SRINAGAR : Cricketer Suresh Raina today visited forward posts on Line of Control (LoC) to further boost morale of troops guarding the borders.
A defence ministry spokesman said here this evening the visit was a morale booster for the troops deployed in the harsh and rugged terrain of Kashmir.
The Cricketer was acquainted with the challenges a soldier faces when deployed on the Line of Control.
In his interaction with the troops, he applauded the efforts made by the Indian Army Jawans in keeping a constant vigil on the Line of Control in harsh weather conditions and in the tough terrain of the area.
The Cricketer shared some light hearted moments and personal experiences with the Jawans. He also shared a meal with the troops and admired the culinary acumen of soldiers. (AGENCIES)
LEH : General Dalbir Singh, Chief of the Army Staff arrived here today on a three day vist to the region This is his first visit to the region after taking over as Army Chief on July 31 2014.
The Army Chief was accompanied by General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Northern Command and was received at the Leh Airport by General Officer Commanding Fire and Fury Corps.
The Army Chief had a detailed interaction with the Army Commander Northern Command and General Officer Commanding Fire and Fury Corps on the prevailing security environment, infrastructure development projects and various initiatives undertaken by the Army in Ladakh Region.
He also reviewed the logistical infrastructure available to the soldiers.
He visited the Siachen Glacier today. He paid tributes to the brave soldiers who had laid down their lives in this sector by laying a floral wreath at the Siachen War Memorial.
In his address to the troops at the Siachen Base Camp, the Army Chief applauded the efforts put in by the brave soldiers of the Siachen Brigade.
The Army Chief will also visit forward posts of Eastern Ladakh and will review the Army’s defence preparedness in that sector.
The Army Chief will also receive the Prime Minister, Mr Narendra Modi who is scheduled to visit the region on August 12 2014. (AGENCIES)
NEW DELHI : Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to visit the Siachen Glacier on August 12 during his visit to Leh district of Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir.
His predecessor Manmohan Singh had visited the world’s highest battlefield in 2005 and expressed his wish to convert the area into a mountain of peace.
The Prime Minister is expected to visit the Siachen Glacier on Tuesday during his visit to Kargil and Leh districts of Ladakh where he has to inaugurate power projects, Army sources said.
Army Chief Dalbir Singh Suhag will also be present during the visit with the Prime Minister, they said.
The Prime Minister is expected to interact with the troops deployed there.
Around 3,000 soldiers have been deployed on the glacier where sub-zero temperatures drop to even minus 60 degrees in winters.
Majority of the posts are located at over 16,000 feet and the highest of them is the Bana post at around 22,000 feet.
Since 1984, India has lost more than 860 lives and majority of them have been due to climatic conditions and challenging terrain of the 76 km long glacier.
Pakistan has been talking about demilitarising the Glacier as it is in disadvantageous position there and has even refused to authenticate the ground positions.
The Army Chiefs over the years have frequently voiced their opposition to demilitarising the area, terming it as a strategic location. (AGENCIES)
TEHRAN : A civilian airliner crashed on take-off near Tehran’s Mehrabad airport today, Iranian news agencies said, with state television reporting that more than 40 people were killed.
The Taban Airlines plane was headed to the eastern city of Tabas, the IRNA and Fars news agencies said, and crashed at 9.18 am (0448 GMT). (AGENCIES)
SRINAGAR : The 44-day-long annual pilgrimage to holy Amarnath Cave shrine in South Kashmir Himalayas concluded today as the Chhari-Mubarak, holy silver mace of Lord Shiva reached the cave shrine on the occasion of Shravan Purnima (Raksha Bandhan).
‘Har Har Mahadev’ and ‘Bam Bam Bhole echoed in the air when Chhari, carried by Mahant Deependra Giri, custodian of the holy mace, left Panjtarni for the cave shrine. About 300 devotees, including sadhus, accompanied by the Chhari, reached the cave shrine after covering 5-km-long track on foot from Panjtarni.
