Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 6: A function was held here today at Nagrota to pay tributes to late Dhan Raj Bargotra, Ex MLA and MLC of Nagrota constituency, on his first death anniversary.
A large number of people besides political leaders participated in the function to pay floral tributes to late leader.
State President, Janta Dal (Secular), Mast Nath Yogi, followed by MLA Jugal Kishore, PDP leader, Kuldeep Sharma and office bearers of Janta Dal Secular, garlanded the photo of Late Dhan Raj Bargotra and highlighted his achievements.
Speaking on the occasion, Yogi said that he would follow the footsteps of the late leader, who was dedicated and devoted to the cause of people without any discrimination during his political career.
Tributes paid to D R Bargotra
Jiwan Jyoti wins in Vocal; District Poonch bags 1st place in Folk Song
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 6: Jiwan Jyoti of District Jammu bagged first place in Vocal, while District Poonch claimed top slot in Folk Song Competition in the Divisional Level Inter-District Boys and Girls Youth Festival, organized by the Department of Youth Services and Sports at Youth Hostel Nagrota, here today.
Meanwhile, District Doda bagged first position in Folk Dance Competition, while District Udhampur claimed top spot in One Act Play.
Paras Sharma of District Jammu won in Guitar Competition, while Kirtan Choudhary, Sadi, Ravi and Rupali (all from District Jammu) bagged first place in Harmonium, Tabla, Flute and Western Dance respectively. District Ramban and District Jammu bagged second place in Folk Dance and Folk Song respectively.
Earlier, the Competition in which 120 students and 8 Districts of Jammu division participated, was declared open by Ved Parkash, Deputy Director Youth Services and Sports, Jammu.
CII delegation calls on Finance Minister
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 6: Reiterating Government’s commitment about promotion of industries in J&K, the Minister for Finance & Ladakh Affairs, Abdul Rahim Rather, today assured Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) full support in its endeavours to modernize and upgrade industries in the State to make them market oriented and competitive in tone with the day to day requirements.
He said industries have to grow in consonance with the newer technologies and innovations to ensure its sustenance in the open market competition, adding that Government would remove every hiccup, coming in the way of Industries & Commerce Sector in its march towards modernization.
Interacting with a delegation of CII in Civil Secretariat, Mr. Rather said incentives and packages rolled out under Central and State industrial policies for the industries would be implemented in letter and spirit and there will in no way be any let up in Government’s support and encouragement to the Trade and Industry. He said industrial promotion was necessary for employment generation and production boon to ensure socio- economic emancipation of the State.
The meeting was attended by Anil Mahajan, Chairman, CII J&K State Council, Sanjay Puri, past Chairman, CII J&K State Council & Managing Director, PBI (India) Ltd., S.K. Malhotra, prominent Chartered Accountant, Vivek Bhardwaj, Head CII J&K State office & Gagandeep Singh, Executive Officer CII J&K.
The main issues raised by the CII included simplification of the VAT refund process through SICOP and procurement of spare parts and lab equipment which are required to be imported by the industrialists and entrepreneurs for modernization and upgradation of industries in the State.
He asked the delegation members to present their other demands and problems in the pre budget discussion which will be held soon in connection with the 2014-2015 budget formulation.
Implementation of the proposed Goods and Services Tax regime in J&K like other States of the country also came up under discussion. The Finance Minister assured the CII delegation that all the stakeholders would be taken on board while implementing this new tax reform.
Woman receives burn injuries
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 6: A woman received serious burn injuries at her residence in Reshamgarh Colony, falling under the jurisdiction of Bakshi Nagar police station.
As per reports, a woman namely Taleema, wife of Feroz of Srinagar, presently residing in Reshamgarh Colony, received serious burn at her residence under mysterious circumstances.
She was rushed to Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), where her condition was stated to be critical, when last reports poured in.
A case has been registered and investigation started.
Time has come for change of guards: PDP
Excelsior Correspondent
RAJOURI, Jan 6: People’s Democratic Party (PDP) senior leader Shahzad Khan said that the time has come for change of guards as the present Coalition Government has completely failed to continue the developmental works.
He said this while interacting with people during his visit to interior villages of district.
Khan said that the flagship programmes, Centrally sponsored schemes and various developmental works have been literally made defunct due to the apathetic attitude of the Government.
Shahzad in his address said that people are deprived of their basic minimum facilities. Unemployment is the biggest challenge faced by the youth here, he added.
He said that work of the historic Mughal road is not yet completed despite the passage of deadlines. There are no sufficient doctors, paramedics, modern diagnostic equipments and trauma ambulances in the district hospital, he added.
