BJP firm to go with article 370; invites separatists to join mainstream

‘Don’t care about rebels, such leaders come and go’

PS BALI

Jammu, Nov 14: Sticking on its stance of discussing Article 370, Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) today reiterated that the party is obstinate in keeping the Article in its election manifesto for the upcoming polls.

Talking to the media persons here, Ram Madhav, national spokesman of BJP, in a guarded response to the queries about the remarks of party’s Ameerakadal candidate on Article 370, said that some workers and leaders of the BJP are uncertain about various aspects of the Article.

 “Many leaders and workers of the party are yet not fully aware about the feature of that Article and once the party will address the issue in its manifesto, we are sure all leaders, besides common public will unanimously support the idea,” said Madhav. He claimed that BJP was very much absolute in keeping this article in the election manifesto.

 Pertinently BJP’s candidate from Amirakadal, had said that she would be the first ‘to pick up gun if Article 370 was abrogated’.

He also appealed to the separatists to join the political mainstream and approach Narendra Modi instead of knocking at the doors of Pakistani PM.

"Instead of approaching Pakistani Prime Minister or Pakistan High Commissioner, it is better to join (political) mainstream. come to Prime Minister, the doors are always open," said he.

"We will not join hands with separatists, but having said it, we appeal to all sections of people to leave separatists path and join political mainstream. Come forward, doors are open for you," Madhav said.

Meanwhile, in a scathing attack on the rebel leaders, BJP leader said that presence or absence of such leaders hardly affect its (party’s) performance, ‘as it is party of masses’.

Ram Madhav said that his party was like a big tree and many birds come and go, but it hardly affects the tree.

“Some party workers and leaders are disgruntled with the distribution of tickets, but they should know this that party gives impartial treatment to all its workers and distribution of tickets has been done after proper survey by the party high command to ensure winning combination,” he said adding that doors of BJP is always open for the people, who want to establish corrupt free state and nation.

While speaking on the occasion, MoS in PMO, Dr. Jitendra Singh said that BJP is an Intra-democratic party and strives to end dynastic politics.

“We do not encourage family rule politics. Ours is the party of masses, wherein every individual has the freedom to take independent decisions about his party affiliations,” he said, adding that coming in or going out of an individual from the party do not affect its public image.

Earlier, following the line of parliament elections, BJP state unit launched Media cell to keep update of the daily activities of its candidates.

Briefing about the utility of the cell, BJP state spokesperson, Arun Gupta said that this media cell would also work to highlight the loopholes in the government departments.

The cell started functioning today with accentuating the ‘incompetence’ of Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) in forecasting rains, which led to floods and eventually to massive destruction in the state.

MLC, B R Kundal quits Congress

Accuses party of promoting ‘nepotism’, ‘selling’ mandate

PS BALI

Jammu, Nov 13: Accusing party of promoting ‘Nepotism’ and ‘selling’ mandate for the upcoming assembly elections, MLC and J&K ex-chief secretary, B R Kundal today quit Congress and decided to contest independently from RS Pura.

Talking to Greater Kashmir, Kundal said   “Congress high command has betrayed people of the state as well as its senior leaders by giving mandate to ‘corrupt’ faces for the ensuing elections”.

He said, “We are very much disappointment with the decision of high command of choosing ‘corrupt’ people against ‘loyal’ senior leaders ”. He added that several ‘blue-eyed’ candidates have been given mandate.

“Keeping aspirations of the people at stake, the Congress high command has given mandate arbitrarily to ‘chosen few’, which are already in the ‘bad-books’ of the people,” he maintained and added that this decision of congress has hurt the emotional susceptibilities of the party followers, which senior leaders managed to accrue over the years.

Making his announcement, Kundal said that during last six years, since he joined the Congress in 2008, he had worked hard to expand party’s manifesto and to draw masses towards it.

He claimed , “In the past Six years, I had been working to strengthen the party at grass root level and succeeded in the endeavor as large number of sarpanchs, panchs and prominent people, besides youth had joined the party under my command,”. He added that he had to quit the party as he felt that the Congress high command has ditched senior leaders for introducing some ‘corrupt’ people.

