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  • “Educational institutions sans infrastructure across Chenab Valley”, Hundreds of middle primary schools running under violation of norms,

    “Educational institutions sans infrastructure across Chenab Valley”, Hundreds of middle primary schools running under violation of norms,

    “ZEO Office Drabshalla under scanner, Had attached more than 75 teachers under violation of norms”

     

    SHAFQAT SHAHEEN SHEIKH

    The Jammu and Kashmir state is having its boundaries with other countries and states of India in which majority of population is living in rural and mountainious regions . People living in rural areas do realize the importance of education but poverty does not allow them to send their children to private schools and hence they are left with no choice but to remain dependent upon government schools only resulting the fact they failed in board exams as they had not got their education in proper way.
    Noone can believe that hundreds of schools across Chenab Valley and particularly in remote areas of Kishtwar and Doda district are running under violation of requirement norms and modernization of education sector in this present era of technology where Prime Minister claims Digital India.
    There is no doubt that center and state government launches various schemes for poors and downtrodden students to avail benefits and receive education free of cost in government institutions and even when State Government was headed by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti in 2016, had waved off admission fees for girls students during resigm of PDP and BJP led government in state. As these schemes are implemented through a proper guidance and publicity through social, print and electronic media across the state . Mostly government is giving its top priority to Schedule Caste, Schedule Tribe and Other Backward Class students to receive quality education and increase literacy rate .
    Most of the students belonging from poor communities send off their studies as they are not having any source of income resulting that illiteracy rate increases of such students in remote regions of Doda Kishtwar district in Chenab Valley .
    Taking a look on modern educational system in chenab valley , ” No one can trust that what is happening in government institutions and what teachers are doing during their duties, Are students interested in learning lessons in class or not , Why results of board exams falls in chenab valley “.

