The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	Ruckus in House as govt says no to resolution against Pak Dinesh Manhotra Tribune News Service Jammu, March 16 Noisy scenes were witnessed in the Legislative Assembly today on the government’s refusal to adopt a resolution against the one passed by the National Assembly of Pakistan on the execution of Parliament attack convict Mohammad Afzal Guru. The opposition parties staged a walkout demanding that the Assembly should endorse the resolution passed in Parliament on Friday, which had denounced Pakistan for interfering in the internal matter of the country. While the ruling National Conference refused to adopt any such resolution, ironically its coalition partner the Congress has supported the demand of the BJP members to condemn the Pakistan National Assembly resolution. As the Assembly started its proceedings, the BJP and the Panthers Party (PP) legislators joined by the lone Jammu State Morcha (JSM) MLA calling for the introduction and passage of a counter-resolution against the one passed by Pakistan National Assembly on March 14. “By passing a resolution on Afzal Guru, Pakistan has interfered in our internal matters. We should also pass a counter resolution to denounce Pakistan,” demanded BJP MLA Jugal Kishore Sharma. He asked the Speaker to move a resolution in the House to pass it unanimously. BJP Legislature Party leader Ashok Khajuria, Panthers Party MLA Harsh Dev Singh and JSM member Ashwani Kumar also endorsed the demand. “It is high time to give befitting reply to Pakistan,” Kumar shouted amidst anti-Pakistan slogans raised by the opposition members. Rejecting the demand of the opposition members, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mir Saifullah said, “Parliament has already passed a resolution against Pakistan, the message has been sent. It is applicable to us also-there is no need for a resolution,” he said. The issue was between India and Pakistan and Jammu and Kashmir is a part of India. “We have no control over Pakistan,” he added. Outright rejection of their proposal irked the opposition members who resorted to shouting slogans against the government and Pakistan leading to pandemonium in the House. Senior Congress leader and MLA Bhaderwah Mohammad Sharief Naiz also demanded condemnation of Pakistan for passing a resolution of Afzal Guru. His party colleagues Ashok Kumar and Krishan Chander also joined Naiz. Buoyed over the support from the ruling coalition members, the opposition members resorted to shouting anti-Pakistan slogans. “If we can discuss and bring a resolution on terrorist Afzal Guru why can't we bring one against Pakistan which has started proxy war with us,” asked Ashwani Kumar. His statement evoked a strong reaction from Rural Development Minister and National Conference legislator, Ali Mohammad Sagar, who entered into verbal dual with the agitating members. Following Sagar’s interruption some opposition members stood on their benches shouting slogans against Pakistan and staged a walkout from the House. Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mir Saifullah said, “Parliament has already passed a resolution against Pakistan, the message has been sent. It is applicable to us also-there is no need for a resolution.”
	GOC 15 Corps calls on Guv Srinagar, March 16 Lt General Om Prakash, GOC 15 Corps, called on Governor NN Vohra at Raj Bhawan here on Friday. The GOC briefed the Governor about important aspects related to border management in the context of the increasing attempts being made by Pakistan to enhance infiltration across the LoC. — TNS
	Contractors, executing agencies to face action for money laundering: Minister Tribune News Service Jammu, March 16 Minister for Higher Education Mohammad Akbar Lone today said his department would take strict action against contractors and executing agencies resorting to malpractice. “We have no supervision on contractors and agencies executing various projects in the state. Contractors and executing agencies resort to malpractices like depositing the government money in their bank accounts for personal gains which not only leads to cost escalation but also delay in completion of projects. So they will be penalised for such acts,” Lone said, while replying to a discussion on demand for grants to the Higher Education Department, in the Legislative Assembly. Lone said he had requested Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to appoint two reputed retired engineers, one each for the Kashmir and Jammu regions, in the department to supervise the ongoing projects so that quality work and transparency is ensured in the system. Sending a strong message to the teaching fraternity in various government degree colleges in the state, Lone said he had directed all principals of degree colleges to ensure “punctuality” vis-à-vis attendance of lecturers and professors. “The principals have been told that they would be held responsible for absenteeism of lecturers and professors from the college unauthorisedly and disciplinary action would be initiated in case of any laxity on their part,” the minister said. Admitting deficiency of technical and engineering colleges in the state, Lone said the government welcomed private players to come forward and establish technical colleges. He also told private institutions to fulfil the required parameters of infrastructure and academic standards. In order to bring reforms in the present education set-up, he said the government would hire the services of experts who would suggest how to improve the education scenario according to the modern trends and global requirements. “The process of framing rules for the Government College for Engineering and Technology, Jammu, has been set in motion and issues regarding implementation of the 6th Pay Commission have been decided,” Lone said. The minister said the government was going to start viable and job-oriented courses in colleges across the state to help educated youth get job opportunities. Regarding opening of new degree colleges in uncovered areas, he said the government had constituted a committee and all such demands would be examined on merit and norms to fulfil the aspirations of the people. Referring to the shortage of teachers in colleges, the minister said the government had created 1,700 posts and the same would be referred to the Public Service Commission for early selection. Earlier, 16 members participated in the discussion on grants and gave their suggestions to improve the functioning of the department and upgrade of infrastructure. Later, the House passed the grants amounting to Rs 712.11 crore by voice vote.