He said, “I made all my sincere efforts to revive Indian National Congress in RS Pura, but party made me a victim of conspiracy hatched by a coterie of discredited and dishonest persons that ultimately made me to resign from the party.”

He further alleged that the party has ignored senior leaders, after certain people offered ‘money’ for mandate. “A huge sum of money has been offered to the party high command for giving mandate to the new faces, superseding senior leaders,” he said.

He said that he will contest forthcoming assembly elections independently from RS Pura and will show the congress party of his value among people.

When asked about joining any other party, Kundal said that he will not join any other party and contest independently.

Kundal had joined Congress party after giving away coveted post of chief secretary in May 2008.

Pertinently, the ongoing elections to Legislative Assembly have broken all previous records of rebellion and defections from one political party to another. All four major political parties,-National Conference, Congress, PDP and BJP have suffered as well as benefitted from the defections. Six former Ministers and 12 sitting legislators including eight MLAs and four MLCs have so far resigned from their parties and defected to other parties or having decided to contest the election as Independent candidates.

Jammu youth among 4 missing sailors at Visakhapatnam

Parents worried about wellbeing of son

PS BALI

Jammu, Nov 12: A Jammu youth is among the four missing sailors of Indian navy, who are missing after a Torpedo Recovery Vessel of Indian Navy sunk off the Visakhapatnam coast on November 6, during a naval exercise, leaving one dead and four others missing.

The family members of a navy sailor, Gurjeet Singh (25) are worried here at Bhour Camp Satwari, as they have received no information about their son, since the mishap.

Talking to Greater Kashmir, brother of missing sailor, Ramandeep Singh said that they have talked to Singh last time on November 5 and since then they have no information about his whereabouts.

He said, “We are in continuous contact with the high command of the Navy at Visakhapatnam, but no have received no information about the wellbeing of Gurjeet,” he added that the officers at the coast maintained that they are not equipped with proper machinery to trace the missing sailors.

He said that one of the Navy lieutenants, Dr Dhanvant also visited them personally at their home in Jammu to console them.

Ramandeep further shared that the officials at Vishakapatnam also told him that a board of inquiry headed by a captain has been constituted to investigate the circumstances leading to the accident and to decide further course of action to rescue missing sailors from the sunken vessel.

“While the Chief of Navy is claiming to have expedited search operations, the officials at Vishakapatnam coast are claiming that they do not posses required equipments,” he said and added that Navy is planning to hire same from private firms.

JU to hold Special convocation after 7 years

Over 630 PhD degree holders, Gold Medalists to be felicitated

P S Bali

After seven long years the Jammu University is going to organize Special Convocation on November 14, wherein over 630 PhD degree holders and Gold medalists from 2006-2012 Batch would be felicitated by the Governor, NN Vohra, who is also chancellor of the University.

Talking to Greater Kashmir, PRO Jammu University, Vinay Thussu said that this special convocation is organized to felicitate all the backlog medalists and PhD degree holders of 2006-2012 batch of different faculties.

“Owing to some ‘inexplicable’ reasons, the Jammu University did not organize convocation for the last six years, due to which several PhD degree holders, besides Gold medalists piled up,” said Thussu, adding that this special convocation would be organized to dispose-off those pending degree holders and gold medalists.

He further added that total of 630 students, including gold medalists from 2006-2012 and PhD degree holders from 2007-2012 would be felicitated in this special convocation.

However, the special convocation remained in controversies over its date of conduct, as some scholars and students had raised objection with the previous date of convocation, which was scheduled on October 24.

After students protest, the convocation was postponed and rescheduled for Nov 14. 

Pertinently, JU recently concluded convocation, wherein Pranab Mukherjee, President of India was the chief guest, who awarded around 64 candidates with the University Gold Medals, Cash Awards and Medal, while 67 candidates, who completed their Ph D during 2013 from the Faculty of Sciences, Life Sciences, Arts, Business Studies, Social Sciences, Mathematical Sciences and Education, were awarded Degree of Doctorate of Philosophy.

