C M Y K 9906564001 | 8494068168 | 9419087897 AEE BEE EnginEEring Works KashmiR @ [email protected] [email protected] Servicing, repairing & Maintenance of all of Dg SetS,cc caMera Nabdi Pora, M.K. Chowk, Hawal, Srinagar (J&K) 28 Safar | 1436 Hijri | Vol: 17 | Issue: 262 | Pages : 08 | Price: `3 4 The Children of Peshawar w w w. k a s h m i r o b s e r v e r. n e t sunDaY 21 DeCemBeR 2014 Wisdom Where elections end where slavery begins. ...........John Quincy Adams (1767-1848) Sixth President of the USA Major Combing Ops In Machil SRINAGAR: Army on Saturday launched a massive combing operation in Machil sector along the the Line of Control (LoC) in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district. Official sources said that army’s 45 RR today morning launched the searches at Doodi forests in the sector as it has apprehension of successful infiltration by a group of militants. They said while conducting day long searches, the forces have so far recovered large quantity of arms and ammunition in the area. The recovery include one Sniffer rifle with two magazines Page 6 Man with Loaded Pistol SRINAGAR: Police Saturday claimed that in a joint search operation, it arrested a person with a pistol near Lal Mandi Srinagar. A police handout said that Raj Bagh police and a party from 117 Battalion CRPF apprehended a person who according to police was carrying a Chinese pistol, its six rounds and a magazine. The police identified the arrested person as Asadullah Parray and said that a case vide FIR Page 6 / Srinagar Today: MoSTly Sunny MaxiMuM: 12oC / MiniMuM: -1oC / HuMidiTy : 75% / SunSeTS Today... 05:21 PM / SunriSeS ToMorrow... 07.24 aM PDP Misses Majority, BJP's Mission 44+ Fails, NC Distant 3rd Observer News Service SRINAGAR: The polling for fourcornered contest of Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections 2014 finally came to an end on Saturday. The first exit polls show Jammu and Kashmir returning a hung verdict with PDP emerging as the single largest party followed by bJP. Though the results for the five phased staggered polling in the state will be declared on December 23, C-Voter Exit Poll declared that the incumbent Omar Abdullah led-National Conference (NC) government will not remain in power anymore. BJP is, however, likely to fall much short of its mission-44 target in the 87-member Assembly. Pollsters have put BJP’s likely tally in the state at 27-33 seats with a lion's share, 25-31, coming from Jammu region. Ruling National Conference may register its worst-ever performance and is predicted by C-Voter poll to come third with 8-14 seats followed by Congress with 4-10 seats. Others may get 2-8 seats. According to the exit poll, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah who contested from two Assembly seats is expected to win from Sonawar in Srinagar. Exit Polls vOTe ShARe Mufti Mohammad Sayeed-led PDP is expected to get 28% votes with BJP expected to get 20% votes. The Abdullahs-led NC is expected to get 23% votes and the Congress may get 17% votes. The JKNPP may get 3% votes and others may garner 9% votes. NO SeAT FOR bJP IN KAShmIR vALLeY According to the exit poll, the BJP despite a high decibel campaign across the Kashmir valley is unlikely to get any seats there. The PDP is expected to win most of the seats in the valley. Remaining seats may to the National Conference and the Congress. Cm OmAR mAY WIN FROm SONAWAR, LOSe beeRWAh According to the exit poll, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah who contested from two Assembly seats is expected to win from Sonawar in Srinagar. He is likely to lose Beerwah seat in Badgam to the Congress. TOUGh FIGhT IN LADAKh According to the exit poll, Ladakh with four Assembly seats may throw up some surprising and shocking results. In Nobra, the BJP is in a close fight with the ruling NC. In Leh, it is in a close fight with the Congress. The Congress is expected to win Kargil. In Zanskar, the Congress is in a close fight with an Independent candidate. Page 6 Party PDP BJP JKNC INC JKNP Others Seats 36 - 41 16-22 9-13 9-13 2-4 4-6 ObSeRveR No Need To Travel to Srinagar Drop your ads/ notices at our Anantnag office Opp Achabal Bus Adda Contact no's. 9622484809, 9906620313, 9086944392 Do You Get Your Copy of Kashmir Observer Regularly? If Not Contact Circulation Incharge: Pervez Ahmad 9419565003 Or 210 6304 SRINAGAR: The Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday said it will prefer to sit in opposition if it doesn’t have numbers to form the government of its own in Jammu and Kashmir. The BJP said that the exit polls show less number of the seats than the actual ones won by the party. The Exit Polls earlier on Saturday predicted 27 t0 33 seats for this saffron party out of the 87 member legislative assembly. “We expect more as the party has done f a i r l y well during the five phased polls in Jammu and Kashmir,” BJP’s chief spokesman here Arun Gupta said. He added that Kashmir valley besides Jammu has exhibited huge support to the party and it is confidant to come out with the good numbers. Over joining hands with any regional party of the state for Page 6 PDP: We Don’t Need Allies To Form Govt. SRINAGAR: Hoping to perform well in Jammu, Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) on Saturday said it doesn’t need any allies for government formation but need the political parties to run the state. As the news reports are making rounds that PDP would need some external support for the government formation in Jammu and Kashmir, PDP’s says it needs a better understanding with the centre and political parties to get the state out of crises. After the exit poll results which gave PDP 32-38 seats in JK, the party says it expects more than the predicted results. “Our hopes of making the government of our own have further strengthened. We don’t need any allies but need all of them to Page 6 Pak Army Takes Over Prisons Amid Fears of Jailbreaks Another Sarpanch Shot Dead in Sopore LAHORE / QUETTA: Security was increased at Kot Lakhpat jail in Lahore as well as prisons in Balochistan’s Mach and Quetta on Saturday amid fears of a jailbreak following the government’s decision to lift the ban on death penalties in terrorism cases. Heavy contingents of Punjab Rangers and army were deployed at the Kot Lakhpat jail as law enforcement agencies placed barricades and barbed wires on roads leading to the jail. Pedestrians and visitors were only allowed to enter the jail after proper checking by the quick re- SOPORe: A Sarpanch, who had left Congress party recently, was shot dead by unknown gunmen in Sopore town on Saturday. Official sources said that Ghulam Mohammad Bhat son of Haji Mohammad Jamal was shot at from point blank range by the unidentified masked gunmen outside his residence at Bomai village in the apple town. sponse force and other officials of law enforcement agencies. The quick response force has also been deployed at the central jail and were patrolling the area on a regular basis throughout the day. According to sources in the jail, four high-profile terrorists are expected to be hanged anytime after the jail administration receives death warrants from the court. Convict Muhammad Zahid, who was involved in an attack in ISI formation in Multan could be hanged anytime, Express News reported. The jail administration has also finalised arrangements for Page 6 Observer News Service Hurriyat says, Innocent Killings Unacceptable NeW DeLhI: Stoking a fresh controversy after conversion plans in Aligarh, Hindu outfit Dharm Jagran Manch, which had planned a conversion programme in Aligarh, said that it plans to "finish" Islam and Christianity by 2021. Manch leader Rajeshwar Singh raked up a new controversy with a fresh dose of vitriol saying that his group plans to root out Christianity and Islam from India by December 31, 2021. “Christians and Muslims essentially have no right to live in the country”, he declared. “India’s inner voice has spoken. Just wait and watch. 31 December 2021 is the last for Christianity and Islam in this country. We will finish Christianity and Islam in this country by 31 December 2021. This is our aim,” Rajeshwar said. Such comments are not new to the saffron leader, and he has been in the news for voicing similar views earlier as well. "We have so far ensured 'ghar wapsi' (reconversion) of three lakh Muslims and Christians back to Hinduism. By 2021, we will finish Islam and Christianity," Manch head Rajeshwar Singh Singh said here yesterday. After carrying out the attack, sources said, the gunmen believed to be two in number fled from the spot on a motor-bike. After hearing the gunshots, the residents rushed to the spot and found the Sarpanch lying in a pool of blood. They rushed him to a nearby hospital where doctors declared pronounced him dead. Confirming the death of the Sarpanch, Block Medical Officer Sopore Dr Syed Masood said that victim had received two bullets in his head that resulted in his death. Bhat had survived a bid on his life last year also. The slain Sarpanch was affiliated with National Conference when he escaped bid on his life after unidentified militants fired at him when he was coming out of Jamia Masjid Bomai Sopore on April 29, 2013. During the attack he had received two bullets in his left arm. Soon after the attack he Page 6 The Huriyat Conference led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq while condemning the killing of Sarpanch at Sopore today said that the killing of innocents was unacceptable. A Huriyat (M) spokesman said that the act of the killing of a local Sarpanch at Bomai Sopore was a condemnable act and on basses of the political differences, killing of innocents carries no Page 6 ‘Will Finish Christianity, Islam in India by 2021’ KAShmIR BJP: Will Never Align with Local Party "We have not done any conversion. We have ensured 'ghar wapsi'. Why they (political parties) did not utter a word when Hindus are converted? What's their objection when we ensure that they come back to the religion?" he asked. His organisation had planned a mass conversion programme in Aligarh on the Christmas day but later called it off. On Agra conversion, he said that those converted were Indians and not Bangladeshis and they had affidavits of those who participated in the programme. Agencies We have so far ensured 'ghar wapsi' (reconversion) of three lakh Muslims and Christians back to Hinduism. By 2021, we will finish Islam and Christianity," 76% Turnout in Last Phase JAmmU- About 76% voters have exercised their franchise in the 5th Phase of Assembly elections-2014 held in 20 constituencies spread across three districts of Kathua, Jammu and Rajouri. Giving details at a press conference, at PWD Guest House here today, the Chief Electoral Officer said the highest turnout was recorded as 83.20 % in Bani and lowest as 60% in Gandhinagar. He said Basholi recorded 78.50%, Kathua 80.47%, Billawar 77.60%, Hiranagar(SC), 80.17%, Nagrota 81%, Jammu East 66.05% , Jammu West 65% Bishnah 80.22 %, R. S. Pura (SC) 77.79 %, Suchetgarh 80%, Marh 82.45%, Raipur Domana (SC) 77.41 % , Akhnoor 82.97%, Chhamb (SC) 82%, Nowshera 81.70%, Darhal 81%, Rajouri 75% and Kalakote 74%. The Chief Electoral Officer said 20 Assembly constituencies that went to polls today were spread over three districts for which as many as 2391 polling stations were set up, which included 278 hypersensitive ones. The CEO further added that 213 candidates were in the fray for these 20 constituencies, which comprised 1828904 electors including 959011 male and 869891 female voters, besides 02 third gender voters. Mr. Narula informed Page 6 BJP Candidate Hurt in Clashes Case against PDP NOWShehRA: At least five workers of two political parties including BJP candidate for Nowshera were injured when the supporters of BJP and PDP clashed with each other in Lambari area on Friday night. Eyewitnesses said that the supporters of both the political parties attacked each other with stones and sticks while some of them smashed the windowpanes of the vehicles belonging to rival parties. A police official said that some supporters of a political party attacked the cavalcade of a candidate when it was passing through