Excelsior Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 29: J&K Veteran Athletic Association today organised second (6km) Cross Country Race for different age groups.
The race started from Kasim Nagar and passed through Gurudwara via Narwal By Pass, Bahu Fort and culminated at Kasim Nagar.
The race was flagged off by president, JKVAA, Bashir Ahmad and joint secretary, JKVAA, Ashok Kumar.
In age group 4-18 (boys), Rinku stood first whereas Parveen and Sunny Sharma secured second and third positions respectively.
In age group 4-10 (boys), Manil Wadhara of Heritage School bagged first position, whereas Akmal and Aman of Jagriti Niketan had to satisfy with second and third positions respectively.
In age group 4-10 (girls), Khushi of KC Gurukul secured first position, Reefat of Jagriti Niketan stood second whereas Arshi of St Peter School remained third.
In under 18 boys, Rinku, Parveen Kumar and Sunny Sharma bagged first, second and third positions respectively.
In men’s section, Rakesh Kumar secured first position, Khem Lal stood second whereas Sham Lal remained third.
In women’s section, Geeta stood first, while Yasmeen and Nisha secured second and third positions respectively.
Veteran Athletic Association organises 2nd Cross Country Race
CBMs between India-Pak may bring relief: Soz
Excelsior Correspondent
GANDERBAL, Apr 29: Former Union Minister and Pradesh Congress Committee President, Prof Saifuddin Soz, said that confidence building measures may bring more relief among the people of this part of the region and hoped that travel and trade between two sides will become brisk in the coming months.
Addressing a public rally at Lar in Ganderbal district of Kashmir today Prof Soz said that a series of CBMs including relaxation in Visa regime were in the pipeline. He hoped that the adoption of these CBMs would bring lot of relief to the lives of people. The PCC leader further hoped that the trade and travel on Srinagar–Rawalpindi road would become easier and the facilities like communication and banking would also be available in due course of time.
While extending gratitude to the UPA Chairperson and AICC president Sonia Gandhi in providing liberal funding for the projects in J&K, Prof Soz said with the support of Union Government massive development has been witnessed in the State in past several years.
The PCC chief pointed out that certain heart warming situations were in the offing in the sub-continent of India and Pakistan. The neighbouring country has finally realized that terrorism is proving counter productive. They also realized that it was to the advantage to the Pakistan to live friendly with India.
He also assured the gathering that he would fully support their demands like reopening of ISM dispensary, full fledged tehsil complex at Ganderbal, declaration of far flung areas of Ganderbal as backward, setting up of fruit and vegetable Mandi and development of Tulip buds Nursery for attraction of tourists.
Minister for Medical Education and Sports R S Chib, Minister for Revenue Raman Bhalla, senior PCC leaders Mohd Muzaffar Parray, Ghulam Nabi Monga, B A Magray and Mohd Anwar Bhat also addressed the gathering.
Efforts on to bring back all but 7 disqualified MLAs: Mukhi
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 29: Efforts are on in BJP to bring back all those party activists who resigned from the Party after the last year’s cross voting episode or are not actively participating in party activities barring the seven disqualified MLAs who indulged in cross voting in April 13 Upper House elections in 2011.
This was stated by BJP Prabhari for J&K and MLA Delhi Dr Jagdish Raj Mukhi while releasing the party’s resolution passed in the two days state Working Committee meeting here today along with BJP state chief spokesperson and National Executive member Dr Jitendra Singh.
He said the party has constituted a five member team to study the cases of all those workers nation wide who have resigned from it and this will also apply to those BJP activists of J&K who also left the party during last one year or have become inactive. But this does not apply to the seven MLAs as they have been disqualified from the Party, he added.
Ridiculing the recent termination of four BJP MLAs by Prof Chaman Lal Gupta who heads the rebel Legislature Party group in the State, he said Prof Gupta has since been expelled from the party and he has no locus standi in expelling the BJP MLAs. He was expelled from the Party prior to the date he has given the notice to four BJP MLAs’’,Dr Mukhi added.
