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  • BJP always bartered peoples’ interest: Azad

    Defeat communal forces, vote Congress to power
    Doda: Exhorting the people to elect credible and tested representatives for the Lok Sabha, Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad today reminded that BJP leadership in Jammu and Kashmir has always bartered peoples’ interests to accomplish their own personal agenda.
    According to a statement issued to KNS, while addressing series of public gatherings at various hilly belts in Doda and Kishtwar districts, Congress heavyweight, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad who is contesting Doda-Udhampur Parliamentary Constituency, today stated that except exploiting sentiments of the people to reap political benefits BJP leaders have never fulfilled aspirations of the common masses.
    Accompanied by Minister for Roads and Buildings, Abdul Majid Wani, former Minister and Congress MLA, G M Saroori, MLC, Sham Lal Bhagat, Congress stalwart, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad made a dig at BJP leadership and sought to know their contribution for the country. Challenging BJP to present a single example where it had contributed for nation building, Mr Azad highlighted that “after sacrificing thousands of its leaders and workers in freedom struggle, only Congress party has been able to tap natural resources, raising hundreds of hydro power dams in the country, laying down numerous irrigations canals, highways and national highways, encouraging industrial growth, bringing revolution in agriculture sector and generating employment for the educated un-employed youths of the country”.
    “It is Congress party under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and Congress president Mrs Sonia Gandhi that had ensured equitable development of the people irrespective of their caste, religion or region. The space programmes, headway in Science and Technology, largest network of railways, better health care systems, massive industrialization and schemes for upliftment of poor and downtrodden have been the contribution of none other than Congress party,” highlighted Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad further questioning, “What is the role of BJP since Independence and till date? Can BJP leadership explain instead of criticizing Congress that too for wrong reasons, What role BJP has played for the development of nation and upliftment of poor masses? Who has made massive and record development in each and every field? Is it BJP? No, it is only and only Congress and it secular allies which has made India a strong nation”.
    Lashing out at BJP for its untrue propaganda against Congress, Mr Azad said that “these divisive forces have just communal agenda in their manifesto and are out there to divide people in the name of religion. Ever since its existence, it had only been working towards dividing people just to come in power. And the people of the country will never allow such divisive forces to come in power.” 
    Seeking mandate of the people to accelerate developmental activities in remotest and far-flung areas, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad today said that Congress was committed for the betterment and upliftment of the backward and under-developed areas.
    Mr Azad reminded the people about various developmental projects which were started during his tenure as Chief Minister for the development of this region. “Many projects are still incomplete”, he said and sought support of the people to finish that incomplete projects to improve their socio-economic conditions.
    Highlighting the contribution of Congress party at Centre in the development of Doda, Kishtwar  and Ramban districts, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad listed down numerous projects executed through various centrally sponsored schemes in these districts. The sanctioning of five Medical Colleges in Jammu and Kashmir, that included three from Jammu region and two for Kashmir valley, Congress stalwart highlighted that “Sanctioning of a Medical College for erstwhile Doda district is a pointer to the fact that Congress led UPA is aware of the problems of this hilly and remote belt. Had Congress not concerned about your problems, the Medical College would not have been sanction for you”.
    “It is Congress party which, keeping in view the problems and plight of the people have initiated people oriented projects. There has been record development in the past 10 years’ rule of Congress led UPA-I and UPA-II. Shockingly, there are some political parties that are misleading the people by launching false propaganda against Congress party. They must visit in the field area and see the pace of development and then comment on the working of Congress”, pointed out Mr Azad further adding “In the past ten years of 70 percent of the villages of the country have been connected with roads, 70 lakhs schools have been established to provide education at door step”. He said that the opening of schools have increased the literacy rate of the country vis-à-vis appointment of teachers and further the salaries of these teachers are being paid by Government of India.
    Mr Azad also said that under Congress led UPA regime there has been a three-fold increase in food subsidy during UPA tenure. The Food Security Act will entitle 35 kg of food-grains per month and other families for 5 kg per person at subsidized rates have been passed during UPA regime”. (KNS)

