JANTA DAL LEADERS JOIN BJP IN JAMMU AND KASHMIR

Jammu Dec 31 (Only Kashmir): Five top Janta Dal (Secular) leaders from Jammu and Kashmir, including the party’s provincial president, today joined BJP, saying they have “full faith” in its ideology.
JD(S) provincial president Gulam Nabi Wani, state vice-president G M Najar and three district chiefs Gulam Hassan Wani, Mohmmad Shafiq Najar and Gulam Mohmmad Bhat joined BJP at a function, chaired by the state BJP chief Shamsher Singh Manhas, here today.
Welcoming them to the party fold, Manhas said joining of the top leadership of JD(S) is a blow to “all such forces in the Valley which have been painting the BJP as a communal party, while the facts are totally otherwise.” He said being a responsible national party, BJP has been raising people-centric issues and agitating for the welfare of the citizens.
After joining the party, Wani said, “We have full faith in the principals and ideology of BJP. Even people in Kashmir want to join in more numbers to BJP.” He said a handful of elements in Kashmir have been misleading innocents for their personal gains and many political leaders in the Valley are promoting such activities.

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JK HIGH COURT GRANTS BAIL TO QAYOOM ON CONDITIONS

Srinagar Dec 31 (Only Kashmir): Jammu and Kashmir High Court today granted interim bail to the president of the lawyers body in the Valley Mian Abdul Qayoom, but set conditions for his release.
Justice Mansoor Ahmad Mir granted interim bail to Qayoom till January 21 and directed him to furnish two sureties of Rs one lakh each, attested by Principal District and Sessions judge Kathua.
Directing the record to be transferred to the Kathua court within five days, Justice Mir said the Kashmir High Court Bar Association president, who was booked under Public Safety Act (PSA), should appear before the concerned Sessions Judge on January 5.
Qayoom was arrested and booked under PSA on July 7 for allegedly instigating street protests in the Valley.
The High Court quashed his detention under PSA but he was rearrested and booked for waging war against the country during his detention in Hiranagar jail in Kathua district of Jammu region.
Justice Mir directed Qayoom not to attempt to tamper with the evidence and not to leave the state without court’s permission.
The court also dismissed the petition filed Qayoom’s counsel under 561-A CrPC, seeking to quash an FIR registered against him at Hiranagar.
Meanwhile, the High Court also granted permission to a team of lawyers from the Bar Association to visit various jails in the state for ascertaining the condition of detainees.
The orders to this effect were issued by Justice Hakim Imtiyaz Hussain.

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INTERLOCUTORS APPOINTMENT TERMED AS FUTILE EXERCISE

Srinagar, Dec 30 (Only Kashmir): The Jammu and Kashmir Tehreek-e-Hurriyat has termed the appointment of interlocutors by India as a futile exercise.
The spokesman of Thereek-e-Hurriyat in a statement issued in Srinagar said, “Such exercises are mere wastage of time and are likely to further complicate the dispute.”
He said that the Kashmir dispute could easily be resolved by giving Kashmiris their inalienable right to self-determination. “It is the simplest and practical way to resolve Kashmir.”

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CELEBRATIONS IN TANGMARG AFTER ARMY'S WITHDRAWN

Srinagar Dec 30 (Only Kashmir): Celebrations broke out in half-a-dozen villages of Tangmarg in the Baramulla district after a counterinsurgency unit of Army was withdrawn from the area.
Our correspondent from North Kashmir said that the residents of over half-a-dozen villages of Tangmarg on the Srinagar-Gulmarg highway heaved a sigh of relief after Army’s 35 RR was withdrawn from Chandal village of the area last evening.
In 1998, Army’s JAKLI unit, locals said occupied a huge chunk of forest and migrant land and set up Army camp to counter militancy in the area. After JAKLI left in early 2000, paramilitary CRPF occupied the camp. Three years ago, the camp, locals said was taken over by Army’s 35 RR.
“The camp was a nuisance for the residents of half-a-dozen villages. Thank Allah, they have finally left,” a jubilant Abdul Majeed said.
“The Army men would harass and humiliate the villagers on the pretext of security measures. We were not even allowed peaceful protests against basic amenities by the troopers,” he added.
Majeed said that the villagers of Zandpal, Baderkote, Sharya, Takia and Wanigam celebrated the moment they were desperately waiting for.
He said as the last cavalcade of Army vehicles left the village last evening, hundreds of people poured onto to streets and expressed their joy.
Majeed urged the district administration to sanitize the camp to ensure that no explosives were left by Army in the camp.