He said the Chhari Mubarak had reached Panjtarni yesterday and left for the cave shrine after a night halt there. Mahant Giri said on ‘ Raksha Bandhan’ Sharavan Punima day, Chhari-Mubarak proceeded to holy Cave for pujan at 0500 hrs from Panjtarni.
More than 3.75 lakh pilgrims paid obeisance before the self made ice-lingam in the cave shrine, situated at 12,000 feet above sea level this years.
Official sources said 41 pilgrims had died due to heart attack and other ailments besides, four died in accidents during the pilgrimage, which commenced from June 28 from Baltal and July 2 from Nunwan Pahalgam.
Mahant Giri, who led the devotees in the pujan inside the cave said he prayed for peace and prosperity in the country. Traditional rituals were performed and prayers will be offered the whole day at holy cave, he said adding that before dusk, Chhari-Mubarak shall leave the cave for night halt at Panchtarani.
Next morning at 0700 hrs ‘ Pratipada’ Chhari mubarak will leave Panchtarani for a night halt at Pahalgam. On the occasion of ‘ Dvitiya’ on August 12, Pujan and Visarjan ceremonies shall be performed at 0915 hrs on the bank of river Lidder at Pahalgam.
Thereafter, traditional Kari-Pakori Bhandara shall be organised for sadhus, Mahant Giri said adding with this last ritual, annual pilgrimage of will culminate and Chhari-Mubarak will return to its Abode at Srinagar.
(AGENCIES)
BJP president Amit Shah in consultation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the BJP National Council meeting in New Delhi on Saturday. (UNI)
NEW DELHI, Aug 9: Ratified by the National Council as President, BJP chief Amit Shah today sought fresh milestones by seeking victory in the coming elections in all the four States saying the country was still not “Congress-free” while Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused Congress and others of playing vote-bank politics.
In his address to the National Council, the first party gathering after its landslide victory in the Lok Sabha elections, Shah said time has come to spread the BJP ideology and expand its reach across the country like the Congress did all these years, saying the party cannot rule for long otherwise.
“For long, Congress ‘vichar’ (thought) has been pre- dominant in the country’s politics. Now, it is time to ensure that our ‘vichar’ (thought) has an imprint on the nation’s politics,” said Shah, architect of BJP’s victory in crucial Uttar Pradesh winning 73 out of 80 seats there in Lok Sabha polls.
“The country is yet to be rid of Congress. The cadres should keep this in mind… Assembly elections are coming in four States of Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, Maharashtra and Jharkhand.
“We need to ensure that we get absolute majority in all these States. This is our foremost priority. But our long-term objective is to provide good governance to the entire country,” he told the conclave attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and senior leaders like L K Advani, M M Joshi and outgoing party chief Rajnath Singh.
Referring to the upcoming Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Maharashtra and Haryana, Shah said the party workers should focus on ensuring victory for the party on its own in all the States.
He then talked about other States like UP, Bihar, Delhi and Uttarakhand which would be having Assembly polls in near future.
“We have had Governments in these States… We need absolute majority in all these States…. We need to focus our energies to ensure victory in all elections, be it in Panchayats or Assemblies. We need to develop the habit of winning in all elections,” the party chief told the Assembly of leaders and cadres.
Talking about Jammu and Kashmir, Shah said the Government in the “very sensitive state” had crossed “all limits of corruption” and people want a change.
Asking cadres from across the country to focus on the assembly election in the State that is due later this year, he said, “the State will see development only when BJP Government is formed there.”
In an apparent reference to Nehru-Gandhi family and Abdullah family, Shah said, “the two families have ensured that money does not reach the poor. We have to highlight this.”
Winding up the day-long proceedings, Modi hailed Shah as the “man of the match” for the Lok Sabha poll victory under Rajnath Singh’s captaincy.
But he did not let go the opportunity to come out with a stinging attack on Congress and SP in the wake of rising incidents of communal violence in Uttar Pradesh. He accused them of playing vote-bank politics and dividing the society.
