The Tribune – Pakistan sabotaging return of misguided youth: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah

Says Jamma & Kashmir in favour of continuous India-Pakistan dialogue

Darshan Bharti

Poonch, April 27. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today blamed Pakistan for sabotaging the rehabilitation policy of the state government even as he said that his government would adopt some other way to bring back misguided youth who had crossed over to Pakistan for militant training.

Addressing a public meeting in the Mandi area of Poonch, Omar said: “We are committed to resolving the J&K issue politically once and for all. The misguided youth in Pakistan want to come back but Pakistan is not allowing them to do so in the right way. Now, we will adopt some other way to bring them back; our intention is clear and we are committed to rehabilitating them so that they can live with dignity.”

“The Kashmir issue is a political one and can only be resolved politically. In this regard we are in favour of a continuous dialogue between India and Pakistan,” Omar said, adding that the internal dialogue between the state and the Centre was also of significant importance.

The Chief Minister said the National Conference had always supported good India-Pakistan relations and wanted a political settlement of political issues in a peaceful and friendly atmosphere.

“I have repeatedly stated that economic development cannot resolve and replace the political issues. Both have their significance and need to be addressed separately and in specific spectrums,” he said while assuring people that he would continue his endeavours towards prosperity and permanent peace in the state. He wanted a tranquil and conducive atmosphere where the gun would be totally irrelevant and absurd.

Omar asked party workers to spread awareness about the path-breaking initiatives taken up by the government during the last three years to bring development and peace in the state.

“Others are selling the initiatives and achievements your government has registered,” Omar told his party workers. He asked them to make people aware of the “historic public empowerment measures of the government such as the Public Service Guarantee Act, Right to Information Commission, Accountability Commission and Vigilance Commission”.

Omar asked the workers to remain pro-active in getting public grievances noted and redressed by the administration. “Your rapport with people at the grass roots should be regular and constant. Help them with their genuine grievances and development,” he advised the workers and asked them to work jointly with the coalition partner to help fulfil the aspirations of the people.

National Conference provincial president Rattan Lal Gupta, Vice-Chairman of the Pahari Advisory Board Mushtaq Ahmad Bukhri and MLA Aijaz Ahmad Jan were present on the occasion.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120428/j&k.htm#1

The Tribune – Solar power all set to light up border areas

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, April 27. The border areas of Punjab are all set to go solar as the Punjab Energy Development Authority is planning to install a large number of solar-powered streetlights and water heating systems in public buildings in border areas of Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Tarn Taran and Ferozepur districts.

Ninety per cent of the cost of installing these systems in public buildings, including colleges, schools, hospitals and gurdwaras, would be borne by the Punjab Energy Development Authority (PEDA). The rest (10 per cent) would be taken care of by local bodies like panchayats and nagar panchayats.

PEDA has also planned to install one lakh ‘gobar’ gas plants or bio-gas units in rural areas over the next one year. The agency has been providing a subsidy of 30 per cent for those switching over to bio-gas plants. As many as 48,904 such units have already been set up in Punjab villages.

“The ‘gobar’ gas plants have helped rural people, especially those having milch animals, cut on LPG costs,” said PEDA chairman Manjit Singh.

The agency has installed solar systems in Parliament and has been told to install an 85-KV solar plant in Rashtrapati Bhawan at a cost of Rs 3 crore. “We will install a power house in Rashtrapati Bhawan within six months,” said Manjit Singh. Besides, it would be installing a similar system in Punjab Governor’s house in Chandigarh.

“It is not that the project is meant only for border areas, it will be implemented in rest of Punjab as well. But, the only difference will be that panchayats and local bodies in other areas will have to cough up more money as subsidy in other areas will only be 30 per cent and not 90 per cent, as is being offered in border areas. A subsidy of 30 per cent on renewable energy products like solar lights, inverters, cookers, lanterns and water heaters has been extended to individuals as well,” he said.

He said hoteliers, factory owners and individuals in Jalandhar district were saving Rs 22.29 lakh a year after installing water heaters.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120428/punjab.htm#2

The Hindu – U.S. holds firm on Modi visa denial

Narayan Lakshman

Washington, 27 April 2012. Although TIME magazine included Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi in its online poll for the world’s 100 most influential people, the United States government took a dimmer view of the controversial political leader this week when a State Department Spokesperson clarified that there was no change in its decision to deny Mr. Modi a visa to enter the country.

At a press briefing Spokesperson Victoria Nuland responded to a question regarding a letter that U.S. Congressman Joe Walsh, Republican of Illinois, had written to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, regarding whether the U.S.’ 2005 decision to not to issue Mr. Modi a visa would be reviewed.

