JKLF Stages Protest, Yasin Malik Held
Transcription
JKLF Stages Protest, Yasin Malik Held
C M Y K 9906564001 | 8494068168 | 9419087897 AEE BEE EnginEEring Works 18 KashmiR @ muzamilakhoon@gmail.com muzamilakhoon@yahoo.co Servicing, repairing & Maintenance of all of Dg SetS,cc caMera Nabdi Pora, M.K. Chowk, Hawal, Srinagar (J&K) 25 Rabi-ul-Awwal | 1436 Hijri | Vol: 18 | Issue: 14 | Pages : 08 | Price: `3 8 Ex-AAP leader Shazia Ilmi joins BJP w w w. k a s h m i r o b s e r v e r. n e t satuRDaY 17 JanuaRY 2015 Wisdom The law will never make men free, it is men that have to make the law free. ...........Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) American naturalist, poet and philosopher. Fire Engulfs Poonch Forest POONCH: There seems to be no let up in forest fire along Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district which has caused several mine blasts. An official said that the fire initially started from across the LoC and then spread to Sona gali under 15 Maha regiment in Mankote. He said the fire has spread on the area of two to three kilometers. He blamed Pakistan army for the fire and alleged: “The Pakistan army deliberately put bushes on their side on fire in order to clear track for the militants to infiltrate,” the official claimed. The officials have also made similar claims in the past. (GNS) Major Infiltration Bid Foiled POOnch: A ‘major infiltration’ bid was foiled by army along Lone of Control (LoC) in Balakote sector of Poonch on Thursday late night, official sources said. They told GNS that a group of militants tried to infiltrate at around 10 pm at Turkundi forest along LoC. “However, when troopers of 6 Rajputna Rifles noticed some movement, they opened fire towards the infiltrators triggering clash between two sides,” sources said. The firing between the two sides continued for about two Page 6 Kargil Shivers at -11 Deg Celsius srinaGar: The bone-chilling cold returned as the night temperature plunged below the freezing point across Kashmir division after a brief respite owing to the rains in plains and snowfall in high altitude areas early this week. The night temperature fell below the freezing point across the Valley after the four-day respite owing to cloud cover, a spokesman of the MeT office said. The spokesperson said Srinagar registered a dip of nearly three degrees in the night temperature which settled at minus 2.3 degrees after remaining above the freezing point for the past four Page 6 Kashmir Observer No Need To Travel to Srinagar Drop your ads/ notices at our Anantnag office / Srinagar Today: MoSTly Sunny MaxiMuM: 12oC / MiniMuM: -1oC / HuMidiTy : 75% / SunSeTS Today... 05:21 PM / SunriSeS ToMorrow... 07.24 aM Sharnarthi Settlement Row JKLF Stages Protest, Yasin Malik Held srinaGar: Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front Friday staged a protest demonstration against the central government’s proposal to grant citizenship rights to the refugees from Pakistan settled in Jammu province. Reports said that JKLF activists assembled near Maqbool Manzil Maisuma and took out a protest march soon after Friday prayers. The protestors, carrying banners and placards denouncing the proposed move, raised anti-India slogans and proceeded towards city centre Lal Chowk. In a bid to foil the attempt of JKLF activists, large contingent of police and para-military personnel sealed the entry points to Lal Chowk and detained scores of JKLF workers, including Malik. Police sources said that they detained all but 10 to 12 activists Hurriyat Vows To protect Muslim identity of JK endless Wait: New MlAs can’t Draw salaries, claim perks srinaGar: Recently elected members of legislative assembly will not get their handsome salary and other perks this month. Reason, they have yet to take oath of office. Since a hung verdict and little progress in government formation forced Governor NN Vohra to promulgate his rule in the state some 85 men and two women elected to the Assembly could not take their oaths, leaving them unable to draw salaries, claim perks, help voters or intervene in governance. Economic Times quoting an unnamed MLA reported Friday that after working Page 6 petrol price cut by rs 2.42/litre Diesel cheaper by Rs 2.25 neW DeLhi: State-run oil marketing companies Friday cut petrol price by Rs.2.42 a litre and that of diesel by Rs.2.25 per litre. At the same time, the government Friday raised the excise duty on both petrol and diesel by Rs.2 a litre. The reduction would have been almost double but for the government also raising excise duty by Rs 2 per litre on both petrol and diesel on Friday. This is the ninth straight reduction in petrol prices since August, and fifth in diesel since Page 6 Will Fight Tooth & Nail: Malik Police detaining JKLF leader Yasin Malik in Budshah Chowk- Pix Mushtaq Reshi whom they identified as Advocate Bashir Ahmed Bhat, Noor Muhammad Kalwal, Bashir Kashmiri, Sheikh Rashid and others. Reports said that soon after the arrest of Malik, the agitated Page 6 Moments before his detention, JKLF chairman Muhammad Yasin Malik told reporters that Kashmiri people would fight tooth and nail the move to grant citizenship rights to refuges from erstwhile West Pakistan. “These refugees are not the permanent residents of Jammu and Kashmir and we will launch an agitation in case government of India grants citizenship rights and other concessions to these refugees,” Malik said and alleged that the BJP was hell-bent to change the demographic character of Jammu and Kashmir. He said that Jammu Kashmir is a land full of forests and water bodies and such lands are Page 6 srinaGar: While terming the recommendations of the parliamentary committee regarding the West Pakistan refugees as fiddling with fire, Hurriyat Conference (G) Friday announced that they will resist the move tooth and nail in every possible way and nobody will be allowed to “damage the Muslim identity and the demography of the state.” In a statement a spokesman of Hurriyat (G) said, “On the return of Geelani sahib from New Delhi, we will discuss this grave issue in detail and a strategy will be formulated to stop this process. Actually RSS had Page 6 Slain Militants Buried Amidst Protests srinaGar: Thousands of people took part in funeral prayers of five slain militants in their respective villages on Friday. The funeral prayers were held separately in four villages including at Pakharpora, Kandi Aglar, Batmandan and Arwani. The militants were buried amid intense sloganeering in favour of freedom. In a fierce gun battle, five militants were killed in Gadder Forest in Kellar area of South Kashmir’s Shopian district on Thursday. Three slain militants were hailing from South Kashmir while one militant belonged to Pakherpora in Budgam district. The funeral prayer of Pakistani militant commander, Muhammad Toyib, was offered along with Shakeel Ahmad Wani in Pakharpora. The three other militants were identified as Tahir, Ashfaq and Parvez. Meanwhile, Hurriyat Conference Officer misused flood relief, dumped it in Bijbehara: Veery Sameer Ahmad ananTnaG: Employees staged a flash strike after member of Legislative Council and senior National Conference leader, Dr Bashir Ahmad Shah (Veeri) allegedly slapped a senior administrative official inside Anantnag Deputy Commissioners office, reports said. MLC was reportedly furious at alleged misuse the relief meant for the flood survivors. The Incident took place inside the office DC Office on Thursday when MLC Bashir Ahmad Veeri lost cool while enquiring about the alleged fraud done in the distribution of flood relief material and slapped the Additional Deputy Commissioner. Sources said that soon after the incident, dozens of employees struck their work and staged a protest demonstration against the NC leader. Protesting employees were demanding registration of FIR against the NC leader. "We will continue our protest till police registers FIR against the legislator who resorted to vulgarism and slapped the senior government officer inside the office of Deputy Commissioner," said Mohammad Akbar, a protesting employee. He further said that employees will be on strike till the Anantnag Police does not take any action against the guilty. Deputy Commissioner Anantnag, Syed Tasaduq Geelani and Chief Planning Officer were present inside the DC office when the incident took place, sources revealed. Additional Deputy Commissioner Anantnag, Shabir Ahmad refused to take calls from Kashmir Observer. However hundreds of National Conference workers countered the employees by holding anti-administration protests inside DC office. They raised high pitched slogans against the official and accused him of distributing the flood relief material among the workers of Peoples Democratic Party. MLC Bashir Ahmad Veeri on being contacted denied the allegations. "How could I slap an official, I am myself a legislature and know the law of the land. Tone of my argument was slightly high which the official misused to hide his corrupt deals," Veery alleged. Veery alleged that the accused officer distributed relief in non flood affected areas. "They have dumped the relief aid in forest division Bijbehara and are distributing the aid in non-flood affected areas which is unacceptable to us." Veeri said. Pertinently, after poll results were announced, people in this southern district have held numerous protest demonstrations against the administration and have accused them of disbursing the relief material on political considerations. We Will coNTiNue our proTesT till police registers FIR against the legislator who resorted to vulgarism and slapped the senior government officer inside the office of Deputy Commissioner," A woman with tearful eyes watching the funeral of a slain militant in Pakherpora, Budgam- Pix Abid Bhat (G) Chairman Syed Ali Geelani addressed gathering over phone. “The struggle would continue till last In- GOI Concerned About Rising Road Accidents in JK srinaGar: The Union Minister of Transport Friday said that the Central government was concerned about the increasing number of road accidents in Jammu and Kashmir and asked the state government to take stern action against the traffic violators. He said that JK government should constitute special checking squads to curb the increasing road accidents. “Road accidents, especially on National Highway in Jammu and MLC Slaps Anantnag ADC, Employees Protest Kashmir, are assuming alarming proportions. In every state there are standard rules and instructions for vehicle drivers about how to drive safe in mountainous regions but unfortunately the state of Jammu and Kashmir is not implementing the standard rules for road safeties,” Union transport minister Nitin Gadkari said. The statement comes three days after at least nine persons including three members of a family were killed in deadly road Page 6 dian solider leaves Kashmir,” he told the mourners. In his address, Geelani Page 6 us Hails pak Ban on JuD, india skeptical TRANS ASIA NEWS neW DeLhi: News reports that Pakistan is contemplating banning several terrorist organisations including the Haqqani network and Jamaatud-Dawa (JuD) along with 10 other terror groups have been received with raised eyebrows and a pinch of salt in India whereas, the US welcomed the possibility, calling it an important step towards eliminating terrorist activities in that country. The JuD was banned in 2008 after the Mumbai attacks. The Page 6 RTI Reveals Murky Deals in Urban Forest Division srinaGar: At a time when Jammu and Kashmir government is facing severe financial crunch, officers in Forest Department have wasted funds worth crores of rupees either on unproductive or non-existential works. RTI details have revealed that during the financial year 2013-14 only one division of the Department (Urban Forestry Division Srinagar) spent more than Rs 3.75 crore from non-plan, district plan, state plan, 13th finance, CAMPA and other allotments. The RTI No: 3148-49/UF/L dated 25-06-2014 reveals that DFO Urban Forest Division Srinagar spent a whopping Rs 22.40 lakh on just maintenance of buildings. Out of Rs 22.40 lakh, the DFO shows he spent Rs 12.66 lakh on maintenance of building in March 2014 while Rs 6.33 lakhs were spent on the same head in February 2014. However, the RTI doesn’t reveal on which building the money was spent and what type of maintenance was carried out. Not only this, the RTI details show expenditure of Rs 6.20 lakh on unknown trainings in March 2014. Similarly, in the telephone expenditure, the Division shows that it spent Rs 1.60 lakh in March 2014. Similarly, the RTI details reveal that construction work worth crores was carried out by the Division without inviting tenders. In addition to money, hundreds of cft of prized Deodar, Kail and Fir timber has been issued to various ranges of the Division to carry out the works. While 2064.21 cft of timber was allotted for the works in 2013-14 in the Division, according to RTI reply, all the timber got utilized. “Out of this hundreds of cft of timber was swindled and sold in the market,” an official of the Division wishing anonymity said. Sources told KNS that Page 6 Opp Achabal Bus Adda Contact no's. 9622484809, 9906620313, 9086944392 Do You Get Your Copy of Kashmir Observer Regularly? 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Jr.Dental Technician: 02 Posts Legal Assistant: 01 Post Junior Legal Assistant: 02 Posts Junior Scale Stenographer: 01 Post Junior Assistant: 03 Posts District Cadre Kishtwar: 09 Posts District Cadre Poonch: 11 Posts District Cadre Rajouri: 13 Posts District Cadre Ramban: 10 Posts District Cadre Reasi: 14 Posts District Cadre Samba: 11 Posts District Cadre udhampur: 09 Posts Age limit – JKSSB Recruitment 2015 All the aspirants of the above-mentioned posts must be permanent residents of Jammu and Kashmir and Indian national with a minimum age of as on 01-01-2014, Open Category (Merit Basis): Candidates age limit should be 18-40 (Min-Max.) years. Reserved Category: • SC/ST/RBA/ALC/OSCcandidate’sagelimitshouldbe 18-43 (Min-Max.) years. • PhysicallyChallengedcandidate’sagelimitshouldbe 18-42 (Min-Max.) years. • Ex-Servicemencandidate’sagelimitshouldbe18-48 (Min-Max.) years. • Government Service/ Contractual employees’ age limit should be 18-40 (Min-Max.) years. Educational Qualification- JKSSB Recruitment 2015 Educational qualifications for various posts of JKSSB is mentioned as below, • Driver:CandidatesshouldpossessMatriculationand having Hill Driving License issued by competent authority • JuniorScaleStenographer:Graduationfromanyrecognized University having minimum speed of 65 and 35 words per minute in Shorthand and Typewriting respectively for post • JuniorEngineer(Civil):3yearsDiplomainCivilEngineering from Government recognized Institute/ Indian University Degree in Civil/ Mechanical Engineering • Junior Engineer (Mechanical): 3 years Diploma in Mechanical Engineering from Government recognized Institute/ Indian University Degree in Civil/ Mechanical Engineering • JuniorAssistant:Graduationwithknowledgeoftypewriting at least 35 words speed per minute for post • Technician-II:DiplomainElectric/Electronics For more details, o through the Official Notification of JKSSB Recruitment 2015CLICK here. JKSSB Recruitment 2015 Section Process: Selection for the JKSSB Recruitment 2015 will be purely on the basis of merit in the corresponding exams based on Physical/ Type/ Written Test/ interview. JKSSB Application Fee: All the candidates who aspire for the above mentioned job vacancies need to pay Rs.400/- in any of the branches of Jammu and Kashmir Bank in the account number specified and printed on the payment Challan only which can be obtained after successfully applying for the respective vacancies. How to Apply for JKSSB Recruitment 2015 Apply for State Cadre, District Cadre and Divisional Cadre job for which vacancies JKSSB has announced