    Being a resident of remote region Bunjwah , Opinioning the fact of above said points , ” That chenab valley became prey of irresponsible politics and corruption in offices soas maximum teachers remain attatched and had not even visited single times at original place of their posting. These teachers had completely destroyed the educational system under nook of some corrupt officials that starts from every corner to higher authorities. The corruption mafia is on glore in education system as some officers had fixed monthly 2000 to 5000 ration per teacher in across the Chenab Valley and particularly in Zone Drabshalla in Kishtwar district. As Chenab Valley had became hub of political parties and politicians who did nothing in modernisation of educational institutions and on behest of such politicians teachers had maintained their attachment in town as rural educational system had lost its value in remote areas. These self interested politicians opened hundreds of primary and middle schools to give benefits to their close party worker not to poor who were deserving. As the schools were opened through proper documentation and reports and those who were appointed as teachers through Rahber re Taleem or General Line rules accordingly . After opening of school , these schools were club combined and teachers were posted in combined school.
    It is time that schools in Kishtwar and Doda district are not having modern equipments of quality education and still some schools are opened on fake documents and reports submitted by concerned authorities during 2010.
    “I would like to ask , that if schools were opened for providing basic education to poor and downtrodden students in nearby schools through a proper criteria and guidelines , then what is the reason for club combining, was it only to benifit their own party workers , Was the documentation fraud when schools were opened, Who is responsible for the same?
    The poor and downtrodden public of chenab valley became prey of such issues that results the downfall of results in board exams.
    Beside all these , I have inspected various schools across chenab valley and particularly Doda and Kishtwar district, and see that mostly the schools are in defunct position and lacks shortage of proper accommodation, Kitchen shed , toilets, playground and many more and even some schools remains closed week together, if they are opened only 1 or 2 teachers visit their and perform their duties .
    As Govt. had taken various initiatives for increasing of literacy rate in rural areas by opening of various Center state runs Anganwadi and ICDS Center’s but it is unbelievable truth that hundreds of these centers remain closed for years together since from opening of these centers despite government is paying monthly crores of rupees on account of salaries of employees beside there is huge loss of state exchequer on account of essential commodities served in these centers.
    Revealing the fact “One who is teacher of government schools seek admission of his / her son or daughter in a private school and told that private school teachers teaches well to students beside government school ” . Opinioning the fact I would like to ask them that Why you as a teacher prefers to seek admission in private school, You are having source of income do so , What a poor father can do as He is not having better source of income.
    Happening so in government schools, students also didn’t pay any heed toward their studies as teachers are not interested to perform their duties due to behest of politicians and corrupt mafia .
    A week ago , I visited various middle primary schools of Chenab Valley, that sans infrastructure, accommodation and teaching staff and many more despite concerned authorities are well aware about these issues but didn’t pay any heed toward modernization of educational system . I would like to ask that why representatives didn’t take the issue of educational institutions on peak , Why they are in deep slumber ? If state government is paying crores of rupees on name of salary of teachers , why not they checkout their record of duties and schools .
    “Taking a look on current educational sector in Zone Drabshalla in Kishtwar district where more than 75 teachers are internally deployed and attached in various schools beside collecting hefty amount on deployment orders. Source revealed that Educational Zone Drabshalla has been suffering badly by the corrupt mafia officers from last three years and ZEO had crossed every limit to collect hefty amount and Office had now became den of Corruption”. There are hundreds of teachers who had not visited the school despite concerned authorities are well aware about this and ZEO Drabshalla had fixed monthly 5000/ head and same amount is transferred on account of few teachers who are running this corrupt mafia game in education system Drabshalla . Beside all this Social Activist Bashir Ahmad through Regd. Post file a RTI application in month of June 2018 and concerned authorities keep Activist in lure since long had failed to reply RTI application despite violation of RTI act 2009 .
    Source added that As per Govt. norms there is no transfer of a teacher weather GLT / RRET even than the corrupt officers had done dozens of internal deployment/ attachment after palm greased by more than 5000 to 2000 / head even more than 10000/head. While disbursement of teacher Grade II order ZEO Drabshalla had collected @500 / head at least from 252 teachers at that time.
    Beside all this , a tentative list of teachers revealed that more than 75 teachers are attached from their actual place of posting. These teachers includes Bindu Bhagat attached at PS Dunadi from MS Suldah , Ram Rakesh attached at HS Balgran from MS Chomati , Ravi Kumar attached at HS Balgran from MS Chomati , Anash Bhagat attached at HS Balgran from PS Dunadi, Vijay Kumar attached at ZEO Office Drabshalla from MS Pashalla , Randhir Kumar attached at ZEO Office Drabshalla from PS Kerni , Raina Devi attached at MS Chomati from PS Kharora , Sishu Kumar attached at MS Noor from MS Banjora , Vijay Kumari attached at MS Kunah from MS Pashalla , Asif Hussain attached at MS Liyan from MS Kunah , Seema Begum attached at HS Drabshalla from MS Kunah , Rakesh Kumar attached at MS Pashalla from PS Inderwal , Firdous Ahmed attached at ZEO Office Drabshalla from MS Noor , Zahid Hussain attached at ZEO Office Drabshalla from MS Binoon , Mohd Yousuf attached at ZEO Office Drabshalla from MS Chomati, Farooq Ahmed attached at MS Mughalabad from PS Tunda , Ashfaq Butt attached at MS Chakroon / MS Brung from PS Sarpan Patnazi, Riyaz Ahmed Khan attached at MS Brung from MS Chakroon , Naseer Ahmed attached at MS Brung from PS Patnazi , Mohd Aslam attached Jammu from MS Pashalla, Babu Ram attached at PS Champli from PS Inderwal, Surinder Kumar attached at Bisawali from MS Buddhar , Nuzhat Ara attached at MS Hajampura from MS Brung , Nazrana Begum attached at MS Hajampura from HS Patnazi , Rizwana Begum attached at Hajampura from HS Bhadat , Shahida Akhter attached at MS Hajampura from PS MalikGowri, Shameema Banoo attached at Hajampura from PS Plakhala , Shazia Tariq attached at PS Paninallah from Chatroo, Kulwant Singh attached at HSS Binoon from MS Jawalapur, Shanu Devi and Reenu Devi posted at MS Mori had never visited the school since from posting, Sangeet Kumar attached at MS Bhandwah from MS Mori , Rakesh Kumar attached at ZEO Office Drabshalla from PS Chatroo and is having charge of Mid day meal in Office, Sunil Kumar attached at MS BichriBasti from MS Mori , Neetu Devi attached at Kishtwar from MS Pashalla , Mohd Yousuf attached at MS Phagumarh from HS Tipri, ShahNawaz Hussain attached at ZEO Office Drabshalla from MS Kalchanda , Shahid Hussain attached at HS Bisawali from MS Naga , Leak Raj attached at PS Karora from MS Nejue , Mohd Anis attached at MS Tatani B from PS Yessenabad , Afiya Nasreen attached at MS Kandni from PS Dangrool , Anjana Devi posted at PS Khorie and is absent from last two years , Mohd Imtyaz attached at PS Dhar from PS Hayman , Abdul Kalam attached at MS MalikGowri from GPS Dhar , Abdul Qayoom attached at GHS Bugrana from PS Jashar, Rukhsana Begum attached MS Chakroon from MS Bisawali , Navida Qayoom attached at PS BachiBasti from GHS Bugrana , Shavili Rathore attached at ZEO Office from MS Kandni , ShahNawaz Hussain attached at ZEO Office Drabshalla from HS Lass Saroor, Neelma Devi posted at MS upper Girsel and is absent since from last 4 years , Trashla Devi posted at PS Girsel and is absonding since from her posting , Tehseena Banoo posted at HS Bisawali and is absent since long from last three years , Bishan Lal attached at PS Golu from MS Fulgwari , Ravi Kumar attached at MS Fulgwari from PS Chamoti .
    Beside this tentative list of attachment and deployment of teachers who are not performing their duties satisfactory , ZEO Drabshalla Mohd Iqbal Qazi is well aware about this matter. In Education sector there are hundreds of teachers who had not visited schools since long .
    It is important to mention that there is huge embezzlement of mid day meal and disbursement of uniforms for students and even the schools are not having land acquired asper revenue record while construction of building beside ZEO Drabshalla had managed his contribution in all types of works and is monthly receiving more than 4lacs as Office had became den of Corruption.
    It is wonderful truth that newly elected Sarpanches, Panches failed in modernization of education sector and to holds meeting with school authorities regarding the issues being faced by them due to shortage of teacher staff, requirement norms , playground and even some Sarpanches Panches are involved in this mafia of absentee culture and attachment of teachers outside their original place of posting.
    Surprisingly my friend asked a 5th class students to spell the words that makes word ” Thursday ” he failed and didn’t know the spelling of Thursday . It is the condition of government school from where a teacher get its salary above 25000 per month .
    Several surveys and reports have shown that there are several issues in the elementary education in the rural areas of Chenab Valley in Jammu and Kashmir which includes poor school infrastructure. Most of the schools in villages lack proper infrastructural facilities. Students have to sit on the floor due to non availability of furniture. The school building lacks doors and windows and even do not have proper drinking water and toilet facilities. Majority of the Government schools lack basic infrastructure like toilets, washrooms, playgrounds , furniture, libraries etc. Many Government schools run out of rented buildings, often in dilapidated shape. Poor infrastructure continues to mar the performance of Government schools. Educational infrastructure in schools means suitable spaces to learn which include adequate infrastructure, sufficient space, construction methods that ensure the safety of children in school suited to natural hazards of the region, adequate separate sanitary facilities for boys and girls and for staff, adequate electricity etc. Inadequate infrastructure in schools is a big barrier to enrolment and participation. The over-crowded spaces lacking in adequate sanitary facilities and lacking water for hygiene not only result in dropouts but also have health implications and girls in particular are pushed out of school due to inadequate facilities.
    Resulting the same mostly the poor and downtrodden students remains illiterate and didn’t get benefit of government scheme that were launched in modernisation of educational sector in chenab valley . Will state government take issue on peak or not , it is yet to be mentioned .

