The North Lines
Prez condoles passing
away of Baleshwar Ram
Charas recovered, 2
held
P3 | JAMMU
P7 | NATIONAL
Those who enforce
the law must know
the law
P6 | OPINION
Srinagar awaits traffic
chaos as 'darbar' sets
in for summers
P8 |KASHMIR VALLEY
the NORTHLINES
The Newspaper of Substance Since 1995
Vol No: XX Issue No. 113
Jammu Tawi
Fly to Srinagar
@ Rs. 5000 !
J&K to promote low-cost travel
NEW DELHI:
Jammu and Kashmir
government plans to run
chartered planes on DelhiJammu and Delhi-Srinagar
sectors at a fixed price of Rs
5,000 in an attempt to
provide low cost air travel
option as part of encouraging
tourism.
After working out all
details, the state government
intends to start operating
these flights from next month
so that many domestic
tourists, especially from
Delhi, can visit Kashmir
during summer vacations in
educational
institutions,
official sources said.
According to the sources,
the state government has
received quotation from Air
India and is awaiting prices
from other operators before
the deal is finalized.
"At present, the state
government
intends
to
operate three flights daily
from Delhi to Srinagar via
Jammu. After calculating the
operating cost and other
IN BRIEF
Buddha
Purnima
celebrated
in Leh
LEH (J&K):
People of Leh on Monday
celebrated Buddha Purnima,
the birth anniversary of Lord
Buddha, with joy and
fervour.
Thousands,
including
school children, monks,
nuns, gathered at Leh
Chokang, a Buddhist temple,
from where they proceeded
through different ways to
Tsemo Gonpa, a Buddhist
monastery here.
The
procession
culminated at the historic
Leh Pologround with a
cultural programme, in
which several speakers
addressed the gathering and
Contd... on P2....
Governor
meets CM,
GoC 15 Corps
SRINAGAR: Governor N
N Vohra met Chief Minister
Mufti Mohammad Sayeed
and discussed various issues
concerning
the
State,
including the upcoming
annual Amarnath Yatra.
"In the course of their
extended interaction, the
Governor and the Chief
Minister discussed various
important issues, including
matters relating to the
forthcoming
Amarnathji
Yatra,"
an
official
spokesman said today.
Contd... on P2....
Probe sought into
'fake' donations at
Vashino Devi
Shrine
JAMMU TAWI, MAY 04:
PDP leader Vikram Singh
Monday demanded fresh
probe in the year old case of
fake silver and gold
ornaments allegedly offered
by devotees at Katra's Shri
Mata Vashino Devi Shrine.
"The devotees who devote
something in the name of
Mata Rani Ji will never offer
Contd... on P2....
things, we expect that a
passenger will have to shell
Rs 5000 irrespective of
whether the journey ends in
Jammu or in Srinagar," a
senior state government
official said.
The move comes after
several representations by
various travel associations to
Chief
Minister
Mufti
Mohammed Sayeed, who
also holds the portfolio of
Tourism.
The associations have said
that it was difficult to get air
tickets at an affordable price
during tourist season as
airlines were charging at
times Rs 20,000 between
Delhi and Srinagar, official
sources said.
The state Chief Minister
was petitioned by many tour
operators who had spoken
about not being able to
convince domestic tourists to
travel to Kashmir as it was
cheaper to fly to any foreign
destination than to the Valley
because of high prices, the
sources said.
—PTI
Tues, May 5, 2015 Pages - 12
Price ` 2/- www.thenorthlines.com, www.epaper.northlines.in Regd. No. JK/306/2014-16
Will it end into crack-down.. ?
Govt forms panel for demarcation
of forest land grabbing
JAMMU TAWI, MAY 04:
nder fire for failure to
stop massive grabbing
of thousands of acres of
forest land in the lower
Shivalik range here, the state
government has set up a
demarcation committee for
cracking down on the
"heavyweight encroachers".
As per the forest
department, 14,345 hectares of
forest
land
had
been
encroached upon with 9,463.39
hectares in Jammu and 4877.62
hectares in Kashmir.
The State Forest Minister
Bali Bhagat said, "We are
going on offensive against the
encroachers of forest lands in a
big way. We will start from top
and heavy weight land grabbers
in Jammu. We will not spare
anyone."
The Forest Minister assured
that a committee has been set
up and demarcation process is
going on. "I have instructed
them to start from heavy weight
U
and influential people," he said.
There have been reports of
massive encroachment of forest
land by influential people in
Sunjwan, Bathindi, Raika and
Sidhra areas in Jammu district
Tawi Andolan questions
disappearance of land records
Jammu: A delegation of the Tawi Andolan on Monday called
on the state Minister for Forest and Environment and
demanded a probe into the alleged disappearance of official
records of the Shivalika forests in Jammu.
"The Minister of Forest and Environment Bali Bhagat
assured the deputation that strict action would be taken against
persons who have encroached upon forest land and are
responsible for the disappearance of the official records,"
Convener of Tawi Andolan, advocate Chander Mohan Sharma,
who led the delegation said.
He said the minister assured them that action would be taken
against people who have encroached upon land in Tawi forest
at Mahamaya, Bahu fort and Ram Nagar, Manda areas and
directions to the effect have already been issued. "He said staff
members responsible for dereliction of duty shall be taken to
Contd... on P2....
CM asks BRO to expedite maintenance
of Jammu-Srinagar Highway
JAMMU TAWI, MAY 04:
Lt. Gen. R. M. Mittal,
Director General, Border Roads
Organization (BRO), called on
Chief
Minister
Mufti
Mohammad Sayeed, here this
morning and discussed various
issues pertaining to the
maintenance of National
Highways (NHWs) and other
important roads looked after by
BRO.
Last week, Mufti Sayeed had
met the Union Minister for
Road Transport & Highways,
Nitin Gadkari, in which, among
other things, he had highlighted
the need for urgent repairs of
NH I-A.
During his meeting with DG
BRO, Mufti Sayeed highlighted
the issue relating to the
maintenance
of
JammuSrinagar National Highway,
which is presently in a critical
condition. He stressed upon the
need to prioritize its upkeep by
putting a proper maintenance
management plan in place,
keeping in view that it is the
only all-weather surface link
between J&K and the rest of the
country.
The Chief Minister desired
BRO to carry out urgent repairs
on NH 1-A to make it
Farooq chairs NC's
core group meet
SRINAGAR:
Opposition
National
Conference (NC) on Monday
held its first core group meeting
after the return of its president
Farooq Abdullah from London
where he underwent a
successful kidney transplant.
"Abdullah chaired the party
Core Group meeting, which
was also attended by NC
Working President Omar
Abdullah. This was the first
Core Group Meeting chaired by
the party president following
his return to the state after
recuperating from a surgery he
underwent recently," an NC
spokesman said.
He said Abdullah reviewed
the organisational matters of the
past two months and also
reviewed various political
developments in the State.
"The Leaders of the Core
Group spoke about various
points pertaining to the
organisation and the political
scenario in the State," he said
The spokesman said the Core
Group Meeting would resume
the
meeting
tomorrow
following which a detailed
press statement will be issued
elaborating on the discussions
Contd... on P2....
during the last two decades and
huge forest lands were grabbed
and sold by the politically
influential to those wanting to
set up colonies.
A five member panel headed
roadworthy, in view of the
coming tourist season.
Mufti Sayeed said that since
four-lanning of the National
Highway is going to take some
time, BRO should maintain the
Highway till its widening from
Jammu
to
Srinagar
is
completed.
The Chief Minister said due
to dilapidated condition of
Jammu-Srinagar
National
Highway, it frequently breaks
down even during minor spells
of rains, leaving people
stranded. He specifically
referred to the stretch from
Contd... on P2....
Landslide-hit
Mughal Road,
closed again
JAMMU TAWI, MAY 04:
The Mughal road reopened
Sunday after five months was
again closed on Monday after
landslides hit the Pir Ki Gali
area.
The state roads and buildings
department said that the road
will be resumed for traffic
shortly
after
necessary
repairing.
The Mughal Road connects
the Jammu region with the
valley through Poonch, Rajouri
and Shopian districts. During
winter, heavy snowfall forces
Contd... on P2....
by the Chief Conservator of
Forests, Jammu would deal
with the encroachment and
eviction of forest lands in
Sunjwan, Bathindi, Raika and
Sidhra areas in Jammu.
"Sanction is hereby accorded
to the constitution of following
Committee headed by the Chief
Conservator of Forests, (S&D),
J&K, Jammu to conduct the
demarcation of the identified
disputed locations in the
context of J&K Forest
(Conservation) Act 1997",
Commissioner-Secretary to the
Government,
General
Administration Department
(GAD), M A Bukhari said in a
government order.
The members of panel
include Divisional Forest
Officer; Regional Director,
Survey & Land Records;
Divisional Forest Officer,
Demarcation; Director, Land
Management and Jammu
Development Authority.
Contd... on P2....
Move Offices open
in Srinagar, protest
shutdown on way
SRINAGAR, MAY 04:
The seat of the Government
of Jammu and Kashmir will
shift to Srinagar for next six
months the summer capital
from the Winter Capital Jammu
on Tuesday. The government's
first day of this summer's
functioning at Srinagar will
witness a shut down call in
protest against delay in the
rehabilitation of traders affected
by flood. The Congress party
and Independent MLA Abdul
Rashid have declared to gehrao
the civil secretariat on opening
day.
Jammu and Kashmir has two
capitals - Srinagar is summer
capital and Jammu is winter
capital. The State witnesses
half-yearly shifting of offices to
other capital and this process is
called "Darbar Move". It is a
century-old practice under
which the State government
functions six months each in the
two capitals.
As per the Durbar Move, the
summer capital will shift to
Srinagar tomorrow (Tuesday)
with re-opening of Civil
Secretariat housing official
secretariat and Chief Minister's
office in the summer capital.
The Raj Bhavan and other
offices, which also shift to
Jammu during half-yearly
durbar move, will also reopen in
Srinagar tomorrow. As part of
the Durbar Move practice, the
government functions in the
summer capital (Srinagar) till
late October and then with
arrival of winter moves to
winter capital (Jammu) in first
week of November.
The practice of shifting
secretariat to two capitals was
started by the Maharajas of the
state before Independence to
escape the extreme weather
conditions in the respective
cities. Over the years, there
were calls to give up this
"Durbar Move" practice and
keep the seat of power
permanently at one place.
However, the government has
continued the process and did
not show any interest to
discontinue it. During the halfyearly durbar move, authorities
Contd... on P2....
No PRC at schools,
'holds earlier announcement by novice'
SRINAGAR, MAY 4
The Jammu and Kashmir
government on Monday sought
to put at rest the controversy
over
issuing
Permanent
Resident Certificate (PRC) at
school level saying it will
follow the legal procedure and
certificates would not be issued
at educational institutions.
"There is no controversy. We
will issue the state subject
certificates according to the
legal procedure only and PRCs
would not be issued at the
school level," Minister for
Roads and Buildings, Altaf
Bukhari told reporters here.
Bukhari said the government
had taken the decision not to
issue the certificates at the
school level after receiving
complaints and it wanted to
streamline the system.
"Ours is a new government
and we may be a little
inexperienced. So there may be
some aberration, but we do not
want to do anything which is
against the law. There were
complaints about the issuance
of such certificates, so we
thought to streamline the
procedure," he said.
"Some officer might have
suggested that we should
distribute them at the school
level, so we gave it a thought.
Some
40-50
certificates
distributed, but they were issued
by the proper issuing authority,"
Bukhari said.
"Law will not be subverted.
Let us put this controversy to
rest. There is no such scheme,
there will be nothing like that.
(And) we do not want to give
state subject certificates to the
people who are not state
subjects," he said.
However, Bukhari said the
government checked the PRCs
Contd... on P2....
BSP sees bleak
future of PDPBJP Govt in J&K PARTY ACCUSES MEDIA OF 'TWISTING' STORY
Women's Commission summons AAP leader
JAMMU TAWI, MAY 04:
Asserting that BJP-PDP
government is on collision
course due to clash of
ideologies, BSP today said it
can fall anytime and asked the
party workers to be prepared for
the elections.
"The
BJP and
PDP
government is on collision
course as on each and every
point of governance they suffer
from clash of ideologies", BSP
National General Secretary
Narender Kashyap said.
Kashyap,
who
was
addressing a day-long rally of
Contd... on P2....
NEW DELHI, MAY 4
Already reeling under a string
of successive controversies,
another one hit AAP on Monday
when a female activist of the
party is believed to have
approached
the
Delhi
Commission
for
Women
accusing party leader Kumar
Vishwas of failing to quiet
rumours of their relationship.
In her complaint to the Delhi
Commission for Women, the
woman is believed to have said
rumours of their 'illicit'
relationship were affecting her summoned both the leader, a
reputation and asked Vishwas to member of AAP's Political
clarify. The commission has affairs Committee and his wife.
The woman claimed that she
had also written separate letters
to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind
Kejriwal
and
Police
Commissioner apprising them
of the same. She is believed to
have accused the Delhi CM of
not taking note of her
complaint. Vishwas has been
asked to appear before the panel
on Tuesday.
"It is the same volunteer who
has been coming to us for quite
some time now. He (Vishwas)
should come since the
complainant is his own party's
volunteer. Her marriage is
falling apart because of him she
has alleged," DCW Chairperson
Barkha Singh said.
The party, meanwhile, firmly
threw its weight behind Vishwas
on Monday and accused the
media of twisting the truth to
malign the party's image.
Vishwas, who has also
courted controvery over what
was termed as derogatory
remarks against women in the
past, called the controversy
"baseless" and said the woman
had, in fact, approached the
Delhi Police accusing four
persons, including a BJP
spokesperson, of maligning her
Contd... on P2....
44 POK residents, J&K: Owner determined to take
his cow for entrance exam
41 Indians among 57 foreigners 7 Kashmiris cross
S
,M 4
sides
at
LoC
A Budgam resident, who
found dead; toll reaches 7,365
NEPAL QUAKE
RINAGAR
KATHMANDU/NEW
DELHI, MAY 04
The Nepal government today
asked hundreds of foreign
rescue workers to leave the
quake-hit country as immediate
relief has already been provided
and the remaining tasks will be
carried out by its Army and
police.
The quake-ravaged country,
however, clarified to India that
its decision to ask foreign
rescue personnel to leave was
not directed at it but
encompassed all other 33
countries present in the
Himalayan nation which was now moving into next phase — rehabilitation.
SRINAGAR, MAY 04:
44 guests from Pakistan
Occupied Kashmir (POK)
arrived here while seven
Kashmiris cross to the other
side of the Line of Control
(LoC) at Kaman post, the last
Indian military post on this side
of the border.
Official sources said six
returnees also cross sides at the
post after crossing the Aman
Setu, peace-bridge on foot this
afternoon. They said 44 POK
residents, including 18 women
and six children, arrived here to
meet their relatives, separated
in 1947 due to partition.
Contd... on P2....
AY
managed to get hall ticket for
his brown cow to write a
professional
entrance
examination, said he is
determined to take the bovine to
"write" the papers.
"You are invited. It is my
legal right to take my cow for
the exam. I have paid the fees,
so it is my right to take the cow
there," Abdul Rashid Bhat told
reporters.
"It was not my intention to
hurt anyone's feeling or make a
joke of someone. I filled this
form only to check the system,"
Bhat, who hails from Chadoora
area of central Kashmir
Budgam district, said.
In an attempt to expose the
loopholes in the online
registration system of Jammu
and Kashmir Board of
Professional
Entrance
Examination (BOPEE), Bhat
had managed to acquire an
admit card for his cow to write
the examination for admission
Contd... on P2....
2
JAMMU | TUESDAY | MAY 05 | 2015
Music album
"Tishnagi" released
NL CORRESPONDENT
JAMMU TAWI, MAY 04 : Punjabi
Lekhak Sabha (Regd.), Jammu today
organized a music album release
function at K L Saigal Hall, J&K
Academy of Art, Culture & Languages,
Canal Road, here.
Music album titled 'Tishnagi' containing
audio tracks of eight Punjabi Gazals
written by Surinder Singh Seerat, a well
known gazal lyricist of J&K state, was
released on this occasion.
During function, Surjeet Judge,
Shiromani Punjabi poet presided over
the function where as Dr. Lalit Magotra
was the Chief Guest.
The compact disc of these tracks has
been produced by Surinder Seerat. The
music for these gazals has been
composed and directed by Sham Sajan,
a prominent singer and music director
of J&K State. The gazals have been
sung by Gursharan Kaur, Sargam Pant
and Sham Sajan himself.
While welcoming the guests S.
Devinder Singh Vishavnagrik said that
The NORTHLINES
CITY INFO
Seerat has done a commendable job to
promote the musical gazal culture in
Punjabi language.
Surinder Seerat said that it was the
impact of Sham Sajan's voice that
compelled him to record his gazals by
his voice.
He said that inspite of his stay in
California, he preferres to get the album
recorded in Jammu only.
Sham Sajan disclosed on this occasion
that only the Indian local musical
instruments like flute, sitar, sarangi,
rabab, harmonium and tabla etc. were
used during the recording of these
tracks based on Indian Classical Ragas
like Rag Keerwani, Rag Bhairavi, Tilak
Kamod Darbari Kanara, Chorakseed
etc. and no synth. music was made Dr.
Manojot highlighted the achievements
and contribution of Seerat in the field
of Punjabi Gazal. Major Bhupinder
Singh Daler, a Punjabi writer, Dr. Lalit
Magotra, Dr. Arvinder Amn, Additional
Secretary, JKAACL also expressed their
views.
www.thenorthlines.com
MPEJ: BJP, Cong
playing politics over
farmers'
lives
NL CORRESPONDENT
JAMMU TAWI, MAY 04 : The
members of Movement for Peace,
Equality and Justice today showed
anguish over the suicides being
committed by farmers across the
country.
As per press release, Kuldeep Kumar
Rao and Ram Singh Chauhan, both
members of Movement for Peace,
Equality & Justice, in a joint statement
said that it is a matter of great dismay
and anguish to find that on the name of
farmers both BJP and Congress are
playing politics, in fact nothing is being
done concrete to find ways and means
to stop the tragic recourse being
adopted by the farmers.
Both activists mentioned that both
Congress and BJP are playing with the
emotions of a common man over
AIIMs issue, and added that there is no
difference between these parties.
They further appealed the central
government to sanction separate AIIMs
to Jammu as it has already done in the
case of Central University.
Devotees take a dip in the Ganga river at Har Ki Pauri on the occasion of Buddha Purnima in Haridwar.
Guru Ravi Dass Sabha celebrates Budh Purnima Sat Sharma inaugurates work of
NL CORRESPONDENT The guests were received by that both these personalities
JAMMU TAWI, MAY 04 : the president of the Sabha, worked for the up gradation of
In connection with the
celebrations of Budh Purnima
and the birth anniversary of
Baba Sahib Bhim Rao
Ambedkar, a grand programme
was organized by All J&K Shri
Guru Ravi Dass Sabha at Guru
Ravi Dass Complex at Krishna
Nagar here. The progamme
was held under the overall
supervision of President of the
Sabha Piran Ditta, M L
Banahalia & Raj Kumar Raja
wherein
Divisional
Commissioner Jammu, Pawan
Kotwal was chief guest and B
R Kundal, former chief
secretary was guest of Honour.
Piran Ditta with much fan fare
at Vanue site.{ Pawan Kotwal
while speaking on the occasion
put light on the life of Mahatma
Budha and B.R Ambedkar and
said that the time has come
where teachings of these great
personalities are required to be
adopted in real life so that India
may emerge as nation
irrespective of caste , creed,
religion and all the people
unitedly as force work for the
welfare, development and
prosperity of the nation.
Kundal also spoke about the
teaching of both these
personalities in detail and said
the down trodden of the society
and their teachings needs to be
taught to each & every section
of the society.
Piran Ditta president of the
Sabha while thanking the Chief
Guest for sparing his valuable
time for the Sabha & attending
this programme.
Prominent among other who
were present and spoke on the
occasion include Raj Kumar
Raja, M L Banahalia, Dr.
Sanjay Bhasin, Principal
Degree College Ramban
Yudhvir Singh,Master Tara
Chand,Om Parkash Dhingra
etc.
FROM PAGE 1...
Buddha
threw light on the life of Lord Buddha.
School children also brought religious tableaux showcasing the
philosophy of Buddhism on the occasion. PTI
Probe
fake silver and gold ornaments," he said, "but the whole
ornaments found fake is a high class scandal involving higherups of shrine board."
Singh demanded a committee should be furnished and fresh
enquiry should be headed by CBI to "prove this high class
scandal of fake ornaments and put the culprits behind the bar as
soon as possible".
Governor
He said General Officer Commanding of Army's 15 Corps Lt
General Subrata Saha also called on the Governor.
"In the hour-long meeting, Lt Gen Saha briefed the Governor
about the emerging internal and external security situation and
the steps being taken for the smooth conduct of the Yatra," he
added.
The annual pilgrimage to the mountain cave of the naturally
formed ice-lingam in south Kashmir Himalayas is scheduled to
start from July 2 and will conclude on August 29. (PTI)
44
Meanwhile, two Kashmiris, who had gone to POK, returned to
their homes after completing stay across the border. Sources said
seven Kashmiri residents, including five women, crossed over to
POK to meet their relatives.
Four POK residents, who had come here in previous Karvan-eAman buses, also returned to their homes after completing stay
here, they said, adding they included a woman. (AGENCIES)
BSP
party workers here, said, "This government can fall of its own
anytime in view of the differences all the time. So elections can
again be held in the state and the party workers should be
prepared for it" he said.
Hitting out at Central and state governments for "bad decision
and anti-people policies", Kashyap said that BSP is going to
launch anti-government agitation across the country from
Kathua from June 23.
"We ask our cadres to get ready for the agitation", he said,
adding that Kabir Jayanti would be celebrated in Jammu on June
2 and workers should be prepared for that also.
Farooq
and conclusions made in the meeting.
Meanwhile, Abdullah also interacted with various public
delegations, who called on him at his residence in Srinagar.
"Delegations from Rajouri, Ganderbal, Baramulla, Langate,
Kupwara and Sharda-Sharief called on Abdullah," the
spokesman said.
He said the NC president interacted with the delegations and
was apprised of various local issues in their particular areas.
The party president took note of the issues and assured the
visiting delegations that NC leaders and its cadre were
committed to the welfare of the State and its people and would
always fight for their rights and just demands, the spokesman
said.
Last month, the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister
Farooq Abdullah returned home, five months after he underwent
organ transplant in London.
Abdullah underwent organ transplant surgery in the United
Kingdom in December last year. His absence in the campaign
for assembly elections held late last year was seen as one of the
reasons for National Conference's defeat, which saw party
getting the least number of seats in the assembly since its
inception nearly seven decades ago. -PTI
Municipal Toilet Complex
Buddhist dept celebrates
Buddha Purnima
NL CORRESPONDENT
Welfare was the Chief Guest
JAMMU TAWI, MAY 04 : on the occasion whereas
in
CDP the people that a Mini Park will Department of Buddhist Prof. Kedar Nath Sharma,
NL CORRESPONDENT Corporation)
University of Department of Sanskrit was
JAMMU TAWI, MAY 04 : (Constituency Development also be constructed near the Studies,
Jammu celebrated the the Guest of Honour. Dr.
The BJP MLA Jammu West, Sat
Sharma (CA) today inaugurated
the work of Municipal toilet
near
Dental
College,
Ambphalla Chowk.
The MLA was accompanied by
local leaders, Ex Corporator
and people belonging to all
walks of life were present on
the occasion.
The project of the toilet is
estimated at a cost of Rs 4.50
lakhs which will be completed
under the supervision of JMC's
(Jammu
Municipal
Landslide
its closure.
Originally built by Mughal emperors, the road for centuries
remained closed before rebuilt in 2005 as another road link
between the landlocked valley and rest of India.
The new dispensation led by Mufti Muhammad Sayeed is
mulling to make this road 'all-weather' alternate highway. PTI
CM
Ramban to Banihal which leads to closure for several days
together, affecting movement of people and essential supplies to
the Kashmir valley.
Appreciating the role of BRO in maintaining the roads in the
State in extremely hostile weather conditions, Mufti Sayeed
made specific mention of repair of Thanamandi-Buffliaz stretch,
which connects Poonch district of Jammu with Shopian in
Kashmir Valley through the Mughal Road. He said the
improvement of this stretch will provide a viable alternate road
link between Jammu and Kashmir divisions.
Mufti Sayeed also raised the issue of prioritizing regular
maintenance of Kishtwar-Sinthan-Anantnag, Bandipore-Gurez,
Sopore Bypass, Jammu-Poonch, Basohli-Bani-Bhaderwah,
Doda-Bhaderwah, Reasi-Mahore, Rajouri-Kandi-Budhal,
Pouni-Kalakote-Rajouri, Surankote-Buffliaz, Loran-Basam
Gali-Tangmarg, Dhar-Mahanpur and Old Samba-Kathua roads,
which fall within the domain of BRO.
While assuring the Chief Minister about the proper maintenance
of National Highways and other important roads under their
control, DG BRO said he will personally visit the State this
month to prioritize the issues flagged in the meeting. He said
manpower for maintenance of roads has been supplemented by
40% in J&K so that frequent closure at treacherous spots along
the National Highway is avoided in future.
Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, B. B. Vyas, Commissioner
/ Secretary, Public Works, Rohit Kansal, DDG BRO, R. K.
Sharma and Chief Engineers PWD of Kashmir and Jammu
divisions attended the meeting.
J&K:
to Diploma in Polytechnic College.