the recruitment notification dated on 30.12.2014. Only the permanent residents of Jammu and Kashmir are allowed and eligible to apply for the above-mentioned vacancies through the official website of JKSSB from 07-01-2015 to 06-02-2015. Step by Step process to apply for JKSSB Recruitment of various jobs at various levels, Step 1: Log in to the official website or JKSSB. Step 2: Select on Online Applications to get visit online application webpage. Step 3: Go through the important instructions carefully before filling online application.Step 4: Click on to “Apply” corresponding to the vacancy.Step 5: Click “Proceed” after reading the instructions.Step 6: Details of all the required fields must be filled out carefully and upload scanned signatures and passport size photos of the candidates. Step 7: Click on “Submit” and get the registration slip/Challan with bar code unique code and save it for future correspondence. Step 8: Take the printout copies of application & Challan form for future use and to pay the fees in Bank. Important Dates:Starting Date to Apply Online: 0701-2015.Last Date to Apply Online: 06-02-2015. Printer, Publisher & Editor: SAJJAD HAIDER | Published from: Residency Road, SGR | Editorial: 9419004782,0194- 2456304 Corporate office: Wani Manzil Top Floor Lambert Lane, SGR-1 Circulation: 9419565003, Switch Board: (2106304 | Email- (Editorial) : editor@kashmirobserver.net |Email- (Advertising) : advt@kashmirobserver.net Printed at: Kashmir Images Printing & Publishing House 15-A Industrial Estate Shalteng, SGR. RNI No: 69503/98; Postal Regn: K-151 e 17 01 2015 Kashmir Observer NEWS Soz rges Vohra Not To Appoint Advisors Srinagar: The State Congress Chief Saif-ud-Din Soz Thursday suggested Governor N N Vohra not to appoint advisors and advised him to make the administrative secretaries accountable who have been given the powers of ministers. “The present situation suggests that Governor rule will stretch for a long period in Jammu and Kashmir. So I suppose Vohra should not appoint the advisors as it will be difficult for a common man to reach them for the solution of their problems,” Soz told KNS. He said that the Governor should make accountable the secretaries who have been given the powers of ministers. “The flood affected people of Jammu and Kashmir are facing a lot of day-to-day problems which needs to be addressed immediately. It is the duty of the Governor to resolve the problems of the people,” Soz said. It is to mention here that Governor has empowered Chief Secretary and adminis- trative secretaries to carry out routine functioning of the administration. Vohra, who has served as Governor of J&K from 2008 to 2013, was re-appointed for a fresh term in 2013 is presently the head of the state. Killing of youth by a stray bullet Authorities Yet To Honour Court Verdict Passing out Parade of 92nd batch of constables was held on Friday at RTC, CRPF, Srinagar Campus.Pix Abid Bhat Arrest of ‘Rage Boy’ Shakeel, Kin Seek Whereabouts SRINAGAR The family members of downtown Srinagar youth nicknamed ‘ Islamic Rage Boy’ by the Western media, Friday said that they are unaware about the whereabouts of their son. They said that their son Shakeel Ahmed Bhat was rearrested by police soon after court directed them to release him from Udhampur jail on January 8 earlier this month. Shakeel Ahmed Bhat resident of Malik Angan Fateh Kadal Srinagar is almost continuously in jail for past six years. He was arrested in 2008 on charges of organizing protests against police and authorities had slapped the controversial PSA on him 18 times after court quashed 17 PSA orders. He was released before Parliament elections but was arrested shortly before the start of Assembly polls. The family members of Shakeel told CNS that he was released by court from Udhampur jail on January 8, however he was soon rearrested by police and taken to some unknown destination. “Since January 8, we are not in touch with our son and we don’t know where he been imprisoned. We appeal to authorities to inform us about the location where the police has kept him,” family members said. Meanwhile while, castigating authorities for dis-honouring the court orders and even not disclosing the location of Shakeel to his family members, Democratic Political Movement General Secretary, Advocate Muhammad Shafi Reshi said that the family members of Shakeel are anxious about him and want to know about the state of his health. He alleged that authorities are trampling all the tenants of Indian democracy. (CNS) DAK Aghast At Denial Of Ambulance Srinagar: The president of Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) Friday expressed shock over the death of a 3 year old child who died due to non availability of ambulance driver at primary health care centre in north Kashmir’s Lalpora area of Lolab in Kupwara district. In a statement, the DAK president Nisar-ul-Hassan, said: “It is crime to refer a critically sick patient in a passenger sumo who died while on way to Sogam. How can you keep an ambulance without a driver which is needed round the clock for ferrying sick patients?” He said the child could have been saved if he was put on life support and ferried in a critical care ambulance. “The statement of health officials that the driver was on leave and there was no substitute is highly irresponsible and an indicator of the apathy of the authorities and their disrespect for human life,” he said, adding: “It is pathetic that our peripheral health centers lack basic life saving equipment and ambulances are as good as trucks thus risking lives of sick patients.” The DAK president said there are neither child specialists nor facilities available in peripheral health care and all critical pediatric patients are reffered to Srinagar who invariably die in transit. Nisar-ul-Hassan said the children died to negligence and guilty must be punished. Governor Holds Review Meetings Srinagar: During a review meeting held at the Raj Bhavan today Mr. Iqbal Khanday, Chief Secretary, informed the Governor, Mr. N.N. Vohra, that as advised by him all the Administrative Secretaries had been directed to take time bound action on every matter of public interest in the Departments under their charge and to bring about visible improvement in public service delivery. The Governor asked the Chief Secretary to advise all the Administrative Secretaries to identify the action to be taken to timely address prioritized important issues, the progress of which would be closely reviewed by the Chief Secretary. The Governor also discussed the to-date status of flood relief measures. With Mr. B.R. Sharma, Principal Secretary, Planning and Development the Governor discussed pressing issues relating to Annual Plan 2014-15 and the broad approach which could be practically followed for formulating the Annual Plan 2015-16. Mr. Sharma also briefed the Governor on the present status of various schemes which are aimed at the reconstruction of flood damaged assets under the PM’s Package for Floods. He informed that an amount of Rs. 234.96 crore had already been released to various affected Departments. The Governor urged him to closely monitor the implementation of all the restoration projects. Srinagar: A Bemina resident, whose son was killed by a stray bullet in 2008 Friday alleged that despite Court directions, the administration neither compensated him nor provided government job to his only daughter. Habibullah Mandoo father of deceased Imtiyaz Ahmad Mandoo told CNS that the Jammu and Kashmir High Court had directed government to consider the case of compassionate appointment of her daughter, as his lone son was killed after a stray bullet hit him during protests at Safakadal Srinagar in 2008. “I had filed a petition in 2009 in the High Court stating that I lost my only son at the hands of state in 2008 and i am suffering from cardiac ailment and is exclusively dependent on my daughter for livelihood. The court while passing orders on the petition in 2013 had directed District Magistrate Srinagar to accord consideration to compassionate appointment of my daughter within four weeks from the date she approaches the office with necessary papers in support of her claim. But even after the expiry of two years neither the district administration provided me any compensation nor appointed my daughter in any government department,” Mandoo told CNS. He appealed to authorities to look into the matter and honour the court directions. Servant Who Robbed Family Held in Jharkhand Pulwama: A non-local servant who had robbed a family he worked for in Kashmir was arrested by Jammu and Kashmir Police from his home in Indian State of Jharkhand. Police sources said that Ghulam Nabi Khan of Rajpora here had lodged a complaint that gold worth 3.50 lakhs and a watch worth 50 thousand were robbed from his house. They said the Khan told police that he suspects his house servant, Manoj Munda, who is from Jharkhand, to be behind the robbery. According to police sources, Khan had also said that the on the day of robbery, which occurred on December 17 last year, his servant had left for his house in Jharkand. “Following these develop- ments, the police constituted a team and was sent to the ancestral village of Manoj from where he was arrested. He confessed to police that he robbed his master and was brought here. He is now in police custody,” sources said. Meanwhile, a case under FIR number 92/2014 under section 381RPC stands registered in this regard, sources added. (GNS) LeT Commander Held From Sarpanch’s House Srinagar: Police and army apprehended a top Pakistani militant commander of Lashkar-eToiba outfit from the residential house of a village headman in Sangarhama area of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district. Official sources said that police also arrested the Sarpanch (Village-head) Farooq Ahmad Bhat son of Ghulam Mohammad Bhat of Choru village. Official sources said that Special Operation Group (SOG) Sopore and army’s 52 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) following the specific intelligence input raided Bhat’s Grenades Recovered at Palhallan, two held Srinagar: Police have arrested two persons along with grenades from Pattan area of Baramulla district in north Kashmir, a police official said on Friday. He said that acting on a specific information, a joint team of 29 Rashtriya Rifles (RR), Special Operation Group (SOG) of police and 176 battalion Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) conduct a raid at Astan Mohalla in Palhallan and arrested two youths identified as Ishfaq Ahmad of Mundyari Pattan and Mehraj ud din of Astan Mohalla Palhallan and recovered two grenades from them. Nayeem Khan Under House Arrest Srinagar: Police on Friday afternoon detained National Front chairman, and Hurriyat (JK) leader Nayeem Ahmad Khan in his house and “barred him from offering Friday prayers.” In a statement a spokesman of the party said, “A large contingent of police came and without giving any reasons cordoned off the residence of Nayeem Ahmad Khan asking him not to come out.” Terming the police act as “undemocratic and unacceptable,” he said, “Such acts are repeatedly proving that India and its local collaborators are treating Kashmiris as their slaves and they can at any time arrest any body without any reason.” house at Choru on Thursday evening and arrested him as well as Pakistani militant Abu Zubair alias Muaviya. Police have also recovered one AK-47 rifle, five magazines, three hand grenades and a pouch, they said. “As per reports, the arrested militant has been identified as a Pakistani National and is undergoing questioning by the Police.’” A police official while confirming the incident told GNS that Bhat has been also arrested and the investigations in this re- gard have been launched. The officer claimed the arrest of Muavia as a major breakthrough and expected to provide useful information to police in cracking the militant network in the region. Meanwhile, the Inspector General of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) said that it is cause of concern when a Sarpanch or any government official provides shelter to a militant. He was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a function in Humhama here in Srinagar. (GNS) BGSBU Initiates Ph.D, M.Phil Admissions Scholars must grab the opportunity before Jan 30: Prof Hamal RAJOURI: Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University has initiated admission process for research Programmes for (M. Phil & Ph. D) for the year 2015. As per the handout issued by the University, January 30, is the last date for receipt of Applications for M.Phil & Ph.D programmes. The University has issued notification for M.Phil in in Botany, Zoology, Biotechnology, Management Studies, Computer Sciences, Arabic, Math, & Applied Mathematics and Ph. D in Botany, Zoology, Arabic, Management Studies, Math and Applied Mathematics. Handout said that the admission will be made strictly in accordance with the U.G.C regulations governing minimum standard for research Degrees. Applicants for admission to all courses are required to pass Entrance Test and face interview to display their knowledge of the subject and aptitude for research. They added that for admission to Ph. D programmes in School of Biosciences and Biotechnology only students holding fellowships will be considered. As per Notifications No. BGSBU/Acad/14/896 issued by the University the Admission Forms and the Prospectus are available for sale for Rs. 1200/in the office of Deputy Registrar Academic Affairs of the University. It added that for the convenience of aspiring students they can also be downloaded from university website www. bgsbuniversity.org and submitted along with Bank Draft drawn in favour of Registrar, for Rs. 1200/-. The Vice Chancellor , Professor I.A Hamal was upbeat about the research pursuits in progress in the University. Highlighting the achievements made within a short period of 5 years. He mentioned that at present 50 scholars are on roll in different Schools of the University who are engaged in Research projects sponsored by the Department of Biotechnology, New Delhi, U.G.C, Ministries of Science & Technology and Environment and Forests. Many Scholars of the university have also passed NET and are holding UGC/UGC-CSIR Fellowships. The research output of different Schools, is being published by first rate National & International Journals which he said, reflects that we are on the right path. He exhorted young passouts of this and other universities of the State and outside to take advantage of the world class laboratory and library facilities in place in the university and participate in the academic effervescence and excitement. Facilities available at anantnag coaching centres reviewed ANANTNAG: In compliance to the Court Orders, District Development Commissioner Anantnag today convened a meeting of all the proprietors of Coaching Centres of Anantnag for reviewing the availability of basic facilities in these Centres. The meeting was attended by owners of all the Coaching Centres besides Chief Education Officer, Anantnag. District Development Commissioner directed the owners to ensure the availability of heating and seating arrangements besides adequate space for each student. He also directed them to strictly adhere to the recent High Court orders in this regard. Additional five days were given to complete the registration process after which all the Centres will be checked for which a committee was constituted on spot. District Development Commissioner further revealed that no Coaching as well as Tuition Centre floating the norms will be allowed to function in the district. tanvir Made Pol secretary to oMar SRINAGAR: National Conference Friday appointed NC leader and former Political Secretary to Chief Minister Tanvir Sadiq as the Political