    It is need of hour to check the quality education status of schools in remote areas of Chenab Valley in order to increase literacy rate otherwise there will be noone left who can even read a single line of sentence despite claims are made of Digital India.

    (The author is Freelance Journalist, Columnist and Human Right Activist from Kishtwar, Jammu and Kashmir and can be reached at shafqatshaheensheikh@gmail.com 09419974577 , 09018920786).

  • DDC pays surprise visit to District Hospital Udhampur

    DDC pays surprise visit to District Hospital Udhampur

    Akshay Mahajan

    UDHAMPUR, MAY-10 (GNS)-: District Development Commissioner, Dr Piyush Singla, paid a surprise visit to district hospital and had a round of all wards of hospitals to inspect functioning of the hospital. He and also interacted with patients there.

    Medical Superintendent briefed about the staff position and supply of medicine.

    Singla checked the attendance of the staff and directed all the staff members to be punctual and extend their services to patients with devotion and care.

    Later, DDC also inspected the stock position and availability of drugs in the store.

  • Exclusive | ‘Narendra Modi is obsessed with my family’: Rahul Gandhi

    Exclusive | ‘Narendra Modi is obsessed with my family’: Rahul Gandhi

    Congress president Rahul Gandhi
(Virendra Singh Gosain Photo) HT

    An Exclusive Interaction with Hindustantimes.com
    Congress president Rahul Gandhi denied that his father, the late former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, had gone for a holiday on a warship, a day after PM Modi alleged that the latter had used the INS Viraat as a “personal taxi” for family vacations.

    By Sunetra Choudhury, Hindustan Times, Bathinda

    Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday denied that his father, the late former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, had gone for a holiday on a warship, a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi alleged that the latter had used the INS Viraat as a “personal taxi” for family vacations.

    Rahul Gandhi also accused Modi, who has attacked Rajiv Gandhi for being “Bhrashtachari No1,” of taking refuge in the past because he had been “outmaneuvered, outflanked and cut down, as far as the present and the future are concerned. Edited excerpts:

    Q. To an observer, it looks like there’s a change in your style.

    I’ve always loved interacting with crowds. What was earlier perceived as non-enjoyment was actually introspection. When you introspect, you seem detached. Even aloof. I would sometimes introspect while surrounded by people. Now I don’t. Now I introspect when I’m sitting alone, never in public.

    Q. Did that take a lot of self-training to do?

    
    Prayanka Gandhi

    The last five years have taught me how not to get affected by negativity, abuses or even anger directed at me. So when Mr Modi says something nasty about me or my family, I have a good laugh about it! I don’t associate myself with his anger. I don’t react to it. The truth is, that anger is his and is harming only him. It only does damage to me when I grab it and embrace it. I refuse to do that.

