Aseem Gupta submitting memorandum to Sadananda Gowda and Dr Jitendra Singh at Katra on Thursday.
JAMMU, July 3: The BJP publicity secretary and Prabhari of Samba district Aseem Gupta submitted a memorandum to Union Minister of Railways, Sadananda Gowda and Minister of State with independent charge in PMO, Dr Jitendra Singh on behalf of the party at holy township of Katra today.
The memorandum demanded inclusion of more nine bogies in Hemkunt Express being run from Jammu to Rishikesh (Uttarakhand). The train has a capacity of 25 bogies and presently only 15 bogies are run.
This will facilitate the yatris of J&K visiting Haridwar and other religious places in Uttarakhand, he said, adding that it will also generate more income for railways which is suffering a financial loss. The memorandum demanded that among the nine bogies more AC coaches should be included in the train.
It said to tackle the heavy rush of pilgrims a new train be also started from Katra to Haridwar touching the two holy cities. Besides, special quota should be kept in the trains for the passengers going to Haridwar for immersion of the ashes of the deceased in holy Ganga and perform the religious rituals there.
The memorandum demanded starting of Shatabdi Express from Jammu to Amritsar and Jammu to Chandigarh. Besides, a new train be started from Jammu to Bangalore (Karnataka) for the convenience of passengers.
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 3: In a Public Interest Litigation filed by YV Sharma Ex-President Chamber of Commerce and Baldev Singh Advocate by profession against the problems being faced by the common public because exorbitant air fares not affordable by public at large being charged by the different airlines without any capping by the authorities at the helm of affairs and without any accountability for delay being as a routine attribute to technical faults without any justification or transparency, the Division Bench of State High Court today asked the authorities to provide chart of fare charges of different Airlines.
In the PIL, the petitioners are seeking direction to respondents to submit the details regarding the rationale behind minimum and maximum air-tariff from a passenger traveling by air through different airlines and make them accountable to be more and transparent vis-à-vis their passengers and also seeking capping the minimum as well as maximum air-fare charged by the different airlines.
A Division Bench of State High Court Comprising Justice Virender Singh and Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur today after hearing Sr. Adv BS Salathia with Advocate Meenakshi Salathia appearing for the petitioners, granted two week’s time for getting service effected upon Spicejet Airlines and in the meanwhile directed ASGI KK Pangotra to provide composite chart on fare charges of different Airlines (for each flight) operating from Jammu to different sectors and also directed to file affidavit on behalf of Director General of Civil Aviation of India.
A good leader is always enthusiastic about the cause of the people and reacts to the problems of the people in a holistic manner. This was exactly what the people of Bhaderwah Assembly constituency experienced when son of the soil, Ghulam Nabi Azad was the representative of this area in the Legislative Assembly.
This constituency started treading the path of development in all the sectors as Mr Azad, who was also Chief Minister of the State, left no stone unturned to kick start the works at large scale in order to completely change the developmental profile of this constituency, which is blessed with scenic beauty to attract large number of tourists.
For some years, the developmental works continued smoothly but following the toppling of Mr Azad led Coalition Government one after another hurdle started cropping up in the developmental works more particularly after 2008 Assembly elections and change of the guard in the State.
With the passage of time, all the developmental activities in almost all the sectors slowed down considerably thereby creating resentment among the people not only against the new Government but also against their new representative in the Assembly, Mohd Sharief Niaz, as according to the people, he failed to prevail upon the Government during the past five and half years to ensure smooth continuation of work on the schemes started by Mr Azad.
Although Mr Niaz claims that he always espouse the cause of the constituency and vociferously taking up the issues confronting the people both inside and outside the Legislative Assembly, the people have divergent opinion about his performance as MLA. While some people describe his performance as gloomy, the others are of the saying that whatever Mr Niaz as MLA could do he did for the constituency.
“The developmental works in all the sectors have virtually come to the grinding halt as neither the new MLA could arrange funds for their completion nor the liabilities of the contractors could be cleared”, Rajesh Kumar, a resident of Seri Bazaar said during the random survey conducted by EXCELSIOR to ascertain the performance of MLA during the past five and half years.