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SRINAGAR GETS SEASON'S FIRST SNOWFALL

Srinagar, Dec 29 (Only Kashmir): The Kashmir Valley witnessed the first snowfall of the season Wednesday evening, breaking the over two-month long cold dry spell.

While a mild snowfall mixed with rain lashed summer capital Srinagar and other places in the lower reaches of the valley, higher reaches like Gulmarg and Pahalgam reported a steady moderate snowfall.
The weather office predicted light snowfall in the plains and a moderate snowfall in the mountains of the valley till Thursday evening.
"The western disturbance persists over the valley this time and we can have light snowfall in the plains during the next 24 hours," said Sonam Lotus, director of the local weather office here.
People in Srinagar city were visibly delighted to see the small flakes of snow.
"It is a great relief. We always look forward to snowfall during the winter. Besides, it will also replenish the water reservoirs of the valley which sustain our drinking water resources for the year," said Bashir Ahmad War, 58, a retired veterinarian.

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BJYM TO HOIST TRICOLOUR IN SRINAGAR ON JANUARY 26

Madhya Pradesh, Dec 29 (Only Kashmir) : The Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) will hoist the national flag at Lal Chowk in Srinagar on the occasion of Republic Day.

Madhya Pradesh BJYM Vice-President Raju Yadav told reporters here today that terrorism was being spread in the name of 'jehad (struggle)'. Terrorist outfits were using children to spread violence.
He said the 15-day-long 'Tiranga Yatra' -- from Kolkata to Srinagar -- was being organised to bring about awareness terrorism.
Alleging that the Congress was the creator of terrorism, Mr Yadav said faulty policies on Jammu and Kashmir had made terrorism a problem in not only in Kahsmir but also in the entire country.
For making the 'yatra' successful, 'Tiranga Vahini' will be taken out at district-level in states.
The 'yatra' will traverse Gwalior, Datia and Morena in Madhya Pradesh. It will reach Jammu and Kashmir on January 25. About 25,000 workers from Madhya Pradesh will take part in the 'yatra'

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HURRIYAT(G) DARES POLICE TO PROVE STONE-PELTING CHARGES

Srinagar, Dec 28, (Only Kashmir): The Hurriyat (G) on Tuesday flayed the police contention about its links with militants and funding stone-pelting, daring authorities to prove a single charge, and asserted that the alliance could not be cowed down by such tactics.
“The police allegations, in fact, are a part of a huge conspiracy to brand the peaceful Kashmir movement as violent and provide a justification for jailing and terrorising the Hurriyat leadership,” the Hurriyat (G) spokesman, Ayaz Akbar, said.
“The conspiracy is a collusion between New Delhi and the National Conference, and some police officers do the bidding of their masters with eyes shut to fabricate tales that don’t have the remotest link to reality,” he said.
“The moral ascendancy which our movement has gained by the agitation of the pat months and the widespread recognition that it is not terrorism or a Pakistan-backed campaign has rattled the rulers, who have now descended to such lowly tactics,” he said.
“We do not believe in duplicitous policies, but say and act according to our convictions openly. We do not use the term peaceful agitation out of fear, but out of our long standing understanding of how to run the movement,” he said.

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DIALOUGE IS KEY FOR RESOLVING KASHMIR ISSUE: SYED NAZIR GILANI

Srinagar, Dec 28 (Only Kashmir) Maintaining that dialogue is key for resolving all outstanding issues, a human rights organisation today asked the separatists in Jammu and Kashmir to revisit their strategy.

"Hurriyat leadership, both moderate and hardliners, should revisit the wisdom of their political phrase and conduct their politics strictly in accordance with jurisprudence of Kashmir case," secretary general of London-based Jammu and Kashmir Council for Human Rights (JKCHR) Syed Nazir Gilani told reporters here.
Hurriyat leadership and other political parties need to revisit the wisdom of their 20-year politics and consider seriously their understanding of the Kashmir case.
"The right to self-determination is for all people and the death of a generation in fact is the death of self-determdination," he said.
He said the Kashmiri leadership should take cognisance of suffering of common citizen.
"Jammu and Kashmir government has a principal role to play in the protection and promotion of human rights," he said.