Secretary to NC Working President, Omar Abdullah, a party statement said. “Tanvir Sadiq, a prolific writer on politics, social issues and matters relating to empowerment of youth and women is the son of NC Leader Late Mr. Sadiq Ali,” the statement said. The statement further said that prior to his tenure as the Political Secretary to former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Tanvir served as the Spokesperson of J&K National Conference. Tanvir has also served previously as the head of the NC Cyber Cell and has also served as Corporator of the Srinagar Muncipal Corporation. hizb aPPeals hurriyat to unite against Move Srinagar: Militant outfit Hizbul Mujhideen Friday said that the move of BJP government to grant citizenship rights to the refugees settled in Jammu was not only treacherous and dangerous but it was also a calculated attempt to change the Muslim demography of the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Hizb chief and United Jihad Council Chairman, Syed Salahuddin said that people of the State rejected the proposal of BJP and it was unacceptable for them. In a statement issued to CNS, Hizb spokesperson Saleem Hashmi quoting Salahuddin said that Hizb Chief said that sacrifices laid by martyrs will not go waste and ultimately Indian has to retreat from Jammu and Kashmir. Pitching for unity among Hurriyat leadership, Syed Salahuddin appealed them to gather at single platform and lead the nation in one voice so that India fails to take advantage of their disunity. Syed Salahuddin was addressing a conference that was organized to pay tributes to three militant commanders on their 11th death anniversary. Salahuddin paid tribute to former chief commander operations Ghulam Rasool Dar, Military Adviser Abbas Rahi and Deputy Divisional Commander Abid Hussain. He also paid rich tribute to the five militants including Shakil Ahmed Wani killed in Shopian encounter. Funeral Prayer in absentia For Paris attackers Srinagar: Scores of people in Kunzar town of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district held funeral prayer in absentia for the three militants who attacked French satirical tabloid Charlie Hebdo that left 12 people in including ten journalists’ dead. Witnesses said that soon after Friday prayers, people offered funeral prayer in absentia for the two brothers linked with Al Qaeda who attacked French journal for publishing ‘blasphemous’ caricatures of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). The people hailed the attackers and called them martyrs who, they said, “achieved martyrdom while countering the insulting act of the Charlie Hebdo”. After offering funeral, a protest demonstration was staged outside Grand Mosque Hamdania in Kunzar. “The protesters condemned the reproduction of the insulting cartoons by Charlie Hebdo,” eyewitnesses said. Meanwhile, a group of youth staged a protest against the blasphemous caricatures outside Iqra Masjid in Sarai Bala here, reports said. sM sahai bereaved, JkP conveys condolence Srinagar: To mourn the demise of Smt. Swarn Lata Sahai, mother of Additional Director General of Police (Armed), Mr. S. M. Sahai, a condolence meeting was held at Police Headquarters (PHQ) here today. Smt. Sahai passed away this morning at her residence Raju Park Khanpur, New Delhi, an official spokesman said in a statement. Chaired by Director General of Police, Mr. K. Rajendra Kumar and attended by senior police officers, the meeting observed two minute silence. They expressed their grief and sorrow on behalf of all ranks of Jammu and Kashmir Police on the demise of Smt. Sahai. They conveyed their condolences to Mr. S. M. Sahai and expressed their sympathy with the bereaved family in this hour of sorrow. Meanwhile Governor Vohra has expressed grief on the sad demise of mother of S M Sahai, ADGP Armed, J&K. In a message of condolence, the Governor has conveyed his sympathy to the bereaved family and prayed for eternal peace to the departed soul. ensure digitization oF services within stiPulated tiMe –ddc ang ANANTNAG: Deputy Commissioner Anantnag, Mr.Tasaduq Jeelani today chaired a meeting with local Cable operators to discuss the digitization of Cable Services in the district. During the meeting, Deputy Commissioner briefed the Cable Operators about the directions of Ministry of Information & Broadcasting and J&K Government regarding transformation of existing cable service from analogue cable to Digital Addressable System (DAS) for which the revised deadline is fixed as December 31, 2015. Deputy Commissioner called upon the Cable Operators to make a detailed plan of switching over to digital mode in their respective areas in a time bound manner. Local Cable Operators were informed to furnish the details about the number of consumers and subscribers of their respective areas of operation to the committees constituted at Municipal, Council, Tehsil and District level. Deputy Commissioner informed that the progress of digitization will be monitored weekly for which Local Cable Operators should submit their progress to the concerned Committee. Deputy Commissioner assured Local Cable Operators that the district administration will give them all necessary help for smooth digitization of Cable service. He directed for ensuring 75 percent digitization upto March 31, 2015. C M Y K saturday OPINION saturday 17 01 2015 Kashmir Observer WEEKEND Observer CounterPoint Not just about Charlie MaHir ali Hebdo has been a fairly equalopportunity offender for all A n edition of the scurrilous French weekly Charlie Hebdo, in the latest barrage in what one American commentator has wittily described as a confrontation between OMG and LOL, will almost certainly feature at least a few cartoons that offend some sensibilities. And that will only be appropriate, given last week’s events in and around Paris. Even those who contend that Charlie Hebdo went too far in its caricatures should acknowledge that the brothers who last Wednesday took censorship to an intolerable extreme must not be permitted to have the last laugh. The unprecedented slaughter during the weekly’s editorial conference, targeting the editor as well as some of France’s other best-known cartoonists, prompted a spontaneous gathering of Parisians at Place de la Republique, which was followed on Sunday by a march with an estimated 1.5 million participants at least, spearheaded by 50 or so heads of state or government, or senior official representatives, from countries across Europe and beyond. It was a mobilisation the likes of which had not been witnessed in Paris since the end of World War II. It was a formidable demonstration of empathy with France and unity within the country in the face of terrorism. It’s easy to celebrate in that respect. Its significance as a celebration of free speech has been questioned though, and not without cause. Reporters Without Borders has wondered why participants included representatives of nations whose citizens yearn in vain for even small concessions when it comes to freedom of speech. Others have raised the equally valid concern that even in countries currently going out of their way to celebrate the concept, there are curbs on freedom of expression. Holocaust denial, for instance, is a punishable crime in France. It could, of course, be argued that denial of verifiable facts is unconscionable, and consequently liable to legal challenge. It’s worth noting, at the same time, that Charlie Hebdo’s precursor was proscribed on the basis of its irreverence towards the recently deceased Charles de Gaulle — and the title of the rebooted version was intended as a reference not just to Charlie Brown, but to de Gaulle as well. Times have, of course, changed. Charlie Hebdo has long lived up to the motto that nothing is sacred. And by most accounts it has been a fairly equal-opportunity offender, excoriating symbols of Christianity and Judaism alongside those of Islam. If in recent years it has focused chiefly on Islam that could be attributed to the topicality of the subject matter. At the same time, as any number of commentators, including a cross-section of French Muslims, have pointed out, defending Charlie Hebdo’s right to cause of offence does not necessarily entail condoning its content. It would only be fair to acknowledge, though, that the circulation of its content has been enhanced manifold by the brothers Cherif and Said Kouachi. The ideal reaction to offensive cartoons is simply to ignore them. One should be disinclined to lend too much credence to the view of Charlie Hebdo as a vehicle for Islamophobia. There can be no question, on the other hand, that the massacre at its office will enhance hostility towards Muslims in Europe and elsewhere. Some of the predictable attacks on the obvious symbols and institutions have already occurred in France, and more are likely to follow. Most French politicians have been at pains to point out, though, that most Muslims in their country have little to do with the violent tendencies of jihadism. By the same token, most French citizens are disinclined to opt for violence in retaliation. It wouldn’t be terribly surprising, though, is more of them opted to vote for Marine Le Pen’s National Front in the next election. There are already moves afoot in France to form a coalition along the lines of PEGIDY in Germany — whose mobilisations have attracted the disapproval of the political and religious establishments, as well as a substantial segment of citizens. The processes and circumstances that contributed to the radicalisation of the Kouachi brothers and their colleague-once-removed, Amedy Coulibali — who did his worst in a kosher supermarket in Paris — remain to be fully explained, but the likely mix includes growing up in an alienating milieu, the visible signs of Western military action in the Middle East, a tendency towards criminality, susceptibility to the twisted reasoning of preachers in France and Yemen, and a convoluted interpretation of the faith they were born into. If it would be more or less delusional to argue that all those metaphorically up in arms against the outrages in Paris are unequivocally devoted to free speech, it is equally absurd to fall for the argument that the actions of the Couachis and Coulibali had nothing to do with Islam. After all, the three perpetrators appeared to be in no doubt they were somehow upholding the honour of their faith. Most Muslims would, one would like to think, be disinclined to agree. It has also been remarked upon, meanwhile, that the West attaches far more attention to terrorist attacks on its own soil than it does to far more egregious transgression of human rights in places such as Nigeria, Pakistan and Yemen — to say nothing of Iraq and Syria. Perhaps that is inevitable, and not entirely unacceptable. One can easily empathise with those who seriously wish such an event will never recur in Paris or elsewhere in Europe, notwithstanding the widespread fear that it will be hard to avoid. It is also important, though, that atrocities of this (or any other) variety should not be visited upon people anywhere in the world. To a large extent, this is a Muslim responsibility. But the west, too, is far from acknowledging — and repenting of — its longstanding tendency towards contributing to a mindset that facilitates terrorism. Mahir Ali is a journalist based in Sydney Stupid! this Happens Only in Kashmir Prof. Hameeda Nayeem F or the past two weeks a number of articles appeared in Various papers expressing anguish over BJP-PDP alliance. But Still there remain some points that need to be put together to make an argument. There is an oppressive burden of suspense, anxiety and anguish in Kashmir society about the formation of new govt in the state. Not that the coalition of local parties is going to shake their world for better but that the prospect of coalition with BJP is fraught with ground changing terrifying implications. In the scenario of a fractured mandate anywhere in the world where politics is based even on a semblance of principles, it is the ideologically least divergent groups that come together to form a govt. Petty ego squabbles between leaders of different parties vying with each other for power thaw and evaporate into thin air before the kind of challenge that has been thrown up by the fractured mandate in the recently held election. Be that as it may, the hints that are dropped by the political pundits of the single largest party have put forth weird logic for aligning with BJP. One reason for this is to give representation to Jammu in the govt, otherwise they will remain unrepresented, that is why the coalition with BJP is inevitable; second, that the new govt will not get funds if PDP enters into an alliance with other parties that are not in power in the centre. As if funds are given from the private kitty of the ruling party in Delhi and states’ due share in funds is nothing but a charity given to the states only if they are in the power sharing relationship in the state govt with the ruling party at the centre. Both NC and congress have offered support to PDP and the number of seats of grand alliance comes to around fifty seven to sixty . Does it mean sixty members are less inclusively representative and less the product of a democratic process than the twenty-five seats won by BJP in Jammu? Is Jammu’s mandate to one party intrinsically superior in its sterling representative character to those who have been elected in Kashmir and parts of Jammu? Is the state not one entity but two distinct states as the impression is sought to be created ? All the reasons that are given by these Pandits for making alliance with BJP do not stand the test of ‘democratic principles' as are touted and celebrated day in and day out by the claimants of democracy in Kashmir! The share of funds is preordained for each state in the centre and does not depend on the whims and caprices of the ruling party in Delhi. ( Besides, our taxes go directly into the central govt’s treasury as also the income from our resources like power generated with our waters, the central govt owes us at least 129000 million rupees on account of electricity NHPC has produced with our waters; with 2000 million rupees investment in 1975, its net profit till 2010 is 3,87,180 million rupees out of which our share is 129000 millions; one-third of electricity in the northern grid goes from our state in a total of 6000 MWS ) Only one thing can justify the alliance with BJP as ruling party at centre which no other party can do and that is a written commitment from the BJP govt in Delhi to end the political uncertainty and stalemate in the state by addressing the Kashmir question comprehensively for a permanent resolution in a timebound framework; a commitment on halting its divisive and communal politics with immediate effect which includes among other things vitiation of fragile human and ecosystem in the state; a commitment on the demilitarization of the entire civilian space without which withdrawal of AFSPA signifies nothing. BJP govt is ideally placed today with a thumping majority in the centre to take a historic decision - to put an end to the million miseries and colossal tragedies that have become our fate since the partition of India. These tragedies have broadly resulted from military oppression, political domination, wars and intermittent cross border skirmishes, economic exploitation and now growing cultural aggression, the fallout on both India and Pakistan with far reaching consequences for South Asia. In short there is an urgent need for a release from the frozen embrace of the hostilities of the past. By this I do not mean to say that PDP or any other electoral party has got the mandate to resolve the dispute. The governance of the state and the resolution of political dispute are two separate spheres and have their different