“BJP never accepts such incidents (of violence). Peace, unity, harmony and brotherhood are the pre-requisites of progress and there will be no compromise on this.
“Some people who have suffered a massive defeat are still not able to desist from engaging in old vote-bank politics. They are engaged in disturbing the social fabric of the country,” Modi said in his 40-minute speech heard with rapt attention.
The Prime Minister said that at this junctute the unity of the country and the society was paramount. “If we have to take the nation forward, then all the 125 crore people will have to move forward,” he said.
Shah, whose presidentship was ratified at the National Council meeting by a standing ovation by members, hit out at the Akhilesh Yadav Government in Uttar Pradesh saying the law and order situation in the State is a matter of “serious concern” because of its “biased” attitude.
He alleged law and order in the state is decided on the basis of “religion”.
Noting that BJP has 73 out of 80 Lok Sabha seats in the State, Shah said the party has “greater responsibility” than the State Government in ensuring peace in the State.
“We have to exercise restraint. But we have to spread awareness about the vote-bank and appeasement policy being followed by the State Government,” the party chief said.
After losing the bye-elections to all the three seats in Uttarakhand, including two seats held by BJP, Shah told party workers “not to be complacent” and have a “hunger for victory” and set a target for “absoulte majority” for the party in the upcoming assemby polls in the four States.
Doing some plainspeaking, Shah told them that the party would not be in Government for long unless its reach expands and exhorted all ministers to work for implementation of the party manifesto.
The Council also adopted a political resolution moved by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley which assured the people that the Government will keep up its good performance and will redeem the pledges given to people in a definite timeframe.
“We have many challenges on the national and international arena. The Government has started on a positive note. It is focusing on education, health, agriculture, water, irrigation, infrastructure, urbanization and overall job creation.
“It will redeem the pledges given to the people in a definite timeframe,” the resolution said.
BJP Patriarch L K Advani, who was all praise for Prime Minister Modi, said “I feel he will surely accomplish all that the nation wants of him.”
He said people expect a lot from BJP after its landslide victory and party workers and leaders have to show determination in fulfilling their aspirations.
Advani said the party will not be judged by how ministers work but on how workers conduct themselves in public and deal with people.
“Winning the coming assembly elections may be our immediate priority. But our long-term objective is to provide good governance to the entire country,” Shah said, complimenting the Team Modi for keeping the “strong foundation” and giving a “solid roadmap” in the last 75 days to lead the nation in the coming times.
He did not name any of the party’s allies including its oldest ideological ally the Shiv Sena, while telling partymen that there will be a BJP-led Government both in Maharashtra as well as in Haryana. In Haryana, BJP is in alliance with Haryana Janhit Congress which is facing problems.
He said the unprecedented victory for the party has also brought a challenge.
Shah told party workers that BJP’s victory marks “the beginning of the end of Congress era” and lauded Modi as a leader in post-independence generation who has established himself as “a harbinger of the golden era of good governance”.
“The verdict of this election is a clear rejection of the politics of dynasty, appeasement and vote bank. It also is an undisputed triumph of hope and aspirations of the people of India,” he said.
Good governance, he said, can be delivered only by ideology-inspired leadership.
In an hour-long presidential address, Shah said the need of the hour is to strengthen both the organization and the Government and any laxity on one front will affect the other.
Shah said that with BJP coming to power on its own at the Centre, the role of the party has changed and “so our mindset should also change” and the party should act as a bridge between the people and the Government.
The new BJP chief also attacked Congress accusing it of bartering away the interests of the poor and the farmers at WTO after it “begged” for votes from them in the name of food security.
The 10-year UPA rule came under sharp attack at the meet where the party unveiled the new Government’s future plans and policy prescription in domestic and foreign affairs arena in a political resolution.
Leading the charge, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said the “tax terrorism” and “policy paralysis” were the buzz words during Congress rule and Narendra Modi Government’s challenge is to change that atmosphere. (PTI)
JAMMU, Aug 9: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said today that release of the Border Security Force (BSF) jawan Satyasheel Yadav by Pakistan unharmed yesterday would go a long way in narrowing down differences between India and Pakistan.
