Thursday September 21, 2017 13

STATE TIMES NEWSJAMMU: Shiv Sena, J andK, is going to organiseChhari Yatra on firstNavratra on September 21,2017.

Dimpy Kohli, StatePresident, Shiv Senainformed this while talkingto media persons heretoday in the presence ofChairman Avinash Bhatia,

Deputy Chairman RakeshGupta and GeneralSecretary Manish Sahni.

Kohli said that for last 35years, the Shiv Sena isorganising this ChhariYatra to the Holy Cave ofShri Mata Vaishno Devi onthe auspicious occasion ofNavratras.

He informed that PartyNational leaders like

National Secretary andMember Parliament AnilDesai, Chander KantKhera and Raju Shivalikbesides various leaders andthousands of pilgrims fromPunjab, Delhi and J and Kare participating in theHoly Chhari Yatra.

He said that the Yatrawill start from Hari SinghPark, Samadya Road andafter covering RagunathBazaar, Purani Mandi,City Chowk and variousparts of city in the shape ofShoba Yatra will proceed toKatra.

Chhari President RomeshGupta, Senior VicePresident Rajan Gupta,Vice President SanjeevKohli, Raj Singh, MangatKasotra, Pawan Singh,Raju Salaria, NareshBakshi, Sanjeev Kumar,Anchal Gupta and VikasBakshi were aolso presentin the press conference.

STATE TIMES NEWSJAMMU: Observing thatmusic knows no boundaries,Member of Legislative CouncilSurinder Choudhary onWednesday said it binds thepeople in a unique cord andgenerates harmony in the soci-ety. "And, when music relatesto spirituality, it directly touch-es souls and creates an aurafree of tension and hatred",MLC Surinder Choudharysaid while releasing devotionalmusical album, 'Taang PadreDi' sung by Kumar Ravi,renowned and famous singerof the State, in a functionorganised at Press Club here.

Surinder lauded the effortsof Kumar Ravi, saying hisquest for devotional songsholds a promise to be a leadingartist in the near future.

"Devotional music quenchesthe spiritual thirst of devo-tees", he said and wished the

singer a bright future. He said music plays pivotal

role in preserving culture.The audio of the album is

worldwide releasing onyoutube and other socialbroadcasting on September 21on the pious occasion ofNavratra. Speaking on theoccasion, Anchor DharunKesar, while appreciating the

work of Kumar Ravi, saidKumar Ravi has done tremen-dous devotional musical superhits before and now he is backagain with Taang Padre Diwhich is dedicated to the lotusfeet of Maa Chandi of Machailin Pader. Famous singerSushma Rajput, Ravi Singhand Aditya Bhanu were alsopresent on the occasion.

STATE TIMES NEWSJAMMU: A number of dis-placed persons, under thebanner of PoJK DPs Front,today held a rally at PressClub, here under the chair-manship of Yudhvir SinghChib.

Speaking on the occasion,Chib said, "After sevendecades, Government of Indiasanctioned funds of Rs 2,000crore for providing relief toPoJK DPs, two years backbut, the process of disburse-ment of relief is going on at asnail's pace due to reshuffling/transfer of concerned revenueofficials. Even the authoritiesare demanding a lot of docu-

ments before sanctioningrelief, thus adding to the woesof already suffering people, hesaid.

During the visit of UnionHome Minister to J and K,the POJK DP's delegationmet him and briefed himabout the problems whichthey are facing for filling theclaim forms, he said addingthat HM assured the DPsthat one documentary proof issufficient for establishment ofthe DPs family.

Others who spoke on theoccasion were Jai PalSharma, Sakandya Devi, R.SChib and Ch SukhjinderSingh.

Kumar Ravi's devotional album'Taang Padre Di' released

Shiv Sena State President Dimpy Kohli talking to reporters. MLC Surinder Choudhary releasing devotional album.

STATE TIMES NEWSLEH: Indian delegation ledby Jigmet Takpa, JointSecretary, Ministry ofEnvironment, Forests andClimate Change(MOEF&CC) comprisingSatya Pal Vashishth, DIGForests, MOEF&CC,Surabhi Rai, Director,Ministry of RuralDevelopment and represen-tatives of numerous scientificinstitutions and civil societyorganizations participated inthe 13th session ofConference of Parties to theUnited Nations Conventionto Combat Desertification(UNCCD) held fromSeptember 6-16 in Ordos,Inner Mongolia, China.

