e-mail us at [email protected] Vol. 7 No: 32 | JAMMU, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2015 | Pages: 12 | Price: R 2.50 | Air surcharge 50 paisa for Leh On campaign trail, Sonia slams 'pracharak' Modi, 'dharnebaaj' Kejriwal Tia Youth attend workshop on Daman Surna Narsingh temple “It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see.” TEMPERATURE MAX : 17.8 °C MIN : 4.3 °C RELATIVE HUMIDITY : 88 % Jammu-Srinagar national highway closed, hundreds stranded Avalanche warning issued in Doda SUNSET : 6:05 pm Today SUNRISE : 7:25 am Tomorrow In BRIEF BSNL Broadband service breaks down JAMMU: Jammuites once again had to bear the brunt of BSNL's poor services as its vital broadband services came to a grinding halt at around 8:15 pm on Sunday. The service provider with maximum subscribers amongst all its contemporaries has failed to provide flawless services to the people despite repeated protests from time to time. Irked by the broadband service failure that continued till filing of this report, the subscribers of different cross sections be it common people, students, businessmen or media houses suffered a great loss on account of this failure. Protest in Srinagar against Prophet caricatures SRINAGAR: Expressing resentment over caricatures of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) published and reproduced in the French magazine, Charlie Hebdo, scores of people staged protest demonstrations at Press enclave here today. The protestors assembled under the banner of Ghulaman-i-Akbar and raised pro-Islam slogans. "We cannot tolerate any disrespect to our Prophet Muhammad (SAW). We protest against the blasphemous act of Charlie Hebdo," said Manzoor Ahmad, a protestor. Later, the protestors dispersed off peacefully. Father of birth control pills dies at 91 SAN FRANCISCO: Carl Djerassi, who was considered as the father of the birth control pills by the chemists, has passed away at the age of 91. The Austrian-born US chemist died of complications related to liver and bone cancer on Friday in his San Francisco home, Stanford University spokesman Dan Stober said. As a professor of Chemistry at Stanford, Djerassi was famous for leading a research team Contd. on P-4 Col 3 Privileges for US diplomats in India not restored: Govt NEW DELHI: Privileges including airport passes to US diplomats and their family members here which were withdrawn following arrest of IFS officer Devyani Khobragade over an year ago, have not been restored by the government. The American Embassy has also not been allowed to carry out any commercial activity from its premises, the Ministry of External Contd. on P-4 Col 3 Vehicles heading to Srinagar stranded at Nagrota after the national highway was closed for traffic. RAKESH KHAJURIA SRINAGAR, FEB 1: The national highway, connecting the Kashmir valley with the rest of the country, was closed today due to fresh snowfall. Hundreds of vehicles, including those carrying passengers, were stranded on this side of the Jawahar tunnel. A traffic department official told that SrinagarJammu national highway, the only road connecting the valley with the rest of the country, was closed due to fresh snowfall on both sides of the tunnel, Banihal and Qazigund. He said it was heavily snowing on the highway. The Border Roads Organisation (BRO), responsible for the maintenance of the highway has pressed into service sophisticated machines to clear Contd. on P-4 Col 1 NEW DELHI, FEB 1: The documents handed over by the US to India in connection with the probe into the plot to carry out terror strikes on American and Israeli consulates in the South have established communication between Sakir Hussain, undergoing jail term in the case, and 'Shahjee', a Pakistani national introduced to the accused allegedly by a Pakistani diplomat working in Colombo. NIA, which has carried out the probe into the conspiracy meticulously, had sent a request under Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty to the US for details from service provider whose email was being used by Hussain to communicate to his handler in Sri Lanka. Hussain, who pleaded guilty and is at present undergoing jail term in India, was arrested in April last year by sleuths of Intelligence Bureau with Tamil Nadu police while doing reconnaissance of US consulate in Chennai and Israeli consulate in Contd. on P-4 Col 1 Kashmir receives fresh snowfall ashmir Valley, including summer capital Srinagar and other plain areas, received fresh snowfall today, a day after 'Chillai-Kalan', the 40-day period of harshest winter ended, even as the minimum temperatures rose by several degrees to provide relief from the intense cold conditions. "Snowfall was recorded in higher reaches including the tourist resorts of Pahalgam, Gulmarg and Kupwara area of the Valley during the night," a MET Department spokesman said here. The snowfall started in the morning, he said, adding, owing