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Kashmir almonds ready to hit markets

September 19, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Werwan (J-K), Sept 19 (ANI): With the almond harvesting reaching its final stages, the growers are gearing up to hit the local market in Kashmir.

Residents of Werwan village in Pulwama district, very famous for almonds, are busy harvesting the almond crops.

Eighty-five per cent people are doing the almond business. These days, they are very busy in harvesting.

“This year, the almonds were bigger and the kernel was also large. We hope that this year because of good quality, we will get good rates for our almonds,” said Jan Muhammad Lone, a grower.

With a comparatively good and timely rainfall this season, the state authorities are hoping for a better return for the growers.

“This year and even last year, the kernel developments were excellent. Compared to last year, this year we have received timely rainfall during the fruit development months of almonds that is May and June.

Therefore, the almond farmers are quite happy that their crop yields are good and they will receive good money of it,” said Manzoor Ahmed, a horticulture development officer.

Shalimar, Makdoon and Waris are some of the varieties of almonds that are grown in Kashmir. By Afzal Butt (ANI)

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Fish sales shoot up during Ramadan in Kashmir

September 17, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Srinagar, Sept 16 (ANI): Sale of trout fish in Kashmir has been witnessing an upward trend, as Muslims prefer nutritious alterative to meat varieties during the holy month of Ramadan.

Normally people eat trout fish during whole year at different occasions. But in the month of Ramadan demand for trout fish automatically increases because of its health benefits.

Long queues of customers were seen outside the sales counter in Srinagar to take home their share.

“During Ramzan, people like to eat good food. Before Ramzan, the shop is open once a week but during Ramzan it opens twice a week. It has become preferred food,” said Kaiser Ahmad, a customer.

“I think trout fish is the best food available of all the food options available to us and that is why so many are buying it. There are no scales also. It has protein and vitamins,” said Mohammed Ashraf, another customer.

The state fisheries department is providing two kilograms per head at the rate of 150 rupees per kg.

“We have to order fish again later in the day as stock lasts only few hours. We try to supply fresh fish to our customers,” said Mohammed Hussain Wani, fisheries marketing officer.

Trout is a delicious and a very energetic food. It has a number of vitamins and doctors also advise people to use trout fish in large quantities in place of meat. By Afzal Butt(ANI)

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Curfew relaxed in communal-hit Maharashtra towns

September 10, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Sangli (Maharashtra), Sep 9(ANI): Curfew in the riot-hit towns of Sangli, Miraj and Ichalkaranji in Maharashtra was relaxed on Wednesday, as the situation was gradually improving.

Communal clashes had broken out at in Miraj town and Sangli city last week.

Trouble started on September 3 (Anant Chaturdashi Day), when some pro-Hindutva organisations tried to raise an arch on the immersion procession route, depicting the killing of the Mughal warrior Afzal Khan by Maratha King Shivaji. This led to group clashes.

An all party meeting was held in Mumbai on Tuesday during which a peace formula was worked out.

Meanwhile, Sarvajanik Ganesh mandal representatives in Miraj have decided to immerse the idols tomorrow. (ANI)

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Fabric bags are growing popular in Kashmir

September 1, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Srinagar, Aug 31 (ANI): People are lapping up environment-friendly fabric bags in Srinagar, which they say is reusable and has many benefits.

With the two-month old ban on plastic bags, jute, fabric or recycled paper carrier bags have now become a common sight in the valley.

People can be seen carrying their shopping in jute or other fabric carrier bags.

With the increased demand, sellers are happy to earn a few extra bucks on these eco-friendly bags.

Residents are happy with the government initiative, which is helping to make their picturesque town cleaner and healthier.

“People like fabric bags. Earlier, people used to throw polythene bags anywhere. It used to clog drains forcing and dirty water would flow over. It used to help in spreading diseases.

The government has done a good job by banning it. The demand for plastic bags has decreased a lot,” said Inayatullah Dar, a resident.

