GNS RAJOURI

(PRESS TRUST OF INDIA) Kashmiri separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani is 82 years old and has spent a large part of his life - till 2011, 17 jail stints and house arrests - battling the Indian state for a Kashmiri right to self-determination. Today, he's also battling perceptions of having softened his position on the Kashmir issue. Geelani spoke with Rakhi Chakrabarty about why he thinks more discussions with the Indian state will lead nowhere, why Pakistan still makes a good ally - and how a passport remains vital: There are reports you have now softened your stance on the Kashmir issue and are involved in Track II initiatives in Delhi towards resolution of the dispute? Such reports are false propaganda to create confusion. I have not softened my stand on Kashmir. I am not ready for Track II initiatives either. I stick to my earlier stand that there's no question of dialogue with India till our five-point demands are met - India must accept Kashmir as a disputed territ...

GNS JAMMU : Scores of medical representatives took to the streets, here on Thursday, to protest against the new drug policy approved by the Jammu and Kashmir cabinet. The state cabinet had recently announced a new drug policy based on the rationalisation of the use of drugs that include selection of Essential Drug List (EDL) by the State Drug Committee. Kashmir Medical Representative Association Spokesperson, Kamran Niazi condemned the move taken by the state government saying it refrained itself from taking the consent of the desired experts. "This protest is happening not only in Kashmir valley but throughout the country. We are highly thankful to the federation of Medical Representatives Association of India, who has supported the cause because Jammu and Kashmir Government is forcefully implementing the drug policy. They have passed it through cabinet decision without taking the consent of experts and professionals, which is inevitable," said Niazi. Ever since the ...

GNS JAMMU MAR,01 : Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Mr. Ali Mohammad Sagar on behalf of R&B Minister informed the House that 14 major firms who were found not fulfilling requisite conditions have been debarred from further tendering in PMGSY in province till their ongoing commitments in PMGSY are over.   The Minister was replying to a question by Syed Asgar Ali in Legislative Council here today. He said the concerned executive engineers were also directed to impose liquidate damages on the defaulting firms as per the terms of contract. He said since inception of PMGSY programme in Kishtwar district, there were impediments in its implementation due to land disputes, disputes in alignment, land acquisition and forest clearance.  The Minister said for the completion of these projects, the department is vigorously pursuing with the executing agencies to complete the work at the earliest and is also pursuing with concerned agencies to remove bottlenecks of ...

GNS JAMMU MAR,01 :Minister for Higher Education, Mr. Abdul Gani Malik today informed the Legislative Assembly that about 4641 kanals and 4325 kanals of land has been indentified for the establishment of the Central Universities at Jammu and Kashmir respectively, out of which 3000 kanals and 3321 kanals stands transferred to these Universities. He said the process of transferring the remaining land is in progress. The Minister was replying to question of Mr. Yashpal Kundal in the House. The Minister said that the job of land survey and contour mapping has been assigned to Educational Consultants India Limited (EDCIL) after which master plans will be formulated and the construction work taken up. He said at present both the Central Universities are functional in the rental accommodation. He said MA English and comparative Literature, PG in Applied Mathematics, PG in Economics and M Phil in English courses have been introduced in Jammu University whereas 6 more courses are likely being...

GNS JAMMU, MAR, 01 –:  Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah Thursday called for holistic approach and comprehensive strategy to make the country supper power in sports. He said identification of talent and shaping it in its best mould should start from schools so that India makes its mark in all fields of sports at the Olympics and other global events. Omar Abdullah said that a long term policy involving sports organizations, State and Central Governments, industrial houses and sports icons of the country is needed to be formulated to focus on 2016 and 2020 Olympics and World Cup events in future in a big way. The Chief Minister was flagging off ‘Monnet Go for Gold’ contingent of budding athletes from here on Thursday to carry a symbolic torch covering 6000 kilometres in the country from Jammu to Kanyakumari to inculcate the spirit of sponsorship in the Nation for the players participating in London Olympics 2012 and aim at Gold medals. The initiative by a private company Monnet Ispat an...