‘We must remember poor, needy and share joy with them’
Jammu: Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti, Sunday distributed sweets and gifts among the residents of the old age home and children at Bal- Niketan, Nari-Niketan, Ambphalla on the occasion of Diwali, here. Advisor to CM, Prof Amitabh Mattoo, Spl DGP Coordination, Dr S P Vaid also accompanied the Chief Minister on the occasion. The Chief Minister interacted with elderly and the children, enquired about facilities and announced LED TVs for the three places on the occasion. The Chief Minister said while celebrating festivals, we must remember the poor and needy and share joy with them. “While we celebrate Diwali with much fanfare, we must also remember those living in orphanages and old-age homes who are unable to celebrate the festival for lack of resources, if we are able to bring a smile on their face, then I think our celebrations are doubled”, she said.
Srinagar:Various academicians, scholars and other intellectuals Sunday urged the government to stop nocturnal raids and withdraw cases against youth. KNS publishing it as verbatim: In the aftermath of Buhan Wani’s killing we are now this day of October 30th straight in 114th day of valley wide shut down due to unprecedented longest curfew; crackdowns, strict restrictions imposed by the State Government and the voluntary Hartal by people to protest against over 90 barbarian killings of unarmed civilians; use of pellet guns and PAVA (Pelarogonic Acid Vanillyl Amide) shells which blinded hundreds of persons; mostly school going children and teenagers ; and injured grievously thousands of unarmed people battling for life; hartal to remonstrate against nocturnal raids, random and indiscriminate arrests and other grave human rights violations. Consequently every sector of our economy and development suffered immensely. While it may not be very difficult for the Kashmir society to recuperate on these fronts it will not be easy to recover from the damage caused to the education sector. The educational institutions are close since 1st July; 2016 when summer vacation was ordered. Thus in a normal academic calendar of 180 days the institutions remained open for over 60 to 70 days. Education sector (our lifeline) has suffered much damage and we can ill afford any further harm to it. The need of the hour is to have it back on rails. To have the sector back on rails requires an atmosphere conducive to teaching learning process; an atmosphere in which schools and other places of learning and research can open and function; an atmosphere in which children will have confidence of safety while going to schools, an atmosphere in which teachers and other related staff can attend the educational institutions to restart the educational process safely. For this Kashmir society; as a whole; as well as the State Government has a very vital role to play. In this context we the members of broader Kashmir Civil society fervently appeal to the general public; the community leaders at the grass roots level; the Ulema and Imams of Masjids; the general public above all the popular leadership to kindly play their role in building an atmosphere congenial to opening and functioning of educational institutions particularly the schools. The State Government has a bigger role to play in creating such atmosphere. To facilitate create a conducive atmosphere it should immediately put a stop on nocturnal raids; stop harassing and arresting people; release all the political prisoners and others jailed on one or the other pretext; revoke all the orders of detention; withdraw FIRs lodged in the aftermath of Burhan killing; pay adequate compensation to the next of the kin/s of those killed; allow compensation to those blinded; grant adequate medical aid to those maimed or grievously injured. The Government should hold time bound judicial inquiry in to innocent killings and bring to justice people responsible for this. To help create a congenial atmosphere the Government should facilitate process of result oriented dialogue and reconciliation for the ultimate resolution of the basic Kashmir problem. It should ensure safety of children and their teachers once the institutions reopen. In view of the fact that of the 7months ( 210days) from 15 March till 30th October , 2016 educational institutions were on only for hardly 60 to 70 days the State Government should defer the annual Board / University examinations for the time being to allow students time to recover from the trauma and mental stress as well as provide them some time more to ready themselves for the examinations instead of politicizing this issue and making it matter of ego. We vehemently condemn the burning of schools and ask the State Government to ensure safety of school buildings and other infrastructure. The Government should unmask the elements involved in this heinous crime against the society. It should in any case name and shame these criminals so that nobody dares to damage the infrastructure in future. We appeal the community at large for a proactive role in saving state assets like schools buildings, forests and water bodies. 