“No doubt, Mohd Sharief Niaz also belongs to the Congress party, which is a Coalition partner in the present Government, but he has failed to take the developmental activities started by Mr Azad to logical conclusion”, he said, adding “we have rarely heard our MLA raising the issue of incomplete works with the concerned quarters. Had he played the positive role he would have succeeded in speeding up the works”.
Rajeev Kumar, a shopkeeper of the town said, “efforts were made to provide justice to each and every area of the constituency during the tenure of Mr Azad but now the discrimination has crossed the limits”, adding “as far as road connectivity is concerned only those areas are getting preference of the MLA where his workers and kith and kin are residing”.
Pointing towards huge potholes on the roads and insanitary conditions in the town, Kant Dogra, a retired Chief Manager of Punjab National Bank said, “I think sitting MLA has completely whitewashed the developmental performance registered during Mr Azad’s tenure due to his biased approach”, adding “the poor condition of road from Pul Doda up to Bhaderwah and Gatha was clearly indicating the prevailing developmental scenario in the constituency”.
“On one side he is not coming forward to get the stalled works completed and on their other side he has restricted his activities to certain areas”, Rattan Chand Sharma, a resident of Vasik Dera said, adding “the issue of providing filtered drinking water to the entire constituency was brought to the notice of MLA a number of times but majority of population is still relying on natural water resources to meet their drinking water requirement”, adding “if the MLA cannot ensure safe drinking water to the people what else is expected from him”.
The unfiltered water issue was substantiated by womenfolk, who were found carrying pitchers and other utensils in the morning and evening hours to bring water from safe natural resources like Gupt Ganga for drinking purpose. It came to the notice of EXCELSIOR that notwithstanding unfiltered water supply tariff equivalent to the capital cities of the State is being charged from the people.
The people are very critical of role played by the MLA on the issue of shifting of Sub-District Hospital to the new building, which is almost five kilometers away from the town. “A true representative of the people is the person who minimizes their difficulties but he remained mute spectator when the grievances of the people were being increased by way of shifting Sub-District Hospital away from the town”, Satish Chander Kotwal said.
“In the absence of proper mode of transportation, the ailing people are getting compelled to cough up huge money in hiring Tata Sumos to reach the new hospital”, people said, adding “though old hospital building is being used for emergency services that too following intense protest from the people and directions from the High Court yet the same lacks the adequate facilities”.
“The MLA misled us on the shifting of Sub-District Hospital as initially he told us that at the new building super specialty doctors would be made available and the routine works would continue from the old building”, Ratan Singh said, adding “his real designs came to fore when entire hospital was shifted to the new location despite public unrest”.
“What else is expected from the MLA, who refused to consider the concern of huge population for obvious reasons”, a student Bashir Ahmed said, adding “no doubt several new health centres for the area have been announced about which the MLA is boasting off but the most important aspect—availability of doctors has not received the required attention of the MLA despite the fact that Health Department remained with the Congress Ministers during all these years”.
The people are also critical about the MLA’s role in the education sector. They are of the opinion that only expansion of education sector received the attention with little focus on providing adequate number of teachers. “A number of representations were made to the MLA in this regard but the situation remains the same”, Yughvir Singh, a resident of Gandoh said.
However, some of the inhabitants of localities particularly near the Dak Bunglow minced no words to praise the MLA as far as developmental activities are concerned. “He is doing everything to come up to the expectations of the people and is easily accessible to the people”, Sadiq Ali said, adding “it is a fact that some works got stalled following the exit of Ghulam Nabi Azad but MLA cannot be held responsible for the same”.
Tourism promotion, which was the main area of focus for the former Chief Minister keeping in view the scenic beauty of Bhaderwah, too suffered severe setback as majority of the works of the Bhaderwah Development Authority (BDA), are either still incomplete or yet to take off.
