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  • PDP patronizing criminal, corrupt elements – NC

    Mufti empowering former counter-insurgents: Dr. Kamal 

    Srinagar: National Conference has said that PDP by admitting and promoting known criminal and corrupt faces in its party fold has made it pretty clear that Mufti Sayeed has chosen to re-invest his faith in the politics of embezzlement, crime and corruption as a route to political power.

    According to a statement issued to KNS, National Conference Additional General Secretary Dr. Sheikh Mustafa Kamal has asked Mufti Mohammad Sayeed to come clean on substantiated allegations of corruption and grave criminal records against various senior PDP leaders who are masquerading as “new faces” in the party. Dr. Kamal has also sought a public apology from the PDP top-brass  to the law abiding citizens of J&K for giving political patronage to one of its leaders from Srinagar to steal power worth lakhs and crores for his commercial establishments that have been established from ill-gotten money. Pertinent to note is the recent revelation that a PDP leader’s flour mill in Tangmarg was found to have stolen power worth lakhs of rupees by criminally by-passing the meters. The Power Development Department has imposed a fine of Rupees Thirty Lakhs on the owner of the flour mill who is also one of PDP’s “new faces” from Srinagar.

    Stating that PDP’s desperation for gaining power had led the party to invest in criminal elements, money launderers and former dreaded counter-insurgents, NC Additional General Secretary said that this was an alarming development and could lead to an increase in corruption, major crime and organized suppression within the State’s polity. Dr. Kamal said that it had also become very evident that PDP was now being supported by some recently retired, dreaded and notorious police officers who flouted all norms and policies of leniency announced by the State Government and suppressed the youth of Srinagar on their own whims and arrogance. The NC Spokesman said that one such recently retired police officer who allegedly boasts of the number of youth killed by him and the number of them thrown into jails by him is another “new face” of PDP and is expected to contest the forthcoming Assembly Elections on the party’s ticket from North Kashmir.

    Dr. Mustafa Kamal also lashed out at the PDP for picking and choosing dreaded former counter-insurgents across the Valley to constitute a team of infamous, criminal faces that the party intends to use to harass the people ahead of the forthcoming polls. The NC Leader said that PDP’s plans to criminalize the State’s polity through brazen dual standards and blatant intimidation of the voters speaks volumes about the party’s political intentions.

    Stating that a lot of senior PDP leaders had serious cases of graft, tax-evasion, land-grabbing and embezzlement of public money registered against them in the courts of the land, Dr. Mustafa Kamal said that those faces that were openly pronounced corrupt by PDP in the past miraculously became “honest” overnight the very moment they joined PDP. Dr. Kamal said that the most glaring example was that of a former bureaucrat from the State who was sacked by Mufti Mohammad Sayeed government on charges of corruption in the Panchayat Ghar Scam in 2005 but was later rewarded with an MLC berth by the same Mufti Mohammad Sayeed when the said person joined PDP.

    Dr. Mustafa Kamal also welcomed recent indictment of some officers and employees of the Food and Supplies Department by the Vigilance Department and demanded that more serious allegations of embezzlement and misappropriation raised against a former officer of the Food and Supplies Department be thoroughly probed despite his being a “new” face of PDP. Dr. Kamal said that the law should take its toll and if the particular PDP leader is found guilty of mass corruption, loot and plunder in the Food and Supplies Department, there should be no hesitation in bringing him to the book and putting him behind bars.

  • Mirwaiz visits Lal Chowk

    Asks people to make convention a ‘success’

    Srinagar: With just one day left in the convention of ’50 Years of Resistance’ of Awami Action Committee, Chairman Huriyat Conference (M) Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Thursday paid visit to Srinagar’s Municipal Park wherein the golden jubilee celebrations shall be held.

    According to the KNS correspondent, Mirwaiz while visiting the venue urged people to attend the rally in large number so that the convention could be made a success.

    The Huriyat (M) chief also led a rally that toured through various areas of Srinagar including Lal Chowk amid pro-freedom slogans.

    Reports also informed that a large number of youth converged at the Municipal Park where from a bike rally was taken out towards Mirwaiz Manzil through residency road. The rally witnessed the participation of hundreds of people particularly the youth. Various Huriyat (M) leaders including Javaid Mir, Adv Shahid ul Islam, Hilal War and others also participated in the rally.