1. Prof. A. G Madhosh formerly Dean Education University of Kashmir. 2. Prof. M. Ashraf Wani Dean academic University of Kashmir. 3. Prof. M Zaman Azurdah Formerly Dean Socila Sciences K U. 4. Prof. Naseem Rafiaabadi Central University Kashmir. 5. Prof. C .L Vishen President Unaided Private Schools Association. 6. Prof. M A Charoo Formerly Chairman State Board of School Education. 7. Prof. Noor Ahmad Baba Central University. 8. Prof. Gul Mohammad Wani University of Kashmir. 9. Prof G Ahmad Bhat Environmental Sciences University of Kashmir. 10. Prof. Mohammad Ashraf Wani Dean academic University of Kashmir. 11. Prof. Nusrat Andrabi Formerly Principal Women’s College M A Road Srinagar. 12. Prof. Bashar Basheer Sheikh ul Alam Chair University of Kashmir. 13. Prof. Mohammad Aslam Central University. 14. Prof. Bashir Ahmad Sheikh Formerly Chairman J & K State Board of School Education. 15. Prof. Rafiq Ahmad Shah Formerly Principal College of Education Srinagar. 16. Prof Farooq Fayaz. 17. Dr. Altaf Hussain. 18. Dr. Syed Shujaat Bukhari. 19. Dr. Aijaz Ahmad. 20. Bashir Ahmad Dar Formerly Secretary J & K State Board of School Education. 21. Rafi Ahmad Formerly Principal S IE Srinagar & Joint Director Trainings. 22. Khurshid Ahmad Reshi Formerly Joint Secretary JK State Board of School Education. 23. Zareef Ahmad Zareef. 24. Advocate Parvez Ahmad Malik. 25. Advocate Shahid Ahmad Khan. 26. Noor Mohammad Formerly Principal HS Schhol & Joint Secretary JK Board. 27. Aziz u din Chashoo Master. 28. Javid Ahmad Principal Higher Secondary School.
Srinagar: National Conference Working President and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Sunday expressed disappointment and grief over incidents of schools being burnt in various parts of the Valley and said this was an abhorrent ploy to destroy the future of our children.
In a statement issued here, Omar said the administration is responsible for protecting state’s education infrastructure and should take the sternest possible action against those elements that are found guilty of such incidents of arson. He said the Hurriyat leadership should realize the costs of its reluctance and delay to condemn such behavior unequivocally.
“Our schools hold the key to the self-reliance, dignity and empowerment of our future generation,” Omar said. “An assault on our schools is an assault on our children, their future and their dreams. These are clear, unambiguous attempts to rob our children of education and intellectual growth and there can be no doubt that these elements who attack our schools are the enemies of our children and the enemies of enlightenment.”
The NC Working President said both the Administration and the Hurriyat leadership were responsible for failing to speak up and act in time to prevent such incidents. “You cannot aspire for the moral lecterns of self-righteous leadership without having the courage of your conviction to call a spade a spade. Persecuting your own people cannot be portrayed or disguised as alleged resistance based on a political cause. Robbing our children of their classrooms and of the prospects of academic growth is the greatest act of tyranny and oppression”, Omar said.
“We hope the State Government gets its act together and rises to the occasion to protect our schools. Every new, tragic and saddening news of a gutted school is a verdict on the incompetence and inaction of the State Government. We also hope Hurriyat leaders gather the courage to say the right thing at the right time and don’t allow the street to dictate their agenda and their sense of right and wrong. Schools are centers of learning and enlightenment and an attack on our schools is an attack on our collective dignity and self-respect and will not be tolerated at any cost”, Omar Abdullah added.
Srinagar: JKLF leader M Yasin Malik on Sunday said the ongoing protests are part of the struggle and will continue as long as people approve of it. He said the campaign against the leaders spreading the ongoing strike is aimed at defaming the Tehreekand should be condemned.
Malik who was set free on Saturday evening addressed the news conference Sunday afternoon. He is the second separatist leader who was permitted to interact with the media informally in last four months. Earlier Mirwaiz spoke to the media within 24 hours after he was driven home from the Cheshma Shahi sub jail. Interestingly he conducted the press conference on the road in Abu Guzar where his activist see-up a make-shift stage by fixing the party flag and managing a chair and a table.
“In last one year, almost 100 youth snatched weapons and joined militancy and Delhi accuses Pakistan for this,” Malik said, insisting that, “I was to tell Delhi that they must thank Pakistan. If they would have supported there would be 20,000 militants right now in Kashmir.”
Malik said such a large movement that involves every section of the society and the length and breadth of Kashmir can neither by instigated by some people not by any country. Its size suggests, it has to be indigenous, he insisted, adding this is the outcome of the suppression and torture of youth that Delhi launched in Kashmir in last one year.
