J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Robert Blackwill visits LoC
Jammu, December 3
Mr Robert Blackwill, US, Ambassador, today visited the international border and the Line of Control (LoC) between India and Pakistan to witness the ground realities. Mr Blackwill is on a three-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir to personally see the post-election scenario in the state. He met the Army authorities and discussed various issues pertaining to infiltration from across the borders.

US Ambassador Robert Blackwill addresses a Press conference at Raj Bhavan in Jammu on Tuesday. On the left is Governor Garish Chander Saxena. — Photo Sarbjeet Singh

NEWS ANALYSIS
Public expects action on corruption front
Jammu, December 3
People expect a lot from the PDP-led government of Mufti Mohammed Sayeed especially on the corruption front which flourished in Jammu and Kashmir in the past 20 years under the National Conference regime.

Separatist leader Shabir Shah visited the famous Raghunath Temple in Jammu on Tuesday. The temple was attacked by terrorists on November 24. — PTI

Three of family killed in clash
Jammu, December 3
Three persons — a retired BSF officer, his wife and daughter — were killed and his two sons were injured when two groups clashed over a piece of land here today, a police spokesman said.

Robert Blackwill visits LoC
Tribune News Service And PTI

Jammu, December 3
Mr Robert Blackwill, US, Ambassador, today visited the international border and the Line of Control (LoC) between India and Pakistan to witness the ground realities.

Mr Blackwill is on a three-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir to personally see the post-election scenario in the state. He met the Army authorities and discussed various issues pertaining to infiltration from across the borders.

Mr Blackwill met the Governor, Mr G.C. Saxena, and discussed the political scenario with him.

During his visit to Kashmir, he met leaders of various political parties and other organisations.

The team also visited Uri and other sectors accompanied by the Corps Commander of 15th Corp, Lt-Gen V.G. Patankar, where it was apprised of the situation at the border.

Mr Blackwill’s visit to the LoC areas was the first by any foreign dignitary since the eruption of militancy about a decade ago.

Earlier, on his arrival in Srinagar yesterday, the US diplomat visited the Army headquarters where Lieut General Patankar briefed him about the situation in the valley, the continued support of Pakistan to militancy in the state and the people’s desire for peace.

NEWS ANALYSIS
Public expects action on corruption front
S.P. Sharma
Tribune News Service

Jammu, December 3
People expect a lot from the PDP-led government of Mufti Mohammed Sayeed especially on the corruption front which flourished in Jammu and Kashmir in the past 20 years under the National Conference regime.

Although all coalition partners of the Mufti government, including his own PDP, the Congress, the Panthers Party, the CPM and Independents in their respective election manifesto’s had put elimination of corruption on the top of the agenda, but nothing substantial has been done even as the new government has completed a month in the office yesterday. The common minimum programme of the coalition has also pledged to fight corruption with an iron hand.

However, certain top officers who face allegations of having exploited their official positions during the regime of Dr Farooq Abdullah are still family entrenched. While the general impression was that the Mufti will reshuffle the administration after Id this month, but a section of people has started suspecting that some of the corrupt elements have close relations with the bigwigs in the coalition government too.

Initially, it was expected that many heads will roll as soon as the new government comes in because those who abused power in the previous regime are the identified ones.

Various committees and even the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India have in the past pointed out serious instances of misuse of power but these reports were pushed under the carpet by certain bureaucrats who exercised more powers than the senior ministers of the Cabinet as they were close to the then Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah.

The defiant behaviour of one of these officers recently came to light on the floor of the Assembly when the Finance Minister, Mr Muzaffar Beig, pointed out that the officer scuttled the orders of the Cabinet for the appointment of a commission to check corruption.

The Secretary General, Administration Department, and the Vigilance Commissioner also had the courage to write notes on the file against the Cabinet decision. However, the ministers had to bow before the wishes of these bureaucrats because Dr Abdullah sided with their opinion.

The Mufti shall have to keep an eye on his personal staff because the Chief Minister’s Secretariat has always remained controversial on the misuse of authority in the past. Things will move in the desired direction only if the Mufti keeps his own house in order.

Central funds for fighting terrorism were allegedly diverted for furnishing houses of some influential person the CAG and other committees had pointed out misuse of crores of rupees meant for restoration of Dal Lake in Kashmir. The alleged misuse of authority by a top functionary of Jammu and Kashmir Bank and allegations of corruption in appointments to government jobs were made during the previous regime, but no action was taken. People are keenly watching as to how the Mufti government reacts to these issues.

A legislator of the ruling PDP had pointed out in the recent session of the Assembly that many irregularities had taken place in the Rs 4000 crore Bagliar power project. He alleged that the contract for a portion of work was awarded at Rs 450 crore over and above the estimated cost and there was an irregularity of Rs 150 crore in the civil works.

Serious allegations of corruption had also been made from time to time against the PWD, the Irrigation and the Health Departments.

Govt to appoint 3,350 teachers
Tribune News Service

Jammu, December 3
With an endeavour to streamline the functioning of the Education Department, the government will soon appoint 3,350 teachers under the Sarva Shikskya Abhiyan (SSA) and the Education Guarantee Scheme (EGS). This decision was taken at a meeting held here today under the chairmanship of the Minister for School Education, Mr Harshdev Singh.

Addressing the officials present, the minister said to provide standard education, basic infrastructure was required to be built up for the emergence of disciplined society. He further said the government was committed to the pursuance of a pragmatic education policy so that in the growingly competitive world, students could face the challenges with confidence and make their presence felt with quality education.

He enjoined upon the officials to direct all education officers to process the appointment under the SSA and the EGS on the pattern of the Rehbre-Taleem scheme, which existed before December 31.

It was decided that all schools in the state would have computer laboratories and to begin with, 50 per cent schools would be equipped with computer laboratories and other related infrastructure by the next academic year.

Three of family killed in clash

Jammu, December 3
Three persons — a retired BSF officer, his wife and daughter — were killed and his two sons were injured when two groups clashed over a piece of land here today, a police spokesman said.

The rival groups, comprising members of the same community, clashed at Ajeet Nagar this afternoon with lathis and sharp- edged weapons in which retired Deputy Superintendent of BSF Pritam Singh, his wife Satwinder Kaur and daughter Gurwinder Kaur died on the spot, he said. His two sons Virinderjeet Singh and Surinderjeet Singh were injured and admitted to a hospital.

DIG Jammu-Kathua and SSP Jammu visited the spot where a large number of people had assembled but no arrests have been made so far. PTI