  • Mufti’s cavalcade attacked in Shopian

    No aerial firing, was a minor incident: Police
    Srinagar: The cavalcade of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, patron Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) today came under attack from stone throwers at Neemander village in Shopian district.
    Official sources revealed that the former chief minister Mufti was leading a road show and after reaching Meemander, some angry youth came out and raised anti-India and pro-freedom slogans besides pelting stones on some security vehicles in Mufti’s cavalcade. Locals informed KNS that half a dozen vehicles including the jammer comprising Muftis cavalcade were damaged during the stone pelting incident at Neemander.
    Sources revealed that the district administration had permitted the PDP patron to lead his rallies at six identified places in the district but on the insistence of the party activists, Mufti led the rally at 11 locations. “It was the 11th location (Neemander) where some youth came out and started pelting stones on security vehicles. The cavalcade had also adopted a different route other than the permitted one,” official sources added.
    Meanwhile, according to KNS Shopian correspondent, police had to fire tear smoke shells to disperse the mob at Neemander and Bon Bazar till the security vehicles adopted another route via main town to take the PDP patron out from place of occurrence.
    Locals informed KNS that yesterday evening some unknown men had used mosque loud speakers appealing people to observe a complete strike in the town on Thursday. The strike affected the normal life in the morning. “The entire market was open after few hours of strike,” a local informed KNS on phone.  
    When contacted SP Shopian, Shoket Ahmad told KNS, “It was a minor incident. Few stones were pelted on some security vehicles at Neemander. Jammer was not damaged. There was no aerial firing. But the situation is under control.”  When asked about the strike, the SP Shopian said that the town observed strike but only for few hours in the morning. (KNS)

  • Elections in J&K blood ridden, sugar coated poison for Kashmiris: Malik

    Addresses gathering in Bandipora
    Bandipora: “The history of Jammu Kashmir bears a witness to the fact

    that pro- India politicians and parties here have always asked for votes in the name of development and progress but have always used to justify Indian claim over Kashmir. Elections that are contested under the supervision of Indian election commission, under Indian constitution and under the shadow of Indian gun is like sugar coated poison for Kashmiris and these have always been used to snatch our freedom, strengthening the clutches of tyranny and oppression on us and for legislating and Enactment of black laws here. Therefore taking part in these elections in any name and slogan cannot be termed but as worst enmity with Kashmir and Kashmiris,” this was stated by the chairman JKLF Mohammad Yasin Malik while addressing a public gathering at Bandipora today.

