HYDERABAD, June 29:
Actress Kareena Kapoor Khan says though she loves doing commercial films, she would not mind being part of off beat movies if an exciting offer comes her way.
“Commercial films have their own charm. I love doing commercial masala films. In my career commercial films like ‘Golmaal Returns’, ‘Bodyguard’, ‘RaOne’ and others did well at the box office,” Kareena said in an interview here.
“I think the commercial films that I did had something for me to do in it. It is not that in these films I was just there for the heck of it. I enjoy doing commercial films. I think I am the most commercial heroine,” she said.
Though the actress loves being part of commercial films, she also wants to act in parallel cinema, provided the offer is exciting.
“I will do that (parallel or off beat cinema), but I won’t do it just for the heck of it. I have been one of the initial actresses to do films like ‘Dev’, ‘Chameli’, ‘Omkara’ and others,” Kareena said.
“At this stage I will not do a film like that because I have done too much of that. The script has to be good as I don’t have anything to prove to anyone now…Till then I am happy doing commercial films,” she said. Kareena did off beat films in her career primarily because she needed to balance herself as an artist.
“I come from a family where I wanted to prove myself as an actress. I was 21 when I played the role of a prostitute in ‘Chameli’ and then again played it in ‘Talaash’,” she said. (PTI)
Will do off beat film if it’s exciting: Kareena
DKF submits memorandum to Relief Commissioner
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 29: A delegation of Displaced Kashmiri Front (DKF) under the chairmanship of Satish Pajnoo met Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner R K Pandita and submitted a memorandum to him and also discussed the problems of displaced people with him.
The main stress was given that funds be spent on productive works.
The Relief Commissioner assured that he will leave no-stone unturned in redressing the genuine problems of the displaced community.
The Front leaders informed the Commissioner that favouritism and callous attitude of the officers working in the organization still continues to harass the helpless community. The Commissioner agreed to look into their problem.
Regarding enhancement of cash relief the Commissioner assured the delegation that Rs 10000 cash relief to the migrants is on cards and will be paid to them in coming days.
The delegation demanded that the flats lying vacant and locked at Jagti township should be allotted to needy migrants and migrants who have illegally occupied the flats having their own houses should also be evicted.
The other members of the delegation were vice president of the Front, P N Pandita, its general secretary, T N Dhar, Babloo Goswami, T K Bhat, M L Bhat and M L Pandita.
ReT Forum demands release of salary for SSA teachers
Excelsior Correspondent
UDHAMPUR, June 29: J&K Rehbar-e-Taleem Teachers Forum today demanded the State Government to release the salary of regularized ReTs working under SSA.
In a meeting of the Forum held here under the chairmanship of its State senior vice-chairman, Bhupinder Singh, the speakers appealed Deputy Chief Minister, Tara Chand, to release the salary of ReTs and regularized ReTs working under SSA.
They also appealed the Government to fix the seniority of the ReTs strictly in accordance with the recent Cabinet decision approved by Government vide Order No. 469 Dated 25-6-2014.
The members of the Form also discussed various promotion orders recently issued by Director of School Education, Kashmir. The Forum alleged that the orders were not in accordance with law and have created a resentment among the ReTs whose rights have been violated.
Newly elected Chamber team takes over charge, lists priorities
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 29: The newly elected president of Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Jammu, Rakesh Gupta while listing his priorities and goals said he would try his utmost to fulfill the promises made by him in his manifesto during electioneering.
Addressing a function during taking over of charge by the newly elected representatives of CCI Jammu at Chamber House here today, he said establishment of Business/ Family Club, abolition of Inspector Raj, online link of Chamber House with Lakhanpur Commercial Taxes Department, immediate banking system for LoC trade, opening of more routes for trade through international border and free computer education to CCI members in Chamber House were his priorities and he will leave no stone unturned in fulfilling his promises.
Mr Gupta said he will ask the State Government to make all the Government departments accountable and work in a time bound manner.
He stressed upon eradication of corruption in Directorate of Industry and Pollution Control Board as most of the big investors are avoiding coming to Jammu because of corrupt practices. He said he will strive for making the single window system functional for those who wish to establish any industry in Jammu.
