Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Jan 15: Deputy Election Commissioner, Vinod Zutshi   convened a meeting with the representatives of various political parties  to review the preparedness for the Lok Sabha  elections.
Chief Electoral Officer Umang Narula, Additional Deputy Commissioner Jammu Sushma Chauhan and Deputy Chief Electoral Officer Rashpal Singh and other senior officers attended the meeting
Threadbare discussions were held on various issues pertaining to the summary revisions of electoral rolls, roping in of new voters, preparation of error-free electoral rolls etc
Mr Zutshi said that it is vital that there are no errors in the electoral rolls and stressed that active participation of all the stake holders is vital  for  Special Summary Revision of electoral rolls  conducted in order to make addition of fresh eligible voters, delete wrong entries and settle claims and objections.
He asked the representatives of all the political parties to ensure their cooperation to the concerned field functionaries  in preparing error free electoral rolls. In this regard, he also informed that to facilitate the voters and provide them information a help line would be established soon so that they can have access to the required information  .
Mr Zutshi apprised the participants about the various steps  to ensure  fair  free and peaceful elections and also regarding the  Model Code of Conduct during the elections. He said that the Election Commission in order to ensure fair elections and to induce accountability will appoint observers for expenditure monitoring. Information pertaining to the issues related to Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), setting up of polling booths and their accessibility issues etc were also discussed during the meeting  .
Mr Zutshi said that the deliberations with the participants would be help the Commission to plug in the loopholes and streamline the process further to create a conducive environment for free and fair election process.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 15: According to Station Manager, Air India Jammu, the Air India will operate additional flight from Jammu to Leh on January 16, 2014 to clear passengers stranded due to cancellation of AI 450 flight of January 13 and AI 1450 additional flight of January 14.
All the stranded passengers are advised to report at Airport at 08.00 am sharp.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Jan 15: Assailing politicization of the creation of new administrative units in Jammu and Kashmir, Provincial President National Conference Devender Singh Rana today made a strong plea for implementation of Dr Bloeria and Ganai panel reports at the earliest, saying this is the only course to take the administration to the door steps of people.
“Any attempt to derail or delay the process by the vested interests will be against against the legitimate interests of the people, who are yearning for immediate setting up of the administrative units at Patwar, Block, Niabat, Tehsil and Sub Divisional levels”, he maintained.
Immediately after being declared as Provincial President of the Jammu region amid chanting of slogans at National Conference Headquarters here this afternoon, Mr Rana said the people in general and the stake holders in particular are all rallying behind the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah with the hope  that his bold initiative will provide much needed succor and relief to a common man who has to suffer while seeking redressal to problems because of distance constraints.
Regretting the attempts being made by some political entities to create a regional wedge by describing the report as being biased, Mr Rana said these canards were mischievous as the reports emanating from the Cabinet Sub Committee clearly indicate that the report is balanced, just and reflective of peoples’ urges. “There is no scope for raising this bogey”, he added..
Senior NC leader and Minister for Planning and Development, Ajay Kumar Sadhotra, in his capacity as Returning Officer for the elections, declared Devender Singh elected unopposed as the Provincial President. Former Minister Abdul Gani Malik and MLC Vijay Bakaya were Observers appointed by the party High Command.
Mr. Rana’s name was proposed by Harbans Singh, Surjeet Singh Slathia, Peer Mushtaq Ahmad Bukhari, Aijaz Jan, Qazi Jalal ud-Din, besides 14 District Presidents, 133 Block Presidents. The Electoral College comprising of 2365 delegates raised their hands to unanimously elect him as the Provincial President.
Mr Rana took obstructionists head on for politicizing the issue of creation of administrative units in a vain bid to scuttle the process and warned that being the custodian of larger public interest National Conference will not allow their designs to succeed. “People want immediate implementation of the reports in toto and those trying to sabotage it were only exposing themselves”, he said while adding that clandestine efforts are being made by the vested interests to delay the implementation of these reports just because Omar Abdullah wants to satiate people’s aspirations.