The drive has also helped to generate employment for people who are now making these fabric bags from cloth and recycled paper, including newspapers.

“In the process, the cottage industry has started looking up. Now people are stitching cloth bags, which are getting popular. People are now instead of binning their old newspapers reselling them for a little less than their purchase price. This has also helped in the circulation of newspapers,” said Khawaja Farooq Renzu, Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Srinagar.

The ban has been imposed in the entire state, but tourist places are seeing its stricter implementation to discourage both residents and tourists from using plastic bags. By Afzal Bhat (ANI)

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Bumper crop of plums in Kashmir

July 14, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Budgam (Jammu and Kashmir), July 14 (ANI): People in different parts of the country can expect to relish delicious plums or, Aloobukharas in common parlance, as there has been a bumper crop in Kashmir.

Kashmir’s Budgam district, which grows plums had good rainfall coupled with moderate temperature this year.

As per the State Government, 2000 hectares of land of the valley is under plum cultivation. The production of plums this year is expected to touch 5500 metric tons, 500 metric tonnes more than the last year.

“The production is high in the entire region, even the colour of our fruit is better that that was in the last season…every fruit grower is happy as they are fetching good prices for their fruits,” Salim Ahmad Bhat, a plum grower said.

As soon as the orchard owners and growers bring their yield to the wholesale markets, they are packed and dispatched to various states of the country.

“According to our information and observation 80 percent of the entire plum produce is of ‘A’ grade quality which is better than the last year…we hope that this year growers of the region will fetch good profit,” said Manzoor Ahmad, an official with the State Horticulture Department.

Plums have different varieties like sentarosa, silver plum, and chokandra plum. The juicy and tasty plum is much sought after in Mumbai, Kolkota and Delhi. By Afzal Bhat (ANI)

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Seminaries patronizing extremism in Pak: Sunni Ittehad Council

July 7, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Lahore, July 7 (ANI): Religious associations in Pakistan have raised fears about seminaries being used by the extremists as a store for their arms and ammunitions and planning attacks on important locations in the country.

The Sunni Ittehad Council, an association of some groups of the Barelvi school of thought, has said that seminaries are patronizing terrorism.

“Some seminaries are patronizing terrorists who are stockpiling lethal arms there,” The Dawn quoted Pir Afzal Qadri, as saying.

When asked to name some of such seminaries, pointing fingers towards banned organizations like the Jamaat-ud -Daawa (JuD) and Jaish-i-Mohammad (JM), Qadri said: “The organizations are being run by jihadi groups with lashkars.”

Talking to reporters on the sidelines of a meeting of the council here, Qadri also charged the previous Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government of supporting the extremists.

“Now they are spread across the country,” he said.

Qadri also asked the government to take immediate steps to stop the practice, and asked the PPP led government to exclude ‘patrons of terrorists’ from its peace committees.

He said that the government must take over all the seminaries to prevent the situation from going out of control.

“Extremists can harm the government if it shows any laxity in taking action against them,” Qadri said.

Member of National Assembly (MNA), Fazl Karim urged the government to continue the military offensive against the Taliban till extremism is rooted out from the country.

Karim opposed the idea of holding talks with the Taliban saying: “It is time for taking a decisive action.”

He also criticized the United States for carrying drone strikes in the tribal areas inside Pakistan’s territory.

“The country was facing internal threats from Taliban and external threats from the United States, which is continuously violating the sovereignty of Pakistan with drone attacks,” Karim said. (ANI)

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Shakespeare’s ‘King Lear’ inspires theatre artists in Kashmir

July 4, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Srinagar, July 4 (ANI): Theatre experts and artistes in Jammu and Kashmir have lent a regional touch to William Shakespeare’s famous play ‘King Lear’.

They staged this play here on Friday in traditional folk style with the original Shakespeare’s King Lear translated into Kashmiri language.

Traditional Kashmiri folk artistes enthralled hundreds of locals as well as tourists by their performance in the play titled ‘Badshah Paether’ at Akingam village of Anantnag district, 70 kilometres off Srinagar.

