CM,
Governor, others extend condolences
Excelsior management,
staff grieved at Ashok’s demise
Excelsior
Correspondent
JAMMU, May 11: The management and
staff of the Daily Excelsior, Excelsior
Printers Pvt Ltd and K N Modern Printers
were shell shocked over the demise of
their colleague and Chief
Photo-Journalist of the organisation,
Ashok Sodhi, who attained martyrdom in
the militants attack at Samba this
morning.
Entire
staff and management of the Daily
Excelsior convened a meeting here this
evening and mourned the untimely and sad
demise of Ashok Sodhi, a multi-faceted
personality, an artist, who has lend his
role for different local serials besides
taking part in various forms of shows.
The
organisation and its staff expressed
heart-felt condolences to the family
members of Ashok Sodhi and prayed for the
eternal peace to the departed soul.
Meanwhile,
Chief Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad rang up
Editor-in-Chief of Daily Excelsior, S D
Rohmetra, and expressed his profound
shock and grief over the tragic death of
Ashok Sodhi.
Mr Azad
conveyed sympathies to Mr Rohmetra and
the bereaved family of Mr Sodhi and said
that he shared their grief.
Governor,
Lt Gen (Retd), S K Sinha also expressed
grief and shock over the tragic death of
Mr Sodhi. Gen Sinha, in a message to the
staff and management of the Daily
Excelsior and bereaved family, expressed
deep sympathies and said that the
commitment of young journalist will be
remembered for ever.
Former
Chief Ministers, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed
and Dr Farooq Abdullah and National
Conference president Omar Abdullah also
expressed shock and grief over the demise
of Mr Sodhi and said that it was
professional commitment and urge for work
which claimed the life of the
photo-journalist. He will be remembered
for ever.
Deputy
Chief Minister, Muzaffar Hussain Baig
also expressed grief over the death of
Daily Excelsior photo-journalist and said
that the professional commitment of Mr
Sodhi will always be remembered and serve
as an inspiration for budding photo
journalists.
Ministers
of State, Babu Singh, Manjit Singh and
Peer Mohammad Hussain termed Mr Sodhi as
thorough professional photo-journalist
and prayed for the peace to the departed
soul.
While
expressing grief over the tragic death of
Mr Sodhi, Director General of Police,
Kuldeep Khoda said that the professional
commitments of the deceased will always
be remembered and serve as an inspiration
for the budding photo-journalists.
The
officers and staff of the Department of
Information and Public Relations, in a
condolence meeting held under the
chairmanship of their Director, Zaffar
Ahmed, condoled the demise of Daily
Excelsior’s Photo-Journalist. He
conveyed sympathies to the bereaved
family of Mr Sodhi and prayed for eternal
peace to the departed soul.
Press Club
of Jammu: The Managing Committee of the
Press Club of Jammu expressed its
profound shock and grief over the sad and
untimely demise of Mr Sodhi, Member of
the Club and chief photographer of Daily
Excelsior.
Former
Director Information and Secretary
Health, K B Jandial also expressed shock
over the demise of Mr Sodhi. He recalled
his association with the deceased
photo-journalist.
Press
Secretary of Medical Teachers Association
Dr Bhupesh Khajuria while expressing
shock over the demise of Mr Sodhi said
that he would be remembered for him
people friendly approach.
Jammu
Plywood Owners Association in a meeting
held here this evening, also mourned
demise of Mr Sodhi.
Jammu and
Kashmir Union of Journalists, a
constituent of National Union of
Journalists (NUJ) in a meeting under the
chairmanship of Anil Sharma and attended
among others by its president Sunil
Sharma and secretary general Vijay
Mahajan, expressed profound shock and
grief over killing of Mr Sodhi in an
encounter.
The
meeting urged the Chief Minister to grant
Rs 10 lakh ex-gratia to the family of the
martyr besides a Government job to his
spouse, because Ashok Sodhi was the only
bread earner of his family.
Rashtriya
Janata Dal secretary general Vijay
Mahajan also expressed profound shock
over death of Mr Sodhi and urged the
Government to compensate suitably the
bereaved family.
State
secretary and media incharge of PDP Renu
Azad also expressed shock over the demise
of Mr Sodhi and prayed for the eternal
peace to the departed soul.
