Srinagar: The Governor’s administration deputed advisor Khursheed Ganie and the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Baseer Khan to pay floral tributes to martyrs of 13 July 1931 at the martyrs’ graveyard at Naqashband Sahib here early Saturday morning.

On this day in 1931, 22 Kashmiris were killed in firing by the forces of the then Dogra ruler Hari Singh outside the central jail in Srinagar.

Also National Conference president and parliamentarian Farooq Abdullah, party’s general secretary Ali Mohammad Sagar besides Lok Sabha representative from Anantnag Hasnain Massodi and other senior leaders visited the graveyard and paid tributes to the martyrs. PDP senior leaders also visited the martyrs’ graveyard and paid tributes to the martyrs.

Governor Satya Pal Malik like his predecessor N N Vohra skipped the personal visit to the martyrs’ graveyard this morning as the state’s head did when the J&K was under governor’s rule on this day in 2008. The Governor Satya Pal Malik issued statement yesterday, calling for collective efforts from all sections of society to secure rapid growth and development of the State on all fronts.

In his message on the occasion of martyrs day, Governor “observed that Jammu and Kashmir has always been known for its glorious pluralistic ethos and harmony and emphasised the crucial importance of maintaining unity and brotherhood for ushering the State towards peace and prosperity.”

Barring the Bharatiya Janata Party, the entire spectrum of political ideologies in the state observes July 13 as martyrs day in J&K.

Jammu, Jul 12 : Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and President People`s Democratic Party (PDP) Mehbooba Mufti on Friday paid glowing tributes to July 13 martyrs and said that  that with their blood these 22 pious souls wrote a new chapter in the state`s history. 

In her message, Mehbooba said that best tribute to the martyrs of July 13 will be to keep striving for strengthening the institutions of democracy, justice and fair play. 

She said that on this day we must resolve to rise above self and help in creating a tolerant society where everyone can grow in a free democratic atmosphere.

“Let us all come together to develop a virtuous society which is just and guided by principles of secular democratic temperament. This is what the brave heroes of July 13, 1931 taught us by laying down their lives against suppression and autocracy,” Mehbooba said. 

Hands over Rs 5 lakh cheque to NoK

Baramulla, Jul 12 : Advisor to Governor K Vijay Kumar accompanied by Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Baseer Ahmad Khan and Secretary Youth Services and Sports, Sarmad Hafiz today visited the Tangpora Pattan to console the family of young cricketer Jahangir Ahmad War who died yesterday during a cricket match organised in Anantnag district.

Advisor expressed heartfelt grief and sorrow over the demise and handed over a cheque worth Rs 5 lakh to the bereaved family. The cash compensation was announced by Governor Satya Pal Malik.

Expressing deep sympathies with the bereaved family, the Advisor prayed for eternal peace to the deceased and endurance of the family to bear this irreparable loss.

Meanwhile, he announced that Jahangir Memorial Cricket Tournament will be organized every year in every district.

DDC Baramulla Dr G N Itoo, DG Youth Services and Sports, SSP Baramulla, senior officers of Civil and police administration were also present on the occasion

Ganderbal, Jul 12 : Women Helpline Service (181) of the Social Welfare Department and Public Service organization local NGO today organized an awareness camp at Govt Higher Secondary School Baharabad Hajin.

The purpose of the camp was to make students ,teachers ,community members aware, regarding the various services the organization can provide to them on its helpline number—181 /OSC.

State Coordinator JK WHL (181) Bilal Bhat emphasis the overall services provided by Women’s Helpline to the participants.

Giving details about the Women Helpline Service, Bilal Bhat said it is an initiative of the Government to provide 24 hour-immediate response to women affected by violence and represent them in front of appropriate authorities, including police and legal ones.

He added even women in distress can reach on the number who would be provided with immediate support. Besides, the WHS (181) also provides hospital assistance and temporary shelter to the deserving affectees.

School administration appreciated the move and pledged to strengthen the message for masses. IEC materials were also disturbed among the participants. More than four hundred students participated the day long awareness campaign.

Srinagar, Jul 12 : Advisor to Governor, K Vijay Kumar today launched a programme “Har Kadam, Ham Kadam’, an initiative by the Srinagar district administration under which wheelchairs are to be distributed to specially abled persons at their doorsteps free of cost.

Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Baseer Ahmad Khan, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, ADC Srinagar K K Sidha, CMO Srinagar Dr Talat Jabeen and other concerned officers were present on the occasion.

The Advisor launched the programme by flagging of a special vehicle at civil secretariat, which will deliver the wheelchairs to the beneficiaries at their doorsteps free of cost.

DC Srinagar Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary while apprising the Advisor about this initiative informed that to help the specially abled persons of the district, public was requested to register themselves with the district administration after which around 300 requests were made during last 10 days by such people from various parts of the district.