He said their disqualification will have no impact on the party in the coming Municipal elections and BJP will do much more better in Jammu region and also improve its position in Kashmir Valley and Ladakh regions.
Dr Mukhi said Party leadership will also meet Speaker of the State Assembly and utilize all channels in seeking the disqualification of seven MLAs from the House.
Prof Mukhi also demanded extension of the date of revision of voter lists by another 15 days in order to make polls to municipal committees free and fair in the State . The Party’s poll prospects were obviously high in the state as there has been a wave of change throughout the country against the existing dispensation and cases of corruption and scams involving Congress and UPA alliance were coming to the fore.
Briefing about the State Working Committee meet Dr Jitendra Singh said Party adopted a resolution on Gilgit –Baltistan, which is going through a series of continuous human rights violations at the behest of ISI and Pak authorities. During last one month over 400 people from majority Shia community were killed in cold blood and also Pakistan was planning to lease out the these areas to China for 50 years, which besides serving strategic interests of two countries will also serve business interests of China in gaining road connectivity to Afghanistan, he added.
He said it is a cause of concern that a senior Minister stated on the floor of Assembly last month that Gilgit was only a concern of Central Government.
Giving more details Dr Jitendra Singh said through resolution BJP urged the Union as well as State Governments to intervene to check human rights violations in Gilgit Baltistan and the External Affairs Ministry should take up with Government of Pakistan the reported proposal of unauthorized lease of these areas by Pakistan to China.
He said state BJP resolved that it will not tolerate any compromise with territorial integrity of the State and that UPA Government is bound by 1994 unanimous resolution of Indian Parliament to get back areas of J&K, including PoK and Gilgit-Baltistan, which continue to be under illegal occupation of Pakistan. The Party also took a pledge to continue its crusade till it succeeds in securing justice for Gilgit –Baltistan and liberation of these areas from unauthorized occupation of Pakistan.
The resolution was presented by Dr Jitendra and it was seconded by senior Party leader Chnander Mohan Sharma.
Patwari, tout arrested for cheating innocent villagers
Excelsior Correspondent
UDHAMPUR, Apr 29: Police today arrested a Patwari and his tout for fraudulently transferring the land compensation amount from the accounts of innocent villagers.
Giving details, police spokesman said that on April 25, one Kashmir Singh, son of Faqir of Roun lodged a complaint with the Udhampur Police mentioning that a Patwari and his tout has cheated him.
He informed the police that some portion of his land came under the total land acquired at village Roun by the CRPF authorities and accordingly the payment of land was made through the Revenue Department.
The complainant as well as one Romesh Singh, son of Dhuni Chand of Roun were asked by the concerned Patwari namely Uttam Singh, son of Romal Singh of village Sadi, Reasi to open their accounts in the J&K Bank for crediting the amount in their accounts.
When the accounts were opened, Patwari told them that payment of Rs 2,73,000 each as land compensation has been credited into their respective account and they should immediately withdraw the same to get second instalment.
Later, the complainant came to know that actually an amount of Rs 11,73,000 was credited into his account and Patwari managed to transfer amount of Rs 9,00,000 from his account to the account of Romesh Singh, who actually turned out to be tout of Patwari.
Acting on the complaint, Police registered a case and started investigation during which the bank statement of the complainant’s account was obtained. Later, it came to fore that Patwari taking advantage of illiteracy of complainant got signed the withdrawal slips and transferred the amount for his own benefits.
It also came to light that several persons have been paid less amount of their land compensation by the Patwari in connivance of Romesh Singh. The first instalment of land compensation was Rs 1.66 crore out of which an amount of Rs 42, 24, 862 was illegally credited into the account of Romesh Singh.
On the basis of preliminary investigation, police arrested Patwari as well as his tout Romesh Singh. “Investigation into the case is still going on”, police spokesman said.