    Q. (Telugu Desam Party chief) N C

    Naidu has said that the way the PM is speaking has never happened in politics before. That in our culture we don’t disrespect the dead.

    Actually, that’s not true. The RSS {Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh} disrespected Gandhiji many times. Mahatma Gandhiji was probably the single best expression of this country’s voice, yet some people worshipped his assassin and even built a temple to honour him. So it’s not new. It has happened before.

    There is an ideology of hate and separation in the country and it starts internally within an individual. But the truth also is, you can’t hate another person without hating yourself. The starting point is hating yourself. Once you hate yourself, only then can you start hating other people. Mr Modi’s problem is that he hates himself.

    Q. But your party is saying the opposite. They are saying that he loves himself!


    Yes, superficially he loves himself. But if you go beyond the superficial, you’ll find that the massive amount of arrogance he exudes and all that “me, me, me, me, me,” comes from fear, and that fear comes from the fact that he dislikes himself. The source of all negative emotions is fear. I will only hate things I fear. I don’t fear Mr Modi in the least, so I can’t hate him.

    Q. He has said your father Rajiv Gandhi used warships for his personal holidays.

    That is a lie. The truth is, we are fighting a battle for the present and the future of this country. And Mr Modi has been outmaneuvered, outflanked and cut down, as far as the present and the future are concerned. So where else can he go, but the past? Mr Modi can’t answer how he’s going to give us the 20 million jobs a year he promised, he can’t answer on what he did for farmers, can’t answer why he couldn’t put ₹15 lakh in everyone’s bank accounts. He can’t answer questions on Rafale. And so, he has only one place to run to and that is the past. But, we’ve closed the door to his future and his present, and we’re soon going to close the door on his past as well.

    In fact, while Mr Modi has been stuck in the past, in the Congress Party, we’ve been talking to the people of India; farmers, youngsters, labourers, women, and we’ve been asking them to tell us what they want. How do you imagine India’s future? Let’s not talk about the past, but the future — what do you want? And they’ve told us, and we’ve put that in our manifesto. Mr Modi is trapped, not by the Congress, but by the voice of the Indian people. And he can’t escape that, no matter how far back into the past he runs.

    Q. When he shows pictures of you as a child, on what looks like a warship, are you afraid that the people will be swayed by what he’s saying?

    Do I look afraid? Mr Narendra Modi is obsessed with my family. I’m not obsessed with my family. I don’t think about my father, grandmother or great-grandfather as much as Mr Modi does. He thinks that that’s the place where he’s going to find his escape. Best of luck to him!

    Q. Would you like to clear the record for the people who have seen the pictures of those holidays.

    I’ve been on the Viraat. I’ve been with my father on it when he was the PM. Of course there are pictures. He had gone for an official visit … and I accompanied him.

    Q. So it was an official trip?

    Absolutely.

    Q. So a holiday in Lakshadweep with the INS Viraat..

    Holiday on the INS Viraat? That’s crazy. Why would anyone holiday on an aircraft carrier? It’s not a cruise ship!

    Q. They said you were using it, and that it was parked there for safety or security, that is the allegation.

    You should check with the Navy. Why are you asking me? How can I possibly tell you where an aircraft carrier was anchored 35 years ago and with what purpose? But again, don’t you see — this is how Mr Modi creates a smokescreen to distract from the real issues that this election should be fought on. And journalists like you bite the bait. The truth is, you can either run a country by looking into the future or by being in the present. You can say you have a long-term vision, or you can be in the present and focus on what’s happening and take care of it. Ideally you do a mix of both. Mr Narendra Modi on the other hand, runs India while obsessed with the past. Look at his slogan: Sattar saal mein kuch nahi hua (nothing has happened in 70 years) he’s looking backwards. The driver is driving the bus looking into the rear view mirror. And that’s why you get rubbish like demonetisation and the Gabbar Singh Tax.

    We’re going to focus on the real issues facing India today. And on our vision for the future. We will not allow Mr Modi to escape by dragging us back into the past.

    The truth is Mr Narendra Modi is scared of the future, he’s always been terrified of it. It’s because he knows he lacks the vision to chart the course for India’s future.

    Q. Looking at the future and the journey you’ve made, you’ve talked about how things have changed. We’ve seen a lot of people who are working with you now, people like (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam chief) MK Stalin say we want Rahul Gandhi as PM, and even someone who is very critical of you, someone like Arvind Kejriwal, he said that today. Does that make you feel good?

    I’m very fond of all these leaders, and I respect all these leaders. But the only voice that has a right to decide that is the voice of the people of India. No other voice. It is their decision that I will respect. They will decide who becomes the PM of India.

    Q. So if Congress gets the numbers?

    The people of India, through their actions in these elections, will decide. Their decision will be clear on May 23rd.

