Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 15: Demanding promulgation of an ordinance for constitution of a Board for management of Kashmiri Hindu Shrines and Temples in Valley, Kashmiri Pandits took out a procession from KP Sabha Ambphalla here to Raj Bhawan this afternoon.
Over 300 Pandits including men, women and children participated into the procession, which culminated into a protest demonstration outside Raj Bhawan. The procession was organized by Pt Prem Nath Bhat Mermorial Trust.
The procession was led by Dr K L Chowdhary and Dr K N Pandita. The protestors with banners and placards in hands were demanding constitution of Shrine Board immediately by promulgating an ordinance.
Raising slogans in support of their demands they accused the Government of hoodwinking the public opinion on the issue.
Earlier addressing the gathering of KPs Dr Choudhary and Dr Pandita said that Government should not further delay the constitution of the Board, which will act as a major CBM among the community.
They said the temples in Kashmir are not mere religious places but linked to thousands year old rich heritage and culture of Valley and their preservation is must for posterity. They said the sentiments of the Pandits all over the globe are attached to these shrines and temples and delay in constitution of the Shrine Board has led to a lot of resentment among the community.
Addressing the gathering Dr R L Bhat another scholar gave account of last one year’s struggle of Pt Prem Nath Bhat Memorial Trust, which has launched the crusade for passage of the Temples and Shrines Bill.
He said besides four major meetings, 40 corner meetings were held at different bastis by the Trust. Eight delegations of the Trust met ministers and political leaders of different parties seeking their support for passage of the Bill, he added.
Dr Bhat said the Trust launched a general awakening campaign in the community and also a seminar on the issue. He said despite the assurances given by ministers the Bill was not passed in the just concluded Budget Session of Assembly generating a lot of resentment among the community.
The KP leaders resolved to take the present struggle to its logical conclusion. H L Bhat a senior leader of the Trust warned the Government not to test the patience of the Pandits by delaying the constitution of Shrine Board and restore the land of all shrines and temples encroached during last 22 years of turmoil to them immediately.
KPs take out procession to Raj Bhawan, demand constitution of Shrine Board
‘Kunwari Chotti’ staged at Natrang’s Sunday theatre
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 15: ‘Kunwari Chotti’ a new play written by Balwant Gargi and directd by Neeraj Kant featured in Natrang’s Sunday Theatre Series this week.
The play opens at a small home of one ‘Chandi’, a young girl residing in a remote hilly village. Suddenly, a young man from city arrives there. He is on adventure tracking and wants to conquer the highest peak. As he is tired, he seeks a place for resting for a while. In his conversation with Chandi, he tells his plan to reach to the highest peak on which she warns him as there is a belief in the village that no one shall reach to the highest virgin peak as this will invite the wrath of ‘Lalji Devta’ and the whole area will be covered by snow.
The young man laughs at it and terms it as pure myth. By the time some ‘Bhairo’, Chandi’s lover comes there and young man hides. In her conversation with Bhairo, Chandi expresses her desire to go beyond the mountains and see the other side of the world and feel the life of city. She also asks that person to go and search her father as its been long that he had left the home. When he goes, the young man tells Chandi that he can take her where she wants to go. He will show her everything she wanted to see. He motivates her to go with him. She agrees to it as it was fulfilling her dream. After she leaves, her father and Bhairo come back home only to find that ‘Chandi has taken a leap towards city. They are afraid that she will be cursed by the wrath of the Mountain God, and suddenly a thunderous storm arrives to end the play in a mystery.
Sajra Qadir was successful in putting life in the character of ‘Chandi’, Balwinder Singh as ‘Tracker’ was also very impressive. Atin Tikka as ‘Bhairo’ and Ashwani Bali as ‘Baap’ also supported the play with their balanced acting. The Music was operated by Sachin Saini. Neeraj Kant operated the lights. The show was coordinated by Sumeet Sharma who also conducted the presentations.
