Ghost exorcised?

‘Haunted’ Kashmir House sitting on Green Drain http://www.risingkashmir.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=15625&Itemid=55 Srinagar, Aug 06: The State Legislative Assembly, which remained “haunted” for 27 years after former chief minister and National Conference founder Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah laid its foundation stone, is sitting on a ‘Green Drain’. According to official sources, the authorities Wednesday evening organized Quran Khawani to exorcise the ghosts present in the legislative complex, which has been constructed over a drain christened after Engineer Green. The entire area presently housing the new secretariat, assembly complex and the State High Court was earlier known as Gool Bagh. According to senior residents of Shaheed Gunj, a drain was built for Shaheed Gunj area at the place of the present assembly complex during the oppressive Dogra rule in 1920s. The drain was named after the engineer Green who built it. “It was called the green drain,” Abdul Razzak, a senior a senior resident of Shaheed Gunj. A women’s park was also located near Gool Bagh known as ‘Osmana Zanana Park’ named after Brigadier Osman. However after the secretariat was constructed during the Bakshi Ghulam Muhammad’s regime the park was closed. Fatima Jinnah, the sister of Pakistan founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah on the visit of Qaid Azam to Kashmir in 1944 addressed a women’s gathering at Zanana Park, a location adjacent to today’s Legislative Assembly complex. “Fatima Jinnah addressed a women’s gathering in the Zanana Park when she came to Kashmir along with Qaid Azam,” said Muktha, an elderly woman who participated in the gathering but could not recall what Fatima JInnah said during her address. After the historic ‘Moi Muqadas Tehreek’, Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah addressed a gathering in sixties in Gool Bagh after his release from the jail. “Moulvi Iftikar was also present in the gathering in which he vowed to fully support Sheikh Abdullah in all his efforts,” said Dr Mubarik a Physician, social activist and keen Kashmir observer. On 19 June 1964, Kashmir Political Conference party started in 1953 and led by Qazi Ghulam Mohiuddin Karra also celebrated its Raising Day in Gool Bagh. “Prem Nath Bazaz was also a member of KPC. The party used to raise three slogans: Raishumari Foran Karo, Pakistan Zindabaad and Foujoon Ko Nikaal Dou. They reiterated their stand during the mammoth gathering here,” said Mubarik. After Shiekh Abdullah returned to power in 1977 elections, he also organized a huge rally against his deputy Chief Minister Mirza Muhammad Afzal Beg who was in Delhi at that time. The stage was set at the place of assembly complex. “Sheikh Abdullah was all furious against Beg and spoke volumes against him. The anti-Beg lobby in NC was instrumental in organizing this huge public rally,” says Mubarik who is also witness to this event. Immediately after Beg’s arrival in the State from New Delhi, he floated new party called Inquilabi National Conference and organized a rally in Gool Bagh. “Thousands of people participated in the gathering. However Beg had a narrow escape. NC activists threw stones and also abused him. Few people managed to save Beg that time including his servant Muhammad Ramzan,” said Mubarik who himself helped Beg come out of the chaotic situation. Jama’at I Islami also organised a huge gathering in Gool Bagh in 1980 in which the then Imam-e-Kabba and other Islamic scholars from Iran and other Muslim countries participated. “We had set a stage where the present assembly complex is built but NC government at that time objected and we had to move the stage to the other side of the park,” said the Amir Jama’at Islami Jammu and Kashmir Sheikh Muhammad Hassan who was then the State Secretary of the Jama’at.

Hurriyat for night business in Ramadhan

http://www.risingkashmir.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=15660&Itemid=55 Srinagar, Aug 07: Chairman of Hurriyat Conference (M) Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Friday suggested that the markets should be open until late night during the holy month of Ramadhan. “In Muslim countries, markets remain open until late night during Ramadhan. It should start here also. Ramadhan is a special month and should be different as well,” said Mirwaiz. For the past 20 years, markets in Kashmir close as early as 7 pm to 8 pm and open in the morning at around 9 am to 10 am. He said Hurriyat would talk to the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries and other trader associations to get a nod in this regard. “Markets should remain open until 2 am to 3 am. It will have an impact on all of us living here,” said Mirwaiz. Shopkeepers often claim that the harassment by troopers was the main reason why the markets don’t remain open until late in the night.

