PDD daily wagers stage demos in Jammu, Srinagar

Hundreds of daily wage employees of Power Development Department (PDD) staged a demonstration in Jammu and Srinagar demanding regularization of their services, reports said. The protesting employees staged a demonstration inside the premises of the Chief Engineers office R&ME at Srinagar and later tried to bring out a processinon. The employees shouting anti government slogans demanded regularisation of their services and release of pending salaries. “Government has not fulfilled the promises it made while promising to regularize our services,” President of the Daily Wager Employee Association, Muzaffar Ahmad said. He said that the employees have now decided to disrupt the power service in case their demands are not met with. The PDD daily wage employees later took out a procession; however, they were stopped by the police. In Jammu the protesting employees marched towards Civil Secretariat Complex, but were stopped by the police. Sources said that police resorted to cane charge as they tried to gherao the complex. Three daily wage employees were injured in the police action, sources added.

IASSCAS organises seminar

JAMMU, DEC 31: Indian Association of Solid State Chemists and Allied Scientists (IASSCAS) organized one day seminar in the ISCAS Institute of Solid State and Materials Science today on ‘Synthetic Organic Chemistry and its Impact on Society’. Prof. Maya Shankar Singh, an eminent scientist from Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, was the key speaker. Professor Singh in his address discussed in details the impact of synthetic organic chemistry in meeting the food, medicinal and energy needs of the human race. Discovery of polymers by synthetic means helped in providing clothing to millions, which otherwise was not possible. The synthetic organic molecules being used in drugs have increased the average life span of human beings world over and relieved of miseries of diseases. Of the sixteen million synthetic molecules known today, approximately ninety percent are organic in nature, he said. He further elaborated that the ancient Indian philosophers had very deep knowledge of synthetic organic chemistry, which resulted in development of Ayurvedic drugs. Professor Indu Bhushan Sharma, President, Indian Association of Solid State Chemists and Allied Scientists, presided over the function and thanked the worthy speaker for delivering the keynote address. Professor B.L Sharma, Former Head, Department of Chemistry, introduced the guest speaker. Academia/teachers from the University and various colleges participated in the programme.

CM approves 3000 posts for Kashmir migrants

Government notifies appointment rules

Chief Minister, Mr. Omar Abdullah has approved 3000 posts for Kashmir unemployed migrants. These posts will be in the Departments of Education, Social Welfare, Relief Organization, Engineering, Finance, Tourism, Health and Revenue in Kashmir Division. The Jammu and Kashmir Migrants (Special Drive) Recruitment Rules shall be notified which have also been approved by the government. This is a part of the Government’s efforts to create conducive conditions for Kashmiri migrants in the valley for dignified livelihood earning. The posts will be filled up by the Service Selection Board on fast track. The Rules formulated for the purpose provide that the migrants so appointed against these posts shall have to work in the valley. The Rules also provide for constitution of Special Committees for filling up of the posts of Class-IV. J&K today notified the rules for the special recruitment drive under the Prime Minister’s Package for Return and Rehabilitation of Kashmiri migrants to the Kashmir Valley. The Notification follows the repeated commitments made by the Chief Minister, Mr Omar Abdullah and the Minister for Revenue and Rehabilitation, Mr Raman Bhalla. Significantly, the Notification has been issued a day ahead of the dead-line set for implementation of the vital component of the package. The Government had constituted a Sub Committee, on October 1 this year, to suggest measures for expeditious implementation of the package. This decision had been taken at a high level meeting of the Apex Committee on September 23. The Chief Minister and the Revenue Minister had been monitoring the progress with regard to framing of rules and procedures of the special drive. The recruitment shall be made in a time bound manner on merit basis. The Notification dwells on the process and procedures of the recruitment. Giving details of the package, the Revenue Secretary, Mr Eijaz Iqbal said that 3,000 selections shall be made in the first phase. As per the Notification, the Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board shall be the Selection Authority for making recruitment/selection to the non-gazetted posts. The Board will conduct a special drive to make selection on the basis of open merit, subject to provisions of the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Act and the rules made there under. The Board, after selecting the candidates, shall forward the list to the Revenue Department and the Revenue Department shall communicate the details to the concerned Departments who shall issue their appointment and posting orders. According to the Notification, a Committee shall be constituted by the Revenue Department for making Class IV appointments. The Departments, having competence to make the appointments, shall issue appointment orders only after the selectee reports in the valley and shall allow them to join only after production of various documents, including the agreement in the prescribed form. The appointee, under these rules, shall have to work within the Kashmir Valley and shall not be eligible for transfer outside the Valley under any circumstances. The seniority of the appointees shall be fixed at the places on the posts of their first appointment in that particular grade/service. The Government has identified the departments, mentioning therein the number of posts, earmarked for the special recruitment drive, which include 1,760 in the Education Department, 234 in Social Welfare Department, 190 in Relief Organization, 191 in Finance Department, 500 in Engineering Departments, 35 in Health, 90 in Revenue and 15 in Tourism Departments. All the migrants, registered with the Relief Organization, including the internally displaced migrants (within the Valley) shall be eligible for applying for appointment against these posts. The appointees shall have to execute an agreement with the Government that they will serve in the Valley against the posts on which appointed and at a place where posted. In case the appointee migrates from the Valley again for any reason, whatsoever, shall loose the job without any notice and shall stand terminated. The Notification also prescribed the eligibility of the candidates applying for the posts. All the registered migrant unemployed youth shall be eligible for appointment against the posts and they must be within the age prescribed for entry in Government services and possess the prescribed qualification and experience for the posts. The Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner for Migrants shall be the designate authority for authentication of the migrant status of the applicant, which shall also ensure that the applicant is a bonafide migrant.