Dr Singh is new HoD Orthopedics
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 29: Dr Rajinder Singh, the senior most Associate Professor in the Department of Orthopedics, Government Medical College (GMC), Jammu, has been appointed as new Head of Department of Orthopedics.
Dr Singh will take over as HoD Orthopedics on May 1.
He is an alumnus of GMC Jammu. He had distinguished careers during MBBS having obtained second and third positions respectively in the subjects of Opthalmology and General Medicines during his course of study. He was selected on merit for MS Orthopedics at PGI Chandigarh.
He is the first Orthopedic surgeon of J&K, who had been awarded with prestigious `Diplomate National Board degree in Orthopedics in 1986. He has been teaching Under Graduate and Post Graduate (Orthopedics) students in GMC Srinagar (Bone and Joint Hospital) and GMC Jammu after getting selected into Medical Education Department.
Bring ordinance to empower Panchayats: Madan Lal
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 29: Member Parliament from Jammu-Poonch Lok Sabha constituency and senior Congress leader Madan Lal Sharma has appealed the State Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to empower Panchayats by way of bringing ordinance through Governor, till a strong legislation is brought and passed in the Assembly.
In a press statement issued here today, Mr Sharma welcomed the public statement of the Chief Minister at Poonch and Marh recently wherein he assured constitutional guarantee to empower Panchayats. Appreciating Omar for his commitment and following Coalition `dharma’, the Congress MP urged the Chief Minister to empower Panchayats by way of bringing ordinance through Governor till a strong legislation is brought in the State Assembly.
Mr Sharma said it was in Congress manifesto and the common minimum programme of Coalition that Panchayats will be given powers as per 73rd amendment on the line of other states. He said the Union Government under the leadership of Dr Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi is committed to provide full economic and other support to Panchayats and waiting for the State to respond. He said Sarpanches and Panches are feeling suffocated and are annoyed with the Government for not transferring powers to them till now. This is genuine and can have long term impact and repercussions. He also demanded early constitution of block and district bodies.
The MP further claimed that article 370 was in no way an obstacle to empower Panchayats by 73rd and 74th amendment if the Constituent Assembly of the State passes it. He alleged that some politicians were misleading the people over the issue which is unfortunate.
2 drug peddlers held with intoxicants, sharp-edged weapon
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 29: Police today arrested two drug peddlers along with large number of intoxicant capsules and a sharp-edged weapon.
Police spokesman said that a police party from City Police Station, on the basis of specific information, intercepted two drug-peddlers and subjected them to frisking. From their possession, police recovered 950 intoxicant capsules, two bottles of corex, one sharp edged weapon and Rs 45,000 cash.
Both the drug-peddlers have been booked under Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPSA). They were arrested by a police team from City Police Station led by SHO Inspector Basanti Bhat under the supervision of DySP Kulvir Handa.
The arrested drug peddlers have been identified as Vijay Kumar, son of Om Parkash of Rohtak, presently putting up at Kabir Basti, B C Road and Vikram Singh, son of Amarjeet Singh of Last Morh Gandhi Nagar.
Police has launched a hunt to nab kingpin of the drug-peddlers gang namely Pankaj Kumar, son of Gulzar Chand of Kabir Basti.
ReT teachers discuss demands
Excelsior Correspondent:
JAMMU, Apr 29: All J&K ReT Teachers Forum discussed their long pending genuine demands in its monthly meeting, held here at Exhibition Ground under the chairmanship of its State president, Younis Rahi Teli.
The meeting condemned the delaying tactics of the Government to resolve their long pending genuine demands, which included seniority benefits of 5 years rendered service of ReTs, regularization of EVs as general line teachers who have completed seven years of service, enhancement in the wages of ReTs upto Rs 7000 per month till regularization, transfer policy in favour of regularized ReTs, provision of SRO-43 in favour of ReTs or EVs and implementation of Order No 115.