“We are glad that the BSF jawan has been handed over to India by Pakistan unharmed yesterday. Otherwise, the relations between India and Pakistan would have been adversely affected,” Omar told reporters on sidelines of the passing out parade of police cadets at Sher-i-Kashmir Police Academy (SKPA), Udhampur this morning.
He hoped that unharmed and immediate release of the BSF jawan would narrow down differences between India and Pakistan, which were in the interest of both countries as well as Jammu and Kashmir.
Yadav was handed over to the BSF yesterday at Suchetgarh sector of Jammu after spending nearly 53 hours in Pakistan custody.
Omar criticised the media for “triggering controversy” to make news on the issue recent row involving PHE Chief Engineer Ahmad Muzaffar Lankar and CAPD and Transport Minister Mohammad Ramzan saying the media has presented one side of the controversy and not the other that the issue was resolved within 24 hours.
“You (the media persons) look at things from one side. You highlighted that the Engineer (Lankar) submitted his resignation — I have no problem with that. But another fact is that the issue was resolved within 24 hours and the Engineer resumed his duty but this positive aspect is no news,” Omar regretted.
“When things go right, they deserve to be highlighted also. Unlike you guys I don’t believe in noise. You had been happier if this controversy continued but unfortunately it is not my job to make news for you. My job is to run the administration smoothly”, said Omar.
Ruling out resignation of Choudhary Mohammad Ramzan from the Cabinet on the issue of alleged abuses hurled on the Chief Engineer, Omar insisted that this issue was now a “closed chapter”.
Omar applauded AICC (I) vice president Rahul Gandhi for his aggressive posture in the Parliament and described this “political transformation of Rahul” as a good sign for Congress insisting that he is the force who has to bind the Congressmen together in these difficult times.
” Rahul has always been one who has been keen to speak. The problem in the last 10 years was that it was his party’s Government at the Centre and that if he had spoken his mind, he ran the risk of being misunderstood and therefore rightly so he kept his counsel to himself. Today he is in the opposition and surely Rahul is the force that has to bind the Congress in these difficult times.
“I am glad that he has spoken out in the Parliament and he will continue to do so in the days to come,” Omar said and praised the “aggressive” posture of Rahul.
On August 6, the Congress general secretary had stormed the Well in Lok Sabha raking up the issue of “rising” communal violence and questioned the impartiality of Speaker Sumitra Mahajan.
A reticent Rahul entered the Well for the first time in over 10 years to join his party members in pressing for an adjournment motion to discuss the incidents of communal violence, a demand opposed by the Government.
Ghulam Nabi Azad, Ambika Soni and Prof Saif-ud-Din Soz during party workers convention at Kathua on Saturday.
Excelsior Correspondent
Kathua, Aug 9: One-day Congress Convention of party delegates of district Kathua and Samba was held here today. It was attended by AICC General Secretary Ambika Soni (MP) Incharge J&K Affairs, Ghulam Nabi Azad (MP) Leader of Opposition Rajya Sabha and PCC chief Prof. Saif-ud-Din Soz-MP (former Union Minister).
Speaking on the occasion, Ambika Soni said that the Congress Party will emerge strong force in all the three regions of the State and said that BJP has utterly failed in his promises and stands exposed for its double standards on various fronts. “The enthusiasm of the party workers being witnessed in series of Conventions in various districts has shown that the party workers have geared up to defeat the divisive forces in the State in the forthcoming Assembly elections”, she said, adding prices of all essential commodities have witness steep rise during the past two months against the claims of BJP to bring down prices.
She said that BJP is today implementing which they opposed for 10 years. She referred to the MGNERGA Scheme, Food Security Act and FDI in Insurance sector which proved their double standards and policies of exploitation & falsehood.