    According to a statement issued to KNS, Malik thanked people for their valor, passion and affection for the freedom movement and resistance camp. Terming the history of these elections held time to time in Kashmir as blood ridden, Malik said that from 1930’s people of Jammu Kashmir have been striving and sacrificing for the freedom of their nation but time and again leaders turned oppressors betrayed this nation and helped foreign powers to oppress and suppress us and snatch our freedom.
    Elaborating the history of elections in Jammu Kashmir, Malik said that although these elections for assembly or parliament are fought in the name of electricity, roads, employments and water, good governance, change, corruption free society ,peace ,progress and other decorative slogans and time and again people contesting election tell us that these elections have nothing to do with Kashmir issue  but the fact of matter is that people after being elected have always used this vote to undermine the freedom movement of Jammu Kashmir and safeguarded the interests of India in Jammu Kashmir.
    Giving a detailed account of the history of these elections and people who were elected, Malik said   that the elections held on 15th October 1951 and the assembly that came into existence after these elections served this interest of India as sheikh Mohammad Abdullah who was heading the government through infamous Delhi agreement not only compromised the freedom of Kashmiris, changed their Nationality from Kashmiri to Indian but also directed the assembly of that time to rectify the accession of Jammu Kashmir with India.
    “This assembly also legislated for the influence of Indian presidents’ office on Kashmir too. Sheikh Sahib was succeeded by Bakhshi Ghuiam Mohammad. Bakshi and his assembly took no time in removing the permit system that necessitated every Indian to take a special permission before entering into Jammu Kashmir. It was the assembly of that time that legislated for the merger of Jammu Kashmir with Indian union and hence pushing the people of Jammu Kashmir more and more into the darkness of slavery.”
    Malik said In 1975 Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah signed the humiliating Indra-Abdullah accord for getting a fractured government; he declared the struggle of 22 years as Meandering.
    “It was he who in 1978 slapped the black law PSA on Kashmiris under which hundreds of thousands of Kashmiris have been sentenced to imprisonments till date. His son in law Ghulam Mohammad shah complimented this by implementing another black law TADA in Kashmir. It was sheikh Abdullah’s son Farooq Abdullah  and his assembly who in 1984 paved the way for hanging the leader of kashmiri masses father of nation Mohammad Maqbool Butt  and  1n 1996  Farooq Abdullah constituted Police task force and provided them a license to kill Kashmiris at will.”
    Malik said that in 2002, Mufti Mohammad Syeed came with a slogan of heeling touch and self rule. “In his healing touch policy he ordered custodial killings of many commanders and eventually the era of Farooq Abdullah’s catch and kill policy was repeated. It was Mufti who in 1990 as India’s home minister sent Jag Mohan to Kashmir with a license to kill any one and it was during that period the massacres of Kashmiris started. It was he who implemented black laws like AFSPA, Armed act etc in Kashmir that till date are haunting the people of Jammu Kashmir. Another “feather in his cap” is that he and his assembly handed over the screening committee for release of detunes to Indian state, this committee used to be headed over by deputy commissioner before that.”
    Malik said that after Mufti Sayeed it was the turn of Ghulam Nabi Azad. From 1947, every Kashmiri knows the credentials of his party congress that is responsible for every hardship that Kashmiris have and are facing. Azad declared a bullet for bullet policy. He preached “ democracy and Ghandi Jees philosophy” to betray the youth of Jammu Kashmir  but actually acted as a dictator who banned pro freedom camp from entering Jammu region and that ban is still on.
    Malik appealed the people of Jammu Kashmir to show resilience and wisdom and not to get deceived by beautiful slogans. “We as a living nation will have to safeguard the sacrifices rendered by us and our beloved martyrs and for that we all will have to keep away from these Indian elections and voting’s and safeguard our national interests,” added Malik.  (KNS)

  • People want vote for change not for mere slogans: Mehbooba

    Jammu: The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president, Mehbooba Mufti Thursdaysaid the people want to vote for change, not for mere slogans, anymore, and ruling parties both at the Centre and state have to show their report card of performance to people before seeking votes.
    Addressing a series of workers meetings in Baderwah segment of Udhampor parliamentary constituency Mehbooba accused NC of resorting to hollow slogans at the time of elections to hide the failures of its government  over the last more than five years in the state.
    She said NC can’t befool the people by raking up emotive issues and by leveling false allegations against the PDP but it has to come out with its performance report before the people so that it becomes easy for everyone to judge what they have done over these years.
    “Helplessness of the ruling dispensation to give an account of its performance is genuine given the fact it has nothing to show and its only achievements have been  scams, frauds, mis-goverance and killings,” she said adding Omar Abdullah has virtually given up before the people’s power when he had said ‘parliamentary polls are not about his performance’.
    Mehbooba said truth is that both NC and Congress have failed the people of Jammu & Kashmir as they remained disconnected from the ground with the result people have to cry for even basic amenities in every nook and corner of the state.
    Castigating the Congress-led UPA in the Centre, she said it has turned a blind eye to every blunder which the Omar Abdullah-led government committed in the state besides it has miserably failed to reach out to the people of J&K politically to address their genuine grievances.
    The PDP president said the Central government didn’t work seriously to address the people’s woes and it even didn’t carry forward its own agenda which it had started in its earlier inning to address different aspects of J&K.
    She said the prime minister’s working group recommendations are gathering dust and their non-implementation shows how the Centre government has been particular about the people of the state.
    Accusing National Conference of playing the power politics and of being non-serious with the issue of people Mehbooba said fighting elections for PDP mean to uphold the interests of the state and provide voice to the people’s sufferings.
    She said the biggest harm which the NC has done to the people of the state is that it has not been able to motivate the political leadership of the country with the problems of the state and sentiments of people and instead it has helped to add on the existing level of mistrust between them and New Delhi by remaining busy with the power.
    She said J&K needs a new direction and the story of the state needs to be told forcefully in New Delhi to make the country aware about the sentiments and aspirations of people which has till now not been done as NC has been using its mandate to secure jobs for the members of the Abdullah family.
    She said people of the entire Chinab Valley are facing huge problems and the ruing government has not been able to mitigate their genuine grievances.
    She said various hydroelectric projects in the area are posing serious threat to the ecology and environment of the region and the last year’s quake which unleashed huge devastation in the area and the repeated tremors latter, are said to be due to these power projects. But after sacrificing hugely, the locals are not even preferred in the jobs in these projects.
    Mehbooba said Toursim Development Authority started by the previous PDP-led government in Baderwah has failed to create jobs and do anything positive to uplift the economic condition of people only.
    She said Baderwah being the oldest sub-division has also been ignored in the recent expansion of administrative units.

