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Enhances retirement age of teaching faculties to 62

Srinagar: The Cabinet which met here today under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah approved the reckoning of the five years of service, rendered by ‘Rehbar-e-Taleem’ teachers before regularization,  for the purpose of  fixing their seniority and counting such service, notionally, for pension and other retirement benefits, wherever applicable.  It was also decided that, after regularization, the services of ‘Rehbar-e-Taleem’ teachers shall be transferable within the district to which they belong.

The cabinet also approved enhancement in the prescribed age of retirement on superannuation in the case of members of the teaching faculties of the Universities of Kashmir/Jammu, SKUAST, Kashmir/Jammu and Government Medical College, Srinagar/Jammu from the present 60 years to 62 years.

Srinagar: Hizbul Mujahideen has paid tributes to the three slain militants who were killed in an encounter at Tral.

In a telephonic statement to KNS, Baleeg-u-Din, operational commander of Hizbul Mujahideen said” “Three militants Adil Ahmad alias Sarfaraz, Adil Ahmad Shah alias Haroon Baie and Tariq Ahmad Mir alias Hamza Baie were affiliated with Hizb were martyred at Tral.”

He said that UJC cheif and Hizb supreme commander Syed Sallauhdin, deputy supreme commander Saifullah Khalid and operational chief commander and command council top leaders have paid tributes to ‘all the three martyrs’. “The UJC leadership resolved that martyrs blood will not be allowed to go waste,” Baleeg-u-Din told KNS.

Assures Governance Based on Efficiency, Transparency Equity

Srinagar: Continuing with his tour of Chenab Valley, Ghulam Nabi Azad today held a series of public meetings at Thathri, Kahara, Bhatyas and Gundoh area of District Doda for expressing gratitude to the people for voting in his favour in a big way in the recently held Parliamentary election.

Azad was given rousing welcome by the people at all the places and an unexpected wave of enthusiasm in the people was seen to greet and meet the popular leader. According to a statement issued addressing the people, Azad said that in the recent elections divisive political forces have succeeded in swaying the minds of people, particularly youngsters, by polarizing the society on religious linesand that these experiments may help one to earn a few electoral victories but the damage to the social harmony can be too deep and lasting. Maintaining that J&K is known for its composite cultural heritage and exemplary religious harmony, Azad said that due to its inner resilience, our society has never yielded to the extremist ideology and that it has always bounced back after every aberration.

Azad said that he will never endorse the politics of opportunism and division adding that Congress Party has always stood for the promotion of the cherished values of peace, harmony and mutual brotherhood in the society and this agenda of integrating and harmonizing the society will be pursued consistently.“Congress party has always been secular in its policy towards people. Unlike BJP, it doesn’t believe in dividing people on religious lines. Our party stresses only on developmental issues which have greater importance for people,” he said.

Criticizing the recent statements of NDA Government at the Centre asking the people to be ready for hard economic decisions, Azad said that the same BJP, prior to elections used to allure people by its tall claims of bringing down inflation overnight, and soon after coming to power, gave first dose of misery to the people of country by effecting a hike in the prices of petrol and diesel, adding that this will have cascading effect on prices of all items.

He asked why the BJP Government at Centre hiked petrol and diesel prices within a fortnight when its entire leadership was “tong and hammers” before the election claiming to reduce the inflation in the market. “Prices of food items have started getting out of control and as per the newspaper reports prices of onions alone are about to reach hundred rupees a kilogram in the coming days. Is this what BJP used to promise the people of country? Azad asked.

Azad said that we want to know about the “magical policies” and dreams which BJP and its leadership was busy selling to the people before the elections. He assured thepeople that as Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, issues concerning common man will be raised vociferously on the floor of the House to hold the Government accountable for its misdoings.

