New guidelines may be sunshine for many. The union government has informed the Supreme Court that it has decided to restrict Hajj pilgrimage at government subsidy to Muslims, only as a once in a lifetime affair as against the existing policy of once in five years. 
The directions were passed by bench of Justices Aftab Alam and Ranjana Prakash Desai.
The change is reasoned by the fact that priority will be given to those applicants who have never performed Hajj. The move will ensure that every aspirant Haji will benefit from government subsidy only once in his or her lifetime.
With new guidelines, the government is intending to give priority to those who are in the 70-plus age group and those who had unsuccessfully applied thrice earlier for the subsidy.
Around 1.25 lakh of pilgrims this year would be travelling through statutory Hajj Committee and 45000 would be using the services of private tour operators, making the total figure around 1.70 lakhs.
The apex court frowned at the practice of sending official delegations to accompany the pilgrims. The bench had pulled up the union government’s practice of “politicizing” the annual Hajj pilgrimage by permitting official delegations to accompany the pilgrims, for which the government offers huge subsidy, saying, “It’s a bad religious practice.”
“This necessity is no longer there. We will gradually reduce it to four or five and then scrap it altogether,” the bench said.
Amnesty in KASHMIR
A two member team of Amnesty International is in Kashmir on a 12 days visit to study the follow up on the group’s previous report on the controversial Public Safety Act (PSA). The team comprising of Septarshahi Mandal and Sahana Basavapatna met affected families, separatists, civil society members and government officials.
“Amendments have taken place in PSA since the last report was prepared and the government is also claiming to have made changes in the implementation of the act. We are here to study the amendments and changes, if any, made in the act and to see the effect it may have had,” Sahana told reports.
Last year the rights body prepared a detailed report on the PSA, terming it a lawless law. The report revealed that between 8000 to 20000 people have been jailed under PSA during last 20 years. Besides, it talked about the juvenile detentions, the use of PSA in curbing the separatist leadership and the role played by the state. The report recommended an immediate end to the law.
It is learnt that the team will also do a survey about the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). Sahana told reporters that AFSPA is not part of the primary objective of the groups visit to Kashmir but a survey about the controversial act would also be conducted by the team.
Since their arrival on April 11, the group has already met the families of many victims of 2010 unrest and that of the PSA detainees, and also a few separatists including veteran leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani at his Hyderpora residence.
According to a human rights activist who is assisting the team, the group has also met with the families of Zahid Farooq, Wamiq Farooq, Sameer Rah. They also met Waqar and many other PSA detainees in the jail.
Rabies and an old man
In a latest case of rabies, 60-year-old Abdul Gani Bhat shivers on hearing noise or seeing water, he can’t bear whispering either. Bitten by stray dogs last month, Bhat is fighting for life at SMHS Hospital.
His family says he was bitten by stray dogs on March 11 near his residence in Sumbal area of Ganderbal district. He had received wounds on face including lips and was instantly rushed to SK Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) Soura.
Doing fine after receiving treatment initially at SKIMS, Bhat after few days complained of palpitation and tremors. With these symptoms he was taken to SMHS, where the doctors advised his hospitalization in isolation ward. However, due to non-availability of an isolation ward in hospital, Bhat has been placed in a room where doctors seldom make the rounds.
The doctors on the other hand say the virus has already attacked his brain and central nervous system and he developed hydrophobia and aerophobia (the symptoms of the later stage of the infection).
Dog menace is taking ugly turn. As per records since January 01 2012, 1612 dog bite incidents have taken place only in Srinagar. The hospital records reveal that 336 persons have become victims of dog bites in last 20 days and the rate has shown considerable increase compared to earlier numbers.
The victims suffer after as well. They allege the treatment is costly and drugs are not available in hospitals. The Medical Superintendent of SMHS hospital says that they buy medicines as per the available budget.
Omar’s Delhi SPEECH
He talked about it again. Addressing chief minister’s conference in New Delhi, Omar Abdullah emphasized upon reviewing the continuation of AFSPA by “progressively” decreasing the footprints of security forces in J&K from areas and districts not affected by the insurgent and terrorist activities.
Omar also opposed the amendment to the Sections 4 and 139 of BSF Act 1968 aimed at giving BSF powers of arrest, search and seizure. Though being very vocal, he maintained silence and did not join the chief ministers opposing dilution in the federal structure through NCTC. After delivering his speech from the prepared text, Omar had no time to interact with the waiting journalists. While welcoming talks between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari and supporting sustained Indo-Pak dialogue, he said that conciliation and dialogue would always remain the best medium of seeking solution to all contentious issues. In his speech, Omar talked about peaceful 2011, after three continuous summers of unrest, and said this unfolded the promise of new beginning.
Talking about policies of the National Conference-Congress government, he said agitations and confrontations are no means to resolve the issues involving contrary positions, but conciliation and dialogue has, and will always remain, the best medium of seeking solution to all the contentious issues.
Requesting Home Minister P. Chidambaram to take up the matter with the concerned ministries so that cross-LoC trade can flourish in real terms, Omar said telephonic connection and institutionalizing trade replacing the barter system is priority.
He had all praise for security forces and Jammu and Kashmir Police and adoption of the newly-framed Standing Operating Procedures (SOPs) to control law and order.
He also reiterated the state government’s policy to “tackling the remnants of militancy with a stern hand”, while being “committed to a policy of zero tolerance on the infringement of human rights”.
Omar referred to report of interlocutors and also spoke about rehabilitation policy announced in 2010 and said that 1034 applications had been received from the parents and relatives of the prospective returnees under the Policy.
Omar while talking about reaping peace benefits had a word of caution- the threat to peace has not completely vanished.
A temple ORDINANCE 
During a meeting of Apex Committee on migrants chaired by Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah the government has decided to bring an ordinance for constitution of board for management and protection of Hindu shrines and temples in Kashmir. According to sources the chief minister announced in the Apex Committee meeting that an ordinance regarding the formation of board for protection and management of Hindu shrines in the valley will be brought in the next Cabinet meeting.
It was decided that the children born after migration will be taken for Kashmir darshan. During the meeting, chief minister agreed to give two years age relaxation to those youth who had applied for job under PM’s package in 2008 as the package was implemented in 2010. Omar also agreed in principle to the demand regarding enhancement of cash relief and compensation for construction of houses in valley for Kashmiri Pandits.
He informed the meeting that the issue has already been taken up with Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh and Home Minister, P Chidambaram. Among others the meeting was attended by MoS Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation Nasir Aslam Wani, Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation Minister Raman Bhalla, Chief Secretary, Madhav Lal, Principal Secretary Finance, Iqbal Khandey, Divisional Commissioner Dr Pawan Kotwal and Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner, R K Pandita, Commissioner Secretary Revenue, B A Runyal.
However, Kashmiri Pandit Sabha representatives including its president Prof A N Sadhu and vice president K K Khosa who are also the members of Apex Committee boycotted the meeting in protest against the failure of government to solve the issues of displaced Kashmiri Pandits.
