UNION BUDGET 2011 RS 8,000 CRORE FOR KASHMIR

New Delhi Feb 28 (Only Kashmir): Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Monday said Rs.8,000 crore would be given as special developmental assistance to the troubled Jammu and Kashmir in the current fiscal. This is in addition to the special support of Rs.28,000 crore already earmarked by the central government.
"The government's special support to Jammu and Kashmir is anchored in the Rs.28,000 crore Prime Minister's Reconstruction Plan. In addition, for the current year, about Rs.8,000 crore has been provided for the state's development needs," Mukherjee said in his budget speech.
Mukherjee also said task forces to assess infrastructure needs in the Jammu and Ladakh regions of the state had recommended projects amounting to Rs.416 crore and Rs.497 crore, respectively.
"I am providing Rs.100 crore for Ladakh and Rs.150 crore for Jammu for these identified projects in 2011-12," Mukherjee said. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during his visit to the state in November 2004, announced a reconstruction plan for Jammu and Kashmir involving an outlay of nearly Rs.28,000 crore.
The prime minister's multi-crore plan is aimed at expanding economic infrastructure, expanding the provision of basic services, providing a thrust to employment and income generation and
providing relief and rehabilitation to the dislocated and the families of victims of insurgency since 1989.
The government in October last year had also constituted two special task forces for Jammu and Ladakh regions to examine allocations for infrastructure. The task forces were given three
months to submit their reports so that immediate developmental issues for the two regions can be addressed within 24 months.

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‘K-RESOLUTION WAS CLOSER DURING MUSHARRAF REGIME’: MIRWAIZ

Srinagar, Feb 28 (Only Kashmir): Hurriyat (M) chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Sunday said India and Pakistan had reached closer to the resolution of Kashmir dispute during the regime of former Pakistani President, Parvez Musharraf, however they couldn’t reach to a final agreement.
Favouring resumption of India-Pakistan talks, Mirwaiz maintained that delay in the resolution of the long-standing dispute could again lead to violence in the Valley.
In an interview with Geo and Jang in Dallas, Texas, Mirwaiz said Musharraf had briefed him on an ad-hoc arrangement on Kashmir.
“He (Musharraf) maintained that as permanent resolution was difficult to achieve in view of relations of Pakistan and India, ad-hoc arrangement was the only way to resolve the dispute. Subsequently, there was agreement on four points in which demilitarization of Kashmir, self-governance, open borders an establishment of a joint mechanism were included. But they couldn’t reach to a final agreement on it,” Mirwaiz said.
Mirwaiz underscored the need for resumption of dialogue between India and Pakistan. “Hurriyat has always favoured Indo-Pak dialogue.
The current situation is conducive for talks and we are hopeful that the International Community will fulfill its responsibility. I want to maintain that the situation may again lead to violence and go out of control if the world doesn’t act,” he said.
Accusing the Government of India of trying to crush aspirations of Kashmiris through oppression, Mirwaiz maintained that the movement for right to self-determination would go on till it reaches logical end.

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OMAR REITERATES IMPORTANCE OF GOOD INDO-PAK RELATIONS

Jammu, Feb 27 (Only Kashmir): Highlighting the importance of good Indo-Pak relations in peace and development, Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah Sunday reiterated that friends can be changed but not the neighbours.
“We are always for better Indo-Pak relations and have taken many initiatives to this effect”, he said and called for positive and visible response from the other side of the border in this regard.Omar Abdullah was addressing separate gatherings of civil population and BSF Jawans at Zero line in R.S. Pura area of Jammu division this afternoon. He alongwith Divisional Commissioner, Jammu and IG, BSF inspected many villages and interacted with people to get first hand appraisal of the difficulties confronting them.The Chief Minister said that violations of ceasefire create lot of difficulties for the people in border areas on the both sides and even result in loss of human lives and damage to the properties.
“While we are taking every care from our side not to indulge in violation of ceasefire, Pakistan should also exhibit its responsibilities in this regard and help maintain truce at borders”, he said adding that peace at the borders is for the mutual interests of the two neighbours.
“In the tranquil and peaceful atmosphere at borders farmers can take part in agricultural activities across the borders and carry on their normal process of living”, he said adding that friendly ties between the two neighbours is the need of hour.
Omar Abdullah told the border people that government has worked out an arrangement with the BSF for providing rent to the land utilized by the BSF for fencing till the time it is properly acquired by the forces. “Papers for acquiring the land are being finalized and
Divisional Commissioner Jammu is on the job”, he said