The main aim of staging the play in the traditional folk style has been to bring together the youngsters and the veterans together and to revive the artistic links through training and series of rehearsals.

Noted theatre personality M K Raina, the brain behind ‘Badshah Paether’ mentioned that his experiment was a success in many aspects since this would empower the young stage aspirants with a traditional form that is losing its reach and appreciation.

He had undertaken the painstaking efforts of translating Shakespeare’s original play so that common audience could easily understand it.

“Since we are the traditional folk performers, so to perform for the common audience we needed language which could be understood by everyone. You must have seen people were laughing and enjoying. So we about 25 people sat together and translated it into common understandable language,” said Raina. Hundreds of theatre enthusiasts including some foreign tourists were quite excited watching the entire play staged in traditional way.

“I thought it was a wonderful play though I had limitation in understanding the language fully but the emotion of the play and the basic story came through very clearly. It was beautifully performed with great intensity and beautiful staging and lot of expressions. And I thought it was wonderful production,” said Haleen, a tourist from New York.

The locals too expressed their delight since the play happened to be in their regional language.

“For the first time what Raina Sahab did by translating it in Kashmir language was rally nice. And secondly I got impressed by artistes performance,” said Amina, a resident. By Afzal Bhat (ANI)

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SKUAST introduces new techniques to improve agri-sector in Kashmir

June 26, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Srinagar, June 24 (ANI): The Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST) in Kashmir have organized an exhibition-cum- science congress for the farmers to apprise them of new techniques in agriculture and horticulture.

“The main aim of this exhibition is to make latest technical innovations in agriculture, sericulture, animal husbandry and floriculture available to the farmers and to showcase the technical innovations from other countries so that the interaction takes place between both the countries,” said Fayaz Bandey, one of the organizers.

During the Congress experts, farmers and residents were provided information about new seeds, breeds and equipment.

Showkat Hussain, an apple fruit grower said that such exhibitions should be organized in all the districts in time so that the farmers get the information about the new seeds ahead of the sowing season.

” such exhibitions should take place in all the districts and from March because the season starts from March so that the growers get the information about the new seeds,” said Hussain.

Agriculture is the backbone of Kashmir economy because eighty percent people depend on this sector for their livelihood. By Afzal Bhat(ANI)

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Tourists enjoy nightlife in Kashmir

May 23, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Srinagar, May 23 (ANI): Heavy influx of tourists has provided a boost to the nightlife in Kashmir as tourists enjoy boat rides and shopping till late in the evening.

For last three weeks the rush of tourists has increased in Kashmir valley and the scenic beauty of the famous Dal Lake is making lot of tourists to spend time outside their hotel rooms.

During the day most of the tourists prefer to visit places like Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Sonamarg, and other tourist resorts but in the evening they love to visit markets and restaurants for shopping and dinner. This has resulted in an increase in business activities in the evening.

“A large number of tourists are visiting (Kashmir). We are doing a brisk business in the evening,” said Ishfaq Ahmad, a shopkeeper.

“It is pleasant in evening. We enjoy shopping and strolling in the evening. It is a fun to stroll on the promenade of Dal Lake in evening,” said Suresh Sharma, a tourist from New Delhi.

Kashmir has been one of the most sought after tourist destinations in India till militancy hit the tourism industry. However, for the last a few years tourism has shown signs of revival. By Afzal Bhat (ANI)

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Residents of Kashmir wear stones to beat stress

May 22, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Srinagar, May 22 (ANI): The residents of Srinagar are resorting to wearing stones to beat the stress and turn the planetary movement in their favour to improve their fortunes.

They feel that the best way to deal with stress is to use stones as these stone manage to influence the planetary movements of planets, to impact lives.

The people here perceive stones to be a stress buster, which also aids them in over coming their problems like late-marriage and failure in business. The stone users swear by the positive impact it has had on their lives.

