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NC-Cong coalition better off than others: Omar
Drugs scam: Tussle between two Cong ministers deepens
Rs 100-cr exercise fails to deliver ‘governance’
in winter capital
House panel seeks Chief Secy’s help to probe JAKFED scam
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Govt, official respondents fail to file reports to human rights panel
Pampore residents oppose Army occupation of PHE land
NIA records statements of Hizb militant’s two wives
Two Hizb overground workers arrested
Durbar Move Governor prorogues LC
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NC-Cong coalition better off than others: Omar Jammu, April 25
Omar was replying to a range of questions, including the empowerment of panchayats and the situation arising out of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru’s execution, in an exclusive discussion with The Tribune Editors. Omar said: “If you look at other coalitions, I think ours is a lot smoother. Whether it’s the coalition in the Central Government or the Opposition, there is a lot more head-banging there. The NDA is not even in power but they cannot agree with each other. God knows what will happen to them if they come to power. As compared to that, I think, we are better off.” Exuding cautious optimism about the tourist season in Kashmir, the Chief Minister said “it’s picking up”, adding “Obviously, we took a bit of a hit because of the execution and the attack in Bemina; but things are now picking up.” Expressing his deep concern over the impact of Guru’s hanging, Omar said: “Let’s not underestimate the impact it’s had on people’s psyche. With every passing day their suspicions are being proven correct in the way you handle his execution as opposed to others. How is it that the execution of people involved in heinous terrorist attacks, including the Veerappan gang and Bhullar, is on hold today?” While counting his government’s achievements over the past four years, he put the holding of panchayat elections on top. “Definitely being able to hold panchayat elections in the first phase, and then making it functional, we can take some satisfaction from that. And from some of the measures put in place to improve the quality of governance such as the Public Services Guarantee Act and the Result Framework Document, which we brought into the secretariat to improve the delivery of government services, that is an important achievement apart from the creation of important institutions like the Vigilance Commission and the Accountability Commission.” On the killing of some sarpanches and the larger threat to elected representatives, Omar while acknowledging it as a matter of concern spelled out a two-pronged strategy. “I cannot, it is a fact, provide individual protection to each one because there are tens of thousands of elected representatives. So, we are following a two-fold approach: one, those who face higher-than-usual threat perception will get protection; second and more importantly, area domination is the only way we can protect all of them.” On the relevance of separatist conglomerate Hurriyat Conference, Omar remains clear that all depends on how the government handles the situation. “Their ability to attract attention largely depends on how well we perform and how badly we handle a situation. If we make a mistake, they gain traction. If we keep things on an even keel and everything goes all right, their ability to gain traction reduces. I will not say that they are marginalised. They will always be a section of the society they represent.” (To read full text of the interview, click here)
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Drugs scam: Tussle between two Cong ministers deepens
Jammu, April 25 The issue of spurious drugs has already snowballed into a big controversy and separatists are trying to exploit this issue. Taj and Sham Lal have locked horns over the supply of spurious drugs and the multi-crore drinking water project scam in the PHE Department. While Sham Lal has launched a veiled attack on Taj for the scam in the PHE Department, the latter has directly shifted blame on the former for circulation of spurious drugs in the state. Sources close to Sham Lal told The Tribune that the PHE Minister had prepared a detailed report to reveal how Taj had roped in some anti-national forces to rake up the spurious drugs issue to create a regional divide between the Jammu region and the Kashmir Valley to settle a personal score with his party colleague. “Instead of conducting a proper inquiry into the supply of spurious
drugs, Taj has been instigating anti-national forces to rake up sentiments
of people in the Valley on the issue,” a source said, adding that some senior Congress leaders
have already informed the high command about Taj’s “dangerous game plan”. To substantiate his allegations against the Minister for Health, Sham Lal has also prepared a report regarding the campaign launched by Taj against National Hydroelectric Power Corporation. Sham Lal’s supporters are also trying to target Taj, who earlier held the PHE, Irrigation and Flood
Control ministry, for issuing a statement equating the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation with East India Company and alleging that the company owned by the
Union Government was looting the natural resources of the state. The campaign against spurious drugs has already created a regional divide. Although spurious drugs were supplied in the whole state, some elements have coined the slogan, “genocide of Kashmiris through fake drugs”, to exploit the sentiments of the people. Jammu-based parties smell a deep-rooted conspiracy in the involvement of separatist leader Sayeed Ali Shah Galeeni and other “radical” forces in the campaign against spurious drugs. These parties alleged that the campaign was launched only to spoil the atmosphere in the Valley. Meanwhile, reports say Taj is going to Delhi on April 28 and 29 to urge the party high command to take action against
Sham Lal. Taj will also put forth his viewpoint before the high command on the controversy. flurry of charges
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Rs 100-cr exercise fails to deliver ‘governance’