Without naming any party, the Provincial President referred to road blocks being raised in the way of the Chief Minister in empowering the people in a big way besides ensuing inclusive development and hoped this handicap will end soon with the electorate giving a massive mandate to National Conference. He described 2014 as the year of National Conference and exuded confidence that the party will establish its premier credentials by registering massive victory in the Parliamentary and Assembly elections.
The Provincial President referred to the tall claims being made by various political outfits and said their dreams will not materialse as these are based on deceit and deception. The fundamental difference between NC and other political parties is that while the former contests elections to serve the people and safeguard their political and developmental aspirations, the latter just want to remain glued to power by hook and crook, he said. He cautioned the dream merchants to desist from bartering the interests of Jammu and Kashmir in pursuit of their lust for power.
The Provincial President also warned the power brokers not to undermine political understanding of people, saying they can read between the lines. “People of Jammu and Kashmir are politically matured and sagacious enough to make a distinction between friends and foes”, he said and added those hobnobbing communal elements can’t be the well wishers of the people.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 15: The J&K Board of School Education, Jammu today declared the result of Secondary School Examination (10th class), Annual 2013, regular, winter zone of Jammu province.
According to Prof Veena Pandita, Joint Secretary, Secrecy section of JKBOSE- Jammu division, the total pass percentage is 55.47. A total of 22,130 candidates, including 11848 boys and 10282 girls, appeared in the said examination and 10115 candidates have been declared qualified. The pass percentage of boys and girls is 54.35 and 56.77, respectively.
The result is available on the official website of the board www.jkbose.co.in

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Jan 15: Demanding settlement of their long pending demands and restoration of their rights, the Jammu and Kashmir PoK Refugees Front staged a demonstration in front of Press Club here today.
The demonstration was led by president of the Front Rashpal Singh Chib and a large number of women also participated in the protest.
Raising slogans in support of their demands, the protestors accused successive State and Central Governments of betraying them and turning a deaf ear to their genuine demands.
The Front warned to hold the massive demonstrations at tehsil and block headquarters on Republic Day in support of their demands.
They said though the Constitution of India was implemented on this day in 1951 granting equal rights to the people and treating him equal before the law of the land but PoK refugees were deprived of this right since 1947.
Addressing the protestors, Rashpal Singh Chib said that successive Governments betrayed them since their displacement from PoK. “It was due to the follies of the Government that Pakistan annexed out motherland and now they are depriving us of the rights also”, he added.
Demanding reservations for their wards in professional colleges of the State, he said the Government has mooted a proposal writing the Union Government to grant reservations to them in professional colleges outside the State and this way it wants to uproot our wards.
He demanded reservations be given to the students of refugees in the State as well as outside the State.
Making a dig at NC-Congress coalition, he accused them for the plight of the PoK refugees and alleged that the two parties want to deprive the refugees of their rights and uproot them form the State also.
He appealed the refugees to make the Front’s January 26 call a success and show total solidarity with the Front in taking the present struggle to its logical conclusion.
He alleged that State Cabinet has not till date made any recommendations regarding the final settlement of PoK refugees to Centre and this is a cause of concern. The Cabinet only made recommendations for the Kashmiri migrants and this was a discrimination with PoK refugees, he added.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 15: Sham Lal Sharma, Minister for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control, called on N.N. Vohra, Governor, at Raj Bhavan today.
Mr. Sharma briefed the Governor about measures being taken by PHE Department to augment supply of safe drinking water in various areas of the State to meet the fast increasing requirements.
He also discussed with the Governor, the status of various projects undertaken to increase the net irrigated area in the State and the work being done by the Flood and Irrigation Department to check the siltation and choking of water bodies.
The Minister also discussed with the Governor certain political and developmental issues affecting the interests of the State.
Meanwhile, Harshdev Singh, MLA Ramnagar, Balwant Singh Mankotia, MLA Udhampur,  Yashpal Kundal, MLA Samba, called on Mr. Vohra.
The delegation of National Panthers Party Legislators informed the Governor about several issues relating to road connectivity, development of tourists spots, long delays in the releases of allocations by the State Planning Department, neglect of “Bad Pocket” areas, non-implementation of “Prime Minister’s Special Task Force” recommendations and varied other impediments in the way of rapid economic growth of the State.