“I have used the stone myself. Once, I wore the stone, after 15 – 20 days, I became absolutely fit. Earlier, I used to be tense all the time. Since I wore this stone, I have been all right,” said Feroze Ahmad, a customer.

The people are using these stones in the shape of rings, bracelets and necklaces to give it a fashionable look.

The shopkeepers involved in the stone trade say that the largest group using these stones is the youth.

“The situation in Kashmir has been very stressful for the past 20 years. It is for this reason the people here are very disturbed. So the people come to us with their problems and we give these stones to them,” said Arif Ahmad, a stone shopkeeper.

The shopkeepers also say that the market for stones was huge in India,but the Kashmir stone market has not flourished.However, the trend is changing. By Afzal Bhat (ANI)

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Kashmiri girls all set to be airhostesses

May 11, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Srinagar, May 10 (ANI): Many Kashmiri girls have opted to explore career options in aviation industry by undertaking courses in aviation sector to be airhostesses and enjoy travelling across the world.

Several young girls and also boys are now joining courses to get training for flight attendants and other related jobs in the aviation sector to fulfill their dreams.

First airhostess academy named ‘Viinzs’ has recently opened in Srinagar aims to provide quality education in the aviation sector to Kashmiri youth.

Kashmir girls, who had earlier just dreamt of being airhostess and flying High, are now actually seeing their dreams getting fulfilled.

“It’s very nice that air hostess training is being given here. Girls and boys both should forget all the fear from their heart and minds and study this course to make their life. And this was my dream to become an airhostess. I think my dream will be soon fulfilled now,” said Rizwana Akhtar, one of the girl students.

Kashmiri youth also believe that the inauguration of the International Airport in February last year, would open up new opportunities for them.

“An international airport has been made, which means, we are getting an opportunity. And if we are not able to get jobs here we can go outside and work there. So I think I can fulfill my dreams by doing this course,” said Saima Jan, another girl student.

Such facilities were not available in Kashmir following insurgency till recently.

The academy officials now wish to impart quality education to youngsters here.

“They were not in a position to get training because of the turmoil conditions since 1989. Then we decided since…. in Kashmir, progress is going on from all sides. So we decided that we will establish a very good institution here. And the students are getting training outside Kashmir; they are being trained there.

Now we have established an institution here and we will provide them, more sophisticated training than outside,” said Manzoor Ahmad, a trainer at the airhostess academy.

The setting up of the training institution for women and the response from the people marks an important milestone in Kashmir. By Afzal Bhatt (ANI)

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Pak senators want action against Musharraf for violating Constitution

April 22, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Islamabad, Apr 22 (ANI): Members of Pakistan’s National Assembly have asked the Government to take action against former President Pervez Musharraf for violating the Constitution and recommended introduction of a comprehensive policy to control target killing across the country.

Jamashed Dasti of PPP said on Tuesday that parliament should initiate the trial of Pervez Musharraf for taking unconstitutional steps.

He said that Musharraf was moving freely in the country in spite of violating the constitution.

“The parliament should not play the role of a rubber stamp and take action against a dictator to set an example for others,” The Nation quoted Dasti, as saying.

Shereen Arshad Khan of the PML-N said on a point of order that the former dictator who violated the constitution was enjoying his life due to the government’s relaxation and instead of getting punishment, he was being granted official protocol.

Barjees Tahir of the PML-N said: “General (retired) Musharraf is offender of 170 million people and parliament should take action against him.”

Nadeem Afzal Chan urged the Interior Ministry to take notice of the ongoing target killing in the country and formulate an effective policy to control it.

He said that the government should call All Parties Conference to address the problems faced by the country.

Riaz Hussain Pirzada of PML-Q expressed grave concern over the institutions of the country and said that the political leadership proved itself to be a weak leadership. (ANI)

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A drive to rid Srinagar of polythene

April 21, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Srinagar, Apr 21 (ANI): The municipal corporation of Srinagar, in association with the Trader’s Federation, has launched a massive cleaning drive to make the city free of polythene.

