Namaz in school: Rajouri tense

By Rizwan Khatik - Sat Jan 07, 12:04 pm

Jammu : Tension continued to prevail in the border town of Rajouri, with Hindus opposing and Muslims insisting on offering namaz at an ancient structure on the premises of Government Higher Secondary School for Boys.

As Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Pawan Kotwal and Inspector General of Police, Jammu zone, Dilbagh Singh continued holding parleys with both sides, the Hindus observed a complete bandh in the town, asking the administration not to allow any place of worship inside the school premises as it had students from both communities. The Muslims, however, kept their establishments open there.

The call for the bandh was given by the Rajouri unit of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, which alleged it was an attempt to encroach upon the school land in the garb of offering namaz at an ancient structure inside the school premises. The Muslims, however, expressed concern over the VHP unnecessarily interfering with their religious matters.

With both sides adamant on their stands, the administration was trying hard to persuade them to maintain the status quo ante in respect of the disputed structure.

Varma gets award for excellence in IFS

D Bala Venkatesh Varma, who is joint secretary (disarmament and international security affairs division) in the Ministry of External Affairs, on Friday got the first S K Singh award for excellence in the Indian Foreign Service.

UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi presented the award to Varma, a 1988-batch IFS officer, for playing a key role in strengthening India’s position in the global nuclear order. Varma gave “timely and appropriate advice” to the Principals during the negotiations of the India-US civilian nuclear cooperation agreement, the jury said.

Express news service