Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 10: Student Scholar Joint Action Committee, an amalgam of different students’ organisations of University of Jammu (JU) has alleged harassment of students and scholars by the University authorities.
Addressing a press conference here today in JU campus, Parduman Singh, a student leader said that the University is no more an institution of learning, academic and research now, but has become institute of hatredness, animosity, and revengeful attitude of the university authorities.
Some student leaders and student organisations have been banned while some students have been expelled and some are being harassed day-to-day by the University authorities.
Nishi Slathia, an MPhil scholar of Department of Regional & Strategic Studies lambasted the university authorities for its failure to redress the problems being faced by the student community.
She said that the whole administration of the University is driven by some goons who are affiliated with some political parties which led to the degradation of the university functioning. She alleged that University authorities are working under pressure of some blue eyed contractual lecturers and some student leaders, due to which student community is highly suffering.
The SSJAC requested the JU Chancellor to take action against the erring officers in the University administration so that justice could prevail in all corners of the University.
Those present in the press conference were Ajay Sharma, Ajay Prasher, Balwinder Kour, Nishant Verma and many others.

Lalit Gupta
JAMMU, June 10: Doordarshan Kendra, Jammu (DDK), organized ‘Mehfil’, a special live program on the life and works of Shivram Deep, one of the luminaries of modern Dogri literature, here today.
The special program which was earlier titled as ‘Sari Virasat’ and restarted after a quite a long interval, is aimed at introducing the Doordarshan viewers the life and works of stalwart Dogri writers and poets who have made signal contribution to the development of modern Dogri literature.
Today program was conducted by Prof Lalit Magotra, president, Dogri Sanstha, while the well known poet Gyaneshwar, read an illuminating paper on the literary contributions of Shivram Deep in presence of invited audience which included eminent writers, poets and members of civil society.
Speaking on the occasion, Gyaneshwar, the lifetime friend of Shivram Deep, highlighted the literary genius of the poet in dovetailing the genre of gazal to the socio-cultural and linguistic ethos of Dogri. Quoting example from Deep’s poetry, he pointed as to how the highly structure gazal, bound by strict rules of radif and kafia, under the literary genius of Deep in its Dogri avatar was made to look as if the ‘genre’ was made-up for the language of the Dogras only.
Prof Veena Gupta, former HoD, Department of Dogri, University of Jammu, said that unlike other Dogri poets who used common Urdu words and expressions in Dogri gazals, Shivram Deep has outstandingly used Dogri similes, metaphors and everyday linguistic expressions to go beyond the conventional ambit of ghazal’s spectrum of human experience, with central concern being love-to voice his progressive thinking, tone of defiance in face of all odds.
Other well known Dogri writers, poets and littérateurs, in audience such as Padmashree Prof Nilamber Dev Sharma, Chhatarpal, Chaman Panthi, Nirmal Vinod and Shusheel Baigana also shared their views about Shivram Deep works and life. The highlight of the program, for the Doordarshan viewers was inclusion of segment wherein poet’s compositions were sung by leading singers.
Speaking to EXCELSIOR, Anjali Sharma, In-charge DDK, Jammu, said, “it is Kendra’s effort to telecast programs of archival importance and value. She said “we have already started weekly program ‘Tunda Bara Manda Lagda’, under which archival media works and software on the life and works of stalwart of Dogri, Ram Nath Shashtri is going to be telecast on every Monday at 5.30.p.m, all through 2014, his centenary year”.
Regarding the limited reach of DDK, Jammu programs, she agreed that presently the programs are only available through cable network and viewers with DTH (Direct-To-Home television) are not able to watch our programs. But the efforts are on to start a satellite channel from DDK, Jammu”, she said.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 10: National Conference (NC) leader, Taranjeet Singh Tony, District President Jammu Rural “B” today reiterated that his party is committed to all round development of all the three regions, Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh with focus on far- flung and border areas.
Chairing a workers’ meeting at Panjgarayin in Talwar Panchayat of Suchetgarh Constituency, Tony referred to the initiatives taken by Omar Abdullah led Government during the past five and half years, which he said reflect keen desire of NC to uplift the living standard of poor and down trodden people.
Spelling out the policy and programme of NC, Tony said that these envisage political empowerment of the people belonging to all segments of society irrespective of caste, creed and colour.
He, however, cautioned the people to remain vigilant against those who want to divide the society on religious lines to further their political objective.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 10: To discuss the emerging political scenario in the State, Panun Kashmir held a meeting of its Executive Council here today under the chairmanship of its president, Ashwani Kumar Chrungoo. It was attended among others by Virender Raina, National spokesperson, J.L.Kaul, vice president PK, Kamal Bagati, organising secretary, P.K.Kaul, Sameer Bhat, J.L.Drabu, Vijay Qazi, P.N.Pandita and Raj Mohan.
While addressing the meeting Ashwani Kumar Chrungoo said that Panun Kashmir appreciates the recent statements that tend to bring the issues pertaining to the Kashmiri Pandit Community on the centre stage of the national political scene. The reference to the Kashmiri Pandits for the first time in the Presidential speech in the Parliament reflects the concerns of the leadership of the country towards the displaced community. The privations of two and half decades of exodus were always, unfortunately, not a priority for the Governments in the past. The resettlement of the KPs in the Kashmir valley is a serious political issue that needs a political settlement for which the genuine representatives of the community need to be taken into confidence.
He said a comprehensive settlement must always include political rights and constitutional guarantees that would ensure no refoulment in future. In this context, we need to be guided by our historical experiences of the past and the recent exodus of 1990. The demand of Homeland having a Union Territory status with free and full flow of the Indian Constitution would alone satisfy the urges and aspirations of the displaced community.
Virender Raina, said that the ground level political situation in Kashmir needs to be taken into account while formulating an opinion. All the three major political forces in the Kashmir valley have been emphasizing upon the resolution of the so-called Kashmir issue and in this connection the recent move of the PDP to seek an amendment to the Presidential address is a stark reality. The stand of the political forces makes Kashmir a shaking ground for the displaced Kashmiri Pandit Community and as such they cannot offer themselves for experimentation of ‘secularism’.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, June 10: On the eve of World Blood Donor’s Day and to commemorate the birth anniversary of Dr Karl Landsteiner, the founder of “ABO” Blood grouping system, Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS) organized a 3-day voluntary blood donation and motivational drive at University of Jammu.
The drive which was inaugurated today by chief guest, Prof Mohan Paul Singh Ishar, Vice Chancellor, University of Jammu (JU), in the presence of guest of honour, Shantmanu, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu and chairman, Indian Red Cross Society, Jammu Region, will conclude on June 10, 2014.
The drive has been organised in collaboration with the Department of Blood Transfusion Medicine, Government Medical College, Jammu and J&K AIDS Control and Prevention Society. A large number of volunteers turned out today to donate their blood to save precious lives.
Speaking on the occasion, Ishar appreciated the initiatives taken by IRCS, Region Jammu, Department of Blood Transfusion Medicine, GMC, Jammu and others for organizing the blood donation and motivational drive in JU campus to aware the general masses particularly the youth.
Shantmanu, while speaking lauded and appreciated the enthusiasm of the Red Cross and Blood Transfusion Department for organizing such types of blood donation camps and suggested that such type awareness camps should be organized in future also.
Prominent among those present were Secretary, IRCS, Region Jammu, RC Puri, Dr Vijay Sawhney, HoD, Department of Blood Transfusion Medicines, GMC, Jammu, Dr T R Raina, former HoD, Blood Transfusion Department, GMC, Jammu, Dr Renu Nanda from Department of English, JU Annil Suri, President, BBIA, Jammu, and many others.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 10: Two motorcyclists hailing from district Udhampur were seriously injured when a Scorpio hit their vehicle near Nagrota.
As per police sources, two youth received serious injuries, when the motorcycle bearing registration number JK14C-3597 they were riding on was hit by a without registration number Scorpio vehicle near Nagrota.
On getting information, police team from Nagrota police station rushed to the spot and shifted the profusely bleeding youth to Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), where their condition was stated to be critical, when reports last came in.
The injured have been identified as Shubam (24), son of Ajay of Jib, district Udhampur and Vikash Sharma (25), son of Bal Krishan of Barolla, district Udhampur.
A case under FIR Number 161/14 under Sections 279 and 337 RPC has been registered at Nagrota police station and manhunt has been launched to nab the driver, who escaped from the spot along with the vehicle.

