FRONT PAGE STORIES |
|
|
| Advani warns UPA against getting wrong on Kashmir | | | |
Indore, Feb 19: Senior BJP leader and Parliamentary Party Chairman L K Advani today warned of dire and unprecedented agitation if the UPA took any action that compromised national interests and failed to take measures to check prices of essential commodities.
In his concluding remarks at the three-day National Executive and National Council conclave here, Mr Advani referring obviously about the Indo-Pak talks scheduled to be held on February 25, said the talks of granting autonomy by the committee headed by Justice Saghir Ahmad was nothing but a ‘fraud’, as no meeting had taken place. "I warn the Government that if it takes any step to dilute Indian authority in Jammu and Kashmir, the g... | |
| | | | Nilekani makes quiet Jammu trip | | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Feb 19: Signaling his keen interest in early roll out of Unique Identity Project in Jammu and Kashmir, though not covered under pilot states, the chairman of Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) Nandan Nilekani today made quiet trip to the winter capital and discussed contours of project with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and other key people to be involved in its execution.
Jammu and Kashmir is not a part of ten pilot states where the unique identity project is underway in first phases to roll out the first batch of numbers anytime later this year but still the UIDAI and the state government are taking steps forward towards its launch. On January 16... | |
| | | | J&K’s flying machines aptly more in air than on ground | | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Feb 19: Amidst lofty claims of austerity in costs of running the government, there are complaints that state owned flying machines are spending more time in air than on the ground. Not the Chief Minister, a half dozen of his cabinet colleagues have gone into habit of boycotting even most convenient routes to frequent flights at cost of state exchequer.
Misuse or overuse of state helicopters had almost become synonym with the National Conference regime of Dr Farooq Abdullah but his successor Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and then Ghulam Nabi Azad put a break. During their tenure, barring emergencies, Mufti and Azad never flew between Srinagar, Jammu or Delhi in helicopte... | |
| | | | National consensus must on Indo-Pak talks | | | |
RUSTAM
Early Times Story
JAMMU, Feb 19: It is now almost clear that the Union Government has finally made up its mind to overlook the opposition of the main opposition BJP and restart talks with Pakistan, which has made it amply clear that its Foreign Secretary would rake up all issues, including the issues of Kashmir and Indus waters, during the scheduled meeting between him and his Indian counterpart in New Delhi on February 25.
An impression has gained ground over the last few days that it is only the BJP that has bitterly opposed the decision of the Union Government on reengaging Pakistan. It’s not true. There are definite reports that there are serious differences within the Unio... | |
| | | | Govt gets vindictive, security of two PDP leaders withdrawn | | | | Early Times Report
Srinagar, Feb 19: In a suddenly assuming attitudinal change towards the main opposition, the government has embarked on taking the Peoples Democratic Party heads on for making unpleasant noises.
In latest turn of events, he National Conference led coalition government today withdrew the security of PDP president for Pulwama. The security of PDP youth wing’s secretary general was also withdrawn. This development comes a day after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah got annoyed over a protest staged by PDP activists in Pulwama while review meeting of District Development Board was going on.
Earlier last week, the Chief Minister had reportedly lashed out at the PDP legislator ... | |
| | | | Governor briefed on House business | | Speaker meets Chief Whips | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Feb 19: On last working day of the week ahead of an expectedly stormy budget session, the Speaker of Legislative Assembly Mohammad Akbar Lone and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ali Mohammad Sagar today had an hour-long meet with Governor NN Vohra briefing him about the House business.
On February 15 the state Cabinet had approved the address of the Governor to be delivered at joint sitting of the legislature on February 22. Monday morning will be the second time when Governor Vohra addresses joint session of state legislature. Last year he had left his speech midway as Opposition parties PDP and BJP created unprecedented noisy scenes in the Central Hall.
E... | |
| | | | Zahid case: Court records | | BSF trooper’s statement | | |
Early Times Report
Srinagar, Feb 19: The Chief Judicial Magistrate today recorded the statement of a BSF trooper, an accused in the murder of a Nishat youth. The court also remanded him to police custody till February as co-ordination committee Nishat demanded arrest of a BSF commandant.
Identified as Lakhwinder Singh of 68 BN, the accused and his two associates were produced in the court of CJM this afternoon amid tight security. Justifying the application for further remand, the police told the court that the investigation in Zahid murder case had reached a critical phase.