People pay obeisance at Manga Sahib shrine after 6 decades

Musharaff was injured here in 1971 War

http://www.risingkashmir.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=15053&Itemid=55 Leepa Valley, July 19: After a gap of six decades, hundreds of devotees Sunday paid obeisance at the shrine of saint Manga Sahib near the Line of Control in Leepa Valley, where former President of Pakistan Parvez Musharraf was injured in 1971 War. The public gathering in which more than 1500 people participated was facilitated by MLA Langate, Engineer Rashid with the help of 17 Infantry Brigade Nowgam. After paying obeisance at the shrine, Er Rashid said: “The shrine should act as a bridge between the two parts of Kashmir. It is a meeting point of love and peace.” People from Sopore, Kupwara, Srinagar and other areas participated in the gathering. Leepa Valley that was a part of Pakistan administered Kashmir until 1971 was a hotspot of war between the two nuclear neighbours. Former President of Pakistan Parvez Musharaf was injured and hospitalized during the India-Pakistan War in 1971 in Leepa Valley. Leepa Valley was part of Pakistan administered Kashmir until 1971 but after the war, India took over the control of the valley. Leepa Valley, 74 km from Handwara in North Kashmir via Mawer area has a picturesque locale with glaciers en route the Valley. Hazrat Manga sahib is revered as a saint by people from both sides of LoC. However authorities closed the shrine immediately after the partition. “I dreamt to visit this place. I always heard about it from elders. I hope the steps taken by Engineer Rashid will bear fruit and people from other side will also be allowed to come to this place,” said Imran Ahmed, a participant in the procession. The Valley is un-trodden and authorities can develop the health resort. “It is more beautiful than Bungus Valley and has the temperature similar to Srinagar. It should be brought on Kashmir’s tourist map,” said Muhammad Shafi of Baramulla. According to Engineer Rashid, Pakistan Army had constructed an underground hospital in Leepa Valley. “It is now under the control of Indian Army. The name of Parvez Musharaf is still in the hospital records when he served as Major.” Regarding Saint Manga Sahib, locals say their ancestors told them that he was a potter. “There was no water in Kashmir valley. Manga sahib axed a stone from which water came out and this water is still flowing there,” said an elderly Ghulam Muhammad Khan. “This is what my elders have told me.” Locals also believe that the water in the area never freezes.

Panchakarma treatment cheaper than Kerela...

Medical Tourism

http://www.risingkashmir.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12793&Itemid=41

Srinagar: Famous Panchkarma treatment according to experts will be cheaper in Kashmir than its main heartland Kerala besides adding Valley to the world medical tourist destination map. 

Panchkarma is mainly used for the treatment of disc problems, obesity, ENT, orthopedic, skin problems, neurological and other related problems that are common in Kashmir.

Talking to Rising Kashmir senior doctor who performs Panchkarma treatment in Valley Dr. Abrar said, “Panchkarma will be used for both curative and luxurious purposes. It is cost effective and can be important attraction for tourists who otherwise move towards South India for it.”

Dr. Abrar is a part of Royal Kashmir Panchkarma, Ayurbvedic, Unani and Skin Hospital that started functioning, Saturday at Gupkar road. The hospital has offered two days free treatment to the patients in collaboration with Rotary Club Kashmir. The free camp was well received by the masses. 

Panchakarma (meaning five actions) was developed in India and according to Charaka, the five actions are Nasya (nasal therapy), Vamana (emesis or vomiting), Virechana (purging) and two kinds of Vasti (therapeutic enema), Nirooha Vasti and Sneha Vasti. Herbal decoctions are used for Nirooha Vasti and herbal oils for Sneha Vasti.
The Royal hospital also provides treatment for paralysis, arthiritis, insomnia, infertility, muscular atrophy, toxicity, varicosity and other health problems.

According to Dr. Abrar the therapy can be used for stress related disorders. “The therapy releases special neurotransmitters that are not normally secreted but are very effective in treatment of the problems,” said Dr. Abrar.
The treatment is WHO certified and is already being used at places like Royal Spring Golf Course where the elite of the society take advantage of the therapy.