They also briefed the Governor about the to date status of various Central and State sponsored developmental schemes in their respective constituencies.

Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Jan 15:  Reiterating its belief that laws like Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) can not be a permanent feature of governance in Jammu and Kashmir, People’s Democratic Party (PDP) today strongly objected to the statement of the Army chief on the subject.
In a statement, the party president, Mehbooba Mufti said AFSPA has outlived its utility and J&K is ready for full restoration of fundamental rights, which are severely, restricted by such laws.
Mehbooba said the people of J&K have repeatedly reaffirmed their faith in the democratic process, over the past many years, and it is time that Government of India responds positively to the growing democratic culture in the State.
She said while holding elections and participation of people in them are essential for a democratic polity,  democracy in the State will lack vibrancy as long as the civil institutions, judiciary and elected bodies don’t feel fully empowered, as in rest of the country.
Referring to the recommendations made from time to time on the subject, Mehbooba said the special working group, appointed by Prime Minister had  recommended rolling back of AFSPA. The PDP had taken up the matter with the Prime Minister in January 2007, in response to which a high level committee had also been appointed to review the law.
She said the PDP has time and again emphasized that gun and force from either side will not resolve the problem. “Instead it is democracy, engagement and dialogue that are needed for a permanent settlement of the problem for which a beginning had been made with the initiative in 2003. Shrill statements will take us nowhere, in restoring the confidence in peace process and wining the hearts and minds of people,” said Mehbooba.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 15: Aam Aadami Party started membership drive in Jammu.
Addressing a largely attended gathering at the venue of Jammu Club, Prof Ajit Kumar Jha said that the basic target of AAP is to enroll one crore members upto to January 26, 2014 across the country. Prof Jha added that APP is a national movement in the hands of common man as the people of Delhi have shown the beacon light.
He further elaborated that there is a  strong wave across the country to show the door to the self styled rulers who have forgotten the Aam Aadmi after achieving the success to the corridors of power viz Parliament or Assemblies.
The national executive member Prof Jha said that the process of joining the movement of AAP is free and available on line and appealed the common man to join the movement to uproot the dynastic rulers from the power who have exploited them either single handedly or after entering into unholy alliance during last 67 years befooling the masses during every election making false promises.
On the occasion, vote of thanks was presented by Kuldeep Kumar Rao and S Deep Singh who appealed the gathering to work hard with honesty and sincerely rising above their affiliations, caste, creed or colour and give a tight fight unitedly to throw away the ills and evils.
The membership drive was welcomed and joined by several groups of people from other districts, present on the occasion.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Jan 15:  At least 13 senior JCC members were detained as the police resorted to lathi-charge on the State Government employees when they were taking out a `Mashal’ rally towards Chief Minister’s residence on Residency Road here this evening.
A large number of employees under the banner of Joint Consultative Committee (JCC)  of State Government employees under the leadership of  Abdul Qayoom Wani, Ganesh Khajuria, Amrik Singh and others assembled at Hari Singh Higher Secondary School near Eidgah this evening. They were holding burning candles/  marshals in their hands and started their protest march towards Chief Minister’s residence on Residency and Wazarat Road.
As the employees had covered a small distance on the residency road, a strong contingent of police led by Dy SP City intercepted the agitating employees and foiled their march. The cops resorted to mild lathi-charge on the employees and made many of them to flee. Several fell down during procession and also sustained injuries.
During this action, the police also packed some of the employees and their leaders into vehicles and shifted to City Police Station. They included Qayoom Wani, Ganesh Khajura, Jamat Ali, B B Kotwal, Amrik Singh, Surjit Singh and others.
Mr Wani later told the Excelsior that suppressive measures of  State Government cannot deter the employees and gag their voice. He said the employees would continue their struggle in the democratic way for their rights. Such acts of Government will give more strength to the JCC movement. He alleged that Government has failed to honour its commitment and resolve the pending issues of the employees.