Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Jan 10: Bharatiya Lok Sangeet Kala Sansthan (BLSKS) today reiterated its demand of launching Duggar Channel to fulfill the long pending aspirations of border people of the State and to counter Pakistani propaganda befittingly on the pattern of Kashir Channel.
In this concern, a delegation comprising the artists of BLSKS under the chairmanship of Gulchain Singh Charak, former Minister and president of Dogra Sadder Sabha, recently called on the Union Minister of Culture, Chandershwari Katoch and president ICCR and Member Parliament, Dr Karan Singh, at New Delhi and advocated for launch of Duggar Channel by Doordarshan in order to promote Duggar culture of Jammu region.
The promotion of Duggar Culture would go a long way in enriching the traditional dying cultural forms like “Karkan, Bakhas, Ballads” etc, of the area and would make the traditional artists self-reliant in near future.
The Minister gave patient hearing to the delegation and assured full support of her Ministry to promote the composite culture of the Nation besides taking up the matter with the Ministries of Information, Broadcasting and Home appreciating the efforts of BLSKS in reaching out far flung and border areas of J&K State for survival of traditional artists and promotion of cultural heritage of India.
The Minister blessed the management of BLSKS for carrying and spreading the noble mission of promoting composite culture of India.

Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Jan 10:  Communist Party of India (M) State Secretary Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami today blamed the Government’s dismal performance for deaths of 10 patients due to Hepatitis-C in South Kashmir.
In a statement, Tarigami said that the Government has failed to take requisite preventive measures and thus the epidemic resulted in the death of 10 people in two months while many others are battling for their lives in various hospitals.
He censured the Health Department for sleeping over the issue and delaying the notification of the disease to the World Health Organization.
He asked the Government to formulate a comprehensive contingency plan to curb the disease.
“Expert teams should be deputed to these areas to go deep into the causative agents which have resulted into outbreak of this deadly disease,” he said.
Meanwhile, President DAK Dr Nisar-ul-Hassan in a statement said that untreated Hepatitis C patients are constant source of transmission of infection to the community.
“The outbreak of Hepatitis-C in South Kashmir last year and surfacing of cluster of cases in Srinagar is a concern and a colossal human tragedy indeed. The Government is responsible for the deaths due to this disease and secondary transmission of the virus in the community,” the statement quoted him as saying.
He said politicians by making false promises of free treatment to the patients during public rallies are playing with human lives.
“Government has violated constitutional obligation by not providing treatment to Hepatitis C patients. Right to Health as integral part of Right to Live is a fundamental and constitutional right of every person under Article 21,” he said.
Dr. Hassan warned that the magnitude of Hepatitis-C patients is alarming and warrants mass screening of the population.
“This is an eye opener for policy makers to devise a strategy to combat the menace and its spread on war footing,” he said.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Jan 10: A leading school of instrumental and vocal music, “The Strings”-Institute of Spanish Guitar is organizing mega event “Winter Fest-4” in a musical evening ‘Symphony 2014-Melody of Strings’ at police auditorium, Gulshan Ground tomorrow.
This was disclosed by Naresh Kumar, Director of “The Strings” during a press conference here today.
He said that as always “The Strings” has continued its passionate commitment of providing a platform to young instrumentals and vocalist of the institute.
The sole aim of the institute is to promote music among the youth, who will be tomorrow’s responsible citizens and bridge the gap between the music and the present society, Naresh added.
He informed that Shantmanu, Divisional Commissioner Jammu, has consented to be the chief guest, while Meenakshi Kilam, Director Quality Assurance, University of Jammu will grace the occasion as guest of honour.
“The Strings”-Institute of Spanish Guitar was founded by Naresh Kumar, a Jammu’s leading Guitarist, Flutist, Singer and Music Composer. It currently enrolls more than 200 students from age 5 to 60 years.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 10: State Vishaw Hindu Parishad (VHP) has taken strong exception to the issuance of arrest warrants against the two Sants who are members of its Kendriya Margdarshak Mandal.