Coordination imperative for enhancing better performance: Rajindra
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Apr 15: Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Armed/Law & Order, K. Rajindra Kumar today held a meeting of police officers to review the arrangements of deployment of armed police personnel for law and order duties and forthcoming Shri Amar Nathji Yatra. He stressed upon the officers for adopting a comprehensive deployment plan to maintain peace and security in the valley so that people can carry out their day-to-day activities in a secure atmosphere during the summer season.
Addressing the meeting, the ADGP said that armed personnel have to assist the executive police in maintaining law and order in the State, adding joint efforts need to be taken to make the system more effective. He said that coordination among all the agencies involved in maintaining the peace is imperative and frequent meetings among these agencies would enhance their performance. He said that armed police has played an important role in maintaining law and order besides performing other duties and the force has to remain vigilant to help the people in all areas of the State. The force has always remained in the service of the people in the State and has shared its responsibilities effectively to minimize the miseries of the people during odd times, he added.
During the meeting preparedness for deployment of manpower for forthcoming Amar Nathji Yatra also came up for discussion. The ADGP told the meeting that sufficient deployment would be made in consultation with other agencies, along the yarta routes in the valley and in this regard preparations have already been stared. He said that logistic equipment should be sorted out to make the arrangements in advance so that manpower could deal with any situation firmly.
Earlier, Mr. Rajindra visited Commando Training Centre (CTC) Lethpore and took stock of the training activities being carried out in the Centre. He was told that 942 recruit constables are presently undergoing basic training course in the Centre. He asked the training staff to complete the syllabus within the time frame and ingrain moral values and firm will-power in the recruits. He also addressed a darbar of the trainees and asked them to get ready for exhibiting their capabilities in the field with a sense of public service, patience and discipline.
Among others, the meeting and the darbar were attended by Inspector General of Police Armed, (Kashmir), Rauf-ul-Hassan, Deputy Inspectors General of Police, P. Namgiyal and K. L. Bhagat, Principals, CTS, Lethpora and STC Shree, Sanjiv Khajuria and Fareed Ahmed Khan and all Valley based Commandants of Armed/IRP battalions besides other police officers.
Urdu conference concludes
Excelsior Correspondent
RAJOURI, April 15: Two-day historic Urdu conference organised at the campus of Himalayan College of Education, by Tehreek Baqaie Urdu (TBU) in collaboration with Himalayan Education Mission Society (HEMS) concluded today.
The program was presided over by Deputy Chairman Mohd Yousaf Taing whereas Arab poet, Dr Zubair Farooq Alarshi, vice-chairman of Pahari Advisory Board, Mushtaq Bukhari, MLA Darhal, Zulfikar Choudhary, Vinay Kapoor Gafil, Tehreek Adab Chief Editor Javeed Anwar, renowned Educationist, Abdul Aziz Wani and many others also graced the occasion.
The programme was divided into two sessions. The first session comprised of debate on the future of Urdu language.
Vice president, TBU, Mohd Sageer Mirza, read out the report of TBU while the musical session was also held in which Parvaiz Malik and Ashfaq Mir presented Gazals. Many eminent personalities like Nazir Hussain Quershi and Mohd Nazir Qureshi commented on the future of Urdu.
In the second session various awards viz Maharaj Partap Singh, Master Abdul Aziz Wani, Moshin Urdu and Maharaj Partap Singh medal were given by the Himalayan Education Mission Society and Tehreek Baqaie Urdu. Various media persons were also awarded on the occasion for their contribution in their field.
Meanwhile, TBU released its first Newsletter namely ‘Murasla’ by Mohd Yousaf Taing and other dignitaries. [caption id=”attachment_2691″ align=”alignleft” width=”300″ caption=” Dignitaries of TBU releasing its first Newsletter namely 'Murasla' at Rajouri on Sunday.”
NC for better Indo-Pak relations : Rana
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 15: Political Advisor to the Chief Minister Devender Singh Rana today said that National Conference has always played a pivotal role for better Indo-Pak relations and continue to do so in the future as well in the interest of the two countries and the welfare of the people of Jammu & Kashmir.
