Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 28: An unidentified male body was recovered this evening from a canal in Bishnah area of Jammu.
According to a police spokesperson, the dead body of a male (30-35) was found this evening from a canal at Partap Singh Pura in Bisnah area. On getting information, a police party reached the spot and shifted the body to mortuary room of Government Medical College and Hospital, Jammu for post mortem.
The Bishnah police has taken cognizance of the matter and started investigations.
Unidentified body recovered from canal
Sector HQ BSF organizes blood donation camp
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 28: Sector Headquarter BSF Indreshwar Nagar organized a blood donation camp.
The camp was inaugurated by Deep Shikha Gurung and was presided over by Rajesh Kumar Gurung, DIG Sector Headquarter BSF Indreshwar Nagar.
Deep Shikha Gurung along with 51 volunteers of different units of Sector Headquarter Indreshwar Nagar donated blood.
Rajesh Kumar Gurung briefed about importance of blood donation and told that blood donation is a great humanitarian act to save life of a person, who needs blood.
He said that some people have misconception that giving blood can involve some risk to them, which is not true, he added.
Dr KS Kumar, Commandant/CMO (SG) delivered lecture during blood donation camp and said that it is a noble cause to save one’s life. He added that blood donation is literally life donation.
“There are many simple things that you can do to save some one’s life. Blood donating is one of these simple things. It is an easy procedure which is divided into three steps that is screening, donating and refreshing”, he added.
Earlier, Dr Rinchen Angmo, SMO, 94 Bn BSF presented the welcome address.
Ajay Hemrom, Commandant, SHQ BSF Indreshwar Nagar, Bhagwant Singh, Commandant, 94 Bn BSF, all officer and their wives were present during the blood donation camp.
During the camp, the Blood Bank Department of GMC Jammu provided all assistance.
APS Miran Sahib celebrates Annual Day
Excelsior Sports Correspondent
Jammu, 28 Nov: Army Public School (APS) Miran Sahib celebrated its Annual Day function with solemnity on Friday. Savitiri Chauhan, Seasoned Educationist, was the chief guest on the occasion. The function commenced with the lighting of traditional lamp by the chief guest followed by reading out of the Annual School report by Lavinder Kaur, Principal of the School. The children presented a colourful bonanza of cultural events to mark the day.
The programme started with the invocation to Goddess Saraswati. Students took and active part in all the events ranging from anchoring of the programme, English Skit, folk dance, mime, arshal arts and other various presentations. Participants won the heats of the audience by their astounding performance.
The chief guest gave away the prizes to the students for their achievement in academics and extra curricular activities.
NC’s fight for J&K’s political status is not electoral plank: Omar
Excelsior Correspondent
BEERWAH, Nov 28: NC Working President Omar Abdullah today said that the fight of National Conference to uphold the promises made to the people of J&K was not an electoral fight but an inexorable ideological battle for J&K’s political dignity.
While addressing youth in Beerwah Assembly segment on Friday, Omar Abdullah said NC’s demand of reversing erosions in Article 370 and for the restoration of Internal Autonomy in J&K was not an electoral plank but formed the basis of a struggle that Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah spent 23 years in jail for.
“Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah did not spend almost half his life in prison as an electoral plank. Thousands of National Conference workers did not suffer indignity and humiliation at the hands of Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad and his patrons in Delhi as an electoral plank. Thousands of National Conference workers did not sacrifice their lives as an electoral plank. We have the glory of sacrifices and courage behind our back and we dream of a future of dignity and honor for our people. We are not seeking power to steal urea or rice from the godowns of the people. We are not seeking power to start land grabbing. We are not seeking power to facilitate BJP’s ambitions in J&K. We are asking for your vote so that we can again fight the battle that we fought in 1953 under Sheikh Abdullah’s command”, Omar Abdullah said while addressing hundreds of youth workers and activists.
He said that National Conference believed in serving the developmental and governance related day-to-day needs of the people with utmost sincerity and dedication.