Two BSF jawans injured in fresh border firing

PS BALI

Jammu, Nov 11: At least two BSF jawans got injured in a fresh trade of fire between Indian and Pakistani soldiers along International Border in Jammu.

The incident took place last night, when Pakistani troops ‘resorted’ to unprovoked firing in seven Border out posts along the International Border in Arnia sector of Jammu district.

According to BSF officer, Pakistani troops fired heavily with small arms, automatic weapons and mortar shells along the International Border, leaving two BSF jawans injured.

"Pakistani Rangers resorted to unprovoked firing on seven Border out posts along International Border in Arnia sub-sector in Jammu district from around 10:30 pm late last night," a BSF officer said here, wishing anonymity.

He added that BSF troops guarding the borderline retaliated successfully to the Pakistani firing, which resulted in intermittent trade of fire till 6 am in the morning today.

“Two BSF jawans suffered injuries in the firing and have been shifted for treatment”, the officer confirmed.

Pakistani rangers resorted to firing in Nikowal and Bhudwar border posts in Arnia belt and then fired at Tent Gaurd post last night.

Later, they opened fire on Pittal, Pindi Charkan, Kake-de-Kothe and Chinaz out posts. Pakistani troops also fired few mortar shells in the area before morning and the firing ended around 6 am today, sources added.

As per reports, this is the third ceasefire violation in less than 48 hours and the first along IB after an agreement to observe peace along the border between BSF and Pak Rangers was reached at last month.

The fresh ceasefire violation comes ahead of the scheduled visit of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi to Ladakh region's Leh and Kargil districts, where he is going to inaugurate power projects

Banihal INC candidate makes ‘unauthorized’ use of cable network for publicity

  DEO takes cognizance issues ban orders

P S BALI

Jammu, Nov 11: Taking cognizance of the continuous ‘breach’ of Model Code of Conduct (MCC) by a local ‘unauthorized’ cable operator in Banihal, by giving nonstop coverage to Indian National Congress (INC) candidate, District Election Officer (DEO) Ramban,  Farooq Shah Bukhari today banned the service provider for giving selective publicity.

Talking to Greater Kashmir, DEO Ramban, Farooq Shah Bukhari said that following the frequent complaints from the other candidates, they banned Khan Digital Vision (KDV) and Friends networks, local cable providers at Banihal.

“Candidates from other political parties complained that the local cable network projects only INC candidate, Vikar Rasool Wani and keep repeating his rallies over and over again, said DEO, adding that cable network was running without prior advertisement certification from Media Certification & Monitoring Committee (MCMC).

He said, “Time and again, Returning Officer (RO), Assistant Returning Officer (ARO) and District Election Officer (DEO) issued verbal warrants to the cable operators, asking them to desist broadcasting single party, but service provider did not comply with the orders,” DEO added that after election observer intervened and mailed DEO regarding the matter, the action was taken.

He asserted that the cable network was banned for telecasting election rallies and activities of INC candidate without conforming to the various provisions of law and even when the Model Code of Conduct is in force in the district.

When asked about action against INC candidate for using cable network for publicity, DEO said that they do not have proper evidence to prove that INC candidate has used cable network.

“If we ask INC candidate, Vikar Rasool, who is also sitting MLA for using local cable, he will not admit. So we decided to ban the operator till polls,” he said adding that cable service remains banned under the violation of the Cable Television Network Regulations Act-1995.

According to the order, Sub Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Banihal has been ordered to seize the equipment of the KDV and Friends Network with immediate effect.

Durbar opens in Jammu amid protests

Police foil employees, Students march to civil secretariat  

PS BALI

Jammu, Nov 10: Amid protests by various organizations, Jammu and Kashmir government today resumed its work in Winter Capital of the state after opening of Durbar Move offices.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was given the traditional guard of honour on his arrival at the secretariat that houses the offices of the chief minister, his ministerial colleagues and all top bureaucrats of the state. This was the last guard of honour for the present government.

