SHABIR IBN YUSUF

Srinagar, June 15: Ruling out revocation of the contro-versial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from J&K in near future, Defence Minister Arun Jaitley Sunday said “dialogue and aggression cannot go side by side.”

Addressing a press confer-ence here after co-chairing a special security meeting, Jaitley said he is not in a position to comment on the revocation of AFSPA at this stage. He however said that armed forces are handling the situation and progress in the situation is to be monitored over a period of time. “Only after monitoring the situa-tion, things can be decided,” he said.

Jaitley said that dialogue with Pakistan cannot go amid violence. “Dialogue and aggression can’t go side by side,” he said.

He said violations on the Line of Control must stop for normalization and “that itself is a confidence building measure before any country to proceed.”

“But I am confident that our security forces are well equipped to foil any such attempts if they are made,” he added.

“I went to forward posts. I met the troops and they are doing a commendable job,” Jaitley said, adding he wishes that peace prevails in J&K.

He said the armed forces have managed to dominate areas where infiltration takes place and are stopping militants to infiltrate into Kashmir.

He said the only motive behind his visit to Kashmir was to assess the security. “The Lok Sabha elections concluded peacefully. A very good tourism season is on and from the end of this month, the Amarnath Yatra would also start and the assessment is that it would also conclude peacefully,” he said, adding, “At the end of this year, the state will also witness Assem-bly polls.”

Defence Minister said he is going back to New Delhi with sense of reasonable sat-isfaction. “Amarnath Yatra will begin soon and I hope it will be as peaceful as the elections,” he said, adding, “J&K is insurgency-hit and the Centre will give whatev-er assistance is required for development of the State.”

Replying to a question on prosecution of Army men accused of being involved in human rights violations, he said each case has its own merit. “If there is no basis of the case, prosecution cannot be allowed. If there is human rights violation it will be

viewed differently,” he said.About the video in which

Al Qaeda has reportedly asked for Jihad against India in Kashmir, the Defence Min-ister said they are watching the situation. “There is an element of caution and we are assessing the situation after the US troop withdrawal in Afghanistan and I am sure our armed forces are capable of handling all threats,” he said.

MONDAY, June 16, 2014 17, Sha‘ban 1435 AH 27th Year of publication

Published from Srinagar | Jammu Regd. No. JK NP-6/SKGPO-2012-2014 Vol: 27 No. 167 Pages: 18 Rs. 3.00 (Air Surcharge For Jammu/Leh 50 Paisa) epaper.GreaterKashmir.comGreaterKashmir.com, GreaterKashmir.net

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MUDASIR YAQOOB

Srinagar, June 15: With hunt for Kash-mir University Vice-Chancellor underway, the J&K government and Raj Bhawan—the Chancellor’s office for State Universities—have again come under sharp criticism from stakeholders for allowing non-local heads to lead the state varsities and closing their eyes to local talent and local aspirations.

This time around, three key universities in Jammu and Kashmir are headed by vice-chancellors from outside the State, making the academic and social circles uneasy. These include the SK University of Agri-cultural Sciences and Technology-Kashmir (headed by Dr Tej Pratap from Himachal Pradesh); SKUAST-Jammu (headed Dr PK Sharma ex-Assistant Director General, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi) and University of Jammu (headed by Mohan Paul Singh Ishar, pro-fessor from Guru Nanak Dev University Punjab). Until last month, Kashmir Uni-versity was headed by Prof Talat Ahmad from Delhi University.

It is widely believed that the appoint-

ment of outside-the-State Vice-Chancellors is coming at the cost of local talent. Three years back it was commonly reported that Dr Tej Pratap’s appointment as the SKUAST-K Vice-Chancellor came at the cost of noted agricultural scientist from the varsity, Prof AR Trag. Trag was under-stood to have been at number one in the panel submitted by the Search Committee, but the recommendation was turned down for unknown reasons. His appointment few months later as the Vice-Chancellor of the Islamic University of Science and Tech-nology Awantipora was seen by many as a “damage control exercise” by the state government.

