Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 25: Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) has asked the National Conference to desist from blame game and not to mislead the masses over the stand of the Congress Party over the issue of creation of new administrative units.
Reacting sharply to the statements from the NC quarters, the PCC spokesperson Ravinder Sharma decried the attempts made by the National Conference to mislead the people about the Congress stand over the issue, which wants all deserving areas of Jammu, Ladakh and Kashmir to get their rightful due so that no area is ignored.
He said the Cabinet Sub Committee has undertaken the exercise and should ensure justice to all such areas which deserve to be considered, based on some rational criteria. It is wrong to suggest that Congress is opposed to the creation of new administrative units in the State, the spokesperson added.
PCC asks NC to desist from blame game
Man dies under mysterious circumstances
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 25: A man died under mysterious circumstances at Rehari Colony area, falling under the jurisdiction of Sarwal police post.
As per reports, Rakesh Kumar Kohli, son of Ram Nath of Rehari Colony was found unconscious by family members today.
He was rushed to Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), where doctors declared him as brought dead.
The body has been handed over to family members for last rites after completing legal formalities.
A case has been registered at Sarwal police post and investigation started to ascertain the reason behind death.
Pathribal case closure travesty of justice: CPI(M)
NEW DELHI, Jan 25:
CPI(M) today termed as “travesty” and “miscarriage” of justice the closure of the Pathribal case by an army court and demanded speedy judicial trial in the sensitive case.
The party noted that CBI had probed the matter and chargesheeted five army officers for abduction and murder of five civilians in Kashmir in 2000.
The decision of the army Court of Inquiry to close the Pathribal killing case is a “travesty of justice”, CPI(M) said in a statement.
It said the case was taken up by the army court as a result of a Supreme Court decision, which has now led to the exoneration of army officers that has amounted to “miscarriage of justice”.
“Exoneration of the army officers is also a glaring instance of how the army operates with impunity under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act,” the CPI(M) Politburo said.
It said the people of Kashmir would draw “the obvious conclusion that they are subject to double standards as far as justice is concerned” and demanded that the crime against innocent civilians in Pathribal should not go unpunished.
“Steps should be taken immediately to get the case reverted to the judicial system and a speedy trial be conducted,” the CPI(M) said. (PTI)
EPIC-a proud possession to have: CS
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 25: To commemorate the foundation day of the Election Commission of India and to enhance the participation of the voters, especially the youth, in the democratic electoral process, the ‘4th National Voters’ Day’ (NVD) was celebrated at a function organized by Chief Electoral Office J&K at Police auditorium here today.
Chief Secretary, Mohammad Iqbal Khandey was the chief guest on the occasion. Chief Electoral Officer J&K Umang Narula, Deputy Commissioner Jammu Ajit Kumar Sahu and officers from State administration and Election Department besides various political party representatives, senior citizens and large number of young boys and girls participated in the event.
“Setting up of the Election Commission of India on January 25, 1950 was indeed a landmark chapter in the history of free India, a step which facilitated peaceful, orderly and democratic transfer of power through delivery of free, fair and credible elections to the people”, Chief Secretary said.
“The addition of over 3.5 lakh new voters who turned 18 during last year, to the list of registered voters reflects the success of ‘Systematic Voters Education and Electoral Participation’ SVEEP campaign” he said, adding that Jammu and Kashmir today has over 69 lakh total registered voters, who will be exercising their franchise, their right to vote in the upcoming elections to choose a Government.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Electoral officer, Jammu and Kashmir Umang Narula informed that as many as 3.5 lakh new voters have been enrolled to the voters list and now the state has over 69 lakh registered voters, following the recently concluded roll Revision exercise. He said that out of these 92 per cent of our voters have given their photographs and we will be providing new EPICs to all which will become standard card for a voter. He said that people can also visit our website www.ceojk.nic.in, with facility for online registration, online electoral Rolls, e-filling of claims for getting name added, to electoral rolls, deleted from electoral rolls and modifying the particulars of an elector.
Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, Ajit Kumar Sahu on the occasion informed that in the coming days awareness programme “wake up Jammu” will be launched to encourage all young eligible boys and girls to get enrolled and participate in the election process.
On the occasion, young artists of Natrang presented very creative and skits highlighting the importance and power of each vote in democracy and how right use of vote can lead towards ensuring that best leaders are put in position of power and responsibility. The skits titled ‘Loktantr ka Mantr’ were written and Directed by eminent theatre Director Balwant Thakur.