gravitational pulls but they do impinge upon each other as they remain in a colloidal suspension. That is to say governance becomes extremely difficult in the face of unresolved fundamental issues on the ground which cry for solution and, as we have seen in the past, can bring down any govt within the twinkling of an eye or considerably undermine its authority. That is why those issues should be as much a matter of grave concern for parties engaged in the sphere of governance as those engaged in the struggle for determining the political future because in the final analysis their constituency is the same whose larger political rights and civil liberties are conspicuous by their absence. And once brought to presence, governance would be lot more easier and a whole-hearted public support will replace the reluctant endorsement symbolised by the fragmented mandate. All other reasons given by these political pundits do not hold ground and smack of petty short term power interests, opportunism, and a fear of dismissive authoritarian attitude of the BJP govt in Delhi which actually emanates from the political and military domination of the state. If funds are denied, the state govt has the golden chance to explore alternatives by turning it on their head! The best way forward in the absence of the above commitments would be to set aside the fears and assert the power of the mandate of at least 57 members who are offering support for a grand alliance. Now is the time for the assertion of combined mandate of regional parties and not to trade vital interests of the state for a berth in Delhi govt and ‘an easy walk in governance’. The alliance with BJP may make things much more difficult even in terms of governance and take everything else into the bargain and may prove to be the requiem of the regional party! Prof. Hameeda Nayeem is a civil society activist. She can be reached at: hameedah.nayeem@ gmail.com FaCebook at Work is a reCipe For utter Calamity that oNly beNeFits FaCebook It is a manifestly terrible idea which, if adopted in your workplace, will undoubtedly transform it into a dystopian hell-hole of paranoia and confusion “ Oliver Burkeman/ The Guardian P LENTY of terrible ideas didn’t seem terrible to begin with. Trans fats were developed to help feed people cheaply and well; the publishers who turned down Harry Potter presumably thought they were making a savvy commercial decision. Napoleon’s invasion of Russia, like John McCain picking Sarah Palin as his running-mate, must have seemed a splendid plan at the time. But Facebook at Work, a new corporate version of the social network, designed to let companies conduct internal business on their own mini-Facebooks, is not one of those ideas. It is a manifestly terrible idea which, if adopted in your workplace, will undoubtedly transform it into a dystopian hell-hole of paranoia and confusion, before ultimately destroying it altogether, leaving you on the streets. I’m exaggerating for comic effect, of course. You might not be left on the streets. A kindly relative might take you in. Admittedly, at a very brief first glance – the kind of glance you might give before the first coffee of the morning kicks in – the concept might seem appealing. If you’re an employee, the logic might go like this: Facebook is the thing you do for fun, as a break from work; so if you worked inside Facebook, too, it might make your job more fun. If you’re an employer or manager, you might conclude that, since your employees spend so much time goofing off on Facebook anyway, Facebook at Work might channel some of that attention more productively. Then the caffeine would hit, and you’d realize the truth – which is that Facebook at Work, currently only available in pilot form to a restricted group of US companies, is a recipe for utter calamity, which stands to benefit no one except Facebook itself. Consider, as a mere appetizer, the implications for workplace etiquette of a social network where the other members are your co-workers. Must you friend everyone? Like or share every post from your boss, for fear of looking disloyal, or decline to do so, for fear of I thought he called out sick today. Why is he posting pictures from his car? looking sycophantic? Tell everyone in the company about the birthday cake in the second-floor kitchen, or restrict who can see that announcement? But those aren’t the main issues, of course. For businesses, by far the weightiest problem will concern the implications of handing over the stewardship of company data to a mega-corporation founded wholly on exploiting user data for commercial gain. Facebook promises it will“gather no data on corporate users”. (It will initially make money from the service by charging fees, it seems.) But it has a deservedly terrible reputation to overcome in this regard – and if all you’re looking for is a way of collaborating at work that’s better than email, there are a widerange of non-Facebook options. Why take the risk? Which brings us to individual users. Facebook has promised that your Facebook at Work account will be separate from your personal one, and that “things you share using your work account will only be visible to other people at your company.” A cynic might argue it’s worrying enough when a new product must be accompanied by a raft of promises about how it won’t cause havoc. But then there’s this: “When you set up your work account, you’ll be able to connect it to your personal account. This lets you switch between the two accounts while using the same username and password for both.” What could possibly go wrong? Facebook, as you know, is already almost surreally confusing to use, unless you’ve given up trying not to be confused. Its plethora of privacy controls are impossible to keep track of, even in their newly simplified form, so you can’t ever be certain about who can see what. Meanwhile, since posts on the Newsfeed are selected by an algorithm, there’s no way to be sure your friends will see a post even if you do want them to, nor that you’re seeing theirs. You see what Facebook wants you to see. Adding a Facebook at Work account more than doubles the potential for confusion; it squares it. How long before someone gets themselves fired – or, worse, outed – as a result of not knowing which network they were using? Or maybe we’re too cautious for that these days, and we’ll simply get even better at never expressing a thought or posing for a photograph that might undermine our workplace brand. Which isn’t, really, all that much less dispiriting. The developers of Facebook at Work may sincerely wish to avoid such confusion. (They’re giving in a different color scheme than regular Facebook, for a start.) But in the end that may not matter: keeping users confused is simply too beneficial to the network. Facebook needs you to share more about yourself than you realize; it needs any walls you try to erect between different parts of your life to be porous. You are Facebook’s product: it needs the data you provide about your interests and preferences and purchases to be as interconnected as possible. If Facebook at Work proves a success, yet users’ accounts really do remain completely separate from their personal ones, that will be something remarkable: a policy maintained in defiance of the basic commercial logic of Facebook’s existence. It would be silly and hyperbolic and fearmongering – I suppose – to suggest that, should Facebook achieve a beachhead inside many of the world’s biggest corporations, it might then find ways to gut them from the inside, channelling revenues away from them and to itself. Then again, as John Herrman at The Awl and Will Oremus at Slate have both recently argued, that’s not a terrible way of looking at what’s happening to Facebook’s relationship with the news media. What started as a relationship of mutual benefit is rapidly becoming one-sided, as Facebook seeks to keep users on the network (where Facebook can make money from advertising to them) instead of letting them escape elsewhere. You could argue that the media didn’t have much choice: only an exceptionally brave or stupid news organization would choose not to seek visitors via Facebook, where well over a billion people people share what interests them most. If you’re a law firm or a chain of florists or a human rights charity, though, no such logic applies. You probably can’t avoid advertising on Facebook, or connecting with customers there, but there’s no need to invite Facebook to become the platform on which your whole business is run. If you do, and it ends in disaster, you’ll have nobody to blame but Time magazine’s Person of the Year 2006: yourself. saturday 17 01 2015 Kashmir Observer PANORAMA Merits of PDP's 3 Point Agenda JKCHR head Syed Nazir Gilani delivered, what he termed as a ‘Letter of Concern’, to PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed in Srinagar on Friday. The letter has examined the merits of PDP's three point agenda to negotiate an alliance with BJP and has reminded PDP chief that J&K Government is of no consequence unless it stakes its claim to that which the Government of India made at the UN in item 3 of document S/AC.12/46 in August 1948 that “The sovereignty of the State of Jammu and Kashmir should not be affected”. We reproduce the letter in full for the interest of our readers. -Editor Janab Mufti Mohammad Sayeed sahib Chief Peoples Democratic Party Sgr. Dear Mufti Sahib As-salamu alaykum I wish to take this opportunity to wish you, all your colleagues and the people of the State a Happy New Year. I am writing this letter to remain part of a growing constituency of concern expressed on the failure of main stream political parties in the formation of a government and the handing over the State to a direct Delhi control through article 92 of Jammu and Kashmir Constitution. Valley in particular has voted according to its endured historical experience and advice given to its voter by the State based political parties, including PDP. Muslims in particular have explained their vote before voting. The main stream and the separatist narratives of politics, explained and defended as short term and long term approaches to any resolution, have failed to serve the best interests of the people living on the Indian side of cease fire line . Common man and woman voted for your party in the Parliament and Assembly elections. It would not go well in history for a party that would err to repaint its horses post elections and try to convince the voter that it was necessary to carry the sack load of salt through a swollen stream. Separatist narrative has not helped the people either. We have suffered the death of a generation, violation of human rights never witnessed in the history of Kashmir and face a political cul de sac. The main stream political narratives have continued to abuse the trust of the voter citizen since 1947. National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) of the Union Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation has revealed that the poverty rate in the state of Jammu and Kashmir rose from 9.4 per cent in 2009-2010 to 10.35 per cent in 201112, mainly due to an increase in the number living below the poverty line (BPL) in rural areas . The number of households living below poverty line in Jammu and Kashmir has risen to 4.17 lakhs. Out of these 3.71 lakh households live in rural areas of the state. Kupwara and Baramulla districts lead in poverty. Development, reconciliation and healing are archaic and meaningless expressions in Kashmir politics. It is the Muslim majority that has continued to have a grievance against the rulers since March 1846 to date. Prime Minister Albion Mukerjee refused to reconcile with the poor plight of Muslims and resigned. He is a non-Muslim and non-Kashmiri witness to highlight the Muslim grievance and recorded that, Jammu and Kashmir State is labouring under many disadvantages, with a large Mohammedan population absolutely illiterate, labouring under poverty and very low economic conditions of living in the villages, and particularly governed like dumb driven cattle”. National Sample Survey Office report after 86 years does not make it any better. We want that Jammu and Kashmir Government on the Indian side is able to engage a Government in Delhi, so that Delhi does not force it to recycle the Maharaja like manner of rule in Kashmir and authorise its security forces with “Powers to arrest turbulent persons ”. Even Maharaja could hardly endure this brute force against the Muslims beyond 24 September – 05 October 1931. A non-Muslim Maharaja described Muslims in the valley as “Turbulent” persons in 1931 and in 2014 Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti a BJP leader in the Government in Delhi has come close to describing Muslims as “Haramzadas”. Indian Muslims have the number and resources to deflect any such abuse but the people in the Valley have either very scarce or no resource to defend the Muslim majority character of the State. We would like a Srinagar based Government to understand that it is elected from only a part of the State, it has duties under UN Resolutions, submits to a caution on its representative imperfection, understands limitation and duties under article 48 of the Constitution and the manner in which it has to engage with UN, India, Pakistan and people living under two other administrations at Muzaffarabad and Gilgit. It should be able to engage with the people of India and in particular with a Government in Delhi which, is historically and legally educated to accept that: a. That the Government of India has sought at the UN SC, that, “The question of the future status of Kashmir vis a vis her neighbours and the world at large, and a further question, namely, whether she should withdraw from her accession to India, and either accede to Pakistan or remain independent, with a right to claim admission as a member of the United Nations – all this we have recognized to be a matter for unfettered decision by the people of Kashmir, after normal life is restored to them”, b. That the people of this habitat are “People of legend, song and story, associated with snow-capped mountains, beautiful valleys and life giving waters – a people worthy of their own self -determination, through a free, secure and impartial plebiscite” as reported by Dr. P Graham in his report to the UN Security Council in January 1952. c. That a Government in Delhi which remembers its submission made at the UN, item 3 of document S/ AC.12/46 in August 1948 that “The sovereignty of the State of Jammu and Kashmir should not be affected”. d. A Government in Delhi which admits that J & K assembly is elected from only a part of the State and is under caution of UN SC Resolution of 30 March 1951. e. That Indian security forces are a supplement and sub-ordinate force to J&K Government. These forces have entered the State to perform 4 duties, namely, defend ‘territory’, protect ‘life’, ‘property’ and ‘honour’ of the people. f. That Indian security forces have agreed to honour 3 UN conditions on their number, behaviour and location during their stationing in Kashmir. g. The principal duty of Indian security forces in Kashmir is to provide law and order. Sheikh Abdullah has informed the UN SC that “There need be no fear, since the Indian Army is there, that this army will interfere in the exercise of a free vote. After all, a commission of the Security Council will be there in order to watch. The Indian Army does not have to go into every village. It will be stationed at certain strategic points, so that in the event of danger from any border, the army will be there to protect that border”. Your party is understood to be negotiating with BJP an agenda, viz resumption of dialogue with Pakistan and separatists, keeping Article 370 off the table, strengthening cross LoC CBM’s