    Mirwaiz while addressing people at Mirwaiz Manzil appealed them to assemble at Jamia Masjid on Thursday to join the march towards Municipal Park. Meanwhile the Mirwaiz’s Awami Action Committee Thursday applied before the deputy commissioner Srinagar to conduct its scheduled Friday rally at Municipal Park.

  • Assembly 2014: PDP finalizes another list of candidates

    Qazi to fight from Gbl, Bhat retains Khansahib

    Srinagar: Finalizing its preparations for the forthcoming assembly polls scheduled to be held by the end of this year, the opposition Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) Thursday decided candidature of another group of party leaders.

    Sources told Kashmir News Service that the former minister Qazi Mohammad Afzal has been given the ticket to fight from Ganderbal. Interestingly the constituency is considered as the important turf for both the regional parties NC and PDP.

    The party sources have confirmed further that all the sitting MLAs of PDP will contest the 2014 assembly elections from their respective turfs except the three constituencies of South Kashmir- that are still undecided.

    Fayaz Mir- the senior PDP leader will contest from north Kashmir’s Kupwara area while as from Khansahib, the party is fielding Saif-ud-din Bhat. From Kangan, the party has issued ticket to Bashir Ahmad Mir and from South Kashmir’s Noorabad- it will be party’s new entrant Abdul Majeed Paddar who will contest from the area.

    Moreover, in Srinagar’s Hazaratbal area, mandate has been given to Aasiya Naqash while as Khurshid Alam will contest from Khaniyar. The party sources told KNS that the leadership is still indecisive over Amira Kadal, Batmaloo and Eidgah. However the final call over the remaining constituencies is expected to be taken in the coming days.

  • 2010 killings: Cabinet appoints Commission to probe

    Asks COI to submit its report within 3 months

    Srinagar: The Cabinet which met here today under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah approved the setting up of a one man commission comprising Justice (Rtd). M.L. Koul, to enquire into the circumstances, leading to deaths by firing, or otherwise, in law and order situations in different districts of Kashmir Valley, during 2010.

    According to the reports KNS has received, the Commission of enquiry will also enquire into the adequacy, or otherwise, of the force used, fix responsibility, wherever excessive force has been used, resulting in fatalities, and where due care has not been taken to avoid such fatalities, suggest measures to avoid the recurrence of such incidents in future and recommend the action to be taken against those found responsible in any such incidents.  The commission shall submit its report to the Government within a period of three months from the date of issuance of the notification in this regard.

  • 3 top militants killed in Tral: Army

    Srinagar: In a joint operation Army and JKP, today killed three militants belonging to Hizbul Mujahiddin in a fierce gun battle in Buchroo, Tral of district Pulwama of South Kashmir, an army statement issued to KNS said.

    “Today at 1815h, based on a specific intelligence input regarding presence of two to three militants in village Buchroo, Tral of Pulwama district, a joint operation was launched by Army and SOG. While the initial cordon was being laid around the suspected group of houses, the militants hiding in one of the houses opened heavy volume of fire on the troops and tried to escape. However, troops reacted swiftly and established an effective cordon and prevented any escape by the militants. Thereafter, a fierce gun battle ensued between the security forces and militants which lasted for more than an hour.”

    The statement said: “Troops responded in a calibrated manner to avoid any collateral damage. At about 1900h the security forces were able to successfully eliminate three militants and recovered large quantity of arms and ammunition from the slain militants. The slain militants have been identified as Aadil Ahmed Mir, resident of Dadasura of Tral, Divisional commander of HM, Tariq Ahmed Parrey, resident of Laribal of Pulwama Area commander of South Kashmir of HM and Aadil Ahmed Shah, resident Ratsuna of Tral. During the fire fight an officer and a Jawan sustained gunshot wound. Their condition is stable.”

    The statement added:  “Till the last reports came in the operation was still on.  Corps Commander Chinar corps, Lt Gen Gurmit Singh commended the troops and the commander on ground for executing a swift and surgical operation culminating into elimination of three top militants.”

  • Governance failure responsible for developmental freeze: Karra

    ‘Lack of political direction, misgovernance have landed JK in a mess’

    Budgam: Blaming Chief Minister Omar Abdullah of having wasted precious 6 years of J&K, senior PDP leader and Member Parliament,  Tariq Hameed Karra today said the governance failure in the State is taking toll on every sector and making people to suffer for want of even the basic amenities.

