Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Nov 14: Cold wave conditions intensified in the Kashmir valley where the minimum temperature dropped further, and icy cold winds continued during the day though sun was out.
There was also no respite from the cold in the Ladakh region where the temperature remained below freezing point.
A Met department spokesman said the weather will remain dry during the next 24 hours which could result in further drop in the temperature during night.
Summer capital, Srinagar, Qazigund and Kargil recorded coldest nights of the season so far. Srinagar recorded 0.2 degree minimum temperature, coldest of the winter so far. It was a notch below normal, Met spokesperson said.
Early morning fog disrupted normal traffic in Srinagar, where vehicles were plying with headlights on. However, light improved as the day progressed but icy cold winds continued though sun was out.
Pahalgam, the famed health resort in south Kashmir remained coldest in the Valley with minus 2.6 degree minimum temperature, which was two degree below normal.
The water level in Lidder river, passing through Pahalgam, has already dropped as the snow on upper reaches had frozen due to below freezing temperature.
Gulmarg, a world famous ski resort in north Kashmir recorded minus 1.5 degree minimum temperature, half a notch below normal.
Qazigund, gate of Kashmir on Srinagar-Jammu national highway, Kokernag and Kupwara also recorded below normal minimum temperature,
People in Leh and Kargil, going to polls in the first phase on November 25, continued to shiver.
At Leh the minimum temperature was minus 9.2 degree against yesterdays minus 10 degree while at Kargil it was 7.8 degree, coldest of the winter season so far.
Cold wave intensifies in Valley
Teachers without salary for 3 months
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 14: A large number of teachers engaged under Centrally sponsored scheme SSA are without salary for the last over three months.
Peer Panchal Regional Employees Front in a press statement at Rajouri today alleged that teachers are not being paid their salaries for the last over three months. It is not only in Rajouri- Poonch, the teachers engaged in other districts are also without wages. The Front leader Shahbaz Khan has urged upon the School Education authorities to release the salaries of the teachers without any delay as they were facing lot of hardships.
QUT apologises for distorted map
BRISBANE, Nov 14:
Queensland University of Technology (QUT) tonight apologised for displaying a distorted map of India during an event attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi here.
The Indian map, which was displayed during the event had Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir, which India lays claim to and is part of the official Indian map, missing, prompting a strong protest by Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh.
Asserting that the Government takes the issue of distortion of maps of India “seriously”, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said, “India’s Foreign Secretary raised the issue strongly and received an unqualified apology.”
He also said that the scientists and the staff at the QTU apparently did not realise the cartographic error.
Within hours after his arrival following an overnight flight from Myanmar, Modi headed for the QUT for the first engagement of his five-day Australia visit, the first by an Indian Prime Minister in 28 years after Rajiv Gandhi. (PTI)
DKPUF holds rally in support of BJP candidate
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 14: All Displaced Kashmiri Pandits United Forum (DKPUF) of BJP unit held a rally at Janipur under the chairmanship of D N Kissu in support of Moti Kaul, BJP candidate for Habba Kadal Constituency.
A big chunk of people attended the rally raising slogans in favour of Prime Minister, Narinder Modi and its candidate Moti Kaul. Different speakers highlighted the miserable condition of KPs. Shiban Khaibri the noted columnist appealed the voters to be united in the hour of crises and exercise their franchise in favour of Moti Kaul so to fulfill the dream of 44+ in State.
T N Bhat president Displaced Unit BJP asked the people to vote enmass in support of BJP to send our beloved leader to the Lower House of Assembly of the State.
Others who spoke on the accession Prof G L Koul, Veena Gurtoo, V K Kashkari, A K Raina, Ravinder Raina, P L Raina, Chaman Lal Koul, Balji, Virender Rania, Virender Kuchroo and P L Sudeshi.
PSA helps children of village Saddal
Excelsior Sports Correspondent
UDHAMPUR, Nov 14: The Private Schools Association (PSA) Unit Katra organized a programme for the flood affected School going children of village Saddal (Panchari) in Trikuta Public Hr Sec School Katra.
On the occasion, Sub Divisional Magistrate Anil Kumar was the chief guest, while Additional SP Kulbeer Singh and ZEO Reasi Kaka Ram were the guests honour. The function was presided over by Ajay Gupta, State Co-coordinator PSA J&K & B L Kerni, president PSA District Reasi.
The proceedings of the programme were conducted by Ajay Singh Kotwal where as welcome address was presented by Charagi.
A beautiful variety show was presented by the students of different grades of TPS.
