Jai Mata Di SATURDAY 30 May 2015 Jammu-India Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future. Pages:12 ` 3.00 - John F. Kennedy Regd No:JK517/13-15 RNI No:- JKENG/2013/53265 NIFTY 8,433 114 || SENSEX 27,828 321 || DOW JONES 18,126 36 || NASDAQ 5,097 8 |USD($) 63.81 0.01 INR || EURO($) 70.00 0.20 INR ||GOLD/10G 26,825 35 || SILVER/K 38,315 19 Saka: 09 Jyaistha 1936-37 WORLD Bikrami: 16 Jeth 2071 P-8 NATIONAL Five more victims’ remains found at Nepal crash site of US helicopter P-7 US remove Cuba from terror blacklist Washington: The United States removed Cuba from its blacklist as a state sponsor of terrorism on Friday, in a landmark move aimed at paving the way towards normalizing ties frozen for half a century. The decision means Cuba will now have better access to US banking facilities and American aid, and a ban on arms exports and sales is also lifted. It also wipes out an international stigma which Havana -- on the blacklist since 1982 -- has long contended was groundless and unfair. US President Barack Obama had notified Congress earlier this year that he intended to remove Havana from the list, giving lawmakers 45 days to object, which elapsed Friday. Five aftershocks jolt Nepal Kathmandu: Nepal was on Friday rocked by five aftershocks, including one measuring 5.2 on the Richter scale, following last month’s devastating earthquake that claimed nearly 9,000 lives. A moderate 5.2-magnitude tremor struck Nepal at 3.44 pm with epicenter at Dhading district. A 4-magnitude tremor was recorded at 8.30 am with its epicentre located in Gorkha district, according to the National Seismological Centre in Kathmandu. Two other 4.2 magnitude tremors were recorded at 12.37 am and 5.20 am with epicentres at Dolakha and Dhading districts. A 4.8-magnitude tremor was recorded at 12.30 pm with epicentre at Gorkha-Dhading, the NSC said. So far, 290 aftershocks of 4 or above magnitude have been recorded since the April 25 earthquake. Aadhar not compulsory for voting: EC New Delhi: The Election Commission of India on Friday said it has made it clear that Aadhaar number is not mandatory for exercising the right to cast votes. In order to avoid confusion among electors and the electoral machinery, the poll panel has issued necessary instructions to the chief electoral officers of states and union territories specifying that furnishing of Aadhaar number by electors is not mandatory and is only optional, an official release said here. “It has been made amply clear that no electoral service will be denied to any elector on ground of non-furnishing of Aadhaar number,” the release said. Militants attack Army bunker Srinagar: Suspected militants on Friday evening attacked an army bunker after they fired two rifle grenades towards it in Sopore in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district. A police official said that two rifle grenades were fired towards a bunker of army’s 22 RR at Gangoo House in the town. However, the grenades were reportedly missed the intended target and were exploded outside the bunker with big bang, though no army personnel got injured. Soon after the grenade blast, panic gripped the area. A heavy posse of army, police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) immediately launched cordon and search operations, however no one was arrested. e-mail: [email protected] SCIENCE&TECHNOLOGY P-3 P-11 YOUTH P-10 Boeing is NASA’s first pick for manned ISS flights Sukhnandan inaugurates ChanniMansar WSS Lallu lifts Sarna Kesari dangal title No plans for talks with Slash rate of interest on loans for separatists: Rajnath developmental activities: Drabu AGENCIES, MAY 29|15 EARTH NEWS SERVICE Srinagar, May 29|15: The Minister of Finance, Dr Haseeb A Drabu Friday said that there was a need to move away from asset based or financial statement based lending and called for putting in place a mechanism by which banks can lower the rate of interest on the loans taken for developmental activities in the State so that the pace of development of state can be accelerated. Further, calling for the need of providing incentives for promotion of entrepreneurial spirit and revival of the flood ravaged economy of the State, Drabu said that such efforts would 20 °C 34°C 40°C 30°C 54% 20% 14% 27% 65km 82km 83km 64km 0% 8°C 21°C 25°C 91% 44% 39% 13°C 75% 18km 0% 58Km 0% 26km 0% 20km 0% give an impetus to the economy of the State. The Minister was speaking at an interactive programme organized for the Governor of Reserve Bank of India, Dr. Raghuram Rajan. Chief Secretary, Iqbal Khandey, Financial Commissioner, Industries and Commerce, Khurshid Ahmed Ganai, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, B. B. Vyas and Administrative Secretaries of different departments were also pre- sent. Dr. Drabu while pitching for declaring all the lending in J&K as priority sector lending for one year said that financial debt relief in the form of waivers/write offs should qualify as CSR expenditure. He further added that Ministry of Finance be requested to subsidize rate of interest on all rehabilitation and reconstruction lending of Commercial Banks. “Specific relief package be given for existing KCC barrows, one time waiver of Rs. One lakh would benefit 8 lakh farmer family and all farm lending be converted into KCC lending, same to be done for ACC lending” Contd on Page 2 Shri Amarnathji Yatra-2015 New Delhi: The Central Government has no plans “as of now” to hold talks with separatist groups of Jammu and Kashmir, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said today. “There is no proposal to hold talks as of now,” was a blunt reply from Singh at a press conference here in response to a question whether the Centre