Urge govt to do away with such anti-poor measure

Srinagar, May 7 : Traders Association and Sumo Union Anantnag threatened to launch an agitation if imposition of toll tax was not revoked forthwith.

Describing it as anti-people, Hakkem Sajad Shah General Secretary All traders and manufacturers Association Anantnag said that the toll tax shall be collected from only outsiders and not from people of expressed serious concern about the harsh tax rate of Toll plaza on public transportation and demands an exemption for the local population of Kashmir people.

He said that such a harsh move will have a tremendous impact on trade and commerce and as such shall be done away with immediately.

“If such anti-people and harsh order is not revoked forthwith we will have no other option but to launch an agitation and all responsibility shall lie on the government in that eventuality,” Hakeem said.

He said that toll shall be only collected from outsiders.

Shabir Ahmad, General Secretary Hamdaniya Sumo Stand Union Janglatmandi, Anantnag told GNS that such a move is anti-people and would prove a burden on poor people if continued.

“We are already facing tremendous hardships for various accounts. We have to pay loans and other expenses this is simply adding more burden on us which we may not cope with,” Shabir said.

He urged the government to revoke the order forthwith.

“If continued we will be left with no option but to increase the fare which will add to miseries of people particularly poor strata of the society. The order is nothing but anti-people and no government should resort to such anti-people measures,” he added.

The sumo union also threatened agitation if the government fail to meet their demand without any delay. (GNS)

Srinagar, May 07 : Advisor to the Governor, Khurshid Ahmed Ganai, held an interactive meeting with a group of College Principals of Kashmir Division, here today.

Secretary Higher Education, Talat Parvez Rohella and Director Colleges, Prof. Yasin Khan were also present on the occasion.

In his interaction, Ganai, who is also Advisor in-charge Education Department, emphasized upon improving the quality of teaching and learning outcomes to make the students nationally and internationally competitive. He also stressed on improving the quality of teaching of Science and Mathematics and directed that faculty improvement of Higher Education Department should primarily focus on building capacities of the teachers across all subjects, especially Science and Maths.

The Advisor also emphasized upon enforcing punctuality both among students and the staff. He also laid stress on extra-curricular activities in colleges, publication of college magazines and involvement of the alumni as well as the retired Faculty members in college activities including guest lectures.

Secretary Higher Education informed the Advisor that many programmes connected to e-learning are in the offing and that he is in consultation with the University of Kashmir and the College Principals for initiating a number of steps in the direction of e-learning. He also informed that the department will soon start student exchange programme to give appropriate exposure to the students in the colleges at the national level.

The Advisor impressed upon the Secretary Higher Education to take necessary steps for starting the newly-sanctioned colleges and making DPRs for construction of buildings of these Colleges.

The Principals assured the Advisor that they will work hard in the interest of the student community so that the students are able to compete at all levels, both nationally and globally. 

Srinagar, May 07 : Jammu and Kashmir National Conference on Tuesday urged the incumbent governor administration to ensure all basic amenities to the people during the month of Ramadaan, saying that the administration should depute flying squads to ensure price stability of essential items.

Presiding over a meet of officer bearers and functionaries, called specifically to ascertain the difficulties of the people in view of the undergoing holy month, party general secretary Haji Ali Muhammad Sagar said that the governor administration is duty bound to ensure all basic and effective facilities to the people during the pious month.

“The prices of all essential items including fruits, vegetables and other Ramadan specific items like Dates etc should be conspicuously displayed at all market places and shops. Digital price boards should be set up for the benefit of people at various places. The government is duty bound to provide hassle free parking facilities at various places in particular near the prominent mosques and shrines of the state.”

He further added, “It’s expected of the incumbent governor administration to ensure steady ration supply at all depot centres. It would be appreciable if the administration increases the quota of sugar for this month. The roads and alleys leading to mosques and shrines of the valley and the state in general should be lit up so that people don’t face any difficulty during evening and early morning hours. I urge the administration to depute area specific flying squads in various markets to ensure price stability, besides that divisional administration should make public the specific phone numbers or email addresses where the common masses can lodge their complaint against any irregularity, black marketing or price rise. Moreover the steady electricity supply and water supply must be ensured,” he said.