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BENAZIR KILLED AT THE BEHEST OF CIA: HILAL WAR

Srinagar, Dec 27 (Only Kashmir): A high level meeting of Bhutto Memorial Trust (BMT) and People's Political Party (PPP) was held to commemorate Shaheed Benazir Bhutto's 3rd death anniversary at party headquarters, Rajbagh, Srinagar, Kashmir.
PPP Chairman, Hilal Ahmad War said that Benazir Bhutto was killed at the behest of CIA. He further said that she and her father Zulfikar Ali Bhutto vehemently opposed American Policy of making Pakistan a satellite State for its future plans. First America engineered the killing of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and late its agency, CIA got Benazir eliminated. Mr. War said that assassination of Benazir Bhutto was part of the ploy to create instability in Pakistan. This type of condition is created in Pakistan to justify the take over of Nuclear Weapons of Pakistan by United States, said War.
War said Z.A. Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto created thousands of Bhuttos after their assassination. They were such a strong inspiration that many Bhuttos were born as a result of their martyrdom, said War. War said Bhutto's not only threw challenge to the anti-democratic forces in Pakistan but were a thorn in the flesh of the anti-Muslim forces worldwide. The anti-Muslim forces in the world never wanted to see Muslims united and as a result they saw Z.A. Bhutto as the biggest threat, and that is why they conspired with various forces within the country to liquidate him, said Engineer Hilal War. PPP and BMT have demanded Z. A. Bhutto's murder case be reopened and the culprits be punished. We demand the reopening of the Shaheed Z.A. Bhutto murder case, so that the perpetrators are brought to book.
Mr.War said in his speech , it appears that due to vested interest and non concern for the integrity and stability of Pakistan, some prominent members of the present PPP Government are adamant to sell off Bhutto's of their dignity and honour that they earned globally for their struggle to make Pakistan a stronger and Greater Pakistan He further said, Buzz is that fake Bhutto's are thriving and acquiring benefits on the glorious sacrifices of Shaheed Z.A. Bhutto and his family.
The speakers emphasised that the concept of Greater Pakistan floated by Shaheed Z.A. Bhutto and his Kashmir Policy for realisation of right of self-determination for struggling people of Jammu and Kashmir were and are the source of inspiration for the political and armed activists of Kashmir Liberation Movement. The participants of the meeting urged the Government of Pakistan to formulate a Kashmir Policy in accordance with the letter and spirit of Bhutto's Kashmir Policy.
The participants of the meeting also disfavoured and disapproved the proposed idea of showing any flexibility by government of Pakistan with regard to settlement of Kashmir Dispute as such a flexibility is bound to cause a irreparable damage to Kashmir Cause and shall affect Kashmir Liberation Movement which has so far taken heaviest toll of life, honour and property in entire J&K State.
The participants of the Trust unanimously appealed to the people of Pakistan that they should rise above regional, racial and ethnic prejudices and considerations and unite together in the direction of national and emotional integration because such a course could only save Pakistan from external conspiracies aimed at disintegrating the country once again like December 1971.
After conclusion of speeches delivered by various participants special prayers (Fatah Khawani) were offered for the eternal peace and comfort of the souls of Shaheed Z.A.Bhutto and Shaheed Benazir Bhutto.

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EVERY STONE PELTER GETS RS 400 A WEEK: POLICE

Srinagar Dec 27 (Only Kashmir): J&K police claim to have unearthed a nexus between some government employees, Hurriyat members and militants to foment violence in Sopore, an official release said. According to a stone pelter who was arrested recently, each stone pelter is paid Rs 400 every Friday.

Police said the money is being raised locally by Hurriyat hardliner Syed Ali Shah Geelani's followers. Most of the money comes from fruit mandi and saw mills, the police said.
Hurriyat cadres who collected the money have been identified as Ghulam Mohammad Tantray of Behrampora, Ghulam Hassan Mir alias Chotta Geelani of Duroo, Mohammad Rustum of Amargarh, Sopore, Gani Guroo of Chankhan, Ashraf Malik, a government employee in Education department of Batpor and Bashir Ahmad Tali, a resident of Chankhan, Sopore and an employee of Food & Supplies department. Tantray and Rustum have been been detained under PSA and Malik is currently in custody. The rest are absconding.
DIG North Kashmir Range Muneer Ahmad Khan said Sopore police arrested one Firdous Ahmad Sheikh alias Firbal of Jalalabad, Sopore who revealed the nexus between militants particularly Qalimullah of HuM and Abdullah Uni of Lashkar-e-Taiba, Hurriyat cadres, some government employees and stone pelters. Subsequently, numerous arrests were made based on his revelation, he said.
One Abdul Lateef Lone of Radbough, Kupwara who worked as an Imam of Jamia Masjid Amargarh, Sopore and also as a stone pelter was arrested. It was Lone who revealed that protesters were being paid every week. Lone is currently detained under PSA, the release said.
According to the police, stone pelters were also planning a fidayeen attack on security forces. A cache of arms and ammunition was recovered from the house of one Mohammad Amin Dar of Badami Bagh, Sopore. The cache included a pistol, a pistol magazine, two satellite phones (Thurya), a grenade, a Tata mobile set, a AK 47 rifle, 10 AK 47 magazines, 32 AK rounds, a AK butt, a bayonet, two combat uniforms, a pistol cover, a composer, three pouches, 11 UBGL shells and a UBGL.