“We have rendered a historic tenure of systemic reforms in the fields of power generation, roads and bridges, tourism generation, irrigation, horticulture, education and healthcare and we will continue to perform with honesty in the context of governance. We will continue to empower the common man with rights to ask questions of his Ministers, MLAs and Chief Minister. We will continue to devolve and decentralize power to the grassroots level and our efforts at liberalization of power through Panchayati Raj System and creation of New Administrative Units is noteworthy”, Omar Abdullah further added.
“However, development is not a substitute for the political resolution of the Kashmir Issue. Our proposed resolution is the reversal in the erosions made to Article 370 and the complete restoration of Internal Autonomy. We will continue to stand by these perennial demands with renewed vigor and strength. Nobody should be mistaken into thinking that the narrative of development can occlude the need for a political resolution”, Omar Abdullah said while asking the people to vote in high numbers in the remaining phases of the Assembly Elections and play a part in further empowering the State with a voice that cannot be manipulated or by-passed.
Meanwhile, Omar Abdullah telephonically addressed election rallies at Gulabgarh and Reasi from Srinagar.
He said that National Conference is the only political party which strives for unity, solidarity, brotherhood and equitable development of all the regions and sub-regions of the State.
The Working President, National Conference listed the achievements registered in all the development sectors in the State during the last six years of his Government.
He said that the highest turnout of voters in the first phase of Assembly elections in the State in the peaceful atmosphere goes to the credit of National Conference led Government which steered the State out of the situation of fear, confusion and hatred that was created in 2008 putting people of Kashmir and Jammu at draggers-drawn for political interests by some political parties.
He appealed the voters of Gulabgarh and Reasi to vote for National Conference candidates Abdul Gani Malik and Jagjeevan Lal. He highlighted the services of these candidates to the people and said that their success in the Assembly elections will be the success of the people.
2-day ZPCC meeting of Radio Stations concludes
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 28: Two-day Zonal Programme Co-ordination Committee (ZPCC) meeting of All the Radio Stations located in Jammu and Kashmir ended today in the premises of Radio Kashmir Jammu.
The meeting was chaired by Rukhsana Jabeen, Station Director, Radio Kashmir Srinagar.
Matters concerning the betterment of Radio programmes and mutual concern, structure of new programmes and enhanced coordination between the stations were figured in the meeting. It was also decided to continue with the voters’ awareness programmes for better and more participation of voters in the ongoing Assembly Elections to strengthen the institution of Democracy.
The meeting appreciated the role played by Radio Kashmir Jammu and Srinagar for meeting the challenges posed by the recent incessant rains and floods. It was also decided to arrange Joint Music Concerts to showcase the rich cultural diversity and local Folk Music of all the three regions of the State. The concerts shall be held live and presented to invited audience to revive the taste of Folk Music among the masses.
VK Sambyal Station Director Radio Kashmir Jammu, KK Singh, DDG(E), Radio Kashmir, Jammu, Rajat Sen Gupta, Assistant Director of Programmes from the office of Additional Director General (Northern Region), All India Radio, New Delhi, Shamshad Kralwari, Ad(p) CBS Srinagar, Sanjeet Khajuria Ad (News) Doordarshan and Radio Kash-mir Jammu, Programme Heads of All India Radio Kathua, Bhaderwah, Poonch, Leh and Kargil and all the programme officers of Radio Kashmir Jammu also participated in the meeting.
The meeting ended with a vote of thanks by VK Sambyal, Station Director, Radio Kashmir, Jammu.
India wants good relations with Pak: Rajnath Singh
Mir Iqbal
URI, BARAMULLA, Nov 28: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today said it was Bharatiya Janata Party’s heartfelt desire to have good relations with Pakistan.
The Home Minister said this in his telephonic address to the party rally in North Kashmir’s border town Uri as his chopper couldn’t land due to the bad weather here.
Singh said that India wants friendly relations with Pakistan. “I want to tell Pakistan Prime Minister that being our neighbors we want good relations with it,” Singh told the rally.
The Home Minister added:”But just shaking hands won’t help. The hearts should come together. He was referring to a formal handshake between Modi with his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif at the end of SAARC summit in Nepal.