Lambari area. “Among the five injured persons, three belonged to BJP and rest were PDP workers,” Page 6 Valley’s Power Woes Worsen PDD’s toll free helpline defunct Car Theft SRINAGAR: With Kashmir valley reeling under the darkness amid chilling weather conditions, PDD helpline number remains deluged, leaving people aghast and fuming over snail’s pace restoration work in the department. Reports said that the helpline numbers that the PDD issued to the Valley customers so that there woes could be addressed properly on time, deluged during the ravaging floods of September. Even after the passage of more than three months, the services are yet to be restored. People say that they need the assistance of the department in the winter months but the dead helpline numbers only add their miseries in the midst of the dark hours of the winter. As people across valley are crying for the adequate power supplies at present, the unscheduled power cuts are becoming an order of the day here. “How could we register our complain. There is no one to listen to our woes and the helpline numbers that the PDD earlier had issued are out of order,” said scores of the Srinagar residents. They blame that though they pay their bills on time, the erratic power supplies continue to haunt them everyday. Interestingly, Power Development Department (PDD) in 2012 started a toll free helpline for the people of the state. All people had to dial was: 18001807666. The toll free helpline, Page 6 Sparks Alert SRINAGAR: Police Saturday sounded an alert across north Kashmir after a car was stolen by unknown persons in Baramulla town. A police officer said that the Maruti Car (JK01H- 7011) belonging to one Abdul Qayoom Lone was lifted from Carapa Park in the town. While police have registered a case in police station Baramulla, the alert has been sounded, he said. “All the police control rooms have been alerted and special check points have been established on the important roads including the Baramulla-Srinagar highway,” the officer said. He said teams have been set up to look for the stolen car. Page 6 sunday 21 12 2014 Kashmir Observer BAzAR oBSERvER mugHAl dArbAr IMAMIA PublIc school Mughal Darbar Is Kashmir’s Favourite FoodStop And Tourists Delight. Being In The Heart Of Kashmir People From All Walks Of Life Cherish To Enjoy Their Lunch In This Beautiful Place. There Are People Who Cover Miles Form Distant Areas To Enjoy The Delicates Of Mughal Darbar. 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The rates for the items involved in the execution of works as per the rate lists be quoted item wise or over all percentage with respect to the sanctioned schedule of rates of 2012. 8. no turnkey or complete job /any item of work free of cost shall not be accepted, in case of works having two or more items of works shall be entertained and same shall be rejected out rightly. 9. The work for which more than one tenderer qualifyJia/fñ<l£#eted same rates or if on comparative statement the totaf amount thus by draw of lots. 10. after issuance of formal allotment in favour of the successful tendrerer, the agency shall have to start the work within three days and in case of failure to do so, the allotment shall be cancelled without any further notice from the department. 11. no payment shall be made on account of dewatering or construction of división bund and wood work if involved in execution of work. 12. all the terms and conditions shall be the same as laid dowojn the detailed master niT of 2014-15. Sd/- Executive Engineer Dipk : 8882 Irrigation & F.C Division Kupwara government ofJammu & Kashmir office of the Executive Engineer P.H.E. Mechanical Division (North) Sopore coRRigendum-ii to this office e-tender no. pHe/mdns/nit/e-14/16 of 2014-15, issued under no. pHe/mdns/to/4560-69, dated: 24-11-2014 providing, installation, testing and commissioning of vertical turbine pumping unit at water supply scheme sidiq colony stage ist due to representation made by local contractors/suppliers for extension of dates which are accordingly rescheduled here as under: sub:- S. no. particulars dates 1. last date for online submission of bids 24-12-2014 (04:00 pm) 2. last date for submission of hard copies 24-12-2014 (02:00 pm) 3- pre-bid meeting 20-12-2014 (02:00 pm) 4- date of online opening of tender 25-12-2014 (03:00 pm) other terms and conditions shall remain unchanged. Executive Engineer P.H.E. 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RNI No: 69503/98; Postal Regn: K-151 e saturday 20 12 2014 Kashmir Observer NEWS Pakistanis Press for Lal Masjid Freedom lims Council) and a former PPP senator. In his Friday sermon, Aziz criticised the members of civil society who protested his views outside the Lal Masjid against him equating the victims of terrorism and those killed for terrorism. Aziz poured sarcasm on the “This caMPaign againsT Me is a consPiracy 2 LEJ Terrorists Being Hanged On Tuesday KARACHI: Tuesday has been fixed for the execution of two terrorists belonging to the banned Lashkar-i-Jhangvi who had been sentenced to death 10 years ago in a sectarian killing case. An antiterrorism court on Friday issued black warrants for Attaullah alias Qasim and Mohammad Azam alias Sharif who had been given death sentence by an antiterrorism court in July 2004 for killing Dr Ali Raza Peerani on sectarian grounds in June 2001 in the Soldier Bazaar area. The court directed the jail authorities at the Sukkur central prison to carry out the hanging of Attaullah and Azam on Dec 23 at 6:30am till death. The Sukkur jail superintendent earlier informed the ATC-V through a letter that the last stay order issued by the president in this case was withdrawn as the government lifted a moratorium on executions. He asked the court to issue fresh black warrants for the condemned prisoners. The father of one of the condemned prisoners, Hashim Khan, then moved an application through his lawyer, asking the ATC to defer the issuance of black warrants. He said he also filed a petition in the case in the apex court that passed an order about fixing it for hearing after removal of some objections. His lawyer said they would approach the apex court on Saturday to stay the hanging. Judge Mohammad Javed Alam of the ATC-V then issued the black warrants for the condemned prisoners, directing the authorities to carry out the execution under the supervision of the area magistrate after fulfilling legal formalities. The court had issued black warrants several times in the past for the two convicts but their hanging had been repeatedly deferred on stay orders issued from the presidency. Dr Peerani, belonging to Shia sect, was killed by armed motorcyclists in a targeted attack on sectarian grounds when he came out of his clinic in Soldier Bazaar and was about to leave in his car. The wounded doctor was rushed to a hospital where doctors pronounced him dead on arrival. Since 2008, only one execution has been carried out after a military court sentenced to death a solider for killing a colleague. deceased person’s name. The woman arrested is the mother of the seven younger children and the aunt of the 14-year-old girl. She has not been charged, but Queensland Police said she was assisting them with their inquiries. “She’s stable and being looked after,” Asnicar said, adding that the woman, who has stab wounds to her upper body, was “awake… lucid and speaking”. He could not say whether her wounds were self-inflicted. The murders have rocked Australia, which is still reeling from a dramatic siege in a central Sydney cafe this week that left two hostages and a gunman dead and prompted a huge outpouring of emotion. “This is just an ordinary neighbourhood,” Asnicar said. “A lot of good people, a lot of kids in the area and this is just something that has caught everybody by surprise. It’s absolutely tragic.” A makeshift memorial has been established in a park near the crime scene, with scores of people visiting on Saturday to leave flowers, candles and toys in remembrance of the children. Torres Shire Council Mayor Pedro Stephen told Australian Associated Press that the entire region was killed in Waziristan and other deaths in military operations. “My brother, his family and many people dear to me and a large number of students were the mosque, said the maulana hurled direct threats to the administration. “He stated that any attempt to harm him or arrest him would lead to an uncontrollable situation in the country,” the official told Dawn. According to him, the maulana said: “If I am arrested the administration will not be able to control the protest rallies all over Pakistan. And if they kill me then there would be so many suicide attacks that would surpass the reaction that followed death of my brother Ghazi Abdur Rashid.” On the other hand MWM leader Amin Shaheedi laughed off the statement given by khateeb of Lal Masjid, and said that he should know what to speak. “His statements have hurt every Pakistani and they are expressing their dislike. What this has to do with me,” Amin Shaheedi said. An infuriated Faisal Raza Abidi said anyone justifying the massacre of schoolchildren should be ashamed of himself. “We are with the army against these terrorists and inhuman elements. I have the feeling that the maulana is preparing to flee in a burka again,” he said. hatched by Amin Shaheedi and Faisal Raza Abidi,” he said adding that “I warn that they are testing our patience”. Saudi Police Kills 5 In Restive East RIYADH: Saudi police killed four youth Saturday in restiveoil rich region in an operation to arrest the people who shot dead a soldier there last weekend, the spokesman for the interior ministry said. During a shootout in Adamiya, “four terrorists, including the primary suspect in the shooting of soldier Abdelaziz bin Ahmed al-Assiri, were killed,” the spokesman was quoted by the official SPA news agency as saying in a statement. One policeman was wounded. Assiri died Sunday when officers came under fire from farms near Awamiya. The village, just west of Dammam city on the Gulf coast, has witnessed clashes between security forces of the Sunni-dominated kingdom and protesters from the minority Shia community. In February, a firefight in Awamiya left two policemen and two suspects dead. Other shootings have occurred there in subsequent months. Most Saudi Shias live in the oil-rich east, and many complain of marginalisation. Since 2011, protests and sporadic attacks on security forces have occurred in Shia areas, leaving around 20 Shia youth dead. Activists say several death sentences have also been handed down by courts in the kingdom since the demonstrations began. BJP Distances Itself From Religious Conversions New Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said on Saturday it does not support forceful religious conversions, distancing itself from a sensitive issue that has drawn sharp criticism from opposition parties and hurt the government’s reform agenda. Premier Narendra Modi has in recent weeks come under fire for being slow to rein in his hardline affiliate groups that are allegedly trying to promote a Hindu-dominant agenda by luring Muslims and Christians to convert to Hinduism. Critics say such groups undermine the secular foundations of multi-faith India and have become more assertive since BJP swept to power in May. “BJP is not supportive of any forceful conversions,” party president Amit Shah said, adding that his party was supportive of bringing in an anti-conversion law. India’s 1.2 billion people are Mother Arrested For Murder Of 8 Children CAIRNS: Australian police said Saturday they had arrested the mother of all but one of eight children reportedly stabbed to death in the northern city of Cairns, as vigils were held to mourn the tragedy. Officers have not revealed the cause of death of the children, the youngest of which was a toddler and the oldest a teenager, but said knives were found at the house where the bodies were discovered on Friday morning. “The 37-year-old mother of several of the children involved in this incident has been arrested for murder overnight and is currently under police guard at the Cairns Base Hospital,” detective inspector Bruno Asnicar told