The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) joined the people in the city in their endeavor to rid the city of the rampant menace of polythene and started their campaign from Dal Lake and collected polythene bags from the lake.

“We have taken this initiative to clean the area surrounding Nehru Park and Dal lake and other places so as to clean the environment,” said Sunil Kumar, a CRPF personnel.

Raw sewage, land encroachment and years of neglect have been threatening the survival of the lake where visitors from across the world once enjoyed the idyllic stillness of fresh waters surrounded by mountains.

The initiative has been appreciated by the residents.

“The effort CRPF has taken is well appreciated and polythene is a menace, which should be banned all over the world,” said Shabir Ahmad, a shopkeeper.

Mohammad Sadiq Bakal, President, Traders And Manufacturers Federation, said that they would ban the second grade polythene bags as they are more hazardous.

“We have decided to ban the second grade polythene bags with Municipal Corporation,” said Bakal.

Kashmir water bodies have been under a tremendous threat due to the growing pollution and some experts say that nothing is bigger than the polythene alone.

There are increasing concerns about the unabated use of polythene in the state, particularly among young generation but hitherto government particularly the Srinagar Municipal Corporation has failed to ban the polythene use in the state.

Environmentalists are worried over high growth of polythene waste among the garbage. Use of cheap polythene bags has picked up momentum in recent years in India. But polythene bags, which are not biologically degradable, pose aanger to the environment. By Afzal Butt (ANI)

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Bihar issues shoot-at-sight orders ahead of polls

April 15, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Patna, Apr.15 (ANI): Shoot-at-sight orders have been issued across Bihar in the run-up to Thursday’s first phase election in 13 out of 40 Lok Sabha constituencies.

The state’s borders with Nepal and neighbouring states have also been sealed.

Lalu Prasad of the Rashtriya Janata Dal and Rajiv Pratap Rudy of Bharatiya Janata Party (Saran), Union Ministers Meira Kumar of Congress (Sasaram) and Hina Shahab, wife of controversial RJD MP Md Shahabuddin (Siwan) are candidates whose fate will be decided in tomorrow’s polls.

An electorate of over 1.75 crore are eligible to cast their votes in the 13 constituencies, where 21 women candidates are among 223 in the fray.

Gopalganj, Maharajganj, Ara, Gaya, Buxar, Jehanabad, Aurangabad, Nawada, Saran, Sasaram, Siwan, Karakat and Jamui constituencies will go to the polls.

Bihar’s Home Secretary Afzal Amannulah said: “We have ordered shoot at sight orders in case security personnel fail to control the situation.” (ANI)

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Congress claims NDA paid five crore dollars to end Kandahar hijacking

April 15, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Mumbai, Apr.15 (ANI): Congress leader Rajiv Shukla has claimed that the opposition National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Government paid five crore US dollars to end the 1999 hijack of an Indian Airlines plane in Kandahar, Afghanistan, in January 2000.

Shukla claimed that the amount was paid to Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorist Maulana Azhar Masood in exchange for the nearly 200 passengers taken hostage in December 1999.

Addressing a press conference in Mumbai on Tuesday, All India Congress Committee spokesman Rajiv Shukla said: “Was (Gujarat CM) Narendra Modi aware of the release of Maulana Azhar Masood and Jaswant Singh accompanying him with a booty of five crore US dollars?”

He alleged Masood used the money to set up the Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist group and armed it to attack Parliament, Askhardham and Raghunath temples. hukla asked Modi if he approved of senior BJP leader L. K. Advani going to the mazar of Mohammed Ali Jinnah, which no Congress leader ever visited, and “prostrating before it and calling him a secular leader and a great visionary”.

BJP spokesman Prakash Javdekar denied knowledge about any money given to the terrorists as alleged by Shukla.

He also rubbished Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s statement that there were 28 prisoners on death row and Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru’s number was 22.

