THURSDAY, JANUARY 4, 2018 DAILY EXCELSIOR, JAMMU daily Excelsior Established 1965 The infinite magic of Sports Founder Editor S.D. Rohmetra Dr Ashok Bhan forces and vociferously jeering them feat? Jammu's Sunil Dev Singh and Sri- achieve this better than through sports There are some laudable efforts, partic- when playing against a local club. It did nagar's Aijaz Hussain won Gold medals, and cultural exchanges between differ- ularly by J&K Police, in organizing ome years back popular adhesive not matter as long as their pent up feel- Angmo from Leh and Pankaj Raina won ent regions. Such exchanges have an awareness as well as de-addiction pro- Quick Fix used the hilarious punch ings found a peaceful and healthy silver and two Kashmiri girls Jabeena infinite binding power. The efforts of grams. While such measures need to be line "It joins everything except Woes of transformer repairing S expression. The event has now become Akhtar and Shabeena won a bronze theatre personality Balwant Thakur, san- upgraded simultaneously these mis- broken hearts". On display on a pleasant ransformers are an essential component of an integral part of the sports calendar in toor maestro Pt Bhajan Sopori and guided youth have to be provided an sunny evening in the winter capital, the each. All the regions of the state togeth- the valley. Abhay Rustum and top singers like interesting alternative to prevent a power distribution system. It is so because other day, was a remarkable adhesive er brought glory to the country. This football tournament was the Shamima Azad, Gulzar Ganai, and relapse. A network of sports clubs the voltage is low and it has to be boosted. that can "join the broken hearts". This Jammu and Kashmir has produced T Kailash Mehra have helped bring com- throughout the state need to be estab- However, there are some connected issues. First "adhesive" can change the narrative and transform the youth to work for nation Jammu and Kashmir has produced top munities nearer. We must applaud their lished to enhance and harness the pow- is about the material and the workmanship going building. effort and provide all support and er of youth of the state. into the making of the transformer. If poor materi- The 14th edition of the J&K State footballers like Ishfaq Ahmed and Mehra- encouragement to them and a whole gen- Sports as a movement can make a al like wiring etc. is used, obviously its life will be Wu-Shu Championship had brought eration of budding artists to promote har- dramatic turn in the lives of youth of the mony and integration. state. This can open unlimited avenues shorter than expected. Moreover if workmanship together 1100 and odd players and jjudin Wadoo, cricketers Parvez Rasool and coaches from 20 districts of the State Most of the players representing for the youth of the State to win laurels is of substandard level, it will also have its impact. including those from far off Leh, Kargil, Mithun Manhas, shooter Chain Singh, Badgam district in the recent Wu-Shu at the national and international levels. Secondly, the number of transformers that are put Kupwara, Bandipora and Doda. The Championship were from village We must invest in these activities as they Soibug, the native place of the infamous to work is also to be taken into account. enthusiasm of players, girls and boys, mountaineer Sumaiya Kousar, gymnastics will bring rich dividends. Probity in Hizbul Mujahideen Chief Syed Salaud- spending and fairness and impartiality Our power distribution system entirely depends many of whom were under 10 years, was remarkable. The radiance on their faces coach Krupali Singh, sports administrator din. One enthusiastic coach in the vil- in selections must remain the hallmark on the transformers which are installed to cater to and the twinkle in their eyes said it all. lage can make such a difference! Inter- of our sports policy. We must produce esting stories have appeared in the specific areas with specific number of consumers. They were celebrating the spirit of com- sportspersons who can become role Ranjeet Kalra and scores of sportspersons in media of sportspersons changing the petition, the camaraderie, the thrill of tri- models for the youth of the state. What is important is the total load which a trans- narrative in the strife torn state. Women umph and above all an opportunity to It is gratifying that the State Sports former is supposed to carry by way of output. display their talents. It was a magnifi- various disciplines. We have the talent. It cricketers in the valley were seen stumping the stereotypes and pitching Council, with the Chief Minister and the Overloading can result either in shut down or in cent sight of harmony and unity in diver- Minister for Sports at the helm, have sity. The boundless power of Sports in needs to be nurtured to flower and fructify. for gender equality when 13 