reporters. Flowers and teddy bears were laid near the crime scene and church services were held overnight in Cairns, where police said they are working closely with the Torres Strait Islander community to which the family belonged. Police have confirmed the dead as four girls — aged two, 11, 12 and 14 and four boys aged five, six, eight and nine, but said they would not name the family for cultural reasons. In some indigenous cultures it is considered disrespectful to say a civil society people demonstrating and lighting candles for the Peshawar dead and said they should also have felt pain for the 86 madressah students killed in army operation here (in Lal Masjid in 2007), but I did not raise such hue and cry,” he said. Aziz suggested to the military and political leadership to negotiate peace with the Taliban, ostensibly for a more worthy cause. “They too are Pakistanis,” he said. “I suggest that a united force of Pak army and Taliban should be established to fight the infidels.” He said there were no differences between the Taliban of Afghanistan and those in Pakistan. They are like brothers. After the Friday congregation was over, members of the Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ), the reincarnation of the banned Sipah-i-Sahaba Pakistan group, demonstrated in support for Maulana Abdul Aziz. Later Hafiz Ehtesham Ahmed, spokesman for Shuhada Foundation of Lal Masjid, thanked the ASWJ for its support. “Maulana Abdul Aziz is an asset to the whole Islamic world and we will not tolerate any move to harm him,” he said in a statement on behalf of the foundation. A security official, who monitored his Friday sermon inside grieving. “It’s like a bomb has gone off,” he said. “Everyone is in shock.” “There will be people who have never, ever been to Cairns who will be touched by this tragedy,” added Acting Assistant Police Commissioner Paul Taylor. Queensland state minister Tim Nicholls, who laid a wreath at the site, said police had not yet explained the motive behind the killings. “As a father myself with three children under 15, I can only imagine the grief this community is feeling as they come to grips with the events,” he said. The dead children were reportedly discovered by the mother’s 20-year-old son when he arrived at the house in the Cairns suburb of Manoora on Friday morning. Reports said a woman was heard screaming in the house on Thursday night, with Brisbane’s Courier-Mail saying she had shouted: “Don’t let them take away from us. God bless us. Forgive me for what I’ll do.” A 13-year-old girl who walked a friend who lived in the house home on Thursday night said she had met the mother, who had given her money for a taxi ride home. predominantly Hindus, but the country has about 160 million Muslims and a small proportion of Christians. Religious conversions are a hotbutton issue for Hindu nationalists in India, which was colonised for centuries by Muslim and Christian settlers. Some hardliners want the entire country to become a land of Hindus. Earlier this month, Muslim slum-dwellers complained they had been tricked into a conversion ceremony by Hindu groups who attracted them with promises of cheap government rations and voter identity cards. Indian police are investigating the case. In another incident, a Hindu priest-turned-lawmaker of Modi’s party planned a conversion ceremony on Christmas Day, but cancelled the event after the prime minister intervened. Supporters define such events as a “homecoming”, saying fami- lies signing up for the ceremonies were originally Hindus. “A police complaint has been registered against the so-called homecoming programme and the matter has reached the court. ... Let the court decide if it was a forceful conversion or not,” Shah said. Modi’s agenda to push through reforms to boost economic growth has hit a roadblock in India’s upper house of parliament, where opposition lawmakers have demanded that the prime minister make a statement on the contested conversions issue. The Hindu nationalist leader has so far refrained from doing so, and has let his colleagues fend off criticism. “The BJP speaks with a forked tongue,” national spokesman of the opposition Congress party Sanjay Jha said, accusing the BJP of using economic reform as a way to a camouflage its Hindu agenda. Kurds Advance Against Daesh In Syria’s Kobani Beirut: Kurdish fighters advanced Saturday in the contested northern Syrian town of Kobani after heavy clashes with Daesh group, a Kurdish official and an activist group said. Nawaf Khalil, a spokesman for the Kurdish Democratic Union Party, said Kurdish fighters advanced in six neighbourhoods and have besieged the Daesh-held cultural centre east of town. He added that Kurdish fighters captured the Yarmouk school, southeast of Kobani where eight bodies of Daesh fighters were found. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the main Syrian Kurdish force known as the People’s Protection Units, or YPG, killed several Daesh fighters. The Daesh group began its Kobani offensive in mid-September, capturing parts of the town as well as dozens of nearby villages. Hundreds of fighters on both sides have been killed since. Kurdish forces have gradually pushed the extremist group back in recent weeks with the help of US-led coalition air strikes. The push in Kobani came a day after YPG fighters opened a corridor between their positions in northeastern Syria and Mount Sinjar in neighbouring Iraq where Iraqi peshmerga fighters have been on the offensive as well. Earlier this week, Iraqi peshmerga fighters were also able to open another corridor to Mount Sinjar. Iraq’s Kurdistan Region Security Council said peshmerga fighters launched a new offensive on Saturday toward Mount Sinjar and were able to capture the nearby area of Mushrefa. The statement said that early Saturday, 32 truckloads of food, water and other aid departed from the northern Iraqi city of Arbil to Mount Sinjar through the “corridor established by the courageous Peshmerga forces.” The Daesh group captured almost a third of Iraq and Syria earlier this year, plunging the region into deep crisis. In early August, the militants captured Iraqi towns of Sinjar and Zumar, prompting tens of thousands of people from the Yazidi minority to flee to the mountain, where they became trapped. Many were eventually airlifted by a passageway through Syria back into Iraq, where they found refuge in Iraq’s northern Kurdish semiautonomous region. JKFA president elected As AiFF treAsurer Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Football Association (JKFA) president Zamir Ahmad Thakur, was Saturday elected as treasurer of the All India Football Federation (AIFF). In a statement a spokesman of JKFA said, “Thakur was elected unopposed as Hony Treasurer of the AIFF at its Annual General Body Meeting held at Mumbai on Saturday as the said post had fallen vacant.” The AIFF had also nominated Thakur as chairman of its Competition Committee for the term 2013-2016 last year. Thakur, who has been president of the JKFA since 2004, has been instrumental in reviving the lost glory of football in the state. “It is a great honor not only for Thakur, but also for JKFA. We wish him all the success and are hopeful that he serves football in the highest caliber by taking it to great heights in the country,” a JKFA spokesman said in a statement. “His appointment has also raised the profile of J&K football in front of other States,” it added. Football fans, players and experts have expressed delight over the news terming it as a ‘big development’. JKFA office bearer Fayaz Ahmad Sofi while expressing delight on hearing the news said, “This will be a big boost for J&K football. After the years of hard work the J&K football is being recognized now. I hope Zamir sahib’s new posting will be beneficial for J&K football,” he said. Last year Thakur was elected as JKFA President for third consecutive term in the elections held here. During his first tenure as JKFA president, the prestigious Santosh Trophy was held in the state after a gap of almost three decades in 2008. Army orgAnises medicAl, veterinAry cAmp At uri livestock were also adminisSrinagar: To provide the estered medical treatment and sential services to the locals and providing basic amenities advice,” it said. at their doorsteps, a medical“An awareness cum-veterinary camp was organized by Army under the campaign was also aegis of Chinar Corps at Gingle conducted at the venue village, Uri Tehsil on Saturday. where health and A defence communiqué said mitigation measures on the camp aimed to address issues like hygiene and the medical requirements sanitation, cold weather of the local populace where the health care has not been amelioration measures, adequately addressed due communicable/ to non availability of medinon communicable cal facilities. “Three medical diseases, water officers from Army including purification and water a civilian Medical Officer and borne diseases were Veterinary Officer, alongwith discussed and the ancillary staff were involved in the camp. Apart from 445 populace was made (Male - 285, Female - 55, and aware of the preventive children - 105) villagers inmeasures,” it added. cluding children, a total of 380 crpF bArrAcK gutted in Fire Srinagar A Central Reserve Police (CRPF) barrack along with signal centre was gutted in a fire incident in Pulwama district of South Kashmir on Saturday. Official sources said that fire erupted inside a barrack of 183 bn CRPF stationed at juice factory Ballow Rajpur due to leakage of gas. In the fire incident, a barrack, signal centre and a service rifle (INSAS) was completely gutted. Two CRPF men also sustained minor burn injuries, they said. The fire tenders reached the spot and doused off the flames while surrounding buildings were saved due to the time intervention. When contacted IG CRPF, Nalin Prabhat told GNS that a portion of signal centre was damaged in the fire incident and the timely action by the fire tenders averted the major damage. Meanwhile, police has registered a case and start investigations into the incident, they said. (GNS) C M Y K ISLAMABAD: A large number of people gathered in front of Lal Masjid on the third consecutive day on Saturday in protest against mosque cleric Molvi Abdul Aziz who refused to condemn the massacre of students at Army Public School in Peshawar. The protesters also called for replacement of the cleric of Lal Masjid which is a government property. Police has already registered a case against Aziz for allegedly threatening the protesters. They said the leadership of Lal Masjid should clarify if it was with terrorists or with Pakistan. Aziz meanwhile blamed two persons for whipping up the furore over his remark that the massacre of schoolchildren in Peshawar was a “reaction” to the military operation against militants. “This campaign against me is a conspiracy hatched by Amin Shaheedi and Faisal Raza Abidi,” he said adding that “I warn that they are testing our patience”. Maulana Amin Shaheedi and Raza Abidi, whom Aziz accused of fanning public sentiments against him, are, respectively, leader of Majlis Wahdat Muslimeen (MWM – Unity of Mus- sunday 21 12 2014 Kashmir Observer OPINION It wasn’t the Final atrocity Pervez Hoodbhoy T HE gut-wrenching massacre in Peshawar’s Army Public School has left Pakistan aghast and sickened. All political leaders have called for unity against terrorism. But this is no watershed event that can bridge the deep divides within. In another few days this episode of 134 dead children will become one like any other. All tragedies provoke emotional exhortations. But nothing changed after Lakki Marwat when 105 spectators of a volleyball match were killed by a suicide bomber in a pickup truck. Or, when 96 Hazaras in a snooker club died in a double suicide attack. The 127 dead in the All Saints Church bombing in Peshawar, or the 90 Ahmadis killed while in prayer, are now dry statistics. In 2012, men in military uniforms stopped four buses bound from Rawalpindi to Gilgit, demanding that all 117 persons alight and show their national identification cards. Those with typical Shia names, like Abbas and Jafri, were separated. Minutes later corpses