    Q. Even Mr Kejriwal?

    I’m fond of everybody. My way of thinking is that Mr Narendra Modi represents a voice in this country. I understand that there are certain voices in this country who are angry, and he represents those voices. Mr Kejriwal too represents a voice just as Mr Stalin does or Jayalalithaa ji did. India is the sum total of all these different voices and that is something I absolutely respect.

    My challenge is how does one bring these voices together and set up a conversation that helps take this country into the future with as little friction as possible.

    Q. Here’s a question, how to bring all these voices together? What if some of those voices, like the Shiv Sena, or RSS supporting forces, if they are needed, would you bring them…

    We’re fighting an ideological battle.

    Q. So you don’t want to remove Mr Narendra Modi?

    Mr Narendra Modi is an individual. But he also represents an ideology. As an individual I love him, like I love every living being. However, I disagree strongly with his ideology and I will do whatever it takes to defeat that ideology.

    There are multiple voices, and what India needs, is the stitching together of these voices. However, there is an ideological war going on. On one side you have the Congress and its allies who say, ‘leave the institutions alone, let them be independent’.

    For instance, Mr Stalin doesn’t say that the institutions of India should belong to the Tamil people. He says that the institutions of India are sacred, but there should be some Tamil voice in there and other voices too. That’s not how the RSS and Mr Narendra Modi view it. They want to capture India’s institutions. So there is an ideological fight going on. On that, there is no compromise.

    So we’re not going to compromise with somebody who wants to destroy the Constitution or who wants to destroy the institutional structure of this country.

    We’re not going to compromise with somebody, who views this country as the personal property of an organisation. The country doesn’t belong to the RSS, never has, never will. Ever. The RSS is just one of millions of voices in this country, and they are delusional if they think they are going to capture the voice of this country.

    Q. So everybody else, Telangana Rashtra Samithi, Biju Janata Dal, they’re all welcome to come with you?

    Once again, let us first respect the voice of the Indian people. They’re going to vote, let us respect their voice. Once they’ve made that clear, everything else flows from there. Until then, why disrespect their voice and try and pre-judge what they’re going to say?

    Q. One of the points that Modi’s supporters really push is that he is a 24/7 PM, that he doesn’t take a break or a holiday, that he’s always there. Unlike any PM, he is always working. And they compare him to you..

    Very simple. How do you define work? Do you define work as coming in front of a camera and waving? I don’t define work like that. An essential part of my work is spending time thinking about, and listening to people’s voices and using those interactions to develop a strategy for the country. I will bet you, whatever you want, that as far as thinking about India is concerned, I’m spending at least 10 times the amount of time that Mr Narendra Modi is spending.

    One way to test this is to ask Mr Modi to debate me on corruption, on jobs, on farmers’ issues and international relations.

    I’m not the one running away, Mr Modi is the one running away. He’s running away because he doesn’t have a plan. He doesn’t have the answers.

    On the other hand I spend a lot of my time thinking about how all the divergent voices are going to be brought together into a cohesive strategy to take this country forward. You sit down with me, you talk to me about Jammu &Kashmir (J&K), I will give you detailed thinking about how the Congress party is going to tackle the J&K issue.

    Or about jobs or agriculture or about our economy. How much time has Mr Narendra Modi spent really thinking through these issues or developing a vision for India’s future?

    Q. He says that he doesn’t sleep..

    Well that’s insane. It’s also a lie. Who said not sleeping is the measure of working?

    Q. He said Barack Obama was impressed by his work ethic…

    Mr Barack Obama was probably having him on! The Americans do psychological profiles of all leaders and they tell you exactly what you want to hear. And Mr Narendra Modi bought it hook, line and sinker.

    When you’re working on issues of national importance, work is talking to people, listening to people and thinking about what they said. How much time has Mr Narendra Modi spent actually sitting and thinking about how he’s going to resolve India’s unemployment crisis?

    I know from people who sit in his office that it is zero. Zero. He actually hasn’t sat down because he doesn’t believe in a team. He doesn’t believe that anybody else can have that conversation with him. So he’s a lone ranger, fighting a lonely battle.

    Q. He has Amit Shah

    Indeed. Best of luck to him.

    Q. The media was very tough on you.

    No, the media was very fair to me. Look, there is nothing known as unfair, if you are a political person fighting a political battle.

    The media was very, very nice to me, but not in the way you think. The media was very nice to me because when they took out their aggression on me, they changed me.

    So I have to appreciate that and say thank you to the media. Right now you guys are all (going) “very good, very good” I am looking forward to the day when you begin attacking me again. It’s only a matter of time!

    Q. Why are we going “very good?” Because you won the elections last year?

    Because there is a life cycle to how you view me. It changes with time. I’m not the sort of person who will sit there and say “the media is so unfair to me.” I actually think the media is being fair to me, Mr Narendra Modi is being fair to me.