teams from damage to the transformer. The overloading is the across the state, including one from Leh, chosen to provide impetus to sports in main problem with our power supply system. Most integrating youth from diverse back- the state. The imaginative DYSS Sheikh grounds was in full view. first serious attempt in the valley to top footballers like Ishfaq Ahmed and participated in the T20 women champi- of our transformers get damaged because of over- resume sports activity. With its success Mehrajjudin Wadoo, cricketers Parvez onship held in Srinagar. Love for sports Fayaz, the energetic secretary of the About two decades back similar Council Waheed Rehman Para and affil- magic was witnessed when in 1998 Jam- a number of more events, including Rasool and Mithun Manhas, shooter and peace compelled strayed ace foot- loading of power. iated associations are now actively pur- mu and Kashmir Police launched a foot- annual events in the Dal Lake, South Chain Singh, mountaineer Sumaiya baller Majid Khan to surrender before The point to be mentioned here is that the suing programs aimed at promoting ball tournament in Bakhshi Stadium, Kashmir Sports Festival and a series of Kousar, gymnastics coach Krupali security forces to pursue his passion and transformer repairing unit in Pulwama in the Valley Srinagar in memory of martyred Inspec- similar initiatives were taken in hand by Singh, sports administrator Ranjeet make a name. Footballer Afshan Ashiq Sports activities. There is some evi- has limited capacity of repairing the damaged tor Mushtaq Ahmed Baba. Despite lurk- J&K Police and later by Sports Council Kalra and scores of sportspersons in hates violence and proved that the soli- dence of the Sports Council taking up various disciplines. We have the talent. tary incident of stone pelting was an the challenge of popularizing various transformers. It is essentially in regard to man- ing fear of terrorists disrupting the event, and its affiliates. It appears that we have Kashmiri's love for football, made it a over the years moved on to another lev- It needs to be nurtured to flower and aberration. Her story may soon form sports and about to launch a major ini- power which has to be skilled one. The number of popular event and year after year it was el in harnessing the power of Sports. fructify. Anew narrative is in the air for theme of a Bollywood film. The magic tiative to channelize the abundant ener- defunct electric transformers in the Valley this held without any incident. Hundreds of It is interesting to note that in the the talented youth of the state. is there in abundance for everyone to gies of youth in a positive direction. Let year is to the tune of 340 which is large than what 2 and 3-wheelers would fill the parking International Wu-Shu Championship A casual glance at the exchanges in see. this turn into a mission mode project to space around the stadium. The crowds held in Armenia in April 2017, J&K the social media should awaken us to the The menace of drugs has hit our state harness the magic of sports in bringing was their number last year. Total capacity of PDD would display a love-hate relation with players coached by former Internation- need for strengthening inter-region in a big way. If not checked it will peace and harmony in the state. operated workshops for repairing the damaged the local Police, cheering them when pit- al Kuldeep Handoo contributed 6 (read inter-community) harmony for the destroy a generation of youth and the (The author is former Director General of Police) youth bulge may become a liability. transformers is 12 to 20 transformers per week ted against teams from Para-Military medals to the Indian tally of 16. What a larger good of the state. Nothing can help [email protected] while the number of freshly damaged transform- ers brought for repair per week is 40 to 60. Shubham Mehta Litigation) was filed in SC in 2016 asking Judiciary to direct Obviously there is a big gap between the two could not give birth to a government to come up with boy. She is our third Towards Gender Equality which cannot be covered unless there is sufficient Uniform Civil Code, the bench issue. He grew discon- skilled manpower available. The result is much "I Since SC has given its verdict void and illegal" and the hus- Constitution, the rights of the from Pakistan's Muslim Family was at in its non-admission. He tented and offered talaq", sobbing on the issue of triple talaq or band shall be "punished with women and Shariah(Islamic laws Ordinance, 1961. stated that doing so would be tan- delay in repairing and re-function the transformers Mahira Begum told TV news 'talaq-e-biddat' in August this imprisonment which may extend law). It is an assault and conspir- According to this, Muslim hus- tamount to Judicial over-reach in time. The position becomes critical during win- reporters, with