A contingent of Jammu and Kashmir Police presented Guard of honour to Omar Abdullah, while Director General of Police (DGP) K Rajendra Kumar escorted him.

Because of the Model Code of Conduct in force in the wake of the state assembly polls, the chief minister did not interact with the press as per the past traditions.

Continuance with over 140-year-old practice of erstwhile Maharajas of shifting capital in Jammu and Kashmir with change of seasons, offices including civil secretariat, state legislature and Raj Bhawan started their work in the winter capital here.

Meanwhile, in view of threat of protests, authorities had imposed prohibitory orders around the secretariat and heavy police deployment was made to deal with them.

More than hundred Voluntary Retirement Service (VRS) employees of State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC), today made the unsuccessful bid to Gherao Civil Secretariat after they were restricted by a strong contingent of police.

The retried employees assembled at Press Club and amid anti- government and pro-employees slogans tried to march towards the civil Secretariat, but they were thwarted by police before they could move ahead. Police forced the employees to disperse, leading to a ‘scuffle’ between the two sides. 

Talking to Greater Kashmir, VRS SRTC employees, president-Dev Raj Bali criticized the government for its failure to address the demands of the employees in stipulated time frame.

He said “VRS/GHS employees are struggling for their dues, i.e. Cost of living allowance (COLA), 16 installments wef 1.1.2006, 18 installments of 2007, 26 installments of 2008, 35 installments of 2009 and 31 installments upto April,” he added that a total of Rs.30,16,10,673, including leave salary, gratuity, ex-gratia grant and arrears since 1999 are pending.

While condemning the use of police force, Bali said that this protest was just to register their resentment against the state government, as model code of conduct is in force, no major decision could be taken.

Similarly, a large number of students under the banner of National Students' Union of India (NSUI)   staged a protest demonstration at press club and tried to march towards Civil Secretariat, in support of their demands.

Students of Government College of Engineering and Technology, Chak Bhalwal raised anti-government and anti-administration slogans, for their ‘failure’ in providing the basic amenities to the students on the campus.

Although, a good strength of students tried to march towards civil secretariat for its Gherao, but the attempt was foiled by extra deployment of police, who also resort to cane charging to disperse the agitating students.

Addressing the students, Ajay Kumar said that the college authorities as well as the state government have always given deaf ears to the woes of Jammu students, wherein their pleas remain ‘unheard’.  He said, “Despite being the oldest institute of the region, government’s apathetic approach has turned it into shambles, without any basic facility for the students.”

Civil secretariat reopens today in winter capital

 

PS BALI

Jammu, Nov 9: Amid tight security, the state civil secretariat would start functioning from tomorrow in the winter capital of Jammu, following 'Durbar Move', or the bi-annual shifting of the civil secretariat, Assembly and Raj Bhawan. 

Closed down in Kashmir on October 30, offices of the civil secretariat, the Raj Bhawan, Assembly and the state police chief will resume work from Monday in Jammu for the next six months, keeping with an over 140-year-old practice.

Talking to Greater Kashmir, SSP Jammu, Uttam Chand said that three tier security arrangements have been put in place to ensure maximum security. He said, “Tight security measures have been put in place for the reopening of the offices with prohibitory orders having been imposed around the secretariat in view of reports that several organizations were planning anti-government rallies in the city,” he added that special battalions of CRPF, JKP and JKAP have been deployed to maintain law and order and to avoid any untoward incident. “Cameras are also installed at many places around secretariat to keep vigil,” he said.

He said that the vehicular movement on all the major roads heading towards civil secretariat had been diverted and restrictions had been placed on the pedestrian movement around front gate of the secretariat.

Barricades have been erected at and around civil secretariat to ensure hassle free VIP movement. “Timely restrictions have also been placed at many roads viz, Wazarhat road-Indira Chowk-Shalamar Chowk-Vivekanand Chowk to avoid traffic jams on prime hours,” said official.

