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8 Pages Rs: 1.00 Jammu Edition

JKENG/2012/41612
Vol. 2 No: 186

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Major shakeup in administration, Shantmanu new Div com Jammu

Rs 5 ex-gratia relief sanctioned to kin of stone pelting victim
SRINAGAR, JULY 31: The Cabinet which met here today under the chairmanship of Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah ordered following transfers and postings in administration. Ms. Sonali Kumar, IAS, Principal Resident Commissioner, J&K Government, New Delhi, has been transferred and posted as Chairperson, J&K Special Tribunal, vice Ms. Sarita Chouhan. K.B. Aggarwal, IAS, Principal Secretary to the Government, Higher Education Department, has been transferred and posted as Principal Resident Commissioner, New Delhi, vice Ms. Sonali Kumar. Shantmanu, IAS, Commissioner/Secretary to the Government, Industries & Commerce Department, has been transferred and posted as Divisional Commissioner, Jammu. Ms. Sarita Chouhan, IAS, Chairperson, J&K Special Tribunal, has been transferred and posted as Secretary to the Government, Animal & Sheep Husbandry Department, vice M.A. Bukhari. M.A. Bukhari, IAS, Secretary to the Government, Animal & Sheep Husbandry Department, has been transferred and posted as

Pilgrim's death triggers protest, bandh, road block in Jammu

JAMMU, JULY 31: The death of a pilgrim from Jammu region triggered massive protest, on Wednesday. The important JammuPoonch highway was blocked by irate protestors who were anguished over the death of the pilgrim in a stone throwing incident in Kashmir when the vehicle in which he was travelling to Cave shrine of Amaranth was resorted to heavy stone pelting at Awantipora on 19th July. Agitating protesters blocked Jammu-Poonch highway and several towns of Sunderbani, Noushera, Kalakote, Rajouri and Poonch observed bandh on call given by Bajrang Dal, VHP and Shiv Sena, official sources said. Ravi Kant Sharma (38), a resident of Rajouri district of Jammu region, was injured at Awantipora, 32 kms from here, on Srinagar-Jammu National Highway on July 19. Sharma was hit by a stone on the head during protests against the killing of four persons allegedly by security forces in Ramban district the day before. He was admitted to SKIMS hospital where he breathed his last yesterday. Expressing sorrow over his death, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had yesterday announced an ex-gratia relief of Rs two lakh to his family. Over 1,500 protesters, raising anti-government slogans assembled

BRIEFLY

It was again an earthquake day for the hilly region of Bhaderwah as a moderate intensity quake shook it in the late hours of Tuesday night. People panicked and rushed out of their homes. The tremor measuring 4.3 on the Richter scale shook the valley around 11:39 PM on Tuesday night, Met officials said. There was no immediate report of any casualty or injury from anywhere. However, most of the people rushed

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The cabinet which met here today under the chairmanship of Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah sanctioned Rs. 5 lakh as extra ordinary ex-gratia relief in favour of the next of kin of Ravi Kant, son of Durga Das, resident of Ward no 1, Sunderbani, Rajouri who died during the recent disturbances. been transferred and posted as Secretary to the Government, Industries & Commerce Department, vice Shantmanu. Mohammad Ashraf Mir, Secretary, J&K Legislative Council, has been transferred and posted as Secretary to the Government, Department of Law, Justice & Parliamentary Affairs. He shall also hold the additional charge of the post of the Secretary, J&K Legislative Council, till further orders. The post of the Secretary, J&K Accountability Commission, held by Ms. Anita Koul, has been upgraded in status and responsibility to that of Secretary in the Department

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JAMMU: The State unit of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has urged the State government initiate a CBI probe into the death of the pilgrim who was killed in stone throwing incident in Kashmir. It also demanded Rs10 lakh compensation and a job to a family member of the deceased. "We appeal the state government for a compensation of at least Rs 10 lakh to the bereaved poor family of Amarnath pilgrim Ravi Kant and government job for at least two members of the family," VHP state chief Rama Kant Dubey told reporters here on Wednesday. He said a CBI inquiry should be ordered into the incident and also in Gool firing incident so that persons responsible for it, including police and administration, are brought to book. "The over-ground and underground anti-national elements be permanently branded as militants," he said. The family of Ravi Kant, who was killed in stonepelting in Kashmir, was granted just Rs 2 lakh compensation, he said. Ravi Kant Sharma (38), a resident of Rajouri district of Jammu region, was injured in stone-pelting by miscreants at Awantipora area in Valley on Srinagar-Jammu National Highway on July 19 and succumbed at a hospital in Srinagar yesterday. He belonged to a very poor family of Sunderbani and was rehri vendor and used to live in one room mud house, along with his wife, one minor daughter and two sons. The family has no source of income.