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MIRWAIZ & GEELANI SLAMS BJB LEADERS

Srinagar, Dec 26 (Only Kashmir): Syed Ali Geelani and the All Parties Hurriyat Conference Chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq have castigated the Bharatiya Janta Party leaders on their recent statements on Kashmir.
These leaders during their ongoing visit to the occupied territory had described Jammu and Kashmir as an integral part of India demanding the abrogation of article 370 of the Indian constitution that guarantees a special status to the territory.
Syed Ali Geelani in a statement in Srinagar said that provocative assertions and slogans by the BJP could not change the disputed status of Jammu and Kashmir. He pointed out that Indian communal forces were again trying to defame Kashmiris’ struggle for right to self-determination by communalizing the situation in Jammu. However, he added, the people of Kashmir will never allow them to succeed in their nefarious designs.
The APHC Chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said that the BJP statements were made deliberately from communal angle rather than political one. He said that due to the recent uprising in the territory the international community had realised the urgency of resolving the Kashmir dispute.

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S.M.SAHAI HOLD TALKS WITH STONE PELTERS OF BARAMULLA DISTRICT

Srinagar Dec 25 (Only Kashmir): In a surprising development, the stone pelting youth of North Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Friday interacted with the top cops of the Valley.
Reliable sources told Press Bureau of India that a meeting between stone pelters and the top police administration was held at Gulnaar Park in the Baramulla town this afternoon. The meeting was presided over by Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir, Shiv Murari Sahai, Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) North Kashmir, Muneer Khan and other officials of the police department.
In the meeting that lasted for nearly 90 minutes, both the parties discussed various issues ranging from stone pelting, arrests, peaceful protests and rehabilitation of the stone pelters. The family members of several youth, booked on charges of stone pelting, were present on this occasion.
Quoting stone pelters, a youth told the top cops in the gathering that the presence of stone pelters in the meet should not be misconstrued as surrender. The stone pelters, he said, believe that Kashmir issue was a political issue that needs to be solved politically.
“The stone pelters want space for peaceful protests. They have pledged not to hurl stones, if allowed to stage protests in a peaceful manner,” the youth quoted the stone pelters of having said.
“They (stone pelters) want end to arrests and harassment by police,” he added.
Former councilor, Baramulla Municipal Committee (BMC) and National Conference (NC) activist Riyaz Ahmad Nagoo told Press Bureau of India that he took up the issue of shifting the detained youth from outside jails to Valley with the IG, Kashmir during the meet.
“I urged IG to forgive the stone pelting youth and shift them from Jammu jails to Valley on humanitarian grounds. He (IG) assured to consider my request,” Nagoo added.
“The youth asked the top cops to withdraw PSA’s against the stone pelters. They assured police of not resorting to stone pelting, if allowed to hold peaceful demonstrations,” a senior member of Auqaf-e-Islamia who attended the meet said on the condition of anonymity.
Among others who apprised Sahai about their difficulties was the family members of Parvaiz Ahmed Kaloo alias Meena Kumari, son of Abdul Ahad Kaloo of Ganaihaman who was arrested by police last month.
A youth who suffered serious injuries in eye during clashes also met the top police brass.
When contacted, IGP, Kashmir, however denied having any such meeting. “I had no meeting with the stone pelters in the town,” IGP, Kashmir said.