Kashyap
Rajput Sabha, in a meeting under the
chairmanship of Brij Mehra, condoled the
demise of attack victims and requested
the Government to compensate the families
of victims.
MLC R S
Chib expressed shock and anguish over the
tragic incident and conveyed heartfelt
sympathy to the bereaved families. He
said that in the death of Hoshiar Singh,
the State in particular and nation in
general has lost a patriotic leader.
Vishaw
Hindu Parishad along with sister
organizations like Bajrang Dal,
Matrasakti and Durgabahine, in a meeting
chaired by Ramakant Dubey,strongly
condemned the killings of four innocent
villagers and a photo-journalist.
Chamber of
Commerce and Industry (CCI) also condoled
the death of attack victims and
appreciated the commitment of slain
photo-journalist towards his work.
President,
Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Party,
Ghulam Hassan Mir also expressed shock
over the killings at Samba. He described
the death of Ashok Sodhi as loss of media
fraternity.
President,
Raghunath Bazar Association, Baldev
Khullar expressed profound grief over the
demise of Ashok Sodhi and expressed his
heartfelt sympathies with the bereaved
families. The association prayed for the
peace to the departed soul.
Jammu and
Kashmir Pradesh Youth Congress in an
emergent meeting under the chairmanship
of Mohammad Amin Bhat strongly condemned
the cowardly act of militants. In the
meeting two minutes silence was observed
in the remembrance of departed souls.
Provincial
Power Employees Union in a meeting held
under the chairmanship of Shakti Gupta
condoled the demise of Ashok Sodhi and
other victims of the attack.
Press Club
International also expressed shock over
the demise of Mr Sodhi and prayed for the
peace to the departed soul.
Bharatiya
Janata Party (BJP) condemned the
infiltration of militants from across the
border and killing of innocent civilians
including, Chief Photo-journalist of
Daily Excelsior, Ashok Sodhi, IDP chief
Mr Hoshiar Singh and his wife.
The Party
state chief, Ashok Khajuria, former Union
Minister, Prof Chaman Lal Gupta and ex
president, National Executive Member, Dr
Nirmal Singh have also expressed shock
and grief over the killing of Mr Sodhi
and others. They accused the Government
of its total failure in containing the
militancy.
Kranti
Dal: In an emergency meeting here, today
the Kranti Dal under the leadership of
Anan Sharma while condemning the killing
of Mr Sodhi and others has warned the
State Government that the organization
will launch offensive on its own and the
Government will be responsible for the
consequences.
Chamber Of
Commerce and Industry (CCI): An emergency
meeting of CCI was held here, today in
which profound shock and grief was
expressed over the demise of Mr Sodhi.
The meeting highly appreciated his
commitment towards duty for which he also
sacrificed his life.
Duggar
Pradesh Party accused the Central and
State Governments of their failure in
combating the terrorism. The party, in a
meeting held under the chairmanship of
its chief Uday Chand, paid rich tributes
to departed souls and observed two
minutes silence in their memory.
J&K
State Employees Federation, in a meeting
held under the chairmanship of Pardeep
Sharma expressed profound shock and grief
over the killing of Mr Sodhi, Hoshiar
Singh and others.
J&K
Jan Jagran Manch also condemned the
killing of innocent people including Mr
Sodhi and Hoshiar Singh of IDP in
terrorist attack.
Bar
Association Jammu while strongly
condemning the killing of innocent people
including Mr Sodhi, IDP leader Hoshiar
Singh and others, accused the Government
of total security lapses.
Jammu
University Research Scholars Executive
Association(JURSEA) also condemned the
militants attack in Samba and held
demonstration in front of University
campus main gate.
International
Human Rights Protection Council,
Journalists from Uttar Pradesh, Kashi
Patarkar Sangh, Chenab Valley Journalist,
Associations of Journalists of Udhampur,
Kathua, Poonch and Rajouri expressed
shock over the demise of Mr Sodhi and
prayed for the peace to the departed
soul.
Panun
Kashmir (PK) headed by under the
chairmanship of Dr Agnishekhar expressed
profound shock over the killing of Mr
Sodhi. The meeting described him a great
martyr who laid down his life while
performing his duties.
