BJP leaders during poll rally at Udhampur on Friday. —Excelsior/Pawan
UDHAMPUR, Nov 14: Maintaining that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is receiving a good public response in the State, especially in Kashmir valley, BJP national general secretary, Ram Madhav today said that the Narendra Modi wave is all set to sweep the elections in the State.
Addressing a largely attended election rally at Sailan Talab here, today organized in connection with filing of nomination papers by Party candidate Pawan Khajuria he said the J&K will have next Chief Minister of BJP as no one can stop the victory spree of the Party.
The BJP leader said that there is a sea change in the State and people have made up with their mind to give a massive mandate to Party to rid the State of dynastic rule, corruption and unemployment by providing it a good and responsive Government.
Addressing the rally, Union Minister in PMO Dr Jitendra Singh said that all the roads in the district will be constructed under PMGSY scheme and the recruitment of the people of the district in Air Force, BSF and other para military forces will be re-started as was done during Vajpayee’s time to overcome the increasing unemployment in the State.
Dr Singh said every step will be taken by the Union Government for overall development of the State.
BJP State president and MP Jugal Kishroe Sharma said that people of State have made up with their mind that this time BJP should install its Government in the State as there is BJP wave every side.
Party candidate Pawan Khajuria in his address said that Udhampur has suffered a lot during last 12 years and he sought full support and cooperation from the people to develop the Udhampur of their dreams.
Other BJP leaders who addressed the rally included Dina Nath Bhagat, Bansi Lal Sharma, president Bharar Swabhiman Niyas etc.
Excelsior Correspondent
RAMBAN, Nov 14: An unidentified male body was recovered this evening on the bank of river DhomDheng, village Thetar in suspicious circumstances.
An inquest into the matter has been initiated in Police Station Banihal. Any report into the missing of any male could be submitted to Police Control Room Ramban on telephone numbers 9697004810 and 0118266384.
The deceased is of 45/46 years of age with round face, wheatish complexion and having a height of 5 feet, 5 inches and was wearing cream colour trouser, check shirt and yellow sweater in black lining.
NEW DELHI, Nov 14:
Home Minister Rajnath Singh today hit back at Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi, saying no leader should have animosity towards the political opponents and parties should not try to create a sense of fear in the minds of people.
Addressing a function organised on the occasion of 125th birth anniversary of Jawaharlal Nehru, he said the country’s first Prime Minister had no animosity to his ideological opponents and had even invited RSS to take part in the Republic Day parade in 1963.
“We should never have ill feelings towards our political opponents. We should not create any fear psychosis in people’s mind. We should not create any sense of fear by making unnecessary statement. We should create a sense of confidence among people. All political parties must work for that,” he said.
Later when asked to explain why he made the statement, the Home Minister referred to the Congress Vice President’s statement at a similar function yesterday.
In his speech, Rahul had said that “angry” people are nowadays running the country and had a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the “Swachhta Abhiyan”, saying “photo opportunities” are galore.
“These days, the foundation of love and brotherhood is being demolished. On the one hand houses are being painted and roads are being cleaned. Photo opportunities are happening. Snaps are being taken. On the other hand, poison is being spread. The very foundations are being weakened,” Rahul had said.
The Home Minister said there were many people in the
country who thought that members of just one family can rule the country but the greatness of Indian democracy has proved that even a tea seller can become the Prime Minister.
“India cannot be ruled with a narrow mind. Nehru understood this fact fully. He had no animosity towards political opponents. Nehru had faith in Indian democracy and that this is not a democracy for the elite only. That is why even his political opponents liked him,” he said.
Singh said a few years after India attained Independence, it was Nehru who had involved the RSS in a food campaign notwithstanding RSS’s strong reservation on many of his policies.
Recalling a recent meeting with the Prime Minister, Singh said it was Modi who told him that the NDA government must take all steps for celebration of Nehru’s birth anniversary.
“When suddenly one day, the Prime Minister told me that we must celebrate Nehru’s birth anniversary, I was taken aback. I said it is a very good idea and we must go ahead,” he said.
The Home Minister said there might be difference of opinion and ideology but no one can ever think or dare to question Nehru’s intention to work for the welfare of the country, for betterment of India.
“We did not support Nehru’s Kashmir policy. Many people did not support his policy on China. But no one can deny his significant contribution to nation building,” he said.
Describing the country’s first Prime Minister as a national leader, Singh said Nehru did a lot for improving country’s economy as immediately after Independence, the economy was in bad shape.
