Sharma from
Department of Library and Information
Sciences, Jeany Roshan and Vaishali
Sharma from Department of English,
Vandana Sabharwal, Diksha Sharma and
Sujata Singh from The Law School, Anu
Saini and Anu Bharti from Department of
Economics, Anju Rani from Department of
Dogri and Rajni Bala from Department of
English.
Notably,
the proceedings of the event were
entirely carried out in Dogri. Earlier,
Dr P S Pathania, Dean, presented the
welcome address, while Vijay Atri, Asstt
Dean (Cultural Affairs) delivered the
vote of thanks.
In his
concluding words, Mr Atri apprised that
the aim of organizing the programme was
to develop a sense of appreciation for
rich Dogri Culture including dance and
music.
Vakil
for separating politics from parochial
loyalties
Excelsior
Correspondent
Srinagar, May 9 : Emphasizing on
unitedly fighting forces trying to divide
people on communal and regional lines,
Minister for Social Welfare Abdul Gani
Vakil has called for separating politics
from parochial loyalties. For the purpose
public should support visionary leaders
of secular character.
Addressing
public meetings at Patilbagh and
Chandhara in Pampore today, the Minister
said, "let political forces
operating in the State contest elections
on rational thought, development agendas
and practical performance as democracies
flourish on novel ideas and creative
thinking".
Minister
of State for Agriculture and R&B Ch.
Gharu Ram and MLC Mohammad Sharief Niaz
were present on the occasion.
Mr. Vakil
said Azad led Government has laid firm
foundation for making Jammu and Kashmir a
developed and prosperous State within a
short span of time by initiating
revolutionary measures in education,
R&B, power, tourism and other
sectors. The continuous support of people
to him would surely transform the State
into an economically independent entity.
Besides
surpassing all development records,
Government has also succeeded in
restoring peace and normalcy in the state
with active support of State’s
people. "Human Rights violations in
the State, for the first time have
significantly decreased and graph of
custodial disappearances and killings
dropped almost to zero level", he
said.
Ch. Gharu
Ram in his speech announced construction
of foot bridge over Jhelum river at
Patilbagh besides Rs. 10 lakh for
construction of internal link roads in
the village. He asked engineers to
formulate project reports within shortest
possible time for timely execution of
these works.
Mr.
Mohammad Sharief Niaz, speaking on the
occasion called for contesting elections
on development agendas rather than hollow
slogans and impractical dreams.
"Those stirring passions of people
for narrow political considerations was
indicative of their political
bankruptcy", he added.
Among
others, MLA Khem Lata Wakhloo, Bashir
Ahmad Magray, Mohammad Anwar Bhat, Amrina
Badar, Ghulam Nabi Patil and Farooq
Andrabi spoke on the occasion and
highlighted achievements of the
Government.
Teachers
hold demonstration in front
of Directorate of Education
Excelsior
Correspondent
JAMMU, May 9: JK United Teachers
Federation, staged a demonstration today
in front of Director School
Education’s Office, here at Muthi in
protest against what it called the
anti-teachers approach of the
authorities.
The
demonstrators were raising slogans in
support of their demands. They demanded
immediate solution of their long pending
demands.
Addressing
the demonstrators, State president of the
Federation, Satish Sharma accused the
Director School Education for adopting a
rigid stance on the genuine demands of
the teachers.
He said
though teachers had pinned high hopes in
the present Director School Education who
belonged to teaching fraternity, but all
proved contrary to the expectations of
teaching community.
He
criticized the authorities for curtailing
the vacations and stressed the need to
release the academic calendar in the
beginning of the academic year so that
teachers can make plans as per the
calendar.
Expressing
his grave concern over the working of
Directorate of School Education, Mr
Sharma alleged that salary grants are not
released in time. Moreover the list of
the teachers in Master Grade who were
dropped has not been released though the
DPC has been conducted five months back.
He also
blamed the authorities for non adjustment
of promote lecturers in schools and
withdrawing the powers from CEOs
regarding release of 75 percent GP Fund
Advance of teachers without any
justification.
He said
this has led to many problems among the
members of teaching community.
Mr Sharma
demanded that those BEd trainees be
deputed in schools who can teach all the
subjects to students and leave rules be
implemented in letter and spirit besides
regularisation of all RETs who have
completed five years of regular service.
JKSRTC
Workers Union convenes meeting
Excelsior
Correspondent
JAMMU, May 9: The executive
members of JKSRTC Workers Union, Jammu,
today convened a meeting to review the
latest agreement made between management
and the union.