    “Without being able to make any positive contribution to the State during the past 6 years, the hallmarks of this government are a wayward political conduct, rampant corruption, fiscal mismanagement, strong arm methods and collapse of administration,”  Karra said while addressing a series of public meetings in Chrar-e-Sharief Assembly segment of Srinagar-Budgam Parliamentary constituency, said a statement issued to KNS.

    Karra said the NC-led government has virtually abandoned its duty towards the people of the state and the governance crisis is taking a toll in all areas and regions of the State. “Even the basic amenities like drinking water, irrigation facilities, power supply and rations have become scarce because of the inefficiency of the present regime,” he said and added that the terrible condition of the roads and traffic mismanagement have made the life miserable for the people. He said as the farming activities these days are at peak throughout the Valley and the demand for irrigation waters is at crucial stage but at many places the people have to badly suffer due to lack of irrigation waters. “And even drinking water problems have accentuated in spite of heavy rains and water bodies full of water,” he said adding at many places paddy seedling beds have dried because of lack of water.  Karra said ironically all the major projects and schemes started by the previous PDP-Congress coalition government had been shelved or become a victim of misgovernance, red tape and corruption during the past 6 years. “Major infrastructural interventions like the Prime Ministers Reconstruction Plan and ADB funding have gone into problems as a result of casual approach of the present dispensation,” he said and added that the NC-led government considers patchwork and blacktopping of small stretches of roads as the ultimate infrastructure development and makes lot of noises about the same.  Karra said while in the villages the schemes like PMGSY and MNREGA were being misused to fill the pockets of politicians and their favourites in urban areas the massive schemes like JNNURM and Integrated Development of Small & Medium Towns (IDSMT) were implemented at a snail’s pace. Underlining the fact that there was a lack of political direction at the top level of the government,  Karra said everybody seems to be interested in local matters and personal comforts only without taking an overview of how the state should develop in an era of competition and high expectations. “While the government gives publicity to the funds received from government of India as a great achievement, its effect on the ground is totally invisible. The unemployment is rising at an alarming rate and the government response is restricted to appointment of a few favourites through backdoor,” he said. He said it was not understandable as to why bills issued by various departments should be pending in treasuries for even a single day if the budget provides for such funds. “It is only because of increasing levels of cuts and commissions that have been almost institutionalized by the present regime,” he said.  Karra said government was trying to substitute every sector of governance with policing. “No voices of dissent were allowed and even if government employees, teachers or students raised genuine issues the government responded through police action,” he said. Senior PDP leader Ghulam Nabi Lone (Hanjoora) also addressed the public meetings.

  • Rajendra addresses maiden Police Darbar at Jammu

    Jammu: The Director General of Police (DGP), Mr. K. Rajendra Kumar today underscored the need for transparency in the day-to-day functioning of police to bring about a positive change in the public perception about the force.

    Mr. Rajendra was addressing maiden police darbar at District Police Lines here this evening, in which jawans and officers of Jammu Province participated.

    Urging the cops to make public service their motto, Mr. Rajendra said that JKP has a long history of public service which has to be continued to strengthen the image of the Organization among the masses. He said that “men in uniform” performing at every nook and corner of the state represents the force and any petty mistake by any member of the family would reflect the image of the Organization. “Our jawans have to ensure rule of law at every cost and for this purpose law abiding people needs to be taken into confidence while transparency in our working and better attitude would bring a positive change in public perception”, Mr. Rajendra added.

    Appreciating the role of jawans and officers, the DGP said that Jammu and Kashmir Police has demonstrated great valour and courage while fighting the militancy in the State and saved precious lives and property of the public. He said that police has the primary role in maintaining peace and order in the society to ensure dignity and honour of common man. He said that our fight against the militancy would continue till lasting peace prevails in the state. Anti militancy operations needs to be conducted, adopting an effective strategy to avoid collateral damages and unnecessary inconvenience to the law abiding people, he added.

    Mr. Rajendra asked the jawans and officers that people have pinned lot of hopes with the police to get their grievances redressed and it is our duty to focus on their grievances on priority. He said that public service and people’s cooperation is our strength to face the challenges. “It is the coordination among different wings of the Organization and public trust upon the cops, which would make our struggle against crime and social evils successful” he said.

    Listening to the problems presented by the jawans during durbar, the DGP assured that these would be looked into for appropriate action. He asked them to work with zeal and utmost devotion to duty.

    Talking about the welfare measures, the DGP said that welfare of jawans is on top of our agenda and the department has established a Central Welfare Fund for the support of jawans and their families, for this purpose, the Organization has launched various welfare schemes. He said that many more schemes would be implemented in the near future after convening general body meeting of Central Police Welfare Fund.

