TOP STORY OF THE DAY |
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| ....and where are those Mehboobas, Shameemas and Asiyas today? | | Selective condemnation of rape and murder has become bane of J&K politics | | | RAPE OF POLITICS
AHMED ALI FAYYAZ
JAMMU, Mar 30: Hullabaloo over then widely perceived rape-cum-murder of two young woman, married Neelofar Jan and unmarried Asiya Jan, of Shopian in May last year was understandable as well as justifiable. Jostling for the limelight, female politicians of all hues had done whatever possible to undercut one another in the race of smudging the men in uniform. There were initially efforts to involve the Balpora-based formation of Rashtriya Rifles. Soon the campaign was downgraded to a unit of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). But once both proved to be the hard nuts, convenience zeroed in on Police. Even as two of the Police personnel, detained for their alleged involvement in destroying the evidences, were just a vegetarian target, counter-insurgency profile of then SP and Dy SP of Shopian made it a perfect case for a mass movement.
For weeks together, Kashmir was yet again in flames. Eight people got killed, and around 1,000 sustained injuries in clashes with Police and armed forces. Over a thousand vehicles, including 50 ambulances of ... | |
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FRONT PAGE STORIES |
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| 63 cross LoC from Chakan-da-Bagh | | | | JAMMU: In the weekly cross-Line of Control (LoC) bus service, 63 people today crossed the border from Chakan-da-Bagh crossing point in Poonch.
While 24 Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK) residents, who had come to this side of the LoC to meet their relatives, returned homes, 37 new visitors entered from Chakkan-da-Bagh.
One resident of Jammu and Kashmir left for PoK and one returned after meeting his relatives in PoK.
... | |
| | | | 2 militants, army jawan killed in encounters | | | | JAMMU: Three militants and an army jawan were killed and two policemen were injured in two separate gunbattles in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir today, security officials said.
Acting on a tip off, army and police personnel launched a cordon-and-search operation in LambiBeri-Tilnai Khoo forests in Kandi Bhudal belt of Rajouri district against militants trying to infiltrate from across the border, they said.
During search operation in the area, in which five to six militants were trapped, army and police came under heavy firing and hit back, triggering a fierce gunbattle at 1630 hours, the officials said.
In the gunbattle that raged till late in the evening, two militants and an... | |
| | | | 2 arrested with 3,000 kg ‘bhukki’ | | | | JAMMU: Foiling a major bid to smuggle narcotics from Srinagar to outside the state, police today seized 3,000 kg poppy straw (bhukki) from a truck at Manwal near here and arrested two persons in this connection.
Acting on a tip-off, police intercepted a truck (HR38H/4448) at Manwal and during its checking recovered 3,000 kilograms of poppy straw.Police sources said the truck along with the consignment was seized and two persons travelling in it were arrested.
The accused were identified as Rashpal Singh of Battal Morh, Manwal, and Kuldeep Sharma of a locality in the vicinity of the famous Sukrala Mata temple at Billawar in Kathua. A case under relevant sections of law was registered again... | |
| | | | JKNPP joins boycott too! | | | | JAMMU: Following pursuits of the main Opposition, Peoples Democratic Party, the Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP) today also declared to boycott the remaining budget session in protest against the government's "non-seriousness" and "indifferent attitude" towards Opposition parties.
"Not only Opposition parties MLAs are dissatisfied with the coalition's working but the members of ruling parties are unhappy over the performance of the government. The MLAs belonging to the ruling partners have been disrupting the proceedings of the House since last few days but the government has not uttered a single word so far," Harsh Dev Singh, Leader of Panthers Legislature Party told rep... | |
| | | | Kashmir issue a Muslim issue by any yardstick - I | | | | RUSTAM
EARLY TIMES EPORT
JAMMU, Mar 30: APHC (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Saturday claimed before media persons in Srinagar that "Kashmir issue is not Muslim Kashmir versus Hindu India". "Unfortunately, some groups in New Delhi are treating Kashmir issue as Muslim Kashmir versus Hindu India. This is not true thinking. The Kashmir issue is not an issue of Muslims only. All the religions are associated with the movement…"
The Mirwaiz reflected on several other issues. But four of his observations were noteworthy - (1) "his faction is preparing an agenda, which would be discussed with the government of Pakistan during my coming visit to Islamabad"; (2) "armed struggle, strong politic... | |
| | | | Remedy to Infiltration lies With Pak: Army Chief | | | | AGENCIES
NEW DELHI, Mar 30: Army Chief, General Deepak Kapoor Monday said the remedy of the problem of infiltration by militants from Pakistan into India "lies with Islamabad only".
"The solution to this problem lies with Pakistan as it provides support to these terrorists for infiltration," he told reporters after handing over the charge of Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee, to Air Chief Marshal P V Naik here ahead of his retirement Tuesday.