Azad said United Progressive Alliance (UPA) during its ten years rule, strictly focused to build infrastructure in every nook and corner of the country and provide liberal financial support to the States. Massive funding was made available to the States for road connectivity and rural electrification under CRF, PMGSY and RGGVY schemes and their impact on the ground has been quite heartening. J&K State has also been extended liberal financial support for power projects, roads, hospitals, schools, colleges, etc under UPA Government. Azad said that after his entry into State politics, he could observe the “developmental deficit” prevailing in the State and that he worked tirelessly to build infrastructure in all regions and sub-regions of the State without any bias or prejudice adding that interests of all the sections of the State were kept in consideration.

As Union Health minister, Azad said that he sanctioned five medical colleges for the State so that young aspiring medicos would be trained within the State only to economize their training and degree costs adding that he expects State Government to soon commence the execution of these precious projects in a fast track mode.

Describing Chenab Valley as treasure trove of natural resources and quality human resource, Azad stated the he endeavoured in his very brief spell of two and a half years as Chief Minister put this region on the track of development and progress.

Azad said that though the neglect of decades could not be compensated in a short span of two and half years, yet I draw satisfaction from the fact that a beginning was made, adding that a process of creating basic infrastructure like power projects, roads, hospitals, schools, colleges, Tourism Development Authorities, etc was taken up vigorously and the results are discernible and encouraging. Azad assured the people that the BJP will not survive for more time and will soon start tottering under its own self-contradictions, since its agenda for election campaign was based on propaganda and false claims.

He urged the people to strengthen the vote base of Congress Party by ensuring the victory of Congress MLA’s to take the State on the path of progress, prosperity and harmony.  “I need all 8 seats from Chenab Valley and I am sure we will form the government in state. If we come to power I promise you all, we will serve the people in the best possible manner and unfold a structure of governance, based on efficiency, transparency and equity” he said while asking people to gear up for the Assembly elections which are likely to be held in November this year. Later, Azad also inspected the ongoing work of 100 bedded hospitalbeing funded under NRHM at Gundoh and hailed the efforts of Housing Board for the speedy execution of the work.  He was accompanied by Mohammad Sharief Niaz MLA Bhaderwah, G M Saroori, MLA Inderwal and Naresh Gupta, MLC.

Srinagar: According to the spokesperson of the party, Senior member Hurriyat Conference JK and Chairman Islamic Political Party jk Mohammad Yousuf Naqash during public contact campaign in Sumbal and adjacent areas cautioned people about the nefarious policies and conspiracies of India against the ideology of freedom and said that on one side India is busy in many subversive activities in a bid to strengthen the illegal and forced subjugation on Kashmir.

“The brutal acts of death and destruction are perpetrated. People are arrested, tortured and life imprisonments regardless of age and gender  are arbitrarily announced and even worse the award of death penalties through fake and fabricated cases. The another draconian face of India’s dangerous conspiracies are also coming to fore through the former bureaucrats and agents of India and unfortunately most of them are of Kashmiri origin.”

The statement issued to KNS said that they have started a new malicious campaign and propaganda of influencing and diluting the ideology of freedom through interactions, debates, seminars and columns in which they are using every rhetoric within their command in a bid to supersede and subvert the ideology of freedom by wrongly misleadingly  defining it its meaning to law and order, administrative and economic problem. People of Kashmir need to bear in mind that the sentiment of freedom is a sacred ideology and mission which has cost five hundred thousand human lives besides chastity and dignity in Kashmir since 1947 and for this sacred mission struggle till date continues in perpetuity.

“This sacred ideological mission is aimed at freedom from the Indian forced and illegal occupation and the establishment of Rule of Allah Almighty and sway of Islam. Nobody will be allowed to let down or sabotage it and it will continue till it reaches the logical conclusion. Naqash was accompanied by many party leaders and activists including Moulvi Buland Shah, Mohammad Yousuf Mir, Showkat Ahmad Bhat, Arshid Ahmad, Riyaz Ahmad and Sajad Ahmad Lone.”

Meanwhile Naqash strongly condemned the continuous detention of senior Hurriyat jk  leader and Chairman Muslim league . Mushtaq-ul-Islam and also reacted strongly and castigated the slapping of prominent pro-freedom leader Masarat Alam Bhat. Naqash also paid glowing tributes to the founder of Ummate Muslimah Dr. Qazi Nisar on his twentieth martyrdom anniversary and said that the sacred blood of our martyrs and supreme sacrifices wont be allowed to go waste and will be taken to its logical conclusion.

