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| Friday, June 16, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
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Ansari likely
to get Power Babu Parmanand to go by statute Centre for disabled
in Srinagar Farooq visits
Hazratbal
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Ansari likely
to get Power JAMMU, June 15 — The Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, is likely to allocate the Power portfolio to a party leader because after the death of Minister of State for Power Ghulam Bassan Bhat in militancy related violence in south Kashmir last month, the department is not being properly attended by Dr Abdullah who is preoccupied with various other political and administrative matters. Sources said that the Chief Minister plans to reinduct Molvi Iftikar Hussain Ansari, who had to resign from the Cabinet following his alleged involvement in sales tax scam. The Supreme Court had given its verdict in favour of Molvi Ansari and directed the state authorities to carry out rational assessment of the sales tax arrears of the company owned by Ansari’s family members. In case the Chief Minister reinducts Molvi Ansari in the Cabinet he might be given the portfolio of power. Other alternative being discussed is elevation of Mr Ajay Sadhotra, Minister for Food, to the Cabinet rank who could look after the Power portfolio as he had effectively resolved the electricity problem in Jammu recently. A large segment of the Chief Minister Cabinet and senior bureaucrats are said to be opposed to the Molvi’s induction in the Cabinet. It is no longer a secret that the relations between two senior bureaucrats and Molvi Ansari are so sour that he has been publicly ridiculing the bureaucrats who happen to be closed confidants of the Chief Minister. The PDD is the most mismanaged sector in the state and the government has ignored it to the extent that it has no funds to carry out repair works of transmission lines and transformers. A senior engineer admitted that material supplied for repair of transmission lines and poles had been purchased on credit and even the daily wage workers engaged in the repair work had not received payment for several months.
Mufti for formal talks offer SRINAGAR, June 15 — Former Union Home Minister Mufti Mohammad Syeed’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has sought an unconditional and immediate formal offer of talks to Kashmiri separatists for a “just and equitable solution of the problem”. Reaffirming its support to the Centre’s policy of dialogue, the PDP also supported the involvement of Pakistan, though at a later stage, in the process of settlement of the Kashmir problem. Addressing a press conference at the end of the two-day conclave of the executive committee of the PDP, the Mufti at his Nowgam residence here today said the Government of India should be serious on the talks. “It is a serious move, but the common man does not take it so seriously because there is no change in the situation”, the Mufti said. He sought that all those detained be released and said there was a need of reconciliation at all levels. “If there is any reconciliation, even if Pakistan is motivated, the solution will be lasting” the Mufti said. In case of a dialogue, the Mufti said, both sides, the security forces and the militants should sincerely and steadfastly abjure use of force and political killings. “The leaders of the Hurriyat Conference and their associates and allies have a positive and constructive role to play”, the political resolution passed at the convention said. Apprehending that the ruling NC in Jammu and Kashmir would resort to all sorts of devices to frustrate the newly declared policy, the PDP resolutions held that the issue of autonomy having been brought to the political forefront by the NC had been in this perspective. The PDP also urged the Centre to come out White a Paper on the utilisation of funds provided by it to the state. |
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Babu Parmanand to go by statute JAMMU, June 15 — Within one day the world has changed for the 68-year-old Babu Parmanand, who has been appointed Governor of Haryana. Till yesterday he was one among the common people living in the elegant Gandhi Nagar area. But since this morning his telephone has been ringing with friends and relations conveying greetings to him. Though he has been in politics since 1962, holding posts of ministers and Speaker of the Assembly, he had been almost a forgotten man during the past five years. He would be seen by neighbours during morning walks. Being a perfect gentleman he would love to go out for morning walks alone. He would avoid the crowd of morning walkers on the roads of the Gandhi Nagar. Mr Parmanand is a happy man and he greets the visitors with a broad smile. When asked whether his appointment as Governor of Haryana, known as a land of “Ayay Rams and Gya Rams”, would be a difficult task Babu Parmanand said “I have experience of all sides of the coin.” In reply to another question he said as Governor his priorities would be to work within the framework of the Constitution, execute faithfully the provisions of the Constitution, serve the people and act as a watchdog of the performance of the state