In reply to a query, he said militants would continue to infiltrate in future also as they had the support of the "organisation on the other side."
The army chief ruled out taking any action against terrorists before they entered Indian t... | |
| | | | Opposition stages walk out against job policy | | | | EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Mar 30: The State Government's much publicized employment policy 'Sher-e-Kashmir Employment and Welfare Programme for the Youth' (SKEWPY) today once again came under fire as Opposition comprising Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Jammu State Morcha (JSM) and Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP) created uproar in the Legislative Assembly and staged a walkout during question hour.
The trouble erupted when the Minister Incharge Labour and Employment, Abdul Gani Malik was replying to a combined question of Harsh Dev Singh and Chaman Lal Gupta. The Minister said that the policy has been meticulously framed to involve youth, including professionals by offering... | |
| | | | Vebal spat between BJP, MLA Langate | | Inter-district recruitment row | | |
ARTEEV SHARMA
EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Mar 30: The contentious issue of Inter-district recruitment Bill once again created ruckus in the Lower House of State Legislature with members of BJP, JKNPP and JSM exchanging heated arguments with Independent MLA from Langate who was demanding introduction of Bill in the Assembly here.
Soon after the question House this morning, National Conference legislator, Mir Saifullah and MLA Langate jointly raised the issue and drew the attention of the Speaker towards his directions to the government for bringing the controversial Bill in the House. The proceedings of the House remained disrupted for about 20 minutes.
While raising the issue, Mir Saifu... | |
| | | | Govt's new technique for muzzling press freedom | | | | EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Mar 30: It is after a long time that the state Government has opted for "muzzling press freedom" through its lopsided advertisement release policy. In the game of "throttling" press freedom the Department of Information has been playing a key role. Instead of cultivating newsmen and the editors and owners of newspapers published within the state the Information Department functionaries have been seen issuing threats of stoppage of advertisement if the press releases. Issued by the Department, were not published on page one.
A news item critical of the functioning of the Government, even if based on facts, is as good as a red rag to the bull. The top bull in the D... | |
| | | | Soz consolidates position, his detractors bite dust | | | | EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Mar 30: Detractors and political rivals of Saifudin Soz may be busy in finding faults with his ways of working, but leaving them behind, the PCC president has inch by inch consolidated his position by dint of his "organisational capacity and hard work".
Even as a strong lobby worked against him within the Congress, he dismissed his rivals as a group of few "disgruntled" elements and not a parallel faction, as they would like to put it.
The most important for him is the backing of the party command which made him more confidant because of which he remanied undeterred by the infighting and internal bickerings.
Speaking to The Early Times here few days back, ... | |
| | | | Conciliate angry Jammu by appointing Dogra as VC of CU | | | |
ET REPORT
JAMMU, Mar 30: Jammu-based student organizations are up in revolt against the J&K Government, the State Governor and the Union Government. Why because they have come to believe that the authorities in the State and at the Centre have joined hands against the Dogras of Jammu to ensure the appointment of controversial persons like former Vice-Chancellor of Jammu University Amitabh Mattoo; Vice-Chancellor of Islamic Technical University, Kashmir, Sidiq Wahid; and former Vice-Chancellor of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Technical University N K Bansal as Vice-Chancellor of the Jammu Central University.
Their belief, coupled with the apprehension, has stemmed from the reports that emanated... | |
| | | | Women's quota bill needs consensus of Assembly: Rather | | | | EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Mar 30: Favouring women reservation in political arena, the ruling coalition today said that the Women's Reservation Bill needs the consensus of the State Legislative Assembly for its passage in the State.
"The Women's Reservation Bill needs the consensus of the entire House and all political parties, as it require a constitutional amendment," said Abdul Rahim Rather, Minister for Finance while replying to the discussion on Appropriation Bills in the Legislative Assembly here today.
He said the government has started many women specific schemes and even concept of gender budgeting has been introduced here.
"The Bill on Violence against Women was introduced by t... | |
| | | | From Farooq’s joyride with Shabana to Omar’s chatting on BlackBerry | | Calling the Abdullahs ‘non-serious’ has been the Muftis’ ace in a political chess game | | |
AHMED ALI FAYYAZ
JAMMU, Mar 29: It is now over a year since the state’s youngest Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, enjoyed skiing on the alpine slopes of Afarwat on the day of his reply to the discussion on Governor’s address in the Legislative Assembly. He appeared on the scheduled time of his turn, at 4.00 p.m dot and got a bonus of one full hour as few of the MLAs demanded more time to make their points. Inspite of being absent for noticeable durations and having listened to not more than five speakers, he began replying to the debate and was heard making one of the most impressive speeches of his 11-year-long political career. He was plush with his party’s victory at the h... | |
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