“Lakhwinder and his associates have made some sensational statements. Further remand, therefore, is required ... | |
| | | | HUJI sympathiser held in Kishtwar | | | | Early Times Report
JAMMU, Feb 19: A 45-year-old man, who was alleged to be working for Harkat-ul-Jehad-e-Islami (HUJI) militant outfit, was arrested by security forces from Bela near Dul in Kishtwar Thursday evening.
Official sources said acting on a tip-off, a joint column of police and Rashtriya Rifles (RR) apprehended Mehrajdin (45) from Bela for his alleged links with HUJI.
He was later handed over to police for his sustained interrogation.
Sources said he had allegedly been supplying ration and other items of daily use to HUJI militants perched in and around Bela forests.
Some vital clues about the activities of HUJI militants were expected at his instance, the sources added.
... | |
| | | | Another opium haul | | | |
JAMMU, Feb 19: A day after it recovered 330 kg opium straw from an oil tanker at Batote, police today arrested three persons near Ramban with 13 kg opium straw which they were trying to smuggle in two trucks.
Police sources said cops recovered 11 kg opium straw from a truck (PB10AF/9963) at Chanderkote, Ramban, in the morning. The truck was seized and its driver Charanjit Singh of Amritsar and conductor Mohinder Singh of Ramnagar, Udhampur, were arrested, the sources added.
Two kg opium straw was recovered from another truck (JK02V/8977) by police Chanderkote. Its driver Charan Dass of R S Pura was taken into custody.
All the three arrested persons were booked under 8/15 Narcotics Drug... | |
| | | | 42 Pak terror camps well known | | | |
Panaji: Everybody knew that there were 42 terrorist camps "across the border", Defence Minister AK Antony said here Friday and declared that it was too early to predict the outcome of the foreign secretary level talks between India and Pakistan next week.
"It is our considered decision to talk to Pakistan. Their foreign secretary is coming. There is nothing wrong to have talks. But it is too early to say about the outcome. I am not an astrologer," Antony said on the sidelines of the induction ceremony of the MiG 29 fighter aircraft in the Indian Navy.
"Everybody knows that there 42 terrorist camps across the border. Attempts at infiltration are on increase. Terrorists are very acti... | |
| | | | Pak pushing in militants: Kapoor | | | |
NEW DELHI : Army Chief Gen Deepak Kapoor today said Pakistan was continuing to push in militants from across the border into Jammu and Kashmir but the armed forces deployed there were capable of tackling it.
"Our neighbour is continuing infiltration of militants from across the border into Jammu and Kashmir. It (infiltration) will continue. Forces are deployed in the border and they will make all efforts to stop the infiltrators there. If some militants do come in, our forces will tackle them," he told reporters on the sidelines of an army function.
Asked why infiltration was continuing despite the border passes being closed due to snowfall, he said the militants were being pushed in... | |
| | | | SI falls onto train track, survives | | | | Early Times Report
JAMMU, Feb 19: A police sub-inspector (SI), who this morning fell onto train track at Vijaypur when Pooja Express was 50 metres from him, had a miraculous escape.
SI Gurmeet, incharge government railway police (GRP) post at Kathua, made an attempt to cross the tracks at about 8 am even after he saw Pooja Express coming towards him.
When the train was about 50 metres from him, he got stuck in a girder and lay flat on the track.
Good luck, however, came fast to his rescue when keeping his cool and displaying a measured calm, he freed himself from the girder before the train could run over him.
The train was few metres from him when he separated himself from the girder ... | |
| | | | Stone pelting generates support among militants, intelligentsia in Kashmir | | High Court Bar Association, University teachers, Jamiatul Mujahideen on the forefront | | |
AHMED ALI FAYYAZ
SRINAGAR, Feb 19: Hardliner separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani is no more alone in publicly supporting Kashmiri youth indulging in stone pelting on Police and armed forces. In contrast to covert support from a many separatist leaders and ideologues---as also criticism from some of the politicians in the separatist camp---octogenarian Jamaat-e-Islami ideologue, who floated his own Tehreek-e-Hurriyat and formed a rival faction of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq-led Hurriyat Conference after the conglomerate’s split in 2003, was the only political leader to justify stone pelting as “a form of resistance” in the last two years.
With dozens of people getting killed and hundr... | |
| | |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
STOCK UPDATE |
|
|
 |
| BSE
Sensex |
 |
| NSE
Nifty |
|
|
| |
CRICKET UPDATE |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
| |
|