in winter capital
Jammu, April 25 The 141-year-old exercise costs a staggering amount of Rs 100 crore to the cash-strapped state every year. “There was no governance in sight for a common man. The entire Budge Session from February 28 to April 6 was dedicated by the Kashmir-centric parties like the National Conference and the PDP to Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru and Hizbul militant Liyaqat Ali Shah. No serious business concerning the people was taken up,” said Abhinav Gupta, a law student. Shruti Mahajan, a banker, said there was a total mismatch between promises and performance of the present dispensation during its stay here from November last year to April 25 this year. While the administrative machinery, including the law and order, was not up to the mark, centrally sponsored schemes like PMGSY, MNREGA, NRHM, SSA, RAMSA and PYKKA were poorly implemented. In fact, almost every other central scheme was marred by scams, she said. A political pundit said except scams and monkey fight, the government did nothing tangible on the ground during its six months stay in Jammu. “The National Conference and Congress remained busy in intra and inter-coalition fights while issues concerning people took a back seat. Rather, they were never given any serious thought. This government didn’t even provide basic amenities like road, water and electricity to the people in 10 districts of Jammu region,” he said. Ghulam Mohammed, a businessman, drew the attention towards dilapidated roads, lanes and drains, hopeless traffic lights and lethargy of the government in dedicating fourth bridge over the Tawi river in the capital city besides not coming out of its comfort zone to start work on the much needed arterial expressway at Bikram Chowk. “Leave aside big issues, almost a year ago the Economic Reconstruction Agency had ‘ploughed’ roads and lanes in the city to lay sewer pipes. These roads and lanes have not been carpeted till date. Despite a promise to start work on arterial expressway at Bikram Chowk in March this year, no progress has been made,” he said. If this was the state of affairs in the winter capital where the Civil Secretariat remains in power every six months, then one could imagine the situation in nine other districts of Jammu region, he said. Pramod Kumar, a banker, said, “This government has already got into election mode. See ministers, legislators and office-bearers of the National Conference and Congress have already embarked upon election rallies. They are least bothered about issues and problems of the people.” |
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House panel seeks Chief Secy’s help to probe JAKFED scam
Jammu, April 25 The House Committee was constituted by Chairman of the Legislative Council Amrit Malhotra on April 5 when members cutting across party lines had expressed their concern that the government had not yet received a single penny from the siphoned off money. The one-man inquiry panel headed by KB Pillai, the then Principal Secretary, Power Development Department, had submitted its report in 2000 and named 50 officials in the multi-crore scam. Even after 13 years, the government has failed to recover the siphoned off money from persons involved in the scam. The House Committee was constituted to re-enquire the scam to take action against bureaucrats and influential persons involved in it. The first meeting of the House Committee was held on April 22 in which members directed the officials concerned to produce all relevant records in the second meeting which was held today. The officials failed to produce the relevant records today. The casual approach of the officials has irked the committee members. “The committee reviewed the reports submitted by the department concerned and took serious note of the non-compliance of the directions of the committee with regard to furnishing of details of the records regarding the functioning of JAKFED, the FIR report and action-taken report thereafter and completed volumes of the Pillai Committee report,” an official handout said. The members disapproved the callous approach of the officials concerned for not submitting the reports before the committee on time. It issued further directions to provide the records and information within the notified time. The committee also directed the Administrative Secretary, Cooperatives, to ensure compliance of the directions of the committee and furnish the requisite information and records on or before May 10. |
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Govt, official respondents fail to file reports to human rights panel
Srinagar, April 25 The SHRC, however, has observed that the authorities concerned will have to appear in person if they fail to submit the reports by May 22. The Commission is hearing a complaint by a civil society group, Jammu and Kashmir People’s Forum, filed in the wake of the spurious drugs scam. While taking cognisance of the complaint, the SHRC had on April 10 issued notices to the state government through the Commissioner Secretary, Health and Medical; Director, Health Kashmir/Jammu; Controller, Drug and Food Organisation, J&K; and Medical Superintendent, GB Pant Hospital, Srinagar, and asked them to file their respective detailed factual reports into the matter by or before April 25. However, as the matter came up before the Commission today, it was revealed that none of the authorities arrayed as respondents in the complaint had filed their respective factual reports yet. The Commission, in its observation passed today, took serious note of the failure of the government and official respondents to file their factual reports and granted them time till May 22 to file the same. However, the appearing counsel for the Drug and Food Control Organisation, who was present during the hearing, sought one week to file the factual report, submitting that the organisation has initiated action in this regard and is in the process of finalising the factual report to be submitted to the SHRC. “The complaint has projected that there is a lack of effective control regarding analysis of drugs in the state and through supply of these spurious and substandard expired drugs, especially in GB Pant Hospital, the lives of infants have been exposed to extreme point, which is a violation of the human rights of citizens of the state,” the Commission had observed in its order passed on April 10. |