    Every single person is being fair to me. And every single person is teaching me something. So, hit me as hard as you can with everything you have got, and I will learn from it. So no, I don’t hate the media or anyone else.

    Q. The media only says what they see. When they do ground reports, and my colleagues are going everywhere, they’re saying that in places, (yes there is a huge job problem, and a big problem with the economy) but many reporters are coming back and saying that Mr Narendra Modi is popular, that “unke naam pe chunav jeet sakte hain” (the party can win in his name).

    Let’s wait till the 23rd[May]. Look till just two years ago, the media said Mr Narendra Modi cannot lose an election. You said to me that Mr Modi is going to win the election in Gujarat, he barely escaped. You said to me he will win in Karnataka, in MP, in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. We defeated him in all these states. Now you’re saying he’s popular and can’t lose in 2019.

    Let’s see! This is a myth that has been constructed, the myth of Mr Narendra Modi. The political genius backed by the RSS. Impossible to beat. Amit Shah whose great strategies win elections. This is all a myth. We’re going to destroy it.

    In fact we’ve already destroyed it, which is why the PM is constantly attacking (me) with such vitriol. Because he knows that it’s game over for him and he’s getting desperate.

    Q. The best politicians have some regrets. Is there anything that you regret in your journey. For instance, tearing up the ordinance? {In 2013, Gandhi tore up an ordinance brought by the Manmohan Singh government with a provision to protect convicted politicians against disqualification}.

    I make mistakes all the time. I’ve got a list. Everyone makes mistakes, I’m only human, everyone does.

    Q. Tearing up the ordinance?

    That was an expression I had. Maybe it was expressed in a way that was too aggressive. But see, I would never learn without regret. I could never love people without having hate thrown on me. I wouldn’t know what it means. So yes, of course every human being has regrets. I’m sure you do too.

    First Published: May 10, 2019 06:09:47

  • JK Congress leaders shocked over the Governor’s statement involving late Prime Minister in Bofor’s scam: Governor’s over stepping is unfortunate: Ashok Sharma

    JK Congress leaders shocked over the Governor’s statement involving late Prime Minister in Bofor’s scam: Governor’s over stepping is unfortunate: Ashok Sharma

    Jammu, May 10 (GNS): J&K Congress leaders in a joint statement expressed their shock and serious concern over the statement of Governor Satya Pal Malik involving name of late Prime Minister Shri Rajiv Gandhi in Bofor’s case by degrading the constitutional status of the chair he is occupying. Well knowing that the late Prime Minister Mr. Gandhi’s name was exonerate from the case way back in 2004, 15 years back, Mr. Malik publicised his involvement for political gains to a political party during general elections is misuse of his official position and degradation of the status of constitutional office he holds.
    Over stepping of his regime the governor not only required to regret and withdraw his statement but also look into his failures to meet the expectations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. He not only failed to give good governance but became victim of favouritism, nepotism and stop corruption scams he publicised with regard to bank recruitment, employees medical insurance, withdrawal of security to political persons resulting into their killings and so on.
    The leaders expect the Mr. Malik not only to ensure the dignity of the constitutional position he is occupying but act in an impartial and dignified manner irrespective of political affiliations, caste, colour, region and creed.
    They added that it is painful to note that the people are facing drinking water, power’s supply, medical treatment, women protection, wages against the work done, teaching facilities in schools, crises and even unrest among the students and youth is at climax and the highest office of the state has involved itself in political gimmick and favouritism.
    Prominent among those who joined the statement are Ashok Sharma, National Coordinator AICC Vichar Vibhag and former legislature, Jahangir Mir, former Dy. Chairman legislative Council, Dr. M.L.Sharma, Ch. Garu Ram former Ministers, Balwan Singh, Ch. Mohd. Akram, Krishan Lal Bhagat, Bharat Gandhi, C.L.Diman, Subash Gupta former legislatures, M.K.Bhardwaj, Member AICC, L.K.Sharma, Chairman JKPCC Vichar Vibhag, Senior Congress leaders Vinod Sharma, Iqbal Malik, Zaid Sarfraz Malik, Sain Abdul Rasheed, Imran Choudhary, Jetinder Bhagat, Narinder Sharma, Susheel Jamwal, M.Y.Mughal, S.R.Khajuria, Sajad Mirza, Kashmir Singh, Adv. Juniad Hussain, J&K Pradesh Youth Congress Secretaries Arjun Sharma, Ankush Raina, Avijyot Singh, Nakul Sharma and Kamal Mangotra, Sanjay Sandhu.
  • JK Congress strongly condemn over Remarks on Late Rajiv  Gandhi by JK Governor Decided to Hold Protest on Tomorrow

    JK Congress strongly condemn over Remarks on Late Rajiv  Gandhi by JK Governor Decided to Hold Protest on Tomorrow

    Jammu May 10:–Congress has taken strong exception to the highly irresponsible and malicious remarks of State Governor  Satya Paul Malik against former Prime Minister Late Rajiv Gandhi as part of vilification campaign against the martyr by the BJP with eye on elections and has decided to hold protest demonstration tomorrow in this regard.