National
Bahujan Party (NBP) chief Sat Paul also
condemned the militants attack in Samba
in which some civilians Hoshiar Singh and
Mr Sodhi were killed.
Displaced
Welfare Committee TRT, Migrant Camp Buta
Nagar, in a meeting held under the
chairmanship of A K Dhar, mourned the
demise of Mr Sodhi and other civilians.
Rasa
Javedani Memorial Literary Society chief
Dr Shohib Inayat Malik also strongly
condemned the killing of Mr Sodhi and
others.
Janata Dal
State chief Dhanraj Bargotra, Panun
Kashmir Movement (PKM) headed by Ashwani
Chrungo, Roots in Kashmir headed by Vir
Ji Saraf, Shriya Bhat Mission Hospital:
Management Committee, Jammu Kashmir
Peoples Front (JKPF) president Satish
Poonchi and PHE Welfare Association also
expressed shock over the killings,
Jammu and
Kashmir Vichar Manch (JKVM), in a meeting
held under the chairmanship of Dr R L
Bhat, Pir Panchal headed by Ramesh
Hangloo, Athwas, the Association of
displaced artists, producers, directors
and writers, Displaced Hindu Youth Front,
All State Kashmiri Pandit Conference
(ASKPC), ABVP leader Ramesh Pappa also
strongly condemned the killing of Mr
Sodhi and others in the militants attack
at Samba today.
Shiv Sena
Hindustan, Nirbhow Nirvair Organisation,
Rakesh Kumar Gupta, Councillor Ward No.2,
Udhampur, Natrang Studio, National
Panthers Party, MLA Kishtwar, Sajjad
Ahmed Kichloo and Pradesh Vishwakarma
Sabha also mourned the demise of Mr Sodhi
and others in the militants attack.
Kashmir
media shocked over Sodhi's death
Excelsior
Correspondent
SRINAGAR, May 11: Srinagar-based
media organizations and mediapersons
today held different condolence meetings
and expressed their sympathies with the
departed colleague and senior
photojournalist Ashok Sodhi's bereaved
family.
In a
condolence meeting at Srinagar Bureau of
Daily Excelsior, Ashok Sodhi was
described as photojournalist of high
caliber and professional commitment who
had covered scores of gunbattles,
including those of Railway Station in
Jammu and Raghunath Mandir, at grave risk
to his life. Srinagar Bureau Chief of
Daily Excelsior has immediately after his
colleague Ashok Sodhi's death requested
New York-based Committee to Protect
Journalists (CPJ) to install memorials in
honour of the journalist both in New York
as well as in Jammu.
Ahmed Ali
Fayyaz has also requested Chief Minister
Ghulam Nabi Azad to bring all accredited
and working journalists, particularly
photographers and videographers, under a
Group Insurance Scheme which had been
announced by then Finance Minister
Muzaffar Hussain Baig and then Financial
Commissioner Finance Mohammad Shafi
Pandit on the day of presentation of
Budget in state Assembly four years ago
but never implemented for reasons best
known to the state government. He has
pointed out that about 20 mediapersons
have got killed in the 20-year-old
conflict in Jammu & Kashmir and none
has been entitled to any support other
than an ex-gratia relief of Rs one Lakh,
given to anybody killed in a militancy
related incident.
He said
that Government should conceive and
implement a policy so that families of
the journalists killed should get relief
of not less than Rs 15 Lakh either from
the Government or from an Insurance
company involved by the Government with a
proper Memorandum of Understanding. He
said that substantial relief should go to
Mr Sodhi's family. He said it was
surprising that successive governments
had not bothered to provide even the
bullet-proof vests and other
precautionary mechanism to the
journalists exposing themselves to high
risk of life while discharging their
professional duties.
In a
separate condolence meetings organized by
Kashmir Video Journalists Association
(KVJA), photojournalists and
camerapersons, representing different
state-based, national and international
media organizations, paid rich tributes
to Mr Sodhi and described him as a
professional of all virtues. The meeting
extended condolences and sympathies to
the bereaved family as also to
Editor-in-Chief of Daily Excelsior, Mr S
D Rohmetra. Among others, the meeting was
attended by S Tariq of NDTV, Fayaz Ahmed
of ANI, Shabir Ahmed of ETV, Sanam
Tassaduq of Sahara News and Tariq Lone of
Aaj Tak.
