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Relief to quake victims: banks to clear cheques by December 30
Beig moves anti-defection Bill in Assembly |
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NC to give conditional support to Azad govt on anti-defection Bill
Car bomb blast in valley, no damage reported
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Relief to quake victims: banks to clear cheques by December 30 Jammu, December 28 He said that the government had sought an additional grant of Rs 1342 crore from the Centre to meet expenditure towards compensation to the victims of the earthquake of October 8 and restore infrastructure damaged by the quake. Mr Azad was replying to the six-day debate on the earthquake during a special session of the Assembly convened here to discuss the situation arising after the calamity. He said that cheques for Rs 209.19 crore had already been honoured by banks and the balance cheques for Rs 26.51 crore would be paid to by December 30. He denied reports that banks had dishonoured cheques given to victims. He said that the government so far had received grant of Rs 300 crore from the Centre and the amount had been spent towards compensation and restoration of infrastructure. The chief minister said the first instalment of compensation has been paid in almost all affected areas. He announced a fresh survey of the damages caused by the earthquake would be done in the state. He warned that irregularities in rehabilitation and relief to the victims would not be tolerated and any government functionary indulging in corrupt practices would not escape stringent action. Mr Azad announced that the government would establish a disaster management authority to take steps to prevent loss of life and property in case of such calamities. He said Rs 5 lakh provided by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for each of the child orphaned by the quake, would be put in fixed deposit so that the child had substantial amount by the time he comes out of the school or college. Earlier, participating in the discussion, Dr Mehboob Beg (NC) brought to light cases of corruption by officials concerned in relief and rehabilitation of the victims. He said that a particular person had claimed compensation for 20 houses in a small village like Tangdhar, which was the worst-hit by the quake. Dr Beg said the figures pertaining to the damages were contradictory and in certain places the relief work had been politicised. He appreciated Mr Azad for not taking political mileage from the opening of five points on the Line of Control (LoC) between India and Pakistan for exchanging relief material. On the other hand previous Chief Minister Mufti Sayeed all the time tried to publicise the reopening of the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road and take credit for it. |
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Beig moves anti-defection Bill in Assembly Jammu, December 28 The Bill also seeks to restrict the strength of ministers to 20 per cent of the total strength of the state legislature, which consists of two Houses. He also moved another Bill seeking to arm the vigilance organisation with the power to attach movable and immovable properties of government officials involved in corruption. Mr Beig said the Bill to amend Sections 36 and 38 of the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir had been brought as the state government was committed to discouraging the menace of defection. The amendment provides that a member who is disqualified shall also be disqualified for being a minister or holding a remunerative political post for the remaining part of his membership. The Bill also proposes to apply the law of defection even in case of a split. It may be mentioned that Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad had earlier put the Bill on hold as the strength of the ruling coalition, including the Congress and the PDP, was less than two thirds of what was required for a constitutional amendment. Chief patron of the NC Farooq Abdullah came here yesterday and convened a meeting of the legislature party of the NC to discuss the issue. Thereafter, the path for introducing the Bill was cleared when Leader of the Opposition Abdul Rahim Rather reportedly called on Mr Azad and apprised him of the decision of the NC to support the Bill only if the clause regarding
downsizing of the ministry was incorporated in the draft Bill. Mr Beig moved another Bill seeking to provide for further strengthening the law pertaining to prevention of corruption. The Bill seeks to empower an investigating officer of not below the rank of Superintendent of Police to seize and attach movable and immovable properties of government officials accused of indulging in corrupt practices. However, the attachment would be ordered with the prior approval of the Commissioner of vigilance. The designated authority shall have the power to confirm or revoke the order of seizure or attachment after providing an opportunity to the investigating agency as well as the affected person. |
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NC to give conditional support to Azad govt on anti-defection Bill Jammu, December 28 The decision was taken at a hurriedly convened meeting of the Legislature Party of the NC that was presided by the party’s patron, Dr Farooq Abdullah, in the absence of the party chief, Mr Omar Abdullah, who has gone abroad. Sources said that soon after the meeting, the leader of the opposition, Mr Abdul Rahim Rather, who was authorised by the NC to discuss the issue with Mr Azad, called on the Chief Minister and apprised him of the decision that the party would support the Bill in case the other Bill for the downsizing of the ministry was also moved simultaneously. Mr Azad, who was keen to introduce the anti-defection Bill, had so far put it on hold as the coalition does not have the requisite two thirds strength in the house of 87. The Bill could be passed only with the support of the NC. The Chief Minister shall have to take the independents and other smaller parties in the coalition into confidence. There were indications that in case everything went smoothly, the Bill might be introduced in the house tomorrow before the Assembly is adjourned. Further debate could be held during the Budget session. |
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JeM commander among 3 militants killed in J&K Srinagar, December 28 He said with the assistance of the Delhi police and the Army intelligence agencies, troops cordoned off Khrew village yesterday. As the troops were sealing the area, militants opened fire and hurled grenades. He said reinforcement was rushed to the area from nearby camps and militants were asked to surrender. Troops retaliated and in the fierce eight-hour-long gunbattle, three militants were killed. The slain militants were identified as Deputy Divisional Commander Qari Sohail, Afaq and Danesh. He said the group was involved in a number of militancy-related incidents in South Kashmir. Two AK 56 rifles, one AK 47 rifle, six magazines, 76 rounds of ammunition and three grenades were seized. The spokesman said it was a major success for the security forces engaged in counter-insurgency operations in South Kashmir. A spokesman of the JeM told local mediapersons that they lost three militants, including an area commander who was active for the past five years. He said 10 security personnel were also killed or wounded in the encounter. An official spokesman said militants kidnapped a BSF constable Mohammad Iqbal Pal, at Anantnag. A hunt had been launched to rescue him, he said. The security forces and the Jammu and Kashmir Police seized one improvised explosive device fitted in a pressure cooker, three gelatin sticks and two detonators at Chinyat last night. — UNI
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Car bomb blast in valley, no damage reported
Srinagar, December 28 They said militants triggered an improvised explosive device (IED) fitted in a car at Warnuhall village, near Bijbehara, on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway in south Kashmir Anantnag district at around 5.30 p.m. Sources said the blast took place without causing any damage. Traffic on the highway was suspended for some time, they added.
— UNI |
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