“There was poverty and unemployment but he gave new direction to the economy and improved it,” he said.
Singh said Nehru understood the limitations of other ideologies.
“It is because of his understanding of different ideologies that he thought that mixed economy would be best suited for India,” he said.
The Home Minister said Nehru had promoted research in science and technology and also believed that India can give leadership in international affairs.
“At that time, the world was divided between two camps — America and Russia. It was Nehru who had laid the foundation of the Non Aligned Movement,” he said.
Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge was also present on the occasion. (PTI)
NEW DELHI, Nov 14:
Indian security agencies have learnt that Chinese troops are training Pakistan Army personnel right across the Indo-Pak border in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Chinese troops, according to a report submitted by the BSF intelligence wing, have been seen training Pak armymen in “weapon handling” techniques bang opposite Rajouri sector of International border.
The report, accessed by PTI, said these military manoeuvres were being conducted at forward defence locations of Pakistan which are usually manned by border guarding personnel– the Pak Rangers.
Preliminary inputs analysed by BSF also showed some Pak army units have taken over paramilitary posts of Rangers opposite Sriganganagar sector.
BSF also found a handful of new observation towers have also been set up by Pakistan in recent past along Abohar and Gurdaspur sectors in Punjab.
The BSF intelligence reported that phone intercepts along the border indicate that Pakistan army and Rangers are planning to deploy snipers and sharp shooters at strategic locations and posts to target Indian soldiers and assets.
The Border Security Force intelligence also reported that a special squad of Pak army commandos have been placed at select locations along the IB and LoC, which may attempt to carry out raids and Border Action Team (BAT)-sponsored attacks into the Indian territory.
It also said a large grouping of terrorists has been detected along Sialkot area in Pakistan which may be planning to infiltrate into Jammu and Kashmir at a time when Assembly polls are scheduled in the State.
It also said agencies have detected a few launch pads for terrorists to infiltrate along either the International Border (IB) or the Line of Control (LoC).
The Indo-Pak border, which has been witnessing a series of ceasefire violations in the last few months is peaceful but tense, in the last few days, the report said.
The BSF report said that along the Indo-Pak border in the Sir Creek area near Gujarat about 25 Indian fishing boats and 155 fishermen had been apprehended by Pakistani maritime authorities in the current fishing season.
During the spate of recent ceasefire violations in October, the report said, retaliatory action by BSF killed at least 5 jawans on the other side. (PTI)
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Nov 14: To review the restoration of works damaged in the recent heavy floods in the Valley, Commissioner-Secretary Irrigation and Flood Control, Pawan Kotwal convened a meeting of officers here today.
Among others, Chief Engineer Irrigation and Flood Control, Javid Jaffar, Superintending Engineers of different districts of the Valley, besides Additional Secretary Irrigation and Flood Control attended the meeting.
Threadbare discussions were held for the restoration of the infrastructure of Irrigation and Flood Control Department in the Valley, which was badly damaged during the floods.
It was given out in the meeting that restoration measures were taken up for as many as 4955 spots after the floods, out of which 1842 spots have been restored while work on other spots is in progress.
It was also given out that an amount of Rs. 10 crore has been released by the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir under SDRF for the restoration works.
Mr. Kotwal enjoined upon the officers to speed up the restoration works so that all these works are completed within the stipulated time.
Sunil Dimple, president Jammu West Assembly Movement and others holding protest demonstration at Jammu on Friday.
JAMMU, Nov 14: A protest demonstration led by Sunil Dimple president Jammu West Assembly Movement was held today on Amphalla-Janipur Road against the traffic jams, failure of the Government to solve the rising traffic problem and rising accidents in the winter capital Jammu city particularly Jammu West constituency and increasing road accidents.
Addressing the protestants Dimple demanded immediate construction of the Rehari Chungi- Jewal Chowk flyovers to save the precious lives of the people. He alleged traffic signal lights are not working in the Jammu city and shortage of traffic constabulary staff has added to the miseries of the common man.
He accused the Government and held directly the bad intentions, discriminatory attitude of the Government responsible for the worst traffic scenario in the Jammu city and demanded construction of multi storied parking at Panjtharthi, Super Bazaar Shalimar and at Bus Stand Jammu and immediate repair of signal lights.
The protesters included Sham Sarroop Gupta, Vinod Suri, Ramesh Chander Kohli, Mulkh Raj, Kastoori Lal Dogra, Kulwant Sharma , Bansi Lal, Dev Raj, Rakesh, Vipan, Mukesh, Shubam Gupta, Sushiel and others.