He said healthy Indo-Pak relations are pertinent for peace not only in the state but in entire south-asian region and it should be the effort of all right thinking people to facilitate the process of cordiality between the two neighboring countries.
He said those living on the border are testimony to the sufferings they had to face every time Indo-Pak relations touched their northern point. He said it is the endeavour of the National Conference to work for harmony between the two nations to ensure lasting peace in Jammu and Kashmir.
Rana, who was addressing a public meeting at Badyal Brahmana in Suchetgarh Assembly constituency, said that the political forces which have no ideology and agenda for the welfare of the people of the state indulge in communal politics and damage the society as a whole which has far reaching wider ramifications for the generations to come and such communal politics and parties need to be rejected out rightly.
He said National Conference right from its inception has laid the foundation of secularism, brotherhood and communal harmony in Jammu and Kashmir and is committed to strengthen the state’s pluralistic ethos by strengthening the bonds of amity between various sections of the society.
The Political Advisor said that under the leadership of Omar Abdullah, the state coalition Government is pursuing the agenda of equitable development and harmony in the state. He said achievements registered and measures taken during the last three years on socio-economic and political fronts to accelerate development and bring in peace and stability speak for themselves.
He said that Coalition Government led by Omar Abdullah is committed to a robust Three Tier Panchyati Raj where the process of planning will start from the village level so that the benefits of the Government’s politics reach the last mile. He urged the Panchs and Sarpanchs to keep a close eye on the delivery mechanism at the grass root level and make it accountable and sustainable.
Addressing the gathering, Provincial President National Conference, Jammu province Rattan Lal Gupta said that National Conference is committed to fulfill the commitments made in the election manifesto and will come to the expectations of the people of the state who have reposed full faith and confidence in the dynamic leadership of Omar Abdullah.
Among others who addressed the gathering on the occasion included Taranjeet Singh Tony, Balwinder Singh Sarpanch, Raj Kumar Sarpanch, Tarsem Lal Sharma, Sarpanch, Capt. Om Parkash Sarpanch, Kulwinder Singh Sarpanch, Jogindro Devi Niab Sarpanch, Rakesh Sharma, Choudhary Yashpal, Dhan Raj, Behari Lal, Jagdish Lal, Janak Singh, Sudershan Choudhary, Master Amarnath, Sultan Mirza, Lovely Singh, Raj Kumar and Kala Ram Khullar.
Mehbooba takes stock of Gujjar Nagar people’s problems
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 15: People Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti today said the grievance of the people of Gujjar Nagar will be redressed in the coming time.
Mehbooba Mufti said this while addressing a gathering at Gujjar Nagar, here this morning.
She said that the plights of the people, which they brought into her notice, would be redressed in the best possible time. She said that the Coalition Government has failed to resolve the problems of the people and now people have lost faith on them.
Highlighting the problems, people of Gujjar Nagar said that the road and drains of their area were in dilapidated condition, but the government and the concerned development authorities are not taking all this seriously.
They said that the drains almost all the time remains blocked and the condition of the road is also dilapidated, but no one from the government or the concerned authorities are paying any heed towards these issues.
Earlier, Rafiq Malik, senior leader, welcomed the PDP President Mehbooba Mufti and other senior leaders including District President RK Bali, Rashid Malik, besides many others.
Speaking on the occasion, Rafiq Malik, said that people of the State are fed up with anti people policies of the Coalition Government which has totally failed to redress the grievances of the people in all aspects including development. He said that PDP is the only party, who can mitigate the problems of the people.
Govt committed to equip rural belts with required infrastructure: DyCM
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 15: Reiterating resolve of the Government to develop rural belts of the State, Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand said work on the road map to equip far-flung areas with all required infrastructure is apace and with active support from the central Government mega infrastructural projects have been launched all across the State.
He said Coalition Government is committed to develop the State on most modern lines and all out efforts have been launched to take the development revolution to all nooks and corners of the State.
Mr. Tara Chand said this while addressing a public rally at Dori-Dager today.
