Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Feb 2: Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh today held a high level review of security situation in Jammu and Kashmir with Governor NN Vohra and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in two separate meetings and political situation in a meeting with PCC (I) chief Prof Saif-ud-Din Soz and other senior leaders of the Congress at Raj Bhawan.
Mr Vohra hosted ‘At Home’ for Dr Singh to meet Indian and foreign scientists at Raj Bhawan this afternoon and inter-acted with some of them. The scientists from all over the country and abroad have reached here for five days Indian Science Congress, which Dr Singh would inaugurate at Jammu University at 10 am tomorrow.
The Prime Minister reached here at about 3 pm from Kolkata after addressing bi-centenary celebrations of Indian Museum on two days visit of Jammu and was received at Technical Airport by Governor NN Vohra, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Legislative Council Chairman Amrit Malhotra, Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand, Ministers, MPs, Prof Soz, Chief Secretary Mohammad Iqbal Khandey, DGP Ashok Prasad and top brass of Army, police and civil officers.
Union Minister for Science and Technology Jaipal Reddy and Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Dr Farooq Abdullah have already reached here to attend inauguration of five days long 101st Indian Science Congress in which about 8000 delegates apart from Vice President Hamid Ansari, former President A P J Abdul Kalam, Nobel laureates Y Lee and Ferid Murad, Union Minister for Human Resources Development Dr M Pallam Raju and a host of other dignitaries are likely to participate.
Omar, Dr Abdullah, Mr Reddy, Council of Ministers of Jammu and Kashmir and prominent legislators attended ‘At Home’.
The Vice President would deliver valedictory address to the Indian Science Congress on February 7.
The Jammu University is hosting the Indian Science Congress of the Indian Science Congress Association (a professional body of Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India) from February 3 to 7.
Soon after his arrival here, Dr Singh drove to Raj Bhawan, where he was briefed on security situation by the Governor and the Chief Minister in separate meeting.
Official sources said The Chief Minister raked up the issue of closure of Pathribal killings by the Army and suspension of cross-LoC trade after the seizure of contraband drugs load truck at Uri.
“Omar in his about half an hour meeting with the Prime Minister raised the issue of closure of case Army in Pathribal killings and called for justice to the families of victims and punishment to those responsible for innocent killings,’’ sources said.
They said Omar also discussed suspension of cross-LoC trade on both routes of Uri-Muzaffarabad and Poonch-Rawlakote after the seizure of a truck load of contraband drugs and arrest of a driver for smuggling narcotics in Kashmir. He stressed for amicable resolution of the matter with Pakistan to ensure that important Confidence Building Measure (CBM) of trade across the LoC was not jeopardized.
Yesterday, Omar had flayed Pakistan for holding drivers of Jammu and Kashmir hostage in Pakistan for a criminal, who was caught on this side with consignment of narcotics.
Sources said the Chief Minister briefed Dr Singh of various aspects of security scenario in Jammu and Kashmir—both internal and external. He also apprised Dr Singh about achievement of the NC-Congress coalition Government during past over five years including empowerment of people, employment generation, restoration of peace and stability, socio economic development and improvement in security situation and law and order front.
Omar hailed the Prime Minister for his support to the State in his endeavour to fast track development works and move ahead towards achieving the goal of prosperity and tranquility.
“The Prime Minister conveyed his wishes to Omar Abdullah for peace and progress in Jammu and Kashmir and well being of the people,’’ sources said.
They added that Governor NN Vohra also apprised the Prime Minister about security scenario in Jammu and Kashmir including the Line of Control (LoC) and International Border (IB). He gave detailed assessment of the situation taking into account both internal and external factors. He apprised Dr Singh on more steps required by the Centre for restoration of complete peace and normalcy in the State.
Later, a 14 members delegation led by PCC (I) president Prof Saif-ud-Din Soz met the Prime Minister and briefed him on political scenario in Jammu and Kashmir apart from other aspects of the situation. Jammu and Kashmir is scheduled to go for Assembly elections in November-December this year apart from Lok Sabha elections along with the country in April-May.
The Congress leaders raised various issues before the Prime Minister pertaining to the State.
Sources said implementation of 73rd amendment of the Constitution of India, problems of refugees, more Central funds for development works in the State etc were taken up by the Pradesh Congress leaders with Dr Singh.
Prominent Congress leaders, who joined Prof Soz, in meeting the Prime Minister included Ravinder Sharma, Hari Singh, Khem Lata Wakhloo, Suman Bhagat, Indu Pawar, Ghulam Nabi Monga, RS Chib and Vinod Sharma among others.
The Prime Minister had the night halt at Raj Bhawan. He would proceed to the Jammu University at 10 am for inauguration of Indian Science Congress and then fly back to New Delhi around 11.30 am.
Sources said the Indian Science Congress, based on the theme ‘Innovations in Science and Technology for Inclusive Development’ will have 14 sessions on different subject combinations.
There will be special symposia on ‘Science and Technology Imperatives and Opportunities for Sustainable Development of Jammu & Kashmir.’
The session on ‘Rural Innovators’ will be inaugurated by the Prime Minister on the inaugural day tomorrow, sources said.
The Science Congress is being organised under the patronage of Governor and University Chancellor N N Vohra and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who is also the Pro-Chancellor of the Jammu University.
Tight security arrangements have been made across the winter capital for the Prime Minister’s two-day visit. Additional police and para-military personnel have been deployed within the city and its periphery. Security was very high in the Jammu University, the venue of the Indian Science Congress.
Meanwhile, Eminent scientists including Bharat Ratna recipient scientist C N Rao, R Chidambaram, Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India, Defence Research and Development (DRDO) secretary Avinash Chander will deliver lectures in different fields of science during the five days event.
Nobel laureates and scientists from USA, Canada, Germany, UK will deliver lectures at the event.
The event will also see discussion and presentation of papers in the field of housing, energy, environment, health care, water, homeland security, communication, agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Animal, Veterinary and Fishery Sciences, Anthropological and Behavioural Sciences (including Archaeology and Psychology and Educational Sciences), Chemical Sciences.
Other topics are Earth System Sciences, Engineering Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Information and Communication Science and Technology (including Computer Sciences), Material Sciences, Mathematical Sciences (including Statistics), Medical Sciences (including Physiology), New Biology (including Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology and Biotechnology).
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