Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 6: Upper House of the State Legislature witnessed noisy scenes on the issue of killing of a youth in Baramulla area of Kashmir in firing by security force men, while ruling National Conference and Opposition PDP and NPP members trade charges, disrupting proceedings in the House today.
Soon as the Legislative Council commended its business in the morning, the PDP members Mohammed Ashraf Mir, Sayed Asgar Ali and Nizam-ud-Din Khatana stood up and pressed for their adjournment motion moved on the issue of killing of a youth in Baramulla in security forces’ firing. NPP member Sayed Rafiq Shah also joined them on the same issue and started waving a news paper in the House showing report and photograph of the youth killed in firing. They demanded that their adjournment motion be admitted and discussion be allowed in the House on this serious issue.
Chairman, Legislative Council Amrit Malhotra tried to convince them and said that though issue was of serious nature, he will allow it on some other day. He asked the Opposition members to take their seats and allow Question Hour in the House. However, the members remained unmoved and continued shouting in the House alleging that innocent people are being killed in Kashmir and it was happening due to enforcement of Armed Forces Special Powers Act and this should be withdrawn immediately. They also leveled charges against the ruling regime in J&K and Delhi and held them responsible for the killings. They alleged that blood shed was continued and there was no end to it while NC was sleeping and is least bothered over the killings of innocent people.
Mr Malhotra then cancelled the entire business during Question Hour and admitted the adjournment motion and allowed discussion. The PDP member Mohd Ashraf Mir termed the killing of youth Tahir Latief Sofi as cold blooded murder. He alleged that for how long this naked dance of death will be allowed in Kashmir. Delhi people want Kashmir and not the people of Kashmir. He condemned the killing and demanded high level inquiry. He alleged that there was black out in local TV Channels and social media was also controlled. It was murder of democracy. Mr Mir demanded stern action against the force men responsible for this unprovocative act.
Some unpleasant words of NC member Dr Bashir Ahmed Veeri created furore in the House as he alleged that PDP men in the garb of militants killed many Kashmiri’s and they were responsible for playing `holi’ of blood in Bijbehara as well. They were behind the killings of Kashmiri’s and violence in Valley few years back. The words irked the Opposition members and they stood up and started raising allegations on the NC members. Several other NC members including Devender Singh Rana also joined their party members and process of charges and counter charges started. It was total uproar and din in the House and nothing was clearly audible. Chairman, tried to restore order in the House but he failed in his repeated attempts. Asharaf Mir alleged that their party and some top leaders were allegedly involved in murders and they play drama to get public sympathy. Mr Rana alleged you people always tried to play politics on dead bodies and “we will not allow you to do it. You will be exposed and people will not forgive you for it.” The Chairman however, stood up and managed to restore order after five minutes.
Sayed Rafiq Shah (NPP) and Ravinder Sharma (Cong) had also tiff when Mr Sharma was speaking and defending New Delhi and his party on the issue of killing. Shah alleged that Congress was the main culprit for the bloodshed and this kind of situation in Kashmir. Mr Sharma launched counter attack remarking, “Mera Muhn Mat Khulwao, ….you will also be exposed.” However, with the intervention of the `Chair’ the order was restored. Majority of the members condemned the killing and termed the incident as most unfortunate. They also stressed for inquiry and action in this regard. The PDP and NC members also opposed the AFSPA. Sayed Asgar Ali asked the Government to take concrete steps into the gruesome incident as only lodging FIR was not sufficient.
Minister for Planning and Development Ajay Sadhotra who is also leader of the Upper House, while replying to the Adjournment Motion said that an FIR has been lodged in connection with the firing incident at Baramulla. He said culprits will be punished and the family will receive justice. Sadhotra said his Government has zero tolerance policy over Human Rights violations as such incidents only increase alienation among the people. Terming the incident as unfortunate, Mr Sadhotra condemned the incident and expressed sympathy with the family.
Others who participated in the discussion included Khalid Najeeb Suhrawardy, Jehangir Mir, Javed Rana, Sheikh Ghulam Rasool, Ghulam Ahmed Monga, Dr Bashir Ahmed Veeri, Vijay Bakaya, Ajat Shatru Singh, Devinder Singh Rana.