Srinagar: RTI on wheels, a mobile van creating awareness among masses about Right to Information reached Srinagar on 18 June. This initiative is on the line of Gujarat’s RTI on wheels model promoted by Gujarat based NGO ‘Mahiti Adhikar Gujarat Pahel (MAGP).

According to a statement issued to KNS, Dr Shiekh Ghulam Rasool ,Chairman J & K RTI Movement/Co-Convenor NCPRI said  “In order to meet the lack of awareness for RTI challenge Mahiti Adhikar Gujarat Pahel (MAGP) has come up with innovative idea called “RTI On Wheels”, which is a multi-media van with mobile RTI clinic. In order to reach RTI to most un-reached communities and regions MAGP will conduct RTI Bharat Yatra in forthcoming year.”

MAGP and Jammu and Kashmir  RTI movement are a part of National Campaign for People’s Right to Information (NCPRI), and Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) which are national platforms for strengthening democratic Rights. It is pertinent to mention here that , RTI Bharat Yatra was flagged off by chief minister of the state in Jammu last week. Farooq Kuthoo, Spokesperson J & K RTI Movement  said, ” A start of RTI Bharat Yatra Programme from Jammu and Kashmir, itself gives encouraging message to citizens of entire nation that RTI will make our democracy participatory and thus more meaningful.” We are extremely grateful to MAGP and RTI Activists accompanying RTI on wheels for choosing J & K as part of their campaign.

Demand’s unconditional release of prisoners before Ramdan

Srinagar: Senior APHC leader and Jammu Kashmir Salvation movement Chairman, Zaffer Akbar Bhat Thursday visited several area of Srinagar city including, Rawlpora, Kralpora, Chanapora, Wanipora and Batmaloo. During the visit he paid glowing tributes to his cousin brothers Shaheed Rafiq Ahmad Bangroo and Javid Ahmad Malla, who were martyred by India troops on 19 and 21st June in 2010 after firing indiscriminately on them.

According to a statement issued to KNS, at wanipora martyr’s ground, Zaffer Akbar Bhat along with party leaders Zulfikar Hammed, Beg Aijaz, Imtiyaz Ahmad and Farooq Ahmad, paid glowing tributes to Kashmir martyrs particularly to Shaheed Mohammad Maqbool Illahi, Khalid Umar, Doctor Turabi, Nadeem Khateeb. He also paid glowing tributes to Dr Qazi Nisar Ahmad on his 20th martyrdom anniversary and said that because of the sacrifices of martyrs Kashmir will get rid from the Indian bondage very soon.

Zaffer Akbar Bhat earlier visited the residence of Dr Showket Ahmad at Karlpora and expressed sympathy and solidarity with the family of Dr Shwoket over the sad demise of his mother Haleem Boba. On the occasion, he said that deceased was pious lady and ever since has boosted the morale of all those pro-freedom lovers through her love and affection. He also visited the family of Mukhtar Ahmad Dar at Rawlpora and expressed sorrow over the sudden death of Mukhtar Ahmad who was actively supporting Kashmir freedom struggle.

Zaffer Akbar Bhat condemned the slapping of another PSA on pro-freedom leader Masrat Aalam Bhat and continuous detention of Mushtaq-ul-Islam and said that through these brutal tact’s India can’t suppress the Kashmir freedom movement. He demanded unconditional release of all innocent Kashmiri detainees, lashing in Kashmir and outside Indian jails before the holy month of Ramdan on humanitarian grounds. Meanwhile, Zaffer Akber Bhat supported ACC’s Golden Jubilee program and stressed upon party leaders and workers to work hard for making it successful.

 ‘Mass killer of youth is PDP’s choice for CM’  

Srinagar: National Conference has said that PDP has sent a clear message of its intentions to suppress and hound the youth of the State by nominating Mufti Mohammad Sayeed as the party’s Chief Ministerial candidate despite Mufti Sayeed’s involvement in some of the most gruesome massacres in Kashmir’s history.

