The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	Spurious drugs controversy Warring Cong leaders told to go with Soz’s decision Party high command asks JKPCC chief to hold probe Dinesh Manhotra Tribune News Service Jammu, May 1 Although leaders of the warring factions in the Congress are trying to settle personal scores by raking up the spurious drug controversy, the party command has warned all erring leaders against bypassing J-K Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) chief Saifuddin Soz. Congress leaders camping at New Delhi to “inform” the high command about the spurious drugs controversy were bluntly told to lodge their complaints before Soz rather than approach the Central leadership or air their views in public. The high command has asked JKPCC chief to thoroughly investigate the matter and take an appropriate decision to solve the issue which has snowballed into a big controversy. Sources said leaders of both the warring factions were camping at New Delhi and seeking appointments with the Central leadership. Minister of Health and Medical Education Taj Mohiuddin, who met with some Central leaders, including UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, was also asked to approach the JKPCC chief on the issue. It was on the directions of the high command that Taj met his arch-rival Soz on Tuesday. “It was a routine meeting. As Taj was in Delhi, he sought an appointment and met me to discuss issues pertaining to the development of the state,” Soz told The Tribune while trying to downplay his meeting with his detractor Taj. The sources said after Taj’s meeting with Sonia on Tuesday, Muzaffar Parray, a staunch Soz loyalist, also called on the AICC president and presented the real picture regarding the controversy. As Taj along with some Congress leaders from the Kashmir valley was camping at New Delhi to complain against PHE, Flood Control and Irrigation Minister Sham Lal Sharma, Parray’s meeting with Sonia attached importance because he is one of the prominent Congress leaders from the Kashmir valley and his viewpoint carries weight. The sources said that to counter Taj’s allegations, supporters of Sham Lal have also intensified their campaign. Taj had openly blamed Sham Lal for the supply of spurious drugs in the entire state while the latter had refuted the allegations. The inquiry committee constituted by the Minister of State for Health Shabir Ahmed Khan has already given a clean chit to Sham Lal. A group of Congress leaders, loyal to Sham, is also camping at the Capital to meet the Central leadership to put the “real picture” before them. Some of the leaders met with the AICC general secretary in charge of Jammu and Kashmir affairs, Mohan Parkash, and tried to convince him that Sham Lal’s name was deliberately being dragged into the controversy to settle a personal score. Sham’s supporters have also told the high command that the involvement of separatists in the spurious drugs campaign is an indication that there is a deep-rooted conspiracy, the sources said. Blame game Congress leaders camping at New Delhi to inform the high command about the spurious drugs controversy were bluntly told to lodge their complaints before JKPCC chief Saifuddin Soz rather than approach the Central leadership or air their views in public Taj along with some Congress leaders from the Kashmir valley has been camping at New Delhi to complain against PHE, Flood Control and Irrigation Minister Sham Lal Sharma Taj recently openly blamed Sham Lal for supply of spurious drugs in the entire state. The inquiry committee constituted by the Minister of State for Health Shabir Ahmed Khan has already given a clean chit to Sham Lal
	HC orders IG to probe scam Court told fake drugs were okayed by Purchase Committee-II Ishfaq Tantry/TNS Srinagar, May 1 With the Controller, Drug and Food Control Organisation, in his status report revealing that the rate contract of the accused firm which supplied spurious drug ‘Maximizin-625’ to various government hospitals in the state had been supplied by Purchase Committee-II, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court has directed the authorities concerned to furnish the details of the members of said committee. The Court has also directed that the Inspector General, Crime, shall “personally” monitor the ongoing investigation into the spurious drugs scam. These directions were passed today by a division bench of the High Court comprising Justice Mansoor Ahmad Mir and Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey in a public interest litigation seeking an independent probe into the spurious drugs scam. Earlier on April 30, the High Court had issued notices to government, ex-health minister and other respondent authorities and had asked them to file their status report by May 1. As the matter came up before the bench today, senior additional advocate general Jawed Kawoosa furnished the status report by the Controller, Drug and Food Organisation (one of the respondents), in which it has been submitted that the tenders for procurement of antibiotic drug amoxicillin and potassium clavunate were floated by Purchase Committee-II on February 8, 2012, and the rate contract was approved by the same purchase committee in favour of the accused Line Life Pharmaco Surgicals, which later supplied the drug Maximizin-625, which was found to be spurious. The Purchase Committee- II, having 10 members, was incidentally headed by the Director, Health (Jammu), as the Principal, Government Medical College, Jammu, had expressed his inability to continue as the chairman of the said committee. In the status report, it has also been submitted that after the discovery that antibiotic