CM ready for CBI probe

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‘I’m fighting against corruption; whoever is involved will be punished’
Baba Umar

Srinagar, Feb 01: Chief Minster Ghulam Nabi Azad Friday expressed willingness for a CBI probe into the alleged involvement of his brothers in the high profile timber import scam.Addressing a press conference here Azad said that the CBI would probe involvement of his brothers in the timber import scam but ruled out any possibility of a CBI investigating the entire Kundal Committee report.

Addressing a press conference at Civil Secretariat in Srinagar Azad said, “The section of Kundal Committee report where my brothers are featuring will be probed by the CBI. The rest will remain under the investigation of Crime Branch of police and State Vigilance Organisation (SVO).”

The chief minister made these revelations day after the New Delhi-based news channel CNN IBN showed that Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad’s brothers were directly involved in the notorious timber import scam.The chief minister also distanced himself from his brothers saying, “I am not living with them for the past 41 years. I was studying in SP College when I left my brothers back home. Where then do I figure in the picture?” Azad questioned.

Reiterating his pledge to fight corruption in the state with iron hands, Azad said the guilty will be brought to book no matter whosoever would be involved.“Nobody will be spared. Even if he is someone’s father or brother,” he said. “The attempts to drag me in the timber import scam will not dilute my determination to fight corruption in Jammu and Kashmir.”

Referring to a news story run by CNN IBN and carried by a section of local press, Azad said that the report was one sided and highlighted allegations made by two ‘tainted officers’ of the forest department whose misdeeds had been established by the Kundal Committee which recommended their dismissal from service.He said one of the two officers had dual citizenship and traveled on four assumed names from six residential addresses, four of which were found to be fake. “The person travelled 23 times between USA and India and stayed in US for about 14 years. After his Indian passport expired he held the post of MD State Forest Corporation despite being a US citizen,” he added.“He also drew the salary of the period he was in US. The second official’s service book showed that he had joined the government service at the age of 14. At least 8 enquiries have been instituted against him for misconduct.”

Azad said that the two officials in order to avoid further action against them had gone to the court and were now trying to malign him to give a setback to his resolve of fighting corrupt elements.Referring to the documents displayed by the news channel as evidence against him Azad said that there was nothing in these letters that the viewers were made to believe. He showed the letters to the media persons and said one of these addressed by the then Commissioner and Secretary Forest, Najmus Saqib to the Commissioner and Secretary Finance, B B Vyas was about seeking the latter's "cooperation in bringing to book some unscrupulous elements including officials who have played a role in wanton exploitation of forest wealth in Doda district since late 80s and early 90s."

He said the migration of contractors from the state to the neighbouring state like Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh had resulted in 80 per cent decline in timber extraction in Jammu division.Azad said for seeing to it that the contractors here do not leave the state to work outside, he had marked the representation of the contractors to the then Commissioner and Secretary, Forest for discussion as was the normal procedure about such matters."How does this letter show that I have favoured any of my relatives?" he asked.

Azad said that he was the first political leader in India who had written to the successive chief ministers of Jammu and Kashmir asking them not to entertain any of his relatives if they came for any favour to them. “I wrote these letters in 1983 and 1987. He said after taking over as the chief minister of J&K in 2002, the first thing I did was to issue a circular asking all Commissioners, Secretaries and Deputy Commissioners not to entertain any request of favour by my relatives.“If any of my relatives is involved in any irregularities, he will face the consequences like any other guilty citizen,” he said.

Earlier, the chief minister inspected the construction work on the projects including the legislature and museum complexes.

Valleyties getting weary of traditional ways of lodging protests

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Baba Umar:

In the past eighteen years of conflict, Kashmir had witnessed hundreds of days of Hartals and Protests. And every hartal would end up in the same fashion— shops closed, stones being pelted and separatists getting bundled into the police vans, only to be released by the evenings.

But people seem to be weary of the old-fashioned ways of lodging their protests. Getting fed up, they have now thought of something novel.

“Let us register future protests in a unique way,” says Mushtaq Khan, a book seller on the Residency Road. “Imagine shopkeepers do not pull down their shutters, instead keep their shops open—form a human chain outside their establishments, and prevent customers in.”

Then there are people like Fazal Ahmad, who feel it absurd to stay back home and do nothing on hartal days. He says people should do their routine work and simultaneously register their protest. “I will tell you the new way of observing hartal,” says Ahmad.