“There is no queue for death row. He (Afzal) should be immediately hanged. Afzal Guru’s trial and conviction was expedited due to POTA,” Javdekar said. (ANI with inputs)

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Modi assails Sonia for atrocities against women

April 10, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Belgaum (Karnataka), April 9 (IANS) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) star campaigner and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi Thursday blamed Congress president Sonia Gandhi for increasing atrocities on women and children in the country.

‘Though rape and murder of women are committed in New Delhi right under the nose of Sonia Gandhi, the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government has failed to prevent such heinous crimes,’ Modi said at a party rally at Kittur, about 30 km from this north Karnataka town.

Campaigning for the party’s candidates for the ensuing parliamentary elections on a day’s whirlwind tour of the southern state, Modi said ‘one-family rule’ over the last six decades had resulted in rising poverty, under development and backwardness.

‘While smaller nations have advanced on all fronts, a big country like India is lagging behind in almost every sphere. The Congress is responsible for perpetuating poverty,’ Modi said addressing the gathering in Hindi.

Accusing the UPA government of discriminating against the BJP-ruled Karnataka, Modi said though Chief Minister B.S.Yeddyurappa was keen on accelerating the state’s development, the centre was putting obstacles on the path of progress by holding up funds and delaying sanctions.

‘If Karnataka has to hasten development, the people should vote for the BJP to help its National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to form the government at the centre after the general elections,’ Modi said.

Holding the Congress responsible for abating terrorism, Modi said that more youngsters died in terror attacks than in war against Pakistan. The people’s safety and national security have been compromised by the UPA’s soft policy on terrorism.

‘We need firm measures to fight terrorism. The UPA government had failed to hang Afzal Guru, convicted in the (2001) parliament attack,’ Modi said.

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Elect NDA for a safe and strong India, says Modi

April 9, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Bijaur (Karnataka), Apr 9 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday appealed people to elect the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) for a strong and safe India.

“The Congress, which ruled the country for about 60 years, has failed to counter terrorism. I appeal to people to vote for the BJP-led NDA government for a strong and safe India,” Modi said while addressing an election rally here.

The Chief Minister alleged that the Congress was engaged in vote bank politics.

“It is dangerous for the country,” he added.

Modi blamed the Congress for abating terrorism, saying more youngsters died in terror attacks than in war against Pakistan.

“The people’s safety and national security have been compromised by the UPA’s soft policy on terrorism. We need firm measures to fight terrorism. The UPA government had failed to hang Afzal Guru, convicted in the 2001 Parliament attack” Modi added. (ANI)

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Tulip festival begins in Kashmir

April 8, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Srinagar, Apr 8 (ANI): Seven-day long tulip festival being held here has given a boost to tourism in Kashmir.

One of the largest tulip flower garden in Srinagar, ‘Siraj Bagh’ was opened for the tourists to enjoy the festival.

The tourism authorities in the state said they are using the festival to promote the state as a preferred destination.

“Lot of Indians go to Holland just to see tulips, but now this place is near and more affordable for the domestic tourists. We feel we will get more tourists. We have come to know that about 12,00 tourists and mostly outsiders have come here,” said Tanveer Jahan, a secretary of tourism department.

The garden at the foothills of Zabarwan overlooking the famed Dal Lake has about 60 varieties of multi-colored tulips.

The festival that also showcased, the state’s traditional art and culture, was an instant hit with the foreigners.

“You cannot find any of these products in other parts of India. I have not seen something like this,” said Peter Mathew, a tourist from Chile.

Lot of domestic tourists also visited the festival.

“The variety and the colour are very good. The art collection, the shawls and also the climate is very good,” said Minakshi, an Indian tourist.

‘Siraj Bagh’, which has become home to tulips in Kashmir, has a unique and feasible topography that suits different varieties of flowers. It has slopes suited for different varieties of fruit plants and wilderness suitable for wild flora and bushes.

Tulip, which has its origin in Persia (Iran), was introduced in Europe in 17th century, where it had been developed in different varieties.