    According to Chief spokesperson of the party Ravinder Sharma, the senior party leaders and prominent workers would hold a protest demonstration tomorrow at Shaheedi Chowk Jammu at 11:00 a.m. to express their anger over the insult to the former PM Rajiv Gandhi who martyred for the nation 28 years ago on May 21, 1991. During all these years the BJP left no stone unturned to implicate him but nothing could be proved against him and he came out clean in the Judicial process. But BJP continued its vilification campaign against him and entire Gandhi family, till date which is abuse of judicial process and insult to the martyr, who got assassinated due to lack of foolproof security by then BJP supported government at the centre.

    It is most unfortunate that Satya Paul Malik has joined this vilification campaign of BJP and Prime Minister Narinder Modi in total disregared of all norms of decency and constitutional propriety of the august office of the Governor which mandates him to remain non-partisan and apohtical. It is totally unacceptable and highly deploreable and the party shall register strong protest tomorrow alongwith other issues.

  • DDC conducts surprise inspection of District Hospital Rajouri* 09 Medical officers found absent from duty; salary withheld; show cause Notices being issued

    DDC conducts surprise inspection of District Hospital Rajouri* 09 Medical officers found absent from duty; salary withheld; show cause Notices being issued

    Medical Superintendent to install more Biometric Machines

    Rajouri May 10 (GNS):– DDC Rajouri today inspected district hospital Rajouri in order to get first hand appraisal of problems faced by patients in GMC Associated Hospital (District Hospital) Rajouri and also to check punctuality of staff and to take a stock of healthcare services being provided to the people in general.

    Pertinent to mention that Deputy Commissioner Rajouri Mohammad Aijaz Asad on Friday morning reached the hospital in a private vehicle without any escort and other supporting staff. He reached hospital at 10 AM sharp and went to avail registration slip for OPD at registration counter where only one registration window out of four was functioning leading to long queue of patients and attendants and it was taking almost half an hour to get the registration slip.

    Later, Deputy Commissioner went to various sections of hospital and found that a number of Medical officers/officials were not present on duty in their chamber during duty hours.

    He also got a printout of Biometric attendance and CCTV footage of hospital to get details about all those staff members of hospital who entered hospital after start of surprise inspection and after the reporting time.

    After verification of the biometric attendance and physical Attendance registers absentee medical staff members whose salaries have been withheld and show cause notice have been served include Dr Anil (dental surgeon),Dr Sachin Vaid (medical officer),Dr Syed Shuja Qadri ),Dr Tarseem Kumar, Dr mushtaq Ahmed , Dr Sonia Nagyal, Dr shamim akhter, Dr Qasi Mohammad Iqbal, Dr Jahan Ara (medical officer). In this regard, Chief Medical Officer Rajouri has been asked to issue show cause notice to the absentee staff. BeFore initiating further disciplinary action in the matter ADC Rajouri and CMO Rajouri have been asked to conduct enquiry and submit the report within three days positively.
    Meanwhile, Medical superintendent DH Rajouri has been told to install more Biometric machines for a hassle free Biometric Attendance in the interest of effective public service delivery.

  • Unscheduled electric cuts hits chenab valley during holy month of Ramdhan, Stepmother behaviour of Administration playing with emotions of particularly community

    Unscheduled electric cuts hits chenab valley during holy month of Ramdhan, Stepmother behaviour of Administration playing with emotions of particularly community

     

    SHAFQAT SHAHEEN SHEIKH       

    Chinnab Valley (GNS) The trio districts of Chenab Valley in Jammu and Kashmir is known as hub of electricity generation and is generating electricity for across the state and country. This beautiful valley is only used as shield by representatives despite of its major development in the region had became a distant dream.

    In Focus* Near about dozens of hydroelectricity power projects are constructed and still some are under construction that are lighting the whole state. Throughout the year unscheduled power cuts hits the life of a common man badly as no schedule is maintained by Power Development Department. “In holy month of Ramdhan, state government failed in providing hassle free supply of essential commodities and maintaining rate lists of vegetables, fruits and meats, that are sold on sky touching prices by shopkeepers. “It is a wonderful truth that Chenab Valley is having ability to light whole state but unfortunately is not lighting its home regions of trio districts beside administration is playing with emotions of particularly community during holy month of Ramadan.”
    A renowned Social Activist said that it had now became habit of such administration and government who are playing with emotions of particularly community during holy month and even unscheduled cuts during “Sheri and Iftari” hours are now common in these days. Alleging that we are charging fare of electricity more than 360/month as we have to use torch to see the electric blub as electricity is just like a spark and during  this holy month this spark is also lost during Sheri and Iftari hours .