drug Maximizin-625 was spurious, the licences of the accused company have been cancelled and the proprietors of the accused company, AK Raina, Amandeep Raina and Akhil Gudoo, have been arrested. In the status report, it has also been revealed that a total of 2,65,000 tablets of spurious drug Maximizin-625 were supplied by the accused to various hospitals in Kashmir and in Jammu. Out of these, 50,000 tablets were supplied to Sri Maharaja Gulab Singh Hospital, Jammu, and 5,000 tablets were supplied to Lal Ded Hospital, Srinagar. Out of 2,65,000 tablets only 61,276 were seized by the drug inspectors from various hospitals in the state, whereas the rest have been consumed by the patients. In his submission, advocate GA Lone representing the petitioners in the PIL said there was no proper mechanism for testing the drugs in the state. He urged the court that the Drug Corporation, as enshrined in the new drug policy, should be constituted at the earliest to address the problem of spurious drugs. After going through the status report and the averments made by both sides, the bench in its orders passed today has directed the government authorities concerned to reveal the names and the particulars of the Purchase Committee-II so as to array them as the party respondents in the PIL. The court has also directed the IG, Crime, to personally monitor the ongoing investigation into the case FIR lodged with the Crime Branch against the accused in spurious drugs scam. Besides, the government has been asked to explain how Satish Gupta, Controller, Drug and Food Organisation, was one of the members of the committee constituted by the government to probe the supply of spurious drugs. The Court has also directed the senior additional advocate general to file a fresh status report on behalf of the official respondent by the next hearing, fixed for next week.
	Post Liyaqat’s arrest, ex-militants continue to return via Nepal Majid Jahangir Tribune News Service Srinagar, May 1 Since the arrest of alleged Hizbul Mujahideen militant Syed Liyaqat Shah from the Indo-Nepal border by the Delhi Police in March, nearly a dozen former militants have returned home to Kashmir under the state’s rehabilitation policy. And, they too, returned through the Nepal route, which is yet to be designated an official entry point for the return of former militants. After the recent controversy over Liyaqat’s arrest, the government is now set to make the Nepal border route an “official” entry point for the return of former militants. “The controversy generated in the wake of Liyaqat’s arrest has not stopped former militants from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) to return to Kashmir. Since his arrest, 10 former militants have returned under the rehabilitation policy,” said a senior police officer. “And, all of them returned via the Nepal border along with their families,” he said. Sources said despite a war of words between the J&K Police and the Delhi Police over Liyaqat’s arrest, more former militants were set to return home in the coming days. “We are expecting the return of more former militants in the coming days,” a police source said. The Delhi Police had claimed that with Liyaqat’s arrest on March 20 they had foiled a fidayeen (suicide) attack in Delhi ahead of Holi, but the state police insisted that Liyaqat was on his way to Kashmir to surrender under the state’s rehabilitation policy for former militants in PoK. Liyaqat’s case is now being investigated by the National Investigation Agency. Since the rehabilitation policy was introduced in 2010 by the J&K Government, over 250 former militants who had crossed over to PoK for arms training have returned home via Nepal. The state government had identified four entry points for the return of former militants which included Poonch, Uri, Wagah and IGI Airport, New Delhi. However, no militant has returned through these identified routes and all of them have returned via Nepal. “There is a proposal with the Union Home Ministry that the Nepal route will be designated as one of the (official) routes for the return of former militants,” said a top police officer. Police figures show that nearly 4,000 Kashmiri militants are still in Pakistan. Rehab policy The state government’s rehabilitation policy was approved in November 2010. It is meant for those who had crossed over to the other side of the Line of Control between 1989 and 2009 for arms training, but did not indulge in militant activities and were ready to return, surrender and settle as normal citizen. So far, over 250 former militants have returned home along with their families.
	Congress holds rally in separatist bastion M Aamir Khan/TNS Srinagar, May 1 The Congress today held a rally at Eidgah, which is considered a separatist bastion, in downtown Srinagar. J&K Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president Saifuddin Soz said the holding of the rally was a sign of peace and tranquillity in the Valley. “It is a sign of peace and tranquillity. I am happy that the rally was held peacefully,” Soz told reporters on the sidelines of the May Day rally held near Aali Masjid here. The Aali Masjid is adjacent to the Eidgah ground where the moderate Hurriyat faction led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq usually holds grand rallies on May 21 on the death anniversaries of Mirwaiz Mohammad Farooq and separatist leader Abdul Gani Lone. While addressing the rally earlier, Soz said he was not expecting a huge rush of people at the Congress rally in downtown Srinagar. “When I was told that the rally on May Day is being held in downtown, I was expecting that it will be a small gathering to be held in a small room,” he said.
