 |
|
Govt tables Kundal report amid ruckus
Opposition proposes, CM disposes
Working Groups recommendations
Govt harassing poor in Roshni Scheme: NC
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mission Kashmir
Sunni-police Clash
Release of Rajasthan Gujjars sought
Constable kills militant after chase
Chilly conditions to continue
FC team visits Reasi, Udhampur
|
||||||||
|
Govt tables Kundal report amid ruckus
Jammu, January 22 However, for reasons inexplicable, the report was not circulated among mediapersons in the press gallery. High-pitched drama and intense sloganeering in Azad’s presence marred the proceedings of the House for nearly 15 minutes. As soon as the House assembled for the day’s business, National Conference (NC) legislators started shouting slogans like “Expose tainted ministers”. Spearheading the attack on the coalition government, NC MLA Ali Mohammed Sagar said, “The cat is out of the bag as two ministers of the ruling alliance have been found involved.” Amidst the ruckus, Speaker Tara Chand tried to pacify the opposition saying, “The inquiry report would be tabled after the question hour.” However, an unrelenting Ali Mohammed Sagar aptly supported by his colleagues refused to accept the Speaker’s request saying, “First table the report and only then the House would be allowed to function.” Two NC legislators Ajay Sadhotra and Sajjad Ahmed Kichloo stormed the well and showed copies of a local daily to the Speaker. After Speaker Tara Chand failed to convince the opposition CAPD minister, Taj Mohi-ud-Din dished out the same assurance that proved futile compelling Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad to intervene. “I have the report with me and copies of it would be tabled within 15 minutes,” Azad said. With no let up in sight, Ali Mohammed Sagar pointing towards Azad said, “Your credibility would be at stake if indicted ministers are not sacked immediately.” “Even the action take report has appeared in the media but it continues to elude members of the House,” he added. To it, Azad promptly replied, “As of now none has been indicted in the report.” The storm settled only after leader of the opposition Abdul Rahim Rather intervened into the matter saying, “The Chief Minister should table the report.” Subsequently, Azad stood up from his seat and tabled the report. |
|
Power blues: Minister admits to irregularities
Jammu: Minister of state for power Babu Singh today admitted on the floor of the house that funds sanctioned under Accelerated Power Development and Reforms Programme (APDRP) were diverted and assured a thorough enquiry into it. Responding to questions on power sector in the lower house here today, Babu Singh said, “The fact is that the APRDP is meant for urban areas but in case of Jammu and Kashmir it is being implemented in rural and urban areas.”
He also admitted that funds under the APDRP were diverted to clear old schemes but said, “I have directed financial advisor to conduct an enquiry.” On another question put up by Panthers Party legislator Harsh Dev Singh, Babu Singh brought to fore the fact that only three transformers were installed in Udhampur district in the last three years under Rajiv Gandhi Gramin Vidyutikaran Yojna (RGGVY). He also alleged that gross financial irregularities have been committed in the implementation of various schemes. “Not even a single MLA was consulted before implementing the RGGVY,” he said. |
|
Opposition proposes, CM disposes
Jammu, January 22 Particularly when the People's Democratic Party
(PDP), the coalition partner of the Congress and the National Conference, the main opposition party have been switching the roles. The PDP has quite often been critical of the government over certain issues, while the NC has frequently supported the Chief Minister, Ghulam Nabi
Azad. And why not, after all the Chief Minister has seldom given them the reason for annoyance even if it meant making his Pradesh Congress Committee president, Peerzada Mohammad
Sayeed, to resign not only from his ministry but also from the party post at its (the opposition's) insistence. Again it is difficult to make out who obliged whom. Whether it was Azad obliging the opposition by conceding their demand to remove the “corrupt” minister or the opposition obliging Azad by raking up an issue that would make his
(Azad's) job easy and facilitate the PCC president's expeditious exit not only from the ministry but also from the party post. Be it the leader of the opposition, Abdul Rahim Rather or other senior leader like Ali Mohammad
Sagar, the NC leaders, who are otherwise too critical of the government, are never tired of showering praise on the person of the Chief Minister. And during the controversy following the allegations leveled by the independent legislator Shoaib Lone against
Peerzada, the NC leaders would repeatedly emphasise on the “unblemished honesty and integrity” of the Chief Minister as a person. And more so, Azad has usually got more applause from the opposition benches than the treasury (read People's Democratic Party) benches inside the assembly as well. Technically Shoaib Lone, who created a storm by leveling allegations against
Peerzada, is an independent MLA having been elected from Sangrama assembly constituency with defacto support of the National Conference. Sangrama had fallen vacant after the sensational assassination of his father, Ghulam Nabi Lone a minister of state at
