J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Goswami made PS to Chief Minister
Jammu, November 18
Mr Anil Goswami, Principal Secretary, Tourism, has been appointed the new Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister. The state Cabinet, that met here last evening under the chairmanship of Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad, ordered reshuffle of a number of top IAS officers. This is the first bureaucratic reshuffle ordered by the Azad-led coalition government.

Infiltration still on, claims CM
Srinagar, November 18
Seeking an end to infiltration of militants from across the border in Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said here today that this would help in taking the ongoing Indo-Pak peace process further.

Govt plans to reduce J&K Assembly’s
term to 5 years
Jammu, November 18
The Congress-led coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir plans to introduce an amendment in the state Constitution aimed at curtailing the span of state legislature from the existing six to five years, thus bringing parity with all other state Assemblies in the country.

BJP wants Peerzada dismissed
Jammu, November18
Dr Nirmal Singh, president of the state BJP, has urged Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad to immediately dismiss Mr Peerzada Sayeed, PCC president and Minister for Sports in his Cabinet, who has been indicted by the Accountability Commission for his alleged involvement in the scam in the Rural Development Department.

Goswami made PS to Chief Minister
Tribune News Service

Jammu, November 18
Mr Anil Goswami, Principal Secretary, Tourism, has been appointed the new Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister. The state Cabinet, that met here last evening under the chairmanship of Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad, ordered reshuffle of a number of top IAS officers. This is the first bureaucratic reshuffle ordered by the Azad-led coalition government.

Mr C. Phonsog, on his repatriation from the Indian High Commission in London, has been posted as Financial Commissioner, Agriculture Production Department.

Mr Basharat Ahmed Dhar, Secretary, Power Development Department, has been sent to Srinagar as Divisional Commissioner in place of Mr B.B. Vyas, who will take charge of the Finance Department.

Mrs Sonali Kumar, principal secretary, revenue, and Mr S.V. Bhave, Principal Secretary, Health, swap places. Mrs Kumar has been rehabilitated on her old post from where she was removed by the previous Mufti government following a tussle between the Chief Minister and the Governor. Her husband, Mr Arun Kumar, is Principal Secretary to the Governor.

Mr Khurshid Ahmd Ganai, Secretary, Agriculture, will take charge of the General Administration Department from Mr Nayeem Akhtar, who goes as Secretary, Agriculture.

Infiltration still on, claims CM
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, November 18
Seeking an end to infiltration of militants from across the border in Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said here today that this would help in taking the ongoing Indo-Pak peace process further.

He said this while addressing a press conference at the end of his visit to the quake-affected area of Tangdhar in north Kashmir. He said the opening of five points along the LoC was the result of the ongoing peace process between the two countries. He said there was a lot of improvement in the relations between the two countries over the past one-and-a-half-years.

He claimed that militants were still infiltrating into the state and “if it is stopped, the peace process can go further at a greater pace”. The two countries had agreed upon allowing the people to cross over at the five points, which began yesterday. In the first instance, 24 passengers, who had crossed over to PoK by bus to Muzaffarabad prior to the quake, returned via Kamaan Bridge in Uri sector yesterday.

Mr Azad said the recent sudden spurt in violence would not be related to the change of guard in the state. Mr Azad referred to several such incidents at the time of such changes in the state. A series of incidents had taken place when the Farooq Abdullah government took over in 1996 and also when the coalition government took over in 2002, he said. Mr Azad said the militant organisations had to change their statements thrice over the recent incidents due to the rising condemnation by different political parties, including the Hurriyat Conference.

Referring to the relief and rehabilitation measures for the quake-affected areas of the state since October 8 the Chief Minister said the system was back on rails now. He said ex-gratia in favour the kith and kin to 932 persons, killed in the devastating quake, had been released. Mr Azad said only 40 per cent people had so far received compensation for the damaged houses in Uri. Several villages in the affected areas of north Kashmir were being relocated and a majority of people would get accommodation by the end of this month, he said.

Govt plans to reduce J&K Assembly’s term to 5 years
Our Correspondent

Jammu, November 18
The Congress-led coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir plans to introduce an amendment in the state Constitution aimed at curtailing the span of state legislature from the existing six to five years, thus bringing parity with all other state Assemblies in the country.

Official sources close to the Chief Minister yesterday said the government would convene a three-day special session in mid- December where Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad was expected to introduce a special piece of legislation.

It may be mentioned that the state Assembly in the country holds the rare distinction of having six-year term unlike all other state Assemblies with a fixed term of five years.

According to the sources, the issue also came up for discussion during the Cabinet meet under the chairmanship of Mr Azad here this evening.

Though no official announcement over the dates of special session has been made the matter has been referred to the state Governor for issuing separate notification, the sources said.

BJP wants Peerzada dismissed
Tribune News Service

Jammu, November18
Dr Nirmal Singh, president of the state BJP, has urged Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad to immediately dismiss Mr Peerzada Sayeed, PCC president and Minister for Sports in his Cabinet, who has been indicted by the Accountability Commission for his alleged involvement in the scam in the Rural Development Department.

In a statement here today, Dr Nirmal Singh said it was astonishing that Mr Peerzada has not resigned from the ministry following his indictment. But what has shocked the BJP is the utter failure of Mr Azad to sack the “tainted” minister to send a signal that he was committed to providing a corruption-free and transparent administration.

The state BJP chief said that by not sacking the minister, Mr Azad had only led the people to believe that like his predecessor he was indulging in the politics of rhetoric and double speak.

He said what was expected of the new Chief Minister was a prompt action not only against the minister but also other ministerial colleagues who are known for indulging in corrupt practices.