 |
|
Cong forces CM to put off Bill introduction
Mayawati assails Mufti govt
Reshuffle in administration
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Protest over killing of civilian
Convention centre opened
CITU wants labour laws implemented
Militant killed
Withdraw troops: Geelani
|
|
Cong forces CM to put off Bill introduction
Jammu, September 25 According to senior Congress leaders, the Chief Minister was conveyed the party high command’s displeasure over the Women Reservation Bill which it intended to introduce in the state legislature for adoption. The sources said here today that it was under pressure from the AICC leaders that the state Cabinet deferred discussion on the Bill during its meeting in Srinagar on September 23. The Bill had been drafted by the Law Department under the supervision of Law Minister, Muzaffar Hussain Beig. The proposed Bill provided for 33 per cent reservation to women in the state Assembly without increasing the number of Assembly seats. Under the proposed Bill 29 constituencies out of 87 would have two MLAs, one male and one female. The sources said that a senior Congress
leader, who is a member of the state Legislature and happens to be close to a several AICC
leaders, rushed to Delhi and informed the party high command of the serious ramifications that the Bill could have for the Congress at the national-level if adopted by the state Assembly. According to these sources, discussion by the cabinet on the bill was deferred when a couple of Congress ministers a murmured against it. The sources said that AICC leader, Ambika Soni has sought a copy of the Bill so that it could be examined by the party high command in Delhi. The Congress had objected on the plea that though the party was in favour of reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and the state legislatures, it was against the pattern of the Bill which provided for dual membership in 29 constituencies. A Congress leader said “we convinced the Chief Minister and the Law Minister that the proposed reservation law could have serious implications on the ground when two MLAs representing the same constituency would have divergent stands on various issues concerning people of the constituency.” They had also conveyed their displeasure over the way the PDP leadership had not sought their opinion before giving final shape to the Bill. At the same time a senior Congress leader, who is a member of the state Cabinet, has scuttled the plan of the government to amend the existing antidefection law. While the existing law does leave scope for a split in the party if one-third of its members defect to the other organisation the proposed amendment if
adopted, would bring even 80 per cent of members having crossed the sides under the anti-defection law. Pary sources said that the Congress minister conveyed to the party high command that the amendment had to be deferred because he expected several MLAs belonging to the National Conference and the PDP to join the Congress when the power transfer agreement was implemented in the beginning of November. However, knowledgeable circles said that since the National Conference had strength of 25 in the Assembly if less than nine of its MLAs defect they would not be able to escape the axe of
anti-defection law and in case of the PDP, which has a strength of 19 in the House, at least seven of its MLAs can cause split if they cross over the other side. Hence the task for the Congress is not easy as far as securing defection from the NC and the PDP. |
|
Mayawati assails Mufti govt
Jammu, September 25 Ms Mayawati, who was addressing a public meeting here, said that J&K and some other states had so far not implemented the reservation guidelines. She demanded that the reservation should be implemented in letter and spirit and the backlog cleared without further delay. She alleged that the weaker sections were being suppressed under the UPA rule in the country. She demanded that the backlog of reservation in the public sector units (PSUs) should be cleared immediately. Ms Mayawati criticised the Centre for privatising various PSUs. This had minimised job opportunities, she alleged. |
|
Reshuffle in administration
Srinagar, September 25 An official spokesman said here that Mr G.A. Peer, IAS, Director, School Education, Kashmir, has been transferred and posted as Special Secretary, Education Department. Mr Shalinder Kumar, IAS, Special Secretary, PDD has been transferred and posted as Managing Director, SRTC. Mr A. K. Mehta, IAS, who has been recalled from deputation, will continue to be Commissioner, Secretary, Information Technology (IT). Mr Mohammad Rafi, KAS, Additional Secretary, Education Department has been transferred and posted as Director, School Education, Kashmir. Mr Khursheed Naqib (Corporate Officer) attached with GAD has been transferred and posted as OSD in the Tourism Department. He will monitor the working of Tourism Development Authorities. Mr Showkat Ali (Corporate Officer) Managing Director, J & K Handicrafts (S& E) Corporation has been transferred and posted as Managing Director, HPMC. Mr Ghulam Hassan Shah (Corporate Officer) Managing Director, HPMC, has been transferred and posted as Managing Director Handicrafts, (S & E) Corporation. |
|
Protest over killing of civilian
Srinagar, September 25 Defence spokesman Lieut-Col V.K. Batra told UNI that the Army had laid an ambush in the area and one civilian was killed in the cross-firing between the troops and the militants. Another civilian was wounded. However, he said there was no casualty from the militant side as they managed to escape from the site. Official sources said 25-year-old Tariq Ahmed Palla, a carpet weaver, was killed, while Shabir Ahmed got seriously injured when Rashtriya Rifles troops allegedly opened fire on them, mistaking them as militants at Bhan Ashmuji village in the Kulgam area. They said the Army had laid an ambush in the village following information about the presence of militants in the area. The incident triggered massive protest in the area as the agitated locals took to streets, demanding action against the personnel involved in the killing. The locals alleged that the troops had fired without any provocation and did not even try to ascertain their identity. Senior police officials rushed to the village. The sources said the situation was tense, but under control. However, a police spokesman said unidentified gunmen fired upon and wounded Palla, who later succumbed to his injuries at SMHS Hospital here. He said the police was investigating the case.
— UNI |
|
|
Convention centre opened
Srinagar, September 25 The multi-facility centre, completed in a record time of 15 months at a cost of Rs 4.94 crore, has come up at Sanat Nagar. The three-storey complex has a plinth area of 1360 sq feet and the interiors are tastefully done, using wood. The ceiling is made of the famous khatamband design.
|
|
CITU wants labour laws implemented
Jammu, September 25 The demand has been made in a resolution that was adopted in the two-day conference of CITU that concluded here today. Mr Depankar Mukherjee, MP and Secretary of CITU, was the chief guest at the conference that was inaugurated by Mr M.Y. Tarigami, MLA and state secretary of the organisation. The main focus of the conference was towards non-implementation of labour laws in the state and the “faulty” industrial policy. The participants criticised certain companies engaged in construction of the Udhampur-Srinagar rail link for their “high-handedness” on workers. They also supported the striking workers of the Singer factory here and the Sewa hydroelectric project. |
|
Militant killed
Srinagar, September 25 Deputy Inspector-General (DIG) of Police H.K. Lohia said that one militant had been killed in the encounter so far. He said the security forces had launched a manhunt to nab the other militant hiding in the area. Mr Lohia said the house, where the militants had taken refuge, was gutted in the fire that erupted due to the gunfight. There were reportedly two militants in the area, he added. Giving details, the DIG said the security forces, on a specific information about the presence of militants at Mulafag, cordoned off the area. He said when the militants noticed the security forces they opened fire which was effectively retaliated. Mulafag lies in the vicinity of Burzhama in the Dara forest area.
— UNI |
|
Withdraw troops: Geelani
Jammu, September 25 Mr Geelani, who was addressing a gathering in a local mosque, said the talks between the Hurriyat and the Centre had not yielded any results even after 21 months of their meetings at various levels. He disapproved the death sentence for Afzal Guru who masterminded the attack on Parliament. |
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Mailbag | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