Underscoring the need to tap tourism potential of the area, the Deputy Chief Minister said that the area has vast potential for pilgrim tourism and the same needs to be exploited to its fullest. Dori-Dager has been declared tourist village and work is apace to develop facilities for the visiting tourists, he added.
He said Baba Mai Mal Devsthal is one of the famous religious places of the region and people from far off places come during the annual congregation.
Mr. Tara Chand called upon youth to derive maximum benefits from various employment and skill up gradation schemes launched by the Government for capacity building and skill development. He said that the Government is passing various benefits to those interested in starting their own enterprises, adding that under SKEWPY Government is giving active support to skill augmentation and liberal financial support is being extended to promote entrepreneurship.
Taking note of the problem of potable water projected at the rally, the Deputy Chief Minister directed the PHE authorities to formulate comprehensive plan for augmenting distribution and supply of water in the area. He said liberal funding is being provided to upgrade facilities in far-off areas and it is the duty of the executing agencies to create durable public assets.
He said health sector is also getting focused attention of the Government and efforts have been initiated to provide required medical support to the people of the area. Work on Public Health Centre, Dori-Dager is apace and soon the same would be dedicated to the people of the area, he added.
On way to Dori Dager Tara Chand met various delegations and listened to the demands put forth by the people. He instructed the PDD authorities to immediately provide alternative arrangement to people of the area who have been suffering for the last three days due to non-availability of electricity. He assured the delegations for early redressal of their genuine demands.
Interlocutors too put weight behind proposals to repeal, amend AFSPA
Judicial Commission on unmarked graves recommended
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Apr 14: After the Jeevan Reddy Commission, Prime Minister’s Working Group and the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Dileep Padgaonkar-led panel of interlocutors has also put weight behind the proposals to repeal or amend the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and suggested that Defence Ministry should respond positively to the issue rather than negatively. The panel has also recommended the framing of a Judicial Commission for identification of all the bodies in the unmarked graves in the State of Jammu and Kashmir.
The Prime Minister’s Working Group on Confidence Building Measures had recommended reviewing the Disturbed Areas Act and AFSPA and lifting the former and revoking the latter if possible.
Similarly, Jeevan Reddy Commission had proposed repeal of AFSPA and incorporation of some of its provisions into a new national law, to be called the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Moreover, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs had also recommended several amendments to the AFSPA to bring it in line with the Criminal Procedure Code while allowing protections for the armed forces that exist in every democratic country.
While making reference of all these recommendations in their report, the interlocutors have observed, “AFSPA is more the symbol of a problem than its cause. But symbols are important for peace processes thus the Defence Ministry must consider how to respond positively rather than negatively to the proposals for repeal of and amendments to the AFSPA”, the report said, adding “these proposals should be viewed by MoD and a decision taken at the earliest”.
“The goal is to arrive at a situation in which troops will be deployed only at the borders. A step-by-step process would begin with the Army remaining in barracks and transferring any civilian policing duties to the paramilitary, with their onward transfer to the Jammu and Kashmir Police”, the report said, adding “this step has already been taken in most urban areas but could be consolidated in rural areas”.
About reviewing the military deployments to see whether security installations can be rationalized through reducing their spread to a few strategic locations and creating mobile units for rapid response, the report said, “the desire for redeployment of military or security forces and installations, created as part of counter-insurgency operations, and not prior cantonments, from the rural areas of Jammu and Kashmir is a heartfelt desire that unites the regional political parties and dissident groups”, adding “given the large reduction in militancy-related violence, some thinning or strategic concentration of installations is worth considering”.
Pointing to the absence of a formal commitment to ceasefire or disbandment as one of the obstacles to redeployment, the report said, “such a commitment would have made security reforms much easier to implement”.
“The Prime Minister’s Working Group on CBMs had suggested that an unconditional dialogue with armed groups be initiated and some steps were taken during the Quiet Diplomacy of 2008-09. However, since then the issue has not come up again, and it needs to be put back on the agenda”.
