Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Jan 14: Reacting to the allegations of National Conference leader, Dr Mustafa Kamaal that Congress members are elected through rigging, member AICC and former Minister, Abdul Gani Vakil today said that if NC was aware of rigging, then why it enjoyed power with the support of Congress and remained silent till date.
Mr Vakil said this while addressing a meeting of INTUC workers at Gandhi Nagar Jammu today. Meeting was presided over by senior INTUC leader Jugal Kishore Sharma.
He said that it is habit of regional parties to back stab Congress for cheap politics and mislead people on autonomy or on such other issues, adding that history is witness to the fact that since 1975 Sheikh Abdullah to Omar Abdullah all have enjoyed power with the support of Congress and if prima facie Kamaal’s allegations are endorsed, it is evident that National Conference adopted criminal silence for the sake and lust of power.
“Assumption of power by tallest leader of NC Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah in 1975 is a proof that NC accepted the validity of Assembly in a constitutional manner and now at this point of time after more than three decades his son is challenging the decision of his father is an unfortunate betrayal to the decision of his father, rather a politically motivated move,” Vakil added.
Vakil also said that till facts come to fore Dr Kamaal must ask his nephew to step down as Chief Minister as it is better to be late than never.
Prominent among others who addressed the gathering included Senior Congress and INTUC leaders Suresh Gupta, Vijaydeep Sharma, Ashok Manhas, Naresh Kumar Prakash Singh Arvind Sharma and Raman Kumar.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Jan 14: Two persons were injured in road accidents at different locations.
As per reports, Neha Sharma, wife of Ravinder Sharma of Phylian Mandal was injured, when the motorcycle she was riding on with her husband slipped near Bagh-e-Bahu.
She was shifted to Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), where her condition was stated to be stable, when last reports came in.
Meanwhile, Rakesh Sharma of Arnia received injuries, when the car he was driving hit a tree near Pandoria, Bishnah.
He was rushed to Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), where his condition was stated to be stable, when last reports came in.
Cases under relevant Sections stands registered at concerned police stations.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Jan 14: On Makar Sankranti Utsav, an impressive gathering was systematized by the Prabandhak Committee Bawa Kailakh Dev Mandir in the mandir premises at Thathar Bantalab, here today.
On this occasion, a Video CD was released on ‘bajans’ of life antiquity of Bawa Kailakh Dev by Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Shantmanu, accompanied by BDO Balwal MA Tasir, secretary Red Cross Society, Ravi Puri, Dr Chander Mouli Raina and Shakti Dutt Sharma.
Speaking on the occasion, Divisional Commissioner applauded the role of the Prabandhak Committee for safe- guarding and evolving this place as a place of hale and hearty breathing.
President of the Committee, Ram Paul Sharma presented vote of thanks.
Mandir Mahant, Pandit Rohit Shastri, Yash Paul Seth, KD Singh, Janak Singh Rakwal, Nandan Singh, Karan Singh Chib, advocate Pawan Khajuria, Pawan Gupta and Vijay Gupta were prominent among others present on the occasion.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Jan 14: People’s Democratic Party is going to hold protests at all the district head quarters of Jammu province on January 18 to expose alleged misdeeds of the National Conference-led coalition Government in Jammu and Kashmir.
This was decided during a meeting of the senior leaders of the PDP while Mufti Mohammad Sayeed was also present there.  Vice president of the party Trilok Singh Bajwa chaired the meeting.
Meeting observed that the State of Jammu and Kashmir has been plunged into unprecedented crises due to failure of the Government on all fronts.
Speakers pointed out that while the corruption has crossed all limits, the State Government has failed to provide basic amenities like power and ration to the people. “During the last five years corruption has crossed all limits as the Government lacks will to take on corrupt people. Many ministers and ‘blue eyed’ bureaucrats of the State stand indicted in various scams but the Government has failed to even pursue the process of legal prosecution against them”, meeting pointed out.
Meeting further pointed out that policies of the Government were fueling alienation among younger generation.
To agitate against rampant corruption, mis-governance and mis-deeds of the present regime, the meet decided to hold protest demonstrations by PDP at all district headquarters in Jammu province on January 18.
Ved Mahajan, Ramesh Koul, Ashaq Hussain, Rtd.Maj Gen R S Jamwal, Lok Sabha candidates Yashpal Sharma, MLC, and others were also present in the meeting.