The admit card was issued by the Board in the name of Kachir
Gaaw (Brown Cow), which is supposedly daughter of Gura
Dand (Red Bull). The cow has been alloted a seat at
Government Degree College, Bemina for writing the
examination scheduled to be held on May 10.
Bhat said the present system of BOPEE allows all and sundry to
register for the examinations. "You also know how BOPEE
exams are conducted - it can be a cow, calf or Buffalo.I thought
of trying to fill a form for a cow and I completed all formalities
including payment of the fees," he added.
A candidate sitting the examination requires to have passed the
matriculation examination from any recognised board of school
education. However, those candidates who have appeared in the
qualifying examinations, can also appear subject to their
passing.
"My cow's result is awaited," Bhat said with a sarcastic smile.
The incident came to light on Saturday after opposition National
Conference spokesman Junaid Azim Mattu uploaded a copy of
the admit card on social networking site Twitter.
"The J&K Board of Professional Entrance Examinations issued
this roll-number slip to a cow after due verification.
I have both the Provisional Confirmation Page for applicant Ms
'Kachir Gaaw' as well as details of payment she made to
BOPEE," Mattu wrote on his account.
Former Chief Minister and National Conference working
president Omar Abdullah also commented on Mattu's post,
saying "Brilliant. I wish Kachir Gaaw had turned up for the
examination."
BOPEE chairman Ghulam Hassan Tantray has ordered an
Plan).
Addressing the gathering, Sat
Sharma (CA) said that with the
construction of this toilet in the
area there will be relief to the
people not only belonging to
the area but also to the people
who are passing by the route.
He said it was a long pending
demand and it will be
completed in a stipulated period
of time so that people could use
the services of the Toilet.
On the demand of the local
residents, Sharma also assured
Toilet Complex and a Water
Cooler for the locals will also
be installed in order to cope
with the basic requirements of
the public.
Mandal
President
BJP
Praduman
Singh,
Ex
Corporator Balwan Singh, Bal
Khajuria, Sanjay Sawhney,
Pawan Kumar, Gulshan Rattan,
Balbir Singh, Sanjeev, Sunny
Kumar, Bhajan Singh, Amarjit
Singh, Shiva, Sonu, Kishore,
Ankush, Manoj and others were
also present on the occasion.
inquiry into the incident. PTI
Women's
image. The woman is believed to have moved the Commission
claiming the rumours were ruining her reputation and that
Vishwas should come forward to clarify.
"The story of a woman that is going on since morning...she had
actually given a complaint to Delhi Police on March 31 in which
she had named four persons, accusing them of maligning her
image on social media. When nothing happened, she made a
complaint to the woman's commission (sic)," said AAP leader
Sanjay Singh said at a press conference here.
"The woman has complained about maligning her image. She
has accused a BJP spokesperson of tweeting her photo," Singh
said.
Defending himself, Vishwas said that the woman, an activist of
AAP, registered a police complaint that some persons, including
a BJP spokesperson, were "spreading lies" on social media that
she had an extramarital relationship.
"She registered complaint 15 days ago, but police have not taken
any action yet. She had sent me a mail asking: 'Kumar bhaiya,
what should I do now?' Thereafter, our AAP's legal cell asked
her to register an FIR in this regard," said Vishwas, accusing the
BJP of running a campaign to malign him.
"These allegations are totally baseless. I am hurt with these
baseless allegations. During Delhi Assembly election, we were
also defamed by the BJP to gain political gain. A private TV
channel is running a baseless story against me... I have sent a
defamation notice to it."
Slamming Delhi Police, Vishwas said the woman's complaint
had even named some of the people who she claimed were
"defaming her" but no action was taken against them.
He said he has yet to receive a notice of Delhi Commission of
Women (DCW) over the controversy.
"We do not fear such allegations. The woman has already
rejected all these allegations," he said.
AAP leader Singh advised the media to refrain from targeting
the party without evidence. "If there is a premeditated strategy
to target AAP then, please don't be part of it. If there is any
evidence, if you have facts, then please run a story. But please
don't run cooked up stories where the fact is something and
something else is being run," said Singh.
"It is my humble request to friends in media. If we are wrong,
do run a story, crucify us, we have not problem. But kindly spare
our families, our wives, our children get hurt by these stories,
please spare them," Singh added.
Delhi BJP leader Vijendra Gupta said Vishwas and the Delhi
Chief Minister should come forward to clarify.
"If he is not clarifying that means there is something fishy.... we
are with that woman and will support her," he said.
Congress leader Ajay Maken said it was a serious complaint and
should be looked into.
The woman, who claims to have campaigned for Vishwas in
Amethi during the 2014 Lok Sabha election, said, "Just because
of this allegation my husband has left me. I have two kids. I
come from a middle-class family, where they feel that since
Kumar Vishwas is AAP spokesperson and a known face, maybe
there was something between the two.
"I am unable to explain. That's why I want Kumar Vishwas to
speak on this but he is not doing so. That's why I had to go to the
Women's Commission."
She alleged that she also received a threatening call over her
complaint.
- PTI
No
PRC
which were issued at a function in Jammu by a BJP MLA and
found them right.
Buddha Purnima at Jammu
University with great fan and
fare.
This day marks three
important events occurred in
the life of Buddha-his birth,
enlightenment and demise.
The function started with the
garlanding of Lord Buddha's
statue followed by the prayer
(Buddha Vandana) by the
students and research
scholars of the department.
Prof. Pankaj Kumar
Srivastava, Dean Students
Bharat Bhusahn Sharma,
Principal,
Government
Degree
College,
Thanamandi was the special
invitee. Prof. B. Labh, Head,
Department of Buddhist
Studies presided over the
function.
In his address to the audience,
Prof.
Pankaj
Kumar
Srivastava talked about the
basic teachings of the Buddha
and the ways and means of
their application in day to day
life.
"We have checked those certificates which were issued at a
function and found that they have been issued by the respective
Tehsildars and Deputy Commissioners. Yes, they were
distributed by someone, but there is no controversy," he said.
The minister also said there was a perfect coordination between
the coalition partners and PDP-led government would work for
betterment of the state.
"There is perfect coordination between the PDP and the BJP. We
are two parties with two (different) ideologies and have come
together for the betterment of the state. And we are governing on
the agenda of the people," he said. Asked whether the
government would allow the secretariat gherao called by
Congress party on the opening of the civil secretariat here
tomorrow, Bukhari said "dissent is the soul of the democracy".
"It is good. If the mainstream parties want to do such things,
they can. Dissent is the soul of the democracy," the minister
said.
On a question of a face lift to the city ahead of the 'Darbar
Move', he said "it is our duty to keep the city clean".
"It (opening of civil secretariat here) is a moment to be happy
and something should be done at the time of happiness. I want
to assure you that no money is being spent on wrong things.
Some things are necessary. Srinagar is not just a city. It is a
tourist destination. It is our duty to keep the city clean," Bukhari
said. PTI
Move
have to transport truckload of files between two capital cities
twice a year. Authorities have to spend about a core of rupees on
transportation of files and renovation and painting of roads in
both the capitals at the time of shifting of Durbar.
Every year the two capitals get face-lift on eve of shifting of the
Durbar. The first day of shifting of capital to Srinagar promises
to be a hectic for authorities as the opposition Congress has
called for
Secretariat gherao on the day to protest against new recruitment
policy and "anti-people" policies of the PDP-BJP coalition
government in the State.
"In view of the "Secretariat gherao" calls, we will deploy police
and paramilitary personnel in strength outside the Secretariat to
foil any attempt to gherao the ministers and Chief Minister. The
strength of security men in other sensitive areas in Srinagar will
also be increased," a top police officer said.
Govt
Bukhari said that the panel would ascertain the status of land
and delineation of forest land from others to avoid the
encroachments on the forest land.
"It will get the demarcation conducted on the identified
locations and finalize its report and recommendations within a
period of two months", he said.
Expressing concern over the encroachments of forest lands, the
Forest minister said, "Even the record of these forest lands
seems to have been destroyed. This is serious thing. This is
deliberate and there might be involvement of political class."
PTI
Tawi
task by the state government," he said.
Sharma said the deputation brought to the notice of the minister
that encroachment was rapidly taking place at Mahamaya
around the temple.
"It was also brought to the minister's notice that despite the High
Court's directions to ban all sorts of constructions there, the
encroachments in connivance with the staff of forest department
were going on unabated," he said.
The minister assured him that a high-level committee would
enquire into the disappearance of records of Shivalika Forest
Land in the state.
Printer, Publisher & Proprietor Neelam Singh Gill. Published from Gurudwara Sunder Singh Road, Jammu-180001 and Printed at Northlines Offset Printers & Publishers, Jeewan Nagar, Digiana, Jammu.
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the NORTHLINES Jammu
3
JAMMU
JAMMU | TUESDAY MAY 05, 2015
Well knit mafia operational in PWD
Hockey India Vth Sub-junior National Hockey Harsh
urges CM to look
Championship to begin on May 6th
into R&B Deptt.
JAMMU TAWI, MAY 02:
Organised by the Hockey
Jammu and Kashmir, the
Hockey India Vth Sub Junior
National (boys Division-B)
Hockey Championship shall
be played at K K Hakhu
Stadium, here from May
six.Divided into four different groups, 20 teams, representing different state units
including hosts Jammu and
Kashmir, are taking part in
this competition to be played
on
league-cum-knockout
basis.The league round is
scheduled to start from 7.30
am whereas the competition
shall be formerly inaugurated
by the Minister for Sports at
5 pm on May six at K K
Hakhu Stadium, here. This
was stated by the working
president of the Hockey
J&K, Additional Director
General of J&K Police
(Armed), SM Sahai in an
interaction with media here
this morning.Jammu and
Kashmir has been placed in
group D with Hockey
Himachal, Hockey Bihar,
Vidarbha
Hockey
Niaz seeks compensation
for paramedical students
JAMMU TAWI, MAY 04:
Publicity Secretary of the
J&K Congress CommitteeNadeem Sharief Niaz today
sought compensation for the
paramedical students of the
erstwhile Doda district, who
had been put to bizarre inconvenience by the paramedical
council.
While addressing media,
he alleged that the training
course of paramedical students was extended by two
years, but no exams have
been conducted by the council, causing great financial
loss and wastage of time to
the students of erstwhile
Doda.He further demanded
that the government should
compensate the under training paramedical students for
the extra financial burden and
wastage of time.
He also exhorted upon
the paramedical council,
besides the government to
conduct exams without further delay, which are already
two years late. He also threatened that if further delay is
maintained by the council,
they will start agitation.
Madhu Param Hans delivers
sermons on eve of Poornima
JAMMU TAWI, MAY 04 :
Showering the nectarian bliss of his spiritual discourses
at Ranjri on the eve of Poornima, Sh. Madhu Param Hans ji
Maharaj, the head of Sahib Bandgi panth, said that man
makes plans for the future. He makes both long term as well
as short term plans.Man doesn't know what is going to happen in the very next moment. Still he has cherished desires
for years together. The bodily machinery can stop functioning at anytime.
The body can perish due to severe diseases like heart
attack, nervous breakdown etc. Sometimes, small ailments
also prove fatal. Still we remain absorbed in attaining the
short lived pleasures.
While buying some utensil from the bazar, we ask the
shopkeeper to give us the one that may not easily break. We
do the same while getting some cloth dyed or for any such
like purpose. But it is foolish to think so because the world
itself in which we are living, is perishable.No doubt, man
has limited himself to the fulfilment of his bodily needs
alone.
Money has its own place but one should earn as much
as is sufficient for one's family needs. Our real target of life
would be marred if we remain too much entangled in
amassing material objects.
Vishwakarma Library, Research
Centre honored Artists
JAMMU TAWI, MAY 04 :
Vishwakarma Library and Research Centre New Plot
Jammu honoured Artists and social workers for their
extraordinary performance in various fields in the chairmanship of Dr Sat Paul, KAS, former special secretary
(Retd). Prominent those honoured include JR Sagar
renowned actor, Hans Raj Hans (Renowned poet),
Maheshhwer Vishwakarma (Nannu) Social activist, Mangal
Dass Verma (Social activist), Deeksha Verma (IAS inspirant), and Kamal verma (writer).
Those honoured were presented a momento. Earlier in
his welcome address, Shri Balwant Kataria disclosed in
detail the achievements of Shri Vishwakarma Library and
Research Centre (SVLARC) in the year 2014-15. He said
SVLARC is actively engaged in the field of Art, Literature,
Culture, History and Education sector and it has miles to
go.
Kataria threw light on the literary work done by the
awardees. Others who remained present included Om
Prakash Kataria, Santosh Kumari Verma, Ashok Salgotra,
Suman Lata, Amit Virdhi, Vivek Salgotra, Sanjeev Verma,
Ratul Dhiman, Sham Chargotra Raj Kumar Choudhary.
RMPS celebrated Mother's Day
with great fervor
JAMMU TAWI, MAY 04 :
RM Public School celebrated mother's day with great
zest and zeal. On this occasion the chief guest was
Chairman Shri. Rameshwar Mengi .The program started
with the welcome note by Ms. Diksha Kohli . Students presented number of wonderful heart snatching dances.
Student of 7th class Deewam Khullar and group dance by
the girls of 6th class hold everyone's breath with their performance.
The program was concluded with the vote of thanks by
Meenakshi Pathania. Principal Ravinder Kour lauded the
efforts of organisers Ajay and Sachin Sir.
Association and Chandigarh
Olympic Association. The
high budget event spread
over 12-days is financially
supported by the J&K State
Sports Council and Hockey
India while HDFC Bank and
Aircel have also extended a
helping hand in making the
event a success. It has been
GGF bestowed
Messenger of Peace
Award on United Nations
JAMMU TAWI, MAY 04:
On Buddha Jayanti wellknown Indian NGO Gandhi
Global Family bestowed on
the United Nations its Shanti
Doot (Messenger of Peace)
Award for 2014.At a brief
ceremony in the UNIC office
in New Delhi, a delegation
from the NGO presented the
award - a statue of the
Buddha and a hand-woven
stole - to the UNIC Director
who accepted the honour on
behalf of the UN SecretaryGeneral.
The delegates spoke about
how Mahatma Gandhi was
inspired by the Buddha's
message of peace and nonviolence. They said that the
UN planted seeds of peace,
but it was up to civil society
organizations to nurture
those peace saplings and
tend them to fruition. The
NGO praised the work of the
United Nations as a beacon
of international hope for the
poor and the marginalized.In
her response, She hoped that
civil society organzations
like the Gandhi Global
Family would catalyse more
and more young people to
join the global peace
initiative.
GGF delegation includes its
Vice President Padmashri S
P Varma, Ashok Kapoor,
Vijay Sharma, Ankush
Kumar, Sonia Chawala,
Robin Roy and Priya Varma.
reliably learn that the State
Sports Council has sanctioned a grant of Rs 16 lakh
in addition to other on ground
expenses to be occurred during the event.
However, the financial
support from the Hockey
India depends upon the number of teams reporting the
host state.Also present were
general secretary of Hockey
J&K, Romal Singh, treasurer,
Rajinder
Singh,
Joint
Secretary of the State Sports
Council, Siddharth Sharma
and Divisional Officer, Rajan
Sharma.
Meanwhile,
incharge Secretary of the
State Sports Council and
Director
General
of
Department
of
Youth
Services and Sports, Navin
Agarwal, who could not
make it to the press briefing,
extended his best wishes to
the organisers and those participating teams, especially
hosts J&K. To replace the
aging Astroturf at the KK
Hakhu Stadium, the State
Sports Council contemplates
plan to replace the state of the
art synthetic surface with a
new one in near future. This
was stated by working president of the Hockey J&K, SM
Sahai in reply a specific question at the press conference.
He said that efforts are being
made to get a new turf for the
K K Hakhu Stadium so as to
make Jammu one of the
selected venues to host
national level events by the
Hockey India.
Charas recovered, 2 held
JAMMU TAWI, MAY 04:
As much as 370 grams of
charas was recovered from
the possession of two pedestrians here, who were taken
into police custody following
the recovery.
According to a police
spokesman, a team of cops
from police station Nagrota
laid a surprised naka at
Bantalab and intercepted two
pedestrians identified as
Ahad Sham S/o Mohd Anwar
R/o Janipur and Sonu
Khajuria
S/o
Romesh
Khajuria R/o Janipur Colony
Jammu.
On their personnel search
the police team recovered
370 gram charas from their
possession.
Both the accused were
arrested by the police on spot.
In this regard a case FIR No.
86/15 U/S 8/20 NDPS Act
was registered and investigation of the case was going on.
PLS released music album
titled 'Tishnagi'
JAMMU TAWI, MAY 04:
Punjabi Lekhak Sabha,
Jammu organizesd a Music
Album Release Function at K
L Saigal Hall, J&K Academy
of Art, Culture & Languages,
Canal Road, Jammu. A music
album titled 'Tishnagi' containing audio tracks of eight
Punjabi Gazals written by Sh.
Surinder Singh Seerat, a well
known gazal lyricist of J&K
state, was released on this
occasion.
Surjeet Judge,
Shiromani Punjabi poet
presided over the function
where as Dr. Lalit Magotra
was the Chief Guest on this
occasion. The Compact Disc
of these tracks have been produced by Sh. Surinder Seerat.
The music for these gazals
has been composed and
directed by Sh. Sham Sajan, a
prominent singer and music
director of J&K State. The
gazals have been sung by
Smt. Gursharan Kaur, Miss
Sargam Pant and Sh. Sham
Sajan himself. In his address
Surinder Seerat gave a brief
introduction of the process of
developments in bringing out
this album. Sham Sajan disclosed on this occasion that
only the Indian local musical
instruments like flute, sitar,
sarangi, rabab, harmonium
and tabla etc. were used during the recording of these
tracks based on Indian
Classical Ragas like Rag
Keerwani, Rag Bhairavi,
Tilak Kamod Darbari Kanara,
Chorakseed etc. and no synth
music was made use of.Dr.
Manojot highlighted the
achievements and contribution of Sh. Seerat in the field
of Punjabi Gazal. Major
Bhupinder Singh Daler, a
Punjabi writer, Dr. Lalit
Magotra, Dr. Arvinder Amn,
Additional Secretary, JKAACL also expressed their
views.
JAMMU TAWI, MAY 04:
Hailing the Govt. of
India for approval of Rs. 613
crore to the state govt. for
infrastructure development in
the R&B sector, Mr. Harsh
Dev Singh Chairman JKNPP
and Former Minister today
urged upon the Chief
Minister to personally intervene to ensure the proper utilization of the sanctioned
funds in view of the said
Deptt. having earned the
dubious distinction and most
obnoxious notoriety of omissions and commissions, leakages and irregularities. He
said that loot and plunder of
public resources has been a
common feature particularly
in the R&B (PWD) Deptt.
with the helmsman giving
tall slogans of curbing the
menace but regretfully the
sore continues to fester. He
said that only recently an RTI
activist had exposed the
biggest scandal pertaining to
withdrawal of Rs. 200 crore
by the officers of PWD
Deptt. through self cheques
weaker
section,
poors
and
Downtrodden. He recalled Baba Sahib
Dr. B.R Ambedkar as a great social
reformer and legal luminary who played
a pivotal role in framing the constitution
of India. He also remembered Dr.
Ambedkar's great contribution in public
welfare, upliftment of the poor, downtrodden and weaker sections of the society.
All J&K Dalit Chetna Manch also
presented a chatter of demands to the
Minister for their early redressal including Provision of Reservation in contractual adhoc appointments RET'S, REZ'S,
NRHM, Anganwadi workers/ Helpers,
Representation in Legislative Council
JAMMU TAWI, MAY 04:
Sewa Singh Bali, State
General Secretary Panthers
Trade Union (PTU) has
accused the State Government
for its callous and lackadaisical towards the people of
District Ramban especially in
Banihal Constituency till date.
The State Government has not
provided an adequate supply
of free Flour (Atta) to the poor
people
of
Banihal
Constituency for the last three
months. They are languishing in lurge and looking at the
local administration for
mercy. He also demanded
road connectivity from Khari
greeting the people on Budh
Purnima and urged them to follows the teachings of
Mahatama Gautam Budh.
Sasan castigated the government for its failure to come
to the rescue of these people
and improve their living conditions and to provide basic medical facilities. He reminded the
government and the Social
Welfare Department that it is
their duty to take care of these
people so that they can spend
their life in neat and peaceful
atmosphere. Sasan appealed to
the Jammuites to adopt at least
one child for education purpose. He also urged the government to provide Rs. 1000 per
dents but to the irony the
school is under staffed and
deficient of teachers. The
leader also levelled allegations that the unemployed job
card holders are waiting for
hundred days work under
MGNREGA and their cards
become the diet for termite
with full of dust because of
non use of the cards for the
last 2013 up to till date.
He appeal the government that all the job card
holders should be employed
as soon as possible under
MGNREGA so that they may
earn for the livelihood of
their families.
JAMMU TAWI, MAY 04:
Addressing 44th Tawi Maha Arti at Tawi Ghat, Convenor of Tawi Andolan Adv. Chander
Mohan Sharma disclosed that the minister of Forest & Environment has assured to a deputation of Tawi Andolan members that strict legal action against the persons who have
encroached upon the forest land particularly tawi forest at Mahamaya, Bahu fort and Ram
Nagar, Manda which are called city forest area.
The deputationist drew the attention of the minister towards encroachment rapidly taking
place at Mahamaya around the temple. It was also brought to the notice of the minister that
inspite of High Court directions, to ban all sorts of constructions there, the encroachments
in connivance with the staff of the forest department is being carried on.Convenor of Tawi
Andolan while addressing the gathering asked the people of city forest areas to bring all
sorts of illegal activities like felling of trees and encroachment of forest land around river
tawi to the notice of Tawi Andolan activists.
and due share in Council of Ministers,
changing of Nomenclature, Provision of
Colonies for houseless, landless poor
scheduled caste families, Constitution of
State SC/ ST Commission, etc.
Zulfkar assured the All J&K Dalit
Chetna Manch that all their genuine
demands would be redressed in a phased
manner. As per the commitment of the
coalition government under the leadership of Chief Minister Mufti Mohd
Sayed, the minister said that govt. will
uplift the socio-economic condition of
the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled
Tribes and below poverty line people
also, he added.
month as financial help to poor
families who have two daughters and are not in a position to
educate them. Sasan also
urged the government to give
benefit of reservation to the
children of these institutions.
Pinky Bhat, senior leader
women wing NC and social
to Mahumangat, Ukhral to
Alanbass, Senibati to PogalPanchal-Neel etc. as several
general commuters including
the local population of the
area have been marooned
from reaching their destinations.
He further maintained
that these areas are also
deprived of electricity and
other civic amenities.Sewa
Singh Bali urged the
Education Minister to open a
Girl Higher Secondary
School in Ukhral without further delay. He added that the
GHSS in Ukhral has a
strength of almost 1200 stu-
Bali assures action against encroacher
of Tawi forests
Budh Purnima celebrated at Leprosy Ashram
JAMMU TAWI, MAY 04:
On the occasion of Budh
Purnima, Children's Welfare
Society organized a function at
Leprosy Ashram Bhagwati
Nagar, here.
Speaking on the occasion,
Gurdeep Singh Sasan, senior
leader National Conference
(NC) and Chairman of the
Society urged the people to
come forward and share their
booty with hapless and
deprived people of the society.
He said that our great Guru's
and Saints have made it
mandatory to spare 10% of our
income for poor and downtrodden people and for other welfare purpose. Sasan extended
vious year for works executed without following codal
provisions, Mr. Singh regretted that the issue was not
only thrown under the carpet
but the govt. had failed to
check the acts of omissions
and commissions being still
conducted in the Public
works Deptt. with impunity.
Mr. Harsh Dev Singh said
that though during the last
two months the GOI funding
for R&B sector has reached
to Rs. 960 crore including
yesterday's sanction of Rs.
613 crore but the state govt.
had failed to initiate the preliminary holding of basic surveys, preparation of DPRs
and tendering of the
approved works. Cautioning
the govt. to stem the rot in the
PWD, Mr. Singh said that not
only the appropriate surveillance mechanism for proper
accountability in respect of
newly sanctioned funds was
important but rational distribution of funds for various
regions of the state was also
equally important.
Bali slams Govt for callous approach
towards people in Banihal Const
Govt to uplift socio economic conditions: Zulfkar
JAMMU TAWI, MAY 04:
All J&K Dalit Chetna Manch celebrated Lord Buddha and Baba Saheb Dr.
B. R Ambedkar Jayanti in a function
organized in the premises of Guru
Nabha Dass Community Hall at Dogra
Hall here today.
On the occasion, the Minister for
CAPD Ch. Zulfkar Ali was the chief
guest besides MLA Chamb, MLA
Samba and President All J&K Dalit
Chetna Manch were also present.
While inaugurated the function with
the lightening of lamp, the Minister
throw light on the significant role played
by Baba Sahib for the welfare of the
at the fag end of the financial
year in brazen violation of all
financial norms and procedures. He said that even during the last two months hundreds of crores were drawn
and plundered through fictitious bills on the pretext of
flood damages, disaster management, slip clearance,
repairs and renovation etc by
throwing the codal formalities to winds in the name of
emergency nature of the
works.Expressing the grave
concern over the massive pilferage of R&B funds and blatant circumvention of codel
procedures, Mr. Harsh Dev
Singh urged upon the govt. to
activate and strengthen its
surveillance mechanism so as
to prevent the loot and plunder of public funds envisaged
for creation of physical infrastructure in the state.
Expressing serious concern
over the recent disclosure
made in the media regarding
withdrawal of around Rs.
