Srinagar, August 7
An unusual and, to many, unexpected calm returned to the Assembly today and it appeared that the ruling alliance and the main opposition PDP had entered into an uneasy truce after the House had witnessed no-holds-barred accusations between them and adjournments last week.

PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti ticked off Speaker Akbar Lone for his “inconsistent and partial approach” and attacked Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for accusing her father and former Chief Minister Mufti Sayeed of cover-up in the sex scandal, but it was clear that both alliances had decided not to take things to the extremes.

Omar Abdullah returned to the Assembly today after the Governor’s clean chit to him over his alleged role in the sex scandal as alleged by the PDP and followed by his conditional resignation, and remained mostly quiet except when he rose to table the Jan Commission’s report into the Shopian incident.

The Speaker made it clear that any debate would take place only after question hour and after some initial noises all opposition parties agreed to it.

Mehbooba Mufti rose soon after question hour and called for a judicial probe into the sex scandal. As the Chief minister had accused her father of cover-up and the Centre government saying that the PDP’s accusation was an uncorroborated piece of paper, the PDP leader pleaded for a judicial probe into all these aspects.

Usually combative Moulvi iftikar Ansari, the veteran MLA of PDP, attempted to rise above party lines and asked Omar Abdullah, who was not present at that time, and his colleagues to have the strength to stand criticism. Abdullah’s resignation was a hasty decision and it did not behove a leader like him, he said.

In a day when the House seemed to be in a forgive-and-forget mood, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ali Mohammad Sagar said his government always wanted to take the PDP along but its“unsubstantiated allegations levelled in violation of the rules” spoiled the relations.

Udhampur, August 7
Members of the minority communities today observed a shutdown in Bhaderwah and adjoining localities against the state government’s decision to replace the CRPF with the local police. All shops and business establishments remained closed in response to the call given by the Shri Sanatan Dharam Sabha, Bhaderwah.

A demonstration was also held at Seeri Bazar, Bhaderwah, in which speakers lambasted the government for its decision to shift the CRPF from Bhaderwah.

Shouting slogans against the government, the protesters also brunt tyres on the roads and disrupted the traffic movement. The protesters warned that they would not allow the shifting of the CRPF from Bhaderwah at any cost because militants groups were still active in this belt.

Addressing the gathering, president of the Sanatan Dharam Sabha Desraj Katal recalled that situation in Bhaderwah was brought under control only after the development of security forces. He said the withdrawal of the CRPF at this juncture would help the militant groups to regroup themselves.

Pickets of the CRPF at Khakal Mohalla, Haveli Mohalla and Vasukidwara reportedly had already been winding up while as those camping at other places have been asked to pack up and be prepared for shifting any time.

This morning minorities came on roads to lodge their protest. “For the past one month we have been receiving information about the shifting of the CRPF,” Dhanantar Singh, a local leader, said. He added that the government’s decision had created fear psychosis among the minorities. He alleged that instead of assessing the ground situation, the authorities had been playing into the hands of those who had been levelling fake charges on the security forces.

Janta Dal (Secular) leader Mast Nath Yogi also warned the authorities against taking this unwise step and cautioned that shifting of the CRPF from this area at this juncture would be proved disastrous.

Jammu, August 7
The Central University Anodlan (CUA) has given a call for a Jammu bandh on August 10, CUA convener Justice Pavitar Singh said here.

The CUA has asked the students to wear black badges and hoist black flags during demonstrations in all city colleges and in University of Jammu on Saturday.

CUA activists have described as a mere eyewash the statement of the group of ministers stating that two central universities would be established, one at Jammu and the other at Srinagar. They demanded immediate demarcation of land for the construction of a central university at Samba.

Students of all city colleges boycotted classes under the banner of the Central University Andolan Samiti (CUAS) today. The students wearing black badges conducted awareness campaigns to make people aware about the Jammu bandh call for August 10.

The students of Government Gandhi Memorial Science College, Commerce College, MAM College, Government College for Women (GCW), Parade, and GCW, Gandhi Nagar, boycotted classes.

“We stopped buses and made passengers aware about the bandh on August 10. We even went to shops in the area to make the bandh call successful. The shopkeepers assured us of their support,” said a student leader.

The students held a dharna and blocked the main road for two hours. Meanwhile, the Rajput Sabha and the Bhraman Sabha have extended their support to the bandh call on August 10.

Udhampur: Various social, political, business and religious have warned the government against deliberately creating confusion on setting up the proposed central university in the Jammu region.

Speakers at an all party meeting averred that certain disgruntle elements, at the behest of government agencies, had been demanding setting up of the proposed university at different places. They demanded that the proposed university should be set up at Samba where land had already been earmarked for it.