Coming heavily on the people for criticizing the continuation of the ongoing strike – already 114 days old, Malik said it should be seen as part of the continuous process rather than being looked at in isolation. “Other similar movements are not very different,” Malik said, “Why Intifada is happening in Palestine every three years and how many similar movements were there in India’s freedom struggle?”
Malik said the protest calendars are not being thrust upon people but are being announced after consultation with them.
Thanking the masses especially students for the continuous Intifada for four months now, the JKLF chief said that it was because of common Kashmiri people that the Kashmir issue is back on the International platform. “It is because of the lives that youth lost and the eyes they lost that Kashmir is now again being talked internationally,” Malik said.
Press Conference Literally On The Road
Malik, who was released on Saturday evening after the killing of Hizb commander Burhan Muzaffar Wani on July 08, said, “The peoples reaction after his death might have been a surprise for India and International community but for a Kashmiri its not.”
“After Indira-Abdullah accord some local youth protested non-violently but they were taken to Red-16 for interrogation and they were forced to take guns,” Malik said. “There was a student’s party – Islamic Students League and all the militants outfits had their commanders from the League background.”
Sharply reacting over the recent remarks of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti that she is the biggest ‘human right’s activist’ and people who had took guns in 1989 were ‘illiterates’, Malik said, “All militant groups in Kashmir were started by the students of Islamic Students League. I want to ask her, was Ishfaq Majeed an illiterate, was Dr Guru an illiterate, was Najeeb Khateeb an illiterate, was Salauh-u-din an Illiterate?”
Malik said the continuous ransacking of private properties by government forces under ongoing Operation Calm Down is aimed at misleading people that things are normal in Kashmir. He said there are 10,000 people in detention.
“She has crossed all limits,” Malik said while referring to Ms Mufti’s statement: “If these kids had gone to buy milk, toffees at the army camps.”
Malik reacted to the “propaganda” launched by Delhi media over the children of separatist leaders. “I haven’t seen my daughter from last two years, ask me how it feels and they say that my daughter is safer with her mother,” Malik said. “Where was their conscience when my wife and daughter were thrown out a hotel at 10 PM in Delhi?” Malik said Delhi wants to defame movement by defaming its captains, its leaders – Geelani, Mirwaiz, Asiya Andrabi and me.
For the burning of schools, Malik pointed fingers towards PDP. “When they could burn down temples in Islamabad and Bijbehara to topple down Gul Shah’s government in 1984 then why can’t they burn down schools now?” he asked. He also supported students by saying that separatists haven’t said if students have to appear in exams or not but it is their decision and separatist will support them. He blamed Ms Mufti and her Education Minister Naeem Akhter for the school blazes.
Malik said the government has pushed itself into confrontation with the students. In 1984, he said, when he was in PUC in SP School, they visited the Deputy Commissioner. “WE told him we were not ready for examinations and it took the government 24 hours to go for March session,” Maik said, “Why is this being made a big issue now.”
Thanking the people for Pir-Panchal and Kargil and Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and different traders unions, Malik said it has left Indian columnists dumb who used to write Pir Panchal and Kargil doesn’t support Kashmir cause.
Malik blamed Prime Minister Modi for communal politics in Pir Panchal. “You are the only country that is publicly saying it will follow Isreal,” Malik said, insisting, “I want to tell you that history is witness that by imposing extreme form of cruelty, no nation has extinguished. But I challenge you to impose your extreme form and check this Azadi sentiment won’t die in Kashmir.”
Malik said the unity of separatists continues. “Whether one meets somebody or all, it does not matter,” he said. “I swear that this Joint resistance group will take the mission forward.”
Srinagar: A government school building was set on fire Sunday afternoon in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district by unidentified persons sending alarm bells across the valley again.
Reports said that Govt Higher Secondary School, Kabamarg building was damaged in a mysterious fire.
Locals immediately called fire extinguishers that brought the fire under control but not before it damaged major portion of the building, local sources said.
Srinagar: Two Kashmiri cricketers, working in Dubai have made it to the final selection trials of Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchisee side Peshawar Zalmi, reported a sports website.
According to the report published on Pro-Sports, Farooq Ahmed of Nishat and Hilal Maqbool of Tarzoo Sopore participated in the talent hunt drive by Peshawar Zalmi in Dubai. In the trials around 300 cricketers participated.