200 crores through self
cheques at the fag end of pre-
activists also spoke on the
occasion and highlighted the
problems being faced by the
inhabitants of the Ashram.
Later on Sasan distributed
stationery items and fruit
among the inhabitants of the
Ashram and assured his full
support to them.
CWC greets people on
Budh Purnima
JAMMU TAWI, MAY 04:
On the occasion of Budh
Purnima Children's Welfare
Society (CWC) organized a
function at Leprosy Ashram
Bhagwati Nagar, Jammu.
Speaking on the occasion
Gurdeep SinghSasan Senior
Leader J&K NC and
Chairman of the Society
urged the People to come forward and share their booty
with hapless and deprived
people of the society.
He said that our great
Guru's and Saints have made
it mandatory to spare 10% of
our income for poor and
downtrodden people and for
other welfare purpose.
Sasan extended greeting
to the people on Budh
Purnima and urged them to
follows the teachings of
Mahatama
Gautam
Budh.Sasan castigated the
Govt. for its failure to come
to the rescue of these people
and improve their living conditions and to provide Basic
Medical
Facilities.
He
reminded the Govt. the and
Social Welfare Department
that it is their duty to take
care of these people so that
they can spent their life in
neat and peaceful atmosphere.
He urged the Govt. to
enhance the financial aid
being provided to this institution. So that these institution
could run smoothly. Sasan
appealed to the Jammuites to
adopt at least one child for
education purpose. He also
urged the Govt.to provide Rs.
1000/- per month as financial
help to poor families who
have two daughters and are
not in a position to educate
them.
Several joined Hindustan Shiv Sena
JAMMU TAWI, MAY 04:
In a press conference
jointly addressed by Dimpy
Kohli National President and
Vikrant
Kapoor
State
President of Hindustan Shiv
Sena announced the nomination of New Ward President
of Ward No. 23 Rampura
Gandhi Nagar, Jammu. Jiwan
Sharma President, Pawan
Kumar Vice President Harsh
Choudhary Cashier, Arjun
Singh Gen. Secretary and
Kuldeep
Sharma
Joint
Secretary, Sh. Vinay Gupta
and Rajan Gupta Shiv Sena
welcome the newly formed
unit with garland of flowers.
During conference Sh.
Vikrant Kapoor State president Shiv Sena asked that
due to the hopeless activities
of coalition Govt. of BJP and
PDP their workers join the
Shiv Sena. During the conference Rohit Singh Bhau,
Ajay Khajuria, Jagdish Singh
Bindu,
Ganesh
Singh
Choundary, Himashu Gupta,
Vikas Patel, Deepak Kumar
and others.
The NORTHLINES
HILL DISTRICTS
www.thenorthlines.com
ceases
Shaheen decries new job Development
SDM post lies vacant
policy, PRCs in schools
NL Correspondent
Banihal, May 4
Newly nominated District
President National Conference
Ramban, Sajjad Shaheen on
Monday called for a collective
approach to foil what he alleged
as anti-youth and anti-people
agenda of the PDP-BJP coaltion
government.
Addressing
various
felicitation functions held by the
grass roots level workers at
various places in the district,
especially at Batote and Banihal,
Shaheen said the government
has belied the hopes of the
people by failing in deliverance
and resorting to rhetoric.
He attributed performance
inertia to the contradictory
agenda of the two coalition
partners and said this has and
will in future impact the overall
governance and retard the
growth of development and
progress, which had been given
new impetus by the Omar led
government during the past six
years. He cautioned the people
to remain vigilant by not
allowing the anti-people
machinations of the duo
succeed.
Referring to overwhelming
resentment againsat the new
recruitment policy, the District
President lauded the unity and
resilience demonstrated by
young people in all the three
regions of Jammu, Kashmir and
Ladakh and said National
Conference will not be a fence
sitter on this important issue. "It
is unfortunate that measures like
SKEPWY, Udaan, Himayat are
being diluted and the role of
recruitment agencies like Public
Service Commission and State
Service Selection Board
marginalised to undertake
recruitment of favourites by
ignoring the overall merit of
deserving candidates", he said.
Exhorting Youth National
Conference workers to generate
awareness about anti-youth and
anti-people policies of the
government, Mr Shaheen said
that instead of focusing on
governance and development
the coalition was indulging in
antagonizing different segments
of society to divert the attention
from real issues.
The district president also
referred to the various other
issues confronted to the people
and regretted that no headway
has been made in restoring
various utility servies and
maintaining the road-network
which got severely damaged due
to flash floods and incessant
rains. He also expressed anguish
over non-availability of rations
at the depots and delay in the
salaries of various segments of
employees. He also castigated
the coalition government for
issuing PRCs at school level,
saying this was against the spirit
of state subject laws.
Mohd Majid Malik
Bhaderwah, May 4
Vacant post of Sub
Divisional Magistrate
(SDM), Bhaderwah, for the
last many months has
affected the public of the
area.
As per reports, following
the promotion of SDM
Bhaderwah to DC Doda, the
authorities could not fill the
vacant post of SDM,
Bhaderwah, with the result
the key project of central
government is badly affected
in the area and public suffers
a lot.
The numbers of land
acquisition cases are pending
due to the need of final
approval of the collector,
reports said, suggested that
the non-availability of the
collector has badly hampered
PMGSY as the locals whose
land had been acquired for
road construction are not
allowing the authorities to
ReT Teachers Forum of district
Doda today convened a
meeting at Goha Marmat under
the chairmanship of its district
president Sajad Malik.
During meeting, different
speakers highlighted the
problems faced by ReT cader
of Marmat area.
Hashmatullah Butt, Manoj
Sharma and Shamim Wani
were unanimously elected as
Tehsil president, vice president
and General Secretary
respectively where as Shafiq
as NC always protected fabric of
start the work as their
payments are withheld.
The people are quite
aghast over the state
government's apathetic
attitude towards Bhaderwah
and alleged few times ago,
government has given the
additional charge of SDM
Bhaderwah to SDM Thatri
which is unacceptable to the
public of the area and
demanded full-fledged SDM in
Bhaderwah as soon as possible.
The residents of the area
demanded that two SDMs one
Ravi Thakur, who is a resident
of Bhaderwah town is
presently posted at Ramsoo,
Ramban SDM and another
Zameer Reshu who is also
resident of Bhaderwah is
presently posted as SDM Gool,
Ramban in new administrative
units, among two one officer
should be posted as SDM
Bhaderwah for the welfare of
area."
secularism: Mustafa Kamal
NL Correspondent
Rajouri, May 4
BJP-PDP coalition government
is fraught with dangerous
consequences for the people of
the state and the fabric of
secularism so arduously nurtured
and protected by NC Party ever
since its inception over seven
decades ago, said Sheikh Mustafa Kamaal,
Additional General Secretary NC.
While addressing a meeting of the office bearers
and prominent citizens at Rajouri Bus stand on
Monday, was convened to felicitate the newly
nominated District President, Shafayat Khan of
National Conference (NC).
Kamaal said the militancy was started by Mufti
Mohammad Syeed as Union Home Minister
through his handpicked Governor Jagmohan in
1990 and that the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits was
the brain child of Mufti Sayeed as endorsed by the
veteran Congress leader Mani Krishan Ayer. Also
president Action committee for return of migrants
and JK forum for peace and reconciliation Jatender
Bakashi, himself a Kashmiri Pandit, and former
State Chief Engineer is on record of having said
right in the beginning that "Jagmohan is
responsible for exodus of Kashmiri Pandits form
Kashmir ."
Wani elected as Chief Advisor,
Gh Rasool Wani as chief
spokesperson, Mohd Ali
Salaria as chief organisor,
Gandeep Singh as organisor,
Qasim Umar as chief
coordinator, Basharat Mir as
joint secretary, Sonika Parihar
as cashier, Raies Wani
Secretary, Baseer Ahmed Lone
as press & publicity secretary.
Speaking on the occasion,
District president Sajad Malik
appealed all the ReT teachers
to give their full support to the
forum to solve the problems.
Others who spoke on the
occasion were Ashiq Jaral
senior vice president, District
Doda, Wahid Wani District
Secretary, Hemait Wani
District Organiser, Shafiq
Wani, Inderdhar Sharma, Gh
Rasool, Shamim Wani, Manoj
Sharma and others.
Meanwhile,
similar
meetings were also held at
zonal headquarter Bahalla
under the chairmanship of
Vivekananda
Manhas
president zone Bahalla, at
Bartund area of zone Bhagwah
the meeting held under the
chairmanship of Reshi Singh
Rana,
zone
president
Bhagwah.
Faizan
Quick Action Accident Team
Compensation for Tramboo
constitutes executive body
paramedics sought elected NRHM NL Correspondent
In today meeting, an
Rajouri,
May
4
executive
body was also
NL Correspondent
distt chief
constituted by the volunteers.
Doda, May 4
Quick Action Accident Team The executive body included
Activists of Panthers’ Trade Union addressing a press conference, in Jammu on Monday
NL Correspondent
Jammu, May 4
Panthers Trade Union (PTU)
today accused the state
government for its callous and
lackadaisical towards the
people of District Ramban
especially
in
Banihal
constituency.
Addressing
a
press
conference here today, Sewa
Singh Bali, State General
Secretary, PTU said that the
state government has not
provided an adequate supply of
free flour (Atta) to the poor
people of Banihal constituency
for the last three months.
Bali demanded road
connectivity from Khari to
Mahumangat, Ukhral to
Alanbass, Senibati to PogalPanchal-Neel etc. as several
general commuters including
the local population of the area
have been marooned from
reaching their destinations.
Sewa Singh Bali urged the
Education Minister to open a
'Drinking water
getting wasted
at Nagri'
NL Correspondent
Kathua, May 4
While state government has
geared up its movement of
water conservation, the large
amount of drinking water has
been flowing from open taps
to waste since long in Nagri
and its adjoining areas.
The
government's
movement of saving water has
failed to leave its impact at
this area as a large amount of
water continuously flowing
from taps at various PHE's
water tanks in Nagri areas.
Even the PHE department is
deputed to play a lead role in
"Save Water Movement" but
the
negligence
and
irresponsible functioning of
PHE department and entire
administration to leave a good
impact of this movement in
Nagri area.
The locals, Rajeshwar, Amit
Singh, Sohan Lal, Tarsem
Singh and Puran Singh urged
the PHE department to focus
at Nagri area to protect the
wastage of drinking water by
stopping this water wastage so
that it could be conserved for
adequate utility in future.
Girls Higher Secondary School
(GHSS) in Ukhral without
further delay and added that the
GHSS in Ukhral has strength of
over 1200 students but to the
irony the school is under
staffed and deficient of
teachers.
The leader also leveled
allegations that the unemployed
job card holders are waiting for
hundred days work under
MGNREGA and their cards
become the diet for termite
with full of dust because of non
use of the cards for the last
2013 up to till date.
He appealed the government
that all the job card holders
should be employed as soon as
possible under MGNREGA so
that they may earn for the
livelihood of their families.
Others who were present in
the press conference S.
Paramjit Singh Marshal,
Naveen Bali, Shakeel Ahmad
Wani, Duni Chand Chandan
Singh,
Sushil
Kumar,
Prithviraj, Shankar Singh etc.
Publicity Secretary of the J&K
Congress Committee- Nadeem
Sharief Niaz today sought
compensation
for
the
paramedical students of the
erstwhile Doda district, who had
been put to bizarre
inconvenience
by
the
paramedical council.
While addressing media, he
alleged that the training course
of paramedical students was
extended by two years, but no
exams was conducted, causing
great financial loss and wastage
of time to the students.
He further demanded that the
government should compensate
the under training paramedical
students for the extra financial
burden and wastage of time.
He also exhorted upon the
paramedical council, besides the
government to conduct exams
without further delay, which are
already two years late. He also
threatened agitation if there was
further delay by the council.
NL Correspondent
Doda, May 4
Darbar at Galigarh,the minister
said that Government is
committed for the development
of rural areas and efforts are
being made to provide all the
basic amenities to the people
living in remote and far flung
areas. He said road
connectivity being the
backbone
and
prime
requirement for multi-round
development of any region. He
said Government has taken up
the initiatives to provide better
road connectivity, adequate
drinking water and power
supply, strengthening and
uplifting educational standards
and infrastructure in rural areas
and improving health care
delivery system. He said all the
initiatives and measures taken
by the Government will take a
little time to get visible on
ground, and asked the people
to have patience and then reap
the fruits of development.
Regarding the issue of
development of Galigarh as a
tourist attraction destination,
Minister
sought
the
cooperation of the people and
donate land adjacent to the
Galigarh water stream so that it
could be developed as a Picnic
spot which will have Parks,
Huts, beautification work etc.
he said that an amount upto Rs.
50 lacs to Rs. 1 Crore will be
provided by the Government
for the creation of tourist
attraction Centre if the land is
donated.
Over the issue of
miscalculation of payment of
land compensation acquired by
the GVK for Rattle Hydro
Electric Project, Mr. Sharma
directed DC Kishtwar to
depute ACR Kishtwar to
personally camp in the area
and settle the claims and
ensure that all the genuine
affected people get their due
amount within time bound
manner. Sharma also directed
the officers to ensure that the
timelines fixed are met at any
cost so that confidence of the
people is strengthened with the
Government. Regarding over
charging of Electric dues,
Minister advised the people to
install Energy Meters in their
Homes and pay as they
consume.
Various demands and issues
were raised by the people
which includes 100 KV
Transformer for Galigarh,
Upgradation of roads, posting
of adequate staff in schools,
renovation and repairs of SubCentre Galigarh, payment of
pending
wages
under
MGNREGA,
immediate
upgradation of Shalimar-
A district level meeting of all
NRHM/RBSK/NCD/IDSP was
held at District Headquarters
Doda in which new district
body of NRHM was framed
under the chairmanship of
district President Medical
Employees
Federation
Mehboob Hassan Kraipak and
Social Activist Ishtiaq Ahmed
Dev.
The elected district body
included Faizan Ali Tramboo
was elected as its President,
Milan Singh Manhas as Vice
President, Mushtaq Ahmed
Khan as General Secretary,
Anju Devi as Secretary,
Waseem Ahmed as Joint
Secretary, Javed Iqbal Sheikh
as Spokesperson, Mohammad
Rafiq as Cashier, Mashood
Latief as Chief Advisor and
Advisor Shabir Ahmed.
volunteers today held a meeting
at Rajouri under the
chairmanship of Mohammad
Nasir Khan, President of
Jamola Nehru Youth Club
(JNYC) Rajouri.
During meeting, the
volunteers appealed the
President JNYC to constitute a
team and divided the Rajouri
area into 15 members under the
presidentship of Mohammad
Latief.
The meeting also discussed
about the bad conditions of
roads like as from Rajouri to
Darhal, Thanamandi, Dhangri
to Dalhori, Solki to Sailsui etc.
During meeting, volunteers
said from present, now the team
has the duty to take care of
accidents if this would happen
then team members at once
reached the spot and shifted the
patient to nearby hospital and
informed
to
district
administrator and others.
Panchayat Ghar inaugurated at Drab
NL Correspondent
Kishtwar, May 4
Minister of State for PWD and
Revenue Sunil Sharma today
chaired a Public Darbar at
Government Higher Secondary
School
Galigarh
and
inaugurated
a
newly
constructed Panchayat Ghar
for Drab Panchayat in Sarthal
area that has been constructed
by Rural Development
Department at cost of Rs. 20
lakh.
Deputy
Commissioner
Kishtwar Mohammad Javaid
Khan, Senior Superintendent
of Police Kishtwar Yougal
Manhas, besides ADDC
Kishtwar, ACD Kishtwar, XEn
PHE Division Kishtwar, XEn
PMGSY , XEn PDD, XEn
Irrigation and other District ,
Sector officers and a huge
gathering of people attended
the Public Darbar.
While inaugurating the
Panchayat Ghar, Sharma
appreciated the quality work
done by the RDD in
construction of the community
asset for the benefit of PRI's, it
was revealed that construction
work on 32 Panchayat Ghars is
going on and soon will get
completed .
Addressing the Public
JAMMU | TUESDAY | MAY 5 | 2015
Dr. Kamaal said that Kashmir
Pandits know full well that it was
Mufti Sayeed who vandalized
hindu -temples to influence Delhi
and bring down the GM Shah
Government. Being an intelligent
people Kashmiri Pandits should
be well advised to differentiate
between their well wishers and
those that do not wish them well
. NC has been the torch bearer of secularism in
J&K and saw to it that no Kashmiri Pandit was
harmed in the tribal invarsion of 1947 and holds
their life and honour dear to their heart as dictated
by that Muslim Holy Scriptures.
Dr. Kamaal said that the unfinished agenda of
NC " Naya Kashmir " programme and amicable
resolution of J&K Problems will be pursued
vigorously with the concerned and will leave no
stone unturned to expose the inept inefficient and
corrupt government of Mufti Mohd Sayeed.
Others who spoke on the occasion were Sheikh
Bashir Ahmed, NC Provincial Secretary, Aslam
Khan, Bashir Ahmed Wani, Shafayat Khan District
President Rajouri Urban, Ch. Shaffi, Ch. Liqyat Ali
Advocate, Mushtaq Shawal, Gh. Mohi ud Din,
Ajaz Zaki advocate, Sayeed Jat YNC Joint sec,
Mohd Bashir Magrey , Rehman Khan Rtd. Range
officer, Mirza Abdul Rashid Rtd. Teacher, Haji
Mohd Hafiz and others.
RET Forum announces Marmat unit ReT forum framed
Tehsil body at Goha
Marmat
NL Correspondent
Doda, May 4
PTU complains of ration
scarcity in Banihal
4
Sarthal road, Upgradation and
opening of new schools, beside
various other demands and
issues were highlighted by the
people in the Public Darbar.
Minister
gave
onspot
instructions to the concerned
officer to mitigate the genuine
grievances on priority basis
without any delay.
President- Mohd Latief,
Secretary -Jasvinder Singh,
Joint Secretary -Sudham
Hussain, other members of the
committee was Ankush Kumar,
Akis Naseer, Akash Verma,
Mohd Israr, Tariq Mehmood,
Parveen Akhter, Rakesh Singh,
Mohd Shabir,Waqir Khan and
others.
NL Correspondent
Doda, May 4:
ReT teachers forum District
Doda today convened tehsile
level meeting at Tehsile
headquarters Goha Marmat
in the chairmanship of
District president Sajad
Malik in which several Rets
from the various corners of
Tehsil Marmat participated.
Different
speakers
highlighted the problems
faced by Ret cader of
Marmat area. Hashmatullah
Butt, Manoj sharma and
Shamim
wani
were
unanimously elected as
tehsile president, vice
president and General Secy
respectively where as Shafiq
wani elected as Chief
Advisor, Gh Rasool wani as
chief spokesperson, Mohd
Ali salaria as chief organisor
,Gandeep singh as
organisor, Qasim umar as
chief Coordinator, Basharat
Mir as jointsecretary, Sonika
Parihar as cashier, Raies
wani Secretary, Baseer
Ahmed lone as press &
publicity secretary. Speaking
on the occasionDistrict
president sajad Malik
appealed all the Ret teachers
to give their full support to
the forum to solve the
problems.
District president condemned
the stepmotherly treatment of
government
towards
Rets.Others Who spoke on
the occasion were Ashiq
Jaral sr vice president
District Doda, wahid wani
District secretary, Hemait
wani
Districtorganiser,
Shafiq
wani,inderdhar
sharma, Gh Rasool, shamim
wani, Manoj
s h a r m a , a n d
others.Meanwhile similar
meetings were held at zonal
headquarter Bahalla under
the
chirmanship
of
V i v e k a n a n d a
Manhaspresident
zone
Bahalla and at Bartund area
of Zone Bhagwah under the
chirmanship of Reshi Singh
Rana zone
president Bhagwah which
was
organised by Sajad Rahi sr
vice president Zone bhagwah
and other
members of the forum.
without salaries for couple of
months due to which their life
has become miserable for want
of sustenance. Vakil was
addressing party workers at
Nadihal and Budden in Rafiabad
District Baramulla.
While addressing the
gathering Vakil said people at the
helm of affairs must put the facts
at fore which led to the present
deep financial crisis and delay in
obtaining financial allocations
from the centre well in time. He
said that how PDP-BJP alliance
emphasizing upon so called
development and prosperity can
be justified when the work on
ongoing developmental projects
started by the previous regime
stands abandoned half way.
Former minister while
declaring the government
directionless said that it has even
failed to convene DDB meetings
till date and is behaving as a
mute and helpless spectator of
the ongoing mess. He said that
the Chief Minister must himself
explain the reason for delay in
convening DDB meetings so that
the credibility of this
government could be proved for
time being.
Mr. Vakil declared the efforts
of PDP-BJP government in
respect of the rehabilitation of
flood affected as half hearted and
inadequate. He said that relief
announced by the prime minister
himself has not been released by
the union government till date
and talk of full rehabilitation
during the present regime is
completely impossible. Besides
others who addressed the
meeting include Sr. Congress
leaders Haji Mohammad Afzal
Khan, Ghulam Nabi Shah,
Advocate Javid Masoodi, Youth
Congress Leader Sheikh
Manzoor.
PDP-BJP taking State towards
bankruptcy, says A G Vakil
NL Correspondent
Rafiabad, May 4
Former Minister and Member
AICC Abdul Gani Vakil today
said that present PDP-BJP
Government was taking the state
towards undeclared bankruptcy
and plunging it into a deep
economic instability. He said
prior to forging alliance with
BJP, the leaders of PDP played
the ploy of liberal funding from
Modi government and tried to
build the castles in air and
befooled innocent masses of the
State.
Vakil said that government
must come clear on the present
fiscal position of the State
because all the developmental
activities have come to halt and
people all over the State are
suffering from basic amenities
besides government employees
of most of the departments are
Army organises lecture on life style diseases
NL Correspondent
Bhaderwah, May 4
Doctors of Rashtriya Rifles
Battalion under Delta Force
conducted a lecture on life style
diseases for locals of
Bhadarwah, as part of
humanitarian
assistance
programme at Bhalla,
Bhadarwah.
During the lecture the Army
Doctor brought out that
lifestyle diseases include
atherosclerosis, heart disease,
heart stroke, obesity, type2
diabetes, and diseases
associated with smoking,
alcohol and drug abuse.
Regular physical activity helps
prevent obesity, heart disease,
hypertension, diabetes, colon
cancer and premature
mortality. The lecture was
attended by 59 locals.
The NORTHLINES
KATHUA
www.thenorthlines.com
JAMMU | TUESDAY| MAY 5 | 2015
Protest against Geelani for DY CM inspects toll post functioning
brandishing Pakistan flag
KATHUA, MAY 4
Deputy Chief Minister, Dr Nirmal Singh
today paid a surprise visit to Toll Post at
Lakhanpur and reviewed the functioning of
different departments working there.
Deputy Excise Commissioner, Rajesh
Sharma explained the Dy CM about
working of the department in coordination
with other departments including
Commercial Taxes and Transport.
He said that besides collecting of Toll at
Lakhanpur, the department is also entrusted
with responsibility of toll collection at
minor toll posts including Nagri, Kot
Punnu, Gandial, Goondh, Mandi
Mandikren, and Govindsar.
The Deputy Chief Minister enquired as
to whether any toll exemption was being
granted to langar operators for Amarnath
yatra and observed that there needs to be an
exemption for such goods, as a goodwill
gesture for the efforts being put in by such
People resent
over garbage
issue
KATHUA/NAGRI 4 MAY:-
BASOHLI, MAY 4:
A large number of activists
from different political
organizations staged a
protest at Basohli against
waving of Pakistan flags in
Kashmir during the rally of
separatist leader Syed Ali
Shah Geelani, on Sunday.
The protesters raising
slogans against the separatist
leaders followed with the
burning of effigy of Syed Ali
Shah Geelani. Leading the
protest, Bhartiya Janta Yuva
Morcha President Tejinder
Singh said, "Raising the flag
of Pakistan on Indian soil is
outrageous. Such flag bearers
are
obviously
agent
provocateurs and dealt with
sternly as traitors".
He further added that their
place is nothing but jail and
not allowed out, and mix-up
with other law-abiding
citizens and mislead them
into ungrateful acts.He
further said that no
government could tolerate a
situation in which some
people, however numerically
insignificant they may be,
wave the Pakistani flag and
raise pro-Pakistan slogans.
Their action could only
describe as traitorous, he
maintained.
Tejinder Singh further
said, "Since prevention is
better than cure, the
preventive steps being taken
by the government need to be
welcomed". He said that
government would not allow
the separatists to treat the
valley as their fiefdom.
They should know that the
country could face their
challenge and the country
would not grant any rites of
passage. Separatists have no
influence worth the name.
Successive elections have
proved that they are a fringe
force, which does not
deserve any mercy," Tejinder
Singh added.
BSP leader, Parmanand
accused Kashmiri separatist
leaders of instigating locals
against the government and
security forces by exploiting
emotive issues like alleged
excesses
by
security
personnel, misuse of laws
like AFSPA and PSA and
perceived
apathy
of
government towards families
affected by the recent floods.
Warning of stringent action
against any illegal activities
of separatist elements, he
said that despite belonging to
dissimilar political groups,
the separatists should keep in
mind that when the matter of
Nation comes, the people
from all sections of society
could fight for the cause.
Raju, Bodh Raj, Sunder
Sharma, Shyam Lal and
many others were among the
protesters.
Don't politicise LBA
With around a week left for the budget session
of Parliament to conclude, a key pending
legislative business is the ratification of the IndiaBangladesh Land Boundary Agreement (LBA).