Shahzad said that the present Government has failed on all grounds to provide a corruption free, transparent and development oriented Government to the people.
Among others present were Abdul Ghani, Jhangir Khan, Arif Hussain, Adil Hussain, Azhar Hussain, Sameer Ahmed, etc.
Five hospitalized for treatment of gastro-enteritis
Excelsior Correspondent
KATHUA, Jan 6: Five cases of gastro-enteritis have been reported in Basholi Ward 9 and 10 today.
According to reports five persons were admitted in Sub District Hospital Basholi with vomiting, dehydration and acute abdominal pain for treatment. The BMO Basholi said that the infection has been cause of the contaminated water in the area.
He said the team of doctors is investigating the cause. However from the preliminary investigations it was found that the cause has been due to the contaminated water as the cases were reported from a particular area.
Koul presents “Kashmiri Pandits- Bujhe Chirag” to Governor
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 6: P.L Koul called on Governor, N.N. Vohra, here at Raj Bhavan today, and presented a copy of his book, “Kashmiri Pandits- Bujhe Chirag”, to the Governor.
This book is about the exodus of the Kashmiri Pandits from the Valley from 1990 onwards and the severe sufferings faced by them since then.
Mehbooba, Modi belong to RSS: Tanvir
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Jan 6: National Conference (NC) while castigating the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) on Mehbooba Mufti’s utterance that Narendra Modi’s coming is being celebrated in Kashmir said that even LK Advani says that Modi can never become Vajpayee.
“It baffles me how a man like Modi can be liked by any one. It must take a person who has a mind and a heart that do not function normally. It is a disgrace that such a man whose hands are soaked with blood of thousands is liked by Mehbooba Mufti”, Tanvir Sadiq, Political Secretary to Omar Abdullah said adding “How similar are these two parties and their leaders both known for their communal politics and both have massacres to their credit”.
“How can a regional party from Kashmir speak in favour of someone whose agenda is to destroy Kashmiriyat”, he added.
Criticizing Mehbooba Mufti for calling Narendra Modi as very authoritative, Tanvir said “Mehbooba, Modi belong to RSS”.
Hitting at Mehbooba for attacking Congress vice president the Political Secretary said attacking Rahul Gandhi is disgraceful politics.
He said anyone can check the transcript of the NIC meeting and see for themselves how she had referred about her businessman friend from Chennai, and the solution to his problems to do business in Gujarat.
“She had, according to the transcript, while profusely praising the saffron leader, said that Modi had within 10 minutes solved the problems”, Sadiq said. Even Sushma Swaraj had mentioned Mehbooba’s praise for Modi during her speech on the last day of the three-day ‘Sadhbhavana’ fast, he added.
It is proven beyond doubt that she (Mehbooba Mufti) thinks of him (Narendra Modi) as a role model, and that is why a former IB director and a journalist are mediators between these two communal parties to strike a deal,” he added.
PHE employees on fast unto death
Excelsior Correspondent
-Excelsior/Gautam
SAMBA, Jan 6: PHE Employees Association leaders sat on fast unto death today in support of their regularization demand in front of DC Office here.
They were led by the president of the Association Kulbushan Sharma.
The employees were demanding regularization of their services immediately. Earlier addressing the demonstration Kulbushan Sharma accused the authorities for deliberately delaying the regularization process of those employees who have completed their seven years regular service.
He warned to continue fast till demand is met. The protestors raised slogans in support of their demands and resolved to take the present agitation to its logical conclusion.
Only one child died due to pneumonia: DHS
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 6: After getting a detailed feed back from the remote village Nalli Nikka in Pancheri block of Udhampur, the Health Department has reported that there was only one death due to Pneumonia.
According to Director Health Service, Jammu, Dr Baljeet Singh Pathania, a three-year old child namely Wasim, son of Sharif Mohd of Lower Basnote, died on December 12 due to Respiratory Track Infection.
He informed that the visiting team of Health Department thoroughly verified the causes of deaths that occurred in the area since October last and found that total eight persons, including four children had died due to different reasons. Two children died while undergoing treatment at SMGS Hospital and DH Udhampur while another was born dead, he explained adding that causes of death of three elderly persons were chronic diseases related to old age, Blood Pressure and head injury due to fall.
Therefore, there was only one death due to pneumonia, the Director said.
Pertinent to mention here that there were some unconfirmed reports of several deaths of children due to pneumonia in this remote village following which the Health Department rushed its team of officials to verify the facts.