For example, the light and sound system at Bhaderwah Fort, the tenders for which were floated in 2011, still remains a distant dream. Moreover, work on conservation of Bhaderwah Fort is also going on at snail’s pace. Similar is the fate of providing water supply to various tourist resorts by way of laying of GI pipes.
The construction of dormitories at Gatha for the tourists, which was mooted several years back, has yet not began and Tourist Reception Centre buildings for Gandoh and Thathri have fallen victim to the land disputes but the MLA has failed to play his role in getting these works started. Similar is the fate of power sector as works taken up under Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidutikaran Yojana (RGGVY) have failed to reach logical conclusion despite the fact that major parts of the constituency are reeling under power crisis.
When contacted for comments on the public opinion about his performance, Sharief Niaz admitted that developmental works in certain sectors slowed down following Mr Azad’s exit. Claiming that he tried his level best to ensure continuance of works started by Mr Azad, he said, “less funding from the Government is the main reason behind slow progress”.
Though Mr Niaz admitted shortage of doctors and teachers in the health and education institutions yet he dismissed the public assertion that no step was initiated to overcome this deficiency. “The official record is testimony of the fact that during past five and half years situation was improved in many of these institutions that too following my intervention”, he said, adding “I am still vigorously following the case of left over institutions with the Government”.
“There was no concept of water filtration plant in the constituency but now several schemes have been submitted to the Government for approval”, he said while disclosing that several PHE schemes, which were started during the tenure of Mr Azad failed to yield any fruitful results due to procurement and utilization of sub-standard material by the PHE Department.
He justified the shifting of Sub-District Hospital outside the town on the ground of non-availability of adequate land.
JAMMU, July 3: Kashmiri Pandits today outrightly rejected the State Cabinet decision regarding settling of migrants in clusters in Kashmir valley.
Jammu and Kashmir Nationalist Movement (JKNM) in its meeting here today held under the chairmanship of its co -convener B L Pandita while appreciating the concern shown by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for rehabilitating the Kashmiri Pandits in Valley however rejected the so called revised road map of the State Government as such proposals are made to exhaust the State exchequer.
The meeting noticed the nefarious design and unwillingness of the State Government by repeating the same proposal time and again.
It urged the Government that in view of the ground scenario in the Valley, a rehabilitation module needs to be framed under a comprehensive plan that ensures safeguard against repetition of 1989-90 exodus, religious cleansing and also ensure the compatibility optimum educational, medicare standards coupled with the prospectus of macroeconomic opportunities for the youth.
JKNM while reiterating its twin city -Nava Srinagar module said it is the best suited option under the given circumstances, where the entire displaced community need to be rehabilitated at one place to crate a harmonious habitat.
The meeting said that applying mind on the recent revelations of Home Minister of India about creation of one hundred new cities on the agenda of GoI, the twin city for rehabilitation of entire displaced community should not be a difficult proportion.
Kashmiri Pandit Sabha (KPS) while terming the return decision of State Cabinet shocking said it reflects the tentative attitude of the State Government towards the vital issue. On the eve of PM’s visit to the State, it can be safely said that the Chief Minister is once again trying to confuse the issue so that no viable policy can be framed in this regard.
The KPS president K K Khosa said this callousness towards the KP community has been the hall mark of the Coalition Government throughout its tenure. This is borne by the fact that only 3-5 percent of PM’s package announced in the year 2008 has been implemented till now.
The Sabha while welcoming the Prime Minister on his first visit to the State reiterated that it will support and cooperate in the implementation of any positive initiative taken by the Central Government for mitigating the sufferings of the beleaguered community. Jammu and Kashmir Vichar Manch (JKVM) in council has rejected the plan of scattering the exiled KPs across the Valley in ghettos put forth by the State Cabinet as the return module. Speaking at the Council, Dr R L Bhat, national vice president JKVM said that the Cabinet proposal is a half-hearted window dressing of the earlier PM’s Package, which had been rejected by the community for the simple reason that it does not address the vital concern of the displaced minority Hindus of Kashmir. The basic reason the separatists were able to eject the minority Hindus from Kashmir was that they lived scattered all over the Valley in small clusters. The clusters became the first targets of the terrorist. With the State agencies failing to provide any security, the aborigines of Kashmir were killed like sitting ducks. The State Government’s plan is to recreate that situation by throwing the minority Hindus to the mercy of the very elements who oppose their return.
