Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 27: A delegation of Shiromani Akali Dal National (SADN), Jammu-Kashmir, led by its working President, Gurdev Singh, called on N.N. Vohra, Governor, here at the Raj Bhavan today.
Gurdev Singh, who is also President of the Jammu Kashmir Sharnarthi Action Committee, voiced his concern for the need to ensure fair and due compensation being provided to Displaced Persons (DPs) of 1947 from PoK and to bring leftover families of DPs of 1947 under the ambit of Central Package for one time settlement of DPs of 1947, 65 & 71.
He requested the Governor to intervene and impress upon the Central and the State Governments to decide the issue of compensation taking into consideration their actual material and physical losses.
The SADN also voiced their demand for provision of constitutional safeguards and grant of representation in the State Legislature, extension of National Minority Act of 1992 to the State, benefits under the various Centrally Sponsored Schemes for the minorities being granted to them, strengthening teaching of Punjabi language in the State, reservation in Government jobs for the Sikhs etc.
The Governor assured the delegation to take up their demands with the Central and the State Government authorities.
SADN delegation calls on Governor
Aam Mazdoor Kissan Vikas Party extends support to Shinghari
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 27: Aam Mazdoor Kissan Vikas Party has announced it active support to Congress candidate in Jammu West, Surinder Singh Shinghari.
Decision in this regard was taken after an extensive tour of the Jammu-West Constituency by the party president Vijay Kumar Choudhary along with general secretary Arjun Singh Chib, Rohit Kumar Sharma, Vikar Veer and others.
The AMKVP team visited Talab Tillo, Janipur, Rehari Colony, Top Sherkhania, Roopnagar and other areas. After interacting with the people, AMKVP decided to extend support to Surinder Singh Shinghari, instead of fielding own candidate because of former’s popularity among the masses.
Omar puts conditions for shaking hand with BJP
Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Nov 27: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said that his party won’t shake hands with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) unless and until it changes its policy towards Jammu and Kashmir and on other issues.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an election rally in South Kashmir’s Kulgam district, Omar said that his party won’t shake hands with BJP unless and until they promise resolution of Jammu and Kashmir issue peacefully through dialogue.
Chief Minister said that it is out of question to support BJP unless and until it accepts Jammu and Kashmir’s flag, Article 370 and resolves Ramjanambohmi Babri Masjid issue and gives up Common Civil Code issue.
Omar said that his Government’s sustained campaign for the revocation of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) forced Army and Central Government for fast track inquiry into Budgam killings and lifer to Army personnel found guilty in Macchil fake encounter case.
Omar charged BJP of double speak on Article 370. “BJP has double speak on Article 370. In Jammu they say one thing and in Kashmir the other. In Jammu they say, we will abrogate Article 370 and in Srinagar they talk of resorting to arms if the article is abrogated”, he said.
Chief Minister said that he fails to understand how BJP speaks differently on the issue of AFSPA and Article 370 in three regions of the State. “On AFSPA they say in Srinagar that it is for the benefit of the people and I fail to understand how it is beneficial for the people. BJP’s biggest problem is that the party talk differently in three regions. In Ladakh they talk of Union Territory, in Kashmir they talk of saving Article 370 and in Jammu they talk of abrogation of Article 370. This is BJP’s contradiction”, he said.
Earlier in his address to the election rallies at Noorabad and Homeshalibug in Kulgam district of South Kashmir, Omar said that his party is the bulwark of State’s political individuality and dignity. He asked the BJP to try to acquaint itself with the glorious history of State’s political struggle against autocracy, tyranny and suppression.
Chief Minister said that the NC is committed to its political agenda of seeking the restoration of internal autonomy, safeguarding Article 370 and the revocation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from J&K.
“A slew of BJP leaders and RSS ideologues are bee lining into J&K and announcing their plans to hold closed-door meetings for their purported Mission 44 plus”, said Omar.
Chief Minister also spoke about NC’s “relentless struggle” to get AFSPA removed from the State. He said that his party would continue to strive for the revocation of an Act that has no place in a violence-free, modern and civilized society that has made a spirited recovery from a prolonged political turmoil.
“We don’t treat the Kashmir issue as a matter of electioneering or politicking like our opponents do. We have always – both in opposition and while in power – advocated the acceptable resolution of the Kashmir issue according to the aspirations of our people and we will continue to do that as much as BJP turns down our political demands”, Omar said.