“Now it is available for a commoner at low cost and normally 60 percent lower than the allopathic charges,” said Dr. Abrar.
In USA according to a recent survey 60 to 65 of patients are taking to Panchkarma treatment.
Dr. Amit Wanchoo, owner of a Pharmaceutical manufacturing unit in Kashmir Eton laboratories while talking to Rising Kashmir said, “Panchkarma can be utilized effectively here and Kashmir has the added advantage of climate, location and environment. This industry needs to be tapped and government should take interest in it.”

According to experts the establishment of the unit requires a capital investment of Rs 20 to 25 lakh and government can boost the entrepreneurship and also provide opportunities to students who are studying in the fields outside the State.
Irshad Ahmed who manages the Royal Kashmir hospital said,“We have diagnostic facility, Ultra sound, X-ray, leech therapy for multiple disorders and the treatment will be cost effective. Although some of the oils which we have to get from outside are costly as well.”

 The patients from Valley can avail the most anicient Unani and Ayurvedic time tested formulations on consultation fee of Rs. 20 only.

Kashmir University students side with sepratists

Hakeem Irfan

As the Srinagar parliamentary constituency is going to polls on May 07, students of Kashmir University Wednesday organized election boycott march in the campus raising slogans in favor of right to self determination and against the process of elections.

Hundreds of KU students assembled near law department of KU in the afternoon in wake of the election boycott call by the pro freedom leadership and against the religious intervention by the authorities.

Chairman Hurriyat (G) Syed Ali Geelani had called for an election boycott and also appealed masses to protest peacefully against the elections.

Chairman Hurriyat (M) Mirwaiz Muhammad Umar Farooq had also appealed people to wear black bands on May 04 as a mark of protest against the ‘religious intervention’ by the authorities.

Earlier authorities restricted the masses to offer Friday prayers at Jamia Masjid and other adjacent masjids by imposing strict restrictions in and around the old city for two consecutive Fridays.

“We want right to self determination. Elections are a futile exercise. Every one of us will boycott the elections and people outside should also do the same,” said a student of management studies who wished not to be named.

‘No elections-No selection-only way is Plebiscite’, ‘India go back’, ‘We want freedom’, ‘Masjideen Hamari Jaan se Pyari’ , ‘Islam Zindabaad’ , ‘Long live revolution’ slogans reverberated the atmosphere in the campus as the students continued to march in university lawns.

Students went to different departments urging the fellows to join in the protests. Departmental work was affected for two hours in the university as the students demonstrated in front of each department.

 According to a student the police in-charge in the university had asked them not to raise any pro freedom slogans but nobody paid heed to that.

“We don’t want jobs and never care about the development. We believe that freedom will bring everything with it. Troops should move out of the Kashmir. Our leaders should be released,” said Malik Akhter while addressing the gathering near the English department.

Marching towards the Maulana Roomi gate of KU students halted at the Vice Chancellor’s secretariat and raised slogans in favor of freedom, against the religious intervention and election boycott full throated.

“They have started to restrict us even from prayers. We cannot bear that. State is forcing the educated youth to take up guns again,” said a student of Urdu department who was also leading the sloganeering.

 Students also raised slogans against the National Conference, People’s Democratic Party, Congress and other pro India parties.

“Down with Omar Abdullah, we fear none other than Allah,” was the resonating response of the students to a call from one of the protestors.

“Our masjids are being haunted by the troopesr and police. How can we remain silent? All this is the manifestation of the oppression we are facing,” said Nimer Qayoom a student of management studies.

Students were not allowed to move out from the gate and the media persons too were not allowed to move in. 

The students were also wearing black bands as a mark of protest and later dispersed peacefully.

SRTC still grey, not white elephant

Corporations in European states record lower revenues than JK

http://www.risingkashmir.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=10580&Itemid=55

The idea of closing Jammu and Kashmir State Road Transport Corporation doesn’t appear a novel one considering the fact that the corporation recovers 70 per cent of its total expenditure, more than most European countries.

Senior officials in JKSRTC said that the corporation recovers Rs 5 to 6 crore a year, which is around 70 per cent of the annual expenses – Rs 8.5 crore – of the corporation.

Public transport systems throughout the world are essentially loss making and most European countries recover lesser amount of the total expenses on the corporations than JKSRTC.  

According to a study carried by Sustainability in the Public Transport Market (SIPTRAM) Project, the public transport system in Finland recovered only 67 per cent of its total expenses. 

France only recovered 37.5 per cent money from its public transport until 2006 and now has improved with few per cent.  In Sweden cost recovery is only 60 per cent. 