The
establishment of local newspaper,
Srinagar Mail, held a separate meeting at
the office of newspaper in which speakers
called Mr Sodhi a great professional who
had won pride and honour to the state of
Jammu & Kashmir by demonstration high
degree of commitment and dedication to
journalism for about 26 years of his
career.
Director
of Doordarshan Kendra, Dr Rafeeq Masoodi,
said in a condolence message from New
Delhi today that he was personally
shocked over learning about Ashok Sodhi's
death in a gunbattle in the otherwise
Samba township in Jammu.
In yet
another message, Secretary of J&K
Academy of Art, Culture & Languages,
Zaffar Iqbal Manhas, paid rich tributes
to Mr Sodhi and expressed sympathies to
the bereaved family. He said that killing
of Sodhi as also President of National
Democratic Party Hoshiar Singh and his
wife Shashi Bhalla, was a personal loss
for him as they had always given him a
lot of respect and affection.
Advisor of
Take 1 Television and former Director of
Doordarshan Kendra Srinagar and Radio
Kashmir Srinagar, Farooq Nazki, described
Sodhi as one of the greatest
professionals in J&K's media. He said
that Sodhi's death in a gunbattle today
was also a great loss to Daily Excelsior
which had shown highest degree of
professionalism and responsibility in
covering the 20-year-long conflict always
at great risk of life to its
correspondents, photographers and
editors. "About 20 mediapersons have
been devoured by this conflict. Death of
mediapersons began with ex-Director of
Doordarshan Kendra Srinagar, Lassa Kaul,
in Srinagar in March 1990 and we don't
know who would die and when", Nazki
said in his statement.
Police
Media Centre, Zonal Police Headquarter,
Police Control Room, Srinagar expresses
grief over the death of Mr. Ashok Sodhi.
A condolence meeting was held under the
chairman ship of Incharge Media Centre,
Dy SP, Manoj Pandita in which all the
Staff members of Media Centre
participated.
Meanwhile,
Chairman of Hurriyat Conference Mirwaiz
Umar Farooq, another Hurriyat leader
Bilal Gani Lone and Minister of Social
Welfare Abdul Gani Vakil also expressed
shock over the loss of civilian life,
including a photojournalist, in the
daylong encounter between militants and
security forces in Samba.
CM
inspects development works in Srinagar
City
Excelsior
Correspondent
SRINAGAR, May 11: As part of his
initiative to personally monitor
development projects to ensure their
speedy completion, Chief Minister Ghulam
Nabi Azad today inspected pace of
progress on three major upcoming projects
here including the legislature complex
opposite the Civil Secretariat, 300-bed
Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Hospital at
Rainawari and Nigeen Club on the banks of
the famous Nigeen lake.
During his
visit to the nearly complete legislature
complex, the Chief Minister had a round
of different floors of the prestigious
building. The work on the project is in
full swing to have the next session of
the legislature in the new complex.
At the
upcoming 300-bed, 4-storey JLNM Hospital
site, the Chief Minister was informed
that the project would be commissioned by
May next year at a total cost of Rs.
42.50 crore. The work on the project was
going on fast track. On completion, the
hospital building would meet the long
pending demand of the people for
extension of the existing hospital at
Rainawari.
The Chief
Minister also inspected the revival and
restoration work of the historic Nigeen
Club complex. The club was vacated by the
security forces about six months ago on
the intervention of Mr. Azad who desired
this important tourist facility to be
restored to its old glory. The Rs. 7
crore revival and restoration work was
started last month and would be completed
by the first week of June this year.
Under the project, besides redoing the
club building, the 35 kanal club lawns
would be developed and two public parks
laid out near the Ashaibagh Bridge. The
development of Nandpora Festival Area
across the Nigeen lake is also part of
the project where facilities would be
created for artisans on the pattern of
Surajkund in Haryana.
The Chief
Minister also inspected the de-weeding of
the Nigeen and took a round of the lake
in a motorboat. He asked the concerned
officials to speed up the cleaning of the
lake. He also issued instructions for
early completion of the approach road of
the newly constructed Ashaibagh Bridge.