a 3 year old year, the practice has continued to three years and fine". In addi- acy to interfere with Muslim per- band needs to write a notice to and such a sensitive matter needs daughter in her arms. She added ter when people have to go without electricity for unabated and nearly 622 cases of tion the offence would stand sonal law. If this bill becomes the chairman of state appointed political parties to build a consen- "Now I'm worried. How would I talaq have been reported past the "cognizable" and a "non-bail- law, women will face host of dif- Union council who would con- sus around it. But with recent days and weeks together. But the ground situation bring up my 3 young kids? I don't verdict. Triple talaq or 'talaq-e- able" act under section 7 of the ficulties". It is pertinent to men- stitute a committee comprising judgements of SC in Haji Ali is that PDD has not been able to increase the even have a job to sustain us." biddat' refers to the Islamic prac- same bill. Section 5 relates to tion here that AIMPLB had sup- of himself and representatives Dargah case, triple talaq case; number of workers and labourers. Instead what it "He used to beat me daily for tice whereby Muslim husband "subsistence allowance" for ported this practice earlier by from both parties, within 30 and now with Union government he would always return intoxi- can divorce his wife by speaking divorced women whereas stating that "instant talaq protects days. The reconciliation process pushing through The Muslim has done is to outsource the repairing job to some cated during evenings. When I the word 'talaq' thrice which Section 6 deals with regard to women who might otherwise be between parties would continue Women(Protection of Rights on private entities that are contracted to work in col- tried to counter his brutal assault would have the effect of instanta- "custody of her minor children". set ablaze by their husbands if for 90 days before which the Marriage) Bill, 2017, in laboration with the PDD workshops. This was not one fine day, I was beaten even neous and irrevocable divorce. In The orchestration of a law talaq is not instantaneous". talaq shall not be effective. And Parliament, it seems that every more ferociously and was order to create deterrence in the criminalising instant talaq is a Nevertheless, every issue in case the wife is pregnant at the move is falling right in place like a bad solution and several private mechanical offered talaq on the very same minds of Muslim men, the Union step in the right direction to safe- concerning personal laws of any time of pronouncement, the talaq a pearl on a necklace, towards units undertook the job of repairing the transform- night", exclaimed Inayat Bano, government has come up with guard the sacred institution of religion is bound to have its own shall not be effective till the ter- gender equality. And it needs to ers on priority. However, notwithstanding this with two young kids standing The Muslim Women(Protection marriage. Certain political outfits set of supporters and critiques. mination of her pregnancy. be seen whether the anticipated beside her. She looked distraught of Rights on Marriage) Bill, like AIMIM, BJD, RJD and But one aspect of this bill is cer- Perhaps what's more notice- deterrence that this bill seeks to apparently viable alternative, other difficulty and fell on her knees in front of 2017 which has been passed in AIADMK had their own con- tainly noteworthy. Why does able here is that government is in create, shows any effect on cropped up and almost made the entire effort TV news reporters. It seemed as Lok Sabha few days ago. tentions. AIMIM chief this bill talk about post-divorce no haste to bring 'Uniform Civil ground, after the bill receives the futile. Private units that have been rendering serv- if her heart has clawed its way up The stated objective of the Asaduddin Owaisi contradicted issues under section 5 and 6 Code' upfront for direct con- green nod from Rajya Sabha and to her oesophagus and would bill is "to protect the rights of the move by stating that adding a when the pronouncement of frontation though its unstated pri- President. Nonetheless, the day is ice for quite some time suddenly decided to stop leap out of her mouth. She added married Muslim women and to criminal provision might not 'triple talaq' already stands "void ority seems to be the uniformity not too far when World the work for the reason that their huge payments in gasping breaths "I tried to prohibit divorce by pronouncing bring out the desired deterrence and illegal" under section 3 of in religious laws. It is only con- Economic Forum would come up were in arrears and they could not continue to remind him of recent Supreme talaq by their husband". Section as has been the case in instances the same bill? solidating verdicts of Judiciary in with its 'Global