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PDP DEMANDS ROUND TABLE CONFERENCE TO RESOLVE KASHMIR ISSUE

Srinagar, Feb 26 (Only Kashmir): Opposition People''s Democratic Party (PDP) today said in order to resolve the Kashmir issue, a round-table conference should follow confidence building measures taken by the government.
"If Prime Minister Manmohan Singh wants to solve the Kashmir issue, a round table conference should be called in which all stakeholders, mainstream and separatists, should be invited," PDP
patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed said addressing a large gathering of supporters here.
Sayeed said four confidence building measures must be implemented before the proposed round table conference is convened by the Prime Minister.
The four measures include release of political prisoners and stone-pelters, revocation of Disturbed Areas Act, curtailment of special powers given to the Army and reduction of the armed forces from civilian areas.
The PDP founder lashed out at the Omar Abdullah-led state government for allegedly arresting young boys on the pretext that "something will happen in June".
"Today, my youth are being arrested because government thinks something will happen in June, but you can only arrest a person, you cannot keep his ideas captive," he said.
"During my tenure, not a single political activist remained in jail," the former chief minister said, flaying the state government for arresting Mohammad Ashraf Sehrai and High Court Bar Association president Mian Abdul Qayoom.
Without naming separatists, Sayeed said the two sides have unanimity only on the three basic issues of prisoner release, revocation of AFSPA and reduction of armed forces.
Reiterating his demand for compensation to Jammu and Kashmir due to loss of water resources on account of the Indus Water Treaty between India and Pakistan, Sayeed assured the farmers of the neighbouring country that his party does not aim to change the course of the rivers flowing into their territory.

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NO SINGLE GROUP CAN SPEAK FOR KASHMIRI'S PEOPLE: INTERLOCUTORS

Srinagar, Feb 26 (Only Kashmir): Given the diverse political aspirations of Jammu and Kashmir's three regions, no single political formation - mainstream or separatist - could claim the exclusive prerogative to speak for the people of Kashmir Valley, let alone for the state's people as a whole, the three central government-appointed interlocutors said Saturday.
Addressing a media conference here at the end of their latest visit to the Valley, the interlocutors - Dileep Padgaonkar, Radha Kumar and M.M. Ansari - said: 'The political settlement has to be found only through a sustained and inclusive process of dialogue with all the stake holders, including the separatist outfits and the civil society organisations'.
Padgaonkar said any outbreak of violence could thwart the process.
'The stake holders, therefore, need to move away from rigid positions and act in concert to focus tightly on four issues of critical importance for the future.
'These include the need to preserve the unity and integrity of the state, assert the state's special status in the Indian Union, seek the most practical and effective way to respond to the diverse political, economic, social and cultural urges of the people, the mainstream political parties in every region would be required to evolve a consensus on a political settlement and then seek a similar consensus with other regions of the state'.
Padgaonkar said all the delegations the interlocutors met insisted that the situation on the ground had to change to enable the dialogue process to progress.
'For this, the delegations demanded an end to the intimidation and harassment by police and the security forces including the indiscriminate use of the Public Safety Act (PSA)'.
The exchange of views with the various delegations the interlocutors had met during the visit gave them sharp insight into the complexities involved in crafting a permanent, political settlement in Jammu and Kashmir, he said.
'We will take these insights, demands and suggestions into account when we present the government our initial document on the contours of the political settlement,' Padgaonkar said.

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HILAL WAR OPENS COMMUNICATION CHANNEL WITH INTERLOCUTORS

Srinagar, Feb 25 (Only Kashmir): Breaking ranks from separatists who have refused to interact with Center''s interlocutors, Peoples Political Party (PPP) today said it will send a roadmap for resolution of Kashmir issue to the team.
"I am offering this roadmap on behalf of the people of Kashmir so that the notion that Kashmiris have nothing to offer ends. So we are offering this (roadmap) to the Government of India through the interlocutors," PPP chairman Hilal Ahmad War told reporters here.
War, who said it is an initiative being taken by the party on its own, is the first separatist politician in the Valley to establish contact with the interlocutors as others have so far described the process as an exercise in futility.
He said it was "sad" that interlocutors on Kashmir are trying to give the notion that nobody in the "pro-freedom camp" has a roadmap or solution.
"Just because some leaders in the resistance camp confess they have nothing to offer does not mean the search should stop there," War said.
He said Kashmiris do have solutions to offer to the Centre and Pakistan.
War asked the government to "soften" its Kashmir policy. He said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh "needs to enact a role of a bold visionary" and consider a solution of Kashmir outside the "rubric of Indian federalism".
"To desire a leadership role in world affairs, India needs to be perceived as a country that can rectify its past mistakes," he said.
War said hardline Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani''s five-point formula is not a roadmap but "confidence building measures"