“During the ongoing talent hunt drive by Peshawar Zalmi two of our Kashmiri brothers made it into the final trials. The final trial was held at ICC Academy Dubai on October 20. Peshawar Zalmi owner Javid Afridi was present and the trial was held under Cricketer Shahid Afridi and Peshawar Zalmi Head Coach Muhammad Akram,” said Saifaan Ahmed.
“We are waiting for the final results to be declared soon. Pakistan is extending its support to Kashmiri’s overseas by providing them opportunities and platform to showcase their talent,” he added.
Srinagar: A group of parents today protested outside the Governor’s house in Srinagar against separatist Syed Ali Geelani for giving continuous shutdown calls. They said the education of their children was at stake as they had not attended classes for the last 112 days of unrest.“When the children of separatist leaders appear in exams and make their career safe, why is the future of our children being jeopardised?” asked one of the protesting parents.“We want our children to go to school and appeal to Geelani to call off the strike,” they said. — TNS
‘Let’s rise above party politics to mitigate sufferings of people’
Arnia:Making a passionate appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Zero Line in Arnia Sector to celebrate this Diwali with the abandoned border dwellers along International Border and LoC in Jammu and Kashmir, Provincial President National Conference and MLA Devender Singh Rana and local MLA Dr Kamal Arora said on Saturday evening the situation is explosive in the wake of continuous shelling and “we all should rise above political affiliations and seek solution to problems”.
“Diwali falls on Amawasya and let the Prime Minister light a lamp to end the darkness of borders, the silence of which is intermittently interrupted by mortal shells and heavy artillery, sending chill among the residents, who are running helter-skelter with women, old, ailing and children for safety”, Rana said while expressing grave concern over the traumatic conditions in which the hapless people were living on LoC and IB.
The Provincial President along with Dr Kamal Arora and State Vice Presidents Rattan Lal Gupta and Th Kashmira Singh spent the day in conuctive extensive visit of the shelling hit villages and hoped that the Prime Minister will see for himself how the State BJP leaders and political executives of the government have virtually abandoned the residents, who are struggling to survive the onslaught. He said the visit will certainly provide an opportunity to Mr Modi to feel the pulse of the people who are anguished over forgetting the promises made by BJP stalwarts from top in the high command down in the state leadership during 2014 parliamentary and assembly elections with regard to provision of five marla plots and reservation for their wards in professional courses and government jobs.
“We are sure the Prime Minister will feel the trauma and agony of the suffering people, whose woes have been added by the bunch of BJP exploiters here”, he said, hoping that Modi will set an example by being with the residents in distress and feel their pain.
He assailed the BJP’s total indifference towards residents of the forward areas at this crucial hour of border crisis and asked where the political executives of Jammu and Kashmir have vanished.
“At a time they should have been with the suffering people, the BJP ministers and leaders, who were making beeline during elections, were not visible anywhere”, Mr Rana said adding that the promises of five marla plots have proved just a hoax like various other commitments they made to people of the Jammu region. “The callousness of the administration towards residents is a classic example of the duplicity and deception of the BJP, which has mastered in exploitation”, he said and cautioned the PDP-BJP coalition to mitigate the miseries of huge chunk of border population spreading over three dozen villages.
Rana expressed solidarity with the border dwellers, who were showing exemplary courage in meeting the challenges unfolded by continuous shelling and prayed for early recovery of the injured. He also conveyed his condolences to bereaved families of the two civilians, who fell causality to the shelling.
The Provincial President said the border skirmishes were no solution to problems and hoped that positive steps would be taken to de-esclate the tension and hostility that is proving hazardous for the villagers along the International Border and Line of Control. “We sincerely hope that the atmosphere of jingoism will be a temporary phase and the two countries would engage themselves in meaningful dialogue”, he said and added that the victims of hostilities have always been the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Rana also expressed anguish over injuries suffered by the personnel of armed forces and paid tributes to martyrs who lost their lives in recent days.
Rana and other senior party leaders called for adequate arrangements, health care and other facilities at the make shift camps for border residents, who were forced to leave their homes and hearths due to intermittent shelling. “The facilities are needed to be made on war-footing basis due to cold nights”, he said and hoped that the administration will not shirk from its responsibilities like it has been doing for the past two and half years.
The NC leaders met the dislocated people at various places and assured that the party shared their agonies and miseries. (KNS)
