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| Amarnath Yatra begins, protests follow | | Amarnath Yatra begins, protests follow | | | xARTEEV SHARMA
EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, June 30: Undeterred by tense situation due to the curfew imposed in different parts of Valley, the first batch of pilgrims left Jammu for holy cave shrine of Lord Shiva in South Kashmir amid tight security arrangements here, marking the beginning of 55 days long annual Amarnath pilgrimage.
Minister for Tourism, Nawang Rigzin Jora accompanied by senior official of the district administration flagged off the 53 vehicles convoy of pilgrims comprising 566 male, 230 females, 32 children and 444 Sadhus, escorted by Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel for Pahalgam and Baltal base camps in Kashmir valley from Amarnath Yatri Niwas in Bhagwati... | |
| | | | Call to suspend fuel supply withdrawn | | | |
ARTEEV SHARMA
EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, June 30: After suspending diesel and petrol supply to Kashmir for full day today following incident of 'serious injuries' inflicted to the tanker drivers in the valley due to stone pelters, Jammu and Kashmir Tankers Association withdrew its strike call to suspend fuel supply deciding to load their vehicles tomorrow.
The J&K Tanker Owners Association had stalled its operations demanding Chief Minister's immediate intervention in the case. The Association alleged that some miscreants allegedly hiding nearby Town Area Committee, Sumbal at Chanderkote, where the petrol tankers have to stop for a brief halt for checking, had come out in the dark at ... | |
| | | | Rs 10 Cr worth properties torched in Anantnag arson | | Govt orders magisterial probe in 3 deaths; Curfew continues in Anantnag, Sopore | | |
AHMED ALI FAYYAZ
EARLY TIMES REPORT
SRINAGAR, June 30: With Anantnag and Sopore townships reeing under curfew and 'undeclared curfew' being in force in half of Srinagar city, Kashmir valley today observed yet another bandh over separatist hardliner Syed Ali Shah Geelani's call of shutdown against 'killing of Kashmiri boys by CRPF'. In overnight arson by an unruly mob of over 2,000 people, properties worth Rs 10 Cr have perished in Anantnag where Government has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the death of three youth in Police firing on Tuesday.
The mob that had gone on rampage after death of three youth in Police firing last evening at the South Kashmir district headquarters of Anan... | |
| | | | Pilgrims block NH at 3 places, pelt stones on Police | | Accuse administration of mismanagement, poor facilities | | |
EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, June 30: The annual pilgrimage of Amarnath cave shrine today began on chaotic note with hundreds of pilgrims upping in arms against the administration accusing it of "mismanagement" and "poor" arrangements.
The angry pilgrims also blocked Jammu-Srinagar National Highway at three places including Ramnagar Morh, Domail and Udhampur and disrupted vehicular movement for several hours.
Official sources said that the first batch of 1,272 pilgrims, which left Jammu base camp in the wee hours this morning, was stopped midway at Udhampur due to the tense situation prevailing in the Kashmir Valley.
Hundreds of pilgrims staged noisy protest against the administratio... | |
| | | | Are the so-called nationalist and pro-Hindu RSS and the BJP over? | | | |
RUSTAM
EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, June 30: The book on Jinnah, which had led to the expulsion of Jaswant Singh from the BJP in August last year, had been described by the party and the RSS as a compromise with the Sangh's so-called nationalist and pro-Hindutva ideology. It is significant to note that none of the top-ranking BJP leaders has elaborated on whether or not Jaswant Singh has changed his views on Jinnah and Sardar Patel. In fact, each one of them has refused to reflect on this issue. It is understandable.
On the contrary, Jaswant Singh has categorically stated that what he wrote was based on "historical facts" and that "he will not disown his book." "I am author of the book. ... | |
| | | | Congress wants NC leaders to behave responsibly | | Berating CRPF irks 'national' party | | |
EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, June 30: With veteran Congress leader Prof Saif-u-Din Soz 's admonishment to a NC cabinet minister for his 'remarks' against CRPF in Valley, the party leadership has already made it loud and clear that it doesn't want and like the way NC has been berating and bashing the CRPF deployed in valley for what they allege the troops responsible for fomenting the trouble. Congress annoyance is not over with Soz's reprimand as almost all the Congress ministers and senior leaders are unhappy the way NC sought to stigmatize CRPF.
The differences in approach and strategy over viewing and even handling the ongoing crisis between NC and Congress have now come to the ... | |
| | | | Centre extends support to Omar | | | |
EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, June 30: Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah has received a resounding support from Congress led UPA government as the Centre decided to stand by State government before the challenge it faces from ongoing strike called by separatist groups.
"Centre has appreciated Omar Abdullah for taking every possible measure to control the situation which erupted after the killing of a youth. It has also praised Omar for the challenge lies in being able to provide a stable coalition government thus far," maintained sources.
"Though the Opposition parties are making all out efforts to grill Omar on violence which have been engineered by separatists and other anti-national force... | |
| | | | Election cards withheld for 18 months | | | |
EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, June 30: Even as the Chief Election Commissioner of India, Naveen Chawla hailed people for their "awareness viz-a-viz election identity cards", the authorities in the state seem in no hurry to issue election identity cards to those voters who could not get the important document during the assembly and parliamentary elections held last year. Eighteen months have passed since elections were held in the state but the elections cards have not been issued to thousands of persons yet.
According to informed sources, the cards of thousands of voters have been withheld for `security reasons' especially in the Kashmir Valley. The sources said the election cards issued ... | |
| | | | Riot police kept ready for Amarnath pilgrims' protection | | | |
EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, June 30: To keep rioters and unruly groups of people away from Amarnath pilgrims, 1,000 odd cops of riot police have been kept ready at PCR here.
Drawn from different police training schools in the region, these cops were specially trained in dealing with rioters, police sources said.
"They have been equipped with anti-riot equipments," the sources informed.
Sources said the decision to keep these cops in ready-to-go position was taken in a high-level meet held at PCR hours after the first batch of Amarnath pilgrims was flagged off this morning amid tight security.
The need in this regard was felt in view of the tense situation in Kashmir, the sources added.... | |
| | | | NC a weak organization: CM | | | |
EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, June 30: Admitting National Conference was a weak organization, Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah while talking to a News Channel said: "While in power the organization loses contact with the people."
Omar said he did not understand why National Conference leaders and workers forget that people can vote them to power and also vote them out of power. "In 2002 we suffered defeat because we had not contact with the people at the grass root level", he said.
Omar said his father Dr Farooq being a union minister cannot give sufficient time to organizational affairs. "Similarly I remain too busy and find no time for the party. But now I shall play a vital role. A strate... | |
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