government. After doing his M.A. (Economics) and LLB in 1958-59 the then state Prime Minister, Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad, offered him a Government job. But Babuji, as he is called by his supporters and friends, refused to accept the offer. He said he told the Bakshi that he wanted to serve the people. And it was Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad who inspired him to contest the Assembly elections. He has contested Assembly elections seven times and won on six times. In 1996 he resigned from the National Conference and joined the BJP. He had contested the Lok Sabha elections as an independent candidate from Jammu Lok Sabha seat but had lost the battle. He continues to have pockets of influence especially in the R.S. Pora area which is his home area where in Sarore village he was born on
August 10, 1932. When asked who was instrumental in favouring his candidature for the Governor’s post Babu Parmanand said “the choice must have been made by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee.” When asked whether Mr Suraj Bhan, Governor of UP played any role in sending Babuji’s name to the BJP high command Mr Parmanand said that he remained in touch with Mr Bhan but “I never asked for his help for the Governor’s post.” He admitted that the Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Prof Chaman Lal Gupta, played an important role in Delhi for clearing “my name for the Governor’s post.” Babuji said Prof Gupta wanted
prominent political leaders from the Jammu region to get gubernatorial assignments as these
politicians had remained neglected for the past 50 years. |
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Centre for disabled
in Srinagar SRINAGAR, June 15 — The first Composite Regional Centre (CRC) of the country for the rehabilitation of the disabled is being set up in Srinagar. This is one of the six such centres planned by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment that will cater to the requirements of the disabled of Jammu and Kashmir as well as the neighbouring states. A four-day composite rehabilitation camp-cum-exhibition is also being held at the medical college Hospital of the Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Bemina, from June 28 to July 1. The process for the establishment of the CRC and arrangements for the rehabilitation camp-cum-exhibition were discussed at a joint meeting of the visiting team of the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and senior state government officers here yesterday with the Chief Secretary, Mr Ashok Jaitly. The Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Ms Maneka Gandhi is likely to lay the foundation stone. The centre, for which 40 kanals has been allotted on the premises of Medical College Hospital, Bemina, will be constructed in two years. It will however, be made functional from June 28 in the Voluntary Medicare Society building on a temporary basis. The centre, the first of its kind, will provide multiple services for the disabled. These include locomotor disabilities, corrective surgery, hearing and speech impairment and counselling guidance and assistance aids for visually and mentally impaired persons. The centre would also have a separate unit for spinal cord injuries, an official spokesman said. He said the Jammu and Kashmir Social Welfare Department, which coordinating with the union ministry, had already registered 2500 disabled from various districts of Kashmir for the camp. These services would be available at the CRC even after the camp. The centre would be able to handle 50 to 100 such patients daily at its temporary accommodation. A separate camp would be held for Jammu. The Chief Secretary stressed the need for promoting local talent and using local raw material for fabricating various appliances for the patients. |
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Farooq visits
Hazratbal SRINAGAR, June 15 — The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah visited the Hazratbal shrine here yesterday to take stock of the arrangements made in view of the Id-e-Milad-un-Nabi celebrations. Lakhs of Muslims from distant areas of the Valley are thronging the shrine on the occasion of the prophet’s birthday, which is being celebrated today. Dr Abdullah, also the Chairman of the Muslim Auqaf Trust (MAT) looking after the affairs of shrines and mosques in the state, went on a round of the shrine and directed the authorities to ensure uninterrupted water and power supply. While reviewing the pace of progress on the Rs 1.25 crore archway at the shrine being constructed for women, the CM was told the work was going on speedily and would be completed by next month. He was accompanied by the Works Minister, Mr Ali Mohammad Sagar, and the Minister of State for Home, Mr Mushtaq Ahmad Lone. Later, the Revenue Minister, Mr Abdul Qayoom, and others too visited the shrine. The CM asked the deputy commissioners of Anantnag, Pulwama and Baramula to ensure proper facilities for devotees visiting the shrines in their respective districts. Meanwhile, the state government has ordered the release of 1 kg sugar per ration card on the eve of Id-e-Milad-un-Nabi throughout the state over and above the normal quota. |
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