lay on the ground. If Pakistan had a collective conscience, just one single fact could have woken it up: the murder of nearly 60 polio workers — women and men who work to save children from a crippling disease — at the hands of the fanatics. Hence the horrible inevitability: from time to time, Pakistan shall continue to witness more such catastrophes. No security measures can ever prevent attacks on soft targets. The only possible solution is to change mindsets. For this we must grapple with three hard facts. First, let’s openly admit that the killers are not outsiders or infidels. Instead, they are fighting a war for the reason Boko Haram fights in Nigeria, IS in Iraq and Syria, Al Shabab in Kenya, etc. The men who slaughtered our children are fighting for a dream — to destroy Pakistan as a Muslim state and recreate it as an Islamic state. This is why they also attack airports and shoot at PIA planes. They see these as necessary steps towards their utopia. No one should speculate about the identity of the killers. vived by playing dead. Another surviving student, Aamir Ali, says that two clean-shaven gunmen told students to recite the kalima before shooting them multiple times. Second, Pakistan must scorn and punish those who either —Agha Shahid Ali. August 1997. (H/T Professor Suvir Kaul on Facebook) Taliban spokesman Muhammad Umar Khorasani released pictures of the eight ‘martyrs’, justifying the killing of minors with reference to Hadith (a horrific perversion, of course). Dizzied by religious passions, the men roamed the school searching for children hiding under desks and shouted “Allah-o-Akbar” before opening fire. Shot in both legs, Shahrukh Khan, 16, says he sur- support terrorism publicly or lie to us about the identity of terrorists. Television anchors and political personalities have made their fortunes and careers by fabricating wild theories. For example, retired Gen Hamid Gul and his son Abdullah Gul have adamantly insisted multiple times on TV that suicide attackers were not circumcised and hence not Muslim. Though body TerrOrism they went to school and But that seems really weak. Doesn’t go far enough. “I strongly condemn the killing of innocent people.” No. Not profound enough. Sounds like a prepared statement. Doesn’t seem heartfelt. So what would be heartfelt? Unfortunately, what’s heartfelt is not eloquent. It provides no answers. No satisfying explanation that neatly distances “moderate Muslims” from the ideologies of terrorists. Because the truth is, I can’t wrap my mind around, let alone be able to explain to someone else, what the ideologies of terrorists are. Here’s the truth: I don’t understand. I just don’t. I don’t know how anyone could justify this. It makes me sad. The kind of sad where you find tears suddenly rolling down your cheeks, tears for strangers, while you’re sitting in a deli eating breakfast and CNN comes on the TV, with a story about the lawyer who was killed in the Sydney cafe siege while trying to protect her pregnant friend from gunfire. Followed by picture after picture from Peshawar of parents and relatives with grief-stricken faces, clutching their dead children. I’m sad that I have to write this and prove my humanity. And I doubt that this will satisfy those who demand that the “silent” Muslim majority speak out against terrorism. But I suspect that this captures what many Muslims feel every time something like this happens. We feel numb, lost, distraught, sick, sometimes unable to keep the tears from spilling in public places, and often unable to find the magic words that would put that special “Moderate Muslim” gloss on the standard, average-person reaction to inexplicable, sickening violence. My heartfelt condolences to the parents and relatives of the students who lost their lives in this senseless tragedy in Pakistan. I pray that all the children in the world are safe from any harm.” Zafar Siddiqui is an IT professional and blogger based in Minneapolis, Min- ment mosque — led an insurrection in 2007 against the Pakistani state. He flatly refuses to condemn the Peshawar massacre. Other state employees have called upon all to not pray for army soldiers killed in action. At another level is Jamaatud Dawa’s supremo, Hafiz Saeed. He blames India for the Peshawar massacre and, ignoring ironclad evidence, misguides Pakistanis That the TTP may be involved in the Peshawar massacre is the first exception, but this is contained only in a tweet. For a man who uses the strongest language against political opponents and has hogged TV channels for months, he has yet to condemn TTP before a national audience. Why the reticence? It was even worse earlier. In 2009, as the Taliban took over Swat, on Hamid Mir’s Capital Talk he claimed that the Swat Taliban were fighting a war of liberation against the Americans. When I asked why they were fighting in Pakistan and killing our policemen and soldiers, he accused me of being an American agent and then, later, attempted to physically attack me. Readers can google this video. Third, if Pakistan is to be at peace with itself then it must seek peace with its neighbours and begin disassembling the apparatus of jihad. The bitter truth is that you reap what you sow. Today, massive militant establishments hold the Pakistani state hostage. They run their own training centres, hospitals, and disaster relief programmes. When Sartaj Aziz, adviser to the prime minister on foreign affairs, said that Pakistan was not going to target militant groups which “did not pose a threat to the state”, he accidentally spilled the beans. In fact he was merely restating Pakistan’s wellknown zero-sum paradigm — we live to hurt others, not to better ourselves. While bewailing the murder of our children, let us acknowledge that Pakistan’s soil has been used time and again for inflicting grief and sorrow across the world. Today it is not just India and Afghanistan who accuse us, but also China and Iran. By launching Zarb-i-Azb, Gen Raheel Sharif has broken with his timid predecessor, Gen Kayani. North Waziristan should never have become the epicentre of terrorism. He has done well to meet President Ashraf Ghani in Kabul and demand the extradition of TTP’s Mullah Fazlullah, now ensconced on the Afghan side. But what of Mullah Omar? The Pakistani Taliban and the Afghan Taliban are two sides of the same coin. I wonder if President Ghani asked General Sharif to help extradite Mullah Omar for facing justice before the Afghan people. The author teaches physics in Lahore and Islamabad. The Children of Peshawar A poem to remember what should never have had to be remembered, what should never have happened. Another day, another tragedy. More grumbling from certain quarters that “moderate” Muslims are silent, that they don’t condemn terrorism and tacitly support it. I about the identity of the enemy. Among political leaders, none is more blameworthy than Imran Khan, the icon of millions of immature minds. He has never named the Taliban as terrorists even when they claimed responsibility for various atrocities. “Pablo Neruda once asked if you could have a line which says “the blood of children flowed on the streets?” What is there that can match the blood of children flowing on the streets? This is also an aesthetic problem, and the way he solves it is by writing “And the blood of children flowed on streets like the blood of children flows on the streets.” There is no equivalence outside itself.” On Condemning read the sad news in the Star Tribune about the Pakistani Taliban killing 141 children at a ZAFAR SIDDIQUI school in Peshawar. The very mention of a school shooting brings back terrible memories of Columbine, Sandy Hook, and other such tragedies. I decided to read through the readers’ comments. What I expected was a show of empathy and solidarity with the hapless parents of these dozens of kids who died at the hands of terrorists. However, to my utter shock, I saw some blaming Islam, while others were regurgitating the oft answered question “Why are Muslims not condemning terrorism.” Coming on the heels of the terror in Sydney, wreaked by a deranged lunatic who happened to be Muslim, this tragedy in Pakistan shocked the world to its core. The savagery of this terrorist act can be gauged by the fact that even the Afghan Taliban issued a condemnation of this action by the Pakistani Taliban. As I was going through my Facebook page, I came across an incredibly eloquent and truly heartfelt post by Munazza Humayun, a Twin Cities Muslim and an attorney by profession. This expression of outrage and frustration is something I believe is felt by a vast majority of American Muslims. I am reproducing her post with her permission below: “Another day, another tragedy. More grumbling from certain quarters that “moderate” Muslims are silent, that they don’t condemn terrorism and tacitly support it. And once again, I try to decide whether I should write something. You know, to condemn terrorism, being a “moderate” Muslim and all (whatever that means). I guess I’ll give it a shot. “I don’t support killing children.” parts are plentifully available for inspection these days, they have not retracted earlier claims. Those on the state’s payroll that encourage violence against the state must be dismissed. Maulana Abdul Aziz of Islamabad’s Lal Masjid — a govern- The Children of Peshawar wake up to an easy morning It is just another chilly day where The cold is the villain, the saviour is the blanket And when a tired walk to the toothbrush is The hardest exercise of all. The morning is fun, the birds are still chirping Your friends gather round, exchanging jokes when The bus arrives and all of you run inside And then you realise, that undone math problem is The most difficult homework of all. In the school, with your prim uniforms you sit Waiting for the teacher to scold you when Instead of the school bell you hear a boom And then you suddenly realise the walk to the gate is The most difficult escape route of all. They fire in the name of God, they kill, they maim You wonder, why me? Why us? Why in the name of God? Why are they killing? Will it be me next? And then you see how the biology teacher you hated is Helping you and your friends find the easiest way out of it all. Your friend, the boy you played cricket with Is lying on a mattress of red, unable to move, to respond He's dead. The girl you had secret crush on, she's dead too And then you see that the face you see in the mirror is The face of Breaking News. It's bloodied? Ah, that's better One by one, they kill a hundred, and then they kill more One by one, we go numb, and then the TV microphones haunt What do you feel? What do you feel? What do I feel? I really do not know what I feel What does one feel when your world has crumbled. never came back... The children of Peshawar are just children, aren't we? The children of Peshawar want to just brush their teeth The children of Peshawar want to just wear prim uniforms The children of Peshawar want to just be scolded by teachers The children of Peshawar want to just have a secret crush The children of Peshawar want to just board the school bus The children of Peshawar want to just play football But we are not the children of Peshawar, are we? We are your children. ------Sachin Kalbag 21 12 2014 Kashmir Observer sunday PANORAMA Abuse vs Invective A.G. Noorani T HE first week of this month witnessed political discourse plumbing the depths of vulgar abuse. It can only undermine democracy unless it is stopped by severe condemnation. On Dec 1, the Union Minister of State for Food Processing Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti, asked the people “to decide if they wanted a government of Ramzadon (followers of Ram) or of “-----zadon”. The reader can guess the rhyming word. Prime Minister Narendra Modi rejected the opposition demand that she be sacked. Of a piece with Jyoti’s foul abuse was the language used by the chief minister of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee. She publicly threatened to wield a bamboo on the backside of her critics. “ In both cases, what was on display was neither wit nor political invective; it was vulgar abuse which should be visited