Although there was unanimity among all participants that the university should be set up at Samba, Congress members asked the participants to wait for the Centre’s response before launching the agitation.

It was also decided to support the bandh call given by the Central University Andolan Samiti.

Udhampur, August 7
Even as the party high command has deputed newly appointed Cabinet minister Ghulam Mohammad Saroori to placate the annoyed Congress leaders, infighting among party workers turned murkier after his visit in Doda and Kishtwar districts.

Though the minister avoided attacking his rivals, his supporters seized all opportunities to “expose” those who, according to them, had launched a vicious campaign against Saroori after his induction as a Cabinet minister.

Saroori’s maiden visit to his home town as a Cabinet minister was marred by mudslinging as his supporters publicly levelled serious allegations against former minister Mohammad Sharief Naiz, who had locked horns with the former, especially after the expansion of the ministry.

Infuriated over the denial of a ministerial berth, Naiz and his supporters, for the past one month, had stepped up attacks on Saroori and charged him with supporting the BJP candidate in the recently held byelection to the Bhaderwah Assembly segment.

Naiz had even gone to New Delhi to lodge a protest against the inclusion of Saroori in the ministry. He had also levelled serious allegations against Saroori. It was only after the intervention of Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, Naiz stopped his campaign against Saroori, who is considered a confidant of the Union minister.

After a lull of fortnight, squabbling among Congress leaders further intensified as Saroori supporters stepped up attacks on his arch rival Naiz.

Sources in the Congress said the detractors of Naiz deliberately arranged meetings of the visiting minister in the home town of the former. In these meetings, the minister remained silent about his opponent, but his supporters minced no words in attacking Naiz, who is also the sitting MLA from Bhaderwah.

Interestingly, both warring factions of the Congress have been blaming each of hobnobbing with the BJP. The Saroori faction alleged that during 2008 Assembly elections Naiz supported BJP candidate Shakti Parihar, who had contested against Saroori. On the other, Naiz charged Saroori with financing Dalip Singh, who was the BJP candidate against him in the 2009 Bhaderwah byelection.

Important to note that after the formation of coalition government, three Congress MLAs — Majid Wani, Mohammad Sharief Naiz and G M Saroori —staked claims to ministerial berths. However, Saroori was made a minister during the recent Cabinet expansion.

Jammu, August 7
Justice Sunil Hali of the J&K High Court has allowed writ petitions seeking relaxation in the upper age limit for appointment as a dental surgeon, directing the state to accord consideration for the grant of relaxation in the age limit for the writ petitioners and conduct interviews for their selection.

The judgment was passed in four writ petitions filed by Dr Shabir Ahmed, Mohd Younis Malik, Dr Davinder Kour and Dr Sajid Iqbal Malik, who were appointed on an ad hoc basis on November 30, 2000, initially for a period of 89 days, and have been continuing till date.

The petitioners submitted that on the day of notification inviting applications for the appointment of dental surgeons in the Health & Medical Education Department, the upper age limit for appointment was 37 years for direct recruits and 40 years for those already in service. The writ petitioners could not seek appointment, as they had crossed 40 years of age. They could only seek consideration for appointment if relaxation for the upper age limit was given in their favour.

The Justice observed that: “There is no provision in the J&K Medical (Gazetted) Service Recruitment Rules, 1970, and J&K Heath & Family Welfare (Gazetted) Service Recruitment Rules, 2006, for relaxing the rules. However, rule-II of the said rules deals with residuary matters, which envisages that the matter not specifically covered by these rules or by regulation or orders, and shall be governed by the rules, regulations and orders applicable to the State Civil Services in general.

The Justice further maintained that: “So, the power to seek relaxation is traceable under Rule 5 of the J&K Civil Services (Classification, Control & Appeal) Rules, 1956, which is applicable to the State Service General Rules 5. Now, the question that arises for consideration in the present case is whether relaxation in the upper age limit can be termed to be a condition of recruitment. In order to understand this expression, it is important to make mention of various provisions of the J&K Health & Family Welfare (Gazetted) Service Recruitment Rules, 2006. No persons shall be appointed to any post in service unless he possesses the qualification as laid for the post, fulfils the requirements of recruitment as provided in the rules and order for time being in force.”

Senior Advocate DC Raina appearing for the respondents reported that the selection process has not been conducted till date. Upon this, the court directed the state to accord considerations for the grant of relaxation in the upper age limit in case of writ petitioners and conduct their interviews in the coming selection of dental surgeons.

Srinagar, August 7
The Centre has sanctioned Rs 340 crore Wullar Conservation Project to restore the glory of this world famous water body in north Kashmir.