The meeting attended among others by the JKVM leaders Ashok Kangan, H L Bhat, national general secretary, Bhushan Lal Bhat state President, Pranji Pandita, Shibanji Hakho, Santosh Koul, M L Malla, Ashokji Batargam examined the proposals issued by the State Cabinet and pointed out that the proposal is in fact an insult to the exiled community as it speicifically says that no facilities or infrastructure would be provided to the habitations.
That would make them virtual ghettos for the KP’s to be buried into.
JKVM leaders said that the like the original PM package the proposals do not speak of the security at all. They thus ignore the most vital point in the return.
All State Kashmiri Pandit Conference (ASKPC) has also condemned the malicious intentions of the Government in rehabilitating the migrants in clusters in Valley.
The ASKPC which called an emergency meeting here today under the leadership of its senior vice president R K Raina said that Government again wants that KPs should live a life of persecution and subjugation at the behest of majority community.
Raina said this disdainful idea of the Government may lead to massacres like Wandhama, Nadimarg or Sangrampura.
S K Bhat spokesman of the organization said that migrant be rehabilitated at one place in Kashmir.
Kashmir Pandit Conference (KPC) president Kundan Kashmir while outright rejecting the package said that the State Government in general and NC in particular has come into its true colours so far as its policies towards KPs are concerned.
He in a statement issued today said that the settlement in clusters was not acceptable and reiterated the demand of compact rehabilitation at a single place where there is free flow of Indian Constitution. He said no return is possible till abrogation of Article 370.
Kashmiri Hindu Conference (KHC) while rejecting the decision said that nothing except the twin cities was acceptable. The KHC president M L Thusoo and convener P L Koul Badgami while commenting on Cabinet decision said this shows that State Government was not interested in rehabilitation of Pandits in Valley otherwise what harm was there in construction of twin cities within Valley for rehabilitation of migrants.
JCC leader Sanjay Raina and Apex Committee member Roshan Lal Raina have also opposed the Cabinet decision and strongly condemned it.
Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, July 3: The Special Protection Group (SPG) guarding Prime Minister Narendra Modi today took over venues of the Army briefing at high security Chinar Corps Headquarters in Srinagar and Power House at Uri ahead of PM’s visit.
The SPG reached here this morning and drove to the Headquarters of 15 Corps at Srinagar to take over the venue where top Army Commanders will tomorrow brief Prime Minister about security situation in Jammu and Kashmir and along the Line of Control (LoC) and border with Pakistan and Line of Actual Control (LAC).
The movement into the highly guarded military Garrison of 15 Corps Headquarters was stopped today and no one was allowed to enter BB Cant. Thousands of civilians working in the Garrison were asked not to come to their duties for two days.
The two Army schools inside the Garrison have also been closed for two days as the security agencies don’t want to take any chance regarding the security of the Prime Minister who will land in the Srinagar Army Headquarters on Friday morning.
The officers and men from Security wing of the Jammu and Kashmir Police also went inside the Garrison where the PM is taking security review. They also reviewed the security arrangements for PM’s visit to the cantonment.
The SPG also took over the 240 MWs Uri II at Kalgai on Srinagar-Muzaffarabad highway near the Line of Control (LoC) where PM is inaugurating the power project.
Para-troops of Army, Special Services Group of Jammu and Kashmir Police is also guarding the venue of the power project since this morning.
Police and Army have been heavily deployed on Uri-Kalgi road as the PM’s helicopter will land in Uri Brigade and he will drive down to power house at Kalgi.
The district administration, police and Army were reviewing the arrangements today and Border Roads Organization men and machines were busy in macdamization of the parts of the Uri-Kalgi road.
Elsewhere, security was beefed up across Kashmir today. Police and paramilitary forces have set up barricades at many places in Srinagar and other major towns for carrying out searches of vehicles.