	Frequent tremors can be indication of major quake, says expert Arteev Sharma Tribune News Service Jammu, May 1 Noted geologist and senior professor at the University of Jammu GM Bhat has described the recurring tremors in the state as a “routine activity” but said it could be an indication of a major earthquake in the coming days. “There is nothing unusual about it (earthquake) and it is a routine activity, as we are in the Seismic Zone-V. The state is prone to tremors measuring 5 and above on the Richter scale. The Bhaderwah and Thathri areas of Doda district witnessed maximum impact of tremors today because these areas were close to the epicentre of the earthquake,” said Bhat over the phone from New Delhi. Doda district of Jammu division and the entire Kashmir valley fall in the Seismic Zone-V while other parts of the state fall in Seismic Zone-IV. During the last 15 days, the state has felt tremors of the magnitude of 5 on the Richter scale for the fourth time. “The state is prone to earthquakes and the possibility of earthquakes measuring more than 8.0 on the Richter scale can’t be ruled out,” Bhat said, adding that any earthquake with a magnitude of more than 8.0 would cause “immeasurable disaster” in the state. The geologist said, “The state has been regularly witnessing tremors for the last one week and these may be aftershocks, a state where it (earthquake) subsides.” He added: “Nothing could be predicated at this point. It could be an indication or pre-shocks of a major earthquake in the days to come.” Bhat said the people were required not to panic and proper awareness among the public about the earthquakes could hold the key for less destruction in case of a high-magnitude earthquake. “There is a need to raise earthquake-resistant structures to reduce the magnitude of loss to human life and property in the near future,” he said and regretted that the preparedness of the state government to deal with the situation after massive earthquakes was not effective and satisfactory so far. The state administration had been able to get amended the bylaws of the Srinagar Municipal Corporation where no new construction would be allowed within the municipal limits if the structure was not earthquake resistant. Except Srinagar district, no other town has so far formulated any plan for raising the earthquake-resistant structures. Tremors ‘routine activity’ z During the last 15 days, the state has felt tremors of the magnitude of 5 on the Richter scale for the fourth time. z Doda district of Jammu division and the entire Kashmir valley fall in Seismic Zone-V (highest seismic zone) while other parts of the state fall in Seismic Zone-IV z Noted geologist and senior professor at the University of Jammu GM Bhat has described the recurring tremors in the state as a “routine activity” as parts of the state are in Seismic Zone-V. The state is prone to tremors measuring 5 and above on the Richter scale
	Bail denied to sarpanch, panch for uprooting graves DS Chauhan Jammu, May 1 Kathua Principal Sessions Judge MK Hanjura today rejected the bail application of Yash Pal Singh, sarpanch, and Hazir Singh, panch, of an area in Kathua, who are alleged to have engaged an excavator for constructing a lane, resulting in damage to and uprooting of seven graves of the forefathers of a particular community. On April 9, the accused engaged an excavator for constructing a lane from the Katli road to Kaliveer Sunkhal. They damaged and uprooted seven graves of the forefathers of a particular community, thereby, hurting their religious feelings. When asked to desist from carrying the illegal and unlawful acts, the accused, Yash Pal Singh, told the complainants to go and complain to anyone they liked. The resentment against the accused in the area led to the registration of an FIR under Section 297 of the RPC. The accused, Yash Pal Singh, is absconding while another accused, Hazir Singh, is in police custody. The Kathua Principal Sessions Judge, while rejecting the bail pleas of the accused, observed that, “The accused have dug the graves in the burial ground. The offence appears to be grave, heinous and inhuman on the face of it. The deep emotional and sacred feelings get shaken by these elements. They do not allow others to live, learn and love life. The best security between the communities is faith. Anger, ego, greed, depression, insecurity and fear arise out of mistrust. We have to be true to our Constitution in thought, word and deed. Each one of us has to keep the other happy and smiling. This will instill a sense of confidence in each one of us. No lease, licence or latitude is warranted to be given to those who have least respect for other communities in a secular state.” “Those who stand for nothing sow and spread the seeds of distrust and hatred. It is time to deal with them strongly and guard their activities. After balancing the rights of the accused and that of the state in the case at hand, it appears that the confidence of the public at large will be shaken in case the petitioners are admitted to bail by the court.” “People will lose faith in the administration of justice if bail is granted to the petitioners. The cause of justice will be served and not thwarted or defeated in case the prayer of the petitioners for the grant of bail is declined at this stage when the investigation of the case has not been concluded,” held the Judge.