Holland is the largest producer of tulips, which inhabits the mountain areas extending from Europe to Central Asia.

The plantation of tulips begins from September, before the start of winter season. By Afzal Butt (ANI)

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Nageen Lake to reclaim its glory soon

April 6, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Srinagar, Apr. 6 (ANI): Jammu and Kashmir’s famed Nageen Lake is being cleaned under the conservation drive of Nageen Lake Conservation Organization, which is a forum of several voluntary bodies.

NLCO that started its cleaning drive on March 31 has reached in its sixth day.

“NLCO and others have started this drive here. It has been six days. And we have taken out a lot of polythene. It has been six days. Today people from NLCO and SMC were also here. We have done a lot of cleaning,” Jan Mohamed a volunteer in the drive said.

Kashmir has a number of lakes and water bodies, which are getting polluted due to constant dumping of non-degradable polythene and other waste materials.

Srinagar Municipality Corporation (SMC) is also participating in the campaign.

“The real motive was to make the people aware. Many of our water bodies are almost dead. Mansbal Lake, Pokribal and a few others are almost gone. So we started this programme to save Nageen. All of us have got together in this drive,” observed Manzoor Ahmad Wagnoo, President, NLCO, Srinagar.

Dal Lake and Nageen Lake are Kashmir valley’s main tourist attraction.

NLCO’s initiative will not only help these lakes to regain their past glory, but help make people aware of the need to keep the lakes clean.

A large number of school children and some locals also took part in the drive showing their spirit for conserving the water bodies.

Tourism is the major source of income and employment generation in Kashmir valley. By: Afzal Bhatt (ANI)

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Coalition partners to fight it out

April 5, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Ending over a week of speculation, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Uttarakhand ruled out any possibility of seat sharing adjustment with Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (UKD) – its coalition partner in the state. On March 24, during a meeting between senior BJP and UKD leaders in the state capital, there was talk of a possible adjustment with the BJP withdrawing its candidate from one of the five seats in Uttarakhand in favour of a UKD candidate.

But on Thursday, the saffron party’s state unit president and its candidate from Nainital Bachi Singh Rawat said there is no likelihood of withdrawing any candidate. “We had talked with the party leadership, but it is unlikely that any further adjustments would be made,” said Rawat.

The BJP had earlier withdrawn its candidate from Haridwar, Madan Kaushik, under pressure from the VHP and replaced him with Swami Yatindranand Giri. Commenting on BJP MLA from Vikasnagar Munna Singh Chauhan issuing statements against the party and threatening to quit, Rawat said it’s a minor difference and talks are underway to placate him.

“There seems to be some miscommunication with Chauhan and senior party leaders Trivendra Singh Rawat and Ajay Bhatt are in touch with him to address his grievances,” he said. Chauhan, a leader with mass appeal in Vikasnagar and Jaunsar areas, has accused the party of sidelining him and is having talks with the UKD and Bahujan Samaj Party on the possibility of him or his wife Madhu contesting from the Tehri Lok Sabha seat.

Like the Congress, the BJP is also planning to adopt a two-pronged strategy to target the UPA government and highlight the achievements of the B.C. Khanduri government. “There is an undercurrent in our favour.

Judging by the sentiments of voters from Uttarakhand and across the country, it seems they have rejected the UPA government and its policies,” said Rawat. He listed price rise, failures on internal security, which have resulted in terrorist attacks, and deterioration in relations with neighbours like Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bangladesh as major failures of the UPA. “Repealing of POTA, procrastination on hanging Afzal Guru for the attack on Parliament and appeasement of minorities has boosted the morale of terrorists and led to a surge in attacks,” said Rawat.

The BJP leader listed implementation of the 6th Pay Commission recommendations reservation of 50 per cent seats in ‘panchayats’ for women and creation of over 30,000 new jobs as the major highlights of the state government in the past two years. “In just two years, the Khanduri government has performed much better than what the previous Congress government did in five years.

The tide is in our favour and if we manage our campaign effectively,” said Rawat.

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