Chief Minister said that he has never and will never seek votes for the resolution of the Kashmir issue but will rather continue to strive for it on a sustained basis irrespective of electoral politics. “We have delivered a historic, transparent and landmark tenure of good-governance, employment generation, fiscal growth and infrastructure creation in a State that had been ravaged by political instability and uncertainty”, he said.
He said that the high turnout in the first phase of elections is very encouraging and indicated that the people of the State would not be bystanders while plans would be hatched to dis-empower and bypass them in choosing their representatives.
“I am certain that the turnout will be even more in the remaining phases of this election and I have no doubt in my mind that the State has decided to put all its support behind NC yet again at a crucial juncture in our history. We assure you that we will prize, value and work for the trust you are investing in us and stand between political marauders and the political individuality and status of Jammu and Kashmir”, Chief Minister said.
7,500 MW solar power park to be set up in Leh: Govt
NEW DELHI, Nov 27:
Government has received proposals from 12 States for setting up of solar power parks/ultra mega solar power projects totalling 22,100 MW capacity, including the biggest 7,500 MW park to be set up in Leh and Kargil in Jammu and Kashmir.
In a written reply in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Power, Coal and New & Renewable Energy Piyush Goyal said the other States where such parks are being set up are: Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Meghalaya, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Odisha.
He said the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has initiated a scheme for setting up of 25 solar parks and ultra mega solar power projects to be developed in five years in various States.
In reply to another question, Goyal said that under Off- grid Solar PV programme of the Ministry, 806 villages/hamlets with extended distribution network based SPV power plants aggregating capacity have been installed in states of Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, which has a maximum of 730 such plants.
In yet another answer, he said as many as 299 proposals in Jammu and Kashmir and 296 in Odisha have been received and approved for electrification of villages and hamlets under Remote Villages Electrification (RVE) programme for which funds to the tune of Rs 20.09 crore and Rs 28.59 crore respectively have been released.
Such proposals have also been received and approved in other States.
On setting up solar power parks/ultra mega solar power projects, Goyal said land has been identified by the State in Vav Taluka in Banaskantha district for a 750 MW project, in Rewa district in Madhya Pradesh for 1500 MW project and in Mehboob Nagar in Telangana for a 1000 MW project.
Besides, Andhra Pradesh has identified Anantpur district for a 2500 MW project and Karnataka has identified Bijapur for a 100 MW project with land identified in Jalaun, Sonabhadra and Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh for a 600 MW project and near Guwahati for a 50 MW project in Meghalaya.
Land has also been identified in Punjab for a 2000 MW project and in Bhandla and Jaisalmer by Rajasthan for a total of 3700 MW project. Land is being identified in Tamil Nadu and Odisha for a 500 MW and 1000 MW respectively in this regard, he said. (PTI)
SAARC can realize full potential if India, Pak resolve Kashmir issue: Mufti
Excelsior Correspondent
ANANTNAG, Nov 27: Former Chief Minister and PDP patron, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today said that SAARC can realize its full potential only if pestering issues between India and Pakistan are settled amicably.
“SAARC leadership has to recognize the fact that the forum couldn’t take off effectively since its inception in 1985 because of the unresolved issues between India and Pakistan including the Kashmir,” he said while addressing election rallies at Kulgam, Homshalibugh and Anantnag Assembly segments here.
Mufti said the current elections offer a historic opportunity to people of the State to send a strong message to the national leadership about their urge for peace and reconciliation between the two countries which could facilitate resolution and enduring peace. “A strong and inclusive mandate to PDP would enable it channelize this urge effectively and revive the initiatives of 2003,” he said and added that political aspect of the issues between India and Pakistan would be easier to address if the economic space created in SAARC paradigm is ensured for a potentially rich place like Jammu and Kashmir.
Mufti said the pain of the people in Jammu and Kashmir has reached a level where the hope of peace is sure to gain substantial local support. “The encouraging participation of people in the ongoing polls should not be misconstrued as the problem having disappeared without addressing it,” he said and added that the renewed trust people of the State have reposed in the democratic institutions, offers a fresh opportunity to work through peaceful and reconciliatory means towards addressing all the dimensions of the Kashmir issue in a manner that balances and promotes enduring political and economic stability in the State and the region.