Secretary to the Government, General Administration Department, vice Sheikh Mushtaq Ahmad. Sheikh Mushtaq Ahmad, IAS, Secretary to the Government, General Administration Department,

has been transferred and posted as Secretary to the Government, Higher Education Department, vice K.B. Aggarwal. Saurabh Bhagat, IAS, Chief Executive Officer, Economic Reconstruction Agency, has

Medical colleges in Jammu and Kashmir would admit 150 additional aspiring medicos from this year after the enhancement of seats in the four medical colleges in the state. Minister for Medical Education Taj Mohiuddin Wednesday directed the board of professional entrance examination (BOPEE) to include MBBS seats, which were increased by the Medical Council of India (MCI), while selecting candidates for the doctoral course this academic session. This follows a letter of confirmation of 150

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Petrol price on Wednesday was hiked by 70 paise per litre, the fifth increase in rates in two months, and dieselby 50 paise per litre on firming international oil prices. The increase in rates, which will be effective midnight tonight, are excluding local sales tax or VAT. The actual hike will be higher and will vary from city to city. Petrol price in Delhi will go up by 84 paisa to Rs 71.28 per litre while it will cost Rs 78.61 per litre in Mumbai as against Rs 77.73 currently.

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HYDERABAD, JULY 31: Normal life was disrupted in Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra regions on Wednesday as a shutdown was on in the two regions against the decision of the Congress and the UPA to create the Telangana state out of Andhra Pradesh. Educational institutions, commercial establishments remained closed and the services of state-run Andhra Pradesh Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) were suspended in Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra districts like Kadapa, Chittoor, Visakhapatnam and Krishna. Different outfits supporting united Andhra have called for a shutdown in the region against the decision of Congress to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh. The supporters of united Andhra took out rallies and planned to organize other forms of protest during the day in the districts. The protesters squatted on the roads and prevented the RTC buses from plying at different places. The APSRTC has suspended its services at some places as a precautionary measure. However, no major incident of violence was reported from the two regions till the morning hours, though the announcement by Congress met with disappointment across the two regions. Meanwhile, the Congress party hailed the division as a historic decision and defended the move, saying it has been received well in the country. "It is a historic decision based on a long-pending demand," Congress spokesperson Meem Afzal told reporters. "It has been accepted well in the country and by the political parties by and large. There is enthusiasm in Andhra Pradesh," he said. In addition to the state police, central paramilitary forces have been deployed in large numbers in the Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra districts to ensure law and order is maintained, also in view of the panchayat

-- -- - Government to further liberalize FDI policy says Chidambaram

JAMMU, JULY 31: BJP National Executive Member & J&K Chief Spokesperson, Dr Jitendra Singh said here on Wednesday while quoting from The data of planning Commission of India that the National ConferenceCongress coalition government owes an explanation to the people of the State as to why, notwithstanding its tall claims of various poverty alleviation schemes, the poverty rate in the state during its tenure has risen from 9.4 per cent in 2009-10 to 10.35 per cent in 2011-12 and the number of people living below the poverty line (BPL) in rural areas has risen from 8.1 per cent to 11.5 per cent while the details of financial allocations clearly expose government's brazen regional discrimination with least regard for the socio-economic indicators that normally determine any poverty alleviation programme. To substantiate the point, Dr Jitendra Singh gave the example of recent allocation elections draw nearer, it is the coalition partner Congress party which will have to pay the price at the hustings, he warned. Elaborating further,he said,according to the Economic Survey 2012-13, Jammu district is spread over an area of 2636 square kilometer while Srinagar district's total area is only 294 square kilometer and added, similarly, Jammu district has a population of 1526406 as compared to 1269751 of Srinagar.To counter the claims of the Government that Srinagar district was not receiving funds under NABARD, MGNREGA and other centrally sponsored schemes in various sectors for being highly urban in its characteristic, Dr Jitendra Singh said it is on record that the Srinagar district had already been provided funds from Asian Development Bank (ADB) besides funding under several Urban Schemes including JNNURM, NEW DELHI, JULY 31: Faced with sliding rupee, finance minister P Chidambaram on Wednesday said government will further liberalize the FDI policy and encourage public sector undertakings to raise funds from overseas markets. Addressing media on completion of one year as finance minister, he exuded confidence that economy would record a growth rate of 5.5 to 6 per cent in the current fiscal, up from 5 per cent a year ago. Chidambaram, who took charge of the ministry on August 1 last year, said the government was also looking at raising import duty on nonessential luxury items and promoting exports to contain Current Account Deficit (CAD), which had soared to a high of 4.8 per cent of the GDP last fiscal. "We are looking at some compression in non-oil and non-gold import to curb demand for non-essential luxury items," he said. The other steps being considered

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by the government to deal with the CAD include relaxing the External Commercial Borrowing (ECB) norms, attracting investments from sovereign wealth and pension funds and NRI deposits. Replying to questions on rupee, the minister said though he did not have fixed target in mind but he would endeavour to check volatility and end speculative trades on the domestic currency. The rupee slipped to the near record low Under the backdrop of statehood for Telangana the noises for thedemand of statehood for other states has increased. The Shiv Sena in Jammu on Wednesday said that it is ripe time for dividing Jammu & Kashmir and create a separate state for Jammu region. Scores of Shiv Sena activists on Wednesday protested in Jammu to press for their demand to create a separate state by bifurcating Jammu & Kashmir. No untoward incident has been reported from Jammu, where situation is said to be under control.