  • Police warns eve-teasers in Shopian

    Shopian: Jammu and Kashmir Police in mountainous district of Shopian in South Kashmir have warned eve-teasers to refrain from immoral activities following reports of growing eve-teasing incidents in the town.
    Officials told GNS that Shopian police received several complaints from the parents of female students studying in Government Girls Higher Secondary School that some youth are indulging in immoral activities.
    “After we received complaints from the parents, we deployed police cops near the Higher Secondary school from 9 am to 10:30 am and same was done at the time of off. The process will continue and we warn eve-teasers not indulge in immoral activities and stop making trouble otherwise action will be taken against them,” said Deputy Superintendent of Police, Zahoor Wani. (GNS)


  • JKLF leaders Continue Poll boycott campaign

    Srinagar: Jammu Kashmir liberation front leaders and activists continued their election boycott campaign in Srinagar today. According to a statement issued to KNS, JKLF leaders and activists visited Mehjoor Nagar, Kursu, Gadhanjipora and zero bridge etc and apprised people about the importance of election boycott. The JKLF activists distributed written material about the elections and met people individually and collectively.
    On the occasions JKLF leaders asked people to keep vigil and understand the ill consequences of the elections held under Indian constitution. Leaders told people that these elections are harmful for Jammu Kashmir and against their interests.
    While speaking to the people JKLF leaders said that the hand that is always used for beating and hanging Kashmiris is ready to deceive us again, the inkpot and pen that writes down life imprisonments and hangings for us is asking us to forget the sacrifices and the plough that instead of cultivating our lands has always sieved our hearts and consciences is again ready to put us in trouble.
    JKLF leaders said that there are some who in the name of change are asking us to change our allegiance and some other are asking us to sweep the sacrifices rendered by brooms. We will have to keep vigil on all these who are hell bent to make us fool and lead divide us to get our votes, said leaders.
    JKLF leaders said that the main aim and objective of elections organized by India and held under Indian constitution is to prolong the slavery of Kashmiris, to legislate new tyrannical and oppressive laws against people of Jammu Kashmir and to subject Kashmiris to torture and repression .therefore participation in these election on any name and pretext cannot be termed but as enmity with Kashmir and Kashmiris. Leaders said that every nation safeguards its own interests and it is the duty of every Kashmiri to recognize and safeguard the interest of Kashmir.
    While deliberating upon the bad consequences of these elections they said that participating in these is actually undermining the interests of our oppressed nation and every honorable Kashmiri should therefore refrain from such practice.
    JKLF leaders said that elections held under Indian constitution and under the auspicious of India, though are contested under the slogans of prosperity, roads, water, electricity, good and corruption free governance and for addressing other day to day problems etc, but have always been used to malign, undermine and weaken the freedom struggle of Kashmiris.
    JKLF leaders said that these elections, assemblies, and parliaments have given Kashmiris nothing but despair, distress and disaster. “These elections gave us black Laws like PSA, AFSPA, TADA, POTA etc. These produced the oppression of task force, catch and kill operation tiger, custodial killings and disappearances, unmarked graves and unnamed graveyards. These gave us the hangings of Saheed Baba I Qoum Mohammad Maqbool Butt and Shaheed Afzal Guru. Therefore it is our moral, religious and national obligation to keep, away from voting’s and elections and spread this message to everyone around.” (KNS)