    Earlier, the IGP Jammu Zone, Mr. Rajesh Kumar and DIG, Jammu Range, Mr. Shakeel Ahmad Beig welcomed the DGP and thanked for sparing his valuable time and taking maiden durbar of jawans and officers. They assured the DGP that all ranks of Jammu Zone will provide people friendly policing and ensure high standards of discipline while maintaining peace and order.

    Among others the Darbar was attended DIsGP, Mr. Surinder Singh, Mr. K L Bhagat and Mr. Vijay Singh Sambyal, SSP Jammu, Mr. Atul Kumar Goyal, SsP, Mr. J S. Jowhar, Mr. Rambir Singh, Commandants of IRP and Armed battalions and other police officers.

  • Hold unconditional talks with separatists: Tarigami to GOI

    Said Omar remained silent when 130 youth were killed in 2010

    ‘Srinagar ruthlessly politicized, divided and exploited’  

    Srinagar: Suggesting Government of India (GOI) to hold unconditional dialogue with Kashmir’s pro-freedom camp, CPI (M) state secretary Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami Thursday remarked that the talks would not yield desired results if conditions are set forthwith.

    According to the KNS correspondent, Tarigami while talking to newsmen after attending  a convention organized by AMM to devise the strategy for the assembly elections scheduled to be held by the end of this year, t he stated that his suggestion is that talks should be held sans any precondition. He said that when talks are held with an opponent or with those who do not agree with you, one has to make them agree but if the conditions are set the same shall not yield the desired results.

    Slamming chief minister Omar Abdullah over failing to provide justice to the families of 130 youth who got killed during the summer unrest of 2010, Tarigami stated that despite his repeated pleas over punishing the involved men, chief minister Omar Abdullah did nothing and now when the earth beneath him shock after the recent debacle, he raises concern over the 2010’s killings.

    Tarigami while addressing the convention stated that he himself on the floor of the house asked the chief minister that if he cannot give back the precious live to the families, he must at least give them justice juts to soothe their blighted hearts.

    The CPI (M) leader who is also a convener of AAM while castigating the state authorities over usage of pellets on unarmed protesters stated that earlier there used to be the bullets of one type but now such non-lethal weapons have been introduced in valley by virtue of which a person permanently loses his eye sight.

    Blowing bigul for saving the Srinagar city, Tarigami remarked that the city that has the honour to hold international conferences in the past, is at present crying for attention. He stated that the successive regimes here have ‘ignored’ and ‘exploited’ Srinagar for vested interests. “The most unfortunate aspect of the present crises is that the city is being termed as the hub of stone pelting and the fact is that the place is the centre of tradition and culture of the state.”

    The former Lok Sabha member Abdul Rashid Kabuli while addressing the convention stated that the rulers at present are eulogizing the event of July 1931 but the fact is that 1931 has been nourished by the blood of the people of the city.

    He also stated that those who were instrumental in scraping Article 370 are at present beating the drums of its safeguard.

    The senior Samajwadi party leader Sheikh Abdul Rahman stated that the people voted in BJP and PDP’s favor in Jammu and valley respectively only due to the non-availability of any alternate political podium.

    During the convention other leader of AAM including Abdul Rahman Tukroo, PDF gen secy Ishtiyaq Qadri and others spoke on the occasion raising concern over the growing un employment and state’s response in rectifying the wrongs.    

     Senior CPI (M) leader M Y Tarigami today suggested the NDA government at the Centre to consider dialogue with separatists in Jammu and Kashmir without laying down any precondition.

    “My suggestion is to hold talks without any precondition. When the dialogue is held with an opponent or with those who do not agree with you, you have to make them agree but if you make the talks conditional, they will not get the desired results,” he said.

    Tarigami, who is also Convener of ‘Awami Mutahida Mahaz’ (Peoples United Front), was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a convention organized by AMM, an amalgam of various mainstream political parties including state unit of CPI (M), to devise the strategy for the Assembly elections scheduled later this year.

  • Geelani’s remark on ‘insaniyat kay dairay mai

    Huriyat (M) questions the timing of Geelani’s remarks

    Srinagar: Coming down heavily over the recent statement of Huriyat Conference (G) chairman Syed Ali Geelani wherein he stated that Kashmir should be resolved in the ambit of humanity, Huriyat Conference (M) led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Thursday stated questioned that how come the senior separatist snubbed Huriyat (M) when it stressed for the same in the past.