Talking to reporters here, today VHP State chief Dr Rama Kant Dubey said that these Sants were invited to Sankalap Divas at Abhinav Theatre to bless the people who participated in the Amarnath land row agitation 2008 and as they tried to enter the gate of the Abhinav Theatre, the police stopped them as prohibitory orders were imposed and administration did not allow to organise the celebrations inside the Abhinav Theatre without giving prior information to organizers.
He said the people who came to attend the programme without any provocation were lathicharged by the police which also fired rounds on them.
The Sants who assembled there did not know about the cancellation of the programme. As the police had already cordoned the entire area it without any provocation started assaulting the Sants.
Accusing the police of highhandedness Dr Dubey said instead of Sants registering case against the administration, it was the administration which registered case against them.
He said the entire Hindu Samaj has taken serious exception to the police action.
The VHP and Sants will not be cowed down by this, he said and warned that in case the cases are not withdrawn the VHP, Bajrang Dal and Sadhu Samaj will hold nation-wide agitation.
Dr Dubey said that on the one hand the Government was going to rehabilitate the people who have taken to arms and started a proxy war against the nation and on the other, the Government was harassing the peace loving people.
Dr Dubey also expressed his concern over the failure of the authorities to arrest the culprit responsible for attacking a temple on December 18 last year in village Changer of Marwah block of Kishtwar district.
He accused the administration of giving a free passage to the accused who is being hired by some anti national agencies for fomenting trouble in the area.
Dr Dubey demanded his immediate arrest failing which VHP will also launch an agitation. He said despite the assurance given by Divisional Commissioner last month the culprit still goes scoot free.
Earlier, the residents of the village submitted a memorandum to Dr Dubey.
Dr B K Gupta and Rakesh Sharma of BD were also present in the press conference.

Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Jan 10: Speaker Legislative Assembly, Mubarak Gul today laid foundation of Kreshibal and Goripora Lift Irrigation Schemes coming up at a cost of Rs. 1.51 crore and Rs. 1.31 crore respectively in Eidgah Constituency.
The Speaker was accompanied by Chief Engineer, Irrigation and Flood Control and other senior officers of the department.
Addressing public gatherings on the occasion, the Speaker said that the construction of these schemes was a long pending demand of locals and these schemes would benefit a large population of the local farmers. He assured them that all their genuine demands and developmental needs would be fulfilled in a phased manner.
Mr. Gul said that all the roads and link roads in Goripora, Sangam Syedpora, Kreshibal and other areas would be macadamized and drains would be constructed soon. He further announced that cricket kits would be distributed among youth of Goripora.
The Speaker maintained that the present Coalition Government fulfilled its promises to a great extent during the last five years. He said that the Omar led Government performance speaks volumes about the sincerity and dedication towards the people of the State. He said that people are aware of performance and cannot be misled by the hollow sloganeering and false propaganda of some frustrated political elements.
Mr. Gul on this occasion announced Rs. 7 lakh for renovation of drains in Goripora and Rs. 3 lakh for earth filling of graveyard in Palpora area of Eidgah Constituency.
Later, Mr. Gul convened a meeting of officers to review the availability of basic amenities and essentials in the Valley in general and Srinagar city in particular.
Later, Mr. Gul also visited Dargah Hazratbal, Kalashpora, Jenab Sahib Soura Shrines to review the arrangements being put in for the celebration of Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi (SAW) and directed the District Administration to facilitate the devotees besides provide uninterrupted power supply, potable drinking water, cleanliness in and around Shrines, medicare and transport facilities to the people.
Mr. Gul also took review of the developmental schemes under execution in the Eidgah Constituency.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 10: The Government today issued order for promotion of Information Officers as Assistant Director Information in Information Department.
The officers promoted as Assistant Director of Information are Lal Chand and Mohammad Akbar Khan.
Similarly, Bishan Dass Sharma, Photo Officer, Jammu has been promoted as Chief Photo Officer, Directorate of Information.