to cloudy sky during the night minimum temperature in the city appreciated by nearly three degrees from yesterday's minus 2.9 K Bangalore to facilitate a terror strike similar to 26/11. For this, two terrorists were to be flown in from Maldives. Hussain had named Amir Zubair Siddiqui, who was working as Visa Counsellor at Pakistan High Commission based in Colombo till some time back but had to be repatriated to Islamabad after India mounted pressure on Sri Lanka about his alleged activities targeting this country. Pakistan, however, maintains that he was shifted after completing his tenure in Colombo. During his questioning, Hussain had named one "Shahjee" who was introduced to him by Siddiqui and all the meetings took place in hotels at Colombo. The accused told the investigators that "Shahjee" was described as second-incommand to the Visa Counsellor. The response provided by US authorities following the request under the MLAT showed that the account was being operated by "Shahjee" who had provided the name while registering with the email account, Contd. on P-4 Col 2 BEIJING, FEB 1: India is committed to finding an "early settlement" to the vexed boundary issue, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj today said during her maiden visit to China as she proposed a six-point template to build Sino- India ties to realise the common dream of 'Asian Century'. Addressing an IndiaChina Media forum at the start of her four-day visit here, she said the two countries should follow action oriented approach, broad base bilateral engagement, convergence of common, regional and global interests, develop new areas of cooperation, expand strategic communication, fulfill common aspirations to usher in an "Asian Century". Highlighting that her visit is taking place against the backdrop of new government taking over office in India with a decisive mandate, Swaraj said Prime Minister Narendra Modiled government propelled the aspiration of young, Contd. on P-4 Col 1 Contd. on P-4 Col 1 "Earlier, we used to get Europeans for handicrafts, leisure and climate. But now, Europeans have (been issued) advisories not to visit Kashmir. Now, we are getting Southeast Asians because they do not have advisories against Kashmir," Talat Parvez, Director Tourism, Kashmir told PTI here. About 65 per cent of the 1.15 lakh international tourists, who visited the state last year belonged to the Southeast Asian coun- External Affairs Minister Sushma swaraj with Jiang Jianguo, Director of State Council of Information Office of People's Republic of China during the launch of 2nd IndiaChina Media Forum in Beijing on Sunday. UNI 'Modi to visit China in May' rime Minister Narendra Modi will visit China in May this year, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said today ahead of her meeting with her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi. "Modiji is going to come in May. I will give them dates today. This is a preparatory visit," she told the Indian media after she addressed the Indian Community here. She said her maiden visit to China also focussed on opening the additional route for the Kailash Manasorvar Yatra for which preparations are on. "It is a big thing," she said. The route is expected to provide more comfortable journey experience to pilgrims with a facility to travel to Kailash-Manasarovar directly by buses. Modi's visit to China P Contd. on P-4 Col 2 YEH HAI JAMMU Fresh probe likely into 1984 anti-Sikh riots lesser known and neglected tourist destinations by the adventure activities organized in state and Licensee Youth Hostels in the state of J&K. He said that providing budget accommodation to wandering youth hostellers of the world is the aim of the organization. Youth Hostels Association of India is affiliated to Hostelling International London and has more than 4500 youth hostels and millions of members worldwide. NEW DELHI, FEB 1: Thirty years after the antiSikh riots in Delhi, a fresh probe is likely with a government-appointed committee recommending constitution of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) for the same, a move seen by the Congress as an attempt to woo voters ahead of polls here. The committee headed by former Supreme Court Judge Justice (retd) GP Mathur, which was set up on December 23 last year to look into the possibility of re-investigation of the 1984 riots, submitted its report to Home Minister Rajnath Singh last week, sources said. It has recommended setting up of an SIT for a fresh probe into the riots that followed assassination of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on October 31, 1984, the sources added. An order to this effect is likely after the February 7 Delhi Assembly polls as the Model Code of Conduct is in place in the national capital now and no such announcement can be made, the sources said. Contd. on P-4 Col 2 Contd. on P-4 Col 2 COLOURS OF DEVOTION: A colourful