More than 5,000 delegatesfrom 196 countries attendedthe conference, including 80ministers from affectedcountries.

Globally, 169 countries areaffected by desertification.More than 2 billion hectaresof productive land are esti-mated to be degraded, whichaccounts for 1/3rd of theworld's land. More than 1.5billion people are estimatedto be living off degradedland.

Jigmet Takpa announcedIndia's willingness to join the

UNCCD Land DegradationNeutrality Target SettingProgramme (LDN TSP) at ahigh-level ministerial meet-ing. India is now the 112thcountry to join the LDNTSP, after Brazil. So far, 113of 169 countries haveexpressed interest in recover-ing large areas of degradedover the next 12 years, underthe special global initiative ofthe Land DegradationNeutrality Target SettingProgramme.

Takpa held several meet-ings with the UNCCDSecretariat and partneragencies such as the GlobalEnvironment Facility(GEF), Global Mechanism(GM), and LDN Fund onissue of financing and sup-

porting projects to combatdesertification, land degra-dation, and drought in India.He said, "Desertification andland degradation are verycritical issues that affecteverything from biodiversity,economics, livelihoods, socie-ty, climatic cycles and genderempowerment. Governmentof India is committed to mit-igating this challenge at dif-ferent levels in the country,while also working togetherwith other countries andpartner agencies to addressthis problem at the globallevel." The conference endedwith agreement from 113countries to specify concretetargets, with clear indicatorsto reverse degradation andrehabilitate more land.

India commits to global efforts forcombating desertification

PoJK DPs raising slogans during a protest.

Kavinder inaugurates Sulabhtoilet complex

STATE TIMES NEWSJAMMU: Kavinder Gupta, Speaker J&K LegislativeAssembly inaugurated deluxe Sulabh toilet complex havingfive WCs for gents and ladies, two baths, three urinals andone care taker room amounting to Rs 22 lakh nearCremation Ground, Channi Himmat.

This toilet complex has been constructed and will be main-tained by Sulabh International Social Service Organisationon pay and use basis for 30 years.

On this occasion a meeting and photo exhibition wasorganised by Sulabh International for the awareness of thesanitation programme under 'Swachhata Hi Seva Hai'Pakhwada.

Anil Kumar Singh, Honorary Controller SulabhInternational Social Service Organisation J&K informedthat Sulabh International have constructed 10,500 publictoilets which are being maintained on pay and use basis.Organisation had also constructed 13 lakh individual toilets(Sulabh Shauchalayas), he added.

Kavinder Gupta appreciated the work done by SulabhInternational throughout India regarding sanitation servic-es. He said that some more deluxe Sulabh toilet will be con-structed in Jammu in near future under ODF for Jammu.

Kavinder Gupta, Speaker J&K Legislative Assembly inaugurating deluxe Sulabh toilet complex.

STATE TIMES NEWSSRINAGAR: ClusterUniversity Srinagar isorganizing its first SportsFestival from October 4 to10, 2017.

Officials said five teamsfrom the ConstituentColleges of the ClusterUniversity will be partici-pating in a variety ofgames including cricket,football, volleyball, tabletennis, kabaddi, kho-khoand tug of war etc.

They said matches forgirls will be held atGovernment College forWomen, M. A. Road,Srinagar while the matchesfor boys shall be conductedat S.P. College, A. S.College, Abdul Ahad AzadMemorial Degree CollegesBemina grounds.

The prize distributionfunction shall be held on

October 10 2017 in thepremises of GovernmentCollege for Women, M. A.Road, Srinagar.

It is pertinent to mentionthat the Cluster Universityof Srinagar was estab-lished last year with thefinancial assistance of theCentrally SponsoredScheme of RUSA of theMinistry of HumanResource Development,Government of India andhas started to functionfrom the academic session2017.

The Constituent Collegesof the University are S. P.College, A. S. College, andGovernment College forWomen, M. A. Road, AbdulAhad Azad MemorialDegree College, Beminaand Government College ofEducation M. A. Road,Srinagar.

