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| Ignorant Kamaal says autonomy if JK's right | | When was NC serious about it? | | | Early Times Report
srinagar, Feb 21: After remaining silent for quite some time, the controversial Additional general secretary of National Conference (NC), Dr Mustafa Kamaal has said India has to choose between restoration of autonomy or total independence. "If New Delhi does not restore autonomy now, it will be forced to grant freedom to the people of Jammu Kashmir in the future", he said with authority.
Kamaal's critics believe only militants talk in such language. According to them, after accepting to remit autonomy to the Principals in the 1975 Accord, NC has never shown seriousness in restoration of autonomy. "Dr Farooq enjoyed overwhelming majority in 1996 Government. He could have introduced a bill for autonomy and managed to get it approved easily. But he chose to pass a resolution thus proving that the autonomy slogan was only an eye wash", they said.
Kamaal seems totally unaware of the ground situation. Autonomy is not an issue in Kashmir. The Jammu people hate the very word and Ladakh has already got it.
He said there were some reliable and broadminded people in Ne... | |
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FRONT PAGE STORIES |
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| BJP in a fix over support to Dodha | | To choose between NC and KPs | | |
Early Times Report
Jammu, Feb 21: Shiben Kishan Dodha, Independent candidate, contesting Legislative Council elections on the seats allotted to Kashmir region, has put BJP in a quandary. It has decided to boycott the elections but to save its pro-Hindu image; the party seems under pressure to support Dodha.
On the one hand, local BJP leadership don't want to take confrontation with ruling National Conference on the issue of Legislative Council elections but on the other hand party has to protect its image. The BJP had announced to boycott the Legislative Council elections a day before last date of filing nomination papers but the way some groups of Kashmiri Pandits have effectively l... | |
| | | | Kamaal's non-issue, CM's top priority | | | |
Srinagar: The NC Additional general secretary, Mustafa Kamaal said demand for return of mortal remains of Parliament attack convict was a non issue.
Quoting United Jehad Council (UJC) chairman, Salah-ud-Din, Kamaal said people should not make it an issue.
Again, Kamaal seems unaware of the reality. The demand for return of mortal remains has been made official by the Chief Minister who happened to be his nephew and party head.
It was on CM's directions that the letter of Afzal's wife seeking return of the body was forwarded to the union Government by District Magistrate Baramulla.... | |
| | | | Creation of Planning Board still lingers on | | | | Akshay Azad
Jammu, Feb 21: The creation of proposed Jammu and Kashmir State Planning Board, which is in offing on the pattern of Planning Commission of India, is lingering since last around one month, as the Planning and Development Department is yet to respond the queries, raised by General Administrative Department.
Sources informed Early Times that after getting financial concurrence the Planning department had forwarded the memo file, describing the structure of the Board, to General Administrative Department for Cabinet approval, but former Chief Secretary Madhav Lal had returned the file with some queries, which were yet to be replied by Planning and Development department.
"As per... | |
| | | | Omar mulled constitutional amendment to extend Council of Ministers | | | | Bashir Assad
Jammu, Feb 21: Omar Abdullah led coalition Government had almost decided to further amend the Constitution of the State of Jammu and Kashmir last year to increase the ceiling on the size of Ministry from existing 20 % of the total strength of the two Houses of the legislator to 30% to overcome the crises within the coalition by accommodating more and more legislators in the Ministry.
Sources privy to power corridors today told Early Times that the Omar Abdullah Government had, at one point of time, made its mind to further amend the Constitutional amendment act 2006 to increase the ceiling on size of Ministry from 20 % to 30% to accommodate maximum number of aspirants from ... | |
| | | | Omar spared time to camp in Srinagar, be with his people | | Guru hanging | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Feb 21: Guru hanging has given an opportunity to Chief Minister to spend quite some time in Srinagar without being questioned in Jammu.
The Chief Minister had talked about reversing the Darbar move so that he could stay in Srinagar for most of the time in year. Supporting his argument, Omar said he wanted to provide people better governance at the time when they need it most.