Random frisking of cars and motorcycles is being carried out to thwart any plans of the militants. Police and Central Reserve Police Force personnel will be deployed in strength in the city and along the Srinagar-Baramulla-Uri road to ensure that Modi’s visit passes off peacefully.
The extra security measures have been taken in view of all major have called for day long strike against the Prime Minister’s visit. Authorities today placed some senior separatist leaders under house arrest.
Those who have been confined to their residences include Hurriyat Conference Jammu and Kashmir (HCJK) leader Shabir Ahmad Shah, Hurriyat (M) leader Zaffar Akbar Bhat, Hurriyat Conference (G) leader Mohammad Ashraf Sehraie, Hurriyat (G) leader Ayaz Akbar and Hurriyat (G) leader Altaf Shah. Syed Ali Geelani, chairman Hurriyat Conference (G) is already under house arrest.
MLA Shabir Ahmed Khan addressing public meeting at district Rajouri on Thursday.
RAJOURI, July 3: Former Minister and Member Legislative Assembly (MLA) Shabir Ahmed Khan today claimed that Congress is the party which has the vision to address the aspirations of all the regions and sub-regions of the State.
Khan while holding a couple of meetings at Manyal and Mangota said that development of far-flung areas is the priority of the Coalition Government.
While taking review of ongoing works in Thanamandi sector proposed by him as MLA, like construction of building of High School Mangota against an estimated cost of Rs 56 lakh, PMGSY road connecting Mangota against cost of Rs 2.17 crore, Khan directed the executing agency to expedite the pace of the work by redoubling their efforts for early completion of schemes.
MLA was informed that almost Rs 23 lakh have been released in respect of High School and work is in progress. Moreover XEn PMGSY apprised the MLA that road shall be completed within shortest possible time as due to bad weather, work was held up.
Khan said that Congress high command always remains concerned with the pro-public issues.
He added that the agenda of his party is to maintain peace and tranquility in the State and to ensure balanced development in all the regions of the State.
He said that creation of new administrative units in which Thanamandi was given Sub-Division status, will surely prove beneficial for the development of the whole block.
MLA also listened to various deputations at Rajhdani, Thanamandi and Nerojal where people placed their issues.
Among others present were Mohammad Shafi Dar, senior Congress leader and Secretary PCC, Shakeel Mir general secretary PCC, sarpanch of the area, Mushtaq Ahmed, Fazal Hussain, etc.
JAMMU, July 3: In a Public Interest Litigation filed by Advocate Deewakar Sharma and Raman Sharma as founder member of ‘Save My Tawi’ Campaign regarding encroachment of River Tawi Bed and River Bunds, a Division Bench of State High Court comprising Justice Virender Singh and Justice BL Bhat today after hearing Sr. Adv Sunil Sethi with Adv Deewakar Sharma appearing for the PIL directed the State to file status report with regard to the encroachments of river bed of Tawi and river bunds, so that further directions in this regard are issued on next date of hearing. It should be made clear by the State as to what effective steps are taken by the State of Jammu and Kashmir in terms of the direction given by Supreme Court in its order dated 27th February, 2012 in case titled “Deepak Kumar Etc. Vs. State of Haryana and ors. etc., the court said.
While directing Sr. AAG to file status report, Division Bench directed petitioner that one set each of the petition along with all annexures attached thereto, be provided to appearing counsel for the respondents enabling them to file respective detailed response to the instant petition within three weeks’ time.
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 3: National Panthers Party (NPP) supremo, Bhim Singh has sought the intervention of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, to provide justice to Jammu migrants hailing from Poonch, Rajouri and Doda districts, who were brutally gunned down during the militancy period.
In a letter written to PM, NPP supremo said you have promised to rehabilitate all Kashmiri Pandit Migrants dislodged in 1990 from Kashmir with security, safety and dignity in Valley, which is a welcome step but I wondered that you never mentioned the plight of Jammu Migrants who also deserved to be rehabilitated.