The Constitution amendment bill that envisages
the exchange of 162 Indian and Bangladeshi
enclaves and fully demarcates the IndiaBangladesh border has been hanging fire in
Parliament since UPA days. Back then BJP had
opposed the bill on the ground that it violated the
basic features of the Constitution. After coming
to power it did a welcome U-turn, with Prime
Minister Narendra Modi himself asserting that
LBA was in the country's long-term security
interests.However, recent reports that
government plans to introduce the Constitution
amendment bill by excluding the Assam portion
of the LBA, involving just 268 acres, are
disturbing. The irony is that the Assam
government itself had made its support for LBA
known. However, the BJP central leadership
appears to have succumbed to the wishes of the
state party unit that has been opposing the LBA
with an eye on Assam assembly polls in 2016.
But if Assam is excluded, Bengal CM Mamata
Banerjee - who initially opposed LBA and had to
be mollified to change her mind - would be under
pressure to reconsider her support to the
agreement.And if Bengal reneges, it would
scuttle LBA for good. Given that the
parliamentary standing committee on external
affairs has unanimously endorsed LBA, the
government could easily pass the Constitution
amendment bill with opposition Congress
support. Yet, it has chosen to politicise the issue
for hypothetical and short-term electoral gains in
Assam. Ratification of LBA would not only
galvanise India-Bangladesh relations but also
demonstrate to China that New Delhi is capable
of settling long-pending border issues. The
government must stop playing politics and ratify
LBA without any exclusions.
It was not very long ago that
Nagri's sobriquet i.e., 'Old City'
nearly came to be replaced with
'Garbage City', said the
resented locals of Nagri when
they were expressing their great
anger against the garbage
dumping at various streets of
Nagri. Resented locals are
Vicky Kumar, Rajay, Karan
singh, Shashi Paul and many
others who raised their voice
against the garbage dumping
problem. While expressing
their resentment they said that
mounting garbage piles began
to cause serious damage to the
Nagri's reputation as the oldest
agrarian city.With the Nagri's
population
nearing
20
thousands the garbage dumping
remains an intractable problem.
The Nagri's per capita solid
waste generation is estimated to
be around half-a- kilogram and
Going by this, it can be
assessed how much the this big
number of population generates
garbage every day. But no
arrangement has been made to
tackle this problem by the
Municipal committee. They
said because of no option to
dump and dispose off the
garbage, several households
still dump it on empty sites or
into gutters which in turn get
clogged during rains and cause
flooding. The reach of
"Cleanliness Drive" launched
by the Prime Minister Narinder
Modi in Nagri is seemed a
distant dream which can never
be meted out, they added.
Commercial Taxes, Check Post Lakhanpur
gave a brief of the working of Commercial
Taxes Check Post and conveyed that the
vehicles are being cleared expeditiously
after the computerization of the department.
The Deputy Chief Minister expressed his
concern over the parking of vehicle on the
flyover (export side), connecting the state J
& K with Punjab and directed the Police
and Commercial Taxes authorities to ensure
that no vehicle is allowed to be parked on
the flyover, after being cleared by the
Commercial Taxes Department.
Later, he interacted with some truck
drivers who expressed their satisfaction
regarding clearance of vehicles by different
departments stationed at Lakhanpur Toll
Plaza.
He also desired an early action on
acquiring the land from Railway
Authorities in order to provide adequate
associations located outside the state.
T.K. Bhat, Deputy Commissioner parking space for trucks at New Toll Plaza.
there has not been matched in
economic policy making, which
has been beset by incrementalism
and incoherence. Shourie is not
the only one sounding warning
bells, Deepak Parekh was here
before. The inept manner in
which the finance ministry dealt
with issues around Minimum
Alternate Tax (MAT) and its
inability to decisively deal with
the legacy of retrospective
taxation do not signal clarity or
boldness. Last week's decision to
roll back budget provisions on
creating an independent agency to
KAILASH SATYARTHI
B
anning child labour is a
prerequisite for eradication
of poverty.I appreciate the
efforts of the labour ministry
regarding the passage of pending
legislation to ban child labour for
children under the age of 14.
While a Parliamentary Standing
Committee consisting of crossparty law makers had already
cleared the bill, to my utter
surprise the bill has been referred
back to the labour ministry, citing
the hushed reason that child
labour cannot be completely
banned due to poverty.Even today,
ordinary citizens, academia and
many politicians are victims of a
misbelief that child labour is a
necessary evil in a country like
India. Having worked in this area
for the last 35 years, i can
emphatically say that nothing
could be further from the truth. I
manage its debt proved that
almost 18 years after the proposal
was first made, the finance
ministry is still unclear what
needs to be done.Part of the
problem is lack of sufficient talent
and expertise within government,
exacerbated
by
overcentralisation of powers within
PMO. Rather than cultivate inept
loyalists, the Modi government
must do more to seek
independent and unbiased expert
opinion. Scarcity of talent shows
up in the form of debilitating
measures in key areas.
KATHUA, MAY 4
To display and promote the
rich Cultural Heritage clubbed
with
awareness
about
employment schemes and
programmes for unemployed
youth and Health care facilities
at the doorsteps of rural people,
a 3-day Heritage, Employment
and Health Mela at Basohli
concluded today.
On the final day, Health
Minister Choudhary Lal Singh
along with his wife Ex-MLA
Kanta Andotra graced the
occasion as chief guest. He also
inaugurated the blood camp and
remained first to donate blood.
While expressing his views, Lal
Singh said that he is keen to
equip hospitals with all latest
diagnostic and treatment
facilities. He asked the
concerned health officers to
ensure proper Medicare
provided to the people and
upkeep of the health
institutions.
Ch Lal Singh also stressed
upon maintaining discipline,
punctuality and improvement of
work culture. Lal Singh
briefing the various other
medical development projects
said that keeping in view the
work dedication of sanitation
Workers and ASHA Workers,
he is of the view of providing
25% reservation, and is going
to raise the issue in assembly.
Lal Singh appealing the
people of Basohli to keep the
surrounding neat and clean
stressed upon the cleanliness of
Ranjeet Sagar Dam Lake. He
unemployed adults, with parallels
existing in most developing
countries.Most of the jobs done by
child labourers are essentially
regular jobs that have been forced
on kids. There are jobs, there are
unemployed adults, but still
millions of children are pushed
into labour. Why? Simply
because, children are the cheapest
form of labour available. They are
not aware of their rights, are
easily misled and are too young to
speak against their conditions, but
our laws permit employers to
exploit these hapless souls.The
truth remains that a working child
will not extricate his or her family
out of poverty, in fact it will keep
the family stuck in the rut for
generations.This slippery slope
continues unabated till one such
child is imparted education. It is a
well-researched, but often ignored
KATHUA 4 MAY: -
With
full
religious
sentiments and with great pomp
and show three daylong
celebration of "Bagwan
Narsingh Jayanti" was
concluded at the temple of
Bagwan Nar singh Ji,
Govindsar Kathua on Sunday.
The Jyanti celebration was
commenced on 1st of May
2015 which is successfully
ended with great honour. A
large number devotees and
Saints participated on the threes
day celebration and delivered
the sermons as well as sung the
hymns in praise of god Nar
Singh Ji. At the concluding day,
a big Langar was also organized
which was tasted by thousands
of devotees of the surrounding
areas.
said that government is
initiating
efforts
to
development
tourism
infrastructure in the area and
sooner the water sports games
would start in lake. Making a
dig at the Congress and
National Conference (NC), he
said that people of Jammu
needs to be made aware of the
sequence of events over the last
40 years, which, resulted in
disparity in health care delivery
and
other
favorable
development projects.
Police Martyr's Cricket Tourney conducted
KATHUA 4 MAY: -
Police Martyr's T-20 North
Zone Cricket Tournament was
concluded with great pomp and
show at Sports stadium, Kathua
on Monday. Huge crowds
witnessed the tournament and
enjoyed the lofty shots
performed from both teams
which are being played as final
Match of the tournament. A tug
of war over the championship
was held in between Gurgoan
Cricket Club, Delhi (GCC) and
Sabi Cricket Club Hoshiyar
Pur, Punjab (SCCH) where as
GCC
snatched
the
championship and lifted the
Police Martyr's T-20 Cricket
tournament trophy. While
choosing first to bat after
having a toss win, SCCH
smashed hard shots to set a
figure of 96 score in just 20
overs and following the target, continues shots of GCC, Delhi The final match was held in the who handed over the trophy to
but could stop the wind of which gripped over the trophy. presence of IG Dinesh Rana GCC, Delhi honorably.
Militancy started by
Mufti as Union Home
Minister: Mustafa
Rajouri : BJP & PDP coalition
Wastage of Water amidst “ Water conservation programmes” being run in Kathua.
No half measures please
take it as my responsibility to
debunk a few myths surrounding
poverty and child labour.There
exists a vicious circle between
poverty, illiteracy and child
labour. Child labour and poverty
have
a
chicken-and-egg
relationship. A child born in a
poor family begins life in a
disadvantaged position, most
often missing school. Children
excluded from education grow up
to be illiterate and economically
vulnerable. These children are at
high risk of exploitation and are
more likely to be pulled into child
labour at the cost of their health,
education and well-being.Another
key fact that people ignore is that
parents of most child labourers are
essentially
jobless
or
underemployed. There are almost
168 million child labourers
worldwide and 200 million
Narsingh
Jayanti conludes
Employment fair concludes
Caught in a maze
Arun Shourie was one of the
most dynamic ministers in the
previous NDA government. His
criticism of the present NDA
dispensation has been a biting one
and BJP has responded in kind by
attacking him as a "fair weather
friend". But government does
need to address some of the issues
flagged by Shourie. Else the
weather will indeed get inclement
for it and for the country down the
line.Prime Minister Narendra
Modi is credited, and rightly so,
for having run a dynamic foreign
policy. Yet the scorching pace set
5
fact that child labour perpetuates
poverty.
A report by International
Labour Organisation verifies that
every $1 spent on the eradication
of child labour would return $7
over the next two decades.Also,
another report says that a single
year of primary school education
increases the wages people earn
later in life by 5 to 15% for boys
and even more for girls. Child
labour is hence the biggest
obstacle to development and must
be tackled in tandem with poverty
alleviation
schemes.India's
ranking among the fastest growing
nations in the world will stand
shaken if its children are
continually marginalised. A
recently completed study from 50
countries established that every
extra year of schooling provided
to the whole population can
increase average annual GDP
growth by 0.37%. Where the
education is of good quality, the
improvement of cognitive skills
increases the impact to 1%.Let me
also debunk a myth regarding
child labour law. We are
demanding a complete ban on
child labour up to the age of 14. It
nowhere means that children
cannot help their families in their
free time.
They definitely can, but not at
the cost of their education, health
and leisure time. Also, a child
cannot be involved in a
commercial activity even at home.
The proposed child labour law
provides for this. This point is
important because several lawbreaking employers fake familial
connections with the child
labourer
to
escape
punishment.The existing Child
Labour
(Prohibition
and
Regulation) Act passed in 1986,
bans child labour only in so-called
hazardous occupations for
children under the age of 14. In
other words, this law bans only
20% of all child labour in India
and is silent on the rest 80%.Our
Constitution and the Right to
Education law guarantees free and
compulsory education to all
children between 6 and 14, as
their right. As far as children
between 15 to 18 are concerned,
the Juvenile Justice Act
safeguards this age group from all
kinds of abuse and exploitation.
However, the current child labour
law is mute about treatment of
these young adults.The new
amendment must harmonise with
the Right to Education law and the
Juvenile Justice Act, thus paving
the way for protection of our
Government in J&K is fraught
with dangerous consequences
for the people of the state and
the fabric of secularism so
arduously nurtured and
protected by NC Party eversince
its inception over seven decades
ago said Dr. Sheikh Mustafa
Kamaal Additional General
Secretary NC .While addressing
a well attended meeting of the
office bearers and prominent
citizens of Rajouri at Rajouri
Bus stand which was convened
to felicitate the newly nominated
District President Mr. Shafayat
Khan of National Conference.
He said the National Conference
has been given a god send
opportunity to introspect as to
the reasons and cause of
National Conference defeat in
2014 Assembly elections.
children and their future.We are
also demanding a complete ban on
the worst forms of child labour
such as hazardous work, bonded
labour, child prostitution, illicit
militia and forced beggary for
children in the age of 15 to 18
years. This age group is the most
vulnerable to abusive situations
and violence. The government
must take effective measures to
give all children an education that
enhances their employability,
entrepreneurship and ethics.We as
a country must invest in imparting
skill-based education to our
youth. This will go a long way in
ensuring that the vision of Prime
Minister Narendra Modi to
harness the demographic dividend
of India is fully realised.The
writer is a child rights activist. He
won the Nobel Peace Prize in
2014.
The NORTHLINES
OPINION
www.thenorthlines.com
Those who
enforce the law
must know the law
M
ORE laws do not mean better governance. Often
they create confusion and misunderstanding. If
the laws are not properly enforced or are too
complicated to be effectively implemented, they lead to
corruption
I have always wondered why, the powers that be do not
do anything to put right things that are drastically wrong.
From the days when I was a student to my service days, I
have been listening to tall talks of ‘good governance’.
Unfortunately, nothing much has been done about this.
Though the world and the prevailing situations have
changed, we are stuck with the laws and methods
introduced by the British. There more than 3,000 laws in
our country.
In most of the cases, officers, charged with enforcing a
law do not have the access to the concerned law books.
This writer, took over as the police chief of Bidar district
on June 23, 1965. One of his self-imposed duty was to ask
the constabulary questions about the law that the latter was
supposed to enforce. It came as a shock that most of them
talked about the Hyderabad Police Act.
The reason was that Bidar was a part of Hyderabad till
1949. This created utter confusion, as the areas that came
to Mysore in re-organisation, were from the then Bombay,
Madras and Hyderabad States. However, even when a
common Mysore Police Act was passed in 1963, the same
situation continued, as no training was given in accordance
with the new rules. Also, no copies of the same were
supplied. The writer made it sure that every policeman had
a copy of the Mysore Police Act, which, at that time, could
be bought for one rupee only.
The situation has not changed even now, as there is no
provision for the copies or the applicable laws to be
available to the relevant department in our country. The
problem is that we have too many laws, of which, neither
the enforcer nor the person who is expected to comply, is
aware. In fact, there is a multiplicity of authorities and the
right hand does not know what the left hand is doing.
The BJP-led NDA Government had made a good
beginning by deleting some obsolete laws but is now back
to square one. It came as a surprise that in the national
capital, to run a metro on a single line, a law is required. It
is possible to confront absurdities, but in our governance,
we have even crossed all common sense limits.
The result is an utter mess, as nobody can be held
responsible. No one really knows who has to ensure
compliance of a particular law or aspect of the governance
or functioning. More laws do not mean better governance,
but more bewilderment and misunderstanding. The laws, if
not enforced or too difficult to be enforced, lead to more
corruption and not better governance.
Some politicians believe that orders on the files are
sufficient for development and progress of the country. But
the movement of a file comes at a price. A builder, who
could get completion certificate for his multi-storied
cooperative society complex, was the envy of everybody.
When asked about the secret of his success, he said that he
put wheels on the file, so that it could move faster from
table-to-table.
I was foxed. How can you put ‘wheels’ on a file,
consisting of a dozen or more pages? He looked at me and
wondered at my ignorance. He clarified that putting wheels
meant spending hard cash, so that no queries would be
made about the project and the file would promptly be sent
to the next table. He said that he spent Rs22 lakh on the
concerned department that was charged with the function
of giving completion certificates.
I asked him how could he account for the money and
from what sources. He said that the expenses were charged
from the members of the cooperative society. I accused him
and his tribe for being party to corruption. He said that I
was too simple. If he did not bribe, he would have to close
down his business. He added that corruption is part of any
dealing and is necessary to get work done in any
Government department. He did clarify though that there
are individual officers who did not take bribes.
There is a law which says that the possession of assets
beyond known sources of income is an offence. But to the
best of my knowledge, it has not been implemented. The
result is that petty officials from all Government
departments make tonnes of money and live in fancy
bungalows. They have cars not only for themselves but also
for their children.
Indian bureaucracy was rated the worst in Asia with a
9.21 score out of 10, according to a report filed sometime
back by a prestigious consulting firm, Political &
Economic Risk Consultancy Ltd based in Hong Kong.The
report said India’s inefficient bureaucracy was largely
responsible for most of the complaints from business
executives.
The complaints included inadequate infrastructure and
corruption, where officials were willing to accept underthe-table payments, and companies were tempted to pay to
overcome bureaucratic inertia and gain Government
favours. The report added that dealing with the court
system in India was an unattractive option for companies
and companies want to avoid it.
The bureaucrats are rarely held accountable for wrong
decisions and it is extremely difficult to challenge them.
“This gives them (bureaucrats) terrific powers and could be
one of the main reasons why average Indians as well as
existing and would-be foreign investors perceive India’s
bureaucrats as negatively as they do,” said the report.
This is also the 10th consecutive year that India has
ranked worst in the company’s study of bureaucracy in
Asia. It is not that the position is irredeemable. Political
rulers need to make up their mind to weed out the corrupt
and put the onus on bureaucrats so that whatever property
or money the latter have is accounted for. Instead, there are
layers of appeals and the influential bureaucrats get
political support.
A funny thing is that nobody is bothered about corruption
in the lower levels of the bureaucracy. Laws should be
equally and vigorously applied to them, as it is at that level
from which the files start moving. The total number of laws
should also be cut down and there should be adequate
training, as well as sufficient law books and manuals for
the staff.
If somebody goes to the court, his case must be decided
in two months and for this the Government should
strengthen the judicial and criminal justice system. If we
can have a first rate, independent and honest judiciary, we
can also have a good bureaucracy. But accountability is
key. Indians have to take governance seriously. Otherwise,
we have had before and will continue to have the kind of
corrupt Government we deserve.
JAMMU | TUESDAY | MAY 5| 2015
Sordid Story of a Betrayal – Part I
India’s
Long-neglected
Agrarian Problem
Gloucester's show
Beguiles him, as
the mournful
crocodile
With sorrow, snares
relenting
passengers.
— Henry VI, Part 2
— Shakespeare
T
H.N. Bali
HE ancient belief has it
that crocodiles shed tears
while consuming their
victims. Though not true, it’s
very applicable to politicians,
especially those who claim
allegiance to the Congress Party
who have, of late, been
shedding copious tears on the
plight of our farmers.
There has, for instance, been
such an almighty hullabaloo
about the death by hanging of a
farmer from Rajasthan at an
AAP rally. (That it later turned
out to be an Agatha Christie
mystery is another story. The
so-called destitute farmer had a
family land holding of 20 odd
bighas with a six-room concrete
house and handsome Rajasthani
safa-tying handsome side
income.) Shan’t we, in this
light, drastically revise the
Suresh Tendulkar definition of
poverty to suit the current
definition
of
agrarian
destitution?
There have been – let’s not
forget – over one lakh suicides
by farmers during the inglorious
decade that the Congress-led
UPA ruled the country. So, if
there’s a single party
responsible for the deplorable
state of our agrarian sector, it’s
the Congress party.
Desperate State
For over six decades,
the Grand Old Party
has, in the name of
pseudo-socialism,
been giving doles
and handouts to
farmers instead of
providing them basic
facilities
like
irrigation, roads,
markets
and
financial help. No
wonder, therefore, an
overwhelming
majority of our
farmers live in a state
of desperate poverty.
In fact, the situation
is so desperate that
even if one crop
fails, it spells ruin for
them. An Indian
Express columnist
lately observed that
an “average Indian
farmer often makes
less money in a year
than beggars make in the streets
of Mumbai.” No wonder they
flock to nearby towns in search
of some work just to eke out a
living. The much-publicized
Mahatma Gandhi National
Rural Employment Guarantee
Act (MGNREGA) devised to
enhance the livelihood security
of people in rural areas by
guaranteeing hundred days of
wage-employment in a financial
year to a rural household who
volunteer to do unskilled
manual work, has made no dent
to the long-neglected agrarian
problem.
Classic Description
May I refer here to the 1996
classic Everyone Loves A Good
Drought by one of India’s most
intrepid journalists, Palgummi
Sainath. He wrote it after
touring some of the poorest
districts in the country to know
how the poorest of the poor
citizens of free India live.The
book was a collection of reports
that the author filed during his
tours. Some of the reports
kicked up controversies and in a
few cases even led to some
action on the part of the
authorities. It is another matter
that Sainath opended just a
window of the house steeped in
utter darkness of centuries. In
reality the scenario is far more
grim.
Sainath’s main findings can be
summed up in just one word apathy. Apathy towards the
victims of chronic rural poverty
is a specter that haunts our
polity. Around this theme
Sainath – who knows the rural
poor as few people know –
wove the stories about real
people of flesh and blood who
were – and still are – victims of
grinding poverty handed down
from to generation after
generation – people who lie
hidden in the great piles of
statistical data that our
politicians mouth as rural poor.
Sainath discovered that while
there are schools without
buildings and teachers, there are
schools with buildings and
teachers too. Except that while
the ‘buildings’ are used for
storing fodder and tendu leaves
and the teachers teach nonexistent students.
He told the story of the
residents of a village called
Chikpaar. The village was first
acquired in 1968 for the MiG jet
fighter project for Hindustan
Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in
1968. Some 400-500 families
were evicted on an “angry
monsoon night”. They moved to
another location (on the land
that was owned by them) and
resettled there. Nostalgically,
they named the new village as
Chikpaar.
In 1987, these very families
were evicted again for the
Kolab multi- purpose project.
The villagers again resettled at
another
place.
Again,
‘development’ chased them to
their new place of residence and
the residents received eviction
notices for the third time.
The book was a scathing
indictment of the elite in this
country who like our leaders
visit the remote areas in a jeep,
get photographed and scurry
back before sunset. What Dr.
K.N. Raj termed as the “two
Indias”
pithily
and
epigrammatically came out in
the study.
Sainath was describing in words
the protest of the adivasi in
Govind Nihalani’s film Aakrosh
(a role brilliantly played by Om
Puri), whose tongue has been
cut off and despite being the
victim, is actually hauled up in
jail.
Persistent Dilemma
That India lives in villages is a
tired, stale cliché. We all know
that the basic problems of
Indian polity – social as much
as economic – have agrarian
roots. During the last 50 years,
while missing no opportunity to
acknowledge the importance of
the agrarian problems, we have
done precious little to tackle
what F. Tomasson Jannuzi of
the University of Texas calls
India’s Persistent Dilemma.
The fact that a foreigner has
studied in depth our festering
agrarian malaise – while most
Indian economists took it for
granted – illustrates how readily
we learn to live with our
problems rather than do
something about them. And
most (if not all) of the discredit
for this failure squarely belongs
to Jawaharlal Nehru who had
the opportunity – an
opportunity that comes in
centuries – to initiate a long-due
action, but didn’t have either the
inclination or the will to do so.
The result is as Jannuzi sums
up:
As a result of the Government
of India’s failure and the failure
of most Indian states to enact
into law and implement
agrarian reform measures
designed to transform its
historic land systems so as to
confer new rights and economic
opportunities on actual
cultivators, India now faces an
uncertain future. India’s
existing political economy is
one that denies generally its
rural majority the socioeconomic changes long ago
promised by India’s Founding
Fathers and made explicit in the
Directive Principles. The
existing political economy in
rural India is shaped mainly, as
it was prior to independence, by
the interests of a minority of
landholders whose political and
economic power are derived
from secure rights in land.
6
Heart-rending indeed is the
account of our failure to devise
a systematic national program
to bring about the much-needed
agrarian reforms in post-1947
India. Had Nehru the foresight
to facilitate such a program and
win national support for it, we
would have emerged from the
long-lingering shadow of
British colonialism into a truly
democratic era rooted in an
empowered mass of humanity
which had been ruthlessly
exploited for centuries. The
account of our failure to do
what we could have done on
this front is the most telling
commentary on Nehru’s post1947
business-as-usual
approach. All that was done in
the name of agrarian reform
was to conjure up a camouflage
to ensure the continuity of the
old order. In Jannuzi’s words:
If the government of a country
is dominated or strongly
influenced by landholders, the
very persons whose powers and
prerogatives are to be curtailed
by agrarian reform, no one
should expect effective
measures of reform to be
enacted or, even if they could be
successfully enacted, to be
implemented.
Those who Mattered
Allow me a small diversion.
Before Bal Gangadhar Tilak,
the Indian independence
movement was an upper middle
class Xmas week diversion of
resolution passing. It was he
who gave it an altogether new
dimension by involving the
Indian peasantry, whom he
egged on to stop paying lagan.
He gave the clarion call:
“Swarajya is my birthright, and
I shall have it!” And this was
the demand of a new
generation. No wonder the
British colonial rulers called
him “Father of the Indian
unrest.” In the fitness of things
the newly-awakened masses
conferred on him the honorary
title of “Lokmanya”, which
literally means “accepted by the
people (as their leader)”.
Tilak’s mantle fell on the
shoulders of Gandhi. He went a
step further to involve the
peasantry. Remember his
Champaran campaign in North
Bihar. And this made the
independence movement an
unstoppable juggernaut that the
ever-opportunist upper middle
class clambered on realizing
that independence of India is on
the way. Ironically, once again
as usual the peasantry was let
down when independence
finally arrived.
Let the present generation be
reminded that our independence
movement was given a mass
base by Gandhi only by
successfully mobilizing the
peasantry. Emphasis on land
reforms once we were
independent was a recurring
theme whenever Congress
leaders talked of their priorities.