He believes that during winters Kashmir valley needs more attention as they have to deal with hard weather condition and also face unprecedented power cuts and for Jammu he maintained that in scorching heat during summer, Jammu people also need Government's attention.
But there were no ta... | |
| | | | Omal Power Project seeks coal for | | Bracing for 2014 elections | | |
Therm
Jammu, Feb 21: After having failed to get hydro-power projects from the NHRC, the Chief Minister has urged the JKSPDC to seek coal from New Delhi for a 1000 MW Pit-Head Thermal Power Project.
Omar gave no explanation on reluctance of the NHPC for return of the power projects to the State and the MD JKSPDC; Basharat Dhar also remained mum for his failure to furnish vital papers of a power project.
Dhar has submitted eight papers to the Union Government for allocation of coal. Concerned people have urged him to keep a copy of each document in safe custody to prevent their loss.
All said and done, the move seems totally politically motivated. The demand has been made at a tim... | |
| | | | Hartal politics back in Kashmir, separatists devoid of political wisdom | | | |
Mustansir
srinagar, Feb 21: Even though the hard-line separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani after the end of the 2010 unrest recognized the fact that the continuous shutdown is only doing harm to the common people and the tactics need to be revisited, the leader is back with the same formula. The response of the separatist leaders to the Guru hanging with the same old 'hartal formula' has proved that the separatist leaders are devoid of any political wisdom and vision. Also the separatist leaders have failed to recognize the fact that calling the people for repeated shutdowns is adversely affecting the work culture and mindset of the young generation.
As the week long curfew impose... | |
| | | | PDD Linemen, Meter-readers, JEs targeting Poor & Middle class..? | | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Feb 21: Even while officials of Power Development Department (PDD) have geared up in collecting arrears worth over Rs 1600 crores from commoners, commercial institutions, Industrial units as well as various Government departments, certain field officers deputed in different parts of the region here are opting "pick and choose policy" while disconnecting the power supply connections.
Such an attitude has cropped up severe resentment among the general public.
Reliable sources in PDD have revealed to Early Times that, "There have been strict instructions from the higher-ups to ensure collection of full amount of pending due bills or disconnect the power supply fro... | |
| | | | PDD fails to complete 50 percent metering | | Mounting T&D Losses | | |
Early Times Report
Jammu, Feb 21: Notwithstanding its tall claims the Power Development Department (PDD) to check T&D losses and pilferage of power, it could not meet its claims of 50 per cent metering of existing connection so far.
Authoritative sources informed Early Times that the department has metered only 6, 67,757 connections of out of 13, 88,245 registered connections across the State. In Kashmir valley about 35 percent connections have been metered so far. "There are 7, 55,020 connections in Kashmir valley and 3, 23,579 connection had been metered by January end,' sources said and adding that here in Jammu 3, 44,178 connections have metered against 6, 33,325 registered ... | |
| | | | NC MP feels sorry of Omar Abdullah | | | |
Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Feb 21: NC MP, GN Rattan Puri in a letter to the Prime Minister, condemning hanging of Afzal Guru, had said that he feels sorry for the Chief Minister who finds no option but to express his helplessness in securing the basic human Rights of his people and in asserting his own authority.
Rattanpuri, who in the past had got involved in controversy with the NC leadership, had deliberately tried to hide facts in an attempt to bring himself as the custodian of sensitivity of Kashmiri people.