would be holding talks with Kashmiri separatist groups as was done during the tenure of Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The NDA-I had engaged with Hurriyat leaders led by Mirwaiz Umer Farooq as well as with Yaseen Malik and Shabir Shah. The process was carried forward in UPA-I by the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh but it got scuttled after the Centre had asked Hurriyat Conference to bring a road-map on paper for finding a solution to Kashmir issue. The ‘Agenda for Alliance’, which guides the PDP-BJP Government of J&K, had said that following the principle of earlier NDA Government, the coalition Government will facilitate Contd on Page 2 After Sopore, warning posters appear in Kupwara Governor to undertake aerial Militants threaten telecommunication inspection of entire Yatra route people to shut operation EARTH NEWS SERVICE Srinagar, May 29|15: Governor N N Vohra, along with CEO of Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB), undertake an aerial inspection of the entire Yatra track on 1st June and held meetings at Baltal and Nunwan Base Camps the same day to review all important matters relating to the forthcoming Yatra. Vohra, who is also the Chairman of Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, Friday held a meeting at Raj Bhavan, to review arrangements for the 59-day Shri Amarnathji Yatra which is scheduled to commence on 2nd July 2015. P.K. Tripathi, Chief Executive Officer, Jitendra Kumar Singh, Additional Chief Executive Officer and R.K. Pandita, GM (Works) of the Board attended the meeting among other concerned officers. The Governor reviewed the to-date position of the various ongoing arrangements for the Yatra including the registration of Yatris; provision of heli services in the Yatra area; grant of tent and shop permissions; arrangements for cleaning of Camps; track cleaning; garbage collection and disposal; provision of Insurance cover to the registered Yatris, Service Providers and ponies; grant of per- mission to NGOs for setting up of Langars in the Yatra area; appointment and deployment of Camp Directors; provision of Telecom services in the Yatra area; status of snow accumulation on the tracks; to-date track condition and the steps being taken to repair and clear them; installation of toilets and baths in the Yatra Camps and enroute etc. The Governor directed CEO to urgently review and ensure time bound action on all the Yatra related arrangements which are to be made by the Divisional, District level authorities, the Contd on Page 2 EARTH NEWS SERVICE Srinagar, May 29|15: Pur- ported Lashkar-e-Islam posters asking people dealing with telecommunication business to shut their operation forthwith surfaced in other parts of Kashmir Valley on Friday. “By this poster, we give first and last warning to the telecommunication people bring down towers, close all service networking, marketing, SIM or lopo distribution or recharge business,” reads the posters which surfaced in Drugmulla area of Kupwara district. The outfit has claimed the communication system has resulted into damages with many of its commanders either killed or arrested by forces. The posters asked people associated with telecommunication companies to wind up their business or “they would be killed”. The warning has also been issued to the people having mobile towers on their property and the group has threatened them with death if they don’t stop operations of these towers. Similar threatening posters also surfaced in Khanmoh and Khrew areas of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district warning the telecommunication to shut the business immediately. A senior Third rifle snatching incident in a week Parikkar adds a new twist to AFSPA Gunman decamp with service rifle SANT KUMAR SHARMA The Defence Minister, Mr Manohar Parikkar, is known for his frugal ways, quick decisions and straight talk. On an issue, rather any issue for that matter, he does not obfuscate like most politicians do. He expresses his views with lucidity and clarity that is very rare in his tribe, politicians. The views expressed by a politician can be interpreted one way or exactly the opposite way. Not so with Mr Parikkar as he speaks with a rare candour. If he says that he s not doing something, you better believe it. For he will not do it and means nothing else, and says exactly what he means. What he said about Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and its possible removal from the state, or some parts, is something that everyone will need to take Jammu, May 29 |15: note of. He has said clearly that if the Army will operate in the state, it will always have the protective umbrella of the Act. It effectively means that AFSPA is not going to be removed in the near future or as long as the Army continues to operate in the state. Parikkar has added a new dimension to the debate on the Act by declaring that the Army is not meant for internal security duty. What Mr Parikkar has meant is that the Army comes to the aid of the civilian government only when it is asked to. If the civilian government can handle the situation on its own, the Army just stays in the barracks or on the borders which is its mandate. Beyond that, Mr Parikkar has also declared that it is for the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to decide whether Contd on Page 2 EARTH NEWS SERVICE Srinagar, May 29|15: In yet another rifle snatching incident in South Kashmir, pistol borne suspected militants shot at a cop and then decamped with his service rifle on Friday. According to eye-witnesses police head constable Sartaj Ahmed, a resident of Kulgam posted on guard duty at Jammu Kashmir Bank branch Kachdoora Shopian