  • SMC de-seals 41 ‘illegal’ structures in Srinagar

    Srinagar: In pursuance to the moratorium put by the state government on demolition of illegal structures in Summer capital of the state and in compliance to the High Court orders, the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) on Wednesday issued orders of de-sealing of 41 structures presently under custody of Joint Commissioner Planning, chief enforcement officers and the concerned police stations. 
    The order bearing number SMC/Enf/692-741 dated April 7, 2014 has been issued by the Commissioner SMC Dr G N Qasba wherein 41 sealed structures have been de-sealed till March 31, 2015 or till the government formulates a policy whichever is earlier.
    Pertinently, on February 25 this year the Legislative Assembly passed a law to put moratorium on demolition of illegal structures which have come up in Srinagar, Jammu and Katra in violation of master plans.
    According to KNS correspondent, under the Act-J&K Civic Laws (Special Provision) Act 2014 – a High Power Committee will prepare a roadmap for regularizing the unauthorized structures, both residential and commercial, against a penalty.
    In defense of this controversial law, the Government had said the “issues involved were many and highly complex and the magnitude of the problem was too huge to be solved through sealing/demolition/forcible action alone though it admitted that a large number of residential/commercial buildings had come up illegally in violation of master plans.
    Last year in October under High Court directions, the SMC had sealed 19 out of 45 identified ‘illegal’ structures in Srinagar city. She said the illegal structures at Jawahar Nagar had become a nuisance for the general public and the same were sealed with the help of police in presence of the executive magistrate.
    Pertinently, on September 30, 2013 a division bench of J&K High Court comprising Chief Justice M M Kumar and Justice Ali Muhammad Magrey asked SMC to seal as many as 45 illegal structures within the City that have come up, over the years, in violation of the Srinagar Master Plan.
    The Court had directed the Corporation to swing into action and take appropriate steps for sealing buildings belonging to any violators as per the show-cause notices and the demolition orders passed (by the Corporation) on March 16, 2009 or thereafter.
    Pertinently, an official panel on Master Plan violations constituted by the state government in 2010 has identified around 2500 illegal structures in and around the Srinagar city falling in SMC and SDA local areas.  (KNS)

  • Students made to labor at Pulwama School

    Pulwama: In one of the government run schools in a Pulwama village of South Kashmir, the administration forces students to labour instead of teaching them.
    The Government Boys and Girls Higher Secondary School Rohomo in the southern district is undergoing some construction work and students – who come to school to study – are made to work during their study hours.
    The Higher Secondary – established eight years ago – is in total mess. The principal of the School Shabir Ahmad Gilkar, says he is unaware about students being forced to labour. “I don’t know any such thing but I will investigate,” he told GNS.
    Gilkar is handicapped and he often comes to the school in the afternoon at his own will, locals said.
    A student told GNS that they were ordered by teachers to work. “When we argued by saying that this is not our work but of laborers, they didn’t pay any heed and ordered us to work,” a student said.
    The construction work in the School is going on since last month.
    The teachers in the school haven’t been transferred from four to five years, a local said.
    The Sarpanch of Rohoma, Ali Muhammad Dar leveled serious allegations on the teaching staff of the school. “I was told by students that these lecturers click photos of girl students during morning prayers,” he alleged.
    He said teachers also use cell phones during classes.
    The Zonal Education Officer, Atta Muhammad Khan, told GNS: “This is worst Higher Secondary. They (School administration) are running school at their own will.”
    He appealed: “please help us in getting things better.”
    The Chief Education Officer, Farooq Ahmad, Pulwama, told GNS that he will investigate the matter. “Whosoever be found guilty, he will be punished,” he said.
    The Director School of Education Kashmir, Tariq Ali Mir assured action against the guilty. He told GNS:  “I will obtain report from the concerned Chief Educational Officer in this regard. We will take action against the guilty.” (GNS)

  • HCJK leaders placed under house arrest.