Even after 1947 the exercise
continued perfunctorily. The
First Five Year Plan document
pompously proclaimed:
The future of land ownership
and cultivation constitutes
perhaps the most fundamental
issue in national development.
To a large extent, the pattern of
economic
and
social
organization will depend upon
the manner in which the land
problem is resolved.
However, the reality is entirely
different. What goes in the
name of land reforms was
supposedly implemented in two
phases. The first consisted of
the abolition (on the statute
book) of the zamindari system,
conferring on the tenants the
rights to the land that they had
cultivated for generations. In
the so-called second phase a
ceiling was fixed on the size of
the holdings. The ostensible
purpose of the second phase –
most deftly defeated in practice
- was to bring about a more
equitable land distribution.
Let’s however remember that
land reform was a State subject.
Had the Central Government
been really serious about it, the
subject would have been, while
the Constitution was being
finalized, at least brought on the
Concurrent List to thwart the
designs of land-owning classes
dominating State legislatures.
The result of this unpardonable
lapse, as they say, is history.
Six reasons why Arun Shourie is wrong
Y
Praful Bidwai
OU could step aside from the BJP membership,
don the mantle of a full-time journalist again
and then go ballistic against the government,
Sudhir Bisht tells Arun Shourie in this open letter.
Respected Arun Shourie,
Let me start by a frank admission. You have been my
hero since your Indian Express days. There have been
only two journalists, I have hero worshipped. You are
there at the very top, the other being the Late Prabha
Dutt. Hence it is extremely painful for me to write an
open letter to you where I have to oppose what you say.
But let’s start with what I think you are.
I truly believe that if you weren’t at the helm of the
Indian Express, the fact that a woman could be bought
and sold for less than Rs 3,000 wouldn’t have been
known to a stunned nation as your team mate, Ashwin
Sarin, broke the story in 1981 in the Indian Express.
The Tihar jail torture expose, by Sarin again, wouldn’t
have come to light had you, his boss and editor, not
backed him to the hilt.
Then young journalist, Arun Sinha, wouldn’t have been
emboldened to fearlessly expose the Bhagalpur
blindings, had he not have received your fullest
support.
If it were not for you, Shourie, the Kuo oil deal scam of
1980 wouldn’t have been reported.
And it was you, Shourie, who did the first sting on then
Karnataka Chief Minister Gundu Rao by reporting his
friendly, off-the-record chatter verbatim.
You have such an iconic status sir that in the early
eighties one of the best parliamentarians India ever
had, the irrepressible Piloo Mody, said, "Can you
imagine the improved state of the nation if we had 10
Arun Shouries working instead of one?"
Piloo Mody showered these praises upon you when
you as the investigator-cum-editor of the Indian
Express published a detailed report on what came to be
known as the notorious Antulay cement scam. Your
expose caused A R Antulay’s ouster as the CM of
Maharashtra.
Now let’s move to the present times, with your
permission.
You have set the proverbial political stage on fire by
making scathing attack on the one year performance of
the National Democratic Alliance government. In a
television interview to the wily Karan Thapar, you, the
first activist-journalist of our times, as Madhu Trehan
calls you, have come down heavily upon the Modi
sarkar.
You have made many unsubstantiated comments about
the BJP government but a few of them deserve scrutiny.
1. You allege that government is busy managing
headlines.
2. You call the government’s economic policy
directionless
3. You have accused the government of hyping figures
from spectrum auction and coal auction. You say that
whereas the government would get money from the
coal and spectrum auction over several years, it is
projecting as if these monies would make way into the
coffers in one year time.
4. You rue the fact that the troika of Narendra Modi,
Arun Jaitley and Amit Shah run the party.
5. You say that Jaitley as the finance minister is giving
mixed signals to the foreign investors. These, you
opine, are confusing the investors.
6. You complain that the impression that the minorities
are feeling insecure could be real.
I, your fan and follower, would like to join issue with
you point by point
1. The government is busy managing headlines is a
loose statement. In an era when news is 24x7 business
and when social media has left us in very little peace of
mind, headlines are a part-and-parcel of our daily lives.
The ruling dispensation will always be in the headlines.
A slip here and a fall there would be lapped up the
headline-hungry mainstream and social media. And if it
is inevitable that the government of the day would be
the headline, unless of course a disruptive political
entity takes over, it is best for the government to
manage its image.
The success of any enterprise, and the government is an
enterprise, that has the citizens as its principal
stakeholders, is dependent upon its achievements and
the portrayal of its achievements. What is so wrong
about managing headlines? One has to do so ethically
and without any jiggery pokery though
I know you may find the argument a bit bombastic but
so is your accusation! You even said that the
government ‘manufactures’ headlines. Please
elaborate. Give examples. And if the government is
manufacturing headlines, why is the mainstream media
eating out of its hand?
2. Calling the economic policy directionless is a
statement that betrays your own sense of lack of
direction. This government is the first government that
is seeking to reduce the dependence of 70 per cent of
Indians from making a living out of a sector that
contributes less than 20 per cent to the GDP.
Text size: A A AMay 04, 2015 18:56 IST
Arun ShourieYou could step aside from the BJP
membership, don the mantle of a full-time journalist
again and then go ballistic against the government,
Sudhir Bisht tells Arun Shourie in this open letter.
Respected Arun Shourie,
Let me start by a frank admission. You have been my
hero since your Indian Express days. There have been
only two journalists, I have hero worshipped. You are
there at the very top, the other being the Late Prabha
Dutt. Hence it is extremely painful for me to write an
open letter to you where I have to oppose what you say.
But let’s start with what I think you are.
I truly believe that if you weren’t at the helm of the
Indian Express, the fact that a woman could be bought
and sold for less than Rs 3,000 wouldn’t have been
known to a stunned nation as your team mate, Ashwin
Sarin, broke the story in 1981 in the Indian Express.
The Tihar jail torture expose, by Sarin again, wouldn’t
have come to light had you, his boss and editor, not
backed him to the hilt.
Then young journalist, Arun Sinha, wouldn’t have been
emboldened to fearlessly expose the Bhagalpur
blindings, had he not have received your fullest
support.
If it were not for you, Shourie, the Kuo oil deal scam of
1980 wouldn’t have been reported.
And it was you, Shourie, who did the first sting on then
Karnataka Chief Minister Gundu Rao by reporting his
friendly, off-the-record chatter verbatim.
You have such an iconic status sir that in the early
eighties one of the best parliamentarians India ever
had, the irrepressible Piloo Mody, said, "Can you
imagine the improved state of the nation if we had 10
Arun Shouries working instead of one?"
Piloo Mody showered these praises upon you when
you as the investigator-cum-editor of the Indian
Express published a detailed report on what came to be
known as the notorious Antulay cement scam. Your
expose caused A R Antulay’s ouster as the CM of
Maharashtra.
Now let’s move to the present times, with your
permission.
You have set the proverbial political stage on fire by
making scathing attack on the one year performance of
the National Democratic Alliance government. In a
television interview to the wily Karan Thapar, you, the
first activist-journalist of our times, as Madhu Trehan
calls you, have come down heavily upon the Modi
sarkar.
You have made many unsubstantiated comments about
the BJP government but a few of them deserve scrutiny.
1. You allege that government is busy managing
headlines.
2. You call the government’s economic policy
directionless
3. You have accused the government of hyping figures
from spectrum auction and coal auction. You say that
whereas the government would get money from the
coal and spectrum auction over several years, it is
projecting as if these monies would make way into the
coffers in one year time.
4. You rue the fact that the troika of Narendra Modi,
Arun Jaitley and Amit Shah run the party.
5. You say that Jaitley as the finance minister is giving
mixed signals to the foreign investors. These, you
opine, are confusing the investors.
6. You complain that the impression that the minorities
are feeling insecure could be real.
I, your fan and follower, would like to join issue with
you point by point
1. The government is busy managing headlines is a
loose statement. In an era when news is 24x7 business
and when social media has left us in very little peace of
mind, headlines are a part-and-parcel of our daily lives.
The ruling dispensation will always be in the headlines.
A slip here and a fall there would be lapped up the
headline-hungry mainstream and social media. And if it
is inevitable that the government of the day would be
the headline, unless of course a disruptive political
entity takes over, it is best for the government to
manage its image.
The success of any enterprise, and the government is an
enterprise, that has the citizens as its principal
stakeholders, is dependent upon its achievements and
the portrayal of its achievements. What is so wrong
about managing headlines? One has to do so ethically
and without any jiggery pokery though
I know you may find the argument a bit bombastic but
so is your accusation! You even said that the
government ‘manufactures’ headlines. Please
elaborate. Give examples. And if the government is
manufacturing headlines, why is the mainstream media
eating out of its hand?
2. Calling the economic policy directionless is a
statement that betrays your own sense of lack of
direction. This government is the first government that
is seeking to reduce the dependence of 70 per cent of
Indians from making a living out of a sector that
contributes less than 20 per cent to the GDP.
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I am of course referring to the agriculture sector here.
If the government wasn’t sure of the direction it is
taking it wouldn’t have stuck its neck out in pursuing
with the job of converting the land ordinance into an
act of Parliament. Unless there are land reforms, tax
reforms and labour reforms how would the economy
banish its state of inertia and leapfrog into double digit
growth.
I take the opportunity to ask you one basic question. If
the government isn’t sincere about its economic
agenda, why would it risk pushing the not so easy-topush land ordinance through the Parliament? This
government is crystal clear about its economic policy
and all the factors that contribute to its formulation.
That’s why your calling the economic policy as
directionless is unfair
3. You are upset that the government is hyping the
earnings from coal and spectrum auctions. You even
said that these auctions were a result of Supreme Court
ruling(s) and not because of the government’s
initiatives. I have a different point of view. The
decision to go far auctions may have been driven by the
courts but would you not give any credit to the
government for its speedy, transparent and productive
To be Continued …
implementation?
You say that government is projecting the future
revenues as current revenues. This is far from truth.
Can you show any official document or statement by
any authorised person of the government that all the
proceeds from coal and spectrum auctions will be
credited to the exchequer in one single year? So from
where did you get an impression that the government
wants to apportion the revenue it would get over
several years in one single year?
4. The fact that troika of Modi, Jaitley and Shah are
taking all the decisions of the party is resented by you.
I find this very strange. Modi has been elected the
leader of the Lok Sabha by the BJP MPs. Arun Jaitley
is the finance minister of the country and one of the
finest minds that combines legal acumen, knowledge of
economics and political astuteness. Amit Shah has been
elected the party president unanimously. If these three
men would not be the ones not taking all the decisions
then who would? The leader of the Opposition in the
Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha and the chairperson of the
United Progressive Alliance? Funny, isn’t it?
5. You say that the FM is giving mixed signals to
foreign investors in respect of retrospective tax. This is
not true. The FM has said that he will not levy any tax
from retrospective effect. There are however some
cases which are pending in various courts in India and
in international tribunals. These cases will continue to
go through the judicial process. What’s wrong with this
line of business? How can the FM withdraw such
cases? Would he not be accused of favouring the
corporate sector, if the government were to withdraw
such cases?
6. You have said that if the members of minority
communities like Julio Riberio feel threatened in the
country then the situation is worrying. Let me say that
the current prime minister has one of the best records
when it comes to taking action against the hardliner
elements in the country. You just have to look at the
way he banished someone like Praveen Togadia from
Gujarat. It is a fact that a handful of irresponsible
members of BJP continue to make insensitive
utterances but these are far and few. The PM can’t be
reacting to all the nonsense all the time and lend
credibility to these radical elements, who would be
neutralised automatically if they don’t get a good press.
And let me admit that the press too is doing its job by
not giving them unwanted publicity.
The secular fabric of the country is too strong to be
ripped apart by utterances of some fringe elements.
Sir, you have raised some other issues like the
marginalisation of your old colleague, Sushma Swaraj.
I believe that Sushma Swaraj is a fiercely independent
leader who doesn’t need to fire a gun using your
shoulder. She is a fearless firebrand who will not like
you, an aging patriarch, to take cudgels on your behalf.
I hope nevertheless that the BJP leaders will pay heed
to your interview.
Some people have suggested that you may be ranting
because you lost out in the power play. I don’t think
that these people know you well enough. You are a man
who doesn’t seek power for the sake of power. For you
the purpose of power is to serve the country.
In the same vein I hope that you too realise that BJP,
nominated you to Rajya Sabha twice. You had no
political base and yet you occupied important positions
in the previous NDA regime. As a token of mutual
respect you could step aside from the party
membership, don the mantle of a full-time journalist
again and the go ballistic.
With warm regards,
Your lifelong fan and admirer
Sudhir Bisht
Sudhir Bisht is a published author and a freelance
columnist.
the NORTHLINES Jammu
7
NATION
JAMMU |TUESDAY, MAY 05, 2015
Al Qaeda's India wing PM Modi joining 'Weibo' will send message of friendship to China: Expert
targets PM Modi, says
he called for Muslims
to be 'burnt alive'
New Delhi: In a first, the
al Qaeda in the Indian
Subcontinent (AQIS) has
directly mentioned Prime
Minister Narendra Modi in a
video message released by its
publicity wing As-Sahab on
May 2. AQIS chief Maulana
Asim Umar, in the video
Prez condoles passing away of
Baleshwar
Ram
New Delhi: President
Pranab Mukherjee on
Monday condoled the
passing away of former
union minister and veteran Congress leader from
Bihar, Baleshwar Ram. In
a condolence message to
Ram's wife Chinta Devi,
Mukherjee said, "I am sad
to learn about the passing
away of Baleshwar Ram,
a friend and colleague of
long years."
"Please accept my
heartfelt condolences and
convey the same to the
rest of your family members.
I pray to the almighty
to give you and other
members of your family
the strength and courage
to bear this irreparable
loss," he said.
"Baleshwar
Ram
served the nation in different capacities during
his long public life.
As a five-term member
of the Bihar legislative
assembly and minister in
the state government in
the sixties and seventies,
he made immense contribution for the welfare and
development of the people of Bihar, especially
weaker sections," the
President said.
titled ‘From France to
Bangladesh: The Dust Will
Never Settle Down’, mentioned PM Modi in context of
what he claims as the war
against Muslims.
In the video, India-born
Umar talks about attack on
Muslims “through World
Bank and IMF policies,
drone attacks, satanic conspiracy of Kerry-Lugar bill,
Charlie Hebdo’s writings,
UN charter, official sermons
by muftis and Narendra
Modi’s speeches which call
for muslims to be burnt alivethis is the same war.”
AQIS has also claimed
responsibility for the assassination of several secular
writers and intellectuals in
Bangladesh and Pakistan,
including Avijit Roy who was
hacked to death in Dhaka in
February.
Qaeda chief Ayaman AlZawahiri had announced a
new branch of al Qaeda
called "Qaedat al-Jihad in the
Indian Subcontinent" last
year. AQIS IS "seeking to
raise the flag of jihad, return
Islamic rule, and imposing
Sharia across the Indian subcontinent." While nothing
much is known about
Maulana Asim Umar, reports
suggested that he is possibly
of north Indian origin and
had migrated to Pakistan in
the nineties. Last year, when
Modi was probed about the
formation of Qaeda’s Indian
wing, he had said, “My
understanding is that they are
doing injustice towards the
Muslims of our country. If
anyone
thinks
Indian
Muslims will dance to their
tune, they are delusional.”
New Delhi: Shrikant Kondapalli, an expert
on China, on Monday lauded Prime Minister
Narendra Modi's move to join the Chinese
social media platform 'Weibo', and said it
would send a message of friendship to
Beijing.
"Prime Minister Modi is visiting China in
May and the recent announcement that Prime
Minister Modi is on 'Weibo', social networking site, is a major development. Unlike previous prime ministers, now Prime Minister
Modi has access to roughly about 55 crore
people who are a part of social networking
sites in China," Kondapalli told a news
agency.
"So, I think, he can send his message of
friendship to the Chinese people, and this is a
major development that has happened.
Although social networking sites in China are
controlled by the Central Committee of the
Communist Party of China, still, there is a
window of opportunity here in terms of the
spread of message by Prime Minister Modi,"
he added.
Talking about Prime Minister Modi's
upcoming visit to China, the expert said the
focus of agreements between the two sides
would be in the economic field.
"The Prime Minister is going to China in
May. The visit will have a lot of agreements,
but mainly in the economic field, which is
expected to strengthen bilateral relations further," he added.
According to reports, Prime Minister Modi
will undertake a three-nation tour to China,
Mongolia and South Korea from May 14 to
19.
Indian rescue
teams to be
withdrawn
from quakehit Nepal: MEA
New Delhi: India will be
withdrawing its rescue teams
from quake-hit Nepal, along
with 34 other nations, the
government said on Monday.
"Rescue teams from all 34
nations have been asked to
withdraw as it is now nine
days since the quake," external affairs ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said. The
spokesperson said while the
rescue operations were over,
the next phase of operations to
provide relief and rebuild the
nation will continue. "Search
and rescue phase is over.
Indian relief efforts will continue," he tweeted. India was
among the first to react and
move to Nepal's aid after the
devastating 7.9-magnitude
quake hit the Himalayan
nation on April 25. The Indian
Army, Indian Air Force, and
disaster relief teams under the
home ministry were rushed to
Nepal, while tonnes of relief
material was also sent.
Cong will continue to oppose land bill: Ramesh
Govt plans making Law
Commission into a permanent body
New Delhi: Government plans to make
Law Commission, which advises government on complex legal issues, into a permanent body, a move aimed at bringing
continuity in its functioning. At present the
Union Cabinet re-constitutes the
Commission every three years. After the
Commission is reconstituted, a new
Chairman and members are appointed to
run the panel. Deposing before the
Parliamentary Standing Committee on
Law and Personnel, Law Secretary PK
Malhotra said, "Since the Law
Commission is continuously functioning
since 1959 and is reconstituted every three
years, it is suggested that it be made a permanent body either by an Executive Order
or by an Act of Parliament." The
Parliamentary panel was scrutinising the
demands for grants of the Law Ministry.
If the law panel is converted into a permanent body by an Act of Parliament, it
will become a statutory body. If it is made
a permanent body by an executive order, it
will be on the lines of the erstwhile
Planning Commission or its new avatar
Niti Aayog. Both were constituted by a
resolution adopted by the Union Cabinet.
In 2010, the then UPA government had
prepared a draft Cabinet note to give statutory status to the Law Commission and the
Law Ministry had mooted to bring the
Law Commission of India Bill, 2010. But
the idea was perhaps shelved.
Sources in the Law Ministry said this
will help the panel bring out more reports
without compromising on quality as three
years is a limited time. In its report submitted to Parliament last week, the standing
committee expressed its concern at the
slow pace at which decisions are taken by
the government on reports of Law
Commission. It recommended that recommendations of the law panel are decided
upon preferably within a year of submission. The reports of the Law Commission
are considered by the Law Ministry in consultation with the administrative ministries
concerned and are submitted to
Parliament. They are cited in courts, in
academic and public discourses but are not
binding on the government.
The first such Commission was established in 1834 under the Charter Act of
1833 under the Chairmanship of Lord
Macaulay which recommended codification of the Penal Code and the Criminal
Procedure Code. The Indian Code of Civil
Procedure, the Indian Contract Act, the
Indian Evidence Act, the Transfer of
Property Act are products of the first four
Law Commissions.
Post Independence, there had been
demands in Parliament and outside for
establishing a Central Law Commission to
recommend revision and updating of the
inherited laws to serve the changing needs
of the country. The First Law Commission
of independent India was set up under the
chairmanship of then Attorney General
MC Setalvad. The twentieth Law
Commission was constituted for a period
of three years with effect from September
1, 2012 up to December 31, 2015. The successive Law Commissions have so far submitted 255 reports. Out of 255 reports, 91
reports have been implemented by the
government and 15 reports have not been
accepted. The remaining reports are under
consideration of the various departments
of the government.
Bridge connecting Assam,
Arunachal to come up in a year
New Delhi: The 9.1 kilometre long Dhola-Sadia
bridge linking Assam with
Arunachal Pradesh will be
completed in a year at an
investment of Rs 876 crore, a
top ministry official said.
"The work on the DholaSadia bridge in Assam will
be completed within a year,"
Road
Secretary
Vijay
Chibber told a news agency.
During this winter season
(starting November) we
should be able to finish the
work, he added. The bridge
is slated to be completed by
December 2015 but a delay
of few months will not have
an impact on the cost.
"It is annuity based project
so there is no cost escalation
plus hopefully there will be
no delay," he added.
An annuity is any continuing payment with a fixed
total annual amount.
The bridge, touted to be
country's largest, will come
up at a cost of Rs 876 crore
of which Rs 592 crore financial support has been given
by the Ministry of Road
Transport and Highways.
The bridge will connect the
villages of Beshoni Mukh,
Laopani,
Sesenigaon,
Balijan
Chapari,
Padumphula
gaon,
Lakhimpuria
gaon,
Mugalpur,
Islampur,
Lakhimpuria, Chapakhuwa,
Ghogdri,
Santipur,
Kukurmara, in Assam. "This
project will not only save
about 4 hours of travel time
between
Assam
and
Arunachal (Pradesh) but will
also promote socio-economic activity around the area,"
Akash
Borah,
Deputy
Manager Navayuga Dhola
Infra Projects said.
Meanwhile, Minister for
Road
Transport
and
Highways Nitin Gadkari, last
week announced that the
central government will
award road projects worth
Rs 15,000 crore in the region
by December.
Of the total Rs 15,000
crore road projects envisaged for the North-East, Rs
6,000 crore worth highways
will be developed in
Arunachal Pradesh, Rs 2,000
crore projects each in
Nagaland and Meghalaya
and the remaining ones in
other parts of the region.
The Centre has also asked
the north-eastern states -Assam,
Meghalaya,
Manipur,
Nagaland,
Mizoram,
Tripura
and
Arunachal Pradesh -- to
acquire land and obtain the
necessary regulatory clearances after which the Road
Ministry and the National
Highways Authority of India
(NHAI) will build those
roads.
Bhopal: The Congress
will continue its tirade
against the land bill as it is
"anti-farmer and dilutes the
pro-farmer provisions of
Land Acquisition Act 2013"
which was passed with the
consent of all parties, former
Union Minister Jairam
Ramesh said on Monday.
Ramesh also dubbed as
"totally rubbish" the claim of
Prime Minister Narendra
Modi that under the 2013
Act, it will not be possible to
acquire land for hospitals,
schools and roads among
others and clarified that there
was no bar on acquiring land
for government, including
defence projects.
"We are against the
amendments made in the
2013 Land Act by the Modi
government
through
Ordinance without calling an
all-party meeting, despite the
fact that it was passed with
the consent of all parties," he
told reporters here.
"In the current scenario, it
is impossible for this Bill to
get passed in the Rajya Sabha
as the SP, BSP, JD-U, TMC,
DMK and even NDA allies
like Shiv Sena and Akali Dal
are opposed to it," the senior
Congress leader said.
The Congress is opposing
these amendments on five
grounds, he said.
Elaborating further, he said
the Bill dilutes the consent
clause of securing consent of
80 percent farmers for
acquiring land for private
companies and 70 per cent
for projects to be implemented on PPP (Public, Private
Partnership) mode.
The present Bill dilutes
provisions of Social Impact
Assessment for private projects to check the practice of
acquiring land for a government project and handing
over to private players after
sometime, he said.
There was a provision in
the 2013 Act that if the
acquired land is not used
within five years, then it will
be handed back to its owner,
but this clause was also
removed in the 2014 Land
Bill, he said.
The provision of acquiring
one-km stretch of land on
either side of the major road
is being done with an intention to help private companies, and Congress is
opposed to it as it is impractical, Ramesh said.
The Congress is opposing
removal of the provision for
providing four times compensation from back date to
those land owners who were
not satisfied with the award
they got at the time of acquisition, he said.
Ramesh said that the
Congress demands implementation of 2013 Land Act
in toto and will not allow any
dilution of it.
We will be withdrawing from Nepal and
sending our troops back to India: NDRF
Kathmandu: The NDRF
said on Monday that they
would be withdrawing from
Nepal which was hit by a
devastating
earthquake
recently. "We will be withdrawing from Nepal and will
be making our demobilisation
plan and will be sending our
troops back to the country,
OP Singh, DG, NDRF said.
He clarified that the reason
that "search and rescue operations have come to an end,"
as per ANI.
"Nepalese government has
decided that all countries
which have the 'search and
rescue' team should return
back to their countries,"
Singh added, as per ANI.
At the same time, Ranjeet
Rae, Indian Ambassador to
Nepal said, "Once 'search and
rescue' is over, focus shifts to
removal of rubble and 'relief
and rehabilitation' efforts.
After 8-9 days of an earth-
quake, the possibility is very
low that you will find live
people."
Meanwhile, the Nepal government today asked hundreds of foreign rescue workers to leave the quake-hit
country as immediate relief
has already been provided
and the remaining tasks will
be carried out by its army and
police. The major rescue
work in Kathmandu and surrounding areas is over and the
remaining operations can be
handled by local workers,
Information
Minister
Minendra Rijal said, as per
media. However, there was
work remaining in the villages and remote mountainous areas that could be carried out by foreign aid volunteers along with local police
and army, he said.
The
Central
Natural
Disaster Relief Committee headed by Home Minister
Bam Dev Gautam, who is
also the Deputy Prime
Minister - had asked the government to bid adieu to the
foreign rescue teams yesterday, eight days after the deadly earthquake hit the
Himalayan nation.
Around 4,500 people from
around 34 nations, including
National Disaster Response
Force (NDRF) teams from
India, came to Nepal after the
April 25 earthquake to carry
out the rescue work and pull
people out of the debris.