Senior JKSRTC officials said that the corporation was recovering Rs 23 crore a year in 1988-89 which has now gone down to a few crore. However, in spite of this SRTC is paying tax of Rs 5 to 6 crore to the government every year at a rate of 18 per cent with no help from the government.

As per the RTC Act of 1950 the Corporation should get the support of 66 per cent from the state and 33 per cent from New Delhi and it is supposed to be a separate body.

However other states pay only 6 per cent tax to New Delhi as per RTC Act of 1950, which officials said was indicative of partisan treatment the State gets.

New Delhi stopped funding the corporation from 1987 after which the corporation somehow managed to stay active till 1990.

Besides, presently SRTC has only 1 per cent share in the transportation market.

Andhra Pradesh SRTC (ASRTC) is one of the biggest services with 21000 vehicles plying and 99 per cent of roads under its control. SRTC has 1.2 lac employees and inspite of such a huge infrastructure the corporation runs in losses and is supported by the government.

Delhi Transport Corporation with 8000 vehicles and nearly 1 lakh employees is too running in losses but the salary of the monthly salary of the employees is Rs 24 crore which is paid by the government.

“JKSRTC has only 600 mobile vehicles with monthly expenditure of 3.4 crore expenditure monthly on the salaries but government pays only 15 to 20 per cent of it,” said an official.

According to a book ‘Management and Funding of Public Transport’ compensation for carrying out public service obligations is necessary for the public transport. 

Public authorities have to pay transport companies to carry out an unprofitable service for the public. 

Subsidies for the deficit coverage must be funded by public authorities through general budgets (central government, federal states or territorial authorities), the book specifies.

The book also specifies that “Public transport systems are systematically loss making...It is not possible simply to cover all the costs from the fares paid by the passengers.”

“CC type politics was not fruitful”