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GOVT TO PROVIDE UPTO 100,000 JOBS IN KASHMIR: MANMOHAN SINGH

New Delhi Feb 25 (Only Kashmir) : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Thursday said his government was working to provide 50,000-100,000 jobs to the youths of troubled Jammu and Kashmir. This, he added, would change their "mental makeup and mindset".
"We will do everything to strengthen the hands of the state government to provide a fairer deal to the youths of Jammu and Kashmir and provide 50,000 to one lakh jobs to Kashmiris," Manmohan Singh said, replying to the debate on the motion of thanks on the president's address.
"It will change the mental makeup and mindset of youth of Kashmir," the prime minister said.
He said the central government has formed a panel of experts, headed by former Reserve Bank of India governor C. Rangarajan, for a job plan in the employment-starved state. The panel will file its report soon, he said.
The state, Manmohan Singh stressed, had passed through a difficult time particularly last summer. "But since then, the situation has improved."
This summer, he hoped, "we will be vigilant enough" to ensure it doesn't happen again.
The prime minister said the government "will give no quarters to secessionists" in the state but asked political parties to "not disturb the peaceful atmosphere in Jammu and Kashmir".

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GEELANI EVEN GOES FOR MORNING WALK: OMAR ABDULLAH

Srinagar Feb 23 (Only Kashmir): Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullahon Wednesday asked fire-brand separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani not to make 'false claims' about being detained by the Delhi police.
Rubbishing claims of separatists that Geelani had been detained in Delhi, he said the separatist leader was 'completely free' and even takes his morning walks.
"He has been told to not to leave the city until he records his statement in connection with the alleged hawala case where one arrested person has told the police that some hawala money was passed on to him," said Omar.
"He can go any time he wishes to. Let him record his statement today and board a train to Jammu and catch next morning's flight to Srinagar. The weather in the Valley is very nice," added Omar.
"By spreading false claims about his detention, his only aim was to create disturbance in the Valley, but the people are wise enough and have not paid any heed (to him)," Omar told reporters after his meeting with Home Minister P Chidambaram [ Images ] in Delhi.
The chief minister was referring to the failed bandh call given by the separatists on Tuesday for the alleged harassment of Geelani.
"The police, as I have been made to understand, have told Geelani that he can come anytime he wishes to, but can leave the city only after he records his statement in the hawala case," the chief minister said.
The recently-unearthed hawala trail in the Kashmir valley has put the spotlight on some senior leaders of the Hurriyat Conference, following which the chief of the hard-line faction of the separatist grouping has been asked not to leave Delhi so that he can be questioned.
Spokesman of the hard-line faction of Hurriyat Conference Ayaz Akbar said if Geelani was being implicated in the hawala case, it was an attempt to defame the movement in Kashmir.
Delhi police and Jammu and Kashmir police had recently arrested one of Geelani's close aides Ghulam Mohammed Bhat for allegedly receiving hawala money. Over Rs 21 lakh was allegedly seized from him, they claimed.

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67% IN J&K ARE PASSIVE SMOKERS: NGO

Jammu Feb 22 (Only Kashmir): A Non-governmental organisation (NGO) Voluntary Health Association of India- Jammu and Kashmir Chapter has called for strict implementation of Tobacco and Tobacco Products Prevention Act to reduce incidence of diseases caused due to consumption of tobacco in different forms.
According to VHAI Jammu and Kashmir tops the statistics of highest rate of passive smoking at 67 per cent, which is highest in India. The Association called for imposition of higher taxes on cigarettes and other tobacco products to discourage smoking in the State.
Led by Chief organizer, A.M. Mir, the Association today met Speaker, J&K Legislative Assembly, Mohammad Akbar Lone, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, B.B. Vyas, Commissioner, Sudhanshu Pandey,Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Dr. Pawan Kotwal and several other senior bureaucrats and highlighted the need to enforce the law with full vigor in the State.
Thousands of people die of cancer and related ailments annually caused due to smoking of cigarettes and other tobacco products. To stop the high rate of deaths due to smoking, the Association called for launching mass awareness through debates, seminars and symposia in every nook and corner of the State.
The speaker and other senior officers, whom they met assured full cooperation of the administration in discouraging smoking to protect public health. They said smoking is a big health hazards which not only is responsible for large scale deaths but also incurs heavy economic loss to government as well as smokers.