“Simply go to your work, and pin a black badge on your sleeves,” he says. Many believe that launching protest campaigns on evenings would do the job. They think protests could be registered without any impediment in one’s work.

“I would like to do my job first and participate in a candle light march on evenings,” says Basit Umer. “He says people in the west are getting worldwide attention from these kinds of protests and Kashmiris too can adopt the same formula. “Candle light protests really make a difference,” Umer says.

“Well, if you remember, all the closed cases like Jessica Lal murder and Priyadarshini Matto were reopened using this sort of protest.”

Danish Khan, a media student, however, wishes to participate in the silent protests without making any noise and ransack. He doesn’t believe in the positive outcome of violent protests. He says the aim of hartal is to get noticed and some novel ways (silent protests) would do. He has a novel idea for getting attention too.“I would love to take out my handycam, cover the silent protest, and send the footage to all of my friends, relatives, political leaders and those against whom I would be protesting. We can also upload it on sundry websites visited by millions of people across the globe,” he says.

The last couple of months saw two very unique ways of protests. The first one was held by Kashmir University Students Union (KUSU) against the growing human rights violation at the hands of troopers in the valley. They came out on the city’s Residency Road and held a peaceful candle light protest on the evening of December 10 to observe the International Human Rights (IHR) day. And the second unique kind of protest that never ever happened before was tossing of eggs by the protestors in the city’s Press Colony. By breaking eggs the protestors tried to mock at the ‘Zero tolerance of human rights violation’ slogan by the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh.

Eve teasing

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We respect Them

Baba Umar

‘It is all about knowing one’s rights’. This is what the young male folk think on the issues that concern mostly women of all age groups. The women folk have always been whining of harassment, stalking, bawdy remarks and indecent approach of their counterparts in the buses they travel. And the male used to repulse this blame by simply saying that ‘they seldom do it’.

However, the present generation of young people is open to anything. They acknowledge it happens with females in the buses, and they also accept that they help girls if such situations arise.“I must say that we need to respect women,” says Zahid Ahmad, a computer student. “I once saw two girls complaining in the bus about pestering at the hands of a man who was just sitting adjacent to them and I kicked him out of the door.”

He says women should also try defend their rights and should call for help when such things happen to them.“But again it’s not fair to blame everything on male travelers,” he says.

“Imagine yourself in the bus packed of girls only. You can’t paint everyone with the same brush. They (girls) too do it.” Zahid is himself a victim of teasing at the hands of girls; however, he feels the teachings of Prophet (SAW) should be upheld at any cost, no matter what comes. “I respect women and I not only offer them my seat in the bus, if they are standing, but I also keep a vigil on any trouble-maker,” says the heavily built Zahid.

When it comes to offering seats, female folk have always caught hold males from collar. Though there is reservation for ladies in the buses, nobody follows the law, creating a “silent rift” between the standing ladies and their seated opposites. Silent in the sense, many think, is because ladies don’t claim for their occupied seats.

“When they are demanding their share in every sphere, why not in the buses too?” asks an elderly person. He says girls have done well in any realm of life and they can make their voice to be heard. “Ladies should forget shyness and ask for the seats reserved for them,” he adds.

In case of an overloaded bus, there are some who would like to offer their seat only to those women who are properly dressed. “Frankly speaking, I won’t offer my seat to a girl if she is wearing something arousing,” says Danish Illahi, a student. “And if something bad happens to them, they are themselves responsible for it, you know what I mean to say,” says he.

Others thank God for creating them as Males. They say travelling in a bus is never a great going for ladies.“I am happy that I was a male offspring of my parents,” smiles Fazal Mehmood, who thinks it a hard going for a girl travelling among the males.“I can understand the plight of a girl at such times, but they need to be vibrant and gutsy,” says he.

On girl’s reaction to any harassment or teasing in the bus, he says, the girl should report the event to police or should seek help from the driver and elders sitting in the bus.“The problem with girls is that they feel it embarrassing to file a case in the police department,” says Mehmood. “Let them break the shackles and fight for their rights.”

The police is also expressing the need of bravery and mettle in the girls who happen to come across any miscreant in the buses.Gulshan Akhter, SHO, Women’s Police Station, Rambagh says, “A girl should be alert while travelling. She should file the report with police after taking the help of co-passengers and driver of the vehicle.”And what could be the possible punishment for such miscreants?“Depends on the type of crime—it’s usually 3-4 months of imprisonment and some fine, “she says. “ But this year we didn’t receive any complaint regarding harassment in the buses,” adds she.