Srinagar Cluster University toorganise maiden Sports Festival

Shiv Sena to organise Chhari Yatra today

STATE TIMES NEWSJAMMU: C.R Mahapatra,Commandant-137 Bn inau-gurated the seventh batch ofpre-induction training of 319trainees of Jammu SectorBattalions of CRPF here onWednesday.

On the occasion, S.L.CKhup, DIGP RangeHiranagar-cum-SupervisorZTC, CRPF, Nagrota; ArunKumar Rai, 2-Incharge 160Bn, Shyam Gopal Gupta,M.O GC Hira Nagar, ArunKumar, DeputyCommandant, Rattan Lal,Deputy Commandant, N.NSingh, AssistantCommandant, Amrit Singh,Assistant Commandant,

Apurba Vishwas, AssistantCommandant and J.N Sinha,Assistant Commandant(Min.) CRPF were also pres-ent.The aim of this training isto prepare the newly inductedpersonnel to handle the lawand order problems of J andK effectively within the ambitof law.

After the inauguration cere-mony, Mahapatra along withother officers, training staffand trainees participated intea.

The programme was con-ducted by D.K Jha, 2nd I/C,In-charge ZTC NagrotaHiranagar and vote of thankswas given by S.L.C Khup,DIGP Range Hiranagar.

Commandant 137 Bn inauguratespre-induction training batch

C.R Mahapatra, Commandant-137 Bn presenting a citation to a CRPF Jawan.

STATE TIMES NEWSJAMMU: BJP State Spokesperson Prof.Virender Gupta said that Omar Abdullah,though is a member of major political party ofthe State and remained Ex-Chief Ministermatches the separatists in his statements andgives the impression of being a fundamentalistand communal in his approach. Omar's recentstatement "will Dalai Lama be asked to leave,Tamil refugee sent back" and comparing thecase of Rohingyas with Tibetans speaks thathe has turned a mock, commented Prof.Virender.

The Spokesperson reminded Omar of hispast statements and actions. DuringAmarnath land row, he and his party opposedthe temporary shelters for the pilgrims to bemade during Yatra period and in theParliament Omar announced that not an inchof land can be given for the construction oftemporary shelters which otherwise were to beremoved after Yatra. In 1990, NC created asituation in the valley in connivance with the

separatists that forced the minorities to leavethe valley and now is opposing their settlementback. Omar and his party are opposing theestablishment of Sainik Colony even for thoseSainiks who are permanent residents of theState. Prof. Virender further said that duringthe periods when National Conference was inpower, Jammu region was badly discriminatedin all walks of life as the region is Hindu dom-inated. All the policies of the NC are Kashmiroriented and biased against Jammu region, inparticular Hindu community.

The Spokesperson asked Omar that does nothis sympathy for Rohingyas and his statementin favour of their settlement in India and inJammu region carries communal overtones, inthe light of his and his party resistance to thesettlement of Jammuites, who are permanentcitizens of the state, in the Kashmir valley.

The Spokesperson said that he would appre-ciate his concern for Rohingyas if he carriesthem along to the valley and make arrange-ment for their settlement there.

Omar's remark illogical, communal: Virender

An official from India speaking at the conference.

Office bearersof Hockey J&K

nominatedSTATE TIMES NEWS

JAMMU: President ofHockey J and K, TrilochanSingh Wazir, on Wednesdaynominated the office bearersand members of ExecutiveBoard.

Announcing the officerbearers, Secretary GeneralZorawar Singh Jamwal saidthat Janak Singh andDeedar Singh have beennominated as Senior VicePresidents, Sukhdev Singh,Jaswant Singh, MahinderSingh, Rayees Ahmed Darand Achint Kour- VicePresidents, Tejinder Singhand Sarla Kohli- JointSecretaries, M.S Reen andAsha Rani-Province ResidentSecretaries and Iqbal Singhhas been nominated asOrganising Secretary.

S.A Masoodi, Avtar Singh,Ravinder Singh, AjatshatruSingh, Ranbir Singh,Sandeeep Kour have beennominated as Members of theExecutive Board.

One membership is kept fora female from Kashmir,Zorawar said.

Shun differences,work unitedly forKPs' cause: KPC STATE TIMES NEWS

NEW DELHI: Appealing tothe entire Kashmiri Pandit(KP) community particularlythe leaders and activists ofvarious organisations,President Kashmiri PanditConference (KPC) KundanKashmiri urged them to shundifferences and work togetherfor the overall interest of thecommunity and the country.