	Arrested Pakistani militant stayed at a blind technician’s house Azhar Qadri Tribune News Service Srinagar, March 16 The Pakistani fidayeen militant, who was arrested a day after two militants carried out a deadly attack on city outskirts earlier this week, was staying at the house of a blind technician nearly a kilometer away from the attack site. Family of the technician Rehmatullah Mir, from whose house the Pakistani militant was arrested on Thursday evening, said the militant had introduced himself as a resident of Jammu and did nothing to arouse suspicion. The family members said Rehmatullah’s brother Bashir Ahmad Mir — who is in police custody — brought the militant as his “guest” to their house on Wednesday afternoon, a few hours after two fidayeen militants walked into a ground at Bemina, threw grenades and opened fire from automatic rifles on a CRPF company killing five CRPF personnel. The two militants were gunned down in the retaliatory fire. “It was between 1-2 pm on Wednesday, when Bashir came to our house with a young man. Bashir said he was his guest and asked us to let him stay for a few hours till he came back after taking his wife for a medical check-up,” Rehmatullah’s wife Ahktar Bano said as she recounted the events which ended in a dramatic raid a day later on Thursday. The two brothers had an estranged relationship following a dispute some years ago and were not on talking terms. Rehmatullah, who works at the SKIMS Hospital as an X-ray technician, lives at the end of a narrow alley in a modest single- storey house at Rampur locality of Chatabal neighbourhood, nearly a mile away from Wednesday’s fidayeen attack site in Srinagar. Bashir, a militant who surrendered, was the first person to be arrested in connection with the attack and he later led the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the state police to the Chatabal residence of his brother where he left the Pakistani militant, who has been identified by an alias Abu Talha, according to police sources. The family said the “guest” spoke only in Urdu, had a dark non-Kashmiri complexion, drank tea, ate dinner and slept most of the time. “He was a young man. He said his name was Parvez Ahmad. He also showed us his identity card which had his name and his address as Gangyal, Jammu,” Akhtar said. “When Bashir didn’t turn up till evening, we called on his mobile phone but it was switched off. I became worried because a stranger was at my house.” Next day on Thursday, Rehmatullah left for the hospital where he works and family went on with their daily routine. Abu Talha, known to the family as Parvez Ahmad, had his morning tea and lunch and went upstairs “to sleep”. The family members said the raid began at 5:30 pm on Thursday. “They (police) asked me if there was a man inside, I told them yes there was a man but we had nothing to do with him. He was brought by my brother-in-law,” she said.
	Guv reviews KU academic programmes Tribune News Service Srinagar, March 16 Talat Ahmad, Vice Chancellor, University of Kashmir, had an extensive meeting with the Governor NN Vohra, who is Chancellor of the University here today. The Governor, on a two-day visit to the Valley, had set apart time to review the academic programmes of the University, particularly in the context of the time and opportunities lost in the past due to varied circumstances. The Chancellor congratulated Prof Ahmad for ensuring adherence to the scheduled programme to conduct entrance tests for admissions to various courses. He was happy to note that 37,500 students had applied for admissions to 40 programmes being offered by the University, of which 7,400, the largest number, had applied for the M.Ed programme.