It was
unanimously decided in the meeting to
impress upon the establishment dealing
staff to include the pending (42) slabs
of COLA with their salary for the month
of April, 2008 and enhance emoluments of
consolidated drivers from Rs 2500 to Rs
2800 per month, as agreed by JKSRTC
management.
It is to
mention that the union had called off
its35-day long strike after the above
said agreement between the union and
JKSRTC management was reached.
The
meeting was held on the instructions of
Shakeel Ahmed Kuchay, chairman, JKSRTC
Workers Union. The executive members who
attended the meeting included Ashok Kumar
Mehra, Deedar Singh, Muneer Ahmed,
Paramjit Singh and Makhan Singh.
Mula
for bringing unemployed rural youth under
NREGS
Excelsior
Correspondent
Srinagar, May 9 : Over Rs 116 crore
have been spent on the completion of 4260
rural works by implementing National
Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS)
during past 3 years in 5 districts of the
State. As many as 92.47 lakh mandays were
generated and about 5 lakh job cards were
provided to rural youth.
This was
stated at a meeting of Rural Development
officers conducted under the chairmanship
of Minister for Rural Development Mula
Ram here today. Detailed review was taken
for successful implementation of the
scheme and employment generation.
It was
stated that from April 1, 2008 all
districts of the State have been brought
within the ambit of this scheme.
It was
told that an unemployed rural youth
requires to register his name for job in
local office of Rural Development
department in the first instance and
within 15-day he would be provided
employment for at least 100 days in a
year. In case no job was provided within
stipulated period said youth would be
provided cash stipend.
The
meeting was further informed that 310
training camps were conducted in
different districts for providing
training to 47000 persons for successful
implementation of the scheme.
The
Minister made it clear that there was no
dearth of funds for successful
implementation of scheme and efforts be
made to cover more and more rural youth
under the scheme.
CCI
delegation meets British High Comm team
Excelsior
Correspondent
JAMMU, May 9: The J&K Chamber
of Industries and Commerce Co-operative
Limited today held a meeting with
visiting delegation of British High
Commission headed by Sir Richard Stagg.
The
chamber team headed by Ram Sahai,
president apprised the delegation about
the efforts being made by the chamber in
the development of trade in this part of
the world.
In this
regard, a memorandum was also submitted
to the visiting delegation. Through
memorandum, chamber apprised Mr Stagg
that how they were espousing the cause of
trade and industry in whole of the State
especially for the promotion of joint
trade between India, Pakistan and both
sides across LoC.
The
chamber also detailed about the visit of
its team to the major cities of Pakistan
for interaction with the representatives
of business community there. The chamber
demanded that an exhibition of Indian
goods should be held in Pakistan and also
expressed eagerness for another visit
there for finalizing the trade
agreements.
The
chamber urged the world community through
the memorandum to discourage and isolate
the nations perpetrating terrorism. The
other political and economical aspects
including the recently initiated CBMs
between India-Pakistan to promote
bilateral trade and relations were also
mentioned.
In his
message, Ram Sahai urged the members of
British High Commission to carry the
message of peace and brotherhood to
exhort the prospective investors of their
country to invest here.
Sahai also
laid emphasis on the opening opening of
trade route from Naushera (India) to
Mirpur (PoK) and also from Suchetgarh to
Sialkot as strong CBM.
Sikh
organizations condemn Plus 2 selection
list
Excelsior
Correspondent
JAMMU, May 9: Various Sikh
organizations of the State today jointly
held a meeting and condemned the recently
issued selection list of Plus 2 lecturers
by Public Service Commission (PSC).
The
organizations included J&K State
Gurudwara Prabandhak Board, DGPC Jammu,
Shiromani Youth Akali Dal, All India Sikh
Students Federation, Bhai Kanhaiya
Nishkam Sewa Society, Sikh Naujawan
Sabha, Istari Akali Dal and Nirbow Nirver
Organization.
It was
pointed in the meeting that out of the
total 151 selected candidates, no one was
from Sikh community and many candidates
of the community with high merit were
ignored.
The
protesting members expressed that great
injustice has been done with their
community and it would not be tolerated
at any cost. They alleged that bunglings
has been done in the list.
Meanwhile,
the members of the organizations warned
the State Government to rectify the list
and constitute a committee headed by High
Court judge to conduct enquiry into the
matter.