All the participants appealed the Chief Minister to concede their demands as early as possible.
Shun violence: Ramesh tells Maoists
DUMKA, JHARKHAND, Apr 29: Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh today asked Maoists to drop guns and join the mainstream saying there is no place for violence in the land of Mahatma Gandhi and Gautam Buddha.
“Doors are open for any (extremist) outfit willing to join the democratic process by contesting elections as there is no place for violence in the land of Buddha and Gandhiji”, Ramesh said at Dumka district’s Dhaka village.
Out of the total 78 Maoist-affected districts in the country 17 were in Jharkhand and the menace of terrorism could be tackled through rapid progressive work, said Ramesh, who visited sericulture breeding centres run by women self-help groups.
All round development work would help tribals in Jharkhand, where 10 lakh families whose land were acquired over the years were still to be rehabilitated.
Pitching for 75 per cent reservation for women in tribal communities in different fields to speed up developmental programmes, the union minister said, efforts should be made to enable 80 per cent profit to women SHGs involved in sericulture business.
“Now they get only 40 per cent profit (on silk production) due to existence of middle men. The Central Silk Board and state governments should ensure 80 per cent profit to the women silk SHGs”, he said.
A total 65,000 families are involved in sericulture in Jharkhand, out of which 10,000 are from Dumka district alone, he added. (PTI)
Par panel doubts whether DGCA acted to check high air fares
NEW DELHI, Apr 29: A parliamentary panel has expressed doubts on whether the DGCA had taken any step to prevent the “sudden surge” in air fares and asked the aviation regulator to evolve measures to prevent flyers from being “harassed”.
Observing that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) was already empowered to check airlines from indulging in excessive or predatory pricing, the Committee on Estimates said it had “doubts about DGCA taking any cautionary step on these lines”.
It also pointed out that while visiting the various airline websites, “it is found that very few scheduled airlines are following the directive” issued by DGCA to bring about transparency in published air fares.
“The Committee would like to know as to what perceptible difference has been achieved in the field of air fare regulation by the government in recent months,” the report said.
Had the regulator taken any steps in this regard, excessive air tariffs which had earlier risen exorbitantly in December 2010 “would not have happened,” the Committee said in its report presented in Parliament last week.
Acknowledging that the government did not regulate air fares which were determined by the market, it emphasised “the need to ensure that air fares are not hiked in a sudden and unreasonable manner”.
Pointing out that the DGCA had set up a Tariff Analysis Unit to monitor air fares on a regular basis, the Committee said it was “dissatisfied with the current state of affairs despite several powers already available to the government”.
The parliamentary panel asked the DGCA and the Civil Aviation Economic Regulatory Council (CAERC) to monitor the air fare graph “with clarity”, find out measures to ensure proper compliance of the directives issued to the airlines and “prevent harassment of the consumers”.
It said it had observed that the ten orders passed by the CAERC in the past one year related only to the User Development Fee and fuel charges and not air fares.
“As the DGCA has reportedly set up a Working Group to protect consumer interests in 2010, the Committee would only hope that the two regulatory set-ups work in sync so that their respective recommendations complement each other.”
The panel also wanted to be apprised of any “concrete proposals” by the CAERC in the last one year on air fares.
Since 2009 when DGCA strengthened the provisions under the 1937 Aircraft Rules, the aviation regulator has been directing all Indian carriers regularly to show route-wise and date-wise airfares on their websites and ensure transparency so that flyers do not feel cheated by high ticket prices.
The airlines have been asked to upload the route-wise tariff across its network in various fare categories commensurate with date of purchase on their respective websites, apart from giving details of fees, taxes and other charges.
Under these directives the airlines would have to not only provide details of route-wise fares but also detail them for each ‘fare bucket’.
Aircraft seats are grouped into different categories, each at a distinct price. These categories are referred to as ‘fare buckets’. (PTI)