    Srinagar: Hurriyat Conference Jammu Kashmir (HCJK) leader Shabir Ahmad Shah was today put under house arrest by a large contingent of police force and was not allowed to visit Pulwama. As per program, he was scheduled to address people in various areas of Pulwama with regards to election boycott.
    According to a statement issued to KNS, however, Muslim League chairman, Mushtaq ul Islam, JKLF (R) chairman Farooq Ahmad Dar, Muslim Conference chairman Shabir Ahmad Dar, Islamic Political Party chairman Muhammad Yusuf Naqash and dozens of activists including Ghulam Muhammad Maqdam, Abdul Rashid Bhat, Wajhat Qureshi, Bilal Ahmad Shah, Fayaz Ahmad Kaloo, Aijaz Ahmad Mir and Haroon, succeeded in reaching Pulwama where they addressed people and appealed people to stay away from so-called democratic elections.
    The leaders while addressing people said the elections are only to consolidate the forcible occupation of Indian rule and to mislead the world community. “Here people are never consulted but the administration thrusts their own views upon them. They are carrying out undemocratic activities in the name of democracy,” they said.
    They said Hurriyat Conference is a political platform which propagates its stand among people in a peaceful manner but as routine, the administration creates hurdles in our path and prevents us from reaching out to the people. “India should realize that it is Kashmiri people who are running the freedom movement. They can’t separate masses from their leaders. Our slogan will reap fruit by the people’s election boycott.”
    Hurriyat Conference JK leader Shabir Ahmad Shah while paying tributes to the martyrs of Chowkibal said such encounters and situations rise only because India always kept the Kashmir issue lingering and never wished to resolve it.
    Meanwhile, Hurriyat spokesperson while condemning the house arrest of Shabir Ahmad Shah said it is ironic that so-called democratic rulers are beating the drums of democracy but are restricting the every movement of its opponents.
    As per last reports, the Hurriyat leaders and activists were arrested on their way back from Pulwama which include Mushtaq ul Islam, Farooq Ahmad Dar, Shabir Ahmad Dar, Muhammad Yusuf Naqash, Aijaz Ahmad Mir, Nayeem Ahmad Dar, Muhammad Saju Wani, Javed Ahmad Mir and Rouf Ahmad.  (KNS)

  • Jammu to go for polls tomorrow

    Security beefed up.Do not want to take any chances: DGP  
    Srinagar: A day before the Lok Sabha polls are scheduled to be held in Jammu Parliamentary constituency the area, the director General of Police on Wednesday said that despite a considerable level of improvement in security situation, the security forces does not want to take any chances this time.
    Talking to KNS, Ashok Prasad the DGP Jammu and Kashmir said that the level of threat from the militants is similar to that was in 2008 general elections but the police and other security agencies have taken certain measures to make foolproof security arrangements this time.
    He said: “We have a coordination committee of various security agencies who take decisions on deployment of forces. But one thing is sure that we do not want to take any chances this time.”
    Meanwhile, police and other security forces on Wednesday launched a massive search operation in Rajouri town and other places of the district to prevent an untoward incident on the day of polling in the Jammu Lok Sabah constituency.
    Sources told KNS that the security has been beefed up in the entire region particularly with massive search operations launched by the security forces in Rajouri area. With barricades kept at several places in the area, the vehicles were thoroughly checked throughout the day. Also security was increased in various towns in Jammu region. Reports maintained that security was raised on Rajouri-Jammu and Rajouri-Poonch highways and the vehicles are being checked thoroughly. (KNS)