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THOUGHTS OF JINNAH PROVIDE BASIS FOR KASHMIRI STRUGGLE

Islamabad, Dec 25 (Only Kashmir): The All Parties Hurriyat Conference Chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has said that the thoughts of Quaid-e-Azam, Muhammad Ali Jinnah provide the basis for Kashmiris’ liberation struggle and formation of Pakistan is incomplete until Kashmiris are given their right to self-determination.
The APHC Chairman telephonically addressing a seminar “Kashmir issue and Quaid-e-Azam” held in Islamabad Pakistan, said that Muhammad Ali Jinnah was able to secure an independent state for the Muslims in South Asia after an untiring struggle. The seminar was organised by Anjuman-e-Sharie, a constituent of the APHC. He said that the Quaid-e-Azam faced all hardships with courage to achieve his goal.
The Mirwaiz said that Kashmiris had been offering supreme sacrifices for the liberation of Kashmir from India and they would take the movement to its logical end at all costs. He said that both Kashmir and Pakistan were incomplete until Kashmiri people were given the right to decide their future themselves.
Addressing the seminar, senior APHC leader, Agha Syed Hassan Al-Moosvi said that Quid-e-Azam the Chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Anjuman-e-Sharie had termed Kashmir as the jugular vein of Pakistan. He said that existence of Kashmir and Pakistan was interlinked.
Agha Syed Hassan Al-Moosvi maintained that the permanent seat to India in the UN Security Council must be linked to the settlement of the Kashmir dispute. He demanded of repeal of black law, release of illegally detained Hurriyet leaders and activists in occupied Kashmir. He also thanked the participants.

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GOVT EARMARKED 410CRORE TOWARDS KASHMIR

Srinagar Dec 24 (Only Kashmir): The Jammu and Kashmir government has earmarked Rs 410 crore toward the establishment of 12,000 income generating units in Srinagar district under its Credit Action Plan (CAP) for the 2010-11 financial year.
Out of the total amount, Rs 217.84 crore has so far been advanced for setting up income generating units in the district, an official spokesman said.
He said Rs 195.67 crore was extended to priority sector units, while Rs 11.86 crore was advanced for agriculture sector projects and Rs 11.52 crore for non-farm services initiatives.
The spokesman said the remaining of CAP funds would be disbursed by the end of this fiscal.
The government had earlier budgeted Rs 67.03 crore for setting up 4,493 income generating units in South Kashmir's Anantnag district and Rs 44 crore for setting up 2,878 units in Central Kashmir's Budgam district.

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MIRWAIZ BACKS AFTER 14 FRIDAYS

Srinagar, Dec 24 (Only Kashmir): The Chairman of All Parties Hurriyat Conference, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has urged India to realise ground reality in occupied Kashmir and take serious and sincere steps without wasting further time for the resolution of dispute in accordance with the Kashmiris’ aspirations.
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, while addressing Juma congregation at Jamia Masjid in Srinagar, said that the use of brute force by Indian troops could not prevent the people of Kashmir from raising voice for their just right to self-determination.
The APHC Chairman paid rich tributes to the Kashmiri people for showing perseverance against Indian state terrorism.
On the other hand, the occupation authorities placed senior Kashmiri Hurriyat leader, Syed Ali Geelani and APHC leader, Shabbir Ahmad Shah under house arrest, today, to prevent them from offering Juma prayers.
The leaders of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front-R, Farooq Ahmad Dar and Javed Ahmad Mir, while addressing a public gathering in Budgam, said that the sacrifices of Kashmiris would not be allowed to go waste.
Meanwhile, anti-India demonstrations were held in Shopian, Islamabad, Pulwama, Parimpore, Sopore, Baramulla, Beerwah and Bandipora areas against the arrest of youth by Indian police and troops.

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GEELANI WELCOMES UN RESOLUTION ON KASHMIR

Srinagar Dec 24 (Only Kashmir): Syed Ali Geelani has welcomed the UN General Assembly’s approval to a resolution seeking world attention on right to self-determination of Kashmiris and Palestinians.
Syed Ali Geelani in a statement issued in Srinagar urged the international body to take concrete steps beyond passing resolutions in favour of the oppressed nations.
Stating that the current organisational structure is responsible for inefficiency of the United Nations in resolving the international disputes, including Kashmir and Palestine, the veteran Kashmiri Hurriyet leader said that the international body must re-frame its organisational charter keeping in view the demands of justice and democracy.
He called upon the United Nations to settle the international disputes including Kashmir as India had occupied the land for last several decades against the will of the people of Kashmir.