Asiya Andrabi, head of Deukhtaran-e-Millat, talks to Rising Kashmir staffer Hakim Irfan about her impressions on post election scenario, leadership of resistance movement, and what went wrong with boycott campaign. http://www.risingkashmir.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=9680&Itemid=37 Hakeem Irfan: Recently you made a remark about Syed Ali Geelani that he should lead pro-freedom movement as a spiritual leader. Can you elaborate on that? Asiya Andrabi: I mean that Geelani sahib should lead the nation like late Sheikh Ahmed Yaseen of Palestine, Imam Khomeini of Iran and other spiritual leaders of the resistance movements all over the Muslim world. The spiritual component of the movement is also necessary which is lacking here. Spiritual leaders have more hold on the nations rather than mere political leaders. Politics is a hectic job and health of Geelani Sahib may not allow him to do justice with the hectic schedule of political activity. For example, in October 2008 movement was at a crucial stage but Geelani sahib was getting his pace-maker changed at a hospital in New Delhi. How can we expect him to lead the Lal Chowk March those days. This is why I said that he cannot play the active role in politics now. HI: How can you describe the role of pro freedom leadership in the recent election boycott campaign? AA: Look, Sonia Gandhi went to Uri and Rahul Gandhi addressed rallies at the far flung areas here. But our Hurriyat could not reach out to the masses. It is our (pro freedom leadership’s) incompetence that the people voted in such huge numbers. Boycott was successful in Srinagar because of the fact that people are in continuous contact with the pro freedom leadership. People in far flung areas are still being neglected by us. I understand that the leadership was arrested and detained but now we have to look forward for the effective program to continue the movement. These so called mainstream politicians went to every nook and corner of the state and assured people of giving them the basic amenities. I still remember that people said that voting never corresponds to the support to Indian rule. These are two different things. A young boy from Ganderbal who voted was interviewed on BBC and he said, "If at this moment the procession for freedom will be organized I will be the first to lead it." People are with the cause and it was clear in the massive protests before the elections.  I feel that we were wrong in our later day understanding and ex ecution of things.    HI: You suggested few names as the new young and dynamic leadership to take responsibility of carrying forward this movement. Do you want any addition or deletion to the list? AA: I never meant that the names I suggested make the final choice for the new leadership. These names were just flashing in my mind. There are other people also, but the thing is that we have to identify them and organize them on a single platform. It is everybody's duty to suggest the capable person for this huge responsibility of representing the cause. HI: You said that Coordination Committee turned into a dustbin. Is Coordination Committee still relevant? Coordination Committee type politics was not fruitful, as for as I am concerned. Actually the unification should be based on ideology and principles. This sustains and remains functional even if every individual is arrested or detained. It is an irony that every individual became the member of CC and that is what I termed later as the dustbin. Every press release coming in the media read, "President of the party and CC member." It turned into a joke. CC had just nine members when it was formed. But later the situation was such that it felt that whoever we find here around is actually the member of CC. With the result it affected the role of CC itself. Every individual was trying to take CC as per his or her own scheme of things. Now I strongly feel that we have to introspect and see if CC type politics is still relevant. There can be problems within which we have to point out and rectify.   HI: What were the problems within? AA: For example, close relatives of the Hurriyat (M) members participated in the elections. At least the members should have been on a social boycott with those relatives. They did not have even that much of courage. I have examples were commoners boycotted the people who participated in the elections.  Whole Family of Agha Syed Hassan Budgami participated in the elections, Sajad Gani Lone's sister, Executive member of People's Conference Engineer S Rashid participated in elections. Verbal statements have no relevance, they should have openly appealed people to refrain from supporting their family members or relatives. It becomes a joke when one member of family calls for boycott and other asks for vote. Ask Abbas Sahib, what he was doing for election boycott. Prof. Sahib was resting in Pakistan, when Mirwaiz said that they will lead the boycott movement in different areas.   HI: Where did you see the things went wrong during the massive peaceful protests? AA: Calling off the strike was a blunder. I cautioned Gelani Sahib at that movement and informed him that people are ready to face the challenge but as he is soft at heart (Raqeeq ul Qalb) he didn't pay any heed to that and called off the strike. He was concerned about the day to day lives of people. I told him that we meet people and have a grasp of the pulse. The termination of the strike was a shock to the whole nation. Election Commissioner was visiting here at that moment and the pro freedom leadership cleared the environment for them. Every home had stored the necessary items and was prepared for a long term peaceful resistance. HI: Was the call for boycott from pro freedom leadership a wrong decision? AA: No, actually the boycott was necessary. We miscalculated that there will be a massive boycott. But this assessment of ours was wrong. Elections made it clear that the pro freedom leadership has to work at the grass roots level and educate people about the impact of voting and election vis-à-vis Kashmir problem. We have to correct their belief they still hold that casting a vote in any case is an obligation. HI: What should be the immediate homework for the pro freedom leadership? AA: Our pro freedom leaders should move to their own areas and address people there. Pro freedom leadership has to take care of their native places. People are influenced by the local leadership and they can better empathize with their local representatives. But Geelani sahib should be present in Srinagar and lead the movement from here. Besides, the pro freedom leadership will sit together in coming days and devise a strategy for the continuity of the movement. Ups and downs come and go, but we have to learn to overcome the pressures and move on. Also, we have the ideological relation with Pakistan and we have to understand the situation there as well. We need their continuous support. HI: Is there any idea of forming a government in exile, in Pakistan Administered Kashmir?   We don’t need a government in exile. We experimented with the idea in 1990 and ministries were also distributed, but that didn’t worked. Pro freedom leadership here is capable of leading the movement. But we need continuous support from Pakistan. I am more concerned about the integrity of Pakistan. We cannot afford the well being of Kashmir at the cost of Pakistan. We will solve the issue by being firmly grounded here. HI: How can pro freedom leadership regain the support of the masses now? AA: We are definitely in need of a socio economic model that can help people and address their day to day needs. We have to be multi dimensional in our approach. We need not politicize it. But the morally upright people should handle all this. Few years back I was in London addressing the female audience. After I completed the address, to my utter amazement, they offered their jewelry as a donation for Kashmir, but I refused saying I cannot take that. They said that they are sending a lot of money to Kashmir and I also came to know about the names receiving that money. But then nobody is accountable here for that. Besides we had a social organizations of Dukhtaran-e-Milat, but they all were closed by the authorities few years back. Even the sewing machines of our social work centers were sealed under POTA. Now we have to create the institutions which can be of some help to the population and they might not have to approach to any other person for such requirements. HI: Do you mean that Hilal-e-Ahmer should be revived? AA: Name doesn’t matters. It is the work that matters. The organizations formed on this pattern can have any name. It can be Hilale Ahmer as well.