Excelsior Correspondent
Kathua, Nov 14: A house gutted in fire due to short circuit in Govindsar area near here today resulting into a heavy damage of house hold goods .
According the reports, the house belonging to Balram Singh, son of Ramesh resident of Govindsar gutted into fire due to short circuit. On receiving the information, the fire tenders were pressed into service by the authorities to bring the fire under control.
The exact loss is yet to be ascertained when the last reports came in.
Meanwhile, a protest demonstration by residents was held in Govindsar against PDD for low voltage and interrupted electric supply. The resident also demanded to enhance the capacity of transformer and added that there is 100 KV transformer for 300 odd families which is the real cause of concern for them.
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 14: The J&K State Pensioners Association has urged the State Government to release pending DA installments in favour of the pensioners and employees.
In a statement, the Association president Krishan Singh said that pensioners and general employees are suffering because of steep price rise and release of DA installments, pending since January 2014 and July 2014, would provide some succor to them. He also demanded enhancement of monthly Medical Allowance from Rs 300 to Rs. 1000.
Krishan Singh charged the NC-Congress Coalition Government with failure on all fronts and being callous towards addressing the grievances of employees and pensioners.
The time has come to repay them in the same way during the Assembly elections so that a message may be conveyed to others also, he added.
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 14: Defining the value and importance of vote and the role of election, senior PDP leader Vikramaditya Singh said that the vote is the most powerful weapon of a voter for changing the system.
Addressing public meetings at Arnia, Pindi Kudwal, Kaku-De-Kothe and other places in Bishnah Assembly constituency, he exhorted upon the voters to exercise their right of franchise in large numbers so that a stable, strong and accountable Government is formed. Alleging that the present coalition Government has miserably failed in every field, he said that PDP is the only option for the voters for overall development of all the regions of the State and prosperity of the people.
While highlighting the excellent performance of the party during its previous role, Vikramaditya Singh appealed the voters to vote for PDP candidates as this party has fielded honest and dedicated candidates in this election. He assured the people that unlike the present coalition Government, PDP, if voted to power, will strive hard for a progressive and prosperous State.
PDP leader said that the coalition system has failed in the State as well as Center and now only a majority Government can deliver things in a proper manner. He urged the voters that if they wish that their dreams may come true, then they have to vote for PDP candidates in large numbers.
Addressing the meetings, PDP candidate for Bishnah constituency, Faqir Chand Bhagat assured the people that if voted as MLA, he will ensure that all the problems of the people regarding border firing, basmati rice, irrigation facilities and compensation are solved.
In his address, former Inspector General of police (Retd) Kamal Saini assured the people that if a PDP Government is formed, a special recruitment drive in police will be launched for the youth of the constituency.
Satpal Singh Charak, Sudarshan Choudry, Ashok Jain, Balkaar Singh, S S Sangral and Satter Saini also spoke in the meetings.
Former Minister S S Slathia addressing gathering at Bari Brahmana on Friday.
VIJAYPUR, Nov 14: Expressing that National Conference has focussed on holistic progress of Jammu and Kashmir with thrust on employability during the past six years, MLA Vijaypur and NC candidate Surjeet Singh Slathia reiterated to carry forward the mission of development for all with renewed vigour.
Inaugurating his election office at Bari Brahamana in presence of prominent citizens, party delegates, workers, Panchs and Sarpanchs, Mr Slathia said “Youth have immense role in sociology-economic development of the State and realising this crucial need, the Omar led government has attached priority to youth welfare programmes”.
Mr Slathia referred to the achievements of the government during the past six years and said carving out of new administrative units will go a long way in taking the administration at peoples’ doorsteps.
He exhorted the people to vote for National Conference so that development gets new impetus in the next six years. He assured the people that if his party is voted to power again, a new phase of development will be started in Vijaypur. “Much has been done but still more is needed to be done with missionary zeal”, he added.
Present on the occasion among others included Bhagwan Singh, Vijay Singh, Raman Gupta. Sadiq Hussain, Sardar Mohd, Mohinder Gupta, Ali Hussain Hakla, Sarpanch Gudu, Sarpanch Karam Chand and Sarpanch Ram Paul Sharma.
Mr Slathia also addressed several meetings at Gagore Jamurian, Kirpalpur, Chak Doulat, Chumbian, Chak Slarian and Chak Bagla in Vijaypur constituency.