He alleged the corrupt attitude of Government departments is taking a heavy toll on the parents as no job is available for the educated children who pass out every year and are forced to work in other parts of country turning Jammu fast into an old age home.
He said, he will strive hard to make Lakhanpur barrier hassle free and will make it understand to Income Tax Department that the traders and industrialists in Jammu are working in extreme unfavourable conditions and still they pay taxes honestly.
He warned against IT raids and surveys by any Government departments and said that this will be opposed by him tooth and nail as Chamber has always cooperated with the Government and is fully ready to cooperate with it in future also. But harassment will not be tolerated at any cost, he added.
Mr Gupta made an appeal to union Government to sanction adequate funds for expansion of Railway Station at Jammu with more platforms so that more trains could be run. He also demanded running of special trains to Chandigarh and Haridwar from Jammu.
He said it will be his endeavor to form crisis management and communal harmony committees to defeat the designs of evil people, work for facilitating meetings between the women groups and the Police Department so that crimes against women are stopped in all forms.
On developmental side the Chamber president said that he will urge the Government to make more commercial spaces, parkings, flyovers and toilets in Jammu city, stress on identification of tourist spots and religious tourist places and their development on priority basis.
The I G Jammu, Rajesh Kumar and SSP Jammu Uttam Chand also graced the occasion.
The other office bearers of Chamber who took charge included Arun Gupta its Secretary general, senior vice president Sham Lal Langer, junior vice president Deepak Aggarwal, secretary Rahul Gupta and treasurer Ashu Gupta.
The Ram Sahai Memorial Committee members who were also present on the occasion congratulated Rakesh Gupta on taking over as president of CCI.
AJKPC demands special package for Panchayats in J&K
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June, 29: All Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Conference (AJKPC), an organization of elected Panchayat members has urged the Union Government to consider special financial package for Panchayati Raj Institutions in J&K.
President of the AJKPC, Anil Sharma has appealed Prime Minister, Narendra Modi and Union Finance Minister, Arun Jaitiey to give special attention to the rural areas of Jammu and Kashmir and most specific to the Panchayati Raj Institutions and consider a special financial package for Panchayats so that developmental works in the rural areas can be taken by the Panchayat representatives with due participation of the villagers.
Sharma said, the UPA Government had promised Rs. 10 lakh, package for each Panchayat of the State but due to the negligence of the State Government that package fell through but now as the Union Government is about to announce the budget 2014 it must provide adequate funds to the Panchayats to strengthen the basic democratic units in the trouble-torn State. “ He demanded that these funds be directly transferred by Union Government to the accounts of individual Panchayat bank accounts so that the State Government do not further divert or embezzle them.
AJKPC also demanded enhanced wages for the labourers engaged under MGNREGA, with the rising inflation it is not easy for a MGNREGA worker to feed his family with a meager amount of Rs. 145.
It also insisted that in all the Central schemes like PMGSY, NRHM, SSA, IAY for the rural areas, the Gram Sabha, elected Panchs and Sarpanchs be involved as it would be a larger Confidence Building Measure (CBM) amongst the people of Jammu and Kashmir and would be prudent in curtailing corruption.
Burglars decamp with cash, gold ornaments
Excelsior Correspondent
RAJOURI, June 29: Burglars struck in two houses in Ward number 2 here and decamped with cash and gold ornaments.
As per police sources, burglars struck in the houses of Mohammad Hussain and Mushtaq Wani in Ward number 2 and decamped with cash, gold ornaments and other valuable items worth several lakh.
The family members reported the theft incidents to police, while exact cost of the stolen items has not been ascertained yet.
A case under relevant Sections has been registered at Police Station Rajouri and manhunt launched to apprehend the thieves.
ReT Teachers Forum organizes Victory Rally
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 29: All J&K ReT Teachers Forum organized Victory Rally here in which delegates from all the districts participated.
The ReTs assembled outside Press Club under the chairmanship of Vinod Sharma, State president of the Forum and raised slogans in favour of their demands, which were redressed by the Government.
