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To avoid embarrassment, BJP may boycott LC poll
BJP Legislature Party has 2 leaders
NC, Congress yet to finalise its candidates
Pak soldier’s killing a result of Army’s increased vigil
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J&K to have new drug policy from April
Hanging sent out wrong signal: PDP
Minister tells doctors to work with dedication, zeal
New Vaishno Devi varsity V-C meets Guv
Two held with cannabis
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To avoid embarrassment, BJP may boycott LC poll
Jammu, February 16 The “loyalist” MLAs, who are the official BJP legislators, have conveyed their point to the high command and the decision to boycott the Legislative Council elections would be announced soon. Sources said the BJP has decided to boycott the elections to expose the claims of the seven rebels who have maintained that they were still members of the party despite their expulsion after the 2011 cross-voting episode. “The party loyalists are of the view that the rebel MLAs would never vote for any candidate fielded by the party. So it is better to abstain from the Legislative Council elections to avoid further embarrassment,” a source said. It is important to mention that the BJP had faced its worst-ever embarrassment when seven of its 11 legislators cross-voted in favour of National Conference and Congress candidates in the Legislative Council elections held on April 13, 2011. Following the episode, the BJP had expelled seven legislators, including veteran leader Chaman Lal Gupta, from the party’s primary membership. “The party has decided to boycott the elections to force the rebels not to field any candidate or to support candidates of coalition,” sources said, adding that BJP national general secretary JP Nadda would visit Jammu on February 17 to discuss the prevailing situation. Even as the BJP mulls boycotting the elections, the opposition PDP is relieved as it now has the required 22 votes required to win one seat from Jammu province. As per the total strength of 89 members, the PDP has 21 members and is likely to get the support of three members of the Panthers Party. The total 89 votes would be divided among four candidates -- three of the coalition and one of the PDP. So, the PDP would easily sail through.
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BJP Legislature Party has 2 leaders
Jammu, February 16 While the group of four loyalist MLAs headed by Jugal Kishore Sharma is considering boycotting the LC elections, the dissidents headed by veteran leader Chaman Lal Gupta have decided to hold discussions with other opposition parties to support a ‘neutral’ candidate on a seat from the quota of Jammu region. Gupta, who was expelled from the party on May 31 after the cross-voting episode of 2011, is still the Leader of Legislature Party as per the record of the Assembly. The BJP, on the other hand, after expelling Gupta from the party had appointed Sharma as the Legislature Party leader. “Whatever decision Chaman Lal Gupta will take as the Legislature Party leader regarding support to any candidate in the LC elections, all BJP MLAs, including four loyalists, have to follow that decision,” said Jagdish Raj Sapolia, one of the seven dissident MLAs. “Out of the total 11 MLAs, we have a majority of seven members so all legislators of the party have to follow the majority decision,” he said. Sharma, on the other hand, said after the party had expelled Gupta from the primary membership of the party, there was no reason to treat him (Gupta) as the Leader of the Legislature Party. “As far as the LC elections are concerned, we will take decision at an appropriate time,” he said and ruled out accepting decision of the dissidents. Three “loyalist” MLAs of the BJP, namely Ashok Khajuria, Choudhary Sukhnandan and Choudhary Sham Lal, are treating Jugal Kishore as their leader in the Assembly while six MLAs, namely Jagish Raj Sapolia, Master Lal Chand, Durga Dass, Bharat Bhushan, Garu Ram and Baldev Sharma, have repeatedly reposed faith in the leadership of Chaman Lal Gupta. |
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NC, Congress yet to finalise its candidates
Jammu, February 16 As per strength in the Assembly, the coalition is in a position to comfortable win at least six seats, but the coalition partners have failed to arrive at a consensus on seat-sharing. Sources said it was all due to the failure of the Congress leadership to finalise candidates from its own quota that the coalition had not decided on seat-sharing. “Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chief Saif ud Din Soz has made it a prestige issue to get mandate for his loyalists, Muzaffar Parray and Mahila Congress leader Shamima Raina, from the Kashmir Valley quota,” sources said, adding that it was due to Soz’s attitude that no decision had been taken on the Congress candidates. Sources said Soz was even ready to exchange the Doda seat with coalition partner National Conference just to accommodate his loyalists. “Soz has forwarded a formula suggesting that the Doda seat be given to National Conference. In exchange, the Congress would get four winnable seats — two each from Jammu and Kashmir province,” sources said. “By bartering Doda seat with National Conference, Soz wants to accommodate his loyalists in the Kashmir Valley as well as settle scores with Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad.” Sources said it was all due to the “adamant stand” taken by Saif ud Din Soz that there has been a delay in finalising names of candidates from the Congress quota. According to the notification issued by the Election Commission, the election is to be held for four seats each from Kashmir and Jammu province, including one seat from Doda district, on March 7. The last date for filling the nomination papers would be February 18 from 11 am to 3 pm, while nomination papers would be taken up for scrutiny at 11 am on February 19. Notice of withdrawal of candidature may be delivered by a candidate, his authorised agent or election agent to either the returning officer or the assistant returning officer on February 21.