He said, in 1999 during the Kargil war several Hindu Migrants were forced to flee their homes and take shelter around Udhampur, Kathua and Jammu. The tragedy was that the Congress and the Kashmiri leaders from the Valley never cared for the plight of Jammu Migrants rather treated them as State enemies, which is evident from the record.
“The Panthers Party has been agitating for the rehabilitation of the Jammu Migrants and most of them were forcibly settled by the Panthers Party in Talwara and Reasi”, he said in his letter.
Bhim Singh said the Government of J&K admitted that there were 2201 families who had left their homes and taken shelter in the safe places, but it neither fixed I-cards for the Jammu Migrants nor cleared the arrears instead they were treated shabbily, put in jails, arrested and humiliated by the State Government.
Moreover, your Government has not cared to consider the plight of the Dogra/Rajput Migrants from Kashmir Valley who were uprooted also in 1990 and deserve to be rehabilitated back in their homes in the Valley, asked Prof Singh.
Dental surgeons raising slogans during protest at Jammu on Thursday.
JAMMU, July 3: Dental Surgeons Association (DSA) continued their protest for the third consecutive day at Ambphalla Chowk and Anantnag in Kashmir and warned to go on hunger strike.
Carrying placards and banners, large number of dental surgeons assembled at Ambphalla Chowk and Anantnag in Kashmir and raised slogans in favour of their demands.
While speaking, Dr Asif Iqbal Chowdhary, president of the association said that the Government has not responded to our demands, which is compelling us to intensify their protest.
He added that the Government and the concerned department are ignoring the demands of unemployed dental surgeons of the State.
“On one hand the Government is constructing big buildings with infrastructure to enhance the dental health care facilities in the State and on the other hand Government is deliberately overlooking the future prospects of the unemployed dental surgeons of the State”, he added.
Dr Chowdhary said that injustice and discrimination faced by the unemployed dental surgeons of the State will not be tolerated at any cost.
“There are more than 1300 unemployed dental surgeons and every year more than 300 dental professionals gets added to the exiting unemployed list”, he said and appealed to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to look into the demands and address them on priority basis.
President demanded complete absorption of unemployed dental youth, recruitment of dental surgeons on yearly basis and establishment of separate directorate for dental health in the State.
“We will continue the protest till our demands are redressed by the Government”, he said and warned to launch hunger strike and fast unto death.
Thakur Randhir Singh NCP State president addressing the media persons at Jammu on Thursday
JAMMU, July 3: Former Minister Thakur Randhir Singh NCP State president has urged the Prime Minister Narendra Modi for launching a train based project for bringing Ladakh on the railway road map of the country which will ensure faster socio economic development of this remote region and strengthen border management.
The president NCP while addressing the media persons, emphasized the need for establishment of new international airport at Jammu and urged the Prime Minister that Jammu International Airport should be named as Shri Mata Vaishno Devi International Airport as more than one crore pilgrims from all over the world visit Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine, besides a large number of other visitors coming to Jammu region.
Singh stressed that rail should pass through Basholi, Bani, Bhaderwah, Doda, Kishtwar and Padder and there after crossing Indus river in Souroo valley Kargil –Leh, and right upto Nobra valley across Kardungla the highest motorable point in the world which was opened by Thakur in 1972, the route which was followed by General Zorawar Singh.
Singh while expressing satisfaction over the Udhampur –Katra-Qazigund-Baramulla rail link project, pleaded for making all the efforts to construct Katra-Banihal stretch of this project so that Kashmir gets rail connectivity with rest of the country without any further delay. He added this would ensure fast economic development of the State. The NCP president also called for reviving Jammu-Rajouri –Poonch rail project and executing it on fast track basis to connect twin border districts with Jammu.
Others who attended the press conference include Kamal Gupta, Dev Raj Sharma, G M Pal, R S Billowaria, Gourav Kapoor, Dr Showkat, Aizaz Naik, Tarsem Manhas, Sandeep Manhas, Tariq Nar, R C Bali, Mithun Sharma and Ashok Singh.