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OMAR ABDULLAH CRITICISES HURRIYAT OVER KASHMIR STRIKE

Srinagar Feb 22 (Only Kashmir): Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah today criticised the hardline Hurriyat faction's strike call against Delhi Police's restrictions on Syed Ali Shah Geelani in connection with the hawala money case against the separatist leader.
"If people want to shut down because someone's hawala money is alleged to have been caught then so be it," Omar tweeted on micro-blogging site Twitter over the Kashmir shutdown today.
The chief minister was replying to the queries posed to him by several Kashmiri youth on the social networking site.
"In a land where we don't think twice before shutting down for 4 months, neither tourism nor education work," he said.
Normal life in Kashmir was affected today following a strike call given by Hurriyat hardline faction to protest against the restriction order against its Chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani, barring him from leaving the national capital.
Clarifying the news spread through social networks and media over the arrest of Geelani in New Delhi, Omar had ysterday said there is no arrest warrant (issued against Geelani).
"There is no arrest warrant (issued against Geelani). He has only been asked to record his statement in connection with his alleged hawala money (by Delhi Police)," Omar had tweeted.
The recently unearthed hawala trail in the Kashmir Valley points to money being allegedly passed to senior Hurriyat leaders, including Geelani, following which the separatist leader has been asked not to leave Delhi.
Tehreek-e-Hurriyat, founded by Geelani, had called for a shutdown today against the restrictions on the hardline Hurriyat chairman.
The Delhi Police wants to question Geelani in connection with a hawala case in which his close aide Ghulam Mohammad Bhat and two others have already been arrested.

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RELIENCE LAUNCHES 3G SERVICES IN KASHMIR

Srinagar Feb 22 (Only Kashmir): Reliance Communications on Tuesday launched its 3G services in the three districts of central Kashmir and promised to cover the whole Valley in the next two months.
With the launch, RCom became the first private company to launch the service in Kashmir Valley.
Vivek Kumar, the company's executive for the state told a news conference that the north Kashmir health resort of Gulmarg and south Kashmir tourist resort town Pahalgam would be provided the 3G services within the next one month.
He said that while providing the 3G service in the Valley, the company was strictly abiding by the directives of the central telecom ministry and also the security guidelines governing such services.
"Recently, we launched 3G services in Chandigarh, Punjab, Jammu and Mumbai," he said.
The company executives said with the 3G services in place, subscribers in Kashmir would have access to an Internet speed of 7.2 megabytes per second, 110 television channels, video conferencing, social networking and also mobile cinema.
"Reliance Communications will lead creation of a wire-free India through launch of affordable 3G service for all," he said.

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TAKE CARE OF HUMAN RIGHTS WHILE FIGHTING MILLITANTS: KHODA

Srinagar, Feb 18 (Only Kashmir): Security agencies should take care of human rights while fighting militants in the Valley, Jammu and Kashmir police chief said today.
Director General of Police Kuldeep Khoda, who chaired a high level security meeting of top officers of civil administration, police and other security agencies, directed officers to adopt a people friendly approach in security management.
The meeting of top security officers comes at a time when the police have been involved in a crackdown against protestors to ensure that there is no repeat of last year's summer unrest.
More than 100 civilians were killed when protests, triggered by the killing a teenage student in June last year, erupted in the Valley in 2010.
"DGP laid stress on maintaining strict vigil and caution to thwart the evil designs of anti-national elements," a police spokesman said.

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MILAD-UN-NABI CELEBRATED ACROSS KASHMIR

Srinagar, Feb 16 (Only Kashmir): Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi, the birthday of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), was today celebrated across Kashmir as thousands of people offered prayers at the holy Hazratbal shrine here.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah flew in from Jammu, the winter capital, to offer prayers and have a glimpse of the holy relic of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
"(I) am now off to Dargah Hazratbal for prayers and Deedar (glimpse). So much to thank The Almighty for," Omar wrote on popular microblogging site Twitter soon after arriving here.
Men, women and children thronged the Hazratbal shrine on the banks of Dal Lake throughout the day as the Holy relic is displayed five times, each after ever prayer.
While the government had illuminated most of the landmarks in the city, private homes were also well lit and decorated on the occasion of Prophet's birthday.
Sallalahuiliewasalam (PBUH)

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Eid-i-Milad-un-Nabi (PBUH)

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BJP FORCING MUSLIMS TO TAKE UP ARMS: YASIN MALIK

Srinagar Feb 14 (Only Kashmir): In the aftermath of protests against him by BJP activists during his visit to Ajmer last week, JKLF chief Yasin Malik on Monday alleged that the national opposition party was forcing Muslims in the country to resort to arms.