In this regard a meeting of senior officials was also held, chaired by Director General of Police (DGP), K. Rajendra Kumar, wherein the security arrangements for re-opening of Civil Secretariat were reviewed.

The government will function in the winter capital till late April and then move back to Kashmir, the summer capital of the state, in the first week of May.

Meanwhile, this will be the last guard of honour for present government, as assembly elections are overhead and ministers, legislators are likely to skip offices amid poll buzz.

Sources said “Due to imposition of Model Code of Conduct (MCC), no major decision shall be taken by the ministers and legislators. Hence they are likely to remain absent from offices, busy in poll campaigning.”  

Moreover, sources added that this time there will be no customary interactions between the chief minister and journalists due to the model code of conduct for the Assembly elections being in force. The media persons will not be allowed to enter the premises of the Civil Secretariat.

'Durbar Move' entails the state government functioning for six months each in the two capitals.

As many as 145 trucks and 40 mini buses had been deployed for ferrying official record and employees, respectively on 1st and 2nd November and on 8th and 9th November. 

Extra buses and trucks were kept available during the move days, besides adequate number of cranes, mobile workshops, recovery vans, medical mobile teams, ambulances along with necessary equipment and staff deployed en-route to meet any exigency.

Pertinently the 'Darbar Move' practice was started by the erstwhile Maharaja Gulab Singh in 1872 as an arrangement to evade the extreme weather conditions in Jammu during summer and in Srinagar for winter.

Govt agencies fail to streamline Documentation services

Post floods

  

  Passport, ATM and Driving License applications keep piling up  

PS BALI

Jammu, Nov 7: In yet another embarrassment to the state government, many departments have failed to fully resume     functioning, even after passage of two months since rains and flash floods ravaged the state.

Certain government departments in the state are yet to resume hassle-free documentation services exposing the people to lot of problems  .

Due to floods in Kashmir, the issuance of important documents viz Passport, Driving Licenses and Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards is on halt, wherein the concerned officials claim that the supply has been affected because of communication problem, which state faced in September.

The Regional Transport Office has been running short of cards for the past two months, due to which the applicants, who had applied for new license or for the renewal of older are  highly disappionted.

A group of drivers maintained that they have applied for the renewal of license three months back before floods in Kashmir, but till date officials at the RTO department evade their queries on the pretext of shortage of cards.

“We have been told that the cards are not available in the office and are ordered from Kashmir. We have not taken our vehicles on road, due to lack of documents,” said the drivers, adding that RTO has also not issued any substitute for the same, so that drivers could ply vehicles in the absence of proper license.

Talking to Greater Kashmir, Regional Transport Officer (RTO), Arvind Kotwal admitted that the department is running short of Cards. He said, “Due to prevailing condition in Kashmir, the issuance of license cards is on hold. Things are improving and we will soon start issuing cards,” said Kotwal, adding that for those drivers who want to take their vehicle on roads, “They can come to my office and collect authority letter,” said RTO, Jammu.

Similarly, at Passport office, several applicants rued that passport officials are making excuse of Kashmir floods for delay. “It’s been more than a year and officials are saying that processing is taking time because, due to floods in Kashmir several backlog cases are pending,” said Mohammad Arif Lone. He added that earlier he was told that his passport would be ready by September.

He alleged that concerned authorities have made Kashmir floods a pretext, despite the fact that regional passport office of Srinagar was temporarily shifted to Jammu to avoid damage and hindrances in processing.

People also complained about Banks, saying that banks have been harassing customers by not issuing ATM cards. Scores of customers lamented that before restoring ATMs, the concerned authorities would have solved the problem of damaged ATM cards.

When contacted PRO, JK bank, Anil Sharma, said that earlier there was a problem of communication in Kashmir due to which several cases of ATM remain pending, but now “We have restored processing of ATM cards and many backlog cases had been cleared, while processing on rest of the cards is expedited,” he said.