This programme was in continuation of the charity show which was organized by the Private Schools of Katra on October 19. In this charity show an amount of 3.48 lakh was collected through donation. Out of this amount, 6 orphan children of Saddal namely Keshu Ram S/o Lt. Nand Lal, Pawan Kumar and Billu Ram S/o Lt Guddo Ram, Atul Dev Singh, Sanjeev Singh Ss/O Mukhtiyar Singh and Manisha Devi D/o Mukhtiyar Singh were given six F.D.R.’s amounting Rs 50,000 each where as 118 students were given a School satchel containing note books, pencils, pens, erasers, sharpners etc. by the chief guest.
Vote of thanks was presented by R S Manhas, chairman of Private Schools Association Katra.
Fire victim succumbs
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 14: A fire victim who was undergoing treatment in Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Jammu, today succumbed to his injuries.
According to a police spokesperson, One Lucky Singh (27) son of Bayant Singh, a resident of Khanpur (Hiranagar) was admitted in GMCH on 5th of this month after he received serious burn injuries in a fire accident took place at his home.
This morning, Lucky breathed his last. His body has been handed over to his legal heirs for last rites after conducting post mortem.
Saroori lambasts BJP, PDP for thriving on politics of divide
Excelsior Correspondent
KISHTWAR, Nov 14: Cautioning the people to beware of divisive forces that are hell bent to create confusion among masses, just to grab power, senior Congress leader and MLA Inderwal, Ghulam Mohammad Saroori described erstwhile Doda district as miniature of secular India and appealed the people to cast their votes to strengthen the secular forces.
Contesting Assembly election from Inderwal Assembly segment, Mr. Saroori, during his campaign in the higher reaches of Kishtwar district addressed various public meetings at Gujjar Khothan Drabshalla, Joshana, Salana, Bahdat, Bat Pura, Kral Pura, Bugrana, Kalchanda, Tatani, Patti, Londhari, and Shrouti today and said that after announcement of election, BJP and PDP have started propaganda to divert the attention of the masses.
Lambasting BJP and PDP for its lust for power by hoodwinking the innocent people of the country, Saroori said that the population of Chenab region that comprises the Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban and Banihal belts is a symbol of secularism. He called upon the people to counter the divisive moves of certain political parties, which are least bothered about the addressing the miseries of the people and instead they (political parties) have just one hidden agenda i.e. to befool the people on the name of religion and caste and exploit their votes.
Saroori said restoration of peace, construction of thousands of bridges, roads, schools, colleges, administrative units, Medical colleges, cancer hospital, sub-centres and other developmental schemes besides enactment of historic legislations to empower people and ensure transparency in all fields of administration by the Congress party has been possible with the financial and logistic support by the Congress led UPA-I and UPA-II.
Abhishek says mother’s comment on ‘HNY’ misconstrued
MUMBAI, Nov 14:
Opening up about the controversy surrounding Jaya’s comments on ‘Happy New Year’, actor Abhishek Bachchan says his mother was quoted out of context.
There were reports that Jaya had allegedly called the Shah Rukh Khan’s film, in which Abhishek played a key role, nonsensical at an event. Both Amitabh Bachchan and SRK rubbished the story later.
“I think anybody who was present there, they know the truth. Now that the truth has come out, the people who blew it out of proportion are looking a bit foolish.
“Media has a duty to report responsibly as sensational can be very dangerous. It’s an unfortunate situation and it could have been avoided,” Abhishek told PTI.
The 38-year-old actor’s role in the Farah Khan-directed movie was appreciated by the audience and Abhishek says he was drawn by the simplicity and the innocence of the character.
“When I heard Nandu Bhede for the first time, I knew he was going to be very lovable. He is a unique character. There is an innocence about him which is very appealing. I really liked the childlike quality. It was a challenge to play Nandu and Vicky, who are poles apart,” Abhishek said. (PTI)
CEO SMVDSB reviews status of water, power supply projects
Excelsior Correspondent
KATRA, Nov 14: Various measures were discussed for augmenting water and power supply at Katra, and along the track en-route Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine at a meeting held under the chairmanship of Dr. M.K. Bhandari, Chief Executive Officer of the Shrine Board here today.
Special focus on ensuring sufficient and uninterrupted supply of water and power was laid, in view of the damages caused during rains in September, 2014 and considering increase in the pilgrimage witnessed every year during the month of December.