tableaux depicting Shri Guru Ravi Dass during a Shoba Yatra taken out ahead of Shri Guru Ravi Dass Birthday. RAKESH KHAJURIA J&K gets 4 new Youth Hostels GJ REPORT JAMMU, FEB 1: National body of Youth Hostels Association of India under the leadership of Mohd. Shafi Pandit IAS (Rtd) National President YHAI has granted licenses to 4 new licensee youth hostels under the LYH scheme. These include Youth Hostel Jammu c/o Vinayak Institute of Paramedical Sciences, Ekta Vihar, Kunjwani, Jammu; Youth Hostel Udhampur c/o Hotel Blue Sapphire , National Highway Udhampur City; Kashmir calling Southeast Asians for adventure tourism NEW DELHI, FEB 1: In the wake of dwindling European tourists, Jammu and Kashmir is targeting travellers from Southeast Asia with adventure tourism activities like motor biking, rafting and paragliding. With these, the state, which is endowed with abundant natural scenic beauty and popularly referred to as 'Heaven on Earth', will attract adventurous visitors, who traditionally flock the Himalayas for skiing. India committed to 'early settlement' of boundary issue with China NEW DELHI, FEB 1: In a late night development, the government made a major reshuffle and transferred six secretaries. Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) made the following appointments. Ms Gauri Kumar, has been appointed as Secretary, Co-ordination & Public Grievances, Cabinet Secretariat in place of SB Agnihotri. Ms Kumar is presently Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment. Shankar Aggarwal has been made Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment vice Ms Gauri Kumar. Aggarwal is the Secretary, Ministry of Urban Development. Madhusudhan Prasad who is the Special Secretary, Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry as Secretary, Ministry of Urban Development in place of Shankar Aggarwal. Lov Verma, Secretary, Department of Health and Family Welfare, Ministry Contd. on P-4 Col 1 US hands over evidence linking Pak national US Consulate terror conspiracy JAMMU: The authorities in the mountainous district of Doda today issued an avalanche warning and have advised people not to venture in avalanche prone areas of the district. "In the wake of weather predictions by the meteorology department, deputy commissioner, Doda Bhupinder Kumar has issued avalanche warning as the climate is likely to deteriorate from Feb 1 to 3 in avalanche prone areas of the district which are ACC makes fresh appointments JU wins opening tie of Christmas Soccer Championship Youth Hostel Sanasar C/O PY Resorts, Sanasar and Youth Hostel Mantalai C/O Hotel Lakshman, Bus Stand Mantalai ( Udhampur) These Youth Hostels are in addition to the already existing youth hostels in J&K. Padmashree Er. S.P. Varma while welcoming the issuing of licenses to Jammu hostels, said that Youth Hostels Association of India is committed to encourage national and international tourists inflow to the Govt contemplating to make 'bribery in polls' a cognizable offence tries, he said. The Valley offers diversified adventure activities in air, land, snow and water to lure tourists, the official said, stressing that Turkey was the key competitor in this sector. "The competition for adventure (tourism) is not with any other state of India, but with Turkey," he said. With historical Buddhist centres, the state has an edge over other destinations NEW DELHI, FEB 1: In its bid to check corruption in the poll process, the NDA government is contemplating to amend the law to make bribery, both cash and kind during elections a cognizable offence, empowering police to arrest the violators without a warrant and jail up to two years. The Home Ministry has recently conveyed to the Election Commission that it has initiated the process to amend the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) and a note has been sent to law officers to prepare the draft amendment bill. "If the draft is prepared on time, we may Contd. on P-4 Col 3 CMYK Contd. on P-4 Col 2 Union Home Secy reviews post flood operations JAMMU, FEB 1: Union Home Secretary Anil Goswami today reviewed post-flood operations in Reasi district of Jammu region and assured all possible help from the Centre for relief and rehabilitation of the victims. Goswami, who took stock of the situation in a meeting chaired by him this afternoon, assured all help from the central government to the state to overcome the difficulties caused due to the last year's devastating floods. He said that a comprehensive report of his tour would be sent to the Government of India (GoI) as early as possible. Goswami said that he was in the state to hear grievances of the flood victims and assured that he would take up their demands at the appropriate level. "The area has witnessed development in various sectors, but there is a need for line departments concerned to gear up their efforts to give impetus to the developmental Contd. on P-4 Col 2