The meet was attended by party’s state secretary Choudhary Muhammad Ramzan, Syed Rafiq Shah, Mir Saif Ullah, Showkat Mir, Irfan Shah, and provincial spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar attended the meet.

Sagar wile underscoring the need of helping commuters reach their destination on time said, “the concerned agencies associated with traffic management should take notice of points where traffic jams are always an issue, the concerned department should deploy its men and use the support of volunteers to ensure smooth undisputable traffic on major arterial of the city in particular and the state in general. Traffic police in sync with the JKP should swing its men into action to ensure hassle free vehicular on all inter-district routes and inner alleys of all districts,” he said.

Sagar urged the constituency in-charges and district presidents to tour their respective constituencies and have on spot interface with the masses in order to get acquainted with their problems.

He also impressed upon the administration to do a safety audit of all the prominent shrines of state and place men and machinery to deal with any eventuality.

Srinagar, May 07 : Congratulating Muslim Ummah on the start of the holy month of Ramadan, Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman, Syed Ali Geelani said that the month of fasting is an exercise of not only Ibadat but teaches its follower to look onto overall social wellbeing of its society. Islam is a complete way of life, which guides the mankind in every sphere of his life. Be it economy, politics, education or nation building, peace or war, individual or collective interests, it is a solution for every problem, a person or nation faces. But alas! Its own followers have divided and subdivided it into bits and pieces making themselves an easy prey for its opponents.

In a statement, he said that today’s Muslim world presents a horrible look, with death and destruction visible all around. Enemies of Islam are busy in slaughtering and brutalizing Muslims, even the innocent kids and women are not spared. Rulers of almost all Muslim countries acts as puppets, just to safeguard their power. They brazenly brutalize their own people for their petty interests of luxuries and status. Their wealth and national assets are mortgaged for weaponry, which is being used against their own population. They slit the throat of each other amongst the high pitched stooges of “Alah-u-Akbar” and their enemy enjoys this bloodshed.

Geelani said that the month of Ramadan has started in this grim and gloomy atmosphere of Muslim Ummah, with celebrations, happiness and roaring mosques. This short period of 30 days is a training period for its believers, to sharpen their soul and mind and prepare them for the hardships of their life. It prepares them for the permanent and eternal life which starts when the lease of worldly stay comes to an end and entering into the reality where everybody will be thoroughly checked of his baggage of deeds with their purity content.

He said that this pious month is not only a remembrance of the battlefields between good and bad, but inspires is believer to get physically involved. Unfortunately in today’s fractured Ummah, with sects and sub-sects, differentiation of good and bad has changed altogether, confusing a common Muslims to the extent that he runs after every glittered object thinking it precious. Pathetic and miserable condition of Muslim Ummah is not only painful but thought provoking as well. Our state is also in the ruins and presents a devastated look, disturbing and panicking our new generation. We as a nation are drifting away from our source of Hidayah, which has deprived us from the sense of differentiating between good and bad. If in Ramadan, fasting, taraveh, charity, recitation of holy Quran and other extra Ibadah fail to hammer our conscious to the realization of (Haq and Batil), then this holy month can give us nothing except 15 hours long pause of hunger. It will fail to enlighten our dark days and as a nation we definitely will be on the path of extinction.

He said that truthful people have always been tested by harsh and life threatening challenges. Their loyalty, courage, commitment and God fearing qualities have been put to test by rulers of their time and whosoever, stood their feet, have qualified for Almighty’s blessings and have defeated enemies of their existence and faith. This is the real and only message of Ramadan we need to pay heed to.

Srinagar, May 07 : Government has decided that people living within 20 km on both sides of newly-established toll plaza on Srinagar-Jammu national highway at Chursoo in Sangam area of south Kashmir’s Anantnag district will not have to pay the travel fee. “They (locals) will be issued free travel passes for free movement,” Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Baseer Khan told news agency.

Khan said that the toll plaza has been made operational from today and commercial vehicles will have to pay the fee while crossing through it.

Several motorists on Tuesday refused to pay tax ay toll plaza, calling the move ‘harsh’.