“Modi took the initiative to help Pakistan in the time of the flood but the Pakistan refused the offer. Rather they started firing on the border as a result of which many people lost their lives,” the Home Minister said.
He said the atmosphere of terrorism has been going on for a long time and a generation has been a victim of terror. Hundreds of families have been destroyed and assured given a chance his party would address the issue of terrorism and will restore the pristine glory of Kashmir valley.
“I want to assure you that once you elect the BJP Government in the state, we will take Jammu and Kashmir out of the shadows of terrorism,” he said adding “we will not allow Kashmir, which was once known as heaven worldwide, to become a hell”, the BJP leader said.
The Home Minister also lashed out at the National Conference led Government for its failure to help people during floods. “The centre had to step in to provide succor to the people during the recent floods which caused massive death and destruction in the State,” he said. “I know you are struggling in the aftermath of the floods. There was huge damage to life and property but the National Conference Government surrendered at the time of the disaster so we decided that we had to step in for the relief and rehabilitation of the people of the State”, he added.
Praising Modi, Singh said: “We stood up with strength. Modi visited the State immediately and announced a special package. I cannot say anything on if you got some relief or not. You know better than me.”
Seeking a clear mandate for the BJP, the Union Minister said the successive Governments in the State have failed to address the problems of the people and are raising emotive slogans to hoodwink the people. “Be it NC, PDP or Congress, they took votes from you but after forming the Government they raise emotive slogans, rather than addressing your problems, only to divert your attention. Emotive slogans should not be raised during elections. The issues of development, employment and public welfare should be raised,” he added.
Singh said he does not want such a Government which wants to “divert” your attention and tries to instill fear in you and does not give you the right to live with dignity. “There is no reason to have such a Government in the State. I assure you when BJP comes to power, we will provide you the right to live with dignity. It is the promise of BJP,” he said.
The Minister said he was aware of the needs and issues of the people as there was no development and the rate of literacy is low. “The Government had not paid attention to your issues,” he said adding there should have been four lane highway from Srinagar to Uri. “Though the previous Government has promised to do it, they did not fulfill it. We will fulfill the promise,” he said.
“In BJP ruled States, electricity is supplied for 24 hours. It is not done here. I am told that there is a small hospital in Uri and the condition of the patient deteriorates till they are shifted to Srinagar. So there should be a major hospital in Uri,” said the Minister.
Pressing for implementation of the 73rd Amendment of the Panchayati Raj in the State, the BJP leader said the money from Centre for Panchayat goes directly to the Panchayats in other States of the country after the incorporation of the amendment. “However, the money does not goes directly to the Panchayats in the State and goes to the Government. How much does the Government give you, you know it. There is a rampant corruption in the state,” he said.
Inner Path Festival of Buddhism held
Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Nov 28: Network for Promotion of Asian Cinema (NETPAC) India, the International Buddhist Confederation and Alliance Francaise de Delhi in association with the Korean Cultural Centre, IBC, Art Konsult, Kalpataru Trust and IBIS Hotel organized Inner Path Festival of Buddhism.
The festival had discourses, art exhibitions, photo exhibitions, and even a Kung Fu performance by seven nuns, apart from around sixteen feature and short films based on Buddhist philosophy.
Around sixteen feature and documentary films were screened during the festival, and interestingly a large number of them centered round women empowerment.
In fact, seven nuns actually demonstrated Kung Fu during the festival. The opening day also featured a concert by the Singing Nun-Ani Choying Drolma of Nepal.
Other events included an Exhibition Looking Inward which had works by twenty artists, encompassing the mediums of painting, calligraphy, sculpture, photography and ceramics. The myriad manifestations reflected diverse and highly personal introspection, interpretations of Buddhist philosophy, and creative vision.
These included a show of traditional ink painting scrolls by Aruna Vasudev, founder President of NETPAC and founder The Inner Path Festival and exhibitions of renowned contemporary Indian artists such as Arpana Caur, Niren Sen Gupta, Shobha Broota, Sidharth, and the late Sohan Qadri, paintings by the 12th Kenting Tai Situpa, calligraphy by Bryan Mulvihill, Rajeev Kumar and Qamar Dagar; Tibetan calligraphic art by Jamyang Dorjee Chakrishar; photography by Cannon Hersey, Felicia Murray, Kshipra Simon, and Shefali Munjal; photographic works by the artists Deepak Tandon and Saba Hasan; photographs of the Kalachakra, Ladakh-1976 by the artist Jasleen; and ceramic works and an installation by the artist Siraj Saxena.