Election fever turns religious stage into political platform

Organizers pamper leaders on Gurupurab, devotees irked

P S Bali

Jammu, Nov 6: With the election fever running high, the religious stage on Gurupurab was turned into a political platform as several political leaders appeared on the occasion to woo voters.

Many senior leaders from different political parties shared the stage at the main congregation held here today that was meant for the devotees. The organizers welcomed the politicians on the stage and introduced them to devotees.

First to appear on the stage was MP, Jugal Kishore, followed by BJP candidate Rajesh Gupta, Manmohan Choudhary and PDP candidate Amreek Singh Reen, besides dozens other leaders and workers.

Although leaders did not say anything on the occasion, but organizers, took much pain to introduce the politicians to the devotees by showering much praise.

However, cosset treatment given to these political leaders on religious occasion irked devotees, who expressed dismay over the ‘misuse’ of religious stage for projecting political messages.

Talking to Greater Kashmir, Jagjeet Singh, president Dashmesh Youth Organization said that this tradition of appeasing politicians has been followed for past several years, where political leaders are given space higher than that of Sangat (devotees).

He said, “Today’s Gurupurab was more like a political campaign, wherein leaders from BJP and PDP occupied most of the stages. It looked as if BJP-PDP coalition was celebrating its victory”. He added that some programme organizers under political influence forget the sanctity of the day and instead of focusing on its importance, they went appeasing political leaders for vested interests.

Chairman, United Sikh Council, Kuldeep Singh said that such functions are politically motivated and are organized with prior planning to introduce politicians with the people.

He shared that to make certain political leaders familiar with the public, organizers kept on felicitating them throughout function, which shifts focus from the actual significance of the day.

 “Using religious stage for felicitating unknown politicians is demeaning the sanctity of Gurudwara and hurting the religious sentiments of the devotees,” he added.

He said that in the absence of Prabandak Committee, the responsibility of religious occasions lies with Divisional Commissioner, who was also present on the stage and was felicitated by the Gurudwara committee.

Meanwhile, Secretary organizing Committee, Manjeet Singh admitted that politicians were given space on the stage ‘for the betterment of the community’.

 “We did not ask them to come on stage, as this is Gurudwara and everybody is free to sit anywhere. They come by themselves,” said Manjeet Singh.

Flood affected vehicles of Kashmir on sale in Jammu without prior documentation

PS BALI

Jammu, Nov 5:

Under the nose of concerned authorities, the flood affected vehicles of Kashmir are on sale in Jammu markets, without prior documentation.

Sources said that many such vehicles with registration numbers JK-01, JK-03, JK-05, JK-11 and JK-12 have been witnessed outside city vehicle dealers, with ‘On Sale’ label pasted on it.

“These vehicles are put on sale after a team of engineers properly fixed them. We bought them from the owners and put on sale with their consent and once the vehicles are sold, documentation process takes place between selling party and customer,” said a local car dealer of the city, requesting anonymity.

The car dealers also said that they buy vehicles in affected condition from the selling party and after fixing the damage, they put it on sale on the assurances from the owner.

“We don’t ask selling party to transfer documents on the name of dealer, because documentation process takes much time, so registration certificate is transferred directly on the name of customer, said the car dealer , adding the selling party is asked to appear in person, when and where they are called for documentation.

He added that they are doing good business out of it and till now the entire market have sold as many as 45 odd cars at suitable prices.

“We do not cheat customers, as the number plates speak of their authenticity and customers are told well on spot about the condition of the vehicle,” he said.

The car dealers maintained that most of the vehicles were transported to Jammu for repair, but due to huge rush of damaged vehicles and time consumption, people preferred to sell it.

However, talking to Greater Kashmir, Regional Transport Officer (RTO), Jammu, Arvind Kotwal said that no such development came into his notice.

He said, “Resale of affected vehicles without prior documentation is illegal and the actual owner of the vehicle stands responsible for any misuse of the vehicle.” He added that he will talk to RTO Kashmir, to confirm whether any documents had been registered in this regard or not.