Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 11: The chain hunger strike launched by Kashmiri migrant relief holders and over aged youth in front of Relief Commissioner’s office entered 12th day today.
Protestors raising slogans against Government warned to intensify the agitation in case Government failed to take decision regarding enhancement of relief. They criticized the Government for its failure in settling the problems of the relief holders and over aged youth who are the worst sufferers of the turmoil.
They said that except the false promises the Government has failed to do any thing concrete to settle the problem.
They said the Government failed to take up the issue during recent Cabinet meeting or with the visiting Union Home Minister, P Chidambaram yesterday.
Muslim Migrant Welfare Committee president Basharat Hussian, Secular Front leaders Ashok Ji Dhar and S L Kaul, Kashmiri Muslim Migrant President Sheikh Fida Hussian and Nazir Ahmed Lone, Ashwani Bhat president J&K Welfare Society and chairman J&K Thinkers Forum, Kuldeep Pandita also supported the relief holders demand.
Meanwhile the dharna launched at Jagti Camp by relief holders entered 16th day today.

Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Apr 11: A delegation of All Parties Sikh Coordination Committee (APSCC) called on Union Home Minister, P. Chidambaram during the latter’s one day visit to Jammu on April 10 and projected the demands of the Sikh community.
In a press release, the APSCC chairman, Jagmohan Singh Raina said that demands of Sikhs with respect to employment, education and other sectors have not been fulfilled by the State Government. He said Sikhs have been denied reservation in all sectors, adding that this has dented their psyche. He urged the Home Minister to intervene and get these issues solved at the earliest.
He said that time has come when Government should resolve issues like employment package, extension of minority Act to the Jammu and Kashmir, general amnesty to hijackers as done in case of Hashim Qureshi, fresh probe into Chattisinghpora massacre and central authority for providing state subject at par with Kashmiri migrants. He said if the demands are not met the Sikhs would be forced to come on roads and launch agitation.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 11: The ongoing chain hunger strike of PHE Employees, organised under the banner of PHE Workers Welfare Association enters 10th day today.
The PHE employees chain hunger strike, started on April 2, 2012 in support of the long pending demands of the employees, which were already discussed and agreed in to principle by the concerned authorities of the Department.
Addressing the agitating employees, provincial president of the association, Thakur Bakshi Singh, stressed upon the Government to resolve the issues and demands of the employees without any further delay to avoid any type of confrontations, otherwise they would be compelled to start Kaam Choro Hartal from April 20, 2012 throughout the Jammu Province for which State Government would be responsible.
Those who addressed the gathering were Shiv Lal Pathania, Ravi Kumar, Arun Singh, Rajeev Singh and many others.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 11: Other Backward Classes (OBC) Mahasabha has decided to take out peaceful Mashaal Rally (Torchlight procession) on April 17 from Press Club to Parade Jammu in protest against neglect of OBC at the hands of the Government.
This decision was taken in a general meeting of United Forum of OBCs under the banner of OBC Mahasabha, which discussed in detail the problems being faced by the constituents of OBC Mahasabha.
The speakers criticized the Government for framing Reservation Act 2004 and Reservation Rules frames vide SRO 294 of 2005 and described that as a joke with State OBCs as castes and communities among the Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs who have faced discrimination since centuries together were left high and dry with a meager 2 percent reservation instead of 27% as per verdict of Supreme Court of India on Mandal Commission report.
They said OBC advisory board constituted in the State in 2009 has also proven as a lollypop to the State OBCs and nothing till date has been done by State rulers for the development of OBCs. They demanded change of nomenclature from OSC to OBC; review of Income slab from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 9 lakh for identification of Creamy Layer section; Political reservation etc.
The meeting among others was attended by Bansi Lal Choudhary, Ajudhiya Kumar Manawa, Kasturi Lal Basotra, Vaishno Dutt Dogra, Lal Deen Tobey, Mohd Amin, Surech Dogra, Murari Lal Balgotra and Raj Kumar Sodi.

Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Apr 11: A team of Asian Development Bank team that had come to review the preparedness of tranche-II projects of JKUSDIP (Jammu and Kashmir Urban Sector Development Investment Programme) being executed by Jammu and Kashmir Economic Reconstruction Agency (JKERA) concluded its two day visit to the valley.
In a press release issued here, a spokesman of the ERA said that the team carried out a meeting with Saurabh Bhagat, Chief Executive Officer, ERA. The team was briefed about the preparedness for the major projects which are proposed to be taken up by JKERA under the tranche-II of the Asian Development Bank funded JKUSDIP.
The projects being carried out include construction of Jehangir Chowk-Natipora expressway corridor in Srinagar and construction of Bikram Chowk expressway corridor in Jammu. Besides this construction of multi-level parking facility in Srinagar and some water supply and drainage projects in Jammu and Srinagar was also discussed during the meeting.
The team was told that the projects are estimated to cost around Rs 800 crore. They were told that as part of the rehabilitation measure the displaced shopkeepers have been paid compensation of Rs 12 lakh in lieu of income loss and shifting grant. These people have been rehabilitated in the shopping complex constructed by Srinagar Municipal Corporation.
The visiting ADB team comprising of Atsushi Kaneko, Senior Urban Development specialist (ADB) and Ron Slangen Urban Development Specialist (ADB) expressed overall satisfaction with the progress achieved by J&K ERA on resettlement and other aspects of the project.
The meeting was also attended by Khalid Muzaffar, Director Central, J&K ERA, O.P Dubey, Director Urban, J&K ERA, Shagufta Qazi, Director Finance, J&K ERA and other senior officers of J&KERA and project support unit of Asian Development Bank.