Governor Malik accuses political parties of politicising R-day order

SRINAGAR, Jan 22 (PTI): Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik Tuesday accused political parties of politicising an order mandating government employees to attend the Republic Day celebrations and said he stood by the order which was being issued since 2009.

Malik said there was nothing wrong in the order. “I stand by this. This is not a new order. It has been issued since 2009. This was there before me. Every year the same order is issued, not even with a change of comma or full stop,” he said.

“I have the orders from 2009 to 2018 with me”, he said. As per the order issued by the state administration on January 15, employees were warned that failure to attend the function will be construed as dereliction of duty and disobedience.

“It is the duty of every government servant to attend the (Republic Day) function which commemorates an important turning point in the history of our nation,” stated the order issued by Deputy Secretary Chander Prakash.

 “All the officers and officials of the state government stationed at Jammu and Srinagar are, therefore, enjoined upon to attend the functions as part of their official duty,” it said.

 The governor said the order went to all employees of the state government.

“There is nothing wrong in it. They have duty (on that day) and they should be present there. That is why it is being sent to them. There nothing like imposing nationalism on them.”

“From where does nationalism come into this? They have to perform their routine jobs”, he said. Lashing out at political parties for politicising the issue, Malik said they had become defunct and were losing their base which was why they were resorting to communalism.

“Please do not do such things. It is not good,” he added.

The governor alleged political parties were politicising the issue and dividing the society by communalising it to gain votes.  “This type of politics has destroyed Kashmir”, he added. PDP leader Waheed Para said nationalism could never be dictated.

“There should be ‘will’ for such events, not forced diktats. This clears how things happen and are happening in the ‘integral’ part. Patriotism can’t be enforced it should be inherent,” Para tweeted.

Independent MLA Engineer Rasheed termed it an “unconstitutional” order. 

 BJP leader Ram Madhav supported the governor, saying the order should be accepted as a matter of pride.

 “It is a matter of pride for every Indian. We all have to participate in the Republic day parade,” he said in response to a question on political parties reportedly criticising the order.

Theft racket busted

KD NEWS SERVICE

SRINAGAR, Jan 22: Police in Srinagar have busted a theft racket by arresting eight burglars and a contractor dealing with the stolen property, a spokesman said today.

“Stolen property worth lacs of rupees was recovered by the police, which had been stolen from various parts of Srinagar City,” he said. Giving details, the spokesman said that the police intensified patrolling and night checking following complaints of criminal activities from residents in Rajbagh area of the city.

“Last night while patrolling the area, 8 thieves were arrested and taken to police station where they remain in custody,” he said.

“While questioning, the accused persons disclosed their hideout where they had dumped all the stolen goods. Officers from the local police unit have seized the stolen items which include geysers, cooking utensils, copper, blankets, TVs and other house hold items,” said the spokesman.

During the course of investigation, he said, the police also arrested a contractor who has dealings in stolen property linked to this crime. “Investigation is going on to identify the other persons involved in these criminal offences,” he said.

SRINAGAR, Jan 22: Former Finance Minister Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Tuesday condemned the assault on photojournalists in Shopian who sustained pellet injuries while delivering their professional duties.

While expressing solidarity with the injured journalists, Bukhari demanded a thorough probe into the incident. “I strongly condemn this unfortunate incident  in which our four photo journalists are reported to have sustained pellet injuries today at Shopian,” Bukhari said, while adding that use of excessive force will always prove detrimental to the efforts of peace.

He said that any kind of attack on journalist fraternity is a direct attack on freedom of speech guaranteed under law. Covering protests by journalists including photo journalists is one of their primary professional duties, Bukhari said, while urging the governor to take immediate cognizance of the use indiscriminate force against these journalists who were discharging their professional duties in Shopian. The culprits must be identified and booked under law,” Bukhari demanded. The former minster prayed for speedy recovery of the injured scribes.

BARAMULLA, JANUARY 22: Baramulla Working Journalists Association (BWJA) Tuesday condemned the attack on a photojournalists that were performing their professional duties in Shopian.
In a statement issued here, BWJA said that soon after the encounter broke out between militants and security forces in south Kashmir’s Shopian district, the photojournalists had gone to cover the protests as part of their professional duties.
This is not the first time when media has been attacked in Kashmir by different security agencies, and today photojournalists of different organization were again harassed first and then they were attacked by security forces, said BWJA in a statement.
Four photojournalists were hit by pellets fired by the forces including Waseem Andrabi a senior photojournalist working with Hindustan Times newspaper. He was hit by pellets in his face.
Chairman BWJA, Mr Karamat Qayoom in a statement said that, media being a fourth pillar of democracy should have been allowed to cover the protests, these photojournalists were doing the professional duties, but unfortunately they were targeted for none of their fault.
These photojournalists are putting their lives at the risk for the sake of nation, and despite this they are being harassed and attacked time and again by the security agencies, and I condemn the police and other security forces action, said Chairman BWJA.
Meanwhile BWJA appeals the governor S P Malik and DGP, Shri Dilbagh Singh to personally look into the matter and take stern action against the erring officials whosoever found involved.

Div Com issues fresh avalanche warning

Srinagar, Jan 22 : Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Baseer Ahmad Khan issued a fresh avalanche warning in nine avalanche prone districts of Kashmir division on Tuesday.

The warning has been issued for the avalanche-prone areas in district Anantnag, Kulgam, Budgam, Baramulla, Kupwara, Bandipora, Ganderbal, Kargil and Leh of J&K state.

As per the handout, the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir has asked the Deputy Commissioners of all these districts to advise the people living in avalanche prone areas not to venture out to avoid the loss of lives.

The Div Com also directed the concerned DCs to take all the precautionary measures and to keep the SDRF, Police and Para-medical staff with ambulances in readiness to avert any untoward incident.

UJC pays tributes to slain Shopian militants

Srinagar, Jan 22:  United Jihad Council (UJC) chief Syed Salahuddin has paid tributes to Shams-ul-Haq and associates who were killed in a gunfight with government forces in south Kashmir’s Shopian district on Tuesday.

Syed Salahuddin in a statement issued to GNS said nobody will be allowed to play with the sacrifices of Shams-ul-Haq and his associates.

“The sacrifices of Kashmiris have a long history, since centuries, and today the fourth generation is at war with a big power and is giving it a stiff resistance. These sacrifices will yield results very soon, InShaAllah,” he said while addressing a UJC meeting to pay tributes to “Shopian martyrs”.

According to statement, UJC vice president Saifullah Khalid also paid tributes to the slain militants.

“Shams-ul-Haq was a pious and brave mujahideen who had participated in several gunfights and incurred heavy damage to the enemies,” he said. (GNS)