    From last few years , on occasion of holy festivals of Muslim community , PDD is playing hide and seek game and playing with emotions of particularly community that shows the stepmother behaviour of Administration across the Chenab Valley

    It is pertinent to mention that concerned department had installed electric wire more than 25 years ago using wooden poles and till day the wooden poles and wires are not changed as wires are still hanging with green trees in remote regions of Kishtwar and Doda .

    It is ismatter of concern to wake up and fight against the such administration who are spreading hate mongering among society by their irresponsible behaviour.

    {The author is Freelance Journalist Columnist and Human Right Activist from Kishtwar Jammu and Kashmir and can be reached at shafqatshaheensheikh@gmail.com 09419974577 , 09018920786 }.

  • BJP WANT TO PROMOTE MONEY, MUSCLE POWER CULTURE IN J&K MAHROOF: KHAN

    BJP WANT TO PROMOTE MONEY, MUSCLE POWER CULTURE IN J&K MAHROOF: KHAN

    Mendhar,May: 10 -(GNS)Democratic:- Party Senior leader and State Sectery Advocate Mohd Mahroof Khan on Thursday said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders attempt of trying to bribe journalists during a press conference at Leh, last week, to report in the party’s favour during the Lok Sabha elections, must not be seen in isolation and those responsible must be identified and punished so that such incidents are not repeated in future.

    In a statement issued to Mahroof Khan said, “Such culture was not prevalent in Jammu and Kashmir before and it is now evident that after using money and muscle power in other parts of the country, the party wants to promote this culture in J&K also. The political process in the state is already fragile and such episodes will dent its credibility further.

    Khan said, “This incident must not be taken in isolation and government must protect those officers who have taken a lead in exposing this rot. The complaints filed by Leh Press Club last week is a violation of the Model Code of Conduct by BJP leaders which amounts to a criminal offence.

    Video footage of the incident that has emerged purportedly shows some BJP leaders handing over envelopes to journalists at the hotel ahead of the elections to the Ladakh parliamentary seat. The footage purportedly showed a person speaking to journalists while his colleague hands over the envelopes to the reporters. A reporter is seen opening the envelope and returning it to a BJP leader, who does not take it back. The woman then drops it on the table next to him Mahroof added.

    PDP Leader said the footage is enough to prove the crime and law must take its course so that such unfortunate and shameless acts are not repeated in future.

  • Bad roads in Rajouri pester pedestrians, locals*

    Bad roads in Rajouri pester pedestrians, locals*

    Riaz Choudhary

    Rajouri, May 10 (GNS):–Residents of Rajouri accused the authorities of neglecting the roads in the area subjecting the people to immense difficulties.

    All the roads connecting scores of villages through various routes with Rajouri town are in a shambles, the locals said.

    “The tall claims of the authorities on development of the roads fall flat in our village where the people suffer immensely for want of good roads,” said serpanch Liaqat Choudhary of Flatehpur Danna.

    The Rajouri bypass Bella Road, Rajouri to Thanna Mandi, Rajouri to Gurdan Balla, Rajouri to Palulian, Rajouri to Choudhary Nar and Rajouri to Chawa roads are in shambles. Besides, the condition of the inner link roads in the town is no different, locals complained.

    The locals said that due to the bad roads, the commuters particularly the school going children and patients are suffering a lot.

    “Often when we take the patients to the hospitals, they face lot of difficulties and at times it becomes difficult to take them to the hospitals,” locals said.

    Locals appealed to the governor administration to look into the issue and direct the authorities concerned to immediately repair and upgrade the roads so that the movement of the people is eased.

  • NPP demands to reject the nomination of candidate & arrest BJP leaders who involved in Bribery case NPP staged massive protest against BJP over Leh bribery case

    NPP demands to reject the nomination of candidate & arrest BJP leaders who involved in Bribery case NPP staged massive protest against BJP over Leh bribery case

     

    Akshay Mahajan

    UDHAMPUR 10 May (GNS):–Demanding to reject the nomination of BJP Leh candidate as well as immediate arrest of BJP leaders who were involved in Leh Bribery case, Panthers Party lodged massive protest today at Udhampur. While leading massive protest NPP District Udhampur S.C Cell President Rampaul Bhagat said that Election Commission should intervene soon & take strict against these BJP leaders including BJP State President & Sitting MLC.

    Rampaul informed that on 2 May in Leh, BJP organized Press Conference and after addressing Press conference BJP MLC giving bribe to journalists which is clearly visible in CCTV footage in which their State President & Other senior leaders were also present. He demands for high level probe & immediate rejection of nomination of Candidate as well as demands to arrest those leaders. He said that BJP always use money power in every elections which is serious threat on our democracy.

    He revealed that in 2014 assembly elections huge quantity of liquor & money was also recovered from a local candidate from Udhampur assembly constituency but no action has been taken against him yet. He also demands to police administration & election commission to take stern action him too.

    Scores of activists were also present.