and withdrawal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from certain areas. One can hope that a structured dialogue with BJP would be going on well. It is too tall an order for any Government in Srinagar and to achieve any success the Srinagar based Governments have to follow the true build of a specific bilateral, trilateral and international jurisprudence on the question of Jammu and Kashmir. PDP may have all noble reasons to engage BJP and keep away from other offers in the formation of a government but it would be misdirecting itself, if, it hopes to redesign the anti-Muslim (any Valley) hidden reflexes of governments sitting in Delhi. The various tiers of Delhi presence in the Valley are too domineering and surreptitious to let it happen in this manner. PDP should not concern itself with a suspension or resumption of Indian dialogue with Pakistan or vice versa as part of seeking a six year stay in power. India and Pakistan have intra-State and UN Charter obligations to remain in dialogue. They have accepted that they shall remain in dialogue on Kashmir, in co-operation with and under the supervision of UN Security Council. India has further elaborated on the question of engagement on Kashmir with Pakistan and others on 23 January 1957. It is contained in para 3 of the minutes of 762nd meeting of the Security Council. While replying to the complaint of Pakistan made in their letter of 02 January 1957, to the President of the Security Council (S/3767), Indian representative Mr. V. K. Krishna Menon stated, “It is not possible to understand a problem, especially a complex problem which has engaged, in the first instance, the attention of the two countries, and the attention of other parties, including the Security Council, over the years – to which I shall refer later, without having the whole picture so that the significance of documents, arrangements and declarations can become realistic and true to fact”. If PDP or any other main stream political party in Kashmir wants to make a genuine input in this regard, it shall have to understand the manner of this engagement and further admit the Indian stand that in addition to India, Pakistan and Security Council, there are “other parties” to the Kashmir dispute. India can’t by pass the fact that it has engaged itself with militant leadership and has continued to engage the separatists over the years. It would not be allowed to betray the protocol of trust and continuity. Indian Government and its army have accrued a criminal liability for the death of 70,000-100,000 people. In fact Indian gov- ernment has failed on one of the terms which allowed its army into Kashmir, that is protect ‘life’ in Kashmir. Therefore, it does not need a recommendation but it has to talk to Separatist (inclusive) and all Kashmiris in main stream who state that accession is provisional and there is no merger of the State. PDP has no case to bring this issue into any discussion in the formation of a Government. On the contrary all Kashmir Governments in Srinagar continue to share the criminal liability with governments in India for the death of a generation in Kashmir. PDP is unnecessarily occupying itself with any concern in regard to Article 370. The understanding of the party on this subject is unreliable. PDP has been part of the election narrative which has instilled the fear of a threat to the special status under article 370 if BJP came to power. The fear has no merit. In India BJP may have a choice to hurt Muslims and other minorities but BJP cannot afford a secret or an open kill in Kashmir. The radical elements sitting in secret closets of BJP are mistaken and don’t have an enduring future. These elements of all manner know that in any such event BJP has to face the people living under three administrations of Kashmir, Kashmiri Diaspora, Pakistan and the United Nations. Government of Pakistan can’t use a nuclear weapon against India and vice versa but touching Article 370 in Kashmir in the manner suggested would land BJP Government in a dark crevice of absolute disaster. It may amount to colonization of a people and has the potential of UN considering a military action . It is not 1948 but 2015. Above all every State Subject would be entitled to seek to undo an occupation by the use of all means civil and military. Pakistan has assumed responsibilities under UNCIP Resolutions and India shall have many fronts to face. PDP need not make withdrawal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from certain areas part of its discussion to negotiate power share in Kashmir. AFSPA has no place in Kashmir. It is against the two disciplines governing the presence of Indian army in Kashmir. AFSPA brings Government of India into a breach of the conditions under which these forces were first admitted into Kashmir and is a serious violation of the three principles set out by the United Nations for its stationing in Kashmir. PDP needs to play by the rules of the book and free itself and its cadre from the shackles of known and unknown tiers of control in Kashmir. PDP is running the risk of being blamed by the voter inside Kashmir, Kashmiris living in two other administration of Kashmir, Kashmiri Diaspora, 2.5 million Kashmiri refugees, people in Pakistan and at the UN that it became a reason to bring in BJP through article 92 of the J&K Constitution or through an alliance for its personal political reasons to rule a people that had voted against BJP and have an outstanding grievance at the UN. tric. On the contrary Valley Muslim has a historical grievance against the Hindu Ruler (Jammu Dogra). He has taxed the Kashmiri Muslim to pay for the price towards the purchase of Kashmir and has forced Muslim population to keep one pair of trousers for the whole village population to avoid taxes. It is recoded by Walter Lawrence in State records that in one year 1871 -72 Maharaja collected a revenue of Rupees 680, 0560 (equal to the price paid) by taxing the Kashmiri Muslim. He taxed circumcision, sheep and goats, cows and buffaloes, mint, sale of wild fruit, sale of chinar leaves, bakers, porters and coolies, masons , butchers, blacksmiths, goldsmiths, dyers, prostitutes, sellers of glass bangles, comb makers, menial workers, soap boilers, gardeners, knife makers, painters, basket makers, shoe makers, grave diggers, wood cutters, sellers of fire wood, cowherds, friers of grain, leech sellers, makers of rice bread and in all 80 items were taxed in 1871 -72. In fact the Hindu ruler has collected from Muslims from 1846-1947 a revenue that he could have purchased 101 more such states. BJP or any other Indian political party can’t dislodge the manner of evidence that India has presented at the United Nations. Kashmir has a special status without article 370. It has been admitted by India in para 46 of the minutes of same UN Security Council Meeting on 23 January 1957. Explaining the Indian temporary arrangement with Jammu and Kashmir Indian representative said, “Further in the document it stated: “Let us turn for one moment to the Cabinet Mission Plan of 16 May 1946. In this Plan the proposal was that the States should surrender to the Central Government three subjects– Defence, External Affairs and Communications. That was a plan which, to the best of my belief, every ruler and every State accepted as reasonable, fair and just.” PDP has a role beyond the present engagement with BJP. It could help the people to move from a process of life into attaining a quality of life. It can’t be possible unless the J&K Government stakes its claim to that which the Government of India made at the UN in item 3 of document S/AC.12/46 in August 1948 that “The sovereignty of the State of Jammu and Kashmir should not be affected”. To this challenging end PDP has to address the quality and expertise available in its elected and no elected ranks . PDP has to reach out to all other political parties, separatists, civil society and everyone on its side of Jammu and Kashmir, the two other governments of Kashmir, refugees, diaspora, Pakistan and member nations of the UN as well. It has to be custodian of a State Subject’s title to equality, important for an internal and an external self -determination. Let PDP start with a true empowerment and internal self-determination. In this regard PDP shall have our support at all forums at home, abroad and at other international forums. Jammu and Kashmir government has to represent all people. But it is untrue that Kashmir politics has been Valley cen- Kindly rest assured of my highest regards. Yours Sincerely Dr. Syed Nazir Gilani Secretary General-JKCHR The Irony Of Heaven MEHAK DHAAR P racticalities teach; when I was peacefully walking with my friend by the road-side, a careless car driver hit her, little more than slightly and made no stop. This was annoying, I called to stop, he didn't and I was furious. To this in rampant anger I took a stone and fired it as hard as I could at his rare-view. The latter part of the story needs no mention here because the message I want to convey is right here. I was hurt, no sympathy was shown and I was unarmed. The only object to spit my very human nature, feelings of anger, hurt and distress was the STONE! Here comes the fact, the ammunition of the unarmed is the stone! The stone has been the tool of men in the most ancient times and continues to be so with the men who are treated in no less than ancient manner of barbarianism. Where there is the pelt of stone; there is the pragmatism of barbarianism; there is the absence of the civil society in the suitable way to define people as those belonging to the civilized order. Our part of the land, globally is termed as the heaven! But, the question is, what makes Heaven a real Heaven? What differentiates the Hell from the Heaven? A bird eyed look and a micro look can be paradoxical and all the way different and opposing. Like the micro truths at times fail at macro level, so do the macro often at the micro. To the rest of the globe, from the distance this place looks like a heaven and why not, what of the scenic beauty is missing or lagging? Surely none! Bird's eye look, perfectly manifests it as a Heaven. Who can match the basic sensitive and hospitable nature of the people living here? For sure none! Then why not on the planet will they regard this place as a Heaven? A single look at its sights , soothes the souls in strife and elevates the human existence and creates it a link with the absolute. The water from our multiple springs is believed to be miraculous in a number of ways and means and who among the visitors misses to take a little of it along? Surely none... The natives on the other hand, have a complex vision of the land, circumstances and the situations. By the very beauty, who can deny the heavenly virtues of the place but the harsh acceptance we are faced with every single day and moment, makes us to question the heavenly nature of the land. Can any heaven be in existence with a crying and melancholic population? Surely, Not! The human desire of extended boundaries, makes man to carve a brook of the blood of his fellow men. The pursuit of materialism that in itself is a temporary illusion, blind-folds his eyes and he sees nothing but the boundaries and aims at their extension, either by hook or by crook. How will the Heaven remain still so, when the pious and virgin brooks carrying the fresh water transforms into the channel with the running blood of the young and blossoms? It is the internal aspect that defines any and every thing and when our internal aspect is as dark and dim, how on the planet are we the ones who reside in a Heaven? Heaven surely can't be a place where the mothers cry at the graves of their Sons and the wives lament for the union of which they are sure, they will taste never... When the Tug of War is between the two about the third and not their own respective selves, they can reach any extend and an un-sympathetic attitude is deemed and destined to develop. All this leads the third to suffer, beyond limits and measures. Right from the childhood, the circumstances suppress and depress the heaven abode-rs and by the time their mind and brain grows up and reaches the brink and level of rebellion, they discover themselves to be unarmed and weak. Yet the young blood possesses vigor and zest; knows not to quit and the sole weapon available at their disposal is the stone and in an effort, they lifts the same. The stone makes the say of their story and the suppres- sion is stormed. The stone collides with the bullet. For every stone a bullet is answered. Thus in an unequal tussle, the weaker looses to his life. The might turns right and the barbarianism marks its presence. The pious brooks are left open to serve as the channels of blood and Eagles called to feasts. Heaven cries in agony and questions of itself being a Heaven... Lets all for a moment forget our nationality, religion, domains and all the factors of distinction. Let's all take a pious bath at the virgin spring and get into white robes, join hands and think to introspection for the least of five minutes. Why do we need to extend the boundaries? Why initially the boundaries exist? The ultimate end of but every breathing being is but death and what does a person carry along at that? A mere piece of a plain shroud! For what then we need to extend the boundaries? No one consumed the land in-turn the land consumed all. Boundaries define nothing but only the chaotic mental set-ups and lagged and poorly developed attitudes of the masses. It merely manifests the wrong interpretation of the humans about the existence , life and death. We are all like the shepherds, our stay on the planet is not constant , we are deemed and destined to leave this planet and leave behind all its bounties. We are to temporarily us this place, its assets and the bounties. The supreme reason of the human existence is to carve peace for the whole of the human kind and live a calm and soothing life. Each of the existence must give its part to foster a superior human kind in its deeds and understandings to remove the null concepts of borders, blood shed, blood baths, chaos and rife and each element turning this small heaven and the global heaven into a living and burning hell... Author, a free-lance writer and an under-graduate economics student can be reached at dhaarmehak@gmail.com ) 6 Saturday 17012015 Kashmir Observer Datsun Go+ launched in srinagar @ 3.79 lacs SRINAGAR: Lahori Nissan Srinagar, one of the known dealerships in the city launched the most awaited family cars “Datsun Go Plus”. “Srinagar has always nurtured a special fondness for compact family vehicles. The people of Srinagar share the rare mix of strength and go-getter ability. The new Datsun Go plus can take them anywhere any time”, a company statement said. It has been considered as a re-invention of Datsun in India by making this model available on Indian roads. This is perhaps the first ever compact MPV model in the automobile market which has the capacity to host at least seven passengers. Mr. Sohail Khan, Sales Head of Srinagar Unit specified that there will not be any compromise on driving experience with Datsun Go+. He added that it offers features like AC vents for the second row and foldable third row seats to increase boot space. Demanding space as a primary factor, the need and requirements to own a family car at a suitable price by the people will be strongly met by this Datsun Go plus model. Mr. Nadeem Bakshi, G.M (Services) remarked on the occasion that srinagar folks are known for their family lifestyle and it paves the way to the demand of 7-seater vehicles. Datsun Go+ stylish image and convenient pricing structure is expected to be a great hit among them. The new Datsun Go plus benefits from its highly competitive price, maintenance costs and better fuel efficiency. It is the