He further informed that to ensure home delivery of wheelchairs, a committee was constituted under the control of jurisdictional Tehsildars involving representatives from Social Welfare, Health and Revenue department. The committee was asked to complete the process of distribution of wheelchairs within 15 days.

It was also informed that among the registered beneficiaries, the students belonging to poor families would also be sponsored for free education for a period of one year. Expenses for books and other things will be incurred by the district administration, the DC said.

District Social Welfare Officer is designated as Nodal Officer for implementation of the programme and he is also being directed to monitor the process of distribution of wheelchairs to the beneficiaries.

Complimenting the Srinagar district administration for this noble initiative they have taken, the Advisor said that other districts of the state should replicate this initiative in their respective districts and also data of such specially abled persons be compiled for ready reference.

He said that this initiative of Srinagar district administration would surely bring a smile on the faces of all identified beneficiaries and make them able to walk with the help of wheelchairs easily.

K Vijay Kumar also enquired from CMO Srinagar about the age-group of the beneficiaries who registered themselves for this programme and the reasons for their disability. 

Srinagar, Jul 12 : Reiterating that the purpose for which martyrs of 13 July 1931 laid down their lives will always remain a dream till Kashmir issue is resolved on basis of justice and in its historic perspective, AIP President Er. Rasheed has asked main stream political parties to give up hypocrisy.

In a statement issued, Er. Rasheed said “Isn’t it unfortunate that though India did not figured as a union on 13 July 1931 and Pakistan’s name did not exist even on papers but Jammu and Kashmir was a sovereign state, not directly controlled by British. However as of now Kashmiris are trapped between the animosity of India and Pakistan and their identity, respect, dignity and honor are facing existential crises. Those who sacrificed their lives, gave their blood for a better future of their generations but the fact is that Kashmiris have seen nothing changing, except getting rid of autocratic rule of Maharaja but finding themselves in a more humiliating and miserable situation at the hands of so called democratically elected governments from 1947 till date. The martyrs of 13 July had not laid down their lives for barricades, sieges and bulldozing all rights of people of Jammu & Kashmir at the hands of controlled democracy”. While Maharaja had suppressed the voices of masses without taking direction from anyone , those claiming Kashmiris to be part of largest democracy of the world are doing worst with the citizens of the state just on the directions of New Delhi.

He said “Let us be honest in confessing that the real legal heirs of martyrs of 1931 are those languished in jails, facing atrocities every day and pro resistance leaders who have been caged by the state”.

Er. Rasheed appealed New Delhi not to forget that hearts are not won by keeping guns on the heads but reconciliation is only possible if the fundamental rights of Kashmiris are restored and Jammu & Kashmir is made India’s integral part through a free and fair plebiscite, as promised by New Delhi itself from time to time.

Srinagar, Jul 12 : An impressive one day workers’ convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was held on Friday in Srinagar’s Batamaloo constituency in which party’s senior leadership highlighted its mission and underlined the need for stronger PDP to safeguard Kashmir’s core interests.

Chaired by PDP Vice President Abdul Rahman Veeri, others who attended the convention included the party general secretary Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura, PDP’s Srinagar District President Mohammad Khurshid Alam, state secretary and former MLA Batamaloo Noor Mohammad Sheikh.

Veeri in his address highlighted how the PDP in state’s political landscape emerged as the best alternative to despotic and anarchic rule and provided a platform to a common man to seek resolution of his grievances.

He said that in spite of being in coalition with the BJP in Jammu and Kashmir, the PDP safeguarded the interests of Jammu and Kashmir under the very challenging circumstances. He said as head of the coalition government, Mehbooba Mufti always advocated for dialogue with stakeholders and made earnest efforts to bring lasting peace in the state.

The PDP Vice President asked the party supporters to highlight the achievements of the party which in spite of trying circumstances was able to uphold its principles and didn’t compromise on its ideology. Party general secretary Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura in his address flayed the NIA raids and constant highway closure in the state, terming such measures bizarre and deeply disturbing for common masses who have been riddled already by the 30 year long bodied conflict.

He said the business community is made to reel under distress due to the highway closure with students, patients and employees made to suffer sadistically for no reason. Hanjura added that the way newspapers, journalists and businessmen are hounded looks nothing less than a witch hunt and such steps instead of helping to find solution to the problems confronting the state, will further complicate the situation.

Party’s Srinagar District President for Srinagar Mohammad Khurshid Alam said that Kashmir is a human issue that merits human approach. The situation, according to Alam should not be looked through the prism of security and that people at the helm in GOI must own the sufferings of the people and invest in peace to end decades long conflict.

Other PDP leaders who took part in the convention include Abdul Hameed Kosheen, Dr Ali Mohammad, Zone President Batamaloo Bashir Ahmad, Arif Laigaroo, Abdul Qayoom, Haji Mohammad Ashraf Bhat, Tousif Ahmad, Muzaffar Ahmad, Shahzad Ahmad, Fancy Jan, Ghulam Nabi and several others.