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Pak soldier’s killing a result of Army’s increased vigil
Jammu, February 16 The Indian Army had on February 14 shot dead an “unidentified militant” in Nowshera sub-sector, who later turned out to be Pakistan Army soldier Mohammed Iklaqh of 60 Punjab Regiment. Pakistani troops, after entering 500 metre into Indian territory on January 8, had brutally killed Lance Naiks Hemraj Singh and Sudhakar Singh of 13 Rajputana Rifles in Balnoi area of Poonch district. “The Pakistan Army that has raised Border Action Teams (BATs) -- an amalgam of commandos of Special Services Group (SSG) and terrorists, has not deviated from its strategy of indulging in sniper fire, anti-personnel mines and other tactics along the
borderline, said a top Army officer, who declined to be identified. “They may be lying low for now, but have certainly not changed their strategy. And, they do it in a manner that is deniable. On the other hand the Indian Army has always been very vigilant along the LoC,” he said. The officer said sniper fire, mines and raids by the enemy were not new. Last August, The Tribune had reported about SSG commandos indulging in sniper fire along the LoC besides regularly reporting about mines planted by terrorists with the help of Pak troops in Indian territory. Eventually, GOC-in-C, Northern Command, Lt Gen KT Parnaik, on January 15 this year, admitted that they were actually mines planted by the Pak Army. “Though issuing advisories and instructions is a routine practice and there is no major change in our strategy to counter the enemy, we are more alert and strict on the LoC following January 8 incident,” said the officer. He said that mines, sniper fire and raids were an indispensable part of a soldier’s training. Another Army officer said that the February 14 killing of a Pak Army regular in Nowshera sub-sector was a result of effective patrolling and not a retaliatory action of the Indian Army to avenge the killing of its two soldiers. After the brutal killings of two Indian soldiers on January 8, strict instructions were issued to troops on the border to initiate all “effective” measures
within our boundary, he said. At the same time, it had been reiterated by the Army top brass that Indian troops will not cross the LoC, even in case of severest provocation, he added. |
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J&K to have new drug policy from April
Jammu, February 16 He said the policy had been approved by the state Cabinet and passed by the Assembly in its last session, said the Minister while reviewing the functioning of the Drug and Food Control Organisation here on Saturday. The minister said the single most vital component of healthcare was drugs and were a substantial part of a family’s household expenditure. He said the market for drugs has growing rapidly in terms of production, trade, investment, employment and consumption and highly-priced branded drugs wasted lot of patient’s money. He said under the purview of the new drug policy, the capacity of the Health and Medical Education Department to procure good quality drugs and ensure timely supply also has scope for improvement. He instructed the concerned that after a detailed drug policy, law enforcement agencies should have to start the process to identify pharma companies and illegal drug stores violating norms and using the state as a dumping ground for products. The government would also set up an intelligence-cum-legal cell in the Drug and Food Control Organisation to facilitate contravention of fake drug rackets and prompt prosecution of the accused. The minister said monitoring and valuation is an essential component of the state drug policy, with a provision that checking should take place at regular intervals and complete external evaluation of the drugs supplied will be conducted every two years. |
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Siege lifted from Afzal’s village
Srinagar, February 16 Jageer village and its adjoining areas, 6 km from Sopore town in north Kashmir, were put under curfew in the early hours of February 9. All three entry points leading to the village were sealed and civilian movement to the village was restricted. “Curfew restrictions in the village have been lifted and people are being allowed to enter Jageer village”, Sopore Sub-Divisional Magistrate Mohammad Hanief Balkhi said, adding that there were no restrictions on civilian movement in the area. Authorities had feared that a large number of mourners would gather at the village following the execution, which would have posed a serious law and order threat. Villagers said security forces were deployed at all entry points to the village and were frisking visitors. “The restrictions have been eased after eight days of curfew, but they (forces) are scrutinising anyone entering the village and checking their identity cards,” said Haji Farooq Ahmad Guru of Jageer village. The family says it is still awaiting the government’s response to their plea for the return of Afzal’s body from New Delhi’s Tihar Jail where he was buried after his hanging. “So for, we have not received any information from the government on our application for the return of Afzal’s body from Tihar,” said Yaseen Guru, Afzal’s cousin. Meanwhile, Raja Muzaffar Bhat, who had joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) five months ago, has quit politics to protest Afzal Guru’s hanging. “Like other Kashmiris, Afzal’s hanging has shocked me. I don’t think as mainstream politicians we can face the common people now. So I decided to quit,” said Bhat. Bhat, who was the convener of the Jammu and Kashmir Right to Information Movement, had joined the PDP on August 31 last year and submitted his resignations to PDP president Mehbooba Mufti immediately after Afzal’s
execution.
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Hanging sent out wrong signal: PDP
Jammu, February 16 The situation arising out of Afzal’s hanging and the manner of his execution was discussed yesterday at a meeting of the party’s Political Affairs Committee which was presided over by Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. According to a handout issued by the party yesterday, the meeting seconded Mufti’s call for the return of Afzal’s body to his family, which it said, was the minimum which could be done to assuage the hurt feeling of the family and of the people to some extent. It was also noted that the denial of an opportunity to Afzal’s family to meet him one last time had negated the rights provided to every citizen and violated the basic norms of decency.