Kisan Tehrik holds protest

A day long protest was held by J&K Kisan Tehrik, Jammu in front of Divisional Commissioner’s office today under the chairmanship of Comrade Sohan Lal Sharma, a veteran farmer leader. The protest was held to highlight the demands of farming community that included provision of fertilizers and seeds through cooperative agencies, implementation of crop insurance scheme, 4 percent interest on loan, issuance of passbooks regarding land records of farmers, subsidy on life

saving drugs etc. Addressing the farmers, Com Kishore Kumar, President, apprised that lot of farmers who despite being backbone of the society were suffering immensely due to neo-liberal economic policies of
the successive governments after 1990. Thousands of farmers have committed suicide during last two decades, due to the apathy shown by successive governments towards their genuine economic concerns, he added.
He appealed the State Government to ensure timely provision of fertilizers and seeds to the farmers of the state, preferably through cooperative departments to avoid sub standard quality. He further said that rise in prices of essential commodities and medicines have hit the down trodden and peasants badly to the extent that it has become very hard to make both ends meet.
Com Sham Prashad Kesar, Om Prakash, Dharam Singh, Mandev Singh, Mangat Ram and Master Brita Rama also addressed the dharna.

Himalyan Buddhist Cultural Association holds protest

Activists of Himalayan Buddhist Cultural Association today took out a rally and later held protest demonstration against failure of the central as well as the state governments in fulfilling their long pending demands. The protest was led by the President of the association Tashi Targis. A large number of women and students from Ladakh were participated and raised anti-government slogans and carrying placards with highlighting their demands. Tashi Targis, while addressing the protestors, said that the people of Ladakh has been discriminated for decades in all matters and at all levels. Their language has not been included in the 8th schedule till date. This language is being spoken from Arunachal Pradesh to Ladakh and is the oldest language but has not been included in the 8^th schedule of the Indian Constitution, while a number of other languages which are used by a very less population have been honoured by including in the 8th Schedule. It is total injustice and discrimination with us. He further said that the route to holy Kailash Mansarover needs to be re-opened through Ladakh for the comfort of the yatris and thirdly the government of India should use all its channels to press China to vacate Tibet, illegally occupied by it. Tashi Targis said it is not for the first time that the people of Ladakh have come on roads to draw the attention of the government to highlight their demands but unfortunately no one is serious towards these. Repeated claims of ending discrimination with Ladakh are made by the successive governments in the state as well as at the centre but in reality no effective steps have been taken to fulfill our demands. He said that it is due to the weak foreign policy of the Central government that China has started interfering in our internal matters. It was the Congress government in 1962 which surrendered 42,000 sq. km. of our land to China and now again it is the same Congress-led government at the centre which has adopted a complete silence over china’s interference in our matters. He asked the UPA as to why it has not made it clear to China that we will not tolerate any interference and that Jammu and Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh are integral parts of India. He said when Government of India can hold talks with Pakistan, why it do not deem it necessary to raise the issues of Ladakhis with China? Why different yardsticks are adopted for one region of the state and the other while both are the important parts of the Jammu and Kashmir. The people of ladakh too are as equal citizens of India that of Kashmir and Jammu and hence their demands too need to be redressed. He declared that the Association will not rest till their demands are not fulfilled. Ladakh Students Union President, Tsering Norfil, Women Wing President of the Association Tsewang Dolma, Ladakh Kalyan Sangh Convener Dr. Anil Kumar, advocate Tashi Raftan and Student leader Rinchen Daba also addressed the protestors on this occasion

Tazia, Zuljinah and Alam processions mark Ashoora across J&K

People, especially from Sunni sect, were also seen offering refreshments to the mourners