Mufti also called for speeding up and expanding the Indo-Pak peace process to find substantial solution to the problem of Jammu & Kashmir and addressing the legitimate aspirations of its people.
“I am especially humbled by the overwhelming endorsement of my party’s political and economic agenda by the State’s young population who have started playing decisive role in democratic exercises as is evident from first phase of voting. Time has come for the State’s youth to fully assert themselves to become active partners in political decision-making processes,” he said and reiterated his party’s resolve to work hand-in-hand with the progressive and democratic forces in the country and the region to facilitate dignified resolution of the Kashmir issue and the issues confronting Jammu and Kashmir.
Mufti added that it would be his party’s endeavor to carry the voice of Jammu & Kashmir to all parts of the country and use all forums including the Assembly, Parliament and other democratic platforms to secure the political and economic rights of the State and its people.
He said the new Government would in earnest begin with the challenging task of rehabilitation and reconstruction process for the flood-affected and also launch effective flood control projects. He said tourism, horticulture, handicrafts and hydropower would be the areas of focus for the new Government as these sectors not only offer huge employment potential but can create wealth for the State and its people.
Govt must defuse tension along border: Ex-MP
Excelsior Correspondent
Vijaypur, Nov 27: Veteran Congress leader and former Minister & MP Madan Lal Sharma while campaigning for Congress candidate Vijaypur Assembly Constituency Manjeet Singh at Jhang, Chak Babrola and Swankha Morh appealed the Government of India to defuse tension on LoC and IB permanently .
He condemned the firing incident and militants attack at Arnia sector in which innocent civilians and Army jawans lost their lives. He said that border inhabitants either on IB on LoC are living under fear and stray incidents of firing are still continuing making life of people difficult and miserable.
He asked the Prime Minister to shun rigidity and start discussion with Pakistan and bound them not to fire this side so that border inhabitants have safe and sound life. Mr Sharma said that the life and property of border inhabitants is facing uncertainty. He also demanded insurance cover to the life, property, crop and cattle of the border Inhabitants and allotment of plots to them in safer places on top priority.
Mr. Sharma said that BJP is a party with double standard , what they commit before the elections, do not fulfill on attaining power. He said that BJP Government at the Central level is not serious on resolving the long pending issues of refugees. He said that by returning the State Government’s proposal they have made their intention clear. He demanded early roll back of Centre’s decision and demanded a full fledged package for refugees. Mr. Sharma said that regional parties too, have vision limited to their particular regions, as such Congress is the only Party which can do justice to Jammu region and can fulfill the aspiration of the already neglected people of the Jammu Region. Terming Congress Candidate S. Manjit Singh as a leader with clean image he appealed the people of Vijaypur Assembly to press hand button on EVM machines on December 14 to make him victorious .
S. Manjit Singh also appealed the people of Vijaypur to cast their precious vote in his favour.
Congress provided life support to Omar’s anarchic rule: Mehbooba
Excelsior Correspondent
ANANTNAG, Nov 27: Accusing Congress of sowing the seeds of divisive and communal politics in Jammu and Kashmir, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti today said Congress can’t wash its hands off the morass of political uncertainty and economic instability Jammu and Kashmir is entangled in.
“It is ironic that Rahul Gandhi is criticizing his friend Omar Abdullah now after having destroyed Jammu and Kashmir together during the past six years,” Mehbooba said while addressing a series of election rallies in Dooru Assembly segment of this South Kashmir district to enlist support for PDP candidate Farooq Indrabi.
She said it was Rahul Gandhi who provided the lifeline to Omar in 2010 when hundreds of youth and children were being killed by NC-Congress coalition Government in Kashmir. “Rahul pleaded for giving Omar ‘more time as he is young and learning’ while innocent blood was being shed on the streets of Kashmir by the Government headed by his friend,” she said and added that Congress also extracted its pound of flesh when it needed to hang Afzal Guru in its failed bid to stop BJP march as Guru was pulled out of the row and sent to gallows out of turn. “Afzal was picked out of turn only as a return favor by Omar to his friend who had owed his survival to Rahul Gandhi in spite of his repeated failures,” she said.
Mehbooba said Congress even shielded Omar in the Haji Yousuf case which would rate as one of the most sensational cases of political corruption and murder in JK. “Even the Rs 113 crore Cricket Association scam, involving Dr Farooq Abdullah, was hushed up by Omar Abdullah-led Government with the help of his friends in Congress,” she said.