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Governor for ramps in toilets at school for visually impaired girls
Jammu, February 16 The Governor referred to the memorandum of demands presented to him by a delegation of the functionaries of the National Federation of the Blind, J&K Chapter, last year and observed that he had taken up their problems with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Minister for Social Welfare Sakina Itoo. He said several issues raised by the federation had been addressed and hoped the remaining ones would also be resolved. Referring to various demands projected in the memorandum presented by the federation to him at today’s function, he said the matter regarding provision for appearing of the sightless persons in the Combined Competitive Services Examination in the state would be taken up at an appropriate level. He also announced support of Rs 5 lakh to the National Federation of the Blind, J&K Chapter, from the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, for infrastructure development of the school for sightless girls. The Governor inaugurated the new complex and went around the building. He suggested for construction of a ramp in the toilets for the convenience of the sightless girls. BJP MLA from the Raipur Domana Assembly constituency Bharat Bhushan said with the inauguration of the building complex, a long-felt need of the institution had been fulfilled. He announced Rs 3 lakh from his Constituency Development Fund for the purchase of a vehicle for the students of the school. |
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Minister tells doctors to work with dedication, zeal
Jammu, February 16 The inauguration of the ICU would decongest the emergency block of the GMCH. The ICU is equipped with all life saving equipment and a highest degree of sanitation has been maintained. The unit is fitted with five ventilators and seven more would be installed soon. On his maiden visit to the hospital, the minister had expressed unhappiness over the congested nature of the emergency block and the poorly-administered ICU. He had directed the officials concerned for constructing a separate ICU at the emergency block, fitted with life saving equipment. Taj also visited the upcoming Super Speciality Hospital. He inaugurated two critical care ambulances, fitted with life saving apparatus, which would be used for ferrying critically-ill patients from the GMCH to Super Speciality Hospital. During his visit to the hospital, Taj went round various blocks and inspected the pace of work. He impressed upon the administrators to get the work done quickly so that the hospital is thrown open soon. He held a detailed meeting with the heads of departments and faculty members and took a detailed briefing of the readiness of their departments. Issues such as staffing, security, sanitation, machinery and parking were taken up during the discussion. Addressing the meeting, Taj impressed upon doctors to work with dedication and zeal to help people get benefits of the new hospital. He said service to people should be the mutual cause of the government and the doctors. Principal of the GMCH Dr Aniece Choudhary, medical superintendents of Super Speciality Hospital, GMCH and SMGS and heads of departments accompanied
Taj. |
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New Vaishno Devi varsity V-C meets Guv
Jammu, February 16 Professor Jain informed the Governor of his commitment to make use of all available resources to take the university forward to achieve its goals. Principal Secretary to Governor Navin K Choudhary, who has been officiating as the V-C of the SMVDU since the exit of former V-C Prof RNK Bamezai about three weeks ago, also participated in the discussions.
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The Zargar family in Anantnag has a reason to rejoice
Anantnag, February 16 Parvez Rasool, second among the three sons of Ghulam Rasool Zargar, a budding cricketer from the Valley, earlier this week bagged the Indian Premier League (IPL) contract. He became the first cricketer from Jammu and Kashmir to have achieved the feat. Rasool got signed by IPL franchise Pune Warriors for a one-year contract for the sixth season of the tournament to be played in April. “It sure is a dream come true for him,” said Zargar, Parvez Rasool’s father. “He has worked really hard to be where he is right now,” he said. Zargar says he himself was an ardent cricketer in his youth and that led him to support his all three sons to follow their passion, despite his humble background. “Parvez has made not only me, but also the whole Valley proud,” said Omar, Rasool’s younger brother, a Class XII student and a cricketer. “I hope my brother will be an inspiration for the younger generation of the Valley, including me.” The eldest of the three brothers, Asif Rasool, also represents the state in the Ranji Trophy. “Kashmir has got immense cricketing talent and I am sure that this is just the beginning of an era,” said Asif. “I am happy for my brother. He deserves a place in the national side,” he said. Rasool shot to fame in November 2009 when he was detained by the police in Bangalore in the backdrop of an attack at the Chinnaswamy stadium, where the J&K team was staying. He was arrested for allegedly carrying explosives in his bag. However, he was released soon after the forensic reports cleared him. “I will like to forget the incident,” said Rasool in a telephonic interview from Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh. “Good or bad times don’t last forever,” says Rasool. He caught the selectors’ attention after a brilliant Ranji Trophy season in 2012, wherein he scored 594 runs, including two centuries, for the Jammu and Kashmir side. He also took 33 wickets. |
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Two held with cannabis
Jammu, February 16 Ajay Singh and Rawan Singh were nabbed on Friday on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway at Meehar in the district following a tip-off. During checking, 600 grams of cannabis was found from their possession. A case has been registered. — PTI
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