that time. However, the PDP did not allot party ticket to Shoaib and instead gave it to Javaid
Baig, a nephew of the Deputy Chief Minister, Muzzaffar Hussain Baig. Smelling trouble within the
PDP, the NC decided not to field a candidate from a constituency where otherwise it has a strong presence. This obviously meant indirect support to Lone, which capitalised into victory. Since then Lone has always remained grateful to the NC. His allegations against a sitting minister, who was the state president of the ruling party, are being viewed in a broader context. Particularly when the case, he was quoting, had been disposed of way back in June, 2007. He could have raked up the issue even then, which he did not. And it is quite unexpected that a sitting legislator would be asked to pay bribe by the minister's staff. Moreover, by the same employees who worked under his father, who was himself a minister of state for education when he was assassinated. |
|
|
Working Groups recommendations
Jammu, January 22 Azad, who flew to Delhi today, had a detailed discussion with Patil during which chief secretary B.R. Kundal, director general of police (DGP), Kuldeep Khoda and principal secretary, general administration, Khurshid Ahmad Ganai were also present. Today's meeting was held close on the heels of a high-level joint meeting of the Centre and state officials chaired by the the Chief Minister here on January 13 to deliberate on the implementation of the WG recommendations. National security advisor to Prime Minister, M.K. Narayanan, secretary planning commission Subas Pani, special representative on Kashmir, N.N. Vohra and Union home secretary, Madhukar Gupta, had participated in that meeting. Azad is scheduled to meet the Prime Minister tomorrow and discuss with the implementation of the recommendation of the Working Groups set up by the latter in 2006. The Chief Minister had a long discussion with senior officers and obtained latest information and figures on various points flagged for today's meeting with the home minister. |
|
Govt harassing poor in Roshni Scheme: NC
Jammu, January 22 Addressing a protest rally near civil secretariat here today, party’s Jammu district president Chander Mohan Sharma said,
“The coalition government is harassing poor people of Jammu city by serving them notices to deposit hefty amounts for transferring ownership rights to them under Roshni Act.” He lambasted the government for imposing exorbitant rates to give ownership rights of land to the poor people in Jammu city and particularly in colonies where poor and down trodden families live. “How a poor man, who is struggling for two-square meals, could pay lakhs of rupees to get ownership rights of the land on which he has been living for decades,” he said. “The J&K State Land (Vesting of Ownership Rights to Occupants) Act 2001 was conceived by the National Conference with a purpose to utilise the revenue on financing power projects but this government has defeated its purpose,” he added. |
|
Mission Kashmir
Jammu, January 22 The party said India should not wait for the situation in Pakistan to improve and then resolve the Kashmir issue.
While addressing a public rally at Marh, former Chief Minister and PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed said, the unfortunate developments in Pakistan had adversely affected the pace of normalisation in the subcontinent and the consequent settlement of the problems between the two countries. He said the processes started off between the state and the Centre should not become hostage to the situation in Pakistan and needed to be taken to its logical conclusion. He observed that, while it was necessary that Pakistan was on board for any lasting solution to tackle the external dimension of the problem, there were serious issues of constitutional, political and economic nature that needed to be resolved between the state and the Centre for an amicable settlement of the issue.
He said the hope generated by the Prime Minister’s initiatives on Kashmir should not be allowed to fizzle out. “Whatever can be done to address the internal dimensions of the problem must be done without delay to prevent another bout of cynicism and frustration from enfolding the people of the state,” he said and added, “The mindset of some quarters in Delhi to do nothing and let the people face the consequences has to be changed.” While emphasising that the follow-up on the recommendations of the Working Groups constituted by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh should be speeded-up, Sayeed pointed out that the recommendations contained very crucial elements to rebuild confidence between the state and the Centre and put Kashmir on the road to solving its political, economic and social problems. He said the recommendations covered a wide swathe of issues facing the state in the aftermath of the two decade-long turbulence and destruction and their implementation would have a definite positive impact on the fast-changing ground situation. “The Government of India shall have to move fast on the implementation of these recommendations,” he said. Reiterating that the withdrawal of special powers to the security forces and reduction in the strength of troops were unavoidable measures to provide the state a free space to assert itself and harness its full potential in intellectual and material fields, Sayeed said one of the Working Groups had specifically recommended scrapping of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA).