When power cuts mean ‘Fun’

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Baba Umar

Heavy snow and rains, and within a jiffy, the bulbs fade and lights go off. And the most common noise one can hear in the locality at that time is a loud 'Gou power' asserting utter displeasure. Why not, after all the abrupt power cut might have interrupted your much-loved television soap, film, computer work, reading, and many other important activities.
Power cuts are frequent during snowy season and we rely so much on electricity that we get rankled when there is a power failure.

Ishfaq Ahmad, a Medico says: “I simply cannot figure out what to do on a power cut. I know I cannot do anything, I simply wait uncomplainingly for the light to reappear."
However, Ali Malik, a computer student, thinks the other way. He says he enjoys power cuts when the snow is falling.
“In my locality, the lights usually go off during snowfall. When people complain of falling wires or power disruption, I just sit in my veranda and watch the snow flakes. It is really enjoyable."
Ali’s uncle, Asif Malik, a retired Tourist Officer, feels the power cuts take him to his childhood. He says, he along with his friends would make snow-man and dupe family members with ‘Sheene Sharat-a forgotten play now’. He says getting wood from the nearby snow clad slopes too was a treat.
"I was brought up in a small village of Uri and electricity was something new for me. When there is a power failure, I get pleasure from the serenity around, with no raucous noise or musical gadgets,” he says. “I like to stand by my window, just look at the white skies and enjoy the peace."
Then there are others who take the power cuts for good omen. They believe it brings the family around one gas lamp plus innumerable tales of Granny for little kids.
“On evenings," says, a home maker, "I think it would be enjoyable to have a dinner at home with my family members for the period of a power cut instead of complaining about it."
So next time, there is an abrupt power disruption, do not curse the power department; instead, take fun out of it.

‘If peace prevails, would I become the Chief Minister?’

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Baba Umar

Running parallel to the city’s Residency Road is a lane which is famously called as the ‘News Hub’ of Kashmir or in common parlance Press colony. All the leading newspapers of Kashmir and national News Bureaus line up on one side of this small lane with the bill boards erected on their entry gates. And just facing the ‘Daily Kashmir Times’, is a tea stall owned by an elderly man. He is doing this business since the onset of 90’s. And that makes his stall one of the oldest among other stalls in this narrow lane. Bashir Ahmad, 62, is a tall and muscular man. He had his schooling up to intermediate level and that easily helped him in getting a government job in the Agriculture Department. But in 1986, he took a voluntarily retirement. And believe it or not he left the job because of too many female employees in that department. “Frankly speaking, I can’t work with women who are stranger to me,” he says. He backs his statement from the sayings of Prophet (S.A.W) and the Quranic verses, though he is not clear. “You know what I mean to say,” he refuses to speak explicitly on the issue.

