Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 22: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) held a meeting of Schedule Tribe communities of the State at Party Headquarter here, today, where number of State and district office bearers of ST Morcha attended the meeting.
Ashok Koul, general secretary organization, while speaking on the occasion said that the ST communities including Gujjars, Bakerwal, Gaddi, Sippi and others will play important role in the coming Assembly elections. He said BJP is the only party in the country and State as well who work for the welfare of marginalized, downtrodden sections of the society.
He said those exploiting these communities for mere vote bank for the last six decades has never talked of their political reservation and other rights. He asked the leadership of the ST community to go in the field and appraise the problem of these communities with the concerned officers and said the leadership of BJP is committed for the same.
BJP State secretary and Prabhari ST Morcha, Er. Gulham Ali Khatana, while speaking in the meeting, said that Congress, National Conference and Kashmir based political parties has no interest for the development of these downtrodden communities. He demanded extension of all tribal welfare laws to the State, so that identity and culture of these communities can be protected. He further accused the present State Government for diversion of various tribal funds meant for the development of these ST communities and accused them for using it for other purposes. He said people across all section of the society are fed up with the policies and program of NC-Congress Government and added that BJP has created a ray of hope among the people of the State in general and ST communities in particular.
Other spokes on the occasion, Manzoor Hussain Badana, vice president ST Morcha, Puran Chand, , Haji Betab, general secretaries ST Morcha, Ch. Mustaq Ahmed. Ch. Shabir Ahmed and Mohd Rafiq, Secretaries ST Morcha, Abdul Rashid Taz, Sarfraz Ahmed, Mohd. Yafeed Poonch, Satar Din, Nek Mohd, Bashir Ahmed Sarpanch, Bashir Ahmed Khatana, Rashid Pal, Raiz Ahmed, Mohd. Ali, Mohd. Zabar.
Cong, others exploited STs: BJP
Body found in canal
Excelsior Correspondent
LAKHANPUR, July 22: An unidentified decomposed male body was found under mysterious circumstances in canal near Kathua, today.
As per police sources, a middle aged male decomposed body was found in Chander Feeder this afternoon.
On getting information, police team rushed to the spot and shifted the dead body to District Hospital, Kathua.
The body has been shifted to mortuary of District Hospital, Kathua for identification.
A case in this regard stands registered at Lakhanpur police Station and investigations started.
DDC approves NFSM Action Plan 2014-15
Excelsior Correspondent
UDHAMPUR, July 22: For its effective implementation to achieve set targets, a review meeting to discuss District Action Plan for Food Security Mission (NFSM) was held under the chairmanship of District Development Commissioner Udhampur, Yasha Mudgal for the current financial year 2014-15 in her office chamber last evening.
While interacting upon the issues covered under Resource Conservation Machineries Energy Management, and Efficient water Application Tools, Mrs Mudgal stressed to implement the NFSM Scheme in letter and spirit to boost the overall production and productivity of the crops besides promotion of allied activities by generating scientific awareness amongst the farmers of the district.
Component wise detailed review of NFSM activities was conducted for the year 2013-14 as NFSM Scheme has played a significant key role to lift the overall production status of the farmers covered under NFSM-CSS. Adding to it, she also stressed upon the laying out of the Scientific Cluster Demonstrations on improved Latest Technologies under NFSM strictly as per specific interventions proposed under the CSS Scheme.
Establish pediatric hospitals in rural Kashmir: DAK
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 22: The doctors in the Valley have urged the Government to establish tertiary care pediatric hospitals in north and south Kashmir to save precious human lives and lessen the burden on GB Pant Hospital, the only tertiary care pediatric center in the Valley.
President Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) Dr Nisar-ul-Hassan today in a statement said the Government’s plan to construct another pediatric hospital in Srinagar makes no sense as it is the lack of tertiary care pediatric facilities in peripheries that leads to fatalities of infants.
“Most of the babies who are referred from peripheral hospitals to GB Pant are critically sick and it is the timely intervention that can save these fragile infants. The fatalities of these critically sick neonates are compounded by lack of Mobile Critical Care Ambulances,” Dr Nisar said.
He said it is inhumane on part of Government to say that it has no money for health which is the highest priority for any Government, anywhere as human lives are precious.
“Government has an obligation to fulfill the fundamental “Right to Equitable Health” for all citizens. It is spending public money lavishly on luxuries of its functionaries which is outrageous as it is at the cost of human lives,” he said.
He said despite public uproar over infant deaths Government seems to be non serious to control infant mortality and the poor health care in valley is the outcome of wrong practices by Government of which infants are victims.
HC directs Sr AAG to file comprehensive report in two weeks
Excelsior Correspondent
Jammu, July 22: In a petition filed by Secretaries of J&K High Court Judges seeking direction to State respondents to consider and treat the services of the petitioners category as one of the feeding service for induction into KAS, as has been done in favour of their counterparts working in the Civil Secretariat in terms of SRO 386/2008, Justice Virender Singh after hearing Senior Advocate Sunil Sethi with Advocate Veenu Gupta appearing for the petitioners whereas Senior AAG Gagan Basotra for the State observed that the affidavit filed by Assistant Legal Remembrance, Department of Law & Justice in which it was submitted that a representation of petitioners sent by Registrar General on May 28, 2012 has been handed over to then Secretary Law by some officials of the High Court on March 12, 2013, took serious note and further observed that it is not understandable that communication dated May 28, 2012 sent by Registrar General of State High Court has not been received by Secretary Law upto March 2013.