with prompt and deterrent punishment. Of this, there is no danger. For only an alert and assertive public opinion can prod the prime minister or the West Bengal governor to administer a strong public reprimand; if not, indeed, dismiss the offender. The inaction in both cases does not stem from the deep political polarisation in India today. It stems from political decay. And that decay lies at the root of the malfunctioning of various institutions and the distortions in the working of the constitution. Formerly, politics centred around the clash of policies, programmes and principles. It now centres around unbridled pursuit of power for its own sake. In the former case, anger was expressed in wit and invective; in the latter, it is expressed in coarse language. The debates in the Central Legislative Assembly of India before independence, were not free of passion, spirited repartee and sharp invective. Sample this: “Have you no eyes, have you no ears, have you no brains?” That was Mohammad Ali Jinnah addressing British officials in the assembly in 1925 on the report of the Reforms Inquiry Committee. When the clash with the Congress intensified, Jinnah used his armoury of invective, honed in the years at the Bar, to deadly effect. The most striking instance of this was the famous telegram to Maulana Abul Kalam Azad in which he branded him as a ‘showboy’. It stuck. Even admirers of Jinnah questioned the use of the word. The exchange is recalled to illustrate why invective was used calculatedly for political reasons and not as sheer abuse. On July 12, 1940 Azad wired to Jinnah: “Is it the position of the League that she [sic] cannot agree to any provisional agreement not based on the two-nation theory? If so, please clarify by wire.” This was too clever by half. Elucidations on matters sensitive are sought in meetings; not through telegrams. Jinnah seized on Azad’s prefatory caution ‘confidential’ to reply “cannot reciprocate confidence”. Jinnah went on to add: “I refuse to discuss with you, by correspondence or otherwise, as you have completely forfeited the confidence of Muslim India. Can’t you realise you are made a Muslim ‘show-boy’ Congress president to give it colour that it is national and deceive foreign countries? “You represent neither Mus- lims nor Hindus. The Congress is a Hindu body. If you have self-respect, resign at once. You have done your worst against the League so far. You know you have hopelessly failed. Give it up.” While critics have a point, the context must not be overlooked. The maulana was engaged in parleys with the premier of Punjab, Sir Sikandar Hayat Khan, to detach him from the League. That posed a serious threat to the Muslim League. Hence Jinnah’s remark, often ignored, “You have done your worst against the League so far. You know you have hopelessly failed. Give it up.” The retort was given with a political purpose. The telegram was published before it reached Azad. He never recovered from the blow. Two of the greatest masters of invective were Benjamin Disraeli and David Lloyd George. Both were merciless towards their adversaries. Each destroyed his foe in a famous debate. Disraeli ruined Robert Peel in a debate in 1841. Lloyd George ruined Neville Chamberlain in the historic debate on May 7, 1940. He said: “The nation is prepared for every sacrifice so long as it has leadership, so long as the government show clearly what they are aiming at, and so long as the nation is confident that those who are leading it are doing their best. I say solemnly that the prime minister should give an example of sacrifice, because there is nothing which can contribute more to victory in this war than that he should sacrifice the seals of office.” Chamberlain won the vote but by so small a margin that he resigned. ---Dawn The NATIoN Is prepAred for every sAcrIfIce so long as it has leadership, so long as the government show clearly what they are aiming at, and so long as the nation is confident that those who are leading it are doing their best. I say solemnly that the prime minister should give an example of sacrifice, because there is nothing which can contribute more to victory in this war than that he should sacrifice the seals of office.” Dawn of an Urdu Revival I Zofeen Maqsood t’s a crisp winter evening and a tasteful sundowner party is underway in a posh New Delhi enclave. Among the guests are an assortment of young executives, artists and designers. As the sun begins to set, the host announces the highlight of the evening – an in- Aijaz Ilmi, editor of Urdu daily, Siyasat Jadid (New Politics) and a national member of the Bharatiya Janata Party, says: “Apart from popularity on TV, the renewed interest of youngsters in Urdu on social media is an eye-opener.” From conversations to translations, there is a sudden spurt in online dialogue about Urdu which houses were run by literary historians of all faiths,” adds Urdu-lover, lawyer and human rights activist Shehzad Poonawalla. MAKING A COMEBACK A key reason why Urdu may be experiencing a revival now, says poet and JNU professor Bakshi, is the growing interest in Sufism. “In this strife-torn world, suddenly Su- Urdu through the medium of lyrics, according to Urdu lovers, there is much more to the language than ghazals, shayris and words such as ishq (love) and falak (heaven). Indian writer, critic and literary historian Rakshanda Jalil finds it heartening to see that the new realism of Urdu goes beyond associations with love, longing and shayris, with people be- “UrdU Is AN INTeGrAl pArT of oUr cUlTUre; one cannot ignore it,” adds artist and Urdu revivalist Saba Hasan. “The problem arose after Partition, when most of the Urdu-speaking population moved out and we started associating it with Pakistan. Urdu got lost in the game of borders and politics. The language was deliberately edged out and its promotion was suppressed. Slowly, the Urdu signboards vanished and all other remnants of its pervasive past were forgotten.” formal mushaira or reading of Urdu poetry. For the next hour, the youngsters sit listening intently as verses in that lyrical language float out over the city, transporting the scene to another era. Urdu, the lost language of the elite, is quietly making a comeback. It’s not just the poetry. In June this year, a new TV channel called Zindagi – launched by Zee Entertainment Enterprises – began bringing conversational Urdu back into Indian drawing rooms, through Pakistani soap operas where the characters speak predominantly Hindustani, interspersed with phrases and words from that ancient language. “The Pakistani shows are hugely popular and now everyone suddenly wants to know the meaning of words like musalsal [continuous] and akhrajat [expenses],” says Urdu poet and JNU professor Minu Bakshi. Zindagi has even begun running translations of Urdu words in English and Hindi as a result. “The reason we chose Pakistani soaps was because of the ornate and beautiful softness in the language,” says Priyanka Datta, business head for Zindagi. “It was so familiar to us that it needed no translation, and as we expected, the response has been phenomenal.” Zindagi already has more than 310,000 likes on its Facebook page and 10,000 followers on Twitter. FASHION WITH CROSS-BORDER APPEAL If Urdu and Pakistani soaps are increasingly popular on TV, Pakistani fashion is increasingly visible on the streets. Young women are turning to the flattering silhouettes proffered by structured pants and breezy palazzos worn with long kameezes, as seen in the Pakistani serials. “I wouldn’t even call it Pakistani influence. It is a hybrid of Mughal, Iranian and Persian influences,” says Delhi-based fashion designer Anupama Dayal. Earlier this year, when a Pakistani lifestyle exhibition called Aalishan Pakistan was held in the Capital, it was the ‘Pakistani suits’ that drew the largest crowds. “We ended up selling every piece we had brought to display,” says Lahore-based Zeeshan Gaffar Khan, who was part of the exhibition. “The churidars, palazzos and cigarette pants were the hottestselling items. We ran out of stock before the end of the second day, and many shoppers asked why we didn’t have a shop or at least a delivery option in India.” Exhibitors added that while Pakistani designs had always been popular with Indians, the TV serials had likely made these style more accessible and aspirational. — Courtesy hindustantimes.com suggests that it is being viewed as a language waiting to be explored and adopted back in popular culture. “There are an increasing number of websites dedicated to Urdu, most of them set up not by Urdu activists or academicians but by individuals just interested in the language,” Ilmi says. “Urdu is an integral part of our culture; one cannot ignore it,” adds artist and Urdu revivalist Saba Hasan. “The problem arose after Partition, when most of the Urdu-speaking population moved out and we started associating it with Pakistan. Urdu got lost in the game of borders and politics. The language was deliberately edged out and its promotion was suppressed. Slowly, the Urdu signboards vanished and all other remnants of its pervasive past were forgotten.” Rakshanda Jalil who runs Hindustani Awaaz, an organisation that seeks to popularise Urdu, adds: “If there is any language that has a religious significance in Islam, it’s Arabic. It’s wrong to bracket Urdu as the language of a certain community. Forget a religion, Urdu doesn’t even have a geography.” “What we need is a realisation that Urdu is not just the language of the poetry of Mirza Ghalib and Faiz Ahmad Faiz but a language of contemporary knowledge, rational thinking, commerce and liberalism, as it was when Urdu publishing fism is gaining more followers and it is closely associated with healing through Urdu music,” she says. That Urdu is beyond boundaries and beliefs is the common notion of Sufi artists as well. Murad Ali, a sixth-generation sarangi player, says, “During our music performances, we get so many requests to recite Sufi kalams [devotional songs].” Another genre, qawwali, which has a 750-year history and was once identified as Muslim devotional music, has been gaining increasingly widespread acceptance too. Qawwali parties are an urban trend and qawwals are now being invited to perform at wedding functions and get-togethers by Hindus and Muslims alike. “The fact is that there are qawwalis that mention Krishna and Radha too,” says Murad Ali. “And 13th-century Amir Khusrow, whose writings we recite, wrote not just in Urdu but also in Brij Bhasha [a dialect of Hindi].” Saqlain Nizami of the Nizami Brothers, who sang the popular qawwali Kun Faya Kun in the Hindi film Rockstar (2012) says they get more requests for qawwalis from non-Muslims than from Muslims. “People organise qawwali sessions at home on festive occasions and we recite everything from bhajans to Kabir Das dohas to the works of 18thcentury Punjabi Sufi poet Bulleh Shah.” While Bollywood can be credited for single-handedly preserving coming interested in the script too. Bakshi laments that the growth of Urdu is stunted because it gets little to no support at the government level. “Urdu should be taught as a compulsory language in schools. It’s sad that even in states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, where Urdu is in use, it’s not compulsory in schools,” she adds. Jalil, however, feels it is Urdu publishing that needs to improve, in order to promote the language and build on its growing popularity. “It is up to Urdu-speaking people to promote the language,” she says. “We don’t need the government taking our cause further. Many schools offer Urdu as a third language and if more and more schools do that, there will not only be more jobs for Urdu teachers but more youngsters who know Urdu too.” Ilmi would agree. “The government cannot be expected to support every language,” he says. “Urdu is a language strong enough to survive on its own.” They would seem to be in a minority, though. At a time when an ancient language such as Sanskrit is getting a push from the Centre, Urdu is being neglected. As activist Poonawalla puts it: “Urdu has no community or religion. It has lovers and it needs consumers, not just of