Excelsior Correspondent

Jammu, Mar 6: On ‘Women’s Day’ J&K Pradesh Mahila Congress organized a function at PCC Office Shaheedi Chowk, under the presidentship of Indu Pawar (MLA).
President J&K PCC Prof. Saif-ud-Din Soz-MP was the chief guest on this occasion. AICC secretary Abdul Manan Ansari and Lalita Joshi-vice president All India Mahila Congress Committee were the guests of honor.
Speaking on the occasion Prof. Soz asked the women folk to come forward and participate in all spheres of life. He said Congress party was committed for the upliftment and promotion of women. He said that vice president AICC Rahul Gandhi has launched many welfare schemes for the upliftment of the women. He referred his recent visit to Amethi, the home constituency of Rahul Gandhi, where several Self Help Groups of women are working in a very good manner. Prof. Soz expressed his desire that similar Self Help Groups should be formed in Jammu and Kashmir. In this regard, a delegation of women will be sent to Amethi to make them familiar of the Self Help Groups there, Prof Soz added.
PCC leader asked the women workers of the party to gear themselves for the elections to the Urban Local Bodies and assured them that the women will get their due share in these elections.
The function was also addressed by secretary AICC Abdul Manan Ansari, vice president AIMCC Lalita Joshi, Ministers for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Sham Lal Sharma, Khem Lata Wakhloo, MLC Ravinder Sharma Rani Gargi Boloria general secretary PCC, Kanta Bhan, Vice Chairman OBC Kuldeep Raj Verma, Manjit Singh and others.
Earlier, Indu Pawar in her inaugural address highlighted the importance of this day. She said that the aim of celebrating Women’s Day is to achieve the same advantages, the same power, the same rights as those possessed by their husbands, fathers and brothers. The aim of women workers is to abolish all privileges depriving them from birth or wealth. They demand equal rights always and everywhere. She said that we demand rights for every citizen, man and woman.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 6: Habib Chowdhary, Executive Engineer in State Power Development Corporation (JKSPDC) and presently posted at Generation Division Ganderbal Kashmir, participated in 4th Annual IEEEPES Conference (ISGT) on Innovative Smart Grid Technologies at Washington DC (USA).
The four-day conference from February 24 was attended by smart grid practitioners, researchers, policy makers, engineering students, faculty members and engineering executives from all around the world. They participated in the meaningful discussion on innovations in smart grid technologies.
Patrica Offman, Assistant Secretary, USA Department of Energy, delivered key note on Grid Modernization and Resiliency.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 6: Basmati Rice Growers today demanded weather based insurance for agricultural community like other States including Haryana, Punjab and Gujarat.
Addressing a press conference, Dev Raj, president, Basmati Growers Association said that this year there was lucrative basmati rice and now it is the responsibility of the Government to cover it under Basmati Mission module.
“Quality seeds, plant protection chemicals, tractor operating machines and mini rice mills should be made available to the farmers on 75 per cent subsidy rates with weather based insurance under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojna”, he demanded.
Dev Raj said that this year Government has closely checked and cleared the bottle necks under various Centrally sponsored schemes for their proper implementation at ground level.
He demanded accountability at different stages for unspent amount under various Centrally sponsored schemes for financial year 2012-13.
Tajinder Singh, president, J&K Kissan Council said that due to hailstorm and sudden rise in the temperature, 80 per cent of crops were damaged in Jammu district.
He said that such type of natural climate should be compensated by adopting the method of weather based agriculture insurance.
Singh urged the Chief Minister to pay attention towards the non-serious agencies involved in providing insurance to farming community as crops worth Rs 1000 crore get damaged every year.
He also asked the Legislators to discuss the demands of the farming community and allied sectors in the ongoing Assembly session.
Singh also demanded agriculture schemes for youths, 100 per cent tax free agriculture budget, waving of entry and sales tax of poly green houses for further development of agriculture.
Among others present were Krishan Lal, Gurvinder Singh Babli, Kuldeep Raj Sharma, Joginder Lal, Rajinder Kumar Sharma, Lalit Kumar, etc.