And then, a new life was about to start. Now, living on the pension and finding it difficult to get a private job living became a double edged sword. He decided to open a tea stall at a place where most scribes nestle. He says, he earns around 200 rupees a day and he is satisfied with it.“It’s because of this Press Colony I am surviving,” he says without any eye contact while being busy in making another cup of tea. “You know,” Bashir recalls, “I was picked up by the police a decade ago after having a verbal duel. Before the police party could reach the station, some scribes were already there and they managed my release within an hour.” “And that event”, he says with pensive look, “I will remember till death.”“They were all good people who got me out of the police station,” he says. “You could imagine how police treats you in the lock up.”Albeit the growing age, the zeal and energy to work is unparalleled. And as a young boy approaches and orders for a half-a-dozen tea cups and some biscuits, he smilingly tells him to wait for half-an-hour as it is the time for afternoon prayers.“I never miss prayers,” Bashir says and proceeds towards the Masjid.For years, he has been doing this business and the locality around too seem indebted to him. They call him ‘Daddy’, showing respect and value. The scribes love to hang on his tea stall. They discuss, brainstorm and chat about everything. Even press releases are distributed on the Daddy’s tea stall.“This stall not only serves us good tea, but something more than that,” says a vibrant young scribe, sipping a hot cup of tea. In the hectic schedule and the pressure cooker situation it’s Ahmad’s tea stall, where scribes relax and gossip about things. And what is going to be tomorrow’s headline the Daddy’s stall is first to know it.Bashir, after half an hour, is back and he has to prepare half-a-dozen cups of tea. Lighting the stove and increasing its flame, he welcomes the waiting customers. There is a visible glow in his eyes too. “Sorry, I kept you waiting,” he modestly speaks out. He says he knows what the people are going to read tomorrow. Because everything is discussed here on his stall and his experience and intellect with regards to politics and Kashmir issue is a great help to scribes.“I bet you do not know what I know now,” he says. “I mean whatever will appear in the newspapers, I will come to know that beforehand.” Ask him about the present situation of Kashmir, and he keeps mum for a while followed by a volley of events that have shaped the present valley. He recalls every major happening in the Kashmir conflict. He even recalls the major ‘setbacks’ received by the people here. From Abdullahs to Mirvaizs to Geelanis, he says he knows everyone’s deeds. However, he likes, Yusuf Shah, popularly known as the Syed Salahuddin—the chairman of United Jihad Council (UJC). He has offered prayers behind Shah and according to him, ‘Shah is a good human being’.“At least Shah is not like Qadir Ganderbali (a Police officer at the time of Sheikh Abdullah, who was a sort of terror and feared for his torture cruelties),” says Ahmad. “I remember, one of my friend saying, how Ganderbali put a big rat into his trousers till he fainted.”“And everybody knows how Ganderbali died,” he addsBashir wishes the present situation changes forever for everlasting good. He daily prays for the peace in the valley. He wishes to see the end of bloodshed and human rights violation before his death.Before I bade him goodbye he stops me and asks, “If peace prevails, would I become the Chief Minister?” he smiles to my surprise. “No, I won’t, I will remain the same Chai Wala, but there will be no loss of life and destruction in my Valley.”

An Ad can change your business

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In today’s world of marketing, advertisement is an effective tool to sell your products to the masses.

Baba Umar

‘You can tell the ideals of an area by its advertisements’, says Norman Douglas, and in case of Kashmir valley these ideals seem to be growing exponentially. A number of colourful and eye pleasing hoardings are quite visible on the Srinagar roads. Its marked change and one that goes to show that people are no longer going to buy your items unless and until they don’t know it before hand.

From the last two years advertisement techniques have changed here. Since the market in Kashmir is considerable growing so much so that many feel the ads are changing from being banal to trendy. The business intellect is basically on rise in the valley; people prefer to put in their money in small scale industries, manufacturing units, educational sectors and share markets,” says Parvaiz Ahmed, an Ad maker. “And we can’t sideline the competition from all forces—that are there to make much through the advertisements. He says the advertisement techniques have not only advanced but have become cheap too for the masses.“Today even small level businessmen are expanding their market by simply putting their products on advertisement hoardings.”

On Srinagar roads one could see the big fiber made uni-pole ads that dot the city and the adjacent areas, and, even the small ad-hangers (30’x40’) have come up to attract the potential buyers. There are so many square-shaped boards that read ‘Space available here’ followed by the contacts of the service provider.

And this was not the case in the past many acknowledge.“It is basically a sign of the time - a natural reaction to the environment where communication is the key and here ads play effective role,” says Hayat Ahmad, Managing Director, Helpline Advertising Service (HAS).

“And it’s interesting to see it happening here in such a big way.”HAS is the contract holder of these uni-pole hoardings and have installed close to one hundred of such hoardings in the city. Ahmad says the demand is on the rise and the company is planning to come out with Light Emitting Diode (LED) and Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) hoardings in the next month.

“We have already installed one LCD hoarding at the Polo View and three such hoardings are also with the Tourist Reception Centre (TRC), and they will be used in the bus stands and other resting places in the city.”

Earlier in the ad creation sector, there used to be a dearth of professionalism particularity in the making of Fibre Uni-poles ads, which meant that considerable chunk of money, was going outside for designing such ads. However the trend has changed. These ad-hoardings are prepared in the valley and no outside manpower is used, claims the HAS official.

“Ad makers early had dearth of technical support and perfection,” says Ahmad. “But now everything has changed, we are no more dependent on the outside machinery or labour.” Even the onlookers of these hoardings react with the same tone.

“I could see graphics, colors and special treatment given to ads in these hoardings,” says Fazal Malik. “And that’s quite a revelation.”