The budding table tennis players of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir are enjoying the interaction with their counterparts from different states/union territories across the country in the 81st Junior and Youth National and Inter-State Table Tennis Championship being played at the new Indoor Sports Complex, MA Stadium. The paddlers hoped that such kind of national events will be hosted by the UT at regular intervals, which provide them the much-needed exposure. "When our team visit any state/union territory for a national event, only team members get a chance to meet players of other states, but when the championship is hosted by the UT, not only the team but other paddlers who are not part of the team can interact with the paddlers of other teams," said Shikhar, a player. Vikas Sharma
Leaders 'clueless' about job, land rights
Residents of newly created Union Territory (UT) of J&K are hoping that the leadership of BJP would protect their rights. But leaders of the saffron party are themselves clueless about the next course of action of the Union Government. Instead of giving clear statements about job and land rights of the inhabitants of J&K, BJP leaders are giving vague statements, thereby creating further confusion. There is no consensus among 'disciplined' BJP leaders on this important issue, so they are giving conflicting versions. One senior BJP leader has ruled out any domicile-like provision, but another assured job and land rights for the people of J&K. Dinesh Manhotra
Industrialists fear losing business
Industrialists in Jammu province are a worried lot after Jammu and Kashmir was made a UT. In the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, they had a long list of demands concerning the business prospects of the state. Though in the erstwhile state the corporate class was benefitted with many sops that included subsidies in various forms, in UT they are apprehensive of losing these benefits. They are afraid that they may lose business to outside corporate houses or big business houses, which may take over their local business. Vikram Sharma
Newspapers come to rescue of jobless youth
As the mobile internet has been snapped in Jammu and Kashmir for the last four months, the unemployed youth of J&K are heavily dependent on newspapers to keep themselves updated about job updates. Since all information is readily available on computers and mobile phones these days, youngsters had almost stopped reading papers for the same. However, they still have to rush to cyber cafes to apply for job, as all forms have to be submitted online. Amit Khajuria