    Geelani on Wednesday stated that when former Indian premier Vajpayee talked of resolving Kashmir insaniyat kay dairay mai, everybody welcomed it. Keeping up with India’s traditional stand on Kashmir, Vajpayee and his successors failed to translate these words into reality. “This is unfortunate that now Geelani sahib is hailing Vajapyee’s statement on Kashmir. When we used to assert the same, he issued series of statements against us- accusing us of entering into a sellout,” said Mirwaiz’s media advisor Shahid-ul-Islam in a statement to KNS.

    He maintained that it seems the prime objective of Geelani’s Huriyat at present is to counter every statement of Huriyat (M) and to level the allegations sans any ground.  “As if it has become the modus operandi of Geelani sahib to counter our every statement on Kashmir and to give it a different color. Time has proved our stand and has been itself vindicated by Huriyat (G).”

    Substantiating his claims, Shahid said that when Huriyat asked BJP led government that it should tread the ways of Atal Biharee Vajpayee and must resolve Kashmir at an earliest, a statement against the Huriyat (M) was issued by the conglomerate led by Syed Ali Geelani and also a series of columns were written by different columnists in local dailies here.

    “What would be the writing of those columnists now who earlier rebuked our policies. Now when Geelani sahib has stated that the same what had been asserting for, we would wait for the new write ups,” maintained Mirwaiz’s media advisor.

  • Efforts on to develop Jammu, Srinagar stadia of international standards: Omar

    ‘Assistance issue in this regard taken up with Centre’

    ‘Upgradation of urban, rural sports facility a focused area’

    Srinagar: Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah Thursday said that the State Government is keen to upgrade and enhance sports facilities in urban and rural areas so that the talent in different sports is harnessed and groomed to the highest standards.

    “We intend to develop facilities of international standards at the sports stadia in Srinagar and Jammu and this matter has been discussed with Union Finance Minister, Arun Jaitley during his recent visit to the valley. We have urged for the liberal Central help in this regard”, he told the media at the sidelines of Sher-i-Kashmir Sports Award Investiture Ceremony organized by J&K State Sports Council at SKICC here.

    According to a statement issued to KNS, Omar Abdullah said that while various steps have been taken to create new sports infrastructure in both rural and urban areas, other measures aimed at nurturing youth in different sports is also under active focus of the Government. He said that up to the mark sports facilities and infrastructure is imperative to develop sports and sports persons. “We are devoting fullest attention towards this goal”, he said adding that a comprehensive sports policy will also be framed to help catapult sports of all categories holistically.

    In today’s investiture function, the Chief Minister gave away awards to twenty outstanding sports persons for participating in the International events and earning medals and showing their excellence during the years 2010-11 and 2011-12. The Sher-i-Kashmir Awards are conferred upon ten outstanding sports persons in each year.

    Minister for Sports and Culture, Raman Bhalla, Minister of State for Sports, Feroz Ahmed Khan, Secretary Sports Council, Daleep Thusoo and a large number of sports persons and sports lovers were present on the occasion.

    Those who were conferred awards and cash prizes including: Atul Pangotra in Taekwondo, Ishfaq Hussain in Kayaking & Canoeing, Arjun Gandotra in Roller Skating, Mohammad Saud Bhat in Taekwondo, Devinder Pal Singh in Roller Skating, Phungsog Yangdon in Skiing, Major Vikram Singh Jamwal in Fencing, Masooda Akhtar in Skiing, Brinder Singh Manhas in Taekwondo, Arjun Gupta in Taekwondo, Kapil Pangotra in Taekwondo, Adil Mohi-ud-Din Bhat in Kayaking and Canoeing, Harish Kumar in Power Lifting, Preet Dutta in Power Lifting, Yasmeena Akhtar in Skiing, Arushi Kotwal in Chess, Shaurya Bali in Equestrian, Arun Singh Charak in Wushu, Lalit Singh in Wushu and Zaheer Abbas Khan in Teakwondo.

    These sports persons have participated in International events in the years 2010-11 and 2011-12 winning gold, silver, bronze and other medals. Under the Sher-i-Kashmir Sports Award, ten outstanding sports persons who participate in the international competitions in games and sports recognized by International and Asian Sports Federations and Government of India Sports Boards. It carries a cash prize ranging from Rs.20,000 to Rs.30,000 per sport person besides a certificate and citation at the Investiture Ceremony.