Gender Gap court verdict on triple talaq. But 3 and 4 of the bill mention that of murder, rape et al. and should However there may be innu- streamlined compilations of law report' stating that women of work with their bills frozen. These run in crores. in vain as he told me that he does the pronouncement of 'talaq-e- only be dealt as a civil issue. merable sources of conflict and to end gender inequality prevalent India are really empowered now The PDD has not been making timely payments to not care since the judgement biddat' by a person upon his wife AIMPLB was of the opinion that standoff between India and in some religious personal laws. in true spirit and essence. the private workshops some of whom have been alone can do him no harm". in any form whatsoever "shall be the bill is against the Pakistan but India might take cue When a PIL(Public Interest [email protected] waiting for nearly three years. Why the payment is not made is the question. If the PDD engaged Shiban Khaibri who are always ready with issuing of calls like boycott etc? Let us them then it must have also taken into account the o sooner did the state gov- watch and see. cost of doing so and provision of the same in the ernment declare its resolve The Panchayat elections The present dispensation, Nto hold Panchayat elec- unfortunately, has to face uncalled budget. It makes no sense to argue that there is descended to sending armed mer- improvement in the perceptions of 4500 crore . With this, the practice election results are in no way a ref- tions in Jammu and Kashmir from for stand from within while deal- cenaries direct from that country the women in the society. Eco- of power budget has been sought erendum on the issue of the Kash- shortage of funds and hence payment to private Feb15, than the so called Joint ing with Pakistan which could be to keep some areas of the valley nomic empowerment, though at to be done away with. In the his- mir problem but are for providing Resistance Movement (JRM) termed as hostile. Not only in units has been deferred. This is a very lame under strain due to indulging in margins, to women, help them take tory of the state in respect of Pan- Sadak, Bijli and Paani", was the called for its boycott. It may be Kashmir, but we have many such excuse. Payments cannot be kept pending for sporadic attacks here and there, the decisions regarding infrastructur- chayats, the separate budget pres- immediate response of Omar recalled that this "movement" voices across the country as well, number and intensity of which, al development of the village, in entation would be the first of its Abdullah in respect of the elec- three long years to private entrepreneurs. The comprises main separatist leaders which openly give vent to their however, have drastically come particular, education, health, kind in the state. The state has 4500 tions of 2008. Those of 2014, the like Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz such unwarranted feelings just Government has clear policy of boosting small down due to increasing pressure drainage, lighting, irrigation and Panchayats and with Rs. 4500 late Mufti Sayeed "thanked" Pak- Farooq and Yasin Malik. At the either for vote bank consolidation on terrorist activities. potable water. Decentralization of crore budget, each Panchayat istan for "facilitating" (meaning scale industries and the engagement and dis- outset, they should, as a matter of and retention or just in the name of Anyway, democratic process power and strengthening demo- would get Rs. 1 crore per year for not disrupting) the process of elec- bursement of bill is covered by that scheme. sincere advice, by now overhaul opposition. Like this, they cross all should side by side continue to cratic institutions are the two goals developmental works which in tions in the state, thus walking a the contents of their quiver of limits which stink of their being Evidently, there is something more than what play its part and that the same is possible through elected Panchay- addition to other sources of direct step ahead in the direction of his "resistance" by refilling that with dyed in the "particular" wool. The going to be there in a big way up ats. governmental funding would predecessor. This sort of jousting meets the eye when we go deep into the nitty-grit- some new strategist devices like recent terror attack on a CRPF to the grass root levels in the form Last elections were held in mean development in good meas- for a stand between the "main ty of the scheme. Whatever it is, those who have fighting these elections and show- camp in Kashmir, for example, of holding Panchayat elections in 2011 and the new ones had fallen ure. stream" parties which was in one ing their level of "popularity" since generates absolutely no uniform to bear the brunt are the ordinarily citizens who itself is a challenge to anti