Another Exhibition was held on The Magic Life of Milarepa: Tibet’s Great Yogi.
Eminent persons including Jamyang Dorjee Chakrishar (Regional director), Arpana Caur (first lady contemporary painter and 20 years into Buddhist paintings), Bebeth M Vanloo (Director of Khandro – A woman’s Path of Peace), and Dr GK Ananda Kumaraseri (President of Human Development and Peace Foundation), and Geshe Thubten Jinpa (Director of 108 Yaks-A Journey of Love and Freedom) and artists like Vinita Dasgupta and Kshipra Simon spoke on Buddhism.
Geshe Jangchup Choeden who had been appointed by the Dalai Lama as the Abbot of the prestigious and historic Gaden Shartse Monastery, Dr Dato Ananda Kumaraseri, a career ambassador for over 30 years and Aruna Vasudev, Director of the event also spoke on the occasion.
Kavinder Gupta assures real development
Excelsior Correspondent
Jammu, Nov 28: BJP Candidate for Gandhi Nagar Assembly Constituency, Kavin-der Gupta, along with Ex-MLA Choudhary Piara Singh and other leaders, addressed public meetings in Qasim Nagar, Ward no. 21, Narwal Pain, Greater Kailash and Channi while campaigning intensively.
Kavinder Gupta, in these meetings, said that during the last few days I have came to know about the facts related to high claims of development by the Congress MLA, who had created a hype on the name of development. “Where is development, still many areas lack basic amenities, health care facilities, proper roads etc.”, he said and added that the people living in these areas cannot be misled anymore and the BJP is going for clean sweep in the ensuing elections. He said that the people are not going to trust mere slogans, claims and false promises of the Congress candidate as they have seen the past six years treatment to them. He assured that the Party after forming Government in J&K, will concentrate on real development rather than making hollow claims of development.
Choudhary Piara Singh, while giving details of the record development works done in Gandhi Nagar constituency during his tenure as MLA, said that we believed in ground work instead of just befooling the public for cheap publicity. Today’s voter is well informed of the real work and will not get trapped, he said and added that BJP wave will show the door to the sitting MLA of the Congress. He appealed the people to reject Congress and bring in BJP for betterment of their constituency.
Rana terms ensuing elections as Nagrota’s tryst with development
Excelsior Correspondent
NAGROTA, Nov 28: Terming upcoming elections crucial for development of Nagrota, National Conference candidate Mr Devender Singh Rana today exhorted the electors to lend their supporting hand for carrying forward the mission.
“We are at the threshold of transforming the profile of this important constituency by undertaking fast track development and this is not possible unless the people become part of the process”, Mr Rana said while addressing a series of election meetings at various placed in Panchayat Jandyal Upper and Bhagani.
He said the day is not far when the vision of people about Nagrota unfolding itself Nava Jammu-a satellite township with all modular facilities-with vistas of opportunities to housing and commercial sectors. The area has vast potential that is required to be harnessed by devising perspective planning, Mr Rana maintained.
The Provincial President detailed the broad contours of the proposed Nava Jammu township and said this will be a sort of township coming up adjacent to each metropolis of the country. In fact, Nagrota is ideally suited to be an extension of Greater Jammu with its huge potential in respect of area and strategic location on the National Highway. This is the first destination to all important landmarks and hence qualifies for being developed as a hub, he said while urging the people to gear up for this massive exercise soon after elections.
Mr Rana recalled the efforts made during the past few years with regard to development of the constituency and said that being amid the people all along he knew the strengths and gray area Nagrota possessed. He assured that while the strengths would be harnessed for benefit of its residents, the shortcomings shall be addressed on immediate basis to satiate the urges of the people. He said a humble but significant headway has been made by improving the service sectors and upgrading utility services. He enumerated few of the developmental projects which were in different stages of execution with some already completed. He said in his capacity as Member Legislative Council, a new dimension has been given to infrastructural development which is discernible in each sector.