Most of the rescue teams
were carrying out operations
in the worst affected districts
of the Kathmandu Valley,
Sindhupalchowk and Gorkha
districts. "Its more than eight
days after the earthquake. The
rescue teams have served
their purpose and we are very
thankful to them. The Central
Natural Disaster Relief
Committee has recommended
the government to thank these
teams for the work they have
done for Nepal so that they
can exit the country. It is up to
the government to take a call
now," home ministry official
Laxmi Prasad Dhakal said.
"According to the guidelines
of International Search and
Rescue Group (INSRAG)
guidelines, the search and
rescue teams have to be carried out for 7 days, when the
survival chances are highest.
The remaining search and
rescue work will now be carried out by the Nepalese army
and police," he added.
However, all the relief and
medical teams are still in
Nepal carrying out their operations. The medical teams are
expected to be in the country
for some more time. More
than 7,200 people, including
54 foreigners have lost their
lives in the 7.9-magnitude
earthquake.
Kumar Vishwas `illicit relationship` row: Woman claims AAP leader threatened her to stay mum
New Delhi: After being accused of
passing sexist remarks, senior Aam
Aadmi Party leader Dr Kumar Vishwas is
now in the middle of another controversy.
The poet-cum-politician is now accused
by a female member of AAP of staying
mum on rumours of having illicit relationship with her. Delhi Commission for
Women has summoned the AAP leader
and his wife on the basis of a complaint
filed by the female party volunteer.
In an exclusive conversation with Zee
Media, the lady alleged that Vishwas
threatened her to stay quiet, or else she
would be killed like AAP leader Santosh
Koli. Notably, Koli, who was to contest
the Delhi Assembly polls, was killed in a
road accident in 2013.
The lady said she had campaigned
alongside Dr Kumar Vishwas, who was
pitted against Congress vice president
Rahul Gandhi, in Amethi during 2014
General Elections.
She later found out reports that claimed
that the AAP leader's wife caught him
red-handed in a compromising position
with one of the volunteers in Amethi. But
later she received a message on social
media, first on Facebook and later on
WhatsApp, showing her picture as the
female volunteer Vishwas is accused of
having illicit relationship with. The lady
then approached the AAP leader and
urged him to dismiss such rumours.
However, the usually canny leader told
her that such rumours are a part of political life.
She, along with her husband and two
others, allegedly went to Kumar Vishwas'
home and pleaded before him to help dispel such rumours.
"I urged him to make it clear before the
media that nothing happened between us.
He said he would address a press conference and make it clear that I'm like a
younger sister to him. But later he
stopped responding, I wrote letters, but
got no reply, so I was forced to file a complaint with DCW," said the complainant.
Demanding that Kumar Vishwas' wife
should come forward and give an explanation, the lady said she filed a complaint
at Nand Nagri Police Station in this
regard on March 29, 2015. However, the
police did not pay heed to her complaint.
Urging Vishwas to come forward and
clarify "rumours" that were ruining her
reputation, the woman has alleged that
the poet-turned-politician took no action
towards dispelling the stuff doing round
on social media.
The woman also claimed that she had
also written separate letters to Delhi
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and
Police Commissioner apprising them of
the same, but of no avail.
Kejriwal did not even take note of her
complaint, she added.
accusations are not cleared.
"Just because of this allegation my husband has left me. I have two kids. I come
from a middle class family where they
The female activist of the AAP added
that her personal life has ruined, her husband and children have left her. Her husband has also threatened to divorce her if
feel that since Kumar Vishwas is AAP
spokesperson and a known face, maybe
there was something between the two. I
am unable to explain. That's why I want
Kumar Vishwas to speak on this but he is
not doing so. That's why I had to go to the
Women's Commission."
The lady has also unveiled an audio
recording of her last evening's communication with a man, named Shail, who told
her not to rake up the issue. Shail, who
handles Vishwas' political affairs, also
threatened to release some of her videos.
Not only this, he threatened to divulge
details of her married life.
Trying to come clean about the issue,
Kumar Vishwas, instead of giving an
explanation on not dismissing the 'illicit
relationship' rumour, targetted the media
and said some people were trying to plant
news stories to defame the AAP.
Earlier in the day, this is how Dr
Vishwas responded to serious allegations
by his own party's female member:
The party came out in defence of
Viswas, who has in the past too courted
controversy over his alleged derogatory
remarks against women.
"The allegation is totally false and
baseless. AAP is being targeted. There is
no basis for the allegation. Please spare
our families," AAP leader Sanjay Singh
said.
Talking to a news agency, DCW chairperson Barkha Shukla Singh said the girl
has written a complaint letter to Police
Commissioner as well as AAP founder
and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind
Kejriwal.
"It is the same volunteer who has been
coming to us for quite some time now. He
(Vishwas) should come since the complainant is his own party's volunteer. Her
marriage is falling apart because of him
she has alleged," DCW Chairperson
Barkha Singh said.
Vishwas, a member of AAP's Political
Affairs Committee, and his wife have
been asked to appear before the
Commission at 3 pm on Tuesday.
Delhi BJP leader Vijendra Gupta said
that Vishwas and the Delhi Chief
Minister should come forward to clarify.
"If he is not clarifying that means there
is something fishy.... We are with that
woman and will support her," he said.
Another BJP leader Ashwini Upadhyay
said that the AAP leader should give a
compensation to the lady.
Congress leader Ajay Maken said it
was a serious complaint and should be
looked into.
Issues such as infighting involving senior leaders Yogendra Yadav and Prashant
Bhushan, fake degree of Law Minister
Jitender Singh Tomar, suicide of a farmer
at AAP rally - have marred AAP's second
stint in Delhi.
The NORTHLINES
KASHMIR VALLEY
www.thenorthlines.com
Hoteliers hail Mufti
for promoting tourism
NL Correspondent
Srinagar, May 4
The Co-ordination Committee
of Kashmir Hotel and
Restaurant Owners Federation
(KHAROF), Kashmir Hotel
and Restaurant Association
(KHARA) and Pahalgam Hotel
and
Restaurant
Owners
Association (PHAROA) have
appreciated the efforts of the
Chief
Minister
Mufti
Mohammad Syed for tourism
promotion
campaign
at
Mumbai, Ahmadabad and
Delhi.
A press statement, issued
here today said, "The
constituents of Co-ordination
Committee firmly believes that
the promotion campaign will
help dispel the post flood
worries of the tour operators,
travel agents, MICE organizers,
Corporate, intending tourists
and others who desires to
visit Kashmir in
coming
months."
The release added that the
campaign was targeted to
negate the adverse effect of
post flood reporting by a
section of
electronic media
which we believe has been
achieved by this high profile
campaign by the Chief
Minister, Finance Minister
Haseeb Drabu, Commissioner
Tourism and Culture, Shalindra
Kumar, Director Tourism
Farooq
Shah,
President,
Kashmir
Chamber
of
Commerce & Industry(Inc)
Sheikh Ashiq Ahmad.
The
Co-ordination
Committee said it shares the
belief of Chief Minister Mufti
Mohammad Syed and his
government
that tourism
industry has to play a more
important role in the economic
development of the state
including the capacity of the
hospitality sector in particular
of providing employment to a
large number of local
population besides acting as an
engine of growth for others
sectors
like
handicrafts,
transports,
house-boats,
shikara-walas,
pony-walas,
daily-wages,
small
time
hawkers, retail and wholesale
trade. The Co-ordination
Committee appeals to the
government to provide relief
and rehabilitation to small
traders who suffered losses
during 2014 floods and the need
for putting in order the
damaged infrastructure like
roads, brides and connectivity
with various destinations. The
Co-ordination
Committee
assured the government of its
support for future tourism
promotional activities.
Srinagar awaits traffic chaos as
'darbar' sets in for summers
NL Correspondent
Srinagar, May 4
As six-month long summer
darbar is resuming in Srinagar
tomorrow, there are growing
apprehensions of rising traffic
mess in city.
But to meet the additional
rush on roads, Traffic
department maintains, "its men
will be on toes".
Already
the
traffic
department, says Haseeb Ul
Rehman SP traffic, has issued
guidelines for streamlining the
traffic on busy routes.
SP Rehman said that there
will be one-way traffic on
Residential road, rajbagh and
other busy roads leading to city
centre Lal Chowk.
"We have already issued
traffic guidelines in city," he
said. "And our men will ensure
strict implementation of the
same."
In a clear warning to
violators, the top traffic cop said
that nobody will be allowed to
toy with traffic.
"Traffic department is
already monitoring the activities
of Sumo and other vehicles," he
said. "In coming days, we won't
Unindentified Youth should participate actively
gunmen shoot welfare of State: Haq Khan
one dead
Horticulture, A R Veeri was
NL Correspondent
NL Correspondent
Srinagar, May 4
On Monday afternoon, one
Abdul Ahad Dar of Gasoo
Astan Mohalla was shot dead
by unidentified gunman at
Zakoora in Hazratbal area.
Eye witnesses said Dar, a
health employee, was shot on
his head.
He was shifted to SKIMS
where doctors declared him
dead.
Police said they have launched
the manhunt to nab the
assailants.
Missing man
found dead
Srinagar: Awantipora police
recovered the body of missing
person who had gone in a
nearby jungle to collect wild
Mushroom from the jungle.
The body of a missing person
Ghulam Mohammad Bhat @
Mum Bhat son of Ali
Mohammad Bhat resident of
Koil Shikargah was recovered
near Chari-Sangri of Shikargah
forests.
According to his family
members he went missing since
02-05-2015 when he left to
collect wild Mushroom in the
jungle. Apparently he had
slipped from a cliff into a
nallah.
Police has started investigation
under section 174 CrPC to
ascertain the cause of his death.
The body was handed over to
his relatives for last rites.
Gamblers
arrested
Srinagar: Baramulla police
arrested four gamblers and
recovered stake money along
with cards from the gambling
spot at Gulmarg.
Gulmarg police raided a
gambling site in the forest area
of Gulmarg and arrested four
gamblers three of resident of
Lal Bazar, Srinagar and one
resident of Kathua while
gambling on the spot.
A stake money of Rs 9260/=
and few packs of playing cards
were recovered from the spot.
A case FIR No. 2/2015 under
section 13 Gambling act has
been registered against them.
Man injured in
attack by bear
Srinagar: A man was injured
when a bear attacked him while
he was grazing his cattle at
Pethkote, Bandipora.
A bear attacked and injured a 35
year old Mir Hussain Rahti son
of Shamus-ud-Din Rahti resident
of Panar while he was grazing
cattle at Panar in the jurisdiction
of Police Station Pethkote,
Bandipora. The injured was
shifted to hospital for treatment.
Pulwama, May 4
Saying that youth have
pivotal role in the
development and prosperity
of J&K and they should
actively participate in
developmental process, the
Minister for Rural
Development and Panchayat
Raj, Advocate Abdul Haq
Khan has said that
Government is well aware
about the problems of the
people and they have great
expectation with the present
dispensation led by Mufti
Mohammad Sayeed.
This was stated by the
minister while addressing a
public rally at Town Hall
Pulwama.
Minister for Hajj, Auqaf and
8
JAMMU | TUESDAY | MAY 5 | 2015
also present on the occasion.
Advocate Haq Khan said that
Government is committed to
redress the issues of public
besides fulfil their demands
on priority.
Speaking on the occasion, A
R Veeri said that present
coalition government is
committed for implementation
of common minimum
programme. He said welfare
and socio economic
upliftment of people in prime
objective of the government.
Legislators, Mohammad
Khalil Band, Zahoor Ahmad
Mir and Mushtaq Ahmad
Shah besides PDP General
Secretary, Rafi Ahmad Mir
and Coordinator Mufti Sajjad
were also present on the
occasion.
allow some Sumos to enter city announced by the Inspector mere 250 man the vehicular
for the larger traffic welfare."
General of Police (Traffic) are flow. While the traffic police
Already to host the summer to be taken into consideration, dominates the VIP routes, the
darbar, the city is being applied
with fresh coat of paint.
It is apprehended that except
for the Civil Secretariat-MA
Road-Gupkar stretch, a VIP
route, there will be chaos on
Srinagar roads from May 5 as
the state government has failed
to evolve "people-friendly"
arrangements.
If
the
arrangements
the
administration
is
concentrating only on the route
frequented by the top brass to
reach Secretariat.
In doing so the administration
even seems to have forgotten
majority of commuters who
travel by public transport.
The traffic police is believed
to be staff-starved: As against
the requirement of 1000 cops
densely populated old City has
been left unattended.
Official sources in the Home
department said "as a cosmetic
measure around 300 cops from
Srinagar will lend a helping
hand to the Traffic Police for
regulation." But this makeshift
arrangement is likely to keep
the deployment-deficit alive in
the old City areas.
In order to curb the traffic
jamming and streamlining the
traffic management system in
Srinagar city, the Minister for
R&B and Floriculture, Syed
Altaf Ahmad Bukhari visited
various traffic jamming prone
areas of City and took stock of
measures taken for smooth ply
of traffic.
He directed the SMC
authorities for immediate
removal of bottlenecks and
hurdles so that traffic jamming
would be easily curbed.
During the visit, the
Minister was accompanied by
the officers of Divisional and
District Administration.
Bukhari visited Batmaloo
and
directed
Srinagar
Municipal authorities for
removal of the boundary walls
of dewatering station so that
road is widened.
The Minister also visited
Bishambir Nagar road in
Srinagar city and instructed
the authorities to take
immediate steps for removal
of encroachment within days.
He visited Dalgate and
instructed the Executive
Engineer R&B Srinagar for
construction of protection
Bund on the bank of Dalgate
road.
The Minister also directed
the Commissioner Srinagar
Municipal Corporation for
lifting the debris of dismantled
private building so that the
roads would be cleared for
smooth vehicular movement.
Earlier,
the
Minister
convened a meeting of officers
at Banquet Hall Srinagar and
reviewed
the
traffic
management plan framed by
Srinagar
Development
Authority.
On this occasion, the
Minister was apprised by the
Srinagar
Development
Authority
about
traffic
Traders across valley to
observe strike Tuesday
Allege inordinate delay in relief package
to those who suffered in floods
NL Correspondent
Srinagar, May 3
Aghast over the delay in the
relief package to the flood hit
traders of Kashmir, traders
have issued a valley wide
strike call for May 5, saying
the state authorities have left
them at the mercy of situation.
According to a press
release, Kashmir Traders and
Manufacturers
Federation
(KTMF) while urging the
valley traders to observe
complete
shutdown
in
Kashmir valley against what it
termed the inordinate delay in
relief package to the traders
who suffered massive losses
during the catastrophic floods
of the September last year.
Other business and traders
groups have also extended
support to the strike call and
urged people to stay away
from routine functions on May
5.
Traders have said that they
will arrange a protest sit in at
Budshah Chowk Srinagar on
the day when Darbar is
opening in the summer capital
of the state.
KTMF chief Yasin Khan has
appealed to the people not to
ply their private vehicles also
on the city roads till 2 P.M on
May 5.
NL Correspondent
Srinagar, May 4
Hours after students of Government Girls Higher Secondary
School Kothi Bagh complain about concertina wires "as a
source of inconvenience" near the Bharat Sanchar Nigam
Limited (BSNL) Srinagar, authorities Monday removed the
wires, much to the delight of girl students.
The authorities said that the wires have been removed in view
of complains.
Earlier students had complained: "We face cuts and bruises by
concertina wires near BSNL exchange. We appeal the
government to clear the road from this nuisance."
The concertina wire, they said, was so dangerously laid that in
past many school going girls were caught in it and sustained
injuries.
The students had complained that concertina wires used by the
paramilitary forces near BSNL office had become a source of
inconvenience for them.
The students complained that such incidents had been taking
place often in the locality. "The concertina wire is so
dangerously laid that in past many school going girls were
caught in it and sustained injuries." they said.
They added that the space left out on the road because of the
encroachment by the CRPF bunker is fit enough only for one
vehicle and when traffic comes from both the sides it creates
problems for the students.
The school girls demanded removal of concertina wires in the
area. "We appeal to the government to intervene into the
matter and remove the concertina wire in the area," they said.
Public Relation Officer CRPF Ashish Kumar Jaha was earlier
quoted as saying that he would look into the matter. "I will
talk to the concerned Commanding Officer and discuss the
matter with him. If there is no security risk involved in
removing the barbed wire from the area then it can be
removed," he had said before the removal took place.
Kupwara, Baramulla to get alternate connectivity
After two decades of wait, Sopore
Bypass Bridge to be commissioned this year
Highway upgradation, maintenance
of city roads prioritized: Altaf Bukhari
NL Correspondent
Srinagar, May 4
Having failed to meet
innumerable deadlines during
the past almost two decades, the
crucial bridge on Sopore bypass
is finally set to be completed
this year, courtesy personal
intervention of the Minister for
Public Works, Syed Mohammad
Altaf Bukhari.
The State Government is
going to throw open the 226meter long bridge by August
this year.
"The bridge will be thrown
open by August this year and
there will be no more delay in
the work as I am personally
monitoring its progress,"
Bukhari said.
According to officials, the
bridge was initially approved in
1980's, it then got stalled for
some years and work was again
started in 1992-93.
However, the work was
stalled
again
and
the
construction of the bridge was
resumed in 2004 by M/S Mir
Constructions after they got the
contract from Border Road
Organization (BRO). The
construction
work
was
supposed to be completed
within four years and bridge
was to be thrown open in 2008.
However, it could not meet the
deadline forcing the present
Government to take up the
matter with the concerned
authorities in the Government
of India.
"We are committed to
complete the bridge before the
fruit season as it not only
provides alternate connectivity
to Kupwara and Baramulla, but
also connects country's second
largest Fruit Mandi through the
shortest link," the Minister said
adding the fruit growers have
been anxiously waiting for
decades for its completion.
He said Border Road
Organization (BRO) will be
handing it over to R&B
Department by July end and it
would be commissioned in
August. The completion of
bridge will also help ease
frequent traffic jams in the
Sopore town.
Pertinently, after assuming
charge as Minister for Public
Bukhari takes stock of traffic Padder announces Rs.
4 lakh for 'Chogalpora
management plan for Srinagar
NL Correspondent
Srinagar, May 4
BSNL removes
concertina wires
management
programme
through
a
PowerPoint
presentation.
During the meeting the
authorities of R&B, Traffic
Police and Srinagar Municipal
Corporation put forth their
suggestions regarding curbing
traffic
jamming
and
streamlining of traffic in city.
The meeting was attended
by Divisional Commissioner
Kashmir, Gazanfar Hussain,
Deputy
Commissioner
Srinagar, Dr. Farooq Ahmad
Lone, Vice Chairman Srinagar
Development
Authority,
Mohammad
Saleem
Sheshgari,
Commissioner
Srinagar
Municipal
Corporation, Tufail Mattoo,
Senior Superintendent of
Police Traffic Srinagar,
Haseeb-ur-Rehman, Senior
Superintendent of Police
Srinagar, Amit Kumar, ,
Executive Engineer PWD,
Chief Town Planner Srinagar
and other officers.
Buddha Purnima
celebrated
NL Correspondent
Leh, May 4
People of Leh on Monday
celebrated Buddha Purnima,
the birth anniversary of Lord
Buddha, with joy and fervour.
Thousands, including school
children, monks, nuns, gathered
at Leh Chokang, a Buddhist
temple, from where they
proceeded through different
ways to Tsemo Gonpa, a
Buddhist monastery here.
The procession culminated at
the historic Leh Pologround
with a cultural programme, in
which
several
speakers
addressed the gathering and
threw light on the life of Lord
Buddha.
School children also brought
religious tableaux showcasing
the philosophy of Buddhism on
the occasion.
NL Correspondent
Anantnag, May 4
Present coalition government will ensure the implementation
of developmental agenda and people will clearly feel it on
the ground which will include the better connectivity
through development of roads, supply of power, adequate
drinking water and essential commodities besides quality
educational and better healthcare facilities.
This was stated by the Minister of State for Forests, PHE,
Irrigation & Flood Control, Abdul Majeed Padder while
addressing a public meeting at Chogalpora Noorabad today.
Padder said that the present government having a decisive
mandate will certainly work for the welfare of the people
through completion of the incomplete and left over projects
which mainly include the roads, water supply schemes,
health and educational infrastructure, bridges and
development of tourist destinations.
Responding to the local demands put forward in the shape of
memorandum, the Minister said that the developmental
works including repairs of recent flood hit irrigation canals
and protection bunds will be taken in hand soon. He
announced Rs. 2 lakh for development of Sports Stadium and
Rs. 2 lakh for purchase of new transformers for
''Chogalpora'' village. Padder also said that Government will
provide ration on 2011 census.
The Minister also addressed public meeting at Khul
Ahmadabad were in he instructed the officers to work with
more zeal and dedication for welfare of public.
Works, Bukhari on the
directions of Chief Minister
Mufti Mohammad Sayeed
rushed to New Delhi to sort-out
the issues hampering work on
the roads and bridges being
constructed and maintained by
the BRO. He held threadbare
discussions with the BRO
officials and Union Minister for
Transport and Highways to
expedite work on these projects
including
Srinagar-Jammu
highway.
Bukhari said the government
has constituted a high-level
committee to monitor progress
of some crucial projects in R&B
sector including Sopore Bypass
Bridge, Parimpora-Narbal road,
Srinagar-Qazigund stretch of
the highway, Mughal Road and
some important roads in
Srinagar city.
Regarding the dilapidated
condition of Srinagar-Jammu
highway, the Minister said the
clear instructions have been
passed on to the executing
agency to expedite work on the
project and he will be tomorrow
personally visiting the worst
affected stretch of the highway
from Panthachowk to Qazigund
for on-the-spot review of the
work.
Regarding, maintenance of
roads in Srinagar city, the
Minister
said
that
a
multipronged strategy is being
used to regulate traffic
movement in the summer
capital. He said on one hand all
the bottlenecks will be removed
from crucial road links while on
the other upgradation and blacktopping would be carried out
simultaneously to ensure hasslefree movement of traffic. He
said the upgradation work has
already been kick-started in
several parts of the city.
Ashraf for speeding up tempo of
development across constituency
NL Correspondent
Srinagar, May 4
Minister of State for Power, Housing, Urban Development,
Industries and Commerce, Mohammad Ashraf Mir alongwith
MLA Zadibal Constituency, Aabid Hissain Ansari today visited
Zadibal Constituency and took stock of ongoing works of various
developmental projects.
The minister inspected the under construction work of
Community Facilitation Centre at Nalbal Nowshera and directed
the concerned executive agency for timely completion of the
project so that people of the area are able to avail the facilities
during the social functions. He also visited Marriage Hall at
Nalbal Nowshera and directed the concerned agencies for
necessary repairs of the said Marriage Hall.
Later, the minister visited Jenab Sahib Soura and interacted with
the people of the area. On the occasion, people demanded for
fencing of park near Jenab Sahib Soura. The minister assured the
people that the matter will be taken up with the concerned
authorities.
The minister also directed the SHO Police Station Soura to
organize Police-Public Darbars in the area so that issues of public
are redressed.
Mir also inspected Power Receiving Station at Ali Jan road
Zoonimar. The minister was informed by the Superintending
Engineer PDD that Receiving Station is being upgraded to
improve the power supply in the area.
The minister also visited Saidapora and Khushalsar and took
stock of the public issues. On the occasion, the people of the area
demanded for proper drainage system. The people also demanded
for dewatering of water logged areas.
Mufti braced-up panchayats to end red-tapism;
put best foot forward to boost tourism: Hamid
NL Correspondent
Srinagar, May 4
People's Democratic Party (PDP) leader
Abdul Hamid Choudhary today said that
People's Democratic Party (PDP)-Bhartiya
Janata Party (BJP) coalition government in
J&K State was working on all possibilities
of ensuring desired number of tourists be it
rich, cultural or pilgrimage related ones,
arriving in Jammu and Kashmir State for
which chief minister Mufti Mohamamd
Sayeed was putting in his best foot forward
to win over tour operators and other stake
holders located in other states.
Mufti Sayeed, he said also intends to end
Red-Tapism in the state and bring in
complete transparency in every sector for
giving
people
an
accountable
administration. It was towards this end that
a team of bureaucrats were also sent to
other states to study their Panchayati Raj
System so that powers are decentralised and
people';s involvement in development of
their villages encouraged.
Choudhary Hamid urged people to
understand programmes and policies of
coalition government which are pro-people
and aimed at strengthening state's economy.
When Mufti Mohammad Sayeed says that
there was a need to change the perception
about J&K, he intends to send a message
that peace and progress stays on top priority
of government and unlike past it is now
developing to be the most favoured
destination of everyone.
Besides promoting tourism spots,
exploring new destinations, encouraging
pilgrimage tourism to also patronage health
tourism the state government was doing its
very best to ensure safety and security of
visitors besides extending them world class
hospitality. The chief minister, PDP leader
said has tourist places of Jammu, Kashmir
and Ladakh on his mind which he is trying
to showcase around the globe and make
tourists presence felt here in a big way.
This is the reason why Srinagar is being
developed as a destination of heritagetourism while the Centre is coming up with
an international Yoga centre at Mantalai in
Udhampur district of Jammu region. Once
J&K State begins to receive tourists in a big
way, the economy of people will get
strengthened and that in turn will help flood
affected people rise on their feet as well.
It was because of efforts of coalition
government that Mufti's Mission Jammu,
Kashmir & Ladakh has been able to reach
wider sections of the society in promotion
of destinations like Sanasar, Mantalai,
Kokernag, Aharbal, Nun Kun, Ranjit Sagar
and Baglihar Dam. Recreational activities
like Golf and adventure sports like
mountaineering, expeditions or river rafting
are some of the attractions that are going to
make tourists presence felt in the state
during this season in a big way, Choudhary
Hamid said.