Datsun Go+ that aims to target the ever so lucrative MPV space with a different categorization and price. The state-of-the-art showroom Lahori Nissan Srinagar is situated at Sempora, Panthachowk on Jammu-Srinagar Highway. SICOP Signs MoU with ACPGCS Leh JAMMU: The Jammu and Kashmir Small Scale Industries Development Corporation Limited (SICOP) Signed Memorandum of Understanding with All Changthang Pashmina Growers Co-operative Society, (ACPGCS) Leh for procurement of Raw Pashmina and its onwards sale to the artisans. This was decided in the high level meeting held in the Office Chamber of Financial Commissioner, Industries & Commerce Department, Civil Secretariat Jammu, Mr. Khurshid Ahmad Ganai. Chairman-cum-CEC LAHDC, Rigzin Spalbar, Executive Councillor, Sh. Gurmeet Dorjey, District Dev. Commissioner, Leh, Director Handicrafts, MD J&K SICOP, Director Finance, I&C Deptt, Chairman, ACPGCS, Leh, President, FICK and other officers of SICOP were present on the occasion. LoC tension hits tourism in Jammu: Govt ‘Tourism Deptt to develop new destinations in border areas’ SrinAgAr: Stating that the recent flare-up in tensions between India and Pakistan along the International Border and Line of Control (LoC) hit the tourism sector in Jammu, the government Friday said that tourism department is exploring new tourist destinations in Samba and other border areas. “Some tourist destinations in Jammu region are around the border areas. Yes I can say that the Jammu tourism industry, a vital part of the local economy, to some extend was affected by the recent tensions on borders,” Director Tourism Jammu R.K Varma told KNS. He said the Department is working on development of new destinations near Samba and other border areas. “To end this negative impression among the tourists we are coming up with a new polices to boost the prospects From Front Page a deliberate act of Indian parliamentary JKLF Stages committee to further destabilize the Petrol Price protestors hurled stones on police and para-military men resulting in the ding dong battles. Police burst tear smoke shells to disperse the protestors. Eyewitnesses said that few protesters, as well as some police personnel received injuries during the clashes. The vehicular movement came to halt due to protest march and subsequent clashes between the protestors and the police. Meanwhile, scores of JKLF activists took a protest march in North Kashmir’s Handwara town. The protest march that was led by District President Muhammad Rafiq War. The march started from Jamia Qadeem and it culminated at Main Chowk Handwara. Eyewitnesses said that as the march reached Main Chowk, large contingent of police stopped the participants and detained Rafiq War and other activists. Will Fight protected throughout the world. He said that State Subject Law is not associated to J&K only but many Indian hilly states including Himachal Pradesh and Mizoram also having similar kind of laws to safeguard their ecology and environment. “In Jammu, some forces want to put State on fire in the name of the religion. They are pressurizing government to grant citizenship to these refugees. If Indian state, its parliament and political parties are concerned about these West Pakistan refugees, why don’t they settle them permanently in Punjab, Haryana or Delhi,” he asked. Malik said the Hindu Maharaja acknowledged the significance of fragility of Kashmir and that is why he implemented State Subject Law inspite of the fact that the people of Kashmir were fighting against his rule. Hurriyat Vows came into power in New Delhi in the shape of Narendera Modi government and they are very eager to execute their already set dangerous policies regarding to the Kashmir and their actions in haste will set the Jammu & Kashmir on fire and the situation will be out of control for everybody.” “Settlement of Pakistani refugee in Jammu & Kashmir resembles the Israel’s existence in Arab land which doesn’t have any moral and constitutional justification. Holocaust happened in Germany but its punishment was given to the Arabs and a dagger was stabbed in their chest in the shape of Israel. Similarly the punishment of the partition of India and Pakistan is being given to the Kashmiris and it is a conspiracy to make the Kashmiris strangers in their own land,” he said. “At the time of partition, millions of people migrated from here to there vice versa. Both India and Pakistan permanently settled these people in their respective countries and issued citizenship in their favour. Jammu & Kashmir is a different issue and according to its disputed nature and the law of the land, no citizen of either India or Pakistan can be given citizenship of this state and nor can be anyone permanently settled hare. West Pakistan refugees have no right to become the permanent citizens of Jammu & Kashmir and the act of recommending state subjects in their favour and giving them the voting rights in the assembly elections is a mischievous act and it is state and it looks that it is the part of a vast plan to open the gates for Hindutva in Jammu & Kashmir,” he alleged. The spokesman said that Geelani at present is in Delhi for important health check-up and on his return, the issue of permanent settlement of refugees in the state and giving them the voting rights will be discussed in detail and a policy would be formulated to make these attempts ineffective. Endless Wait: for three months round the clock and spending a lot of resources these MLA’s are desperately waiting for the oath-taking." The newly elected legislators are missing out on government accommodation in Jammu and Srinagar, a salary of Rs 90,000 a month, free fuel and medical cover, a liberal travel allowance, Rs 5 lakh as interest-free housing loan, Rs 1 lakh for an annual family trip, and access to a constituency development fund of Rs 1.5 crore a year, the report said. However the report said as of now, MLA’s can be only entitled to a pension of Rs 29,000 a month if fresh elections are held. "We were voted by the people and they want us to work," said a fresher from PDP. "We tell them the assembly is in suspended animation but that is something they least care about." One MLA said his expenses on serving tea to visitors were well over Rs 3,000 a day! The situation is especially bewildering for 56 first-timers, the report said. Slain “urged the people to safeguard the sacrifices offered by the martyrs”. “We need to take care of these sacrifices and refrain from activities that are detrimental for the interest of ongoing movement,” he said, adding the youth of Kashmir would continue to resist the control of New Delhi. Meanwhile several areas in South and Central Kashmir observed shutdown on Friday against the killing of five militants. The areas which observed the spontaneous strike include Kellar, Aglar, Kandi, Rajpora, Dalwan, Abhama, Drabgam, Achagoza, Bamnu, Chak Badrinath, Pakharpora, Qadipora, Chraripora, Mohandpora, Khaigam, Qamrazipora, Rohumu, and other adjoining areas. Shops and business establishments were closed while traffic was off the roads. Reports said anti-India and profreedom protests rocked the Rajpora and Keller areas of Pulwama district. Protests were also held in the native villages of the slain militants soon after the Friday congregational prayers. Eyewitnesses told CNS that agitated youth tried to attack the CRPF post at Khaigam in Pakharpora, however, police used tearsmoke shells to disperse them. The protestors also hurled stones on the private vehicle (JK028-5045) of a political workers and smashed its windowpanes. Hundreds of people including the separatist leaders like Javid Ahmed Mir and Zafar Akbar Bhat visited the graves and native villages of the militants and offered sympathies to the bereaved families. October. New rates will be effective midnight tonight, Indian Oil Corp, the nation’s largest fuel retailer, announced here. In Delhi, petrol will cost Rs 58.91 a litre, the lowest in 44 months, as compared to Rs 61.33 a litre now. Similarly, diesel will cost Rs 48.26 a litre in Delhi, the lowest since April 2013, as against Rs 50.51 currently. This is the fourth hike in excise duty since November and cumulatively customers have been denied the benefit of Rs 7.75 per litre reduction in petrol and Rs 6.50 a litre cut in diesel rates that was warranted due to the slump in oil price to USD 46 per barrel. A Finance Ministry notification said the excise duty on unbranded petrol is being hiked to Rs 8.95 per litre and that on unbranded diesel to Rs 7.96 per litre. The four excise duty hikes will result in about Rs 20,000 crore in additional revenue this fiscal and will help the government meet its fiscal deficit target of 4.1 per cent of the GDP. Petrol and diesel prices were last cut on December 16 by Rs 2 per litre each. Including Friday's reduction, petrol price have been cut by Rs 14.69 per litre on a cumulative basis since August, while diesel rates in five downward revisions have been slashed by a total of Rs 10.71 a litre. Crude oil price in June was at USD 115 per barrel. GOI Concerned accidents in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district and Banihal. Gadkari said that the hilly State of Jammu and Kashmir is not the lone example where the National Highway and other link roads pass over hills and gorges. “The authorities in the Jammu and Kashmir should go tough against the traffic violators and should constitute special checking squads to the increasing road accidents,” he said. He added that the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has conducted research on the reasons for increasing road accidents and has observed that lack of education, enforcement, engineering and emergency are the main reasons for the growing accidents. “I urge the Transport department of Jammu and Kashmir to focus on it if they want that the number of road accidents should come down,” Gadkari said and added that it is also the responsibility of the public to prevent road accidents by following the rules properly. The Minister advised Jammu and Kashmir government that Road Safety Council and District Road Safety Committees should be constituted to monitor mandatory safety measures for the vehicles plying on the roads in the State. It is to mention here that the State Government has constituted the Road Safety Council but nobody knows what the Council has been doing. Surprisingly the Transport Department is almost unaware about the Road Safety Council of the State. US Hails UN Security Council listed JuD as an alias of the proscribed Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terror group. Hafiz Saeed was listed as leader of LeT and Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, Haji Mohammad Ashraf, and Mahmoud Mohammad Ahmed Bahaziq as senior LeT members. In 2002, its pre- of tourism in the Jammu region. In order to boost the tourist arrivals, the Department has identified some border hamlets that will promote rural tourism,” Verma said. He said that the Jammu region is expected to be much better in the coming months than it remained during the last months in terms of tourist arrivals. “Jammu region with its vast possibilities has immense potential for the sustenance of the tourism industry. Jammu has vious incarnation, Markaz dawa wal Irshad was banned after the US launched its war on terror. Times of India’s Indrani Bagchi reports that on both occasions, officials in New Delhi said, the group re-emerged with a new name and new bank accounts. After the 2008 ban, Jamaat emerged as Tehreek-e-Tahafuz Qibla Awal with its leadership, connections and funds intact. The ban on the Haqqani network will be a first, even though in the past few months, the Pakistani army has launched military operations in North Waziristan, the declared home of the Haqqanis. Despite the sense of scepticism in India, the US State Department Deputy Spokesperson Marie Harf, was upbeat about the development. She told reporters in Washington “We welcome the reports that the Government of Pakistan plans to outlaw the Haqqani Network, Jamaat-ud-Dawa, and I think about ten other organisations linked to violent extremism.” Press Trust of India quoted Ms Harf as saying, “Certainly, this would be an important step going forward. We certainly believe that if this goes forward, that it would be an important step.” “We have a long history of close cooperation with Pakistan on counter-terrorism efforts. We’ve been very clear with the Pakistani government that they need to crack down and go after all terrorist groups that threaten them, threaten their people- their people are, unfortunately, the victims of more terrorist attacks than, people probably anywhere else,” she said. “It is an ongoing conversation, certainly, but this would be a very important step,” she added. Mr. Kerry, she said, had a successful visit to Pakistan, referring to the just concluded visit of Secretary of State John Kerry to Islamabad. “He had a number of conversations, not just about counter-terrorism issues - although that was a huge focus, and obviously wanted to personally express his condolences over the horrific attack in Peshawar — but also about the economic issues and other issues,” she said. “It’s a broad relationship that goes beyond security. I think that was a really key part of what he wanted to focus on when he was there. The banning of these terrorist groups is obviously for the government of Pakistan to decide on, but it was a very good visit,” the State Department spokesperson said. However, commentators in India are less optimistic. In the past week, Pakistan's finance minister jumped the gun to say that the US state department would certify Islamabad's compliance on terrorism to release $532 million in aid. The state department rushed to deny the reports. For Pakistan, banning terror organisations could be a good box to check, in this respect, and observers are questioning if that is what is really going on. - RTI Reveals bungling has not only been done in money, but the timber has also been swindled. “How can you justify expenditure of Rs 22.40 lakhs on maintenance of building in just one year and major portion of which has been spent in the last two months of the financial year? You can’t spent this whopping amount on maintenance of building,” they said. Claiming that most of the funds in the Division have been swindled over the years, sources said, “What is the logic of huge potential in tourism of all kinds be it sightseeing, religious tourism, adventure or historic places,” he said. The Director said that tourism has historically remained an instrument of economic growth in the State of Jammu & Kashmir and has contributed a lot in developing the economy. “This sector has given jobs to a large number of people and generated economic activities especially in the hilly sectors,” he said. posting an ineligible official as DFO of a premier division? KNS Major Infiltration hours, the sources said. Following the intrusion bid, the army placed whole area under cordon for whole night and conducted a search operation in the morning. “However, nothing was found,” they said. The fresh infiltration bid came a day after army warned of attacks by militants ahead of US president Barack Obama’s scheduled visit to India. Kargil Shivers nights. On Thursday, the city had recorded a low of 0.5 degree Celsius. Kargil was the coldest recorded place in the state with a low of minus 11.0 degree Celsius - down by nearly one degree. He said Leh town recorded a minimum of minus 10.0 degree Celsius against the previous night's minus 8.3 degree Celsius. Gulmarg was the coldest recorded place in the Valley with a minimum of minus 6.2 degree Celsius - up by 1.2 degrees against the previous night, the spokesman said. The north Kashmir hill resort along with other high altitude areas experienced snowfall on Tuesday ending a long dry spell. The