India, due nearly one and a half year back The separatist leaders feeling way or the other, going repugnant these elections are going to be held condemnation from such leaders Pro Pakistani and extreme funda- and strangely there were no elect- the situation created by Pakistan to the interests of the country, was pay tariff for supply of power to them. Depriving on non - Party basis. The scenario but on National TV Channels in mentalist elements. This is surely ed Panchayats. However, there is with their very active support in the in fact emboldening the anti India them of power is almost cheating them, something is fast changing, the vertebra of presence of Pakistani panelists, a significant decision of the state some new arrangement in this valley as Achilles heel for the cen- elements. And when one of them Pakistan sponsored terrorism is instead, start attacking the policies that is not acceptable in any case. government which should also be regard in that this time only Panchs tral government, leave no occasion assumes power, it has to face the developing cramps and strains and of the Indian government. Pak- seen in the backdrop of the will be elected by the people and available to them to issue calls like brunt of what they had sown ear- the local support to the so called istan and terror groups get a wrong immense interest shown by the no direct election of Sarpanchs hartals, the march to the office of lier both wittingly and knowingly Ashthal Kulgam Bridge Jihad is waning into oblivion, notion, absolutely wrong. Governor of the state N. N. Vohra who will be elected by the Panchas the UNMOG in Srinagar and issue or just in the emotional burst of a instead it is the obverse. Pin point- The Government whichever in who has been a strong votary of of that Panchayat. The Parties in boycott calls for elections. How- particular notion of "Kashmiri he disastrous floods of September 2014 ed and accurate information about power won't get accolades from holding elections for Panchayat opposition like the NC and the ever, people rarely paid heed to Nationalism" which encompassed washed away many bridges in the Valley the movements and hideouts of the immediate opposition for good and Local bodies at the earliest. Congress have, as usual, opposed their calls and not only participat- not the wider concept of inclusive- terrorists is passed on to the secu- voter turnout in such elections including the one over Veshaw near the vil- Panchayats mean democracy this arrangement and want the pre- ed in election processes but came ness. That speaks volumes of why T rity forces by the people on their because their armoury to attack at the grass root level. It means, vious system to be restored. out in large numbers to cast their such "main stream" leaders keep lage Ashthal in Kulgam district. This disconnect own now, as a result of being fed gets blunt to some extent and on therefore, the empowerment to On Dec30 last year, the CM votes which resulted in an enviable on issuing statements due to which caused serious problems to thousands of villagers up with the sordid and destructive the other hand, for a dismal one, look after, develop and reform the announced that after Panchayat turnout of 68 to 71% of votes. The not only they stood the risk of get- game plan brazenly displayed in was not going to be pilloried. That in this part of South Kashmir. People who need to villages by the elected representa- elections, Municipal elections too dilemma is that many leaders, ting exposed but caused in the the valley by Pakistan at the cost does not, however, mean that any tives .Locals alone can think what shall take place which mean both instead of using the occasion to process, embarrassment to the visit the District headquarter in Kulgam had to take of the blood of the people here both effort, any opportunity and every is administratively best for them democratic as well as financial further gear up anti separatist and Government. Should they show a a long detour which would consume lot of time of civilians and personnel of secu- occasion should not at all be uti- and not the bureaucrats who live powers at the grass root levels. In anti Pakistan stand in the valley change of heart in totally cooper- rity forces. The squalidness of the lized to make such elections a suc- and needed energy to walk the distance. The in and administer from their another move to innovative and build up a nationalist response, ating with the Government in Pakistani games attempted to be cess thus defeating the separatist offices in cities. Significantly, the approach to the institutions of Pan- resorted to such statements which ensuring the success of such elec- alternative road which the commuters are using is played against this country is get- and anti India forces. empowerment of women and their chayats, there will be a separate either were