LOCAL PERSON SHOULD be the priority for the coveted position. What we need is progress and development of the University. We understand that the local (VC) has more understand-ing and sympathy for students. But, at the same time, talent should not be sacrificed. The person should be enough capable and talented. KUTA supports the view to have local VC for the University.

Dr Salahhudin Tak, President, Kashmir University Teachers Association (KUTA)

IT HAS BEEN observed that most of the VCs brought from outside lacked the kind of acumen possessed by our own academics. It looks like these Vice Chancellors are being appointed with pre-determined agenda of suppressing the objective and unbiased research of all aspects of Jammu and Kashmir by our scholars which defeats and distorts the very purpose of a univer-sity as the highest seat of learning. It would therefore be more tangible that appointments for the vacant positions of Vice Chancellors in various universi-ties are explored from within the state. Any such appointment from outside is likely to receive resistance and reac-tion from the society and will further tarnish image of the government in the eyes of general public.

Shakeel QalandarIndustrialist/Civil Society member

WE STRONGLY CONDEMN this approach of having a non-local Vice-Chancellor for Kashmir University. Our stand on this issue is clear; it will be in the fitness of things to have a local vice-chancellor who understands the system very well and knows the prob-lems facing the teaching and student community in both colleges and the university campuses. At local level, we have our own way of functioning which is well understood by local persons only. We have faced problems at col-lege level in making outside-state VCs aware of our grievances, which won’t be the case with the local man.

Prof Tariq AshaiPresident, College Teachers Association Hunt for KU VC:

Stakeholders raise pitch for local man at helm

IF A PROFESSOR to head KU is a mediocre or below-average, which we have seen in the past, it is always a disadvantage for the institution. Of the three-year term, it takes at least a year for the person to understand the system and then he gets very little time to contribute. So it is better to have a local VC who is competent enough, who has the vision and commitment to lead the University, and who knows the inside problems well. We do have some professors who are competent enough to lead the University.

Prof Abdul Wahid QureshiEx-VC, Central University of Kashmir, KU

IN THE CURRENT context the VC should be someone who understands the implications of societal conflict within which the university is func-tioning. The university needs to be socially engaged. This only a person from within the state can ensure. At present we need people who are empathetic to our cause.

Dr Haseeb DrabuNoted Economist

I WISH KASHMIRIS occupy every plum position, whether it is vice- chancellor or any other important position. I support the idea of local VC for KU, but merit should not be compro-mised. There is a lot of potential and talent among Kashmiris and we have proved it during the past two decades despite the abnormal situation.

Dr Mehboob BegSenior NC leader

Modi govt’s first reaction on separatists‘No dialogue outside Indian Constitution’

SHABIR IBN YUSUF

Srinagar, June 15: Defence Minister Arun Jaitley Sunday said they are ready to hold dialogue with any group “within the ambit of Indian Constitution. “

“The dialogue will take place within the ambit of Indian Constitution. There will be no compromise on this,” Jaitley told reporters at a news conference. He was replying a query about the possibility of dialogue with separatist leadership in Kashmir.

This is the first official reaction from the newly-formed BJP-led National Democratic Alliance government over dialogue with separatist groups.

Earlier, some sections of separatist leaders and Peoples Democratic Party had expressed hope that BJP will re-engage with Kashmiri leadership and take forward the line adopted by Atal Bihari Vajaypee.

Soon after BJP’s win at Center, Peoples Democratic Party patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed had said he was hopeful the new government would take tangible steps in finding a lasting solution to the Kashmir problem.

Jaitley rules out AFSPA repeal for nowSays talks and aggression cannot go together

See Jaitley rules...on Pg-10

See Hunt for KU...on Pg-10

Parvez Rasool becomes first JK cricketer to play for Team India

SPORTS p16

NEWS p10

Policy measures for KPs’ return in next few days: Jaitley

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