Those who
were present included S Ranjit Singh, S
Pritam Singh, S Makhan Singh, Capt Hazara
Singh, S Amrik Singh, S Satinder Paul
Singh Sethi, S Paramjeet Singh Pumma, S
Jarnail Singh Khalsa, S Narbir Singh, S
Paramjeet Singh, S Mohinder Singh, S
Kulwant Singh, S Harjit Singh Kartar and
Harbans Kour.
Tributes
paid to martyrs
Excelsior
Correspondent
JAMMU, May 9: J&K Freedom
Fighters’ Association organised a
rally to remember the martyrs and freedom
fighters of India’s first freedom
struggle of 1857.
In
connection with 150th year of the freedom
struggle, the rally was flagged off by
DIG, Jammu-Kathua Range Farooq Khan today
at Mubarak Mandi which passed through
Dhounthali Chowk, Upper Bazar and
culminated at Mubarak Mandi, Jammu.
Students
of various educational institutions
including Government Higher Secondary
School, Mubarak Mandi, participated in
the rally to pay homage to martyrs and
freedom fighters. "Many sacrificed
their precious lives for the cause of the
nation and set a glorious example for the
people of the country" the rallyist
maintained.
Bhushan
Lal Gupta and Ved Gandotra, chairman and
president of the Freedom Fighters’
Association respectively, said such
programmes create awareness among the
people.
Various
speakers, who addressed the gathering,
threw light on the life of Mangal Pandey
who revolted against foreign rule and
attained martyrdom.
Bharatiya
Kissan Sangh at a function saluted the
martyrs of 1857. The function was held at
Bal Bharatiya Higher Secondary School,
Bishnah, under the chairmanship of
Sangh’s president, Satish Bharti.
Mr Bharti
stated that it was on May 10, 1857 that
battle of independence was started and
now the people across the country will
remember them on May 10, 2008 at 6.57 p.m
and also pay homage.
Clerical
cadre strike enters 44th day
Excelsior
Correspondent
JAMMU, May 9: The Kam Chodo
Hartal of clerical staff entered 44th
consecutive day today as clerks of all
departments throughout the State
boycotted the work and held
demonstrations at their respective
tehsils and district headquarters against
what they called the callous attitude of
State Government.
According
to a handout issued here, today by the
Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh All Departments
Clerical Staff Association, the work
remained paralyzed in all the Government
departments today.
It said
the clerical staff continued their
protest against the anti employees
policies, step motherly treatment and
double standards of the Government which
has failed in implementing the agreement
reached between it and representatives of
the Association.
Addressing
the rallies of striking clerical staff at
Udhampur, Ram Kumar Sharma, state
convenor of the Association and Madan Lal
strongly condemned the double standards
of the coalition Government and called
upon the cadre throughout the state to
continue their struggle to take it to its
logical end.
A massive
rally was also held by the clerical staff
in front of Directorate of Health
Services, Jammu in support of the
demands. The demonstration was led by
Anil Choudhary. Another demonstration was
held by the clerical cadre of all
departments at Samba in support of the
demands.
The
statement said that complete strike was
observed by the clerical staff in Kashmir
and Ladakh provinces. The employees held
the demonstrations in support of their
demands in front of their respective
offices and institutions.
The Jammu
and Kashmir Panthers Party has extended
its full support to the genuine struggle
of the clerical staff. S Daljit Singh and
H S Jalmeria secretaries of the Party in
a joint statement criticized the State
Government for ignoring the genuine
demands of these employees.
Khajuria
nominates Prabharis
Excelsior
Correspondent
JAMMU, May 9: To look after the
functioning of the Party in Jammu region
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state
president , Ashok Khajuria, today
nominated the prabharis for various
districts of the region and for different
Morchas of the Party.
As per a
release, Ajay Jamwal was nominated
district Prabhari for Jammu district
while Shiv Kumar Gupta was nominated seh
prabhari. Shamsher Singh Manhas, Chander
Parkash Ganga, Ranjit Singh, Satish
Sharma, Pawan Gupta, Baldev Sharma, Bali
Bhagat, Anil Parihar, Vishwinder Dev
Sharma, Vibodh Gupta and Sunil Gupta were
nominated the Prabharis for Akhnoor,
Samba, Kathua, Basholi, Udhampur, Reasi,
Ramban-Doda, Kishtwar, Sunderbani-
Nowshera, Rajouri and Poonch districts
respectively.
Mr
Khajuria also nominated Ajay Jamwal as
Prabhari for BJYM while Shamsher Singh
Manhas will be prabhari for Kissan
Morcha. Mrs Suresh Jamwal will be
Prabhari for Mahila Morcha and Bansi Lal
Bharti will be Prabhari for Anusuchit
Jaati Morcha.
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