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POLITICS IS LINKED WITH ISLAM: MIRWAIZ

Srinagar Dec 23 (Only Kashmir): Rejecting IGP Kashmir, SM Sahai’s Jamia Masjid siege remarks as “unrealistic and irresponsible,” Hurriyat Conference (M) Thursday said Islam doesn’t treat politics and Islam as separate entities and Muslim scholars and clerics are duty bound to raise “issues relevant to the society in their sermons.”
“ Not only the Mirwaiz at Jamia Masjid, but Ulemas have been raising and leading people in their political, social and religious matters for centuries at all the important religious places because Islam is a complete way of life and politics,” a spokesman of the amalgam said
“The position of the Valley’s top Islamic leader(Mirwaiz) does not represent an individual but a movement and an institution responsible for leading people out of their issues and problems . It is unfortunate that the government has brought officers from outside who have no idea about these realities. The government should educate them about our centuries old traditions and culture rather than encouraging their activities aimed at damaging our values,” the spokesman said.
The spokesman while responding to Sahai’s allegations of Mirwaiz instigating violence on Eid said the procession from Eidgah to Lal Chowk was completely peaceful and it were some “unscrupulous anti-movement elements” who caused damage to public property at Numaishi. “Not only did the Mirwaiz condemn the incident he also demanded an impartial probe into the incident for truth to surface,” he said.

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SMS BAN REMOVED ON POST-PAID MOBILE SERVICES

Jammu Dec 23 (Only Kashmir): In a New Year gift to the people of Jammu and Kashmir, the state government on Wednesday withdrew the ban on Short Messaging Services (SMS) using post-paid mobile phone but the ban on sending of bulk messages remained in force.
The decision was taken at the directive of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah who reviewed the overall situation in the state with senior officials as well as intelligence agency sleuths, official sources said.
The ban was imposed in June this year following widespread unrest in the Valley, which was further fuelled by bulk messages sent in by anti-national forces.
According to the order, which comes barely 9 days ahead of the New Year, the state government asked mobile service operators to allow SMS services from all post-paid phones.
However, the ban on bulk messages sent usually from computers remained banned, the notification said.

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CHINA CONSIDERS J&k AS DISPUTED TERRITORY

New Delhi, Dec 20 (Only Kashmir): China has described the Sino-Indian border as 2,000 km long by not considering nearly 1,600 km line which separates Jammu and Kashmir on one hand and Xinjiang and Tibet on the other as a border with India.
Xinhua, a Beijing based multilingual newspaper, reported by quoting an official briefing by Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister, Hu Zhengyue, ahead of Chinese Prime Minister, Wen Jiabao's recent visit to India that China no longer treated the line of nearly 1,600 km as border with India. The border as per Indian account is 3,500 km, the report added.
Hu Shisheng, a strategic analyst at the China Institutes for Contemporary International Relations (CICIR), in a media interview, said that it had always been China's position that the length of the border was 2,000 km, which did not include the disputed western section and Indian claims on the entire region of Kashmir, including Azad Kashmir.
He said, “China's position had been consistent since its 1963 treaty with Pakistan, holding that it would remap its border after Pakistan and India settled the Kashmir dispute.”
It may be mentioned here that earlier China had started issuing stapled visas to the Kashmiris by declining to consider them as Indian citizens due to disputed nature of Jammu and Kashmir.

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INTERLOCUTORS TO GET RS 150000 A MONTH AS REMUNERATION

New Delhi Dec 19 (Only Kashmir): Each one of the three-member team of interlocutors for Jammu and Kashmir will get Rs 1.5 lakh as monthly remuneration and enjoy the status of a state guest when visiting the state.
The three interlocutors, journalist Dileep Padgaonkar, academician Radha Kumar and economist M M Ansari, appointed on October 13, 2010 would also be provided three rooms at Vigyan Bhavan for their common office, conference and staff respectively, the Home Ministry has said in an RTI reply.
"In case of M M Ansari, (former) Information Commissioner, the remuneration would be minus existing lump sum pay/pension (after retirement)," the reply to S C Agrawal said.
"Until the office accommodation is provided, they can meet at India International Centre. The charges will be reimbursed by the MHA. They will be provided Secretarial assistance of one or two persons as per need from the Ministry," it said while replying to the question of pay and perks given to the group.
Each of the interlocutors will also be allowed to have an Executive Assistant who will be appointed by them with an overall remuneration not exceeding Rs 40,000 per month.
"Necessary office equipment and computers including furniture shall be lent by MHA," the ministry said.
The ministry will reimburse the cost of travel outside Delhi in "Executive Class". Travel expenses incurred within the national capital, for official purpose, will also be reimbursed.
The expenses on meetings in Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir would be reimbursed as per actual subject to a ceiling of Rs 200 per head, it said.
However, in case of interlocutor for Nagaland, Home Ministry has given the status of Cabinet Secretary to K Padmanabhaiah and gave him all the perks accordingly.

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