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Pampore residents oppose Army occupation of PHE land
Anantnag, April 25 According to reports, all shops and other commercial establishments in the area remained closed throughout the day, while people resorted to Anti-Army and Pro-Freedom sloganeering. Local residents alleged that the Army was trying to forcibly occupy the piece of land situated very close to the residential area. “The district administration is acting as a mute spectator, as the Army has occupied the land,” they alleged. Local residents fear that the Army presence in the vicinity would affect their lives. “They will start putting curbs on our movement and if anything happens in the area the civilians will have to face the wrath of the Army personnel,” the protesters said. They demanded that the district administration should intervene and the Army should be made to vacate the PHE land as soon as possible. The administration, however, maintained that the arrangement was temporary and the Army unit would be relocated shortly. “They have decided the terms and conditions with the PHE department,” Deputy Commissioner, Pulwama, Shafat Noor Barlas, said. Officials of the PHE department, however, maintained that they had not permitted the Army to occupy the land. “We are trying to negotiate with the Army officials and persuade them to leave the land as soon as possible,” RK Pandita, Executive Engineer, PHE, Awantipora Division, said. “Not raising any objection should not be taken as permission,” he added. The Army authorities said they had completed all formalities and occupation of the land was not forced. “A company of the Army has been relocated, due to security reasons and the necessary paper work has been done,” an Army spokesperson said. |
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NIA records statements of Hizb militant’s two wives
Srinagar, April 25 The National Investigation Agency (NIA), which is probing the arrest of Shah by Delhi Police, recorded the statements of Aamina and Akhtar-un-Nisa before a Judicial Magistrate. Nisa had accompanied Liyaqat from Pakistan Occupied Kashmir to surrender in Kashmir when he was arrested by the Special Cell of Delhi Police from the Indo-Nepal border on March 22. After his arrest, the Delhi police had claimed that with Shah’s arrest they had foiled a 'fidayeen' (suicide) attack in Delhi ahead of Holi, but the J&K police insisted that Shah was on way to Kashmir to surrender under the state’s rehabilitation policy for former militants in PoK. “The NIA team today recorded our statements and we again told them that Shah was returning to Kashmir under the surrender policy,” said Aamina. “We pleaded with the
NIA again that he should be released immediately as the entire family was restless since his arrest,” she added. The NIA team visited Srinagar for the second time on Wednesday after taking over the case. The Union Home Ministry had on March 28 asked the NIA to take over Shah’s case after his arrest generated conflicting versions from Delhi as well as J&K police. |
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Two Hizb overground workers arrested
Srinagar, April 25 “Four IEDs were seized from Watnard after their (overground workers) disclosure,” the spokesman said. —
TNS
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Durbar Move Jammu, April 25 The 141-year-old exercise costs a staggering amount of Rs 100 crore to the cash-strapped state every year. “There was no governance in sight for a common man. The entire budget session from February 28 to April 6 was dedicated by the Kashmir-centric parties such as the National Conference and the PDP to Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru and alleged Hizb militant Liyaqat Ali Shah. No serious business concerning the people was taken up,” said Abhinav Gupta, a law student. Shruti Mahajan, a banker, said there was a total mismatch between promises and performance of the present dispensation during its stay here from November last year to April 25 this year. While the administrative machinery, including the law and order, was not up to the mark, Centrally sponsored schemes such as the PMGSY, MNREGA, NRHM, SSA, RAMSA and PYKKA were poorly implemented. In fact, almost every other Central scheme was marred by scams, she said. A political pundit said except scams and monkey fight, the government did nothing tangible on the ground during its six months stay in Jammu. “The National Conference and the Congress remained busy in intra and inter-coalition fights while issues concerning people took a back seat. Rather, they were never given any serious thought. This government didn’t even provide basic amenities like road, water and electricity to the people in 10 districts of the Jammu region,” he said. Ghulam Mohammed, a businessman, drew the attention towards dilapidated roads, lanes and drains, hopeless traffic lights and lethargy of the government in dedicating fourth bridge over the Tawi in the capital city, besides not coming out of its comfort zone to start work on the much-needed arterial expressway at Bikram Chowk. “Leave aside big issues, almost a year ago the Economic Reconstruction Agency had ‘ploughed’ roads and lanes in the city to lay sewer pipes. These roads and lanes have not been carpeted till date. Despite a promise to start work on the arterial expressway at Bikram Chowk in March this year, no progress has been made,” he said. If this was the state of affairs in the winter capital where the Civil Secretariat remains in power every six months, then one could imagine the situation in nine other districts of the Jammu region, he said. Pramod Kumar, a banker, said, “This government has already got into election mode. See ministers, legislators and office-bearers of the National Conference and the Congress have already embarked upon election rallies. They are least bothered about the issues and problems of the people.”
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Jammu, April 25