Giving details of the blasts at Muslim shrines and mosques in the country, Malik alleged that BJP was "pushing the Muslims of India towards resorting to arms".
He also said that by harassing Kashmiri people and leadership outside Kashmir, the BJP was pushing the youth of the state to pick up the gun.
Criticising the party for resorting to "goon culture", he alleged that it wanted to "set the entire sub-continent on fire".
"Since BJP lost power (at the Centre), they want to set afire the entire sub-continent," Malik told reporters at his party headquarters at Maisuma in Srinagar.
The former militant said during their tenure in power at the Centre, BJP released the Hurriyat leadership from Jodhpur jail and held talks with the united Hurriyat Conference followed by parleys with the Mirwaiz-led Hurriyat and later with militant outfit Hizbul Mujahideen.
"The BJP claims to be nationalist but when we see their role during India's freedom struggle, they were informers of the British and even killed Mahatma Gandhi, who won freedom for India," he said.
Insisting that "proper space" is required for the "peaceful struggle of Kashmiri people", Malik said, "We have made a transition from armed struggle to peaceful struggle and this transition is unilateral.
We ask the Indian civil society to ensure that space is provided to safeguard this peaceful struggle," he said.
In response to Srinagar city police chief's recent allegation that the protesters in last year's summer unrest were "drug addicts", Malik said, "The Kashmir issue is 63 years and four generations old. Can this issue be sustained by drug addicts and those who have personnel problems?"
On a question about the political unrest in Egypt, Malik said there was no scope for Egypt's comparison with Kashmir as the army in the Arab country had "a strong sense of belonging and no Egyptian was killed by them".
"However, there is a lesson for the people of Kashmir from the Egyptian revolution that non-violent democratic movements have many takers across the world," he said.

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PDP FOR RESOLVING KASHMIR ISSUE

Srinagar, Feb 8 (Only Kashmir) : Describing Kashmir as a ''festering sore'', Opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) today said the party would organise rallies in the twin capital cities of Srinagar and Jammu on February 14 for an early solution to the issue.
''The Kashmir issue will not go away through brute force or repression... we will continue to press for an early solution to the festering sore and as part of the party programme rallies are planned at Srinagar and Jammu on February 14,'' PDP president Mehbooba Mufti told newspersons.
She was addressing a meeting of senior party leaders, legislators and district and zonal presidents specially convened to review the party's course of action for a permanent resolution of Kashmir issue. ''The people of the state had suffered for decades on account of political instability that had affected its economy, human resource development and left deep scars of pain on almost every family,'' she said.
''The people had in a historic transition, rejected violence after 2002 and given a chance to democracy with the hope that their land will be retrieved from turmoil, she said and regretted that the Union government had failed on doing so.
''This resulted in more frustration and caused major disturbances during previous three summers. But the government instead of reading the message clearly mistook the yearning for peace and peaceful resolution as a sign of fatigue and defeat landing an entire generation in a vortex of repression,'' she maintained.
The PDP president said after peaceful demonstrations in summers that resulted in large scale disruption and death it was hoped that the Centre would initiate meaningful measures for a permanent resolution.
''But instead of doing that only the security measures have been further tightened without providing any relief to the common man or even taking any action on its own eight point program,'' she alleged.
Ms Mufti regretted that Jammu and Kashmir was fast turning into a complete ''police state'' in which the only way of contacting the people was through brute force, arrests and torture.
''The belief of the PDP is that a permanent solution to Kashmir issue alone would rid the place of an almost institutionalised denial of civil liberties,'' Ms Mufti said and declared that the party would continue its peaceful campaign by utilising fully the democratic space.
Regretting the undemocratic attitude of the government and its agencies, she said it was not a matter of pride for a democracy like ours that an entire population should officially be advised to stay put in their homes after sunset to escape death. ''Instead of reducing the presence of security forces the state is witnessing an all time increase in their numbers and establishment of camps,'' she said.