its cultural expression but of its books, its science its commerce, its news. Urdu’s survival lies not in the romanticism by the few but in it becoming the business of many.” 6 Sunday 21 12 2014 Kashmir Observer V-Mart Reopens in Srinagar after Flood devastation Srinagar: V-Mart “the King of Retail in tier-II & tier-III Cities” on Saturday announced the reopening of its 1st value store in Srinagar which had been severely damaged in recent flood. The company, which prides itself on crafting unique “First Of Its Kind” complete family fashion store, fully air-conditioned with international shopping experience in J&K. For the people of Srinagar, V-Mart ensures that this store once again fulfill the fashion needs of the entire family under one roof that too at best price. The “King of Retail- V-Mart”, in Srinagar, is located at, Sarah City Centre, Indira Gandhi Road, Opp-Exhibition, Srinagar, The store is spread over a retail area of 9884 sq ft. “We are thrilled on the revival of our fashion store in Srinagar”, says Chairman & Managing Director, V-Mart Retail Ltd, Mr. Lalit Agarwal. We have suffered a huge damage in recent flood but encouragement and appreciation of our customers and moreover efforts of our staff have given us strength to rebuild and restart this store”. For operations we fulfill our manpower requirements by providing employment to locals. Providing customer’s true value for their money has helped us to build the relationship with families across the state, Mr. Agarwal added. The opening of the store and the launch of winter Collection is timed well to serve the customers during the winter season. For the customers of Srinagar, V-Mart has launched a Lucky Draw offer. To avail this offer, customer has to shop for minimum Rs 1000/-, customer will also get a chance to win exciting prizes like LED, Refrigerator, Wall Clocks, Iron, Quilts and many more prizes. Apart from this, there are many offers on men’s, ladies and kids apparels like buy 2 get 1 free. As a special inaugural offer for the customers, first 200 customers will get a wall clock at Rs 1 on purchase of Rs 299. With the relaunch of store in Srinagar, the With the support of Congress, NC formed government in the state and Omar Abdullah became the any regional party like PDP or national conference. “There is no question of joining hands with PDP or NC for making of the government. We will either join hands with the independents if we require to or prefer to sit in opposition,” Gupta said. He added that Kashmir valley has supported the agenda of the BJP and the hardships, the valley people have gone through have made them to vote for BJP during polls. “Not only Jammu but the Kashmir valley has given us enormous support. We are indeed indebted to them and the state in the coming time would witness peace and prosperity during BJP’s tenure,” remarked Gupta. people have given a warm welcome to the reopened V-Mart retail store in the city & the people are confident that the reopening of this new store in the city will also give its citizens a chance to unique experience by offering a vast range of products, maintaining high standards in quality and design, offer fashion garments at down-toearth prices which will ensure that over the period the store shall emerge as the destination of choice for bargain hunters and the fashionable alike. The store will be providing Apparels, Footwear, Accessories, Luggage, Home ware, Home Furnishing, Toys & Games. The people in Srinagar are aware about high street fashion due to the high spread of Electronic Media and Communication. Families are looking for a convenience store, but an organized retail store, where all apparels and general merchandise are available under one roof. Because of these reasons V-Mart has decided to restart its operations in Srinagar. From Front Page PDP Misses It can even go with the BJP. If the BJP does not go with the PDP or the PDP declines the BJP’s offer, PDP: We Don’t run the state,” PDP chief spokesman Naeem Akhtar said. He added that state is facing immense problems on political and developmental fronts and for that it needs help and understanding of Government of India and of all political parties of Jammu and Kashmir. Pak Army the three other terrorists, Nadeem, Azeem and Kamran, who had been sentenced to death by the courts. Heavy contingents of police and paramilitary troops were deployed on Saturday at Mach and Quetta district jails in a move to increase security around prisons. At least 14 prisoners in the Mach Jail of Balochistan, one of the largest jails in Pakistan, are on death row. The prisoners on death row do not belong to any banned organisation but four of them were charged with terrorism acts, such as targeted killings and murder charges over personal disputes. “Jammers were already installed while the cover areas have been increased,” Asif Butt, Superintendent of Quetta District Jail, said. However, there are no prisoners in this particular jail on death row. Butt said Frontier Corps (FC), police and Balochistan Constabulary personnel have increased patrolling in and around the jail. Security forces also carried out a search operation inside the jail. Another BJP LEaDS in JaMMU As expected the BJP is likely to do well in Jammu region with 37 assembly seats. It is expected to win 14-20 seats in the region. aDVanTagE PDP If the PDP wins 36-41 seats, it can take the support any political party except the ruling NC to reach the halfway mark of 44 seats. It can even go with the Panthers Party and Independents. Or it can even clinch a deal with its former ally the Congress. for the first time the BJP can become the main opposition party in the Jammu & Kashmir Assembly. 2008 rESULTS: When we look at the results of last Assembly Elections in Jammu and Kashmir, National Conference emerged as the largest party winning 28 seats out of 87 assembly seats. PDP was on second place with 21 seats while the Congress got third spot winning 17 seats. The BJP could only win 11 seats. Though NC became the largest party, they failed to achieve the majority mark of 44 seats. state’s youngest ever Chief Minister at 38. But the political scenario has changed after general elections 2014. Riding on Modi-wave, the BJP is winning every big election in the country. But it appears the Modi-magic has had limited impact in Jammu and Kashmir BJP: Will the government formation, BJP said it would rather prefer to sit in opposition than to align with joined Congress party but recently, he had declared his support for independent candidate for Sopore Arshid Kar and canvassed in his favour during the election campaign. Meanwhile, soon after the attack, army, SOG, police and CRPF cordoned off the area and launched searches to nab the attackers. Bhat is the second Sarpanch killed in less than a week’s time in Sopore town. On December 13, a Sarpanch Ghulam Mohammad Mir alias Bedar of Hygam village was killed in similar fashion. Police is yet to find a clue about Bedar’s killers. Chief Minister and working president of National Conference Omar Abdullah expressed his condolence over the killing. “Another grim reminder of the risks associated with fighting an election,” Omar tweeted and beseeched almighty Allah to grant him (Bhat) place in paradise. PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said the unending cycle of death and destruction should stop in Kashmir to allow it grow and progress. “It is sad that yet another precious life has been lost to the vicious cycle of violence in Kashmir. Our party strongly condemns such incidents,” she said in a statement. “Reoccurrence of such dastardly incidents is unfortunate which has till now only devastated families and increased the number of orphans and widows in the society.” Hurriyat says logic at all. He said that such acts are unacceptable as the unarmed civilians cannot be killed on the bases of difference in ideologies. BJP Candidate he said adding that BJP candidate Ravinder Raina also suffered minor injuries during the clash. "A First Information report No 197 of 2014 has been registered against PDP workers in in Police Station Noushera," SSP, Rajouri Mohmmad Haseeb said. No one has so far been arrested, SSP said, adding that five persons including three workers of BJP and two of PDP were injured, and that action would be taken against the two PDP workers once they are out of the hospital. Valley’s Power scheduled to operate 24X7, was being seen as the first ever hi-tech service by PDD that makes registration of complaints as simple as making the free phone call. The PDD also assured speedy redressal of grievances. Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah who was also incharge of Power ministry, was keen to provide a “hassle free” grievance redressal system so that people do not face inconvenience as often happens otherwise. Major Combing and ten rounds, one AK-Magzine, 60 AKrounds, two pistols with two magazines, two wireless set with antenna, one pouch and other essential items. Man with number 95/2014 under section 7/25 Arms Act was registered against him and investigation is going on. (CNS) 76% Turnout that web casting was done in 166 Polling Stations, while at 324 polling stations, digital and at 349 polling stations, video cameras were installed for free, fair and smooth conduct of polls. Mr. Narula said that 20 General Observers, 06 Expenditure Observers, 03 Police Observers, 02 Awareness Observer besides 394 micro observers and about 12820 poll officials were deployed for the smooth conduct of polls. He said elaborate arrangements were made to facilitate voters to exercise their franchise in a free and fair atmosphere, adding that the polling percentage may increase after consolidation of figures. Mr. Narula said that the overall percentage for the 2014 Assembly Elections of all the five phases has been recorded as 66%, which is 5% more than the 2008 Assembly Elections, where the overall voter percentage stood at 61%. sunday 21 12 2014 Kashmir Observer NEWS Arrangement For Counting Of Votes For 6 Assembly Segments In Anantnag Finalized Officer and Chief Education Officer, Municipal Committee Anantnag participated in the meeting The meeting was informed that adequate security arrangements for all the counting centers have been put in place. Un-interrupted power supply, drinking water and other necessary arrangements have been kept available around all the counting halls at Government Degree College, Boys Khanabal, Anantnag. The DEO was informed that computers with Broadband facility, Fax Machines, Copiers, medical aid with ambulance and Fire and Emergency Services have been kept available at counting venue at Anantnag. Counting staff will be allowed for entry in the counting premises from Gate 2nd, while Counting Agents will be allowed to enter from gate 3rd i.e near petrol pump. No vehicle will be allowed to enter in the counting premises, the DEO added. Later, the District Election Officer visited counting centers at Government Degree College Khanabal and took stock of the arrangements made by the District Administration. Ban on sale, purchase of crackers BANDIPORA, DECEMBER 20: In view of the counting of votes for the Assembly Elections 2014 scheduled to be held on December 23, 2014 and to avert any law and order situation and breach of peace in the district Bandipora by using the crackers, District Magistrate, Bandipora has imposed Section 144 Cr. P. C for sale and purchase besides use of cracker in district Bandipora with immediate effect till further orders. The Tehsildars and SHOs concerned have been directed to conduct inspections frequently in the local market in their respective jurisdiction and seize the crackers and keep the quantity of crackers seized in police custody after maintaining proper records. section 144 cr. p.c imposed in Bandipora BANDIPORA: In view of the counting of votes for Assembly segments of Bandipora, Sonawari and Gurez on December 23, 2014, the District Magistrate Bandipora has imposed Section 144 Cr. P.C within the town limits of Bandipora, Sumbal, Hajin and Dawar (Gurez) with effect from 7 a.m. on December 23, 2014 to avoid any breach of peace and safeguard the life and property of the general public. Any congregation of five or more people is not allowed except in religious places and purely religious purposes, no procession shall be taken out, no person other than a member of Armed Forces, Police, Magistrate or a public servant duly authorized and on duty shall carry public firearms or an article capable of being used as weapon of offence. Jitendra singh hopes BJp will win Jammu Nayeem Dares Delhi To Hold Referendum Srinagar: Rejecting the process of ‘election drama’ and its results, National Front Chairman and Hurriyat Conference (JK) leader Nayeem Ahmad Khan Saturday said Kashmiri people are fighting for their right to self determination. In a statement he said unless and until Kashmiri people are given their just right to determine their political future their struggle and resistance will continue. Presiding the first party meeting at central office after his release, Khan praised those who remained aloof of the election. “India and its collaborators had jumped with lot of resources in the election drama hence they tried to institutionalize corruption,” Khan said adding “those who somehow participated in the Indian election drama too want an end of the Indian slavery but for the time being pro-India politicians took an undue advantage of them.” Jammu: Senior BJP leader and union minister Dr Jitendra Singh Saturday said that the party was hopeful to win all the seats of Jammu region and will form the next government in the state. Singh after exercising his franchisee here in Jammu said that the party will defeat the Congress and other parties in the Jammu and Kashmir especially in Jammu region.