Excelsior Correspondent

AKHNOOR, Jan 14: Minister for PHE, Irrigation & Flood Control, Sham Lal Sharma today visited Akhnoor Constituency and inspected a number of on-going development works. The works which were inspected by the Minister included, SDH, Akhnoor, Indoor Sports Complex, Dussehra Ground and two ponds at village Sungal-Lahad.
Chief Engineer, PHE, K.K. Gupta, Chief Engineer, Irrigation & Flood Control, Sushil Aima, Superintending Engineer (Hydraulic), Rajiv Malhotra and Sectoral Officers of various departments also accompanied the Minister.
Expressing satisfaction over the pace of progress of projects, the Minister directed the engineers to ensure quality of works strictly as per the specifications laid down. He said compromise on quality will not be tolerated at any cost, and if any work is found substandard, the concerned Executive Engineer will be taken to task. He also directed for speeding up the monitoring mechanism to ensure time bound completion of all on-going projects.
While inspecting the ponds, which are being upgraded under sustainability programme in the Kandi belt of Akhnoor, the Minister directed the engineers to maintain the original character of ponds so that they serve their purpose to the locals. He said the ponds in the Kandi belt are being developed to preserve the traditional water sources so that the water can be used by the rural people for various purposes. This effort will also help in recharging the water table, which is otherwise depleting due to increasing demand of water and environmental degradation.
Under the first phase, 5 big ponds will be upgraded in the Akhnoor block at an estimated cost of Rs. 6 to 7 lakh on each pond under sustainability programme. The programme is aimed to conserve traditional water sources as also to re-charge the existing ground water level, said the Minister.
Meanwhile, the Minister participated in the “Sandhya Aarti Programme” organized by the civil society of Akhnoor on the right bank of river Chenab at Jia Pota Ghat. Hundreds of local people participated in the Aarti.
It may be mentioned that the Sandhaya Aarti is being performed by the people at Jia Pota Ghat on the special occasions and festivals, on the pattern of Ganga river.
It is believed that Chenab River, which is also known as Chander Bhaga is as sacred as Ganga and people of different sects perform rituals and immerse the ashes of their dear ones who pass away in it. This practice is prevalent in Ganga Haridwar and Chander Bhaga. Moreover, devotees on different occasions also take a holy dip in this sacred river.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 14: National Panthers Party (NPP) today rejected the delimitation of the Assembly Constituencies done by the State Government terming it a ‘fraud’ and ‘communal move’ to divide the State on ‘Dixon Plan’.
Addressing a press conference here today at Press Club, chief patron of the Party, Prof Bhim Singh, said, “The dangerous approach adopted by NC-Congress Government for the delimitation is illegal, unconstitutional and aimed at furthering the NC-Congress policy to create so called Chenab Valley and Pir-Panchal Sub-Divisions by dissecting Jammu Pradesh on communal lines”.
Expressing full support and solidarity with the people, particularly the youth and the fresh recruits fighting on the streets for the redressal of their fundamental rights and civil liberties, the NPP leader said this is tragic that the State Government has not cared to deliver justice to the ‘Jail wardens’ resorting to democratic means for several days while the demands of the PHE employees have not been taken care of and PDD employees have remained denied of justice and equity.
Mr Singh alleged that another class of young entrepreneurs called ‘ Khidmat Centre’ has been cheated by J&K Bank with the abetment of Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah.  The young educated recruits under this scheme have been used as bank’s clients and exploited while the fresh recruits in various State Government departments have been forced to accept Rs 3500 per month as their salary though they are performing the same job as other employees in the same discipline, he added.
“The migrants may be Kashmiri or from Jammu, they have been denied their due share. The Kashmiri migrants residing in Jagti have no drinking water, no electricity facilities nor medical care while the Jammu migrants have not been given their relief, which was ordered by the Supreme Court in 2007 to the tune of Rs 21 crore and their contempt petition have been sulking before the J&K High Court for over five years with no follow up action by the Government”, he alleged.
Singh appealed all secular and democratic forces to unite to defeat NC-Congress alliance on the one hand and communal and anti-national forces on the other to reorganize the State.

Excelsior Correspondent
REASI, Jan 14: BJP district president Reasi Ajay Nanda after consultations with party State organization secretary, Ashok Koul appointed Satpal Sharma party vice president for the district as Prabhari of Mandal Reasi and Katra.
Ramesh Sharma, general secretary of BJP, district Reasi unit was also appointed Prabhari of Katra Mandal. Chain Singh general secretary of BJP district Reasi was appointed Prabhari of Mandal Arnas & Gool and Balak Singh vice president of BJP district Reasi unit was appointed as Prabhari of Mandal Mohar.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 14: People’s Democratic Party (PDP) today accused the State Government of deliberately ignoring Self Help Groups (SHGs) in allotment of works.
Because of vision of former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, SHGs were formed to enable unemployed engineers become self reliant, but the present State Government is ignoring SHGs due to which many qualified youth are feeling alienated and have been rendered without any work, said PDP leader and Coordinator for Jammu-Poonch Parliamentary Constituency, Abdul Hamid Choudhary while addressing a meeting of part workers here at Nagrota.
The present dispensation instead of allotting works to SHGs has gone ahead with condemning unemployed youth and leaving them to fend for themselves, he said, adding this is sheer administrative lapse and a joke played on unemployed engineers who were trying to stand on their own feet and earn their livelihood honourably.
He said that time has come to reject this Government and empower PDP so that an era of peace, progress, prosperity and transparency is created.

Excelsior Correspondent
SAMBA, Jan 14: Body of a woman was recovered from a well at village Badheri, Nanke Chack.
As per reposts, body of 26-year-old Rajni Devi, daughter of Ramesh Lal, resident of village Badheri, Nanke Chack was found from well.
On getting information, police party from Samba police station rushed to the spot and shifted the body to District Hospital, where after autopsy, the body was handed over to family members for last rites.
A case has been registered and investigation started.

Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Jan 14: Police claimed to have arrested five timber smugglers during the intervening night of Monday.
A police spokesman said the smugglers have been identified as Ghulam Mohammad Wani son of Abdul Razaq, Mohammad Akbar Mir son of Abdul Gani, Khursheed Ahmed Lone son of Mohammad Mukhtar, Zahoor Ahmad Mir son of Ghulam Hassan, residents of Mugalpora and Abdul Aziz Bhat son of Mohammad Bhat of Parinar at Mugalpora in North Kashmir’s Kupwara district.
The spokesman said five illegal logs of timber were seized from them and a case has been registered.