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READY FOR TALKS TO SOLVE KASHMIR ISSUE: APHC

Srinagar, Feb 9 (Only Kashmir): The time had come for a meaningful dialogue to resolve the Kashmir problem, and people from the valley need to come forward to initiate the process, the moderate wing of the separatist Hurrriyat Conference headed by Mirwaiz Umer Farooq said Wednesday.
In a significant move, the Mirwaiz-led Hurriyat group issued a statement that said: 'We have reached a stage where we need to rise above political affiliations and show statesmanship in starting a political process.
'After all, it is Kashmiris who are getting killed and therefore, Kashmiris, through mutual consultation, will have to come forward to find a solution to the vexed problem.'
The central government appointed interlocutors on Kashmir have been approaching the separatist leaders for a dialogue but to no avail.
Both the factions of the Hurriyat, including the hardline wing led by Syed Ali Geelani, have declined to speak to the interlocutors.
Wednesday's statement assumes significance in light of media reports that the central interlocutors would make an all out effort to engage the separatist leaders in a dialogue before submitting the final draft of their recommendations to the central government.

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KASHMIR POPULATION ENUMERATION PROCESS PROCEEDS SMOOTHLY

Srinagar Feb 08 (Only Kashmir): The population enumeration process in Jammu and Kashmir has been proceeding smoothly and no obstruction has been noticed, said Census Director Farooq Ahmed.
The second phase of the Census operations is scheduled to start from February 9 to February 28.
Recalling the first phase of census enumeration, Ahmed said that the separatists and mainstream politicians of the restive Valley supported the process.
"No we have no reports of any obstructions from any quarter. And if you remember, before starting the first phase, all the separatists as well as the mainstream politicians supported us. They said we must cooperate with the census department and provide full details. And at the moment we don't have any problems of that sort," he said.
Apart from the question of separatists, the other factor that looms large over the census operation is the issue of ongoing different weather that may obstruct the census process in some areas.

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GOVERNMENT TO RENOVATE JAMIA MASJID

Srinagar Feb 08 (Only Kashmir): Jammu and Kashmir government will spend Rs 6.29 crore on renovation and beautification of the historic Jamia Masjid in the heart of the old Srinagar city.A meeting of top state government officials led by Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Asgar Samoon was held here on Monday with the Jamia Masjid management committee to discuss the renovation and beautification plans, an official spokesman said here Tuesday.
Among the works to be undertaken include construction of a modern shopping complex with facilities of parking of vehicles and parks around the mosque, where moderate Hurriyat Conference Chairman Miwaiz Umar Farooq delivers Friday sermons.
Rs 1.50 crore will be being spent on the construction of gate way and the wall of the old courtyard of the mosque and the development of the park, the spokesman said.
Besides, Rs 1.20 crore would be spent on installing the street lights, drainage and repair of the lanes.
He said Rs 53 lakh will be spent on the beautification of Jamia
Masjid and Rs 36 lakh on other developmental works around the Jamia Masjid.
The Divisional Commissioner was informed by Director Tourism Farooq Ahmad Shah that the Department of Tourism has a proposal to spent Rs 50 crore on bringing the Naagar Nagar on the tourist map.
The Jamia Masjid was built by Sultan Sikandar in 1400 AD. The attractions of the Jamia Masjid include beautiful Indo-Saracenic architecture, a magnificent courtyard and 370 wooden pillars.
Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir government will spend Rs 12.82 crore under Border Region Grand Fund (BRGF) for ongoing development works in district Kupwara.
“So far, Rs 10.50 crore have been incurred during the current financial year,” an official spokesman said after a meeting chaired by Deputy Commissioner Kupwara M.S. Rather on Monday.
The meeting discussed preparation of perspective plans for next five years under BRGF.

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NOW LASHKAR ACCEPTS INVOLVEMENT IN KILLING OF 2 TEENAGE GIRLS

Srinagar, Feb 7 (Only Kashmir): Lashkar-e-Toiba, which initially denied its involvement in the killing of two teenage sisters in Sopore town of Baramulla district last week, has claimed the responsibility now.
Posters appeared in the Sopore town, 52 kms from here, claiming that Lashkar militants killed Arifa and Akhtar, alleging the duo of working as "informers" for the security forces.
Laskhar-e-Toiba killed the girls because not only was their behaviour improper but they were also involved in a heinous crime of being informers," the posters read
However, the veracity of the posters could not be ascertained.
The message was written on the letter head of "Mujahideen Lashkar-e-Toiba Jammu Kashmir".
Arifa and Akhtar, daughters of Ghulam Nabi Dar, were shot dead at around 9.00 PM last week on Monday at Muslim Peer locality in Sopore town.

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