“We are hoping that we will form the government here. The people have rejected the other parties and have voted in large numbers in favour of BJP candidates,” he said.“Regional political parties, with the main conspirator Congress, had blocked development of the state. Their main agenda is to divide people in the name of region, religion and caste to achieve political power for their personal gains,” he alleged. Earlier, Singh talking to reporters after exercising his right of franchise thanked the people for coming out in large numbers to vote. “I thank the people who are coming out in large numbers to vote. It is a victory for democracy and defeat for all other forces against the democratic process,” he told reporters at a polling station in Gandhinagar. (KNS) geelani shocked over pulwama rape, murder 76% people turned out to vote in Jammu in the last phase of elections on Saturday. The picture taken at Gandhi Nagar polling station shows long queue of voters waiting for their turn. Shabir Shah welcomes UN resolution on RSD Srinagar: Terming the resolution passed in General Assembly of United Nations regarding the right to self-determination of nations and Pakistan’s support for it as “encouraging and in favour of subjugated nations of world”, Hurriyat Conference Jammu Kashmir (HCJK) leader and Democratic Freedom Party chairman Shabir Ahmad Shah Saturday said the step will pave way for justice to freedom fighting people of the world. “Pakistan’s support to the resolution will encourage the freedom fighting people of the world and it is surely a victory for those people particularly for the nation of Jammu and Kashmir who are struggling for their birth right of self-determination,” Shah in a statement issued to press said. He said New Delhi has to revere and acknowledge this resolution sooner or later and has to allow the people of Jammu and Kashmir decide their right of self-determination. He said UN should keep a vigil over its member nations as to how they treat their subjects in their respective domains. “UN should also initiate steps to implement these resolutions on ground.” Applauding the role of Pakistan Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif with regards to Kashmir issue, Shah said the Pak premier has upheld the facts based on truth and reality. He also lauded the statement of Nawaz Sharif that non-serious approach towards the Kashmir issue will only pave way for destruction in the subcontinent as “the issue is a bone of contention between two nuclear neigbouring nations India and Pakistan.” Shah urged India to shun its stubbornness and respond positively to Nawaz Sharif’s call for dialogue to resolve the Kashmir issue. “The right of self-determination is the birth right of nations which is mentioned in the UN charter. The people of Jammu and Kashmir are fighting for this right from last 67 years for which so many resolutions have been passed in the security council of UN but only due to India’s stubborn attitude, the issue continues to linger.” He said though UN played a crucial role in bringing independence to many nations like South Sudan, East Timur, since its inception, but the institution has failed with regards to one of the sensitive issues of subcontinent Kashmir issue. “Jammu and Kashmir had never been the part of India which has forcibly occupied the territory. This issue has forced both its stakeholders – India and Pakistan to spend major portion of budget in their in defense rather than focusing on education, poverty and development of their respective nations.” Mehbooba Anguished By Rape, Murder Of Pulwama Girl Srinagar: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President and Member Parliament, Ms Mehbooba Mufti has strongly condemned the rape and murder of a girl in Wanpora area of district Pulwama. Calling for immediate and stern action against the perpetrator, Ms Mehbooba in a statement issued here today, has sought a fool-proof legal framework to address the growing incidents of violence against women and girls in Jammu and Kashmir.Expressing anguish and pain over the recurrent incidents of violence like rape, murder, sexual assaults and acid attacks against women and as shelter sheds by Chief Education Officer Anantnag. The PHE and PDD Departments were asked to ensure water and power supply in the shelter sheds. The CA&PD department shall keep essential commodities like Rice, Atta, Sugar and K. oil available for the strained passengers at all outlets of the Department on National Highway. The Traffic Police will ensure traffic regulation on National Highway while Mechanical Engineering department Anantnag will clear the snow from Khanabal to Lower Munda and from Lower Munda onwards to National Highway the snow clearance will be done by BEACON. The District Administration will keep 1500 Blankets, 15 Solar lights and 6 LPG Cylinders available in the up free of violence in J&K.Urging the authorities to expedite investigation into all cases of crimes against women in the State, Ms Mehbooba suggested setting up Fast-track Courts to ensure speedy delivery of justice and exemplary punishment for those who do such terrible things with our sisters and daughters. Ms Mehbooba expressed heartfelt sympathies with the families of the latest victims of violence against women including the girl who was raped and murdered in Wanpora area of Pulwama and another girl in Srinagar who was targeted with acid attack recently. Women Group Stages Protest Against Peshawar Attack Srinagar: Mourning the death of 148 people mostly children killed in Peshawar, women wing of separatist organization, Jammu and Kashmir Salvation Movement Saturday staged a protest at Mushtaq Memorial Press Enclave here. Shouting slogans against terrorist organization, Tehreek-eTaliban of Pakistan, the female protestors expressed condolenc- Action Plan for Disaster Management on National Highway reviewed at Anantnag ANANTNAG, DECEMBER 20: Arrangements and action plan for Disaster Management on National Highway was today reviewed in a meeting of Officers of District Administration, 9 RR, CRF and Engineers of RAMKI. The Deputy Commissioner Anantnag who chaired the meeting stressed upon the officers and agencies to chalk out the necessary action plan with regard to keeping the National Highway open in case of heavy snowfall. Threadbare discussions were held to meet any eventuality during the winter on National Highway. For this purpose, a Control Room will be setup in Police Station Qazigund. 25 School buildings from Gulab Bagh and in other adjacent areas of Qazigund were identified girls in the State, Ms Mehbooba said violence against women is not a women’s issue, it's a human rights issue and such incidents should be dealt with through a comprehensive legislative framework so that not only justice is ensured for the victims but a legal mechanism is put in place to prevent recurrence of such reprehensible acts.Maintaining that justice system is key to addressing the menace of violence against the women, Ms Mehbooba said if PDP gets the mandate to form the next government it would bring in such laws so that every girl and woman can live safely, feel protected and grow office of Executive Engineer R&B Qazigund, while Chief Medical Officer Kulgam and Block Medical Officer Qazigund will keep one ambulance available round the clock besides life saving drugs available at Emergency Hospital Qazigund and PHC, Qazigund. The Forest Deportment shall keep adequate quantity of firewood available in all Disaster Management Centres. The ADC Anantnag has been designated as Nodal Officer for monitoring the arrangements. The CO 9RR and CRPF 24 BN Tunnel assured Deputy Commissioner for providing every possible help and assistance for the stranded passengers during the snow fall on National highway at Qazigund and Tunnel. es with the bereaved families. Carrying banners and placards, the women wing of JKSM sought stringent punishment for those involved in the inhuman attack. “The attack was inhuman and strict action should be taken against the culprits,” the female protestors said adding that Kashmir as a nation can feel the pain of the parents who lost their innocent kids in the attack, which has no moral and human justification. Another female protestor told CNS that this cold-blooded murder of budding blooms is shocking and indeed a human tragedy. “We appeal to the government of Pakistan to take stringent action against the terror groups involved in the killing of innocent people in the country,” she said. (CNS) No Modi wave in J&K: Soni Srinagar: As last phase of Assembly elections ended here Saturday, the Congress in charge of Jammu and Kashmir affairs, Ambika Soni said that the Modi wave was nowhere found in the Jammu region. She also claimed that the party will win majority of the seats. “The Modi magic was not visible anywhere in the last phase of the Assembly elections. The voters were no more willing to go with the BJP as they probably did in this region in the Lok Sabha elections,” Soni told KNS over phone. Lashing out at the BJP, she said, “It is only the frustration of BJP that they criticize the Congress every now and then. We see they always criticize us. But the fact is that they are aware that the congress is a threat to their so called mission 44-plus. After they failed to impress the voters in Kashmir region they thought that they will sweep the Jammu region but we didn’t find any such thing here.” She said that the BJP will not be able to get even a single seat from the Kashmir province. “From the 50 seats of the Kashmir valley and Ladkah region the BJP will get noting,” Soni claimed. The Congress leader added that her party had succeeded to recover in the state after its poor performance in the Lok Sabha elections. “I can say with authority that in Jammu and Kashmir we have retrieved our situation in this election in a big way. For the Congress the chances are very bright and we will win the majority of the seats. We will emerge as the largest party in the state even if we don’t get majority,” she told KNS. Srinagar: While expressing his grief and sorrow over the shameful incident of murder and rape of a 21 year old girl in Pulwama, Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman Syed Ali Geelani Saturday demanded stern punishment to the culprits. He also expressed his deep concern over the rising graph of the monster crimes and said that some decades back these types of evils were beyond the imagination of our society. “But the situation has changed and the criminal mindset is now flourishing in our