Trade TIES
The trade ties between the Chenab region and Kashmir Valley are likely to get restored in the next week.
A local news gathering agency informed that the Kashmir Economic Alliance (KEA) Wednesday reached Chenab valley and held discussions with the traders and businessmen there. The 10 member KEA visiting committee along with its president met the traders of the Chenab region and discussed many key issues pertaining to the traders of the region. The Traders of Chenab valley complained that the business in the area is getting badly affected due to the ‘step motherly’ treatment provided to them by the traders of the Jammu City.
They further accused that the products are being sold to them on different rates than actual and that the Chenab valley traders have decided to cut off their trade links with the Jammu city traders.
The KEA after holding discussions for several hours at Kishtiwar Dak Bungalow on Wednesday extended their full support to the Chenab valley traders. The reports informed that both the sides decided to restore the trade links between Kashmir Valley and Chenab region.
President KEA Mohammad Yasin Khan said that both the parties will make efforts to strengthen the ties so that smooth trade is carried out.
He said that the Chenab region traders are expected to arrive in valley next week and that the necessary documents will be signed so that the trade could be restored at the earliest with zeal and zest.
“We want authorities to complete the construction of Wailoo tunnel that connects Kashmir valley with the Chenab region and the journey through the tunnel will be of 2 hours instead of routine 5 hours.” The KEA president further stated that the association will make necessary efforts so that the construction of the Wailoo tunnel could be completed at the earliest.
Barring ORDER
The Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association (HCBA), has decided to file three review petitions against the High Court order dismissing the Public Interest Litigations (PIL) on usage of pellet guns and pepper gas by forces in Kashmir.
Mohammad Ashraf Bhat, general secretary HCBA said the decision was taken in executive committee of the Bar Association in consultation with the Advisory Committee, wherein a team was constituted comprising ZA Shah, ZA Qureshi, Altaf Haqani, Arshid Andrabi, Sajad Geelani, Aijaz Ahmad Dar, Mian Tufail and Nasir Qadri.
Bhat said that the committee has been asked to file the three review petitions before the High court by or before November 29, 2013 and also explore the possibilities of filing cases on behalf of the legal heirs of those who have sustained pellet injuries and have later died as a result of that.
The Bar has also decided to call a meeting of prominent religious scholars, preachers and leaders to discuss the future course of action in the matter of filing a Latters Patent Appeal in case titled Sanjay Tikoo versus State and others, wherein a learned single judge of the High Court has held that in India it is only “Indianism” which has to exist and all other “isms” have to disappear from the firmament of the country called India, Bhat informed.
Pertinently, a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice M.M. Kumar and Justice Ali Mohammad Magray last month dismissed all the three petitions with the observation that none of the casualties referred to had been established as the consequence of the use of pellet gun firing or pepper gas.
“In view of the law laid down by the Supreme Court, coupled with our findings that this petition has been filed half-heartedly and with oblique motive, we deem it appropriate to decline the prayer made by the petitioners,” the Bench said while dismissing the petitions.
Screening KASHMIR
Two Kashmiri films will be screened at International Film Festival of India-2013 which will begin on Nov 20 at Goa.
As per a local news agency, Additional Director General (Media and Communication) Press Information Bureau (PIB) Srinagar Obaidur Rahman Tuesday said that two Kashmiri films in the non-feature category will be screened at the 44th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) which will begin on November 20 in Goa.
Addressing a press conference in Srinagar, Rahman said that a total of 15 films from around the world will vie for the coveted Peacock Awards at the festival, with the International Competition features with prize money amounting to a total of Rs 13.2 Crore approximately.
“The two Kashmiri films are “23 Winters” (Kashmiri/Hindi) by Rajesh S Jala and “Shepherds of Paradise” (Kashmiri/Gojri/Urdu) by Raja Shabir Khan,” he said. “Around 160 foreign films are scheduled to be showcased in this edition of IFFI under various categories.”