He said much has been done towards developing the constituency yet more is still required for achieving the agenda of inclusive development. He said a network of roads has been undertaken with construction of a vital bridge which is important for connectivity. He said other developmental sectors too have got impetus during recent years which have qualitatively changed the lifestyle of the people. He also made a mention of new administrative units created in the constituency and said these will bring administration closer to the people.
The Provincial President appreciated the peoples’ sagacity in choosing the path of development over sloganeering, which has been a time tested weapon of those not believing in the empowerment of people. He said the constituency represents a unique character of people having unanimity, irrespective of their affiliations, in getting the area developed. “This single attribute has been an inspiring force to work for day in and day out for the development of this constituency”, he added.
Those present on the occasion included Som Nath Khajuria, Block President Sham Lal, Ch. Arshad, Sarpanch Anwar Khan, Sarpanch Balbir Singh, Sarpanch Ravinder Singh Peter, Sain Khan, Raj Baru, Ravi Baru, Mehmood Rizvi Advocate, Shammi, Arun Vir Singh, Goverdhan Singh,Tej Pal Singh, Mohammad Yousuf, Mohd Iqbal, Mangat Ram, Dr. Radhey, Haji Ashraf, Baber Hussain and others.
Bar, VHP, others condemn Fidayeen attack
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 28: The Fidayeen attack at Arnia has evoked a wide spread condemnation with leaders of various organizations demanding that Government of India should adopt a tough posture against Pakistan.
J&K Bar Association in its meeting here today strongly condemned the terrorist attack in Arnia Sector. President of the Association, M K Bhardwaj while lauding the role of army, para military forces and police in countering the militancy, advocated for strengthening them with most sophisticated weapons with latest technology.
Citing yesterday’s terrorist attack as an eye opener for those who are consistently advocating the removal of AFSPA, the J&K High Court Bar Association has appealed to the State and Central Governments to strengthen the security grid and VDCs wherever they are existing and stressed on creation of more such VDCs in border areas of Jammu, Samba, Kathua, and other parts of the State for effectively and timely countering of militants by the civilians also in addition to the armed forces.
The Bar has also made an appeal to the people of the State to remain untied, vigilant and to cooperate with the police and armed forces in fighting the menace of terrorism in every possible manner so that the morale of armed forces gets a boost.
State VHP has also expressed serious concern over sneaking of terrorists inside the Indian territory in Arnia area who killed three army personnel and four civilians.
VHP patron Dr Rama Kant Dubey while talking to reporters here expressed his grave concern over the sneaking of the terrorists from across the border and reiterated his demand for establishing of VDCs in border areas to assist the BSF in combating the terrorist activities. He said the Union Government and Home Minister should pay a thought to this demand immediately as appointment of VDCs among the local youth will prove deterrent in checking cross border terrorism as local youth knowing topography and language etc can easily detect any outsider. Besides it will also lessen the burden on BSF as the VDC members can guard the bunkers and other places to be used as shelters by the infiltrators.
The VHP leader also demanded a high level probe into the incidents as how these terrorists managed to reach the village and take shelter in bunkers there. He also demanded that India should not hesitate in taking a tough stand against Pakistan as it has failed to stop anti India activities on its soil.
Dr Dubey said that Government should act tough against terrorism and chase them to finish. He said the border people have suffered for decades together due to Pak misadventures and the Union Government should find an everlasting solution to this problem as how long more they will face such a situation.
To protest against the Pak Fidyeen attack in Arnia area ABVP today held a demonstration at GGM Science College against Pakistan and demanded strong action against Pakistan. The students of the College also boycotted their classes on the call of ABVP and held a rally at main gate. The organizing secretary of ABVP Pawan Sharma asked the Union Government to give befitting reply to Pakistan.
Ram Sena president Rajiv Mahajan while condemning the attack asked the Union Government to snap bilateral ties with Pakistan and teach it a lesson.