9
The NORTHLINES
JAMMU | TUESDAY | MAY 05 | 2015
www.thenorthlines.com
the NORTHLINES Jammu
“Sabka Internet, Sabka Vikas”
garners massive support
Jammu Tawi, May 04:
Cellular
Operators
Association of India (COAI)
announced that “Sabka
Internet, Sab ka Vikas”, its
campaign for net neutrality,
net equality and consumer
choice, has received support
from over 40 lakh Indian
mobile users in under a week.
Launched on April 22nd,
“Sabka Internet, Sab ka
Vikas” is a campaign about
making the Internet accessible and affordable for every
Indian. In addition, it is about
ensuring that everyone has
the right to choose what they
want to access, ensuring
access to solutions that make
the internet affordable for all,
and applying the same rules
for the same services to all.
The
campaign
was
announced in a Media
Briefing session by the CEOs
and representatives of the
member companies of COAI
on April 24th, in New Delhi.
COAI members had reaffirmed their commitment to
the government’s Digital
India programme and to promote Net Equality, so as to
facilitate an open, inclusive
and affordable access to the
Internet for every Indian.
Rajan
S.
Mathews,
Director General, COAI,
said, “The campaign championed the cause of customers
choosing what they would
like to access in the web
space, benefitting from
affordable internet packages
and with the same rules being
applicable to services as
well. COAI started the outreach effort to ensure mobile
customers have the freedom
to benefit from the power of
the internet in the way they
would wish to.
This includes the choice of
platform, device and technology.”
“We respect the choice of
our customers and support
the Prime Minister’s vision
of Digital Indi,” added
Mathews.
In the past week, more
than 40 lakh people showed
their support for the cause.
About 10% chose to opt out.
The entire mobile number
database of supporters is
auditable on request by the
appropriate agency.
India's factory growth slips on
weak local orders: HSBC survey
New Delhi: India's manufacturing sector grew at a
slower pace in April on weak
domestic orders, an HSBC
survey said Monday, raising
hopes for a rate cut by the
RBI.
The contraction in factory
growth rate, after a robust
uptick in the previous month,
also resulted in some job losses and companies adopted a
cost-cautious approach to hiring.
The headline HSBC India
Purchasing Managers' Index
(PMI), compiled by Markit,
A measure above 50 indicates
that the sector is expanding,
while a figure below that
level means contraction.
The rate of growth in order
flows
moderated
since
March, amid softening
domestic demand and competitive pressures, the survey
showed.
"Despite recording softer
rates of expansion, the Indian
manufacturing sector held its
ground in April, benefiting
from ongoing improvements
in operating conditions,"
Markit Economist Pollyanna
stood at 51.3 in April, down
from 52.1 in March, pointing
to a weaker improvement in
operating conditions across
various industries.
The PMI is a composite
gauge designed to give a single figure snapshot of manufacturing business conditions.
De Lima said.
The headline index was
recorded above the crucial
50.0 threshold for the 18th
successive month.
"However, we are yet to
see growth leading to meaningful job creation, as the
index measuring employment
10
BUSINESS
JAMMU | TUESDAY, MAY 05, 2015
has shown little change to
staff numbers since the beginning of 2014," De Lima
added.
April saw companies maintain a cost-cautious approach
to hiring and vast majority of
panelists signalled no change
in employment levels.
Analysts said the slowing
down of manufacturing sector growth would add to the
clamour for rate cuts by the
Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
The central bank has lowered
its policy rate twice so far in
2015, but maintained a status
quo in its last monetary policy review on April 7 on fears
of unseasonal rains impacting
food prices.
The next review meeting is
scheduled on June 2,
although the previous two
cuts have taken place outside
the scheduled policy reviews.
The HSBC's manufacturing
survey results for the current
month would be released on
June 1.
On the price front, tariffs
fell for the first time since
May 2013, as firms responded to a weaker cost inflation,
HSBC said.
"Even with the slower pace
of expansion, the goods-producing sector is on course to
provide a boost to the overall
economy in the upcoming
quarter," De Lima added.
Coca-Cola lanches new ad
campaign starring Alia, Siddharth
Jammu Tawi, May 04:
There are some things in
life that make you feel awkward, and others that miraculously make that awkwardness disappear.
The great, refreshing taste
of Coca-Cola is one of those
rare things that’s always
within arm’s reach of desire
be it to celebrate, to share a
moment or to simply quench
one’s thirst.
Ask the nation’s heartthrobs Siddharth Malhotra
and Alia Bhatt, and they’ll
add “It’s a great ice-breaker
too” to the list of many good
things that they associate
with Coca-Cola, one of country’s most loved drinks.
The on-screen couple will
be seen in Coca-Cola’s new
ad campaign in an endearing
tale of hesitant first few interactions between a newly
married couple, played by
them, and how they find
comfort with each other, over
a bottle of Coca-Cola.
The new TVC that hit the
airwaves on May 3, will take
forward Siddharth and Alia’s
journey as a couple and place
them in a real-life situation of
a newly-wed couple trying to
break the ice and overcome
the awkwardness. Alia’s love
for the great taste of CocaCola will prove to be the
magic ingredient that helps
stir up a conversation.
Speaking on the new cam-
Numero Uno Clothing
files IPO papers with Sebi
New Delhi: Apparel and
lifestyle accessories firm
Numero Uno Clothing Ltd
has approached capital
markets regulator Sebi to
float an initial public offer
(IPO).
The proposed public
issue comprises fresh issue
worth Rs 65 crore and an
offer for sale up to 84 lakh
from its promoter and AA
India Development Capital
Fund, the company said in
its Draft Red Herring
Prospectus (DRHP) filed
with Sebi.
The proceed of the issue
would be utilised for opening 84 new stores, expansion of the existing capacity at Selaqui, Dehradun,
brand building and general
corporate purposes.
Anand Rathi Advisors
and Motilal Oswal
Investment Advisors are
the merchant bankers to
manage the offer.
The promoter the company, Narinder Singh
Dhingra, has proposed to
offer up to 16 lakh equity
shares forsale, while AA
India Development Capital
Fund plans to offer 68 lakh
shares, DRHP added.
Numero Uno is one of
the leading jeanswear
brands built over 25 years
with a comprehensive
casualwear product range.
This year, 15 companies
including Biocon's custom
research arm Syngene
International, S H Kelkar
and Company Ltd,
Catholic Syrian Bank,
Dilip Buildcon and
Prabhat Dairy have filed
their initial papers to
launch IPOs.
Panasonic Goes Fast Lane with the Launch
of 4G Smart Phone, Elugal 4G in India
Jammu Tawi: Matching
its speed with the fast paced
design, superior build quality & unique user interface
· Panasonic introduces ELUGA L
4G, a 6.1mm Sleek & LightWeighted smartphonerunning on
Qualcomm Snapdragon 64-bit
Quad core processor
· Launches ELUGA L 4G at an
attractive offer price of Rs. 12,990
technological innovations
and advancements in the
mobility
segment,
Panasonic has introduced a
new feather to its smartphone series “ELUGA” in
the Indian market. Equipped
with top of the line hardware, the ELUGA smartphone series is known for its
for single hand operation.
India is a market where
next-generation technology
in the form of LTE (LongTerm Evolution) will soon
change the complete mobility landscape. In line with
this, the latest incarnation
from Panasonic has been
introduced keeping in mind
the concept of #TAGLIFE
whichresonates withthe sentiment of the youth and calls
outfor a powerful message
that echoes and communicates their personality, thus
enabling a change in the
Smartphone landscape.
MAKE A STATEMENTUnibody, Light Weight
andGlossy
Keeping in mind the form
and
functionality,
the
ELUGA L has been
designed which features a
6.1mm sleek, light-weighted
and a lustrous finish design.
Its sleek design and size is
perfect for comfortable
usage and its light weight
makes handling the phone
even more effortless. Fitted
with Corning Gorilla Glass
(Front + Back) for protec-
tion, the phone also features
a 12.7 cm(5) HD IPS display to render sharp and
vivid visuals. All in all, the
ELUGA L packs all the style
and performance you need
in one solid device.
DO MORE. BE MOREQualcomm
64
Bit
Snapdragon 410 Processor
Featuring a 64 bit 1.2
GHz
Qualcomm
Snapdragon Quad Core
processor with 1GB RAM,
the ELUGA L performs better at multi-tasking and carrying out intensive processing than its peers. One can
run multiple applications
and switch effortlessly
amongst them, without any
runtime lag or performance
dip.
ZIP THROUGH- 4G/LTE
Enabled
Files and movies can be
downloaded at half the time,
pictures can be uploaded on
social media and live TV
can be watched without any
interruption. With the latest
in mobile technology, these
advantages are equipped
with 4G/LTE technology in
the phone.
MAKE
MOMENTS
MEMORABLE- 8MP Rear
Camera, 5MP Selfie Front
Camera
Memorable moments can
be captured with the allpowerful 8MP Rear Camera
and the 5MP Selfie Front
Camera featuring BLINK
PLAY Technology. With a
powerful flash, images can
be captured in dark and low
light conditions enabling a
seamless experience for the
AN
EFFORTLESS
EXPERIENCE- Fit Home
UI for Smooth Navigation
Featuring
Panasonic’s
exclusive “Fit Home” User
Interface,
navigating
through applications and
files has now been made
easier with UI specifically
designed for single hand
operation and exclusively
integrated in ELUGA series
of
Smartphones.
The
ELUGA L 4G will be available in Radiant Blue color.
Expressing his pleasure
on the launch, Mr. Manish
Sharma, Managing Director,
Panasonic
India
said
“Panasonic India has now
signaled a big leap in its
product portfolio by bringing better specifications and
features in the newly
launched Eluga L which not
only caters to the fast developing technological needs in
the market but is also priced
reasonably. With the company’srecent success in the
smartphonescategory and
the mobility landscape rapidly evolving today, the new
device will surely match the
needs of our fast evolving
consumers in the country.”
Sharing his thoughts on
the ELUGAL, Mr. Pankaj
Rana, Business Head –
M o b i l i t y
Division,Panasonic
Indiasaid“The
newly
launched
Smartphone
ELUGA L will enable faster
data transfer by not only
providing a better bandwidth but also a quicker
speed. As cellular data is a
part of many people’s lives
today, this phone will enable
them to utilize the internet
in a quicker and richer way
thus opening new possibilities in the fast growing technology environment today.
paign, Debabrata Mukherjee,
VP
–
Marketing
&
Commercial,
Coca-Cola
India and South West Asia,
said, “Coca-Cola is one of
the most loved brands in the
world and has had a long
journey in India, connecting
with the consumers at a deep,
emotional level. We’ve been
Bajaj Auto
sales up
1% in April
able to sustain the love for
the brand through some very
thoughtfully crafted communication as we operate in a
space where the emotional
connect with the consumer is
paramount. Coca-Cola is a
brand that means different
things to different people
across the globe.”
New Delhi: On 3rd May,
Bajaj Auto Ltd reported one
percent increase in total sales
in April at 3,36,274 units as
against 3,31,529 units in the
same month last year.
Motorcycle sales during
the month declined by 5 percent at 2,85,791 units as
against 2,99,636 units in
April last year, the company said in a statement.
Commercial vehicles sales
during the month were at
50,483 units as compared to
31,893 units in the year-ago
month, a growth of 58 percent it added.
Exports in April this year
stood at 1,61,598 units as
against 1,50,714 units in the
same month last year, up 7
percent, the company said.
Future Group's retail biz to
merge with Bharti Retail
New Delhi: In a major
consolidation between two
homegrown
retailers,
Kishore Biyani-led Future
group will hive off its retail
business to merge with
Bharti Retail.
The board of Future Retail,
at its meeting held on
Monday, approved the
demerger of retail business of
Future Retail and merge it
into Bharti Retail, Future
Retail said in a filing to the
BSE.
Further, as part of the deal,
retail infrastructure business
of Bharti Retail will also be
hived off from the company
to be merged into Future
Retail, it added.
Bharti Retail will issue one
equity share of Rs 2 each for
every share of Rs 2 held in
Future Retail in consideration of the merger of Future's
retail business into it.
On the other hand, Future
Retail will issue one fully
paid up equity share of Rs 2
each to Bharti Retail shareholders for every share of Rs
2 held in it in relation to the
merger of the retail infrastructure business.
Bharti Group has been
looking for a full-fledged
retail play, keeping its
options open for partnership
with its erstwhile cash and
carry partner Walmart.
However, the two parted
ways in 2013 with the
American retail giant deciding to focus only on wholesale business in India amid
restrictions over FDI in
multi-brand retail.
Bharti Retail runs over 210
Easyday stores across different formats in India, mostly
concentrated in the northern
region.
Future Group also has
been making move to consolidate its business after selling
majority stake in Pantaloons
to Aditya Birla Retail in
2012. It has a chain under
different formats, including
hypermarkets under Big
Bazaar and supermarkets
under Food Bazaar brand.
China April HSBC PMI shows biggest
drop in factory activity in a year
Beijing: China`s factories
suffered their fastest drop in
activity in a year in April as
new orders shrank, a private
business survey showed on
Monday, hardening the case
for fresh policy stimulus to
halt a slowdown in the
world`s second-largest economy.
The
HSBC/Markit
Purchasing Managers` Index
(PMI) fell to 48.9 in April the lowest level since April
2014 - from 49.6 in March,
as demand faltered and
deflationary pressures per-
quarter. "China`s manufacturing sector had a weak start
to Q2, with total new business declining at the quickest
rate in a year while production stagnated," said Annabel
Fiddes, an economist at
Markit. "The PMI data indicate that more stimulus
measures may be required to
ensure the economy doesn`t
slow from the 7 percent
annual growth rate seen in
Q1.” An official survey
released on Friday showed
China`s factories struggled
to grow in April as domestic
levels of domestic debt.
The government has
pledged to step up fiscal
spending this year to support
investment and economic
growth.
On
Thursday,
the
Politburo,
the
ruling
Communist Party`s top decision-making body, said that
authorities will step up policy "adjustments" and should
cut taxes further. It also said
the government must resolve
financing glitches that are
holding up big infrastructure
projects.
sisted.
The number was weaker
than a preliminary reading of
49.2, and below the 50-point
level that separates growth
from contraction compared
with the previous month.
The overall new orders
sub-index dipped to 48.7 in
April, the sharpest contraction in a year, although new
export orders showed tentative signs of improvement.
Both input and output
prices declined for a ninth
month in April, while manufacturing employment contracted for an 18th month,
auguring poorly for an economy that grew at its weakest
rate for six years in the first
and export demand remained
weak, reinforcing expectations that Beijing will roll
out more measures to support the slowing economy.
The private survey focuses
on small and mid-sized
firms, while the official one
looks more at larger, stateowned companies.
Shanghai shares extended
early losses to more than 1
percent after the PMI, while
Hong Kong`s Hang Seng
index surrendered gains and
the Australian dollar eased.
Aside from weakness in
the manufacturing sector,
China`s economy is struggling with a downturn in its
property market and high
China`s economic growth
is expected to slow further to
6.8 percent in the second
quarter,
the
State
Information Centre, a top
government think tank, said
in a research report published on Monday.
The central bank, which
has cut interest rates twice
since November and reduced
banks` reserve requirements
to boost their lending power,
is widely expected to loosen
credit conditions further.
Most economists believe
China`s economic growth
could cool to a quarter-century low of around 7 percent
this year from 7.4 percent in
2014.
the NORTHLINES Jammu
11
SPORTS
JAMMU | TUESDAY, MAY 05, 2015
District Reasi Sport Climbing Championship
Fernandes as Indian
Ashok of Amba Kids bags boys' title player debuts in Brazil
Winners of district Reasi sport climbing championship pose with chief guest, former
MLA, Ashwani Sharma at Sprawling Buds School, Chinore in Bantalab, Jammu on
Monday.
Sports & Allied News
JAMMU, May 04:
Ashok Singh of Amba
Kids Home, Panthal became
the new Reasi district sport
climbing champion in Boys
category upsetting Yasser, the
winner of the last two years,
in the Reasi District Sport
Climbing Championship held
at Sprawling Buds School,
Chinore, here.
Yasser was further relegated to the third place when
I could not sleep
after my shot
against MI : Rahane
Mumbai: Left sleepless the last time he played a bad shot
against Mumbai Indians, in-form Rajasthan Royals batsman
Ajinkya Rahane he was desperate to set the record straight
which helped him notch up the sublime 91-run knock in an IPL
match here. "I was really hurt when I got out (for 16 to R Vinay
Kumar) in the last game. I could not sleep that night and was
all the time thinking about my shot and about the loss (by 7
wickets). I just wanted to make it count I knew I was batting
really well. Once I was in after 6-7 overs, I was planning to bat
for 20 overs," said Rahane after piloting the Royals to a matchwinning score of 189 for 2.
The Mumbai-born batsman, who has been in great form in
international cricket (Tests as well as ODIs) for close to two
years, struck 3 sixes and 9 fours in his 54-ball knock and also
featured in a stand of 113 with Karnataka youngster Karun
Nair (61 in 38 balls).
Riding on this superb show with the bat and some very good
bowling that followed, Royals stopped Delhi Daredevils at 175
for 7 to win by 14 runs and regain the top spot in the table with
14 points under their belt, two more than second-placed
Chennai Super Kings.
Rahane, who crossed 400 runs in the IPL season during the
fine unconquered knock and now has 430 under his belt, said
been only the
he did not think about his 100, that would have
second by all batsmen this season.
"I was not thinking about a century at all. I just wanted to
play as many shots as possible in that last over. We knew 190
-95 would be a good score," said Rahane.
"The partnership between me and Karun after 14 overs was
very important. Our plan was to play as long as possible.
Playing shots for set batsmen was easy as the wicket was very
good with true bounce. I told Karun to time the ball as the outfield was fast. Karun batted positively from the other end.
World number two Park In-Bee
wins North Texas Shootout
Texas: South Korean star
Park In-Bee fired a six-under
par 65 on Sunday to win the
LPGA North Texas Shootout
by three strokes.
The former world number
one notched her 14th LPGA
tour victory -- a tally that
includes five majors. Her 15under par total of 269 put her
three strokes in front of fellow
South Korean Park Hee-Young
and US veteran Cristie Kerr. "I
played really solid, the ballstriking was solid, I putted
Karrie Webb on nine under
275.
Park, who won the HSBC
Women`s Champions earlier
this year, joined world number
one Lydia Ko and Kim SeiYoung as the only players with
multiple wins on the LPGA
tour this season.
Hers was the seventh victory
by a South Korean player in
2015, and the win gives her of
a fourth straight season with
multiple victories. Park In-Bee
got off to a quick sart, taking
really good all week this
week," the winner said. "It`s
been the best I`ve putted this
season. I`m really excited my
putting is back."
Park Hee-Young and Kerr
both shot 66 for 12-under 272.
American Lexi Thompson,
who shared the third-round
lead with Park In-Bee, faded to
a share of fourth with a twounder 69 for 11-under 273. She
was joined by Maria McBride,
who closed with a 66.
American Angela Stanford
(69) ended alone in sixth on
10-under 274.
Last year`s winner Stacy
Lewis finished in a tie for seventh with Juli Inkster and
the outright lead with a 20-foot
birdie putt at the second hole.
She was still one stroke up
after a birdie from a bunker at
the par-five third, but
Thompson and Park HeeYoung both briefly tied the
lead before Park In-Bee
regained a one-shot edge with
a birdie at the ninth. That lead
doubled with her birdie at 12,
and she stretched it to three
with a 10-foot birdie at 15.
Park Hee-Young pulled one
stroke back but could get no
closer, and Park In-Bee`s
secure the win by three when
she hit her third shot at 18 to
three feet, and rolled that in for
birdie.
Anish Sharma clinched the
second position among 31
participants in this category.
Similarly,
Tanisha
Rajput, the reigning champion in the sub junior girls category was also pushed to the
third spot by Muskan
Choudhary and Vishali Devi
who clinched the first and
second
positions
respectively.
There was stiff competition in the sub junior boys'
category in which Neeraj
Singh, Anil Singh and Sunny
Kumar bagged the first three
positions.
About 62 boys and girls
competed in only three categories of boys, sub junior
boys and sub junior girls in
lead climbing only. Since
most of the participants were
new to the game the competitions in speed climbing were
not conducted. However,
demonstration in speed
climbing was given by senior
climbers of the game.
The competition was
conducted exclusively by
senior climbers. Whereas
Puneet Sharma and Aman
Arora were the Route setters Shashi Kant and
Hardev Singh acted as
Belayers.
Shawetica
Khajuria, a national Judge
of the game was the chief
judge of the competition.
Sub-junior National Hockey
from tomorrow
Sports & Allied News
JAMMU, May 04:
Organised by the Hockey
Jammu and Kashmir, the
Hockey India Vth Sub Junior
National (boys Division-B)
Hockey Championship shall be
played at K K Hakhu Stadium,
here from May six.
Divided into four different
groups, 20 teams, representing
different state units including
hosts Jammu and Kashmir, are
taking part in this competition to
be played on league-cum-knockout basis.
The league round is scheduled
to start from 7.30 am whereas
the competition shall be formerly inaugurated by the Minister
for Sports at 5 pm on May six at
K K Hakhu Stadium, here.
This was stated by the working president of the Hockey
J&K, Additional Director
General of J&K Police (Armed),
SM Sahai in an interaction with
media here this morning.
Jammu and Kashmir has been
placed in group D with Hockey
Himachal, Hockey Bihar,
Vidarbha Hockey Association
and Chandigarh Olympic
Association.
The high budget event spread
over 12-days is financially supported by the J&K State Sports
Council and Hockey India while
HDFC Bank and Aircel have
also extended a helping hand in
making the event a success.
It has been reliably learn that
the State Sports Council has
sanctioned a grant of Rs 16 lakh
in addition to other on ground
expenses to be occurred during
the event. However, the financial
support from the Hockey India
depends upon the number of
teams reporting the host state.
Also present were general
secretary of Hockey J&K,
Romal Singh, treasurer, Rajinder
Singh, Joint Secretary of the
State Sports Council, Siddharth
Sharma and Divisional Officer,
Rajan Sharma.
Meanwhile,
incharge
Secretary of the State Sports
Council and Director General of
Department of Youth Services
and Sports, Navin Agarwal, who
could not make it to the press
briefing, extended his best wishes to the organisers and those
participating teams, especially
hosts J&K.
New Astroturf
To replace the aging Astroturf
at the KK Hakhu Stadium, the
State Sports Council contemplates plan to replace the state of
the art synthetic surface with a
new one in near future. This was
stated by working president of
the Hockey J&K, SM Sahai in
reply a specific question at the
press conference.
Sonam Sidharth was the
organising secretary who
was well assisted by Manik
Slathia, a well qualified
mountaineer.
Former MLA, Ashwani
sharma who has been associated with the activities of the
Association for a long time,
was the chief guest on the
occasion who distributed
mementoes
and
medal
amongst the winners.
While addressing the
gathering he congratulated
the Association for organising four district competitions
at the start of the year and
hoped that the Association,
despite infrastructure constraints, would soon produce
more national and international champions.
He also expressed his
gratitude towards the management of Sprawling Buds
School, Chinore, Jammu who
have provided a standard
fiber glass 40ft high climbing
wall and related facilities to
the Association and also have
been sponsoring regular
coaching camps for the budding climbers.
Rio de Janeiro: In a first
for the Brazilian league,
Indian
player
Romeo
Fernandes enjoyed a successful debut in his club Atletico
Paranaense`s thrashing of
Nacional.
The 22-year-old, who
joined Atletico last year after
impressing in the Indian
Super League with FC Goa,
came on midway through the
former Brazil star Zico after
starting out with Dempo
Sports Club, also in Goa
state. An under 23 international who has broken into
the full squad, he features
primarily as a winger.
Fernandes joined Atletico
after the Brazilians inked a
training partnership accord
with the All India Football
Federation last year.
Rory McIlroy wins WGC
Novak Djokovic well
ahead in ATP rankings World Match Play crown
London: Roger Federer
clinched his 85th career title
in Istanbul on Sunday but
remains
second
in
Monday`s unchanged ATP
rankings, still led by Novak
Djokovic.
The 27-year old Serb
holds the top spot for the
40th consecutive week,
more than 5,000 points
ahead of the Swiss star with
Scot Andy Murray completing the podium ahead of his
rain-delayed Munich final
against
Philipp
Kohlschreiber, the world
number 24 from Germany.
With the Madrid Open
Masters Series tournament
taking centre stage this
week, Spain`s Rafael Nadal
remains fourth, in front of
Kei Nishikori of Japan and
Milos Raonic of Canada.
Rankings as of May 4
1. Novak Djokovic (SRB)
13,845 pts
2. Roger Federer (SUI)
8,635
3. Andy Murray (GBR)
6,120
4. Rafael Nadal (ESP)
5,390
5. Kei Nishikori (JPN)
5,280
6. Milos Raonic (CAN)
5,070
7. Tomas Berdych (CZE)
4,960
8. David Ferrer (ESP)
4,490
9. Stan Wawrinka (SUI)
3,495
10. Marin Cilic (CRO)
3,405
11. Grigor Dimitrov
(BUL) 2,985
12. Feliciano Lopez
(ESP) 2,380
13. Gilles Simon (FRA)
2,255
14. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga
(FRA) 2,045
15. Gaël Monfils (FRA)
2,020
16. Roberto Bautista
(ESP) 1,985
17. Kevin Anderson
(RSA) 1,960
18. John Isner (USA)
1,765
19. Tommy Robredo
(ESP) 1,765
20. Ernests Gulbis (LAT)
1,730
N Srinivasan forcing gay son to marry
woman, personal letters reveal
New Delhi: Former BCCI chief N
Srinivasan on Monday was accused by
his gay son Ashwin of forcing him to
marry a woman in order to continue
their family lineage. This shocking revelation was made by DNA newspaper in
an interview with Srinivason's son.