	Militancy victims of erstwhile Doda district rue govt apathy Ravi Krishnan Khajuria Tribune News Service Jammu, May 1 Despite the Supreme Court and the Jammu and Kashmir High Court issuing orders in their favour, over 1,300 militancy-affected families of the erstwhile Doda region remain the children of a lesser god. The Supreme Court and the High Court in 2011 and 2005, respectively, had told the state government to treat these families from the erstwhile Doda region on a par with the militancy-affected families from the Valley vis-à-vis relief in cash and kind, but the families are still being discriminated against. And, what is more agonising for these families is the indifferent attitude of the successive state governments, including the present dispensation, which have turned a blind eye to their eight-year-long dharna in Jammu. “A total of 1,306 families had fled their homes following selective killings in Doda, Udhampur and Reasi districts in mid 1990s. In 1998, the government started providing relief to 84 displaced families from the Doda region on a par with the Kashmiri migrants,” said Rakesh Sharma, president of the Erstwhile Doda Migrants’ Committee. But, thereafter, the government stopped registering more families, which were getting displaced from the region that remained a hotbed of militancy and saw selective killings, he said, adding that then followed a string of protests and protracted battles in the High Court and the Supreme Court. Consequently, 1,054 families are today getting relief but still not on a par with the Kashmiri migrants, Sharma said. Sharma informed that nearly 40,000 migrants from Kashmir are getting cash relief of Rs 1,650 per person per month not exceeding the upper limit of Rs 6,600 per family, 9 kg rice per person per month, 2 kg flour per person per month and 1 kg sugar per person per month. “In case of the Doda migrants, successive regimes, including the present government, have adopted a discriminatory attitude. We get Rs 400 per person per month not exceeding the upper limit of Rs 1,600 per month, 9 kg flour per person per month and 2 kg rice per person per month,” he said. Further, 28 families get ration only, while 251 families which have completed all their formalities are not getting any relief, he said. “The state government and the Union Government came up with a special employment package, a satellite township at Jagti for the Kashmiri migrants and remains sensitive to their plight but why has it turned a blind eye towards us. We are also victims of militancy. Infact, the erstwhile Doda region put together witnessed more killings than Kashmir,” he said. Even the apex court, in its decree, had clearly asked the state government to treat the displaced families of the Doda region on a par with the displaced Kashmiri migrants, observing, “There can never be two different yardsticks for the same set of people.”
	Govt to set up 400 sub-health centres in state: Minister Rajouri, May 1 Minister of State for Health Shabir Ahmad Khan today said the government would establish 400 new sub-health centres during the current financial year in the state, adding that the Central Government had agreed to provide funds under the National Rural Health Mission to the state. Addressing a public meeting today at border Kakora village, the minister said the preference would be given to the areas located far away from the nearest health institutions. He said a sub-health centre would also be opened in Kakora village. The minister said the all-round development of hilly and border areas had received focused attention of the government over the last four years. He said at present, the remote and hilly areas had basic facilities of education, health care, drinking water, road connectivity and power supply. He said the areas, lacking these facilities, were getting special attention and crore of rupees were being spent to improve and upgrade the basic amenities to bring these at par with other areas. Listing the development projects taken up in the area, he said the construction work on 7-km-Kokara-Kanyal Gali road had been completed at a cost of Rs 4.5 crore. He said the road would be blacktopped soon, adding that a project report of Rs 4.3 crore had been moved to the Centre for funding under PMGSY. — TNS
	NC leader rules out pre-poll alliance with Congress Azhar Qadri/TNS Srinagar, May 1 Senior National Conference leader Mustafa Kamal on Wednesday said there will be no pre-poll alliance with the Congress during the next year’s elections in Jammu and Kashmir. National Conference and Congress are two key constituents of the ruling coalition in the state. “There will be no pre-poll alliance with Congress,” Kamal told reporters on the sidelines of a May Day function held at the National Conference headquarters here. Kamal, often in the news for making controversial statements, is Additional General Secretary of National Conference and uncle of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. The two ruling parties had recently contested the elections for four seats in Legislative Council representing panchayat members jointly in which they had routed the opposition PDP candidates, giving rise to speculations that National Conference and Congress parties may come together in a pre-poll alliance for next year’s elections. In 2014, the state will go for a crucial vote to elect representative for the state Legislative Assembly and Parliament. Kamal also lashed out at the main opposition party People’s Democratic Party, saying it has “lost” its mental balance. “They (PDP leaders) are now talking in such a way that it seems they have lost their mental balance,” said Kamal. “God-willing, people with the power of their vote will finish the political existence of this party, which has been made in Delhi to create problems and divide the people,” he said. Kamal, along with many senior National Conference leaders and Cabinet ministers, earlier addressed a May Day rally at Nawa-e-Subh complex which houses the party’s headquarters. On China’s deep transgression in Ladakh region, Kamal said New Delhi should “seriously” solve boundary disputes with China and Pakistan. “China is a friend of our country. Central government should seriously solve the border disputes with Pakistan and China,” he said. Commenting on the IED detected and defused by the Army on a route accessed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday, Kamal said there are “many hands behind this”. “Ask the Army which is claiming (to detect the IED)... there is a public opinion that there are many (security) agencies involved in this,” he said. Earlier, the state’s Panchayat Raj Minister Ali Mohammad Sagar criticised the PDP leaders for making “false and deceptive” claims. “Mufti Sayeed and his daughter make false and deceptive statements everyday, thinking they will win the confidence of the people, but it is their wrong belief,” said Sagar. National Conference’s Kashmir region president Nasir Aslam Wani and state’s Higher Education Minister Mohammad Akbar Lone were among those present at the May Day rally.