	Amarnath yatra registration starts from tomorrow Tribune News Service Jammu, March 16 The registration for the Amarnath yatra will begin from March 18 for both the Baltal and Chandanwari routes. The registration will be done through 422 designated branches of the Jammu and Kashmir Bank, State Bank of India, Punjab National Bank, YES Bank and the HDFC Bank all over the country. The 55-day yatra will commence on June 28 and culminate on August 21. Navin K Choudhary, Chief Executive Officer, Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB), said the procedures to register for the yatra had been put on the Board’s website www.shriamarnathjishrine.com. The CEO said the yatris shall have to furnish the Compulsory Health Certificate at the time of registration. Choudhary said the format of the certificate and the state-wise list of doctors and institutes authorised to issue it had also been put on the website. He said health certificates issued after March 1 would be valid. He said persons under 13 years or above 75 years and women with more than six-week pregnancy would not be registered for the yatra.
	‘Mufti’s tenure a golden period in J-K history’ Tribune News Service Jammu, March 16 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader and newly elected MLC Yashpal Sharma today claimed that the three-year tenure of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed was a golden period in the political history of the state. Sharma said that Mufti Sayeed as the Chief Minister of the state had set an example of good governance and carved out a path of equitable and balanced development. Winding up the first leg of his tour to Poonch and Rajouri districts after his election as the member of the Upper House, Sharma, in a statement issued here today, said it was a “historical” fact that Mufti Mohammad Sayeed had laid a strong foundation of development and peace in the state. He said Mufti’s roadmap was the only way to restore lasting peace and accelerate development in the state. He further said the PDP’s agenda was formulated by incorporating the wishes and aspirations of all sections of society. It was a result of the visionary agenda of the PDP that all regions were treated equally during Mufti Sayeed’s tenure, he said. Terming Mufti as the crusader of peace, Sharma said all sections of society, irrespective of caste, creed, colour, religion or region had benefited from the pro-peace and pro-development policies of the PDP-led regime. He especially mentioned about the special treatment to Poonch and Rajouri border districts during the PDP regime. Sharma said the state was passing through a crucial time and only a visionary and an experienced leader like Mufti Sayeed had the ability to take the state out of morass and uncertainty.
	BSF holds blood donation camp Poonch, March 16 A blood donation camp was organised by 34 Battalion of the Border Security Force (BSF) in collaboration with the Health Department at its headquarters here today. The camp was inaugurated by Commandant Bhalendu Trivedi. He laid emphasis on the importance of blood donation and said it was the best way to serve mankind. He complimented all organisers who contributed to make the camp a success. Two officers and 18 other ranks of the BSF donated blood which was deposited at District Hospital, Poonch. — OC
	Registration for Amarnath yatra from tomorrow Tribune News Service Jammu, March 16 The registration for the Amarnath yatra will begin from March 18 for both the Baltal and Chandanwari routes. The registration will be done through 422 designated branches of the Jammu and Kashmir Bank, State Bank of India, Punjab National Bank, YES Bank and the HDFC Bank all over the country. The 55-day yatra will commence on June 28 and culminate on August 21. Navin K Choudhary, Chief Executive Officer, Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB), said the procedures to register for the yatra had been put on the Board’s website www.shriamarnathjishrine.com. The CEO said the yatris shall have to furnish the Compulsory Health Certificate at the time of registration. Choudhary said the format of the certificate and the state-wise list of doctors and institutes authorised to issue it had also been put on the website. He said health certificates issued after March 1 would be valid. He said persons under 13 years or above 75 years and women with more than six-week pregnancy would not be registered for the yatra. The CEO said the yatra permits would be different for each day of the week and route to facilitate police personnel deployed at the access control gates at Baltal and Chandanwari in determining whether a yatri possesses the permit valid for the relevant date and route.