society. The murder and rape incident in Pulwama have shaken every conscious Kashmiri and it have created an environment of fear among the people,” Geelani said While commenting over the rising graph of crimes, he alleged, “Easy availability of the liquor and other drugs under the patronage of the government is playing a very important role in the increase of these crimes. Our age old traditions of modesty and chastity are being eradicated in a planed way.” “Though controlling these crimes is not possible without the help of state power, it is the responsibility of every responsible citizen, Islamic scholars and the Imams of the masjids to stand against these evils and jointly fight against this. A close watch should be kept over the criminal people in every locality and every Mohalla,” the Hurriyat (G) chairman said.Geelani said that Hurriyat is closely monitoring the incident in Pulwama and demanded that the people behind such incident should be given stern punishment. police cracks Burglary case Ganderbal: Ganderbal police solved a burglary case within a week by arresting the burglar and recovered stolen property. Giving details of the case Station House Officer Ganderbal, Asif Iqbal said that Ghulam Ahmad Bhat resident of Tullabagh Ganderbal reported at police station Ganderbal that during the intervening night last month, some unknown burglars had entered into his house and decamped with cash and jewellery. Consequently a case vide FIR number 188/2014 under section 457, 380 RPC was registered in police station Ganderbal and investigation was taken up. Asif said that thorough investigation led to the arrest of the accused within a week’s time. “The arrested person confessed to have committed the theft and on his disclosure all the stolen property was recovered,” SHO Ganderbal said. (CNS) driver dies after JcB plunges into nallah Sonamarag: A Beacon driver was killed in Central Kashmir after his JCB skidded off the road and plunged into Nallah Sindh on Saturday. Station House Officer, Sonamarag, Abdul Rashid told CNS that a Beacon JCB, driven by one Bori Krishan Tala skidded off the road and plunged into Nallah Sindh near Hajqabar Sonamarg, when it was on way to Gagangeer from Sonamarg. The police officer said that the driver died on spot while JCB was pulled out from the Nallah. QasBa chairs meeting on traffic movement Srinagar: Commissioner SMC Dr G N Qasba chaired a meeting regarding diversion of vehicular movement from Iqbal Park towards Rambagh and onward to ensure smooth flow of traffic. In a statement SMC PRO Masrat Yosuf said besides Qasba Additional Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, SSP traffic, SP South and senior officers of the Corporation participated. “After the threadbare discussions it was decided that all the vehicles plying from Lal Chowk towards Rambagah and onward areas shall be diverted from Iqbal Park via Naaz crossing towards LD route to ensure smooth flow of traffic,” she said. The SMC Commissioner directed Chief Enforcement Officer SMC to launch a vigorous anti encroachment drive and remove all the street vendors in these areas who in advance shall be served notices before getting them vacated. An action under rules shall be taken against those vendors who shall not comply with the directions, said Commissioner SMC. Meanwhile, a parking lot near National School Karan Nagar which was occupied by Sumo and Taxi drivers would also be auctioned by SMC in short span of time, the PRO said. C M Y K ANANTNAG, DECEMBER 20: The arrangements for smooth counting of votes for 6 Assembly segments of Anantnag, Dooru, Kokernag, Shangus, Bijbehara and Pahalgam were finalized at a meeting of officers chaired by District Election Officer Anantnag here today. All the RO’S of 6 Assembly Segments, representatives of security agencies, ADC Anantnag, Nodal officers, Micro observers, Executive R&B, PDD, PHE, Chief Medical Officer, Divisional Manager BSNL, Assistant Director Fire and Emergency Services, Assistant Regional Transport Kashmir Observer news C M Y K C M Y K 8 SUNDAY 21 12 2014 Neelum-Jhelum hydro-project hits road block TRANS ASIA NEWS Islamabad: The strategic Neelum-Jhelum hydropower project with the capacity to generate 969 MW of electricity has hit a road block , the project is facing a deficit of $475 million. The government will have to collect Rs55 billion from electricity consumers for this vital project. So far the government has collected half the amount in the form of N-J surcharge. Pakistan’s Federal minister for water and power Khwaja Asif told the media that government has no money for the project and if the required amount is not arranged then this project will get delayed. The CEO of Neelum-Jhelum hydropower company General (retd) Zubair has said that about one-third of the deficit amount will be arranged by the company . He said that the contractor has been paid after a lapse of two years. The project is facing acute financial constraints. He said an amount of Rs3 billion is being spent on the project per month. He said that once the project gets functional the government would get the benefit of Rs50 billion per annum. The cost of the project has gone up three times to Rs274 billion, but the share of the government stands at only 10 percent. To a question he said that Kuwait Fund has approved $32 million a day before. To a ques- tion he said 68 percent construction work on NeelumJehlum project has been completed and 78 per cent on the tunnel reports the international news. Khwaja Asif told the media that the government is focusing on the construction of Dasu and Diamer-Bhasha dams. However, provinces are entitled to build small dams and to this effect the KPK government has provided a list of 11 projects and the federal government will cooperate with the KPK government in this regard. The minister also disclosed that K-Electric administration is going to offload the shares of Korean company and expressed reservation over the selling of shares in 2005 and 2009. Once the prOject gets functiOnal the government would get the benefit of Rs50 billion per annum. The cost of the project has gone up three times to Rs274 billion, but the share of the government stands at only 10 percent Encroachments threaten Jehlum embankments Wokhoo Pulwama adding that brick kilns and stone crushing plants owned by well-to-do people couldn’t be dismantled due to their political backing. The residents further alleged that the brick kilns are busy in excavating the old embankments for manufacturing bricks. “If the process of excavation continues in these areas the slight rise in water level would create a flood like situation and can endanger lives of people in this area,” said a lecturer. People in the vicinity of Kakapora have also blamed the sand miners for endangering the lives of the people. “These sand miners make use of advanced machinery while the transportation process has severely damaged the embankments of the river where sand is being mined in Jehlum,” Mushtaq Ahamd a resident of Samboora told CNS adding that authorities are in deep slumber and don’t bother to act against these erring individuals. When contacted Assistant Executive Engineer, I&FC Department, Kakapora, Muhammad Altaf told CNS that the department has already issued a notice to the owners of brick kilns and other plant owners. “Also No Objection Certificates (NOC) issued earlier by the department to such owners have been cancelled. We need time and machinery to raze down the mega illegal structures,” he said. (CNS) BUNDI (Rajasthan): A 24-year-old youth died after his mobile phone exploded while it was being charged in Korma village under Nainwa police station here, police said here. Rajulal Gurjar was on Friday using his mobile phone, while it was also put on charging. Suddenly, the mobile battery exploded with a high sound causing him severe burn injuries on chest and hand. He was rushed in an unconscious state to community health centre (CHC), Nainwa where he was declared brought dead by the doctors. Dr Samandar Lal Meena, in charge at Nainwa CHC, who conducted the post-mortem, said that the victim had received severe burn injuries on chest and hands. The youth died due to electric shock and burn injuries, Meena said, adding the body was handed over to the family members after post-mortem. Nainwa police said that a case has been registered and investigation is on. OFF Track Cow Milk Only Answer to Corruption, Prescribes Hindu Forum BHOPAL * Had Mata Kaushalya not eaten kheer made from cow milk, Lord Rama would not have been born. * Once you consume cow milk you won’t commit any crime. The only solution to corruption is cow milk. * Even when he was 120 years old, Lord Krishna looked like a 12-yearold because his soap was made from cow dung. * Bharat will become Independent in true sense only when cow gets the respect it deserves. These were among the pearls of wisdom dished out on Saturday by speakers at a rally organised by Bharatiya Gau Kranti Manch in Bhopal as part of a nationwide campaign seeking death sentence for cow slaughter, “Rashtramata” status for the animal and a separate ministry in each state to deal with the matter. Called Gauvardhan Jan Jagaran Sabha, such rallies have already been held in a few other state capitals. Seers And Local Leaders Attend A Rally Against Cow Slaughter In Bhopal On Sunday. Indian Express Photo “If the government does not accept our demands in 2015, not less than 25 lakh Gaubhaktas (cow devotees) will storm New Delhi in February 2016 to make that happen,’’ warned Gopal Mani Maharaj, the main speaker. He began most sentences by making the thousands who attended the rally repeat a prolonged “maa” raising both hands. Most speakers demanded that the government offer cow milk free of cost to children up to 10 years, the age by which all “sanskaras” are acquired. “What separated Krishna from Kansa was that he consumed cow milk, while his uncle consumed liquor and became evil,’’ said Gopal, adding that “the solution to corruption lies in cow milk because it makes one cultured”. Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Babulal Gaur, who also addressed the rally, said he was confident all demands will be accepted. He recalled that after the BJP came to to power in Madhya Pradesh, cow slaughter was made a punishable offence in the state. The rally was also attended by BJP MLA Vishwas Sarang and a few Congress leaders, all of whom touched the feet of religious figures on the dais. A young Mohammed Faiz Khan, who the organizers said has made many speeches to promote the cause, told the rally “it was a matter of shame that “Bharat, a Vishwaguru at one point, has become the biggest exporter of beef”.–Indian Express C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K Pulwama: Despite High Court directives to clear Jhelum banks from illegal constructions from Khanabal to Khadinyar, the illegal structures of many influential people in many hamlets of Kakapora area of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district stand intact due to alleged nexus between them and some officials of the concerned department. Locals told CNS that Irrigation and Flood Control department started a drive to remove illegal encroachments from Jhelum embankments dismantling many structures from the Jhelum banks, however, brick kilns and stone crushing plants of many influential people in Wokhoo, Marval and Kandizal villages were kept out of the drive due to reasons better known to the department. Locals alleged that there is a neckdeep nexus between the Flood and Irrigation Control Department officials and the owners of such business units. Local residents said that new embankments erected on the Jehlum post September floods were also sliced by these vested interests in full knowledge of the concerned authorities. “The plant owners cut soil from the bund and have created mega walls than the bund that pose a flood threat to us, we approached I&FC Department, but they razed down structures of poor people only and did not dare to touch the influential ones,” said Ali Mohammad, a resident of Youth dies as mobile phone explodes during charging
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