National Conference Spokesman Junaid Mattu said that Mufti Mohammad Sayeed was the biggest tormentor and killer of the youth of Kashmir and that it was Mufti Sayeed who started repression and carnage in Kashmir by first sending Jagmohan as the State’s Governor and then imposing Disturbed Areas Act (DAA) and Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in the State.

NC Spokesman said that it was Mufti Mohammad Sayeed who started his political innings by being part of a team that eroded Article 370 while Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah was incarcerated for safeguarding the special status of J&K. “After succeeding in eroding Article 370 along with G. M. Sadiq, although Mufti Mohamamd Sayeed changed his loyalties often but his commitment to suppress the youth of the Valley remained a permanent, personal guiding goal throughout his career”, Mattu said.

Junaid Mattu said that the list of massacres and repression that was unleashed on hapless Kashmiri youth during Mufti Sayeed’s direct, unrestricted rule as the Home Minister of India constituted the darkest phase of bloodshed in recent history. Stating that Mufti Mohammad Sayeed was directly responsible for the Gaw Kadal, Bijbehara, Handwara, Hawal, Mashaali Mohalla massacres, Junaid Mattu said that the PDP Patron would have been tried for genocide in ideal circumstances had he not managed to re-invent himself with BJP’s blessings and funding in 1996 under the mask of PDP.

The NC Spokesman said that it was none other than Mufti Sayeed who on the floor of the Indian Parliament defended the Armed Forces who were accused of the Kunan Poshpora mass rape tragedy. “PDP talks of the sisters and daughters of the nation but wants the people of Kashmir to forget that its patron Mufti Mohammad  Sayeed defended the security forces accused of the Kunanposhpura mass rape on the floor on the Indian Parliament even when some Parliamentarians from the rest of the country expressed their shock and sorrow over these reports from the Valley. Mufti Sayeed called these women, some of whom were as old as 80, liars and exaggerators”, Mattu said.

Further elaborating on Mufti Sayeed’s charge-sheet of tormenting and killing the youth of the Valley, Junaid Mattu said that the blot of allowing the assassination of Shaheed Mirwaiz Molvi Farooq will forever remain on Mufti’s handcuffs and the youth of Kashmir should know who Mufti Mohammad Sayeed is and what his past is. “It is a known fact that Mufti Sayeed deliberately denied security to Mirwaiz Molvi Farooq and was of the opinion that Mirwaiz’s assassination would lead to internal divisions and strife within the State and hence should be allowed to take place. As if the tragic assassination of Mirwaiz Molvi Farooq wasn’t enough to satisfy Mufti Sayeed, he went on to order security forces to open fire on the funeral of Shaheed Mirwaiz Molvi Farooq, resulting in the massacre of 73 innocent civilians”, the NC Spokesman said.

Junaid Mattu said that it was none other than Mufti Sayeed who aided and abetted Ikhwanis in the Valley and brought criminal elements into politics for his own personal ambition for power. “Mufti Sayeed waxes eloquent about the resolution of the Kashmir Issue today. What was he doing for 40 years of his political career when National Conference was rendering thousands of sacrifices and striving and struggling for the resolution of the Kashmir Issue? Let’s remind the youth of the State what Mufti Sayeed was busy changing loyalties nearly half a dozen times and swinging in favor of  the most rabidly anti-Kashmir forces if that meant him getting a seat in Delhi at the cost of the interests and aspirations of his own people”, Mattu said.

The NC Spokesman said that National Conference would leave no stone un-turned to bring facts about Mufti Sayeed in front of the people and show the youth of J&K the image and record of the Mufti Sayeed of 1990 who filled graveyards after graveyards with our young men and launched ‘Operation Tiger’ and ‘Operation Catch-and-kill’ and mowed down thousands from one generation alone. “The youth of J&K will give PDP a befitting answer for the crimes against humanity that Mufti Sayeed is guilty of in the forthcoming Assembly Elections”, the NC Spokesman said.