DEATHS DUE TO MILITANCY 18,578 fell prey to ultras’ bullets in 20 yrs

DEATHS DUE TO MILITANCY
18,578 fell prey to ultras’ bullets in 20 yrs
Archit Watts /tns

Jammu, March 31
Since the eruption of militancy in the state in 1990, as many as 18,578 persons, including 698 politicians and 5,363 security personnel, have been killed up to February 25, 2011. Those killed also included 12,517 civilians. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who also holds the Home portfolio, stated this in a written reply to a question in the Legislative Council here today.

However, there was a drastic decrease in violence after 2001. Omar said, “In 2001, 1,532 persons comprising 76 politicians, 843 civilians and 613 security personnel were killed. This number decreased to 106 in 2010, as only four politicians, 33 civilians and 69 security personnel were killed last year”.

The Chief Minister added that deaths in militancy-related incidents started coming down in 2002, as 1,461 persons were killed; this number fell to 1,109 in 2003; 988 in 2004; 746 in 2005; 540 in 2006; 268 in 2007; 166 in 2008; 142 in 2009; 106 deaths in 2010; while up to February 25, 2011, one politician, four civilians and two security personnel were killed by terrorists.

In the first year (1990) of militancy in the state, about 616 persons comprising 15 politicians, 446 civilians and 155 security personnel were killed. The perusal of official documents revealed that the maximum numbers of politicians, 101, were killed in 2002, while the maximum number of 1,275 civilians were killed by militants in 1996.

The maximum number of security personnel lost their lives while combating terrorism in 2001, when 613 of them attained martyrdom.

While replying to a question by NC legislator Javaid Ahmad Rana, the Chief Minister said keeping in view these figures, the state government was trying to withdraw the AFSPA from 20 out of 22 districts of the state.

Govt depts owe Rs 605 crore as power bills to PDD

Govt depts owe Rs 605 crore as power bills to PDD
Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Jammu, March 31
Despite the fact that the state government is suffering huge losses in the power sector, most of the government departments have not paid electricity bills for a long time. Various government departments in the state owe a whopping Rs 605 crore for unpaid electricity bills to the Power Development Department (PDD).

In a written reply to a question in the Legislative Council today, Minister of State for Power Shabir Ahmad Khan said, “The unpaid power bills as on January 2011 stood at Rs 1,024.02 crore and out of these the government departments have to pay Rs 605.06 crore”.

He added that the industry sector was to pay Rs 55.01 crore, while domestic sector Rs 216.14 crore and the agriculture sector owed Rs 147.81 crore for electricity consumed.

The minister also mentioned in the reply that the state suffered 63.04 per cent transmission and distribution losses during 2009-10, which was around 30 per cent at the national level.

Providing more details, he said in 2009-10 the state had purchased 8,274.31 MW from other states and the Centre, while 3,448.36 MW was produced in the state during the period.

During discussion on another question during Question Hour, the minister said, “The government has fixed power revenue targets of Rs 1,422.61 crore for year 2010-11”.

Replying to a question by Congress legislator Naresh Gupta, he said, “The government is committed to providing 100 per cent electricity to the metered areas in the state. If anywhere some work needs to be done, steps will be taken in this regard”.

The minister said the power consumption in the state was too high and hence the department was imposing power cuts for 8-9 hours in the un-metered or partially metered areas.

Legislative Council Pay attention to Urdu, legislators urge govt

Legislative Council
Pay attention to Urdu, legislators urge govt
Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Jammu, March 31
Legislators cutting across the party lines in the Legislative Council today urged the state government to pay attention to Urdu, which is the official language of the state.

NC legislator Javaid Ahmad Rana raised the issue during Question Hour in the House. He asked the government whether Urdu was the official language of the state. What was its status in the official work and correspondences in courts.

Thereafter, eight more legislators spoke in the support of Javaid and grilled Minister of State for Tourism and Culture Nasir Aslam Wani over the issue. Javaid said, “We can’t see the system collapsing. The official work in all police stations is done in Urdu, but hardly any SHO knows the language. The same is the condition with tehsildars. No private school has Urdu as subject in its curriculum. Even there is no Urdu Academy in our state”.

Wani said, “As per the Section 145 of the Constitution of the state, the official language of the state shall be Urdu, and English, unless the Legislature by a law otherwise provides, continue to be used for all official purposes”.

He added, “Various government institutions, including the judiciary, are maintaining the official records partly in Urdu and partly in English. The state government is also trying to appoint Urdu teachers in the state, particularly in the Jammu region”.

Dissatisfied with the minister’s reply, the legislators urged the acting chairman of the House, Arvinder Singh Micky, to allow them a debate over the issue. Rana said, “Is there a plan for special recruitment of Urdu teachers?”

Meanwhile, Aga Syed Ahmad Rizvi of the NC said, “We don’t even get the reply to our questions in Urdu in the House”. Mohammad Rafiq Shah of the Panthers party also asked a supplementary question saying, “This issue is related to our identity and the government should pay attention towards it”. “Has the stat government any plan to make a law in this regard,” Mohammad Rashid Qureshi of the NC said. Murtaza Ahmad Khan of the PDP also asked the same question.

Replying to the members’ questions, the minister said the government was making all efforts in this regard. He added that, “First, we should use Urdu, as it was our base. Whenever we speak two sentences, we use one or two words of English. Our children are also learning Hindi in schools. So first we should use Urdu to set an example for others to follow”.

On Urdu Academy, the minister said, “So far there is no proposal in this regard”.

Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ali Mohammad Sagar said, “Union HRD Minister Kapil Sibal has already written to the state government to use Urdu in official work and we are making efforts in this regard. But this can be done only when we prepare ourselves for it”.