Mehbooba said Congress and NC are equally responsible for creating political space for BJP in the State which has, in the last six years, seen the most incompetent and corrupt Government headed by Omar Abdullah. “Congress kept Omar Abdullah Government on life support system for its entire tenure as its ministers tried to outdo their NC colleagues in amassing wealth and looting the State,” she said and added that unfortunately all the Congress ministers involved in various scams and scandals were given mandate by the party like their cohorts in NC.
Claiming that PDP has set new and ethical standards of political morality, she reiterated her party’s resolve to realize the unfinished agenda of dignified political peace and sustainable economic prosperity for the people in all the regions and sub-regions of the State. She said there is huge potential of tourism in the area and once voted to form the Government, the PDP will realize that potential for the benefit of the local people.
Mehbooba expressed concern at the reports of major geological changes taking place in the area as a result of the construction of railway tunnel.
Governor releases “Dogri Upnayasein Ch Varg Sangarsh”
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 27: N.N. Vohra, Governor released, at the Raj Bhavan here today, “Dogri Upnayasein Ch Varg Sangarsh” a book authorized by Dr. Chanchal Bhasin. The book analyses class struggle as mentioned in different Dogri novels. The Governor complimented Dr. Bhasin for her writing and hoped that she would continue her contribution towards the enrichment of Dogri literature.
The Governor suggested publication of a half yearly newsletter which contains information about all Dogri language works brought out in the preceding months. For wide dissemination of significant literary work, the Governor advised their introduction in all the school, college and district libraries in the State.
Present on the occasion were Rakesh K. Gupta, Principal Secretary to the Governor, Prof. Nilamber Dev Sharma, Prof. Shashi Pathania, Prof. Veena Gupta, Prof. Lalit Magotra, Joginder Chhatrapal, Prof. Shiv Dev Singh Manhas, Dr. Jitendra Udhampuri and Shailender Singh.
Deceased youth’s father expresses gratitude to Army
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Nov 27: The father of one of the two youths killed in Budgam firing incident today expressed gratitude to the Army for completing the inquiry within three weeks but claimed no one from the official machinery had come to visit them.
“I say thanks to the Army, to the Lt General (Subrata Saha) for completing the inquiry in three weeks,” Mohammad Yousuf, father of Faisal Yousuf, told reporters.
Yousuf, however, said although the Army had announced compensation of Rs 10 lakh for the family of each deceased and Rs five lakh for the injured, no one from Army or the district administration had come to visit them.
“We have heard of the compensation through newspapers only. No one from the Army or district administration has come to visit us,” he said.
Army today said it had completed the inquiry into the killings in the firing incident by its troops at Chattergam in Budgam district.
“The inqury has been completed and the report has been submitted,” an Army official based in Army’s Northern Command headquarter said.
The official said the report is being examined by the legal department for further procedure as warranted under law.
Faisal Yousuf and Mehraj Ahmad Dar were shot dead while two other youths were injured in allegedly unprovoked firing by army troops at a motor vehicle checking point at Chattergam.
The Army while ordering an inquiry into the incident had promised a fast track probe to be completed within 10 days. (PTI)
JUTA resents deployment of university teachers on election duty
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 27: A deputation of Jammu University Teacher Association today called on Registrar JU and expressed its reservations over the order for deployment of university teachers on election duty.
Since JU is an autonomous institution and governed by the UGC norms where teachers are permitted to take part in the political activities and because of this most of the teachers have political affiliations. Also, some of the teachers of the University are contesting the Assembly Elections and some are openly going in the public with the candidates for asking people to vote for the candidate of their party. It is therefore possible that they may not be objective in performing the election duty if assigned and may cause avoidable controversies after the outcome of the election results, the JUTA explained to the Registrar.
Listing more reasons, the JUTA further said that the University teachers are not only taking classes but are also doing the research projects as well as supervising the research scholars with a timeline and most of the teachers have their prior research and academic commitments inclu-ding collaborative research, consultancy projects, and visits at the national and international levels to present research papers. Because of these reasons, Teachers are unable to perform election duties and hence the teaching fraternity be exempted from Assembly election and accordingly the circular/order No. Estab/14/14716-815, dated: 24/11/2014 may be withdrawn, the Registrar was urged.