Ms. Nuland said, “I haven’t seen the letter. I think you know that our position on the visa issue hasn’t changed at all, so I would guess that if we do respond, it’ll be along familiar lines.” The U.S. has expressed concerns about Mr. Modi’s association with the 2002 Gujarat riots, in which thousands were killed as an anti-Muslim pogrom was unleashed under his watch.

In 2005, Mr. Modi applied for but was denied a “diplomatic visa” under 214(b) of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act and his existing tourist/business visa was revoked under Section 212 (a)(2)(g) of the Act.

Under the latter, foreign government officials are considered ineligible for a visa should the State Department view them as “responsible for, or directly carried out, at any time, particularly severe violations of religious freedom.”

The debate on Mr. Modi’s visa status comes close on the heels of a heated discussion following his appearance on the TIME list. While the magazine itself described the online poll as “unscientific,” some political leaders were said to have labelled Mr. Modi an “internet manipulator,” for getting his supporters to vote in the TIME poll to boost his standing.

Ironically TIME magazine noted that Mr. Modi had “amassed the most ‘no’ votes of anyone featured on the poll — more than 260,000.” One of its editors Bobby Ghosh, explained, “Being on the cover of TIME is neither a prize nor an endorsement. It is a sign of a person’s importance, or of their influence, certainly. Modi is unquestionably both of those things.”

http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/article3361093.ece

Angadvir Singh; My new kumbel; Spring in Halmaal-Dorp

The picture of Angadvir Singh was sent to me by my Den Haag family and was taken during the 29 March Balwant Singh Rajooana manifestation. The kumbel (deken/blanket) was bought on 28 March in the Turki Bazar and the pictures of flowers at Halmaal-Dorp were taken on the 6th of April.

Angadvir Singh

My new kumbel from the Turki Bazar

My one and only plant produced small white flowers

Spring in Halmaal-Dorp

To see more Belgium (mostly Limburg) pictures :

http://www.flickr.com/photos/12445197@N05/sets/72157622046344528/

More Belgium pictures to follow
Harjinder Singh
Man in Blue

The Tribune – Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s disciple enthralls audience

Tribune News Service

Patiala, April 27. Shahid Ali Khan, a student of late Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, enthralled the audience with his qawwalis during a function organised by the Music Department of Punjabi University here . Blessed with a voice very similar to the legendary singer, Shahid imitated his singing style so well that audience were spellbound and enjoyed the two-hour long programme without any break.

He sang various songs, including “Allah hoo”, “Akhiyan udeekdiyan”, “Nitt khair manga sohneya”, “Tum ik gorakh dhanda ho”, “Ni main jana jogi de naal”, “Sun charkhe di mithi kook”, “Tumhe dilagi bhool jani padegi”, “Sanson ki mala pe simroon main pee ka naam sunaye” and department students supported him in his qawwalis.

Shahid said he was glad to be in India for the first time and would soon release his solo album ‘Pyaar Da Mariz,’ the shooting of which was going on in Chandigarh. He is working on another album “Ik Ladki Jawan Ho Gayi Hai”, which will also hit the market soon. Expressing his desire to work with A R Rehman, Shahid said he was fond of his music and felt that he was probably one of the most talented music directors in the world.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120428/punjab.htm#12

BBC News – India’s former BJP chief Laxman convicted of bribery

Friday 27 April 2012. A court in the Indian capital, Delhi, has convicted Bangaru Laxman, former chief of the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), in a bribery case.

Laxman was secretly videotaped accepting a bribe from reporters posing as arms dealers 11 years ago.

News website Tehelka had taped secret video footage of politicians, army officers and bureaucrats taking money in connection with a fake arms deal.

Laxman and the others said they had been framed.

Sentencing is due to take place on Saturday.

Laxman was taken into custody by officials of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) after the court order.

In the 2001 video, reporters posing as arms dealers offered Laxman 100,000 rupees ($1,900; £1,170) as a bribe for a military contract. Laxman was seen accepting the bribe.

The website, Tehelka.com, said two of its journalists had posed as businessmen for a fake company, West End International, trying to sell fictitious hand-held thermal imaging devices to the Indian military.

Laxman said he had accepted the money as a donation for the party and handed it over to the party treasurer.

After the video footage was shown on television channels, Laxman – who was BJP president at the time – and then defence minister George Fernandes were forced to resign.

The CBI later charged Laxman under anti-corruption laws.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-17866494