	Spurious drugs controversy creates regional divide in state Tribune News Service Jammu, May 1 The controversy over the supply of spurious drugs has created a regional divide in the state. A number of social organisations and members of civil society from the Jammu region today came out in support of PHE Minister Sham Lal Sharma, who has been accused of being involved in the supply of spurious drugs by some groups of the Kashmir valley. Prof Varinder Gupta, convener, Jammu State Morcha, criticised people who were “trying to rake up regional sentiments on this issue”. He said Sham Lal as a minister “could not be the only one responsible for purchasing such drugs”. “There was a purchase committee, comprising representatives of the Kashmir valley too, which had recommended the purchase of drugs,” he said. Gupta lambasted those who had termed the scam as “genocide of Kashmiris”. Meanwhile, a meeting of representatives of social organisations and civil society of the Jammu region under the leadership of retired educationist Gulam Haider (chairman, Himalayan Welfare Organisation) was held to discuss the matter. They condemned the statements and versions of some “anti-social organisations” and their “agents” in the Valley who were blaming Sham Lal Sharma for the purchase of spurious drugs. They termed the allegations as baseless and shameful for the society. They warned the “anti-social elements and their agents in the Kashmir valley” against politicising the scam to settle their personal score. Among those who attended the meeting were Irfan Attu, general secretary, Doda Welfare Society; Romi Sharma, convener, Lok Seva Sanstha Kathua; Gurcharan Singh, president, Merathon Youth Organisation; advocate Chetan Misri; advocate Rahul Choudhary; advocate Aniket Anand, Umeed Group for Peace; Raj Kumar Sharma, chairman, Kandi Development Forum, Samba; and sarpanch Viney Sharma, president, Panchayat Members Association, Samba.
	May Day Gift Govt may regularise PHE workers engaged till 2005 Tribune News Service Jammu, May 1 Describing Public Health Engineering (PHE) workers as the real work force for maintaining water installations and regulating water supply across the state, Minister for PHE, Irrigation & Flood Control, Sham Lal Sharma said the government would protect their rights besides ensuring justice to them. Addressing a gathering of PHE workers at a function organised to commemorate May Day here today, Sharma said the government would ensure regular disbursement of wages to all workers, engaged up to 2005 in PHE Department, on a uniform pattern. The government would also explore possibilities to regularise their services in a phased manner. After the adjustment of all those engaged up to 2005, a well-knit strategy would be devised to absorb workers who were engaged after 2005 till 2009. In this regard, authentic information about the number of such workers, who are on regular role after 2005, was being collected and efforts were afoot to keep a provision of their regular wages, he added. Rubbishing speculations in different circles about the disengagement of daily rated workers in PHE, Irrigation & Flood Control Department, Sharma said the government could not afford to disengage them as they were manning essential services. He said water supply schemes worth crores of rupees had been set up and these cannot be left at the mercy of God, adding that these schemes were running smoothly because of the casual or temporary workers at the grass-roots level.
	Top official reviews development works in Samba Tribune News Service Jammu, May 1 Chief Secretary Iqbal Khandey today exhorted upon the Samba district administration to expedite works on water supply schemes being executed in the district as the people of the Kandi belt had to face a lot of difficulties in this regard, especially in the summer months. The Chief Secretary was chairing a meeting to review the pace of progress on development projects being executed under various state and Centrally sponsored schemes. Khandey discussed with the officials concerned all major development works and issues related to health, education, agriculture, horticulture, social welfare, drinking water supply and road connectivity. He asked the officials concerned to explore possibilities and formulate project proposals on sectors having potential to accelerate economic development and employment in the district.