plains including Srinagar were also lashed by intermittent rains the same day, much to the relief of people. saturday 17 01 2015 Kashmir Observer NEWS 25 Die Of Cold In India Riot Camps TRANS ASIA NEWS MEERUT: Along with the elections, those consigned to riot camps in Muzaffarnagar in August 2013 have been abandoned and left to fend for themselves in the bitter cold engulfing northern India at this time of year. Ahead of the general elections of 2014, the over 50,000 people who had fled their villages to escape the communal violence to settle in these camps were considered captive vote banks. Politicians regularly visited to seek votes and make promises of rehabilitating them at the time, but this winter, 25 people have quietly succumbed to the cold and hardly anyone seems to know or care. TOI which visited Muzaffarnagar to take stock of the situation reports that the camps there continue to house a little over 3,500 riot refugees. Shamli, it says has another 700 refugees. Grieving relatives of the 25 latest victims of the winter chill reportedly struggled to find as much as a decent burial place. Mohd Irfan at the relief camp at Loi village says, last year, the situation was quite different. He would sit outside his tent and count the number of politicians visiting those made homeless in the communal riots in Muzaffarnagar that killed 62 people in August 2013 and displaced thousands. The 35 year old Irfan says, what was a poll-issue during elections has now been conveniently forgotten. “thand toh abhi bhi utni hi hai, bas ab neta log nahi aate.” (It's as cold now as it was last year, just that no politicians come here anymore), he said. The disinterest in those still struggling at the relief camps is reflected by the level of ignorance and apathy in the district administration. Indramani Tripathi, additional district magistrate of Muzaffarnagar, claimed there were hardly any camps left in the area. "All the people at the relief camps in Muzaffarnagar were rehabilitated by December 2013. Moreover, not a single person has died in Muzaffarnagar in these winters,” he told TOI. Asked why the district administration has not been able to provide even basic amenities to the riot victims, Tripathi said, "Rehabilitation is a process. It takes time. A Rs 300 crore-project under Multi-Sectoral Development Programme (MSDP) will be sanctioned in the coming financial year. That will take care of the electricity and water connections for the rehabilitated people." However, NGO Astitva, which has been working for the rehabilitation of the riot victims, said the chill had begun to claim lives from the end of October last year. 3-year-old Simran who died in Loi on November 5, 2014, leaving wailing parents behind, is one of many victims. Originally a resident of riot-hit Faguna, Yakub, Simran's father, said, “We tried to keep her warm and fed her. She survived the 2013 winter, thanks to the help which came from the government, but this year she gave up on the struggle.” Minimum temperatures in Muzaffarnagar are reported to have gone down to as low as 2.5 degrees Celsius. Coupled with a severe shortage of fuel, food and medicines, the flimsy tents, many of them with holes in them, haven't been able to protect the refugees much. Their best hope has been to huddle together at night and pray for the next day to be warmer. Crouched inside a tent in Shahpur, Jahid, who lost his wife Zarina in November last year, said, “Sometimes I feel it would have been better had we died in the riots. At least we would have been away from all this ruckus of compensation. We lost our dignity long back fighting for the money which the government says is due to us.” Maqsood, a riot victim in Budhana, alleged that getting their hands on the compensa- tion amount of Rs 5 lakh announced by the Akhilesh Yadav government has been an excruciating struggle. “Many people have not got it till now. I, too, have not got any compensation. Because of that I still have to live in a tent. My wife, Pachho, died of the cold. I don't know when I will get the money.” Those who have managed to get the compensation and built small houses in villages nearby don't have electricity and water connections. Jaan Mohammed, who fled from Shamli to Budhana, said, “We have to indulge in katiyamari (getting unauthorised power through a hooked, extended wire from an electricity source). What can we do when the government doesn't help us? Are we supposed to live in the dark?” Rehana Adeeb, director, Astitva, said, “It is sad that the government doesn't consider these places as camps. The administration has its own perspective and tries to keep a clean image in front of the media. But the reality is that these camps exist and the people there are striving for rehabilitation and survival.” – RehabIlItatIOn Is a pROCess. It takes tIme. A Rs 300 crore-project under Multi-Sectoral Development Programme (MSDP) will be sanctioned in the coming financial year. That will take care of the electricity and water connections for the rehabilitated people." Dubai: Palestinian Islamist group Hamas on Tuesday denied reports that its leader Khaled Meshaal has been expelled from Qatar. “There is no truth to what some media outlets have published over the departure by brother Khaled Meshaal from Doha,” Hamas official Ezzat Al Rishq said by telephone. Another Hamas source confirmed that Meshaal was still in Doha. The Israeli regime’s foreign ministry issued a statement on Tuesday praising Qatar for kicking out Meshaal. It said the decision came after heavy lobbying by Israel, which considers Hamas to be a terror- ist group. Its Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman “pushed over the last few years a number of processes in both covert and overt channels with Qatar itself and other nations to bring about the situation in which Qatar would take such a step and halt its assistance to Hamas, both directly and indirectly,” reported Haaretz. Hamas belongs to the Muslim Brotherhood umbrella group, which is considered by Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the UAE as a terrorist group. The unconfirmed reports said Meshaal may move his base to Tehran. Beirut: Lebanese Hezbollah has detained one of its own operatives who has confessed to spying for Israel, its leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah acknowledged for the first time on Thursday, in a case that has shattered the group’s aura of impenetrability. Local media reported the arrest several weeks ago, describing the man as an officer overseeing foreign operations, but Hezbollah had previously declined to comment. Nasrallah told Beirutbased Al Mayadeen TV that the man was detained five months ago and had confessed to working for Israel’s intelligence service, Mossad. He said the arrest demonstrated Hezbollah’s vigilance in its 32 years of struggle against the Israeli regime. “For me this is a breach and should not happen but if it happens then it is part of the battle, it is part of the war between us and Israel,” he said. Censor Board head Muhammad Ali readmitted quits over MSG nod to hospital NEW DELHI: A day after Censor Board chief Leela Samson quit over clearance to controversial film Messenger of God, featuring Dera Saccha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in the lead role, the government of India denied any interference in the board's functioning. “There was no government interference in clearing the film Messenger of God", minister of state for Information and Broadcasting, Rajyavardhan Rathore told reporters in New Delhi on Friday, 16 Jan. Commenting on Ms. Samson’s resignation, the minister said, “This is her personal choice, the government has no comment on it.” He also said, “The Censor Board is an independent body, it needs to behave like one,” and that the decision of the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal (FCAT) over the film should be final and accepted by all. Amidst reports that the film has been cleared by FCAT, the Censor Board chief had resigned on Thursday night. Asked if she was aware of media reports that the Tribunal had cleared the film's screening, Samson told Press Trust of India “I hear so. Nothing in writing yet. It is a mockery of Central Board of Film Certification. My resignation is final. Have informed the (I&B) Secretary". Asked why she has decided to quit, she did not specifically refer to the reported clearance to the film but said the reasons cited are alleged "interference, coercion and corruption of panel members and officers of the organisation who are appointed by the ministry." BlaBlaCar Brings Car-pooling to india tRans asIa neWs NEW DELHI: French startup BlaBlaCar, which has become the world's largest long-distance ride-sharing community on the back of deteriorating public transport systems across the world, is launching in India on Wednesday. Backed by European and US venture capital firms, including Index Ventures and Accel Partners, BlaBlaCar will connect car owners and co-travellers to travel together on city-to-city journeys and share the cost of the journey.For starters, BlaBlaCar (a play on in-car babble between driver and passengers) plans to cash in on the 3.5 lakh people visiting the Jaipur Literature Fest slated to be held between January 21 and 25 reports the Times Of India.A person driving from Delhi to Jaipur , for instance with empty seats can post that fact on BlaBlaCar's website after checking in through his Facebook profile. Others travelling to Jaipur can hook up with him and travel together. "A trip like that would cost around Rs 700 per person," says Raghav Gupta, country manager India with BlaBlaCar. "The company controls the rates in such a way that the car owner/driver cannot earn a profit. The earnings may just cover the fuel costs. This will keep commercial players including taxi operators at bay." New York: Boxing legend Muhammad Ali has been readmitted to hospital for follow up care for a urinary tract infection, his second spell in the last four weeks. Family spokesperson Bob Gunnel Thursday said Ali, who turns 73 Saturday, was in a stable condition after being admitted to an undisclosed hospital, reports the dailymail.co.uk. Ali was earlier discharged from hospital Tuesday night after recovering form the same infection. 'There were further issues with the earlier diagnosis of a urinary tract infection,' said Gunnell. Ali, considered by many to be the greatest boxer of all time, retired from the sport in 1981 and has suffered with Parkinson's disease - a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system - since the mid-80s. CBI to question 'godman' on castration case TRANS ASIA NEWS CHANDIGARH/ INDIA:India’s Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered a case against self-styled godman Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh of Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda, in connection with the alleged forced castration of 400 of his followers. Political parties in India’s fertile region of Punjab and Haryana the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) and religious group comprising the Sirsa Sikhs have demanded that the CBI immediately arrest the controversial god man in the mass castration case. They said that the Dera chief should be treated like a common person during the course of the investigation. On January 7, CBI registered a case of cheating, causing grievous injury, intimidation and criminal conspiracy under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) against the Dera chief and others at the agency's special crime branch in New Delhi. A petition was filed in the high court in 2012 by a follower of Dera demanding a CBI inquiry and compensation for his alleged castration in 2000, CBI spokesperson Kanchan Prasad said. Prasad was quoted by media, that petitioner Hansraj Chauhan has alleged that around 400 male devotees, including himself, belonging to Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan, were castrated at the Dera ashram after its Ram Rahim falsely claimed that the castration would lead to “realisation of God through him”. Prasad also said the CBI was not keen to question to the Dera chief in Sirsa. “No arrest will be made, if the Dera chief co-operates. But any resistance will urge us to use force.” The court had earlier ordered a medical examination of the petitioner from the government multi-speciality hospital, which found that he had indeed been castrated. Ram Rahim is also facing trial in connection with cases of murders of a journalist and a Dera follower and sexual exploitation of his women disciples. -- AC Iran Overshadows America in Iraq BAGHDAD: In the eyes of most Iraqis, their country’s best ally in the war against terror is not the United States and the coalition air campaign against the militants. It’s Iran, which is credited with stopping the extremists’ march on Baghdad. Iran has effectively taken charge of Iraq’s defense, meeting the Iraqi government’s need for immediate help on the ground. Two to three Iranian military aircraft a day land at Baghdad airport, bringing in weapons and ammunition. Iran’s most potent military force and best known general — the Revolutionary Guard’s elite Quds Force and its commander Gen. Qasem Soleimani — are organizing Iraqi forces and have become the de facto leaders of Iraqi militias that are the backbone of the fight. Iran carried out airstrikes to help push militants from an Iraqi province on its border. The result is that Tehran’s influence in Iraq, already high since U.S. forces left at the end of 2011, has grown to an unprecedented level. Airstrikes by the U.S.