Jammu, January 25
Pandemonium prevailed in the Legislative Assembly today on the issue of the state BJP chief, Mr Ashok Khajuria, demanding that the separate flag of the state be scrapped and it be governed by the Indian Constitution.

The National Conference (NC) members demanded immediate action against those who “insulted” the state flag.

The Leader of the Opposition, Mr Abdul Rahim Rather, said it was unfortunate that the state government had failed to come out with a statement on the issue.

Noisy scenes were witnessed as members disrupted proceedings during question hour. Mr Jugal Kishore (BJP) pointed out that it was the ideology of the BJP that Jammu and Kashmir should not have a separate flag and the Constitution.

He said why the NC kept mum when hardcore separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani raised anti-India slogans here. He said was it a crime to seek that only the Indian Constitution and the Tricolour be made applicable in the state.

Mr Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami (CPM) demanded that the BJP should withdraw its member from the House in case the party did not have faith in the Constitution of the state.

When some members pointed out to the Speaker, Mr Tara Chand, that media reports suggested that he had directed the state government to take action against the BJP chief, he said he never named anyone and warned action would be taken against wrong reporting by media in future.

In response to the demand of Mr Ali Mohammad Sagar (NC) that the government should clarify its stand on the issue, Mr Mangat Ram Sharma, Health Minister, said it was the duty of all to respect the state flag and no one should try to communalise the issue.

Meanwhile, following noisy scenes by National Conference (NC) members on being not satisfied with the reply of the Minister of State for Finance, Mr Prem Sagar, on the issue of delay in payment of bills by the treasuries, the Speaker, Mr Tara Chand, today deferred a question tabled by Mr Abdul Rahim Rather, Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly.

Initially, the minister denied there was any delay in clearing the bills by the treasuries, but later he said the payment of bills worth Rs 240 crore was pending and these would be cleared as soon as a loan of Rs 200 crore was received from the Reserve Bank of India next month.

The opposition members pulled up the government for presenting a zero-deficit budget, while on the other hand loans were being raised to meet the day-to-day expenses.

Mr Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami of the CPM expressed concern over the financial situation and said it was perhaps for the first time that the projects approved in the plan had been stopped because of want of money.

Noisy scenes were also witnessed in the Legislative Council on the issue of the state government leasing out a prime property in Mumbai at a throwaway price.

Mr Basharat Ahmad Bukhari, Mr G.N. Lone and Mr Nizamuddin (PDP) walked out of the House as they were not satisfied with the government reply.

The minister-in-charge (revenue) said the property was leased out in 1981 during the regime of the National Conference.

The Upper House passed a resolution moved by Prof Bhim Singh (Panthers Party), Mr Abdul Gani Vakil and Mr Ashok Kumar Sharma (Congress) condemning the “barbaric execution” of Saddam Hussain.

Chandigarh, January 25
The Leh Field Research Laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed three herbal products from indigenous bioresources in the Ladakh region of the Himalayas.

The products - sea buckthorn beverage, herbal tea and apricot nectar - DRDO scientists claim will not only provide a socio-economic boost to the region but will also be useful for the troops deployed in Ladakh and Siachen sectors.

To transfer the newly developed technology to private sector for commercial production, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed at “N” Area here today by Cdr SS Deopa, Executive Director of Victory Corporate and Technical Services, and Major-Gen Umang Kapoor, Director, C-Tec, DRDO, and Dr Z. Ahmed, Director, Field Research Laboratory, Leh.

Initially, the DRDO has transferred technology of only sea buckthorn multivitamin herbal beverage and herbal tea.

According to Dr Sanjai K. Dwivedi, Scientist D of DRDO, the multivitamin herbal beverage from sea buckthorn has been developed from a wild herb of Ladakh and Lahaul-Spiti region. Interestingly, all parts of the herb, including its fruit, are storehouse of essential nutrients and vitamins.

This is the only herbal beverage which has almost all vitamins, including E and K. Besides, it is anti-oxidant, anti-aging and has anti-stress properties, and retards memory loss, reduces high blood

Fat content, risk of coronary heart problem, angina and also improve micro-nutrition of blood capillaries. Interestingly it does not freeze till minus 22 degrees Celsius and is being supplied to army units deployed at high altitudes.

The DRDO herbal tea is rich in flavonoids, phenols, catechin, and carotenoids and has anti-oxidant properties. This tea is soothing, energiser, anti-stress stimulant, restores memory and is useful in cold as tonic, adds Dr Dwivedi. It has already been introduced for units deployed in high altitudes.

The third product, apricot nectar, is rich in Vitamin B1, Iron, Calcium, Carotene and energy.

A natural product of high-altitude region, it has medicinal value and is well documented in Amchi system of medicine.