Air services to Kashmir Valley resume

SRINAGAR: Flights to and from Srinagar resumed today after remaining suspended for three days as the international airport here was handed over to civil aviation authorities following completion of runway resurfacing work.

"The air traffic has resumed today and flights are landing almost as per schedule," officials of the Airport Authority of India said.

In view of the strict curfew being implemented here, authorities have directed security forces to treat the air tickets as curfew passes for passengers flying in and out of the Valley.

To ensure hassle-free travel for the passengers, the authorities had asked them to report to Tourist Reception Centre ( TRC) in the city and not to head to the airport directly.

The Srinagar airport was closed for resurfacing, repair and upgradation on September three and subsequently the air traffic was diverted to Awantipora airbase, 32km from here.

However, the government suspended the air operations for three days from the airbase beginning Tuesday following complaints that airlines were cancelling flights randomly without intimating the passengers.

Airlines officials had cited the prevailing law and order situation in the Valley as the reason for flight cancellations.

The repair and upgradation of Srinagar International Airport were earlier slated to be taken up in May but rescheduled due to the summer tourist season, an official spokesman said, adding accordingly, it was decided to take up the work only from September three.

He said Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had taken up the matter with Defence Minister A K Antony and Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel for operationalising Awantipora airbase from September three so that the people did not face any kind of inconvenience during the holy month of Ramzan and the Eid-ul-Fitr festival.

Ayodhya verdict: Muslim, Hindu leaders appeal for peace

With the date of pronouncement of the Allahabad High Court judgement on Ayodhya dispute drawing near, religious leaders and scholars of both the communities have appealed for peace and communal harmony.

Leading Muslim religious leaders, including Shia cleric Maulana Kalbe Jawwad, naib imam of Idgah and member of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, Maulana Khalid Rasheed Firangimahli besides Islamic seminary Darul Uloom Deoband have asked Muslims to respect the verdict of the court and maintain communal harmony.

“Peace is of prime importance and we have made the Muslims aware of it at every level in discourses and appeals that communal harmony should be maintained, so as to check vested interests from taking advantage of the situation,” Firangimahli told PTI.

Kalbe Jawwad asked community members to be weary of political leaders who would try to take advantage of the situation to serve their ulterior motives.

Darul Uloom Deoband had yesterday appealed to the people to respect the verdict of the court and maintain peace and communal harmony in the country.

The main pujari of the Ram Janmbhoomi temple in Ayodhya, Acharya Satyendra Das Mahraj and Mahant of Janki Ghat in Ayodhya, Janmey Sharan have also asked the community to remain calm and accept the verdict of the court.

Satyendra Das, appointed main pujari by the court, had also taken part in the roza iftar function recently to strengthen communal amity.

“In case the verdict is against the aspirations of any individual or party in the case, he is free to approach the Supreme Court,” Firangimahli said, adding there should not be any reaction to it in society or on streets.

Arbaaz KHAN proud of his Malaika Arora Khan's item number in Dabangg

Has Dabangg been over-publicised? Salman Khan has been going all-out to promote the film like never before.

However, Salman's brother Arbaaz who produces the film disagrees. "I think Salman has publicised Dabangg as much as his last film Veer. It's just that the media got interested in Dabangg and splashed stories on it. We didn't ask for it."

Arbaaz Khan can't stop preening about his wife Malaika Arora Khan's triumphant item song in Dabangg. "I'm so glad my wife's song Munni badnaam hui is as big as Kajra re and Beedi jalai le," says Arbaaz, barely able to keep the pride out of his voice as the song climbs up the charts.
"Honestly I am not going to say I am taken aback by the success of Munni badnaam hui. We had designed it to be a blockbuster item song," he said.
Dabangg is the family film for the Khans. "My sister (Alvira) has done the clothes. My brother Sohail has helped me with the production and my wife is the co-producer. It's a product from the Khan family. And we're very proud of it."
Arbaaz is very confident of Dabangg. "It could be the biggest hit of the year. Or it could be the one of the biggest hits of all time. Who knows?," he hoped.