-led coalition have helped push back the militants in parts of the north, including breaking a siege of a Shia town. But many Iraqis believe the Americans mainly want to help the Kurds. Airstrikes helped Kurdish forces stop extremists threatening the capital of the Kurdish autonomous zone, Irbil, in August. But even that feat is accorded by many Iraqis to a timely Iranian support to the Kurds. The meltdown of Iraq’s military in the face of the extremists’ summer blitz across much of northern and western Iraq gave Iran the opportunity to step in. A flood of volunteers joined the fight to fill the void, bolstering the ranks of militias already allied with Iran. Those militias have now been more or less integrated into Iraq’s official security apparatus, an Iraqi government official said, calling this the Islamic State group’s “biggest gift” to Tehran. “Iran’s hold on Iraq grows tighter and faster every day,” he said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Over the past year, Iran sold Iraq nearly $10 billion worth of weapons and hardware, mostly weapons for urban warfare like assault rifles, heavy machine-guns and rocket launchers, he said. The daily stream of Iranian cargo planes bringing weapons to Baghdad was confirmed at a news conference by a former militia leader, Jamal Jaafar. Better known by his alias Abu Mahdi al-Mohandis, Jaafar is second in command of the recently created state agency in charge of volunteer fighters. Some Sunnis are clearly worried. Sunni lawmaker Mohammed al-Karbuly said the United States must increase its support of Iraq W i d Abhishek buys Rs 41 e crore flat in Mumbai A MUMBAI: Bollywood star and only son of acting legend Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan has grabbed the headlines by parking an enormous sum of Rs. 41.14 crore in a luxury apartment in the prime Annie Besant Road area of Worli, Mumbai. With his high-value investment, the Junior Bachchan has joined the big league of b-town stars to pick real estate over the stock market as a safer bet. According to TOI, the fivebedroom house that the actor has chosen includes a family room, dining and living rooms, wet and dry kitchens and 20 feet terraces on all sides. This is reportedly one of the few projects in the city where authorities have sanctioned such unusually large terraces. The price works out to Rs 1.06 lakh a sq ft for the 3,875 sq ft flat for the apartment on the 37th floor of Skylark Towers. The stamp duty amount for Abhishek's apartment itself apparently works out to Rs 2.05 crore. A separate club house membership fee of Rs 25 lakh and development charges of Rs 35 lakh are also part of the sale agreement. The building comprises two wings, each 67 floors high constructed by Oasis Realty, a joint venture between developer Vikas Oberoi and dance bar ownerturned-realtor Sudhakar Shetty. A building industry source said film personalities prefer to pay by cheque. “There is no cash component at all, unlike the earlier days,” he said.Property market and film industry sources said film celebrities invest in residential and commercial projects or buy sprawling penthouses, row houses and bungalows for personal use. The preferred locations are in the suburbs between Bandra and Andheri. Other Bollywood actors like actor Hrithik Roshan and his father Rakesh, are also believed to be big investors in property. Last year, they pumped in Rs 70 crore to develop a plot off Andheri Link Road. The 3,000 sq m plot near Infiniti mall will be used to build a 26-storey high-end residential tower in a joint venture with a local developer.About a year ago, Hrithik moved into a 3,600 sq ft apartment in Prime Beach building near the Hare Krishna temple at Juhu. He has taken the flat on leave and licence and is paying a monthly rent of Rs 6.5 lakh. Akshay Kumar also has a flat in Prime Beach. In July last, actor Shahid Kapoor is reported to have paid Rs 30 crore for a sprawling apartment with a garden in Pranita building on Juhu Tara Road. Actor Vidya Balan too has a flat in this building, reportedly purchased for a similar amount. Actor Emran Hashmi is believed to have shelled out Rs 15 crore for an apartment on Pali Hill a year ago. Saif Ali Khan and wife Kareena bought a penthouse for Rs 23.50 crore in Satguru Sharan building in Khar (West) two years ago. against the extremists in order to reduce Iran’s influence. “Iran now dominates Iraq,” he said. Equally key to Iran’s growing influence has been a persistent suspicion of Washington’s intentions, particularly among Shia militiamen. Hadi al-Amiri, a prominent politician close to Iran and leader n g l e Gen. Qasem Soleimani of the powerful Badr militia, complained in a recent television interview that Iraq was a victim of decades of “wrong” U.S. policies in the Middle East. He charged that the precursors of the region’s Sunni extremists had in the past enjoyed U.S. patronage. “We fear that the objective of the U.S.-led coalition is to contain Daesh, rather than exterminate it,” he said, using the Arabic acronym for the ISIL. Speaking this week at a memorial service in Iran for a Revolutionary Guard officer killed by an ISIL sniper, al-Amiri mused that Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi’s three-monthold administration would have been a “government-in-exile” if not for Iran’s swift help to protect Baghdad. The praise does not just come from Shia politicians. During a trip to Tehran last week, Iraq’s Sunni defense minister, Khaled al-Obeidi, said Iran’s help against the militants is a “strategic necessity” for Iraq. U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Stuart Jones acknowledged to The Associated Press that Iran plays an important role in fighting ISIL. He made clear there was no interaction between the U.S. and Iranian operations. “Let’s face it, Iran is an important neighbor to Iraq. There has to be cooperation between Iran and Iraq,” he said in a Dec. 4 interview. “The Iranians are talking to the Iraqi security forces and we’re talking to Iraqi security forces . We’re relying on them to do the de-confliction.” U.S. Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Washington is watching the relationship carefully. C M Y K Hezbollah Qatar Likely To Top Deport Hamas Chief Admits Israel Spy in Group news Ex-AAP leader Shazia joins BJP New Delhi: Former AAP leader Shazia Ilmi Friday joined the BJP 'for the rest of my life' after lavishing praise on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. A day after former police officer Kiran Bedi formally joined the Bharatiya Janata Party, it was the turn of Ilmi, who broke ranks some time ago with Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal. 'There is indeed a new political discourse in the country, and we must all be a part of it,' the journalist-turned-politician told the media in the company of Delhi BJP president Satish Upadhyay. She admitted she had had differences with the BJP and the Congress in the past. 'But in the last six months I have realized that the prime minister is doing a good job. The way he invoked Mahatma Gandhi's name for the Swacch Bharat (Clean India) campaign is very impressive,' she said. Ilmi had contested - and narrowly lost - the December 2013 assembly elections on AAP ticket. C M Y K 'Sonia's book never banned, it wasn't allowed to publish' New Delhi: Publisher Roli Books, set to release Congress president Sonia Gandhi's biography, said Friday said the book was never banned in India but its Spanish publisher had found 'the atmosphere was not right' to publish it in 2008. Written by Spanish author Javier Moro 'My Red Sari' (El Sari Rojo), which will release here Saturday, was originally published in Spanish in 2008 and became an instant bestseller in the European and international markets. However, when the publishers decided to bring it to India, they faced protests from the Congress party, which called the biography 'completely imaginary and invented conversations'. 'It would be wrong to say that the book was banned in India. Our publication never faced any pressure from anyone. It was the Spanish publishers who felt that the atmosphere was not right to publish the book then,' Pramod Kapoor, publisher and CEO Roli Books, told IANS. 'They didn't want to publish it and I was not privy to their talks with the Congress party or lawyers,' he added. Kapoor was quick to also add that the book doesn't offer any 'controversial' elements and in fact talks about Gandhi's strength and how from being a foreigner she helmed one of the most powerful positions in the country. For this edition, the author has written an epilogue and included last year's Lok Sabha elections in which Congress party won only 44 seats in the 545 member house, with the polls being held for 543 seats. Once close to Kejriwal, Ilmi was reportedly unhappy that the AAP fielded her in the Lok Sabha elections of 2014 from Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh where she finished a distant fifth. Ilmi earlier called on BJP president Amit Shah. She said she expected 'nothing' from the BJP. 'You can ask Amit Bhai and others. I have not asked for anything,' she said. 'It is an opportunity to serve my city and nation.' Ilmi further said that it was her decision to not fight the election and she hoped that the party will respect that. 'However, I am ready to take up any responsibility that the party gives me,' she added. Along with Ilmi, music director Anand Raaj Anand too joined the party. India has the most public holidays in the world TRANS ASIA NEWS MUMBAI: According to a study done by online travel portal Wego to compare the number of public holidays enjoyed by the work force of different nationalities, India stands alone at the top with around 21 days each year, even more depending on which state one lives in. This defies the perception that office-goers in developing nations are perhaps holiday-deprived. Asian neighbours like the Philippines, China, Hong Kong, and Malaysia follow the trend in India, albeit with diminishing numbers. According to Joachim Holte, Chief Marketing Officer of Wego, “In the Asia/Pacific region, the Philippines follows with 18 and then there is China, Hong Kong with 17 holidays each. Thailand receives 16, 15 in Malaysia and Vietnam, 14 for Indonesia, 13 in Taiwan and South Korea, 11 in Singapore and 10 in Australia and New Zealand.” TOI reports that according to the study, Europeans don't fare too badly with Sweden and Lithuania offering the most at 15 (the latter with an additional 28 days of paid leave), followed by 14 in Slovakia, 13 in Austria, Belgium and Norway and 12 in Finland and Russia. Spain and the UK are the least holiday-minded, with only eight. In the United Arab Emirates, another fast developing travel market, you can expect 11 public holidays in 2015. Holte said, “China is not only one of the fastest growing travel segments in the world, their government makes it easy for workers to take longer breaks. Should the year's public holidays fall on a weekend the government swaps the official dates with weekdays, maximising time off.” As a result of the adjustment, this year, the total of 17 public holidays in China equates to 28 days off. Similarly the Taiwanese total of 13 public holidays results in 29 days off, inclusive of weekends. Mexico has the lowest in the world with only seven public holidays each year although the government permits a few more 'optional' public holidays, at the employer's discretion. The survey finds that in some countries a little more in the way of statutory holiday leave is provided which can top up public holidays. For instance, the public holiday count of 18 in the Philippines is increased with an additional five days mandatory holiday leave, and while Australian workers receive around ten public holidays depending on which state you live in, annual holiday leave entitlement totals an additional 20 working days. -- Kerala writer announces his 'death' TRANS ASIA NEWS CheNNAi: Popular Indian writer Perumal Murugan, one of the finest writers of his generation in the Tamil language has announced his ‘death’ on Facebook over lack of freedom of speech. Perumal Murugan, 48, wrote on behalf of Perumal Murugan. “Author Perumal Murugan is dead. He is no God. Hence, he will not resurrect. Hereafter, only P Murugan, a teacher, will live,” it reads. With these dramatic words on his Facebook page, the renowned Indian writer announced his decision to give up writing forever. The provocation: wrathful protests against his novel Madhorubhagan by local Hindu and caste-based groups. Madhorubhagan, first published in 2010, is set a century ago, It's a gripping fictional account of a poor, childless couple, and how the wife, who wants to conceive, takes part in an ancient Hindu chariot festival where, on one night, consensual sex between any man and woman is allowed. Murugan explores the tyranny of caste and pathologies of a community in tearing the cou- Ranji TRophy Imran Haroon denies Bengal win, keeps J&K in quarters hunt Bengal bowlers again failed to provide decisive blows as debutant imran haroon’s century helped Jammu and Kashmir get a point to remain in hunt for a quarter-final berth in the Ranji Trophy. Set a stiff target of 337 from 76 overs after Bengal declared their second innings for 264/5, Jammu & Kashmir made merry on an eased out Eden Gardens strip with Haroon standing tall with an unbeaten 103 that had nine boundaries and a six. With 11 points from six games, Jammu and Kashmir still have an outside chance while Bengal with 10 points from five games are in the sixth spot, improving from their last position before this round. Disappointed with the way the surface behaved, Bengal skipper Laxmi Ratan Shukla said: "It was a good wicket, as far as batting was concerned. I did not see a single ball turning from the 70-odd overs we bowled.” “Yes it’s the C M Y K Kashmir Observer bowler’s job to get the turn but at the same time you expect some help from the pitch. We did not get an iota of support from the pitch but no regrets. There was no help from the wicket so it was a brave decision to set them a target of 336 from 76 overs.” Earlier, Bengal batted for exactly for an hour and could manage only 48 runs from 14 overs before declaring the innings for 264/5. This was Bengal’s third successive draw at home, and on the last two occasions they wasted opportunities to register outright wins, failing to exploit the home conditions. Brief Scores Bengal 387 and 264/5 declared; 58 overs (Abhimanyu Easwaran 63, Manoj Tiwary 61, Arindam Das 60). Jammu & Kashmir 315 and 219/2; 70.2 overs (Imran Haroon 102 not out, Adil Reshi 58, Ian Dev Singh Chauhan 56 not out). Points: Bengal 3; Jammu & Kashmir 1. Karnataka grab 3 points from draw Defending champions Karnataka grabbed three points, owing to their first innings lead, after Aditya Shrivastava (108) and Naman Ojha (115) came up with contrasting centuries to help Madhya Pradesh score 277-3 in their second innings on the fourth and final day of the drawn Ranji match. Karnataka had surpassed Madhya Pradesh’s first innings score of 303 on Thursday, reaching 516 for 8 at stumps with Abhimanyu Mithun and Udit Patel at the crease. Brief Score: Madhya Pradesh: 303 & 277/3 in 69 overs. (A Shrivastava 108, N Ojha 115; R Vinay Kumar 1/17). Karnataka: 522 all out in 172.2 overs (M Pandey 193, S Gopal 124; P M Datey 4/80). Baroda bag three points Baroda bagged the all important three points by taking the first innings lead against Railways on day four morning before the Ranji match ended in a dull draw. Railways, needing 48 runs to get past Baroda’s 298, lost their remaining three wickets for 12 runs to end at 263, offering little resistance against the left-arm pace of Irfan Pathan and Gagandeep Singh. Baroda were 240 for five in their second innings when play was called off. ple apart and destroying their marriage. It is also not entirely clear why the groups got worked up over a novel published in Tamil four years ago. Murugan reckons the English translation ‘One Part Woman’ which was published last year by Penguin, is probably the reason, and that “ somebody who read it could have instigat- ed the local organisations”. In December, the right-wing Hindu nationalist group Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) burnt copies of the book and called for a day-long strike, prompting his publishers and writers to issue a strong statement. None of the political parties - regional or national - have spoken in support of Murugan. The Hindu quoted Murugan, “There is “no evidence”, that such a mating ritual ever existed and only stories about it were passed on orally. The temple has 11 festivals every year and the chariot festival seems to be still continuing, going by the temple website pictures.” One critic said the novel "lays bare with unsparing clarity a relationship caught between the dictates of social conventions and the tug of personal anxi- eties". Fellow writers lauded Murugan's stark and shocking imagery and his "sensitive portrait" of the couple. "Childless couples, especially the women in these marriages, suffer untold humiliation even today. If anything deserves to be banned, it is this control over women's sexuality," wrote the BBC's Soutik Biswas in a quote attributed to Murugan's translator Aniruddhan Vasudevan. Murugan's novels are rooted in the western region of Tamil Nadu where he was born. His stories are peopled by characters caught up in the whirligig of maddening change, struggling peasants, a child bonded to work in an upper caste home to repay the loan taken by his father. He has been outspoken about the evil practice of caste discrimination. --AC C M Y K C M Y K 8 SATURDAY 17 01 2015 It was a good wicket, as far as batting was concerned. I did not see a single ball turning from the 70-odd overs we bowled. Bengal : j&K : 315 and 219/2; 70.2 overs (imran haroon 102 not out, adil Reshi 58, ian Dev Singh Chauhan 56 not out). Points: Bengal 3 | jammu & Kashmir 1 C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K C M Y K 387 and 264/5 declared; 58 overs (abhimanyu easwaran 63, Manoj Tiwary 61, arindam Das 60).