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I will make way for Azad in November, clarifies Mufti Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed addresses a press conference in Srinagar on
Wednesday. — Tribune photo by Amin War
DNA report absolves Major of rape
charge
Jammu varsity VC gets
extension
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Five ultras killed
Displaced Pandits hold rallies
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I will make way for Azad in November, clarifies Mufti
Srinagar, January 19 Talking to mediapersons here, ahead of id-ul-Azha celebrations, the chief minister said that the agreement reached at between the People's Democratic Party (PDP) and its main ally, the Congress, would be adhered to. The multi-party coalition government with the PDP and the Congress as the main allies in Jammu and Kashmir came to power on November 2, 2002, after working out a common minimum programme. While the National Conference with the highest number of 27 members in the 87-member house was forced to play the role of opposition, a multiparty coalition government led by Mufti Mohammad Sayeed was formed. It was decided that the post of chief minister would be held by the PDP leader, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, for a period of three years.He would be succeeded by Congress Chief minister Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad, the then state Congress chief, for the remaining period. The PDP has 15 members from the valley, while the Congress has 20 members from the Jammu and Ladakh regions. The PDP leadership, following the Assembly elections, had claimed that with the election of 14 candidates from the valley it had secured the mandate of the people . The vote was against the National Conference,it had argued. Replying questions, the chief minister said the central government’s stand on the autonomy demand of the National Conference was “not enough”. “The Central government has taken an initiative, but that is not enough”, the Mufti commented. He said there were separatist groups with whom talks also ought to be held for the resolution of the Kashmir issue. Highlighting the achievements of his government, the mufti said that despite incidents of violence, suicide attacks and grenade attacks, there was a sense of security among the people now. He held that these incidents had come down to a great extent and functioning of institutions, accountability, acceleration of developmental activity and tourism inflow had begun in a big way. “Wherever human rights violations or excesses take place, people feel free to protest”,the Chief minister said, adding that action was taken against the guilty “unlike in the past”. The Chief minister announced that 16 detained Kashmiris were being released on the occasion of Id. Asked about the damage to the passport office in the suicide attack here on Sunday, the Mufti said he would take up the matter with the central government. He sought ad hoc arrangements for the people of Kashmir till the passport office resumed work here so that the people did not have to visit Jammu for their passports. Referring to the coming civic poll , he said the separatists’ anti-election campaign was unjustified. He pointed out that the democratic process was only to empower people to redress their problems . He said the recent incidents of violence and the anti-election campaign by separatist leaders was an attempt to keep the people away from the poll process. He emphasised that the government was “technically on a sound footing” on the Baglihar power project , calling it “our lifeline”. Replying questions during an interaction with mediapersons , the Mufti said several experts' teams from Pakistan had visited the site ahead of the work on the project and there should have been no objection from their side. Mufti said the Rs 4000 crore project to generate 900 MW of power in two phases was important to overcome the power crisis in Jammu and Kashmir. He said Rs 250 crore had already been spent on the project. Referring to the suspension of work on the Tullbal project, due to objections raised by Pakistan for "violation" of the Indus Water Treaty, the Mufti said he had conveyed to the Prime Minister that the work on the project should be resumed. Over Rs 1.25 crore were being spent on maintaining infrastructure created at the site, the Mufti added. |
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DNA report absolves Major of rape
charge
Srinagar, January 19 A Defence spokesperson here said the DNA report was transferred by Chief Judicial Magistrate, Handwara, to the ongoing General Court Martial in the case of alleged rape and molestation of a 10-year-old girl and her mother on the intervening night of November 6 and 7 last year. Though the DNA report conclusively cleared Maj Rehman Hussain (30 RR) of the charges, the General Court Martial would proceed to its logical conclusion, the spokesperson stated. On November 7, the Army had ordered the suspension, close arrest and forthwith removal of the Major from his place of duty. Finding a prima facie evidence against the accused, court martial proceedings were ordered on December 16, which assembled at Uri under Brig Syed Atta Hasnain, on December 20. So far the court has examined over 20 witnesses, including the alleged victims of rape and molestation, Defence spokesman said. The police is also in the process of conducting investigation in the matter, including the medical examination of the victims and DNA matching. The reports of the police having presented challan in the case before the Chief Judicial Magistrate were presented in the court martial. The Army had earlier dismissed two personnel, Lance Hawildar Krishna Bahadur and Sep Zubair Khan, for misconduct following allegations of rape of a 60-year-old woman at Sallar in the Pahalgam area of
Anantnag district. |
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Jammu varsity VC gets
extension
Jammu, January 19 Prof Mattoo is yet to complete his term of three years in November, but the Governor, who is Chancellor of the university, and the Chief Minister, Mufti Sayeed, who is pro-Chancellor, were so much impressed by his functioning that they decided to grant him another term in advance. Jammu University has made many
achievements under Mr Mattoo and it became the first campus in the country to get the ISO certification. The university has remained in the news because of a series of seminars and discussions organised by it on various vital issues, including international relations and security of the country. Prof Mattoo is perhaps the only Vice-Chancellor in the state at the moment to get another term in office. The Vice-chancellors of Mata Vaishnodevi University and agricultural university could not get extension because of certain controversies. A new VC of Kashmir University was also appointed recently. |
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Five ultras killed
Jammu, January 19 The Senior Superintendent of Police (Rajouri District), Mr M.A. Mujataba, said the police and army jawans laid a cordon around the house of Abdul Latief at Bei Nambal late at night following a tip-off that some militants were hiding there. When the jawans asked the militants to surrender, the latter opened fire. A gunbattle ensued and the house caught fire during the exchange of fire, which continued intermittently till early this morning, he added. The house was gutted completely in the fire and the bodies were charred. One of the slain militants was identified as Dilawar of Hizbul Mujahideen Pir Panjal regiment. Mr Mujataba said four AK-rifles had so far been recovered from the house, it was being ascertained if the fifth dead was also a militant or a civilian. A large quantity of ammunition and explosives were also seized from the encounter site, he added. —
UNI |
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Displaced Pandits hold rallies
Jammu, January 19 They raised slogans in support of their demand of a separate homeland within the valley. They also blamed the Central and state governments for giving a faw deal to the displaced people. Pandit leaders, including Mr Kuldeep Raina and Mr ON Trisal, said promises made by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had not been fulfilled. Neither two-room tenements had been built nor jobs created for the educated youth. They sought separate ministry for looking into their problems. The Kashmir Vichar Manch, another conglomerate of the displaced Pandits, expressed anguish over the government apathy towards 3.50 lakh members of the community. The youth wing of the All India Kashmiri Samaj organised a torch-light procession in the city to mark “Holocaust Day”. Demonstrators said the state administration had shown its bias against the community by deleting the names of Pandits from the electoral roll for the ensuing civic elections. |
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Setting at rest all speculation over holding the post of chief minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed made it clear here today that he would step down on completion of his three years in office in November this year in accordance with the agreement reached by his party with the Congress.