To commemorate the martyrdom of Imam-e-Hussain ( AS) and his companions numbering 72 in the desert of Karbala, the Shia Muslims took out the processions of Tazia, Zuljinah and Alam at different places across the J&K State today. However, in Srinagar the main Muharram procession on traditional route from Abiguzar to Zadibal could not be taken out due to ban since the eruption of militancy. The main procession in Jammu was taken out from Imambargah New Plots which merged with another procession at Peer Metha and jointly marched towards the Karbala Complex at Wazarat Road. The processions passing through the different routes of the city including New Plots, Amphalla, Ustaad Mohalla, Panjtirthi, Jain Bazar, Lakhdata Bazar, Rajinder Bazar, Shahidi Chowk and finally culminated at Karbala Complex Jammu. The people including of all religion, caste and creed also paid rich tributes to Imam-e-Hussain, the grand son of Prophet Mohammad (SAW) who laid down his life for the cause of truth and humanity which was at the brink of disaster at the hands of Yazeed the tyrant ruler of Syria. Thousands of Shia Muslims participated in the procession while beating their chests with hands and sharp edged objects. They were reciting couplets describing the tragedy of Karbala. The participation of Shia Muslims was large due to the migrant students of Kargil, Leh and the employees of ‘Darbar Move’. The government had made elaborate arrangement of security to avoid any untoward situation, PHE, PDD, Traffic Police and Municipal Corporation Jammu have been making efforts for last 10 days to fulfill their responsibilities to the satisfaction of the people. Relevant to mention here that prior to Militancy the Muharram procession used to be taken out from Abiguzar to Zadibal but during the Governor’s rule of Jagmohan in 1990 it was banned on the plea of militancy which is still to continued. The Shia Muslims since two decades taking out procession in respective pockets inhabited by Shia Muslims in Srinagar including Zadiba, Hassanabad and Bemina. At Peer Metha, while addressing the mourners, the head priest said that the truth prevails always and those who die for humanity remain alive and are remembered always. Others who spoke on the occasion include Fida Hussain Mousawi, master Hafeez Raza etc.

SRINAGAR: Despite prevailing harsh cold conditions, Ashoora processions were taken out in different parts of the valley on the eve of 10th Muharram, marking the martyrdom anniversary of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) and 72 martyrs at Karbala (Iraq) for the protection of Islam over 1300 years ago. Thousands of mourners took out a procession from Sheribhat area here and culminated into the ‘Majlis-e-Shaam-e-Gareebaan’ at the historic Imambara of Zadibal Alamgari Bazar late this evening. It was the largest Zuljanah procession in Valley with nearly fifty thousand mourners participating in it. Groups of the mourners, most of them bare-footed, were seen striking sharp edged blades and knives on various body parts. The blood continue to spill on the streets even as condition of some of the mourners weaken during the self-flagellation process. They were provided immediate first-aid by medical teams deputed by the state administrations. Apart from make shift tents, ambulances with doctors, para-medics and medicines were kept ready at the place. Many mourners were seen striking their chest and head with hands as they continued to recite Nowha and Marsiya to pay accolade to the martyrs of Karbala. Many devotees were seen touching Zuljannah with reverence while several were seen passing the young children under it. People, especially from Sunni sect, were also seen offering refreshments including special drinks and food to the mourners. The second major procession was taken out at Imambara of Mirgund and after passing through various lanes and by-lanes, it ended at the historic Imambara of Budgam in the central Kashmir. Reports of Zuljinnah and Alam processions were also received from all districts of the valley including Dab Wakora (Ganderbal), Pandraithan and Hassanabad in Srinagar, Pattan, Qazipora in Baramulla district, Gongwa, Wakharwan, Chhatergul, Sallar and Devsar in South Kashmir. Meanwhile, state administrations put barricades at various entry points towards the Alamgari Bazar including Gojwara and Hawal to prevent attempts to disturb it. In Lal Chowk, they said, concertina wires were transversely laid on road stretch near Regal Chowk and Ghata-Ghar (clock tower). However, scores of people led by Aga Syed Hassan Mujtaba took a procession from Moulana Azad Road here. The police stopped them near STRC yard and bundled them in already awaiting police vehicles. Police also foiled a procession led by Nissar Hussein Rather, General Secretary Tehreek Wahadat Islami near Ghataghar as it resorted to baton charge. Police also detained Rather and some of his associates. Reports of Ashoora processions were also received from Jammu including Pir Mitha Imam Bada and after passing through Lakhadata Bazar, Kanak Mandi, Rajinder Bazar and Shaheedi Chowk. In Leh and Kargil Taziya processions were taken out where thousands of mourners participated. Reports said that the administration had made adequate arrangements to ensure a trouble free procession. On Saturday and Sunday last, police resorted to aerial firing besides fired several rounds of teargas shells and use batons to chase away mourners who tried to stage a procession in Commercial hub here. More than 100 mourners were detained while 50 including some police personnel injured in the ensuing clashes.