Nawang Rigzin Jora, Minister for Tourism, said this while replying to questions in the state Assembly here today. He said tourism promotion was a critical component for encouraging economic and resource mobilisation in the state. He added that the government had created 19 Tourism Development Authorities to exploit the vast tourism potential in the state.

The minister said all out efforts would be made to exploit the tourism potential in all three regions and there would be no discrimination against any region in this regard.

He said a multifaceted tourism festival was being organised from August 25 at Gurez to showcase the scenic splendour and tourism potential of this beautiful valley. The two beautiful spots of Lolab and Bangus would also be brought on the tourism canvas of the country, Jora added.

Jammu, August 7
Maninderjit Singh Bitta, chairman of the All-India Anti-Terrorist Front, today expressed concern over the reported construction of bunkers by the Pakistani forces along the border. He said the government should take a tough stand against the neighbour, which is “creating another Kargil-like situation”.

Addressing a press conference here today, Bitta accused Pakistan of waging a war against India through militant activities, pumping counterfeit currency into the Indian economy and clandestine smuggling of narcotics and arms into India to weaken it. “Punjab had a political will to crush militancy and it succeeded. But in J&K leaders like Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and Mehbooba Mufti are acting on the dictates of the ISI and Pakistan and don’t want militancy to end.

The Indian government must understand it and take stringent action against them for anti-national activities,” he aid. “The PDP can go to any extent and could foment trouble any time,” he alleged.

Bitta also demanded the establishment of an anti-terrorist militant court. “There should be no interference from the Prime Minister or the President in the functioning of the proposed court,” he said.

Srinagar, August 7
Is the new Jammu and Kashmir legislative complex here haunted by evil spirits that have prompted the resignation of two Chief Ministers and ugly scenes? Sounds naive, but that is exactly what Assembly officials and even some legislators who quietly conducted an elaborate religious ritual to exorcise the spirits believe.

After Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s resignation on July 28 and unprecedented scenes of chaos in the Assembly, officials of the Kashmir Assembly organised a religious ritual on Wednesday evening to ward off “evil”.

Twenty-five senior Muslim clerics of the Kashmir valley were invited for a special ceremonial ritual held in the legislative complex, situated on the banks of the Jhelum in the heart of the city, an official said.

The clerics recited ‘durood-e-najaat’ - special Arabic verses which the Muslims believe help in warding off the jinx and black magic - and distributed sweets after it was over.

“The ritual was held because we believe there is some evil spirit in the newly constructed complex,” the official told IANS requesting anonymity as the event was kept under wraps.

“Since the new complex was thrown open last year, unprecedented incidents have been happening in the House,” he said.

The new complex held its first session on July 7 last year. Incidentally, then Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad was forced to resign from the post on the same day over the bitter Amarnath land row.

The Assembly was dissolved soon after and new elections were held in November-December last year.

Since the capital was in Jammu then, the newly elected members of the House met and took oath in the state’s winter capital.

When the House met for its Budget Session on July 27 this year in the new complex in Srinagar, it began with chaos and confusion. On the first day of the Budget Session, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti attacked Speaker Mohammed Akbar Lone and snatched his mike.

Mehbooba, protesting against the rape and murder of two women in Shopian, wanted the Speaker to raise the issue and hold a debate on government’s handling.

On the second day of the Budget Session, Abdullah was linked with a 2006 sex racket by a PDP member. An emotional Abdullah offered to resign in the wake of sex slur and submitted the resignation letter to the Governor. Abdullah later withdrew his resignation after he was given a clean chit in the sex scandal.

The third day of the session was equally uproarious and Abdullah stayed away from the proceedings. The House later went for a brief break and before resuming business on Friday, officials held the ritual on Wednesday to bring back peace.

The new “jinxed” Assembly complex was a dream project of former Chief Minister Azad.

The construction of the building was started in September 28 (1981) with the original cost of Rs 6.8 crore. Its foundation was laid by then Chief Minister Late Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah. — IANS

Jammu, August 7
Panic gripped the Jammu University campus when a group of youths, some of them believed to be students, today ransacked a cafeteria and assaulted its owner over a trivial issue. A group of around 10 youths came to the cafeteria around 2:45 pm and entered into a verbal duel with its contractor Bhisham Padha of Nanak Nagar.

Within no time, they started beating him ruthlessly with chairs and iron rods. The hooligans completely ransacked the cafeteria, damaging a deep freezer, smashing a multi-lead charging port, a billing machine and other items, including furniture. Bleeding profusely, the cafeteria contractor was later shifted to the Government Medical College.

When the incident occurred, the cafeteria was packed to its capacity as a large number of students were sitting there. Some students, especially girls, panicked and ran outside for safety, while some boys intervened and tried to save the contractor from the assailants.