totally unreasonable or tions for Panchayats and thus in deplorable condition and that is adding to their ting more and more exposed. The [email protected] situation has now squarely getting elected in turn means budget for Panchayats worth Rs. landed at political absurdity. "The wreck a political blow to those woes. In rains, this alternate route is totally a mess and not at all motorable. If authorities had taken care of repairing the alternative route things might Accidents after celebrations Pak censured have become easier for them. We have reports Sir, I II that the R&B Department has now decided to It was my fourth day in row that I had been there in and around the Emergency Wing of GMC Jam- Sir, Sir, build a new bridge of 480 feet length in two phas- mu but what I saw and observed since the evening of 31 December 2017 is a very dreadful experience Trump's decision of withholding Refer news item 'Pak has given us nothing but lies and $225 million in aid to Pakistan came es and in Phase I only 200 feet length is to be of my life. deceit : 'Trump' DE Jan 2, 2018. Arrival of patients at regular intervals to emergency wing of GMC Jammu is not a surprising thing as a good news for all countries partic- completed. Locals have expressed scepticism The American President has in no uncertain terms censured ularly, India, affected by Pakistan's at all but seeing a large number of young accidental cases on a particular day on the name of so-called and said that construction of only one part of the Pakistan for promoting terrorism in the world. state-sponsored terrorism. Even celebrations of 31st December or 1st January is quite shocking. I salute the doctors and the paramedics Though Trump has issued a number statements in this bridge does not serve any purpose. though India had left no stone unturned of GMC Jammu that they left no stone unturned to save so many precious lives of those who made a regard earlier also, there seems to be no effect on Pakistan yet. to draw global attention to the devi- We feel the people are right in expressing their mockery of their lives on the name of celebrations. Pakistan shows signs of nervousness after every such state- ous role played by the Pakistan army ment either by issuing rebuttals or by detaining one or two ter- doubt about dividing the construction of one It was observed that most of the accidents happened only due to the violation of traffic norms and to promote terrorism in the region, but rorists, but doing nothing in real sense. Had Pakistan been bridge into two parts. This is unheard of and it rash driving after celebration parties. It is no secret that we consume alcohol in these parties.Although no visible results were there. Now everyone has the right to eat , drink or consume according to one's own choice and budget but at the same under pressure, it would have taken a number of steps to close should go in one go. The suffering and inconven- down terror camps dotting the Pakistan landscape. It would India's efforts have got a big boost from time it is also the duty of we all to ensure that our celebrations must be neither troublesome nor risky to Trump. While receiving billions of dol- ience of the people should be mitigated and not others. It is not bad to celebrate any event or Day but it is always bad to celebrate at the risk of life. not have released Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed from detention, and allowed him to address rallies and public lars from the US just to cooperate in Moreover, we shouldn't forget that our near and dear ones always curiously wait us at home and it is also prolonged. People have waited for more than gatherings in Pakistan. Every nation knows that Pakistan is fighting against terrorism, Pakistan did three years and their patience should not be test- quite essential that we must reach safe at right place that is our home rather than an Emergency Wing using terrorism as a Pak Policy to achieve its objectives in nothing in this regard. Instead, it gave of any Hospital. ed any more. At the same time the alternative India and Afghanistan, the two nations hard hit by terrorism, freedom to terrorists such as Hafiz Let us pledge to respect the law, value the life, avoid aggression, evade conflicts, and celebrate but remain unconcerned about it. Unless all countries casti- Saeed to walk freely. road which the people are using should also be in a civilized and risk free manner in order to see and live those days for which these celebration parties gate Pakistan, it is not going to wind up its terror camps, come Yous etc... made pucca taking into account that construction are actually arranged. what may. Asif Iqbal Qasmi of the other half of the bridge may take many more Yours etc.... Yours etc... Al Mahad Ul Subash Brahmnu Sunil Sharma Aali Al Islami years. Chhatriari Ramnagar Kathua Shaheen Nagar Hyderabad