was taken unaware when a suspected pistol borne militant pounced upon him. “The cop showed some resistance and tried to stop the militant from snatching away his service rifle, however, the militant fired a single bullet that hit his arm. As the constable fell down, the militant decamped with his rifle,” they said. Superintendent of Police Shopian, Altaf Ahmed Khan said that the militants were three in number. “One of the militants targeted the cop at a point blank range and the other one took away his rifle. These militants fired some shots in air while fleeing from the spot,” he said. “The injured cop who has been shifted to District Hospital Shopian is out of danger. Soon after the incident police, Army, CRPF and SOG personnel rushed to spot and conducted search Contd on Page 2 police official confirmed that the appearance of posters in these areas. He said investigations have been launched and “soon the elements involved in giving threats or killings of those belonged to the telecom sector will be behind bars.” The posters had first surfaced in Sopore and Baramulla, purportedly asking cellphone services providers to wind up their operations. However, Hizb-ulMujahideen had announced through posters that there was no militant organisation by name of Lashkar-e-Islam. Given the threats and spate of attacks, Contd on Page 2 The Earth News staffer bereaved Rajinder Singh, elder brother of The Earth News Senior Correspondent Th Surinder Singh passed away today after a Diabetic attack, he was 56. Rajinder Singh is survived by his wife Palbinder Devi and three sons Zorawar Singh, Karan Dev Singh, Devinder Singh and daughter Sheweta Singh. The cremation was held this afternoon at Shakti Nagar cremation ground wherein large number of people paid last respects to the departed soul. The deceased was serving in State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC). A condolence meeting was held by the staff of The Earth News under the chairmanship of Shivang Satya Gupta, Editor in Chief, in which two minutes silence was observed in respect of the departed soul. The staff prayed for the peace to the soul and courage to the bereaved family to bear the irreparable loss. Jhajhar Kotli: Picnickers first choice needs an immediate revamp Shivang Satya Gupta Editor-in-Chief 0% www.earthnews.in STATE P-5 Bukhari inaugurates Tengpona Bridge, lays foundation of two bridges IIT controversy: Smriti Irani openly challenges Rahul Gandhi to debate on education Weather Report 0% KASHMIR Volume: 2 Issue: 259 RBI Guv for strengthening Agri Infrastructure to boost local economy GLEANINGS 0% Sha’aban : 11 1436 AH J hajhar Kotli, the first and the natural choice for the picnickers of Jammu has been lost somewhere and seems to have been abandoned by the people at the helm of affairs little caring that this was a place where every Jammuite would think of whenever he or she wanted to have some relaxing moments. While the neglect started much earlier the new four lane national highway dealt the final death blow to this hugely popular picnic spots by putting it under the carper literally as the road just zooms over the spot without a trace of any picnic spot in the vicinity. The tourism department has already damaged the spot by closing the only JKTDC run cafeteria and stopping the maintenance of the adjoining parks. The four lane road that is now over the sky through newly built flyover has left the place in utter neglect with a few eateries also abandoning the area. Talk to any Jammuite young or old, vivid memories of the picnics to the place either through school, college or individual come to their minds with everybody cursing the authorities for ruining one of the best picnic spots of the Jammu city. However due to gross neglect by the tourism and local authorities the best picnic spot of Jammu has been spoiled and now it has been turned into a j&k: a dream destination hub of drunkards, gamblers and anti-social activities with people hardly visiting the place due to absence of eateries, facilities and worst condition of the road particularly leading to the river below. The spot in its hay days used to be picnickers paradise with hordes of people visiting the place during summers to beat the heat and relax in the serene environs. The place needs immediate attention of the new government particularly tourism department which can revamp it to make it a popular tourist spot of national level as now it can be developed exclusively with no unnecessary rush of the vehicles. The spot needs the entire infrastructure a fresh besides maintenance as well as good approach roads and effective policing with proper sign boards at the top on four lane road for the coming tourists to Kashmir. The spot can be a picnickers’ paradise if developed properly and included into the package tour along with other places of tourists interest in Jammu. Jhajjar Kotli thus personifies a perfect place for a serene and relaxed vacation experience and is apt for those looking for an escape from a rushed and hectic scheduled lifestyle. This is an apt spot to experience a stress-free and tension-free life amidst a tranquil environ surrounded by a green belt of forest lands and water bodies to spend that much needed relaxing weekend getaway. Jhajjar Kotli is one of the rare calm and quiet tourist sites in Jammu that provides any visitor with a great scope to peacefully enjoy an unforgettable company amidst the lap of pristine natural beauty and sheer delight. Situated about 35 Kms on the National Highway (now below the flyover) leading towards Srinagar in Kashmir, this small Tourist Site was constructed on the riverbanks Contd on Page 2
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