Replying to queries, Rahman said that the festival will be attended by Academy Award winning Hollywood actor Susan Sarandon, critically acclaimed Iranian producer, director and screen writer Majid Majidi and Polish filmmaker Agnieszka Holland along with luminaries from Indian cinema including actor Rekha and singer Asha Bhosle.
Rahman told the gathering that during the ICFFI, popularly known as The Golden Elephant, 200 films from 48 countries will be showcased across 10 screens in the city of Hyderabad with 30 daily shows. Around 1.5 lakh children are expected to watch the films during the festival. He further informed that the festival will also see 16 awards being presented in 4 categories namely International Live Action, International Animation, Competition Shorts and Competition Little Directors. A total of 111 children delegates from all over the country, including Jammu, will take part in the festival, he added.
Papa’s ARMS
The Court Monday directed police to file a detailed report about the non-recovery of arms and ammunitions used by dreaded pro-government gunman Ghulam Mohammad Lone alias Papa Kishtwari and his associated.
As per a local news agency, an application was moved by Advocate Babar Jan Qadri on behalf of his petitioner Zahoor Ahmed Mir before the Court of First Additional District Judge at Srinagar seeking interference of the Court in the recovery of arms and ammunition that was lying with Papa Kishtwari and his associates when they were acting as government sponsored militia.Pleading the case before the Court, Qadri said that the state machinery including the prosecution has failed till date to recover the arms and ammunition that was lying with Kishtwari.
He informed the Court that the arms and ammunition was huge in quantity approximately about 150 AK 47 riffles.
“Non-recovery of the said arms and ammunition is not only threat to my applicant and his family but even to the witness who are otherwise reluctant to depose before this Court amid threat perception by the Papa Kishtwari gang,” Qadri told the Court.
First Additional District Judge directed SSP Srinagar to initiate fresh proceedings and investigation for recovery of the illegal arms and ammunition that was lying with Kishtwari Gang and, “it be also investigated who had supplied the said arms to the illegal group that time on next hearing. The case has been listed for next hearing on November 14.
Boosting HEALTHCARE
Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, Thursday said that revolutionary steps are being taken for expansion and up-gradation of healthcare facilities in the state to achieve the goal of providing accessible and quality healthcare to the people particularly living in far-flung villages and remote areas.
Reviewing the Health and Medical Education Sector at a high level meeting in Jammu, the Chief Minister said that focus of the government during last some years was on consolidation and now expansion part would also receive a considerable fillip. Omar said that latest medical equipments and machines installed in hospitals should be fully utilized for treatment of patients. He said government has also taken different measures to provide specialists, doctors, staff nurses and other para-medics in the health institutions to improve health care service to the people.
Omar said various incentives are also being given to the doctors and other staff to work in far-off health institutions and emphasized on proper utilization of facilities available to the state in health sector under various flagships programmes.
The Chief Minister received brief on the progress registered under various State and Centrally sponsored health schemes, progress on under construction hospital buildings and on the functioning of various disciplines in the Health and Medical Education Sector including Medical Colleges, Dental Colleges, Health Services, ISM, NRHM, Drugs and Food Control, J&K Medical Supplies Corporation etc.
It was given out that as many as 122 hospital projects are under progress across the State at an estimated cost of Rs.1481.62 crore. Moreover, 600 new sub-centres including 238 in hilly and remote areas have been proposed under State PIP, 2013-14.
It was also informed that Union Government has selected 6 high priority districts of the State for support of United Nation Development Partner (UNDP), Norway-India partner Initiatives (NIPI).
While receiving brief of progress under Indian System of Medicines, the Chief Minister asked Director ISM to establish contacts with J&KEDI and Agriculture Department to steer some among the entrepreneurs in growing and processing medicinal plants.
Under NRHM, it was informed that 6 district hospitals, 15 CHCs, 23 PHCs, 63 Sub-Centres have been completed while the work on the remaining will be completed soon.