Any person with even a pedestrian knowledge of law, would see that since the crime taken place in Delhi the J&K Government was in no way in any picture with regard to the r... | |
| | | | Bhim: A man of contradictions | | Jammu issue & Guru | | | Neha
Jammu, Feb 21: Chief patron of Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP) Bhim Singh has again done it. He on February 19 took a complete U-turn and demanded "confederation" of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh, instead of reorganization of the State and separate Chief Minister and separate legislative Assembly, most notable part of his part's "Agenda -2011" and "Agenda-2012", which were made public with much fanfare in January 2011 and January 2012. He did not surprise anyone by taking this U-turn, as he is known for his inconsistency. That's the reason that the JKNPP has not been able to create for itself a strong and stable constituency in what he rightly calls Jammu Pradesh and tha... | |
| | | | Expulsion of Togadia and entry of Mirwaiz | | Strange coincidence | | | Early Times Report
JAMMU, Feb 21: It's really a strange coincidence. Acting president of VHP Parveen Togadia, a leading cancer specialist, who reached Jammu airport today in the morning, was not allowed to enter Jammu, part of India. He was sent back from the airport itself. The NC-Congress coalition government took this extraordinary step fearing that his Jammu visit could vitiate the atmosphere and create communal tensions in the state. Togadia was to stay in Jammu for two days. He was scheduled to address panchs and sarpanchs and a few public meetings at Akhnoor, R S Pura, Kathua, Samba and Jammu. That he was not allowed to enter Jammu and was sent back the moment he landed at the Jammu... | |
| | | | Will PDP seek active role for LOP? | | Bill for New Police Act | | | Early Times Report
srinagar, Feb 21: Although the Home Department has sought suggestions on draft bill for the new Police Act, people are apprehensive about inclusion of their comments in the bill. They have sought a broad based interaction with civil society actors.
The apprehensions are not totally unfounded. A brief analysis of the new police bill clearly exposes the Government's ill intentions. The draft has sidelined the leader of opposition who plays an important role in appointment/selection of members of State Information Commission and State Vigilance Commission. The leader of opposition must have a role to play in the formation of State Security Commission as well.
The Draft bi... | |
| | | | Female passengers face harassment in Kashmir public transport | | Transport authorities numb over 'women only' seats | | |
Majid Ahmad
Srinagar, Feb 21: At a time when safety and security of women has become a national issue, the instances of harassment of females in public transport have become a routine in Kashmir with authorities in deep slumber. The seats reserved for women are often occupied by the men and it seems authorities are least bothered about the plight of women folk in the buses.
The most sufferers on this account are female students and working ladies who have to travel during peak hours.
"The daily humiliation we go through during commuting affects our studies. The buses are so over crowded that there isn't space even to breathe and the authorities are watching as mere spectators. Seats... | |
| | | | Kulgam School that functions on papers from last 2 years | | ‘ZEO will act after situation improves’ | | |
Saahil Suhail
Kulgam, Feb 21: Chief Education Officer Kulgam amazingly failed to act against the Zonal Education Officer Qoimoh who was directed to submit afresh report about the Government Primary School Nai-Basti Qoimoh Kulgam that was closed down after two months when it was established in year 2010. However, the school continues to function on papers and building owner is receiving monthly rent.
Chief Education officer Kulgam on 31st of January after being informed about the scam told early times that he has directed Zonal Education Officer Qimoh to submit a detailed report about the closure of school but till date no report has been submitted. "I have asked ZEO to submit a ... | |
| | | | ‘Tainted’ official irks fruit growers | | Sub-standard pesticides, fertilizers flood Shopian | | |
Javaid Naikoo
Srinagar, Feb 21 : A `tainted official' appointed at an important post has been a cause of worry for Shopian farmers ever since the farming activities commenced.
Responsible for sampling of pesticides and fertilizers, issuing licenses and maintaining check and balance, enforcement inspector, Ghulam Muhammad Shah was transferred from Shopian to Srinagar after fruit growers filed many complaints against him with the Director for Agriculture.
Within one year, Shah was transferred and appointed again as enforcement inspector in Shopian after being backed up by some local pesticide and fertilizer dealers who wanted him in Shopian for their petty interests.
According to ... | |
| | | | NC MP calls India 'chicken hearted' | | Sheds tears over Afzal hanging | | | Early Times Report
srinagar, Feb 21: It is ironical that while Afzal Guru was hanged for hatching the conspiracy of attack on Parliament, a Member of Parliament of the ruling National Conference has now joined those shedding tears on Guru's hanging.
"The way India treated Afzal is a sordid tale and when you listen this tale with open ears, you lose faith in Indian democratic set up," said MP Ratanpuri while talking to a local news agency. "No Kashmiri can forget the 'mischievous smile' of Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shindey when he told media that it was difficult to hang Afzal without maintaining secrecy. I am surprised the way he smiled at that moment and how can we forget the atro... | |
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