“I want my father to give me my share
of the family property and let me live
my life like I want with my partner
Avi.“We’re being held captive against
our will and tortured by my father who
wants me to break up with Avi, get married and have children to further the
family line,” said Ashwin Srnivasan to
DNA. Ashwin has also claimed that he
along with his partner Avi Mukherjee
are being held captive in Chennai’s tony
First Avenue neighborhood of Boat Club
in close vicinity to the residence of his
father. On being asked for proof by
DNA, Ashwin also shared various letters
written by Srinivasan, clearly stating his
opposition to his son's relationship with
another man.
The letters, all written on N
Srinivasan’s
personal
stationery
between 2007 and 2008 are in possession of the newspaper. One of the letters
from Srinivasan to Ashwin dated June
20, 2007 reads: “Ash, you are my only
son. Both your mother and I love you
very much. You are aware of the hope I
had for you,” and advises, “I feel you
need to do certain things to help yourself”, before going to explicitly state, “I
have saved money through my own hard
work.
That is to say my wealth is self
earned. I would like it go to my flesh
and blood – I want a lineage to carry on
the business. I can’t give it to
strangers.Therefore I think it will be
good idea for you to marry a girl acceptable to us which probably might enable
second half of Saturday`s 5-0
win in the Parana state
league.
The club made special
mention of him on their website as the first Indian to feature in a Brazilian league
match.
Fernandes, from Assolna
in Goa state, arrived in
February having starred during a loan spell for Goa under
creation of a lineage.” “You need to reenter normal society which you left
years ago. Until you change, I am going
to induct Rupa (Ashwin’s sister, who is
married to Gurunath Meiyappan) on to
the India Cements Board. You can also
join the board after you accomplish the
changes I have suggested,” signing off
affectionately as Anna. Another letter,
written on September 27, 2007, states:
“See how you’re living now – man of
your education and qualification, you
are not prepared to face normal society.
If you make an effort to change I will
reward you.” Clearly unhappy with his
father's attitude, Ashwin lashed out
against Srinivasan with a letter.
Srinivasan on January 20, 2008
replied to his son's letter, stating: “I am
in receipt of your letter talking of vague
and unconnected events at different
times in your private life. I see you are
using all this to threaten me and extor-
tion is clearly visible. I can see desperation – without your knowledge your letter exposes the true character of your
‘friend’ (Avi) as a criminal who breaks
the law, indulges in drugs, etc. – all
criminal activities.
“But your mother is soft and I have
decided to stay out till now. You cannot
say what you want because your ‘friend’
says so. I have paid for everything since
the time your present ‘friend’ came into
your life until NOW (his upper case)!
Life has been one long ORGY at my
expense. He has systematically
destroyed you – stripped you of all sense
of dignity and self-respect – made spectacle of you in Chennai – took you for
one long orgy of drugs and debauchery
in Bangkok – continued it in Mumbai –
introduced other people like him and
reduced you to state where you depend
on him completely.”
“He wants to Asset Manage you. That
is why he is upset when I said my money
will travel to my lineage. His plans are
destroyed so he is using you to threaten
and extort money.” he added.
Srinivasan made another attempt to
mend his relationship with Ashwin with
a letter dated August 7, 2008, which
read: “Although our views on your relationship and friend have honestly not
changed – I can’t see why you can’t
either restore family ties by spending
weekends at Chennai or look at getting
involved in the family business by staying here during the weekdays.”
Ashwin claims his father has now
resorted to violence and threats after the
letters failed to change his son's mind.
When DNA reached out to his father,
he said, “This is a personal matter
between a father and son. Why should I
talk to you about it? I have no comment
to offer.”
World number one Rory
McIlroy added the WGC
World
Match
Play
Championship to his four
majors with a 4&2 victory
over US journeyman Gary
Woodland in Sunday`s final.
Northern
Irishman
McIlroy, who turns 26 on
Monday, was playing in his
second WGC Match Play
final, having lost to Hunter
Mahan in the 2012 championship contest. McIlroy was a
perfect 7-0 in the first year of
the event`s new format featuring three rounds of pool play,
followed by knockout rounds.
But he had to rally for several of those victories -including a comeback from 2down with two to play to fend
off elimination on Friday -and late rallies in both the
quarter- and semi-finals. "I`m
really proud of myself with
how I showed a lot of character early on with coming back
from deficits," said McIlroy,
who became the first number
one seed to win the tournament since Tiger Woods in
2008.
"I played really solid golf.
My second WGC and first
win in the States this year. I
couldn`t be happier."
Danny Willett defeated Jim
Furyk 3&2 to win the consolation match.
McIlroy took control early
against Woodland, notching
four birdies in a row from the
fourth hole to take a commanding lead. Woodland took
the 11th and 12th, but missed
a four-footer at 13 that would
have gotten him within 1down. "My putt drops on 13
and it`s a different ball game,"
Woodland said. "But I missed
that one. And he was like a
shark. Smelled blood, and it
was game over quickly."
Woodland bogeyed the
14th to slide 3-down. He conceded the match on 16 after
missing a birdie chip.
It was a markedly easier
victory than the grandstand
finish McIlroy needed to get
past Furyk 1-up in the semifinals at Harding Park.
McIlroy was trailing by one
hole at the 16th after a rollercoaster of a match when he hit
his tee-shot to within four feet
for birdie at the par-three
17th.
He then drained a 44-foot
eagle putt at the last to stun
the veteran American.
It's splitsville for Tiger
Woods, Lindsey Vonn
London: Former world
number one Tiger Woods and
his skiing star girlfriend of
three years Lindsey Vonn have
separated, it was confirmed
Sunday. Vonn announced the
split in a statement on her
Facebook page, saying the
couple had parted due to
incompatible schedules.
"After nearly three years
has been amazing with Sam
and Charlie and my entire
family,"
he
said.
"Unfortunately, we lead very
hectic lives and are both competing in demanding sports.
It`s difficult to spend time
together." Woods, 39, and
Vonn, 30, had emerged as the
golden couple of American
sport since news of their rela-
together, Tiger and I have
mutually decided to end our
relationship," Vonn said.
"Unfortunately, we both
lead incredibly hectic lives
that force us to spend a majority of our time apart. "I will
always admire and respect
Tiger. He and his beautiful
family will always hold a special place in my heart." Woods
issued a similar statement on
his website. "I have great
admiration, respect and love
for Lindsey and I`ll always
cherish our time together. She
tionship three years ago.
Fallen idol Woods had
regained his world number
one status before a catastrophic 2014 blighted by injury and
poor form. The winner of 14
major titles has seen his ranking plunge outside the top 100
this season, and he has only
played three events. Vonn, the
2010 Olympic downhill champion, has seen her career disrupted by two serious knee
injuries but made a successful
return to the World Cup circuit.
12 JAMMU | TUESDAY | MAY 5 | 2015
We Just Found Elvis
Presley's Biggest Fan. And
It's No Hound Dog
It seems that Elvis Presley, 'King of Rock and Roll', leaves not
just humans 'All Shook Up' but cockatoos too.
In a video that was shot in February, the owner of two cockatoos
plays Elvis' 'Don't Be Cruel' on his guitar. Watch the birds.
One of the cockatoos remains quite unimpressed by his owner's
singing. The other one, however, starts head banging to the music.
The cockatoo, thrilled by the song, bobs its head and shakes out
its crest feathers. The other cockatoo moves away, giving it a
disapproving look. It then lifts a leg up, as if to tell its excited
partner: "Dude, stop."
But the Elvis-crazy cockatoo clearly doesn't care what the world
thinks of him. He's on a roll.
He puffs his feathers and then shakes his head like he is at a
concert, actually listening to Elvis live.
Though the video was uploaded on YouTube in February, it has
gone viral now after a Reddit user posted it on the social media
platform on Thursday.
Whoever thought Elvis might have some feathered fans too?
Watch the video; don't be surprised if you start head-banging too.
www.thenorthlines.com
Dinosaur era cockroach was
fearsome night-time hunter
The specimen, which was
discovered at a mine in Noije
Bum, Myanmar, boasts a long
neck that allowed it to freely
rotate its head.
In a discovery that might just
cause nightmares to most
people, a 100-million-year-old
cockroach specimen found
preserved in amber has been
found to be part of a new family
of
extinct
predatory
cockroaches that hunted at
night, scientists say.
According to the study
The specimen, which was published in the journal
discovered at a mine in Noije Geologica Carpathica, an
Bum, Myanmar, boasts a long analysis of the ancient
neck that allowed it to freely specimen, named Manipulator
rotate its head.
modificaputis, suggests that it
The prehistoric roach also was a predatory insect, likely
had long and spindly legs, much pursuing prey at night.
'Puppy Room' at UK University to Help Relax Stressed like many predatory insects Modern roaches, while
largely nocturnal, can be found
Students!In a bid to beat exam stress, students at a UK university today.
are being offered a novel way to relax - for a small donation of
1.50 pounds they can cuddle a puppy in a dedicated 'dog room'.
With exam season looming, those long days spent in the library
or slaving over a computer will be starting to take their toll. But
for students at the University of Central Lancashire, there's a
glimmer of hope.
The university's student union is setting up its first ever "puppy
room" from this week, BBC reported. It is teaming up with the
charity Guide Dogs to try to help students de-stress by cuddling
and playing with the animals.
Srinagar: A Budgam resident, who managed to get a hall ticket
The move comes after research published in Japan suggested for his cow to write a professional entrance examination, said he is
pictures of cute things like puppies or kittens could help improve determined to take the bovine to write the papers.
concentration levels.
"It is my legal right to take my cow for the exam. I have paid the
It is also aimed at raising money for the charity, with students fees, so it is my right to take the cow there," Abdul Rashid Bhat
asked for a 1.50 pounds donation to take part.
told reporters.
On their Facebook page, organisers say they want to reassure
"It was not my intention to hurt anyone's feeling or make a joke
students, the welfare of the puppies and safety of students are the of someone. I filled this form only to check the system," Bhat, who
"top priorities within this project".
hails from Chadoora area of central Kashmir Budgam district, said.
"The puppies will have regular breaks throughout the three
In an attempt to expose the loopholes in the online registration
hours and be with their handlers at all times," they said.
system of Jammu and Kashmir Board of Professional Entrance
The union says a separate "chill out" room has also been set up Examination (BOPEE), Bhat had managed to acquire an admit
for the puppies and the the number of students allowed into the card for his cow to write the examination for admission to Diploma
room will be limited.
in Polytechnic College.
"These opportunities give the puppies a chance to get used to
The admit card was issued by the Board in the name of Kachir
being around people, which is great for their development and Gaaw (Brown Cow), which is supposedly daughter of Gura Dand
training to be a successful guide dog," the union said.
(Red Bull). The cow has been allotted a seat at Government Degree
College, Bemina for writing the examination scheduled to be held
on May 10.
Bhat said the present system of BOPEE allows all and sundry to
register for the examinations. "You also know how BOPEE exams
are conducted - it can be a cow, calf or Buffalo. I thought of trying
"There's your dog; your dog's dead but where's the thing that to fill a form for a cow and I completed all formalities including
made it move? It had to be something didn't it? There's your spirit, payment of the fees," he added.
A candidate sitting for the examination requires to have passed
there it is."
Those are the existential musings of a sun-kissed interviewee the matriculation examination from any recognised board of
featured in Errol Morris' surreal yet superb 1978 documentary, school education. However, those candidates who have appeared
Gates of Heaven, about the animal burial industry. Such a in the qualifying examinations, can also appear subject to their
thoughtful sentiment may have been uttered nearly four decades passing. "My cow's result is awaited," Bhat said with a smile.
The incident came to light on Saturday after opposition National
ago, but it's bound to be relevant for anyone who has loved and
lost a pet.
'Puppy Room' at UK University
to Help Relax Stressed Students!
funny photo
scavenging from food, looking
for anything from sweets to
even hair, moldering books, and
other decaying matter.
According to Peter Vrsansky
from the Geological Institute in
Bratislava, Slovakia, and
Gunter Bechly from the State
Museum of Natural History in
Stuttgart, Germany, who
examined the insect, the
specimen comes from the early
Cretaceous period, from
whence several predatory
cockroach-like
lineages
evolved.
Today, only one of those
lineages remain — the praying
mantis. Modern mantises have
similar legs for careful pursuit,
and are actually close cousins to
the cockroach, despite how
different they look.
Cow Gets Admit Card, Owner
Wants It To Sit For Exam
A history of Fido's
final resting place
A woman kneels at a headstone in the Detroit Canine
Cemetery in Michigan. Windy was reportedly a dog that saved
his master from knife-wielding thugs. The cemetery was
founded in 1927 and had room for 5,000 pets. |Provided by
TheWeek 1955: A woman kneels at a headstone in the Detroit
Canine Cemetery in Michigan. Windy was reportedly a dog
that saved his master from knife-wielding thugs. The
cemetery…
Animals have long been revered enough to warrant proper
burials — ancient Egyptians, for example, mummified cats.
But there's something particularly endearing about the more
modern process of ceremonial pet burial. To designate a spot in
the ground and pay for a grave, forever etched with a quirky
name — Windy, Rex, Mittens, Bud, Chief, Socky — speaks to
the ineffable tie humans have with their animals. For all their
loyalty and unquestionable love, the least we can do is give
them a final resting place.
And for the proprietors of those hallowed grounds, business
is booming. At the time of Morris' documentary, pet burials
were still rare at best, available in only a few states. Even a
decade ago, there were so few official cemeteries dedicated to
animals that nobody bothered to count them all. But today that
is no longer the case. As of 2012, there were 700 aftercare
facilities for pets, including funeral homes, crematoriums, and
cemeteries, across the U.S. And the clientele has diversified as
well.
"I used to think this was something for older women who
never had children. Or very wealthy people. But we get
everybody: men, women, rich, poor, young, old," one pet
cemetery director told Bloomberg.<strong>1935:</strong> A
sign hangs outside of a garage on the London-to-Tonbridge
road. So many pets were killed by traffic on this stretch that the
proprietor created a small cemetery between the property and
the road. People often left floral tributes and the garage's owner
wrote epitaphs. | (<em>Fox Photos/Getty Images</em>) ©
Provided by TheWeek 1935: A sign hangs outside of a garage
on the London-to-Tonbridge road. So many pets were killed by
traffic on this stretch that the proprietor created a small
cemetery between the…
For pet owners, love doesn't die with the dog.
"When a dog dies suddenly like Trooper died the moment of
decision came, 'What do we do with him?' I could often think
of Trooper's face saying, 'Where you gunna put me?' There's
something to life that even when you discard something of an
inanimate nature you dispose of it with some kind of
irreverence." [Gates of Heaven]
In honor of the animals that hold such a grip on our hearts
and psyche, here is a brief visual history of the bizarre yet
touching world of pet cemeteries.
China fines driver for taking
dog on motorway walk
A woman who took her dog for a walk on a motorway in China
while her car was parked in the middle of the road was "punished"
by police, state media said Sunday.
Her boyfriend was answering "an urgent call of nature" with the
couple's car "in the middle of the highway" in the central Hubei
province Friday, Xinhua said, without giving further details.
"The driver did not set up a warning triangle behind the car and
passing vehicles had to slow down suddenly and change lanes to
avoid the danger," the news agency said.
The "driver" was fined 200 yuan ($32) and handed six penalty
points, Xinhua added, without saying if that was the woman or her
boyfriend.
But the woman was "punished" for taking her pooch for a walk
on the emergency lane of the road, the report added.
Friday was the first day of China's May Day holiday, when
traffic is often busy and the government relaxes fees on the
country's toll-roads to boost tourism
Prodigies and autistic
people share genetic
similarity,
finds
studyon
Genetic
markers
The NORTHLINES
OFFBEAT
Conference spokesman Junaid Azim Mattu uploaded a copy of the
admit card on Twitter. "The J&K Board of Professional Entrance
Examinations issued this roll-number slip to a cow after due
verification. I have both the Provisional Confirmation Page for
applicant Ms 'Kachir Gaaw' as well as details of payment she made
to BOPEE," Mattu tweeted.
Former Chief Minister and National Conference working
president Omar Abdullah also commented on Mattu's post, saying
"Brilliant. I wish Kachir Gaaw had turned up for the examination."
BOPEE chairman Ghulam Hassan Tantray has ordered an
inquiry into the incident.
A90-year-old tortoise rides around
on wheels after losing its legs
China often relaxes fees
on its toll-roads to boost
tourism during the May
Day holiday period
China fines driver for
taking dog on motorway
walk
FILE - In this Aug. 20,
2009 file photo, a can of
Spam is shown on a
counter in North Andover,
Mass. To honor Spam
lovers in Hawaii, Hormel
Foods will release a new flavor,
Portuguese sausage Spam,
exclusively for the state at a
street festival on Saturday, May
2, 2015 in Honolulu. The flavor,
which will be available to
sample at the event, may
eventually be sold elsewhere in
the region and internationally.
Honolulu food festival
explores the wonders of canned
meat
A 90-year-old tortoise
nicknamed Mrs. T is now
moving at turbo-speed thanks to
a new set of wheels. After a rat
attack left Mrs T. without two
front legs, her owners affixed
wheels from a model aircraft to
her shell, The Telegraph reports.
Penguins Use Poop to Melt
Ice, Make Baby Nurseries
chromosome 1 were shared
between prodigies and their
autistic kin, although the
specific mutations involved
could not be found.
Researchers have found the
first evidence of a genetic link
between prodigiousness and
autism.
The finding may help explain
why the two groups share
certain characteristics, such as
exceptionally good memories.
Researchers looked at DNA
from 12 children with
extraordinary abilities in music,
mathematics or other fields.
They also looked at 39 other
people who were all members
of the children’s families,
including 10 family members
who had autism, and four
prodigies who also had autism,
Live Science reported. There
were genetic markers on
chromosome 1 that were shared
between the prodigies and their
relatives with autism, but the
specific mutations involved
could not be found.
Gentoo penguins have given the term
nesting a whole new meaning.
The penguins poop on their frozen
landscape in the Antarctic to melt it, creating
the ideal location to rear their young when the
time comes, new video footage suggests.
Though most humans wouldn't consider
poop an appropriate decoration for a child's
nursery (although it is certainly a common
element in them), poop seems to play a key
role in penguins' breeding behavior. This poop
"landscaping" is probably unintentional: The
birds most likely aren't considering the feng
shui of their feces and deliberately pooping to
make room for their chicks' nurseries,
researchers said.
The new insight came from thousands of
hours of video taken by researchers from the
University of Oxford in England, along with
the Australian Antarctic Division. The
researchers spent a year videotaping the
behavior of a colony of Gentoo penguins on
Cuverville Island, off the Antarctic Peninsula.
The team also used snow gauges to measure
how fast snow melted as the tuxedo-clad birds
came and went.[See Video of the Penguin's
Poop Landscaping]
The frosty region is usually blanketed by
snow and ice, but that changed at certain times
HONOLULU — In Hawaii,
Spam rules. No, not the kind that
you get in your email, but the
kind you eat — or don't eat, as it
may be for many mainlanders.
To honor Spam lovers in
Hawaii, Hormel Foods will
release a new flavor —
Portuguese sausage Spam —
exclusively for the state at a
street festival on Saturday in
Honolulu. The flavor, which will
be available to sample at the
event, may eventually be sold
elsewhere in the region and
internationally, the company
says.
Spam was introduced by
Hormel in 1937. The history
behind the salty luncheon meat
in Hawaii goes back to World
War II when the company
started shipping it to military
personnel stationed in the
islands. Spam did not need to be
refrigerated, so it could be
shipped to the state without
spoiling during the long journey
from the mainland. Spam
quickly cross-pollinated from
the military population into the
local diet, and its popularity has
grown ever since. Now, Spam
can be found pretty much
everywhere that serves food in
Hawaii: gas stations, local
markets, diners and even in
Hawaii's fast-food chains like
McDonald's and Burger King.
Fried Spam and eggs is a
staple breakfast combo in the
state, but people here eat it for
lunch and dinner as well. In fact,
people in Hawaii eat more Spam
than any other state in the
nation, consuming nearly 7
millions cans per year,
according to the Hormel
website.
Spam Musubi, a sushiinspired variation, is one of the
more popular forms in Hawaii.
It consists of a slab of Spam, rice
and sesame seeds tied in
seaweed. The restaurants
participating in this weekend's
event will serve up creative
versions of the classic.
of the year. The birds aggregated in large
groups, leaving huge piles of guano, or poop.
The dark color of the poop allowed the light
from the weak Antarctic sun to be more
quickly absorbed.
That, in turn, fueled the melting of the ice
and left a lot of bare rocky shelters — perfect
nesting grounds for rearing their adorable
penguin chicks.
Gentoo penguins, or Pygoscelis papua, are
among the rarest of the Antarctic birds, with
fewer than 300,000 breeding pairs on the icy
continent, according to the British Antarctic
Survey.
The birds, like many other penguins, are
monogamous, usually mating with the same
partner year after year. Each female penguin
lays just two eggs for the season, so it's no
surprise that they aggressively protect their
eggs, according to the British Antarctic
Survey. The penguins tend to place their eggs
on hilltops and open beaches, collecting bits of
pebbles and other objects from their
surroundings for their nests.
"It was like fitting her with a
turbo charger — she's going
double the speed she used to,"
Jude Ryder, Mrs. T's owner,
said. "She uses her back legs to
push herself along."
The Ryders took Mrs. T to a
vet after the rat attack, but were
worried she would have to be
put down if she remained
immobile. Luckily, Jude's son
Dale is a mechanical engineer,
and he was able to design the
wheels in a way that would
work with Mrs. T's movements.
"She took to them straight
away, but she has had to learn
how to turn and stop," Jude
said. "She seems quite happy,
but it's difficult to tell with a
tortoise."
Preparing for
the stage
Tarang 2015 by Aakruthi
Kathak
Kendra
is
conceptualised as a platform for
students to hone their stage
performance skills. The
amphitheatre at Saptaparni in
Banjara Hills came alive last
Friday when 50 students aged
between five and 50 years of
Aakruthi Kathak Kendra
participated in Tarang 2015. As
is the tradition, the day’s
proceedings began with an
invocation to Lord Ganesha.
Eight students who were just
six months old in the institute
took part in the Pratham Sumir
Sri Ganesh set in raag
Charukesi. This was followed
by a Guru Vandana by another
set of first timers. Goddess
Saraswathi was remembered in
Kumari Urvaja Priyadarshini’s
composition. The nritta was a
descriptive and devotional
hymn. As in every event, the
first timers, who don’t have
stage fear, are keen to spot their
families in the audience and
sometimes lose their rhythm.
The dancers then looked at their
colleagues to get back into the
groove.
Honolulu food festival explores NASA ropes in small businesses
to further Mars journey
the wonders of canned meat
Organizers say there will BBQ
Spam, spicy garlic shrimp with
Spam and even Spam cupcakes,
just to name a few.
According to Hormel, the
meat is not such a mystery. They
list the ingredients as pork, salt,
water, potato starch, sugar and
sodium nitrate.
Many people have theories
about what the name Spam
actually means. Many believe
it's short for "spiced ham."
Others might say it stands for
"shoulders of pig and ham."
But Hormel won't answer the
question, saying on its website
that the true meaning is known
by only a small circle of former
executives, and "probably
Nostradamus."
According
to
event
organizers, last year Spam Jam
raised about $25,000 in
donations for local charities
including
The
Hawaii
Foodbank, which feeds lowincome and homeless families in
the state
NASA is funding proposals
that will enable space
transportation for human and
robotic missions, new ways to
protect astronauts in space, and
innovative ways to keep
spacecraft systems operational.
The US space agency has
selected proposals from 254
small businesses and 39
research institutions in the US
for grants to develop new
technologies that will further
NASA’s journey to Mars.
“The selected proposals
demonstrate the ingenuity and
creativity of America’s small
businesses,” said Steve
Jurczyk,
associate
administrator for the agency’s
Space Technology Mission
Directorate (STMD) at NASA
headquarters in Washington.
The proposals are solicited,
vetted and managed through
NASA’s Small Business
Innovation Research (SBIR)
and
Small
Business
Technology Transfer (STTR)
programmes.
“Enabling NASA’s future
missions, including human
exploration of Mars, requires
broad participation, and the
SBIR/STTR Programs ensure
the agency is benefiting from
the passionate and determined
minds of the private sector,”
Mr. Jurczyk noted.
Proposals that lead to the
successful development of
ideas and products could result
in contracts with a combined
approximate value of $47.7
million.
NASA is funding proposals
that will enable space
transportation for human and
robotic missions, new ways to
protect astronauts in space, and
innovative ways to keep
spacecraft systems operational
- technologies that may, one
day, find their way into the
vehicles and systems used to
explore the solar system.
Selected proposals also
include technologies that could
enable landing on, traversing
across and sampling asteroids,
Mars or other distant
destinations, searching the sky
for planets outside our solar
system, and studying the
universe back to the beginning
of time.
For example, NASA hopes
to develop a cognitive space
communications network with
the ability to adapt to
environmental changes and
network growth, thereby
increasing system reliability.
Selection criteria included
technical merit and feasibility,
along with experience,
qualifications and facilities.
Additional criteria included
effectiveness of the work plan
and commercial potential and
feasibility.
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