Excelsior Correspondent

KATHUA, June 10: Minister of State for Fisheries, Cooperatives, Finance and Planning, Dr Manohar Lal Sharma convened monthly public grievance camp at PWD Rest House Billawar today.
People from different parts of tehsil Billawar came to the grievance camp and apprised their problems and demands to the Minister. Panchs and Sarpanchs also made their representations projecting the problems of the people of their respective Panchayats which were mostly related to the civic amenities. The problem of delay in disbursing of MGNREGA payments was strongly projected by the deputations.
While addressing the people, Dr Manohar Lal Sharma said Government is well aware of the problems of hilly areas and focus was to uplift the development infrastructure in these areas. He said Government has provided educational infrastructure to the hilly tehsils and districts of the State at par with the plain areas. He said Billawar tehsil has witnessed remarkable connectivity through road network besides major bridges worth of crores.
Dr Sharma assured that all the genuine demands will be addressed on priority and within time frame. He passed directions to the concerned officers of the different departments to address their grievances within time.
The Minister also directed BDO Billawar to inspect the works under MGNREGA and clear the pendency of wages at an earliest. He disclosed that work of patchwork of Chllain-Dyala Chack road will be completed within 15 days.
Later, Dr Sharma also distributed second installment cheques of Rs 25000 each among 34 Fisherman’s under Central Sponsored Scheme (CSS).