Mufti
asks people to strengthen PDP
Excelsior
Correspondent
JAMMU, May 11: Former Chief
Minister and chief Patron of the People's
Democratic Party (PDP) Mufti Mohammed
Sayeed today reiterated that the bullet
for bullet was no answer for complete
return of the peace and normalcy in the
militancy hit State, adding "in the
democratic set up like our country
normalcy demands dialogues"
Addressing
a huge public rally held at Roop Nagar,
JDA colony to welcome eminent social and
political leader, Dr. Roop Lal Sharma in
the party-fold, Mufti Mohd. Sayeed said
that it was due to his personal
perceptions and implementation of the
common minimum programme of his party
that truce ushered on the border and
people are living peaceful life for the
last three years in the State.
He said
that PDP had promised with the people for
initiation of the peace process with
Pakistan to promote bonds of the mutual
love and fraternity in both the
countries, return of the task force to
barracks, ending the scenario of the
harassment of the innocent people and to
work for the elimination of the draconian
POTA Rule in the Jammu and Kashmir. All
these promises made with people have
almost been fulfilled by the coalition
Government during the last three years.
He hopped
that people of the State will give the
power to PDP again as in last elections
their party had won 16 seats from Kashmir
valley.
Mufti
assured to remove regional disparities
and give equal treatment to all the
people of all the three regions of Jammu,
Kashmir and ladakh. He said good
governance and transparency would be the
hallmark of his Government if it was
voted to power in the next Assembly
elections.
Appreciating
the programes and policies of the PDP, Dr
Roop Lal said these had inspired him much
and he decided to work for this Party in
the State.
Fast
track policies for overall development:
Mangat
Excelsior
Correspondent
SRINAGAR, May 11: Minister for Health
and Medical Education Mangat Ram Sharma
has said that numerous steps have been
taken up during last five years for
revamping and rejuvenating the social
infrastructure especially in rural areas.
"Commendable development have been
made on all fronts in the State, which
people themselves feel", he added.
Addressing
a largely attended gathering at
Boatingoo, Sopore on Sunday, the Minister
said that the aim of Central and State
Governments is to see Jammu and Kashmir a
prosperous State.
He
announced establishment of health centre
at Botingoo for easy healthcare
facilities of the inhabitants of the area
and said Rs 15 lakh would be released for
construction of hospital building and
directed the concerned authorities to
complete all necesssary formalities for
early execution of the hospital building.
Mr. Sharma
said that Government has initiated fast
track policies to revamp the overall
development of the ruralities. He said
that assessment of the people’s
problems was being done by the frequent
visits of the Ministers and Chief
Minister as well which has helped to
enhance the pace of development and
enforcement of accountability in public
affairs.
Mr. Sharma
said that today in the emerging
atmosphere of peace, people are pining
new hopes. He said the Government was
determined to provide equal opportunities
of development, distribution of funds to
all the three regions of the State. He
said that there was no discrimination
with any region. He said that by the
positive policies initiated by
Government, the State was progressing and
time was near when Jammu and Kashmir
would become one of the prosperous states
of the country.
Referring
to the improving situation in the State,
the Minister said that opening of
Srinagar-Muzaffarabad and Poonch-Rawalkot
road was a turning point in the events
that led to emerging peace in the State.
He said that by taking this step, the
cordial relations between the people have
developed on the both side of Kashmir.
Textile
Park for Srinagar in offing: Jora
Excelsior
Correspondent
SRINAGAR, May 11: Government is
contemplating to establish textile parks
throughout the country at an estimated
cost of Rs 40 crore at each textile park.
Among them one park would be established
at Srinagar which would help the weaver,
artisan and other people linked with the
job to boost the skill and ensure
prosperity of the community.
This was
stated by Minister for Industries and
Commerce Nawang Rigzin Jora at a simple
but impressive function held here today.
The function was organized by Directorate
of Handloom for distribution of cheques
worth Rs 4.52 lakh as reimbursement of
one time special rebate to the Apex
Marketing Society. In addition, the
Minister also handed over a cheque of Rs
1.91 lakh on account of rental claim
under publicity and exhibition to the
society.