Ghulam Nabi Azad said that Congress is the only secular force which stands guarantee to the unity and integrity of the State and country. He said that Congress has always worked for the betterment and welfare of each and every sections of the society, especially downtrodden and the poor.
He said that the massive development was carried out in all parts of the country in every sphere of life during Congress regimes, especially UPA-I and UP-II. He said that in Jammu and Kashmir liberal financial assistance was provided by the centre for all-round development of the three regions of the state.
He cautioned the party workers and people of the three regions of the State to be aware of the consequences of the politics in the name of religion and region in this sensitive State and asked them to shun this kind of politics.
Prof. Saif-ud-Din Soz said that he has great satisfaction that the party workers across the three regions of the State have stood up to face the challenges of communal and sectarian forces to bring the Congress Party towards the new strength and he fully believes that Congress Party would emerge as a single largest party in the State.
Prof. Soz said that the party is vibrant and emerging strong enough in all three regions unlike other parties who have their presence in one or the other region of the State. He said that Congress party respected the urges and aspirations of all the three regions and has always taken care of the sentiments of Jammu region also.
Prof. Soz said that Congress Party always stood for the cause of different sections like Refugees of 1947, 1965 & 1971 and the border residents besides strengthening democracy and power to people by 73rd Amendment in the Panchayati Raj Institutions.
He said that the Congress Party is a unifying force in the State and the country and it has a progressive and prosperity for the people. He exhorted the party workers to unitedly gear-up for the forthcoming assembly elections and ensure the victory of party for a bright future of the State.
A large number of functionaries and party leaders, workers of districts, blocks and Panchayats expressed their views in the day long convention of the two districts.
The senior functionaries of PCC, Frontal organizations PYC, NSUI, Mahila Congress & Seva Dal and districts of Kathua and Samba were also attended the Convention.
Later, Mr Azad launched official website of Jammu Women Credit Co-operative Ltd.
DGP K Rajendra Kumar chairing a high level meeting on Saturday.
JAMMU, Aug 9: Director General of Police, J&K K Rajendra Kumar today chaired a high level meeting of BSF, CRPF, Police, Intelligence agencies and other senior Civil Officers of Jammu division at Police Control Room, Jammu here today.
He reviewed law and order and security scenario in Jammu Zone in general and arrangements made for forthcoming Janamashtmi as well as Independence Day in particular.
IGP Jammu Zone, Rajesh Kumar, briefed the DGP about various arrangements made by Jammu Police to strengthen the law and order and security grid in the backdrop of Independence Day. He said that all necessary arrangements have been made and the concerned field officers and Units stand thoroughly briefed and sensitized.
The other officers of Intelligence Agencies and field Units including BSF/CRPF and Police, also gave their assessment reports based on available inputs on the security and law and order with special reference to Jammu district.
K Rajendra Kumar, while appreciating the efforts of various agencies in maintenance of Law & order and keeping the militants activities under check, asked them to put in their best for ensuring adequate security and law and order arrangements during the Independence functions in Jammu.
He stressed upon effective coordination, adequate briefing to the officers and men being deployed and effective supervision over the ground deployment to achieve better result. K Rajendra issued detailed instructions to DIG Traffic Jammu (now IGP) about bringing improvement in the regulation of traffic. He desired that the traffic deployment should be dynamic. More Traffic personnel be deployed where traffic jams are frequent to avoid inconvenience to general public.
The meeting was attended by Divisional Commissioner Jammu, IG Armed/IR Jammu, Dy Director IB Jammu, IG BSF Jammu, IG CRPF Jammu, DIG Traffic Jammu now (IGP), DIG CID Jammu, DIG J-K Range, DC Jammu, SSP Jammu, SSP CID SB Jammu, SSP APCR Jammu, SSP Railway Jammu, SSP PCR Jammu, SSP Samba, SSP Security Jammu, SSP CID CI Jammu, CO SDRP 2nd Bn Jammu, SSP Traffic Jammu, SSP Airport Jammu, SSP Telecom Jammu, SP OPS Jammu besides representatives of Army.