High Court further observed that it appears that whatever is asserted in the affidavit filed by Assistant Legal Remembrance is factually not correct and however, Court leaves this aspect at this stage and at least needs to be looked into an appropriate stage as Senior AAG has assured the Court that he will take-up the matter not only with Secretary law but with GAD also. Upon this High Court directed Sr AAG to file a comprehensive report within two weeks.
Ranjeet Singh appointed selector of Indian Handball Team
Excelsior Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, July 22: For his excellent record as player and captain, former skipper of Indian Handball Team, Ranjeet Singh Chib has been nominated as member of selection committee of Indian Handball Team by Handball Federation of India.
The 6 feet 2 inch tall sportsperson, who has brought laurels to the State of Jammu and Kashmir and the Country as well in his sporting career as player and captain at the International Level, Mr Ranjeet is Superintendent of Police and presently posted in Chief Minister’s Security.
Mr Ranjeet is already holding the post of Executive Member in Handball Federation of India.
Army jawan held with stolen car
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 22: Gandhi Nagar police arrested an Army jawan along with stolen Bolero car of Joint Director Tourism from Ware House area.
As per police sources, Army jawan posted at district Kupwara, Srinagar namely Satish Verma, son of Lakhan Ram Verma, a resident of Madhya Pradesh was spotted by Gandhi Nagar police along with stolen Bolero car (JK02AB-2666) of Joint Director Tourism near Ware House.
The jawan was taken into custody and later handed over to Trikuta Nagar police for further investigation as the vehicle was stolen from Bahu Plaza.
A case under relevant Sections has been registered at Trikuta Nagar police station and investigation started.
Dr Jitendra proposes Jt Indo-French Science Council
Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, July 22: France Ambassador Francois Richier today called on Dr Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, MoS in Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Space & Atomic Energy, at his North Block office and conveyed the French Government’s desire to work in close collaboration with the Narendra Modi Government in different areas including Science and Technology.
Responding to the French Ambassador, Dr Jitendra Singh said, India has all along shared a consistently healthy relationship with France regardless of the geo-political situation at any given time and proposed a new innovative idea of having a “Joint Indo-French Science & Technology Council”.
Dr Jitendra Singh accepted the French Ambassador’s suggestion to set up a Pasteur Institute in India which would be funded by the French Government. He also referred to two joint satellites namely “Megatropic” and “Saral” which are already in place and said the joint scientific collaboration between the two countries can also be extended to the field of medical science particularly the research on metabolic diseases and diabetes.
Referring to the various joint training programmes between the two countries, Dr Jitendra Singh expressed satisfaction at the recent launch of “Raman Charpak” Fellowship for exchange of doctoral students on annual basis between the two countries.
Dr Jitendra Singh said, Ministry of Science and Technology under him has opened up new areas of research and scientific work as a part of which, in the years to come, not only young Indian scientists will be accorded fellowship to work with some eminent French scientists but French scientists will also be offered opportunity to visit India and benefit themselves from the enormous research potential available in this country.
As a part of the new Government’s mission to use Science and Technology as a medium of social transformation, Dr Jitendra Singh said, closer collaboration with progressive countries like France can also help to bring about greater harmony among diverse societies in order to be compatible with the requirements of a global world.
Woman dies of fall from tree
Excelsior Correspondent
REASI, July 22: A middle aged woman was killed after she fell down from a tree in Arnas area of district Reasi this afternoon.
Reports said the mishap took place when 32-year-old Sushma, wife of Munshi Ram, resident of Bakal village in Arnas was cutting leaves for the cattle from a tree. She slipped from the tree and fell down. With serious head injuries she was rushed to Arnas Hospital where doctors declared her as dead.
National Highway remains blocked for several hours
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 22: The vehicular movement on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway came to standstill for several hours due to landslide, triggered by rains in the upper reaches of district Ramban.
Official sources told Excelsior that Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was blocked early this morning at 0530 hours near Khooni Nallah in Ramban district after the landslides on the highway due to rains.
Around 100 meters stretch near Khooni Nallah was blocked due to landslides, leading to stranding of thousands of people, including Amarnath pilgrims at various places, sources added.
On getting information, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Traffic, National Highway, Haseeb Mughal along with cops of the Traffic Department rushed to the spot and informed the BEACON about the highway blockage, they said.
After the information, BEACON men and machinery reached the spot, started restoration work and by 1200 hours, the vehicular movement was restored, they added.
However, the people especially tourists have to face tough time due to blockage of National Highway.
SSP Traffic National Highway Haseeb Mughal confirmed that the vehicular movement was closed on the National Highway due to landslide near Khooni Nallah early morning.
“BEACON men and machinery were pressed into service to clear the debris. AFCON machine was also used to unclog the highway. Around 1200 hours the vehicular movement was restored”, he added.
SSP said that soon after the landslide Jammu and Srinagar traffic units were informed and traffic was stopped at several places including Udhampur, Kud, Chanderkote, Qazigund, Banihal, etc on the highway to avoid snarls.
When asked about stranding of Amarnath Yatra, SSP stated that the yatra convoy was halted at langar sites at Tamatar Morh near Kud in the morning, and when the convoy started its onward journey to cave and reached Chanderkote by that time the blockade was removed.