of Rs 35 crore to the Srinagar district under Special Area Development Programme (SADP) in addition to Annual Plan outlay even though the BPL population in Srinagar district is only 6.51% as compared to 11.97% in Jammu district. While the National Conference, known to be a Kashmir-centric regional party, is following its appeasement approach as the

HINDSIGHT
ROHIT SINGH RANA The statement of Omar Abdullah that separatists meet intelligence agencies while they avoid Central leadership has stirred a hornets nest. The separatists are miffed by the remarks of the Chief Minister and all in one voice have aired their sacred views. Geelani, Yasin Malik, and Sajjad Lone have joined in the chorus. Dialogue and debate is the basis of a vibrant democracy but when dialogue and debate is avoided and instead people are sought to be led astray by floating balloons and grandiose theories, it amounts to undermining democracy. Kashmir has seen exactly the same happening for the last sixty years. Theories are weaved, dreams are created and haze is hung. It has its benefits. In the climate of doubt, anything can be said, cashed upon and when times are bad, new alibis can be given and the process repeated. Unfortunately, in this play of perfidy the poor citizen is made to suffer. He is made cannon fodder while the separatists remain unscathed. Unfortunately this game of political brinkmanship is not confined to separatists who were natural inheritors of this deceit but the so called mainstreamists too have played the game with full vigour. Malik, Sajjad Lone and Geelani boast on their stand about their constant view regarding the so called future of Kashmir. By this logic, they should have forged a common front but given their fancies and whims as well as mistrust on each other they fail. There is disconnect between Geelani and Umar Farooq. The two have parted ways and like to avoid each other. Nursing their own visions about Kashmir, these men have instigated the people every now and then with the result they have suffered the most. Today, grave yards in Kashmir are full of such victim who were led and tutored by these very separatists. Kashmir has suffered the worst trauma since Afghans courtesy Maliks, Sajjads, Umars and Geelanis. Omar Abdullah was right to large extent when he said that these freedom loving meet various people coming from plains of India but hesitate to meet central leadership. They know that they have nothing concrete to talk about which could be realized. Trading charges is easy but to talk concrete and truth needs courage which unfortunately is not the forte of these mevericks. Sajjad criticised Omar Abdullahs grandfather of compromise after 22 years and so has Geelani. Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah had understood the realty otherwise he and his astute junior Mirza Afzal Beg would not have agreed to 1975 plan and taken in the reigns of the government. Importantly, Sheikh had a vision realising that kashmir had future only with India and not with Pakistan which had failed as a nation on the basis of religion. East Pakistan had become Bangladesh and the seeds of extremism had been already grown in that country when Sheikh Abdullah took over reins of power. So Sher-e Kashmir had understood reality which, unfortunately these separatists willy-nilly do not. It would have not mattered whether they accept it or not, the problem is that these opportunists have umpteen times exploited the sentiments of kashmiris, thus making them nothing but sacrificial goats. Sajjad Lone forgets that once his father also was a minister in J& K government. Geelani too is enjoying pension for being a law maker. In this atmosphere of mistrust the mainstream parties like National Conference and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have muddied the political environs in equal measure. By harping on Autonomy, National Conference tries to bring clock back which is not possible. What is meant by NCs Autonomy when the State has already its own flag, and Constitution along with Article 370 is not clear? Like a responsible political party the National Conference ought to have stated the truth to the people. There is precisely little left that can be done to Kashmir, other than realising the resolution of Parliament of India that POK is to be merged with the country. The Self Rule of PDP has also created confusion in the people. God and Mufti Sahib only know what Self Rule is. In fact this doctrine is so confused and contorted that even God may also be befuddled with it. These confusions of Autonomy or Self Rule have created fault lines which the separatists exploit at the expanse of poor and gullible kashmiris.

On the election of Mamnoon Hussain as the President of Pakistan the Indian media went agog with captions like India born Hussain becomes President of Pakistan. As if India had sent him in a parcel to Pakistan and he became the President of that country. Previously when Musharraf became President of Pakistan, the media here went abuzz with a man from Delhi becoming all powerful dictator of the neighbouring country. What he gave us was Kargil and many other pains including open threats. Before that General Zia ul Haq, born
in Jullandhar gave us terrorism and bleed India doctrine. Mohammad Ali Jinnah born in India ran away with a sizable portion of our country. Now the media is abuzz with Mamnoon Hussain who from Agra is sought to be projected again as a hope. Remember that in Pakistan there are very few who want peace with India. Mamnoon Hussain too cannot do much. We have to set our house in order and become strong. The flimsy lines and false hopes matter less especially when it comes to our dealings with Pakistan. RANASAHIB