Reports said that the toll plaza was made operational today at Sangam and every light-motor vehicle crossing it was charged Rs 85. (KNS) 

Div Com reviews arrangements

Srinagar, May 05 : Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Baseer Ahmad Khan, today convened a meeting to review the arrangements for smooth conduct examinations of various categories of posts to be conducted from May 09 to 26 by J&K Services Selection Board (JKSSB).

The meeting discussed various issues besides ensuring foolproof arrangements to ensure fair and smooth conduct of the exams.

It was informed that 14905 candidates are appearing for Storekeeper, Driver, Urdu NT and C.B.T posts at various examination centers.

The Divisional Commissioner directed concerned officers to deploy Micro Observers at each center besides Magistrates for carrying examination material from strong room to venue and vice versa.

Khan stressed for appointment of examination observers for each examination centre, deployment of regular and adequate police contingent around examination centers and imposition of section 144 of CrPC around examination centers during examination days fixed by the JKSSB.

Member JKSSB informed that the list of centers and students appearing in exams would be shared with each district administration of the division in order to make arrangements accordingly in their respective districts.

Divisional Commissioners impressed upon the concerned authorities to work in unison and adhere to the instructions in letter and spirit.

He asked them to ensure all requisite facilities including electricity, wash rooms, transportation and other necessary facilities are provided to the candidates besides elaborate arrangements are put in place for smooth conduct of examinations.

Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Dr Shahid Iqbal, Additional Commissioner Kashmir Tasaduq Hussain Mir, Member JKSSB, and other concerned officials were present in the meeting.

Srinagar, May 7,: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senior leader and former legislator Noor Mohammad Sheikh has urged upon the state authorities to ensure requisite arrangements are made in view of the ongoing holy month of Ramadan.

 In a statement issued here, Sheikh highlighted the need for the installation of the street lights in main areas and in the internal alleys of Srinagar as devotees in huge numbers attend congregational late night Tarawi prayers.  He also demanded that uninterrupted power supply should be ensured so that people could pray during the sacred month without any hardships. 

 He also suggested that the government should ensure strict implementation of government approved rate list besides the hassle-free home delivery of gas supply to the consumers in Srinagar and that availability of essential commodities in the market including vegetables and poultry besides timely supply of Gas, Kerosene, Flour and Sugar from the government depots to the consumers must not get affected.

Srinagar, May 7, : Senior CPI(M) leader and former legislator Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami on Tuesday said that the indiscriminate arrests of youth across Kashmir and particularly in southern districts of the Valley in the recent times will erode people’s trust in the government further and widen the gulf which would be difficult to bridge.

The former MLA from Kulgam assembly segment of south Kashmir said that as the response of people in the just-concluded Lok Sabha elections was not so encouraging in south Kashmir, it warrants introspection from the political leaders, particularly from those who are at the helm of affairs in Delhi.

“Muscular security policy has neither worked in the past not there are any chances of it yielding any results in future. It has only added the complexities of the situation,” he said.

“Such policy is a disservice not only to the people of Jammu and Kashmir but for the whole country if political leadership refuses to draw lessons from this unfortunate experience. The deepening political uncertainty in Kashmir has got compounded due to the disastrous policies of the BJP government in Delhi,” said Tarigami.

“Kashmir is in constant chaos and the new realities are being sketched under the shadow of guns and the BJP’s aggressive Kashmir policy,” he said.

Tarigami said the Centre’s policy of viewing everything through the prism of security and with rabid ultra nationalistic overtones has compounded the problem further.

“Security-oriented approach overtaking the political outreach will end up being a loss for the people of Kashmir and to the country as a whole. What is urgently required is to shun the path of confrontation and repression and initiative a credible process of talks with all stakeholders,” said Tarigami in a statement.

“The current unrest is the result of deep and massive alienation caused by a long history of broken commitments, repression, socio-economic woes and denial of justice to the people. It has resulted in hopelessness, despondency and loss of confidence in the political leadership. The fact of the matter is that youth feel dejected, disillusioned and are angry. Repressive measures are bound to prove counterproductive,” he added.

“Hundreds of people, especially youth, are languishing in jails and have been detained under Public Safety Act (PSA) and Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). In some cases even after court’s quashing the PSA, detained remain in prison as the police book them under the UAPA. This UAPA is being highly misused and it needs immediate review. The cases of those who have been detained under the PSA and UAPA need to be examined immediately,” Tarigami said here.