|
|
|
Sunni-police Clash
Srinagar, January 22 Locals, especially youth, continued to show signs of simmering anger as till yesterday evening scores of them were on road wanting to challenge the other side. But the waiting game played by the police, which did not allow violent mobs to cross the line, fired in the air and lobbed tear shells to keep them away from each other, seems to have finally paid-off as normalcy has started returning to the area. “It's much more peaceful today and I believe there won't be any signs of tension in a day or two,” Abdul Ali, a resident of Gojwara area told The Tribune. Srinagar SSP S.A. Mujtaba said they had arrested 12 people. “For us, it was a clash between two groups and things are under complete control,” he said. But the “clash between two groups” had a definite sectarian hue which resulted in members from both sides consolidating and religious leaders asking the faithful to keep away from any violence in the auspicious month of Moharram. What has disturbed many is that it was for the first time in two decades that Srinagar witnessed clashes between two Muslim groups. Several leaders, mostly separatists, went on to see government’s hand in the trouble. Meanwhile, despite the rare violence in Budgam this year, in which one person died after two groups of Shias scuffled over the way of their procession, the government in a statement claimed that people in Budgam had “lauded” the administration for smooth conduct of Moharram processions. An official statement said the supply of power and other essentials like firewood and water remained uninterrupted in the district, which had the most sizeable population of Shia in Kashmir. |
|
Salvation activists hold unique protest
Srinagar, January 22 More than a dozen activists, led by Zafar Akbar Bhat of the Kashmir Salvation Movement, posing as jailed youth, sat on a day-long strike to register their protest against the alleged atrocities and harassment to the youth at the hands of security forces. They also protested against the alleged harassment to the Kashmiri youth, belonging to the business community and with students belonging to other states. Other Hurriyat Conference leaders, who joined the protesting activists of the Salvation Movement included Fazl-e-Haq Qureshi and Javed Ahmad Mir. The sit-in was staged amid mounting security drill ahead of the Republic Day celebrations. Security agencies have stepped-up vigil across the valley, particularly around vital installations, to thwart the nefarious designs of militants on the occasion. Talking to mediapersons, Zafar Akbar Bhat alleged that released former militants, engaged in peaceful political (freedom) struggle, were being taken into custody during Republic Day or Independence Day celebrations. He said students and those belonging to the business community were being harassed by the police and security agencies. Basic facilities inside detention centres and jails were being denied to them, he added. Bhat held that Kashmiri youth detained under the Public safety Act (PSA) were not being released even after the court’s orders. He said the youth was being inhumanly treated and not allowed to present themselves in the court for hearings. He maintained that they had favoured negotiations to resolve the Kashmir issue on the assurance of the international community and the Central government. |
|
|
Release of Rajasthan Gujjars sought
Srinagar, January 22 In a memorandum to Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, the Kashmir-based National Organisation Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation appealed to her to release them immediately and help out the Gujjars in current reservation crisis and grant them their legitimate rights in her state. Gujjars, who are presently listed among other backward classes (OBC) in Rajasthan, have been demanding their inclusion in the ST list to get more benefits of the government's reservation policy in jobs and education. The Gujjars of J & K also rejected the findings of the Justice Jasraj Chopra committee, which has recommended creation of a special package to the poor members of the community and those living in remote parts of the state and not recommended the S.T status in favour of Rajasthani Gujjars. The Gujjars of Jammu and Kashmir condemned the move of Rajasthan Government who invoked the NSA in 12 districts of Rajasthan on Saturday. It authorises the administration to detain innocent Gujjars perceived as threat to peace and security. The Chief Minister has been appealed to stop the genocide of Gujjars of the state and give legitimate rights to them and not to make it a prestige point. Giving details, national secretary of the foundation, Dr Javaid Rahi said the Gujjars of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan were of the same race having similar historical background and are sharing equal socio-economic problems. The governments of Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh have rightly accepted their genuine demands of Gujjars decades before, but the Gujjars of Rajasthan have been deprived of this fundamental right and it is being called as social aggression against this down trodden community. |
|
|
Constable kills militant after chase
Srinagar, January 22 The Handwara police said Abdul Majeed Khan ran after two militants after he and his colleague foiled their attempts to loot AK-47 of a third constable whom they had killed. The police said two militants were apparently following the constables. While the policemen sat in the middle in Sumo, the militants took the back seat. At an opportune time, one of the militants attacked a constable, Ashraf, who was carrying the gun, with a sharp weapon and as everybody else reeled under shock they tried to seize the gun. However, Majeed, who happened to be a cousin of Ashraf, scuffled with the
militants who tried to escape. But the constable chased them with the same gun and fired at them, killing one of
the militants. The police said it was yet to identify the militant but the motive of the crime appears to be looting of the gun. "They apparently never expected any counter-attack from his colleagues," a police official said. Ashraf later succumbed to his injuries. |
|
|
Chilly conditions to continue
Srinagar, January 22 According to the Met officials, in Pahalgam the lowest temperature was - 10 degree Celsius last night, where the maximum was - 1.9 degrees Celsius. The maximum temperature in Srinagar was - 5.4 and today’s maximum stood at 3.2 degrees Celsius. The lowest temperature of - 7.6 degree Celsius was recorded here two days earlier. The officials said the dry spell of chilly weather conditions would continue for the next couple of days. Some improvement with rains and snowfall, characteristics of the winter in Kashmir at this time of the season, are expected
after January 24, the officials said. Meanwhile, traffic movement took a hit due to landslides and shooting stones at Panthial near Banihal. Accumulation of two to three ft snow also hampered traffic flow along Jawahar tunnel area. There had been some respite from the biting cold due to snowfall in the upper reaches and snow and rains in the planes earlier this month. |
|
|
FC team visits Reasi, Udhampur
Udhampur, January 22 Rehman’s visit is considered important as it is generally alleged that Jammu province has been discriminated by the state government. The team received documents for developmental disparities and imbalances in their respective areas. During a meeting deputations of various political parties highlighted the discrimination meted out to Reasi district. |
|
| 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 | |