The rally was organized to celebrate the moment of achieving two main demands of the Forum including inclusion of 5 years of ReT period for seniority benefits and transfer policy for regularized ReT Teachers.
While speaking, Vinod Sharma condemned the statement given by the general line teachers and questioning the regularization of ReT Teachers.
He said that ReT Teachers have been performing their duties sincerely and contributed a lot in raising the education standard and literacy rate in the State.
ReT Teachers got opened those schools which were closed due to denial of these teachers to serve in far flung areas, he said and warned general line teachers not to issue such statements against ReT Teachers in future.
Among others present were Younis Rahi, Rajesh Singh Jamwal, Sukhdev Singh, Sukesh Khajuria, Lekh Raj Parihar, Subash Chander, Meena Kumari, Rajeet Singh, Ravinder Singh, Rakesh Sharma, Kewal, Jyoti Parkash, Karnail, Dharampal, etc.
Property dealer found dead
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 29: A property dealer was found dead under mysterious circumstances near forest check post at Tungi in Chowki Chowra, tehsil Akhnoor.
As per police sources, body of a property dealer identified as Buta Ram, son of Natha Ram of Digiana was found from a forest check post at Tungi in Chowki Chowra.
On getting information, police rushed to the spot and shifted the body to hospital, where after conducting autopsy, it was handed over to family members for last rites.
The deceased was missing from his residence since June 27 and there were no visible injury marks on the body.
A case under relevant sections has been registered in this regard and investigation started to ascertain the reasons behind the death.
Soz assures early resolution of artisans’ problems
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, June 29: Former Union Minister and president J&K Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC), Prof Saif-ud-Din Soz, today addressed a largely attended gathering of artisans drawn from Kashmir valley particularly down town Srinagar and assured them that their problems would be sorted out for early resolution.
Prof Soz was speaking at IMPA Srinagar in a seminar organized by Majestic Voluntary Organization in collaboration with Ministry of Textiles, Government of India. The main topic under discussion was ‘Brand Building and Promotion of Copper Wear Craft in J&K State’.
The leaders of the artisans representing various Crafts particularly Copper and Pashmina explained in detail their problems and difficulties which had reduced the community of artisans to extreme poverty. The artisans of various crafts, in one voice, demanded that machines and machine made craft products have to be banned in J&K State, so that the world famous handicrafts are revived to the advantage of the artisans.
The Artisans also demanded the supply of raw materials of proper quality. They further demanded that that a permanent space be provided for production, display and sale of products and this should be done through the Government Department meant for development of Handicrafts in J&K State.
Prof Soz assured them that he would bring their demands to the competent authorities in the department concerned and also invite Minister of Industries for appreciating the difficulties faced by the artisans in Kashmir.
Over 1500 students appear in CET conducted by SKUAST-J
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 29: Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences (SKUAST) of Jammu conducted Combined Entrance Test (CET) for various Under Graduate programmes viz BSc (Agriculture), BSc (Biotechnology) and BVSc and AH today.
According to University Examination Cell Incharge, Dr V Kaul, of the 1700 candidates, 1556 candidates today appeared in the Combined Entrance Test (CET). The test was conducted in a peaceful and orderly manner in 3 examination centres viz SKUAST-J Chatha Campus, SKUAST-J RS Pura Campus and St Peters Higher Secondary School, Jammu where the candidates appeared.
The university examination cell installed CCTVs in examination centres to maintain transparency and to avoid the possibility of use of unfair means during the test.
More than 50 officers and officials were engaged for smooth conducting of CET, on the basis of which students shall be selected for admission in various UG programmes of the University.
The result of the entrance examination will be declared within two weeks to facilitate timely admission.
The CET was conducted under the supervision of Vice Chancellor Dr PK Sharma. Vice Chancellor had also deputed Director Education, Dr RM Bhagat, Registrar, Dr BB Gupta, Dean Agriculture, Dr JP Sharma and Dean Veterinary, Dr SK Gupta to supervise the smooth conduct of the admission test at various centres.