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Tuesday,
April 8, 2003, Chandigarh, India  
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Mufti govt unable to check corruption Norms flouted for selections: JKPCC
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2 boys die in IED blast Situation ‘not safe’ for Pandits’ return Beautification plan for Gulmarg Cellphones fail to keep date with J&K BSF detains 14 Myanmar nationals
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Mufti govt unable to check corruption Jammu, April 7 The Congress and the PDP, alliance partners in the government, had in separate poll manifestoes promised to end corruption. However, little has changed so far. Many organisations, including the Power Development Department, Jakfed, the Excise and Taxation and police, have virtually become dens of corruption. Corruption has got “institutionalised” and no government has taken steps to end the same. It is felt here that the Mufti is trying to win the hearts of the masses, but officialdom remains in the way. The Vigilance has been handling corruption cases at a snail’s pace and of the 107 corruption cases registered in the past two years, challans have been issued only in 14 cases. Over 300 cases of corruption have piled up with the Vigilance. Interestingly, no big fish has been caught. Despite repeated announcements by the Mufti and his colleagues, the government has failed to check corruption in the power department where line men and meter readers rule the roost. Against an expenditure totalling Rs 1105.30 crore by the Power Development Department, a meagre revenue of Rs 240.98 crore was collected last year. This resulted in a loss of Rs 864.32 crore to the government. Efforts of the government to install meters at all residential and commercial establishments have borne no fruit because of non-cooperation by a section of middle and lower-rung officials of the Power Development Department. It is a common complaint that FIRs are not registered at police stations. The common man alleges that either he has to wield political pressure or grease the palms of cops to get cases registered. Embezzlement and other discrepancies amounting Rs 300 crore were recently detected in Jakfed by a high-level committee. However, papers for action against the culprits are reportedly moving slowly.
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Norms flouted for selections: JKPCC Srinagar, April 7 Giving details about the appointments, Mr Tariq Mohiuddin, general secretary of the state Congress Committee, alleged that the Revenue Minister, Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen, an Independent candidate from the Khansahib constituency in Budgam district, had made illegal appointments in the rail project. This, he said, was in violation of the rules and norms set by the government and the norms and policy matter of the coalition government of the four parties — the Congress, PDP, Panthers Party and CPM — and the Independents. Mr Tariq Mohiuddin demanded a probe into the appointments “to build the image of the coalition government or, otherwise, the issue would be contested in the court of law in case in impugned orders were not quashed”. The PCC general secretary said the matter had also been brought to the notice of the Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, the PCC chief and CLP leader, Ghulam Nabi Azad. He said Mr Azad, who also heads the Coordination Committee, had assured him that the matter would be taken by the committee and representatives from all coalition parties. Mr Mohiuddin, who belongs to the constituency represented by the Revenue Minister, Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen, held that the minister had no right to be in the Cabinet and demanded the cancellation of the orders dated March 29, 2003. He also demanded that appropriate action to be taken against the government as these appointment orders were in violation of the norms and policy matter of the coalition parties. “The wrong appointments have even encouraged some officials in the rail project, besides the Additional Special Assistant of the Revenue Minister, to adjust their wards and relatives to the disadvantage of meritorious and qualified unemployed youth”, the PCC general secretary stated. He alleged that the beneficiaries were also related to some MLAs of former ruling party, National Conference, and relatives of the Special Assistant to the Revenue Minister. |
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2 boys die in IED blast Jammu, April 7 Meanwhile, six militants were killed in encounters with the security forces at three separate places during the past 12 hours. The police said three militants, who were trying to cross over to Pakistan from Poonch sector, were killed when the troops opened fire after they given a warning to halt. In another incident two militants were eliminated in a fierce gunbattle with the BSF in Mahore area of Udhampur district. One militant of the
Al-Badr was killed by the BSF in Rajouri. Large quantities of arms and ammunition were recovered from the slain militants. Srinagar: An official spokesman said three militants — Mushtaq Ahmad Bhat, Ashiq Hussain Lone and Sahbir Ahmad Thoker — were killed on Sunday when a landmine they were planting on the Shopian-Kulgam road near Kapran exploded. Militants shot at and critically wounded former ultra Tariq Ahmad Sheikh at Khawaja Bazar in the downtown city on Monday. He was taken to hospital where he succumbed to injuries. |
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Situation