“Even in the absence of commitments from armed groups to ceasefire, disarm and demobilize, such reforms still need to be considered”, the report said, adding “all the delegations which met the interlocutors were explicit in their view that troops should be concentrated on the borders and LoC to prevent infiltration and phased withdrawal of troops from residential and agricultural areas should be considered”.
Referring to large number of gross human rights violations by a variety of groups, including murder and torture, the report said, “the issue gained prominence with the investigation into unmarked graves, many of which contain bodies of militants killed in counter-insurgency and some of which are alleged to be of missing persons”.
Recommending setting up of a Judicial Commission to establish the best procedures for identification of the bodies in the unmarked graves, the report said, “the commission would see whether any of the bodies match the DNA of the families of the disappeared persons. The final step would be to try to identify all the bodies in the unmarked graves, and this would depend on cooperation from Pakistan”.
“The exercise will be a massive and time-consuming one, and all concerned should be prepared to face the fact that they might not, in the end, have the full closure that they need”, it added
About the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) proposed by Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, the report said, “even if justice cannot be provided for all victims of violence, if some of those guilty of human rights abuses, including militants, were to ask forgiveness from the families of their victims, it would provide closure for many”.
A TRC, it said, would also have a large impact in Pakistan, altering the “Kashmir narrative” in fundamental ways.
On the military-to-military CBMs agreed between the Governments of India and Pakistan, such as hotlines between commanders of Border Security Forces, the report said their implementation needed to be reviewed and any remaining gaps filled up.
India, Pak to have new visa regime
NEW DELHI, Apr 14:
India and Pakistan are likely to announce formally a new business visa regime to boost bilateral commerce at the next Secretary level talks.
Commerce Minister Anand Sharma and his Pakistani counterpart Makhdoom Mohammad Amin Fahim, during their meeting yesterday, expressed “joint wish” that business visa regime needs to be liberalised at the earliest.
“It was noted that a formal decision on this is expected at the forthcoming meeting of the Home Secretary of India and the Secretary of the Ministry of Interior of Pakistan,” a joint statement released today said.
Although India has sought the date for the meeting after May 22, the schedule is yet to be finalised.
Giving impetus to people-to-people contact and trade ties with Pakistan, India yesterday opened a modern Integrated Check Post (ICP), equipped with a dedicated passenger terminal and sprawling cargo facility, built at cost of Rs 150 crore, at Attari.
As per the statement, Pakistan side stated that through a Cabinet decision in 2009, the flow of items is linked to provision of adequate infrastructure at the check post.
“…It (Pakistan) would take the case to the Cabinet on the basis of the additional capacity created through the new ICP,” the statement said adding Pakistan will take necessary steps to remove extant restriction on items permitted through the land route.
The objective of ICP is to permit all items not in the ‘negative list’ to be traded across the land border at Attari-Wagah. The two ministers also expressed their wish that discussions may continue at the official level for possibilities of opening more land customs stations.
Except 1,209 items in the ‘Negative List’, Pakistan now allows import of all other Indian goods even as only 137 items are allowed through land route. (PTI)
Bashir new Pak envoy to India
ISLAMABAD, Apr 14:
Pakistan’s former Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir, who has been part of the post-26/11 Indo-Pak dialogue process, is the country’s new High Commissioner to India.
60-year-old Bashir has been appointed as the new envoy to India in place of Shahid Malik, Foreign Office spokesman Moazzam Ahmed Khan announced today.
Bashir had served as Foreign Secretary from 2008 to March this year, when Jalil Abbas Jillani took over from him.
The former Pakistan Foreign Secretary has been part of the Indo-Pak dialogue process following the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.
He also served as the Ambassador to Denmark, Lithuania, China and Mongolia and did a stint at Pakistan’s Mission to the United Nations in Geneva.
Bashir had travelled to New Delhi when President Asif Ali Zardari made a day-long private visit to India on April 8.
During the visit, Zardari had met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh over lunch and offered prayers at the Sufi shrine of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti in Ajmer. (PTI)