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| Thursday, March 29, 2001, Chandigarh, India   
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Lashkar
chief commander shot Cong
motion rejected, walkout by Oppn YC men
seek NDA govt’s ouster |
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Lashkar chief commander shot Srinagar, March 28 Identified as Tariq Mehmood from Pakistan, the chief operations commander was involved in major attacks on high police and security installations recently, police said. These included suicide attack at Srinagar airport on January 16 and a similar attack on the high security police control room (FCR) here on February 9. Tariq Mehmood, alias Salahuddin Ayubi, alias Ubaid, alias Nadeem, carrying a fake card under the name of Shabir Ahmad electrician, was a resident of Sheikhupura district of Pakistan, the police said. One pistol, one wireless set and the wireless matrix were seized. Giving details, of the incident, the police said a patrol party of the special operations group (SOG) of the police was fired at near Pohroo, Nowgam on the outskirts of the city at 2.30 p.m. today. The SOG personnel retaliated resulting in the death of the militant, while two of his accomplices escaped. Elsewhere, at least five persons, including four militants and a policeman, were killed in separate incidents in the Kashmir valley since yesterday. Four militants were killed in an encounter with the security forces at Patushai, Lolab in Kupwara district yesterday. One police jawan and a security force jawan were also injured in the incident, the police said. Three AK rifles, 16 AK magazines, 167 AK rounds, one grenade launcher, one rocket launcher, one UBGL, three RPGs, four rifle grenades and an antenna were seized. Militants killed one policeman here last evening. The police said Head Constable, Ghula Ahmad of Rainawari police station was injured when fired at by unidentified militants near Naid-Boohi, Rainawari in Srinagar city last evening. He died while being shifted to the hospital. |
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Cong motion rejected, walkout by Oppn Jammu, March 28 Mr Vakil ruled that since the person against whom charges were being levelled was not a member of the House and could not defend himself the adjournment motion was infructuous. He said as per rules the adjournment motion from the Congress member, Mr Ashok Sharma, should have reached him an hour before the commencement of the sitting but he had received it at 9 am on Wednesday which was not the stipulated time. Mr Sharma argued that his motion was intact because the incident had taken place in the state. But the Speaker reiterated his stand and said since the person against whom charges were being levelled was a Union Minister and not a member of the House nothing could be discussed as he could not defend himself. The Panthers Party member, Mr Harsh Dev Singh, said since the issue concerned the security of the state it should be discussed in the House. He said if Pak-made blankets could come to Udhampur Pakistan arms could also be smuggled which could endanger the security of the state. Mr Vakil shot back! “Our state is not so vulnerable that its security can be endangered easily.” When Mr Vakil remained adamant on his ruling the Congress members and Mr Somnath of the BSP staged a walkout shouting slogans. The leader of the BJP Legislature Party, Mr Shiv Charan Gupta, said despite the fact that his party had explained the issue in detail and the dealers had confirmed that the blankets had neither been smuggled from Pakistan nor diverted from Gujarat earthquake relief consignment “our detractors, especially the Congress, are trying to malign our party and our minister.” Prof Chaman Lal Gupta has issued a statement blaming his political opponents for trying to malign his image. He said the charges levelled against him were “baseless and malicious.” The House witnessed another walkout during question hour. The opposition members belonging to the Congress, the BSP and the Peoples Democratic Party were on their feet protesting against the Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah’s remarks in which he suggested to the Power Minister, Mr S.S. Slathia, to charge money from people for the repair of damaged transformers. He said while people paid less and consumed more power the transformers were bound to get damaged and this could be checked if people were asked to pay for the repair of the transformers. The opposition members raised a hue and cry when the Chief Minister told them to continue shouting and staging walkouts but power would be supplied to those areas where people paid tariff. Earlier, Mr Slathia had stated that he would take action against those employees who charged money from people for the repair of transformers. Members expressed concern over the inordinate delay in the repair of damaged transformers preventing people in various areas from receiving any power supply. But when the Chief Minister hinted at tough measures Mr Ashok Sharma, Mr Tsering Dorjee, Mr Lal Singh, Mr Balbir Singh, Mr R.S. Sharma (all Congress) and Mr Sagar Chand of the BSP staged a walkout. In reply to another question the Chief Minister informed the House that the delay in the selection of candidates by the Public Service Commission and the Subordinate Services Recruitment Board was the result of a large number of applicants. He said the staff had to screen a long list. Mr Harsh Dev Singh of the Panthers Party suggested that the number of members of the two commissions be increased to speed up the selection process and the Chief Minister assured the House that it would be examined. Dr Abdullah informed Mr Shiv Charan Gupta (BJP) that the building of the Prime Medical College in Srinagar had been taken over by the government and it planned to construct a police hospital there. He said the college stood closed because it had not been given recognition by the university and the Medical Council of India. Those students who had been given admission in the college were trying to seek Central Government’s help for admission in some other recognised colleges after their admissions in Jammu and Srinagar government medical college was cancelled under public pressure. |
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YC men seek NDA govt’s ouster Jammu, March 28 Led by its president, Mr Yogesh Sawhney, the Youth Congress workers held a protest demonstration outside Raj Bhawan. The party leaders, including Mr Sawhney, alleged that the Vajpayee government had endangered the security of the country through the kickbacks in defence
purchases. A memorandum addressed to the President of India, Mr K.R. Narayanan, was submitted to the Governor. The memorandum demanded the immediate resignation by Mr Vajpayee failing which the President should exercise his constitutional powers to sack the NDA government. In the memorandum the Youth Congress said the Vajpayee-led government owed an explanation to the people of the country and not to the Congress. As such the Prime Minister should resign and the NDA should seek a fresh mandate from the people. Mr Sawhney said the way Mr Vajpayee and his ministerial colleagues besides several bureaucrats in the PMO had clung to power was totally undemocratic. Referring to the blanket scandal the Youth Congress demanded that Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Prof Chaman Lal Gupta, should resign. The party leaders said Prof Gupta had no moral ground to remain in office after the scandal. |
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