Saying
that handloom sector has great potential
in the State. Mr. Jora said that the
sector has prime position in the
State’s economy, adding that it
could be promoted in far-flung areas of
the State.
Giving
thrust on the quality of products, Mr.
Jora asked the artisans not to compromise
on quality as these products have much
demand in the world market. He said that
some areas would be identified for
production of Kani Shawls and Pashmina
products specifically.
He said
that 10 clusters have been identified out
of which 6 stand approved by the
Government for which Rs 60 lakh would be
spent within three years. Stressing youth
to come forward for taking benefit of
various handloom schemes, Mr. Jora said
that Government has launched several
programmes for youth to make them
self-reliant and self-sufficient.
Secretary
Industries and Commerce Dr. Pawan Kotwal,
and Director Handloom Nirmal Sharma also
spoke on the occasion and highlighted the
activities of the department.
Govt
prioritizing development of Srinagar
city: Hakeem
Excelsior
Correspondent
SRINAGAR, May 11: Minister for
Transport Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen has said
that lasting solution to the Kashmir
issue could be found only through
tripartite talks saying that this is the
right time for dialogue process to
strengthen peace in the State as well as
sub-continent.
Addressing
a well attended public meeting on Sunday
at Rainawari Srinagar, Hakeem Yaseen
urged for continuation of dialogue
process and stressed for involvement of
political leaders of all shades and
thoughts to resolve the issue amicably.
He called for coordinated efforts to make
the Jammu and Kashmir State prosperous.
The
Minister said that speedy and equitable
development of the State is the top
agenda of the Government, adding that a
massive development programme has been
launched in the State where-under
priority has been accorded for the
development of neglected and downtrodden
areas.
He said
Government is aware of the problems
confronting the people, adding that steps
are already underway to provide basic
amenities to the people.
Referring
to various problems confronting people,
Mr. Yaseen said that Government was keen
to address the unemployment problems and
steps are afoot to tackle it properly.
The Minister said that during coalition
rule massive development programme has
been initiated in the State under which
road connectivity, drinking water
facilities and medicare has been accorded
priority.
Expressing
concern over neglecting of urban areas
including down town, Mr Yaseen said that
previous Government’s had forgotten
the civil lines above all Srinagar city
but the present coalition Government has
formulated massive plans for the
development of the Srinagar city. He said
the rehabilitation problem of the people
affected by the Dal Development Programme
would be taken up with the Chief Minister
on priority.
'We
moved ahead with economic, political
stability': Mehbooba
Excelsior
Correspondent
SOPORE, May 11: People's Democratic
Party (PDP) President, Mehbooba Mufti
today said that the day her party took
over reigns of power in Jammu and
Kashmir, it achieved success vis-à-vis
economic progress and political
stability, which people of this conflict
ridden State had never witnessed during
past regimes.
Addressing
a public meeting at Sopore, she remarked
that past regimes in the State have
failed to maintain a balance between the
two imperatives. Ms Mufti said that there
were tough challenges before her party
since it came into power as the State was
in financial ruins and a decade old
insurgency had destroyed much of
Kashmir's economy but now PDP has emerged
a dominant force in Kashmiri's political
spectrum.
"Sopore
is not only politically sensitive but
mature as well and it was the
responsibility of the political parties
to address their grievances.
Unfortunately our political parties who
ruled for decades proved a failure on
developmental and political front as
well," Ms Mufti observed. She added
that PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed not
only heralded an era of peace and
prosperity but also maintained an
equitable development of urban and rural
areas in the State.
The PDP
president further added that people of
Jammu and Kashmir can't be held hostage
to vested interests across the border and
her party has proved that addressing
genuine aspirations of people is the only
way forward if peace and tranquility is
to prevail in the entire sub continent.
Ms Mufti
said that PDP don't believe in political
gimmicks and is fully aware of its
responsibilities entrusted on it by the
people who have supported the party.
She urged
upon the Government to initiate a
transparent fast track recruitment of
unemployed Physical Education, Forest and
Tourism graduates on priority basis so
that a good chunk of vacant posts
available in different departments are
filled up and the future of unemployed
qualified youth who are at the verge of
age bar is saved from ruins.
|