In a meeting of KPCactivists held here onWednesday, Kundan asked thecommunity members to workin unison for the welfare of theKP community. He cautionedthe KP community claimingthat all political and non--polit-ical organisations, separatists,so--called secularists, Stateand central governments arehell bent to hamper the the 28years long struggle for perma-nent rehabilitation of commu-nity and complete integrationof J&K State with rest of theIndia. Kundan appealed tocommunity to pledge forstanding together, avoid con-tradictions with each otherand to launch an effectivestruggle together to invite theattention of State and centralgovernments, politicians andleaders running the polity ofthe nation for the welfare ofKP community.

BY TSEWANG RIGZINLEH: The three-day LadakhFestival began on Wednesdaywith the inaugural culturalprocession starting fromChhubi and marching throughthe main Bazaar which finallyculminated at historic PoloGround with an impressivefunction where CorpsCommander HQ 14 Corps LtGeneral S.K. Upadhya, whowas chief guest on the occa-sion, declared the festivalopen.

Executive Councilors andCouncilors of LAHDC Leh,district officers and politicalparty leaders were among theprominent present on the occa-sion. Lt General S.K.Upadhya, while admiringLadakh's pristine beauty andits rich cultural heritage,appreciated the organisers ofthe festival. He advisedtourists to make best use of thestay in Ladakh, enjoy the fes-tival and go back with sweetmemories of Ladakh.

Earlier, while welcomingguests and tourists, DirectorTourism Kashmir Mahmood AShah said that theDepartment of Tourism sup-ported Ladakh's tourismindustry to grow through dif-ferent schemes and subsidies.

He termed completion of beau-tification of Leh town as aneco-friendly intervention.While talking about fragileecology of the region, Shahinformed that the guideline ofthe High Court envisages thatany hotel which has more than19 rooms has to have seweragetreatment plant (STP). Whilepresenting vote of thanks

Additional DeputyCommissioner Leh MosesKunzang briefed aboutLadakh festival.

The three-day festivalincludes Archery Competition,Handicraft Exhibition, MaskDance, Polo Match, LadakhiFolk Ensemble, Traditionaland Contemporary PaintingExhibition by J and K

Cultural Academy, MusicConcert, Photo Exhibition andTraditional Food Festival.

The Ladakh Festival is beingorganised by the LadakhAutonomous HillDevelopment Council Leh incollaboration with the J and KTourism Department as anendeavour to lengthen thetourist season in Ladakh.

STATE TIMES NEWSJAMMU: Prof. Bhim Singh,Chief Patron of NationalPanthers Party on Wednesdayreacted sharply on the mediapropaganda by some vestedinterests that militancy in J&Kis limited to one District or onearea. This is only a propagandaby the ruling parties so thatthey can live within the param-eters of their blunders and fail-ures, he added.

NPP Supremo suggest-ed that the scientific methodsneed to be evolved in order towipe off terrorism, militancyand stop bloodshed of the inno-cent people.

He said that this propagandais being circulated by the rulingparties only to mislead thewhole nation about the realityof the total failure and collapseof the present government inJ&K.

NPP Supremo declared thata national convention shall beheld on 26th and 27th October,2017, the anniversary of theAccession which was signed bythe Maharaja of J&K and hasnot been ratified or counter

signed by the Parliament ofIndia till date.

He said that the Parliamentof India has a chance to rectifythe blunder of earlierParliaments and theGovernments of India.

Bhim seeks effective deterrence against terrorism

State baseballteam named

SPORTS REPORTER SRINAGAR: After conduct-ing selection trials, the Jammuand Kashmir BaseballAssociation on Wednesdaynamed the State team for the26th Sub Junior NationalBaseball Championship to beheld at Andhra Pradesh.

The team shall depart for thecompetition in the last week ofSeptember.

The event is scheduled to beheld at Machilipatnam inAndhra Pradesh fromSeptember 25 to 30 under theauspices of Amateur BaseballFederation of India, informedGeneral Secretary of theAssociation, Fida HusainFidvi said.

Ladakh Festival 2017 commences

Artists performing traditional dance during the inaugural of Ladakh Festival.

PoJK DPs Front holds protest