Dr. M.K. Kumar, Additional Chief Executive Officer, SMVDSB, Devinder Singh Bhau, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, P. C. Tanoch, Executive Engineer, SMVDSB, Rajan Gupta, Executive Engineer, EM&RE Division, Reasi, K. K. Magotra, Executive Engineer, PHE, Reasi and other concerned engineers and officers of the Shrine Board participated in the meeting.
A detailed review was taken of all the ongoing works and new schemes which are to be executed for meeting emerging requirements of the pilgrimage in regard to water and power supply. In PHE sector the works which came under review included Pai Nallah water supply scheme, Contingency Scheme from Siar Dabri to Himkoti, water supply facility for new track, upcoming projects at Katra, provision of water supply at Receiving Station, Tarakote, additional water supply for Gurukul Phase-II, Serli Helipad and Multi-specialty Hospital at Kakryal.
Similarly, the power supply schemes which were reviewed in the meeting included shifting of Sub-Stations in the shrine area, improvement of 11 KV feeders of Shrine Board by providing isolation points in Katra and the shrine, installation of HT/LT lines along the new track, provision of additional phase line on the entire track etc.
Dr. Bhandari emphasised the urgent need for completion of all the ongoing works within fixed timelines to facilitate the pilgrims. He underscored the need for formulating a database of all the facilities location-wise and replacing or immediately repairing the ones which get non-functional due to overuse.
The CEO further stressed that all required measures need to be intensified for further augmenting water supply at all the establishments of the Shrine Board, on the track and in the Bhawan area to largely facilitate the visiting pilgrims.
This was followed by field visit along with all the officers for inspection of the water supply schemes and related facilities.
BJP using proxies to divide majority vote: Karra
Excelsior Correspondent
Chrar-e-Sharief (Budgam), Nov 14: Senior PDP leader and Member Parliament, Tariq Hameed Karra today accused BJP of using proxies to divide majority vote in Jammu and Kashmir. He declared that with the support of the people, PDP won’t allow BJP to execute its divisive and destructive agenda in the State.
“Whether it is so-called Third Front or some other pocket-sized politicians in Kashmir, all of them have become BJP’s paid cronies to facilitate the Saffron party implement its dangerous agenda of divide-and-rule in JK,” Mr Karra said while addressing an election rally for party candidate Ghulam Nabi Lone.
Mr Karra said unfortunately BJP and RSS have started resorting to communal and polarizing tactics in the highly sensitive Chenab Valley and Poonch-Rajouri belt of State to divide people on religious and ethnic lines for electoral gains. “The divisive politics has its own perilous consequences and such tactics could prove dangerous for the State in the long run,” he said.
He said while Kashmir is yet to come to terms with the devastating after-effects of the September floods, a bigger political storm is on its way that can devour the State of its special status and leave the majority community completely disempowered. “The people must see through the deceitful designs of the BJP and its proxies and defeat the same through democratic means by voting en-mass in support of PDP,” he said.
PDP is now the only voice left in Jammu and Kashmir to represent its regional aspirations as all other parties, groups and individuals are huddled together in BJP and RSS lap to cobble-up an anti-JK opportunistic alliance.
“There are credible reports that having lost its ground in Kashmir, National Conference has also reached a secret understanding with BJP and the party has offered unconditional support to the Saffron brigade,” Mr Karra said and added that the people of the State can see through the nefarious designs of these power hungry politicians and the emancipated voters will show this opportunistic lot their right place in the upcoming Assembly elections.
Mr Karra said while opinion polls have already suggested that PDP is going to emerge as the single largest party in the upcoming Assembly elections, the party is expecting even better results given the overwhelming desire for change in every nook and corner of the State.
Mr Karra said it is heartening to note that in the absence of any political and developmental agenda of their own, the people are today rushing to Delhi Durbar with the pioneering issues and initiatives already flagged by the PDP. “Whether it is inclusion of Srinagar in the Smart Cities Project or extension of rail link upto Uri, Kupwara, Poonch-Rajouri and Doda, all these issues have since been flagged by the PDP leaders with the Centre,” he said and added that it is a welcome move that some people are now following up on the same.
He said bereft of any political or economic agenda for the State, NC leaders are resorting to hysterical disparages out of desperation and frustration that has overtaken its rank and file. “No wonder people have already written-off NC as one of the misfortunes that was foisted on the State only to push it into the most tragic era of death and destruction,” he said and added that fortunately, in the changed circumstances, the fallacious verbal acrobatics of the NC leaders would impact the situation only in a positive sense as the party has forfeited its monopolistic hold on the State.