‘not safe’ for Pandits’ return Jammu, April 7 Maulana Dehlvi, who had visited Nadimarg village where the militants killed 24 Pandits, told newsmen here today that it was not feasible and safe for the displaced Pandits to return to Kashmir when the security scenario continued to be disturbed in the valley. Describing the Nadimarg carnage as the most “barbaric” act he said people and the jehadis should realise that Kashmiriyat “cannot be saved in the absence of Pandits.” Supporting the dialogue initiated by the Government of India, the Maulana said, “Talks should not be held with foreign mercenaries, especially those belonging to the Lashkar-i-Toiba and Jash-e-Mohammad rebel outits.”“Parleys be held with all sections of people, including the misguided local youths, for finding a peaceful resolution of the ongoing turmoil,” he said. Maulana Dehlvi expressed concern over the way Pakistan and its agents were trying to convert Kashmir into Afghanistan by pushing into the valley large groups of foreign mercenaries. He said it was time for Delhi to take a firm stand on the matter and not stoop before the US administration. He said , “If India adopted a passive approach it may be forced to attend a meeting at Camp David for the settlement of the Kashmir imbroglio. The Muslim religious leader decried the policy of the Government of India on the US strike in Iraq. |
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Beautification
plan for Gulmarg Gulmarg, April 7 These schemes aimed at making Gulmarg a tourist destination were approved at the maiden meeting of the Gulmarg Development Authority (GDA) under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister yesterday. Apart from upgradation of infrastructure, the Chief Minister said an amusement park with a water body would be developed at Dhobi Ghat through the Jammu and Kashmir Bank. The facility would add to the attraction of Gulmarg, besides adding to the tourist intake capacity there. He underscored adequate and modern facilities for tourists and said people who came for recreation to Kashmir should not find tourist places wanting for facilities. The Chief Minister asked the GDA to have a perspective planning for the development of Gulmarg and simultaneously prioritise works that need immediate implementation. The long-term measures would take their own time, but in view of the ensuing tourist season, urgent works had to be taken up immediately. He said the inner and the other circular roads at the tourist resort should be repaired right way after the melting of snow. Mufti Sayeed said the heritage buildings at Gulmarg like St Mary’s Church and the palace would be restored to their original grandeur. The church, originally built by the British for exclusive use of its citizens, and palace constructed by the erstwhile Maharaja, were in a dilapidated condition. Both buildings were important also from the architectural point of view. The Chief Minister said as part of the tourist promotion measures, a convention centre would be set up at the tourist resort. The facility, he said, was necessary for attracting foreign tourists and groups to hold conferences here. He asked the private sector to explore the possibility of setting up such a centre with modern conference facilities. He also highlighted the importance of flawless communication facilities at such a place and solicited plans of BSNL from its General Manager, who was present at the meeting. Meanwhile, in order to promote tourism, the state government decided to seek special concessional airfare for Jammu and Srinagar, the Chief Minister told the president of the Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI), Mr Jahangir Katgara, at a dinner hosted to welcome members of the managing committee of TAAI in Srinagar last night. The TAAI is holding its first-ever managing committee meeting at Srinagar at the invitation of Mufti Sayeed. |
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Cellphones
fail to keep date with J&K Jammu, April 7 Mr Mahajan had made the promise when the Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, visited Delhi. But now finding it difficult to meet the target. The BSNL officers have started blaming the people for the delay. The Chief General Manager of the BSNL here, Mr Arun Kumar, told mediapersons here today that the mobile service had started with only five of the 10 towers and the general public would be extended the facility after all towers were installed. He added that the launching of the service was being postponed because of the non cooperation of the people of Jammu and Srinagar. Mr Arun Kumar said the five sites made operational were Kachhi Chawni, Gandhinagar, Talab Tillo, Channi Himmat and Nagrota. Problems had arisen at five other places where the property owners were demanding exorbitant rents for the installation of transmission towers. He added that a building owner had backed out after having verbally assured that he would allow the installation of the tower. Mr Arun Kumar further said the authorities had agreed to allow the installation of a relay tower on the high court building in Srinagar but later refused. Now it was being installed on the secretariat building. He said of the 6,652 villages in the state the Gramin Sanchar Sewak Service had been extended to 32 villages. Only six WLL telephones for the service had been received. He added that there was a waiting list of 46,000 for telephone connections in the state. |
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BSF detains 14 Myanmar nationals Jammu, April 7 BSF sources said here today that jawans manning the Khatmarian Border Out Post sighted some persons yesterday evening moving suspiciously near the border and after a brief chase nabbed all of them. Those apprehended include seven women, four men and three
children. UNI |
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