ACTF pleads JMC not to impose burden on traders
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 25: Associated Chamber of Traders Federation (ACTF) has urged the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) authorities not to over burden the traders by imposing additional charges as licenses renew fee.
In a meeting of the ACTF members led by its president Yash Paul Gupta, with the Commissioner JMC, Kiran Wattal here today, the members pleaded the authorities not to impose additional burden on the traders. Mr Gupta, while taking up the issue pointed out that Corporation issues licenses to the traders under Food Safety and Standard Act. It was the strong demand of the traders that the existing rates of renewal of licenses be continued and no new burden should be imposed on the traders in the form of any additional charges along with the license fee. Mr Gupta said that at this juncture any additional charges will not only be a burden on the traders but will also generate heartburns among the traders.
The ACTF also lauded the role of Mr Wattal in making the Government understand that there was an urgent need of bringing out an ordinance for moratorium of one year in the cases of sealing of certain structures across the State. The members also discussed the problems related to parking, traffic congestion, upkeep of parks, cleanliness etc with the Commissioner.
Meanwhile, ACTF in its own meeting held here discussed the recent order of Commercial Taxes Department regarding the e-filling of the quarterly returns as advertised in newspapers. The members expressed their inability to do so since the last date happens to be January 31, 2014. They said even the Tax Bar has expressed its inability to come up to the expectations of the department due to lack of infrastructure with the trading community. The members expressed that traders be given option to file the returns in the e-filling mode or otherwise, they are of the opinion that the Commercial Taxes Department should defer this decision, because the State was not so advanced to adopt this procedure immediately.
Republic Day greeting to all our readers. Offices of Daily Excelsior, Excelsior Printers Pvt. Ltd. and K.N. Modern Printers will remain closed on January 26, 2014 on account of Republic Day. Therefore, there will be no issue of your paper on January 27. – Editor
Republic Day greeting to all our readers. Offices of Daily Excelsior, Excelsior Printers Pvt. Ltd. and K.N. Modern Printers will remain closed on January 26, 2014 on account of Republic Day. Therefore, there will be no issue of your paper on January 27.
– Editor
Two employees of 17 Miles Hotel who were found dead in the changing room of the hotel on Saturday. —Excelsior/Gautam
Two employees of 17 Miles Hotel who were found dead in the changing room of the hotel on Saturday. —Excelsior/Gautam
Padma awards for Ghai, Bansi, Tashi
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 25: As per the press note released by Ministry of Home Affairs, New Delhi, three prominent persons; Prof Ved Ghai, Bansi Kaul, Tashi Tundup from Jammu and Kashmir figure amongst 101 eminent personalities who have been honoured with the Padma Awards – one of the highest civilian Awards of the country.
Prof Ved Ghai has been bestowed with Padmashree for her contribution in the field of literature and education, Bansi Kaul for theatre and Tashi Tundup for Public Affairs.
Born in 1932, Prof Ved Kumari Ghai, former Head, PG Sanskrit Department, University of Jammu, she is known world over for scholarly translation of Neelmat Purana to English. She is MA Sanskrit , MA Ancient Indian History And Literature , Doctorate in Sanskrit , Diploma in German and Danish languages. She has also authored books like Kashmir Darpan, Narendra-Darpan and Kashmir ka Sanskrit Sahitya ko Yogdaan and Studies in Phonetics and phonology. As a social worker she is heading many NGO’s working for the welfare of women, poor and the destitute.
Second Padmashree awardee, Bansi Kaul, born in 1949, is a Kashmiri-born director, actor, and designer, mainly of Hindi theatre. He began artistic life as a painter but earned a diploma in stagecraft from the National School of Drama in 1973. Subsequently, in the post of extension professor there, he directed and designed over a hundred productions and supervised workshops, for various groups across the country. Presently he is advisor to North Zone Cultural Centre, Patiala.
This year’s third Padmashree awardee from Jammu and Kashmir is Tashi Tundup, X-En in Leh’s Public Health Engineering Department, who is greatly contributing towards conservation of water and natural resources in Ladakh.
PDP workers staging massive protest against Govt at Mendhar on Saturday. -Excelsior/ Nazki
PDP workers staging massive protest against Govt at Mendhar on Saturday. -Excelsior/ Nazki
Chief Secretary Mohd Iqbal Khandey and others giving a EPIC card to a beneficiary at Jammu on Saturday.
Chief Secretary Mohd Iqbal Khandey and others giving a EPIC card to a beneficiary at Jammu on Saturday.