|
|
Cong infighting reaches Delhi
Schoolgirl pleads innocence
NC trying to derail dialogue process: PDP
Govt urged to release DA instalment
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Guv’s wife gives Rs 50,000 to society
Encroachments removed
Jora inspects Sidhra Golf Course
Crime File
Farmers block highway over shortage of seeds
NCC cadets help cops streamline traffic
Verghese to probe bungling in promotions
Repair works on Mubarak Mandi complex inspected
SRTC employees renew ‘unusual protest’ threat
Boards constituted for remission of sentence
Protest against price rise
|
|
Cong infighting reaches Delhi
Jammu, November 18 While PCC chief Saifuddin Soz, most of the time, prefers to stay in New Delhi, leaders of his rival faction have also been camping in the Union Capital to inform the high command about, what they allege, the prevailing mess in the party. Sources in the Congress told The Tribune that former minister Abdul Gani Vakil, who is a known detractor of Soz, has been camping in New Delhi to devise a strategy to face the challenges being posed by the rivals. Vakil along with Minister for Roads and Buildings (R&B) Ghulam Mohammed Saroori and another former minister Gulchain Singh Charak met Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad in New Delhi last evening. “It was a routine meeting with Ghulam Nabi Azad,” Vakil told The Tribune over the phone from New Delhi, downplaying the hectic activities going in the Union Capital. Vakil, who is leading the anti-Soz faction, however, admitted that they had suggested the party high command to reconstitute the PCC to further strengthen the Congress party in the state. While claiming that the majority of the mass base and grass-roots level workers are with the Azad faction, Vakil said a coterie of leaders had been running the PCC. The sources said the leaders of the anti-Soz faction not only met with Azad, but also called on senior leaders of the party to highlight their demands. Meanwhile, both warring factions have decided to exhibit their strength in the border tehsil of RS Pura on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Indira Gandhi. The Soz group has decided to organise a function at Satarian, while the rival group will hold a public meeting at Suchetgarh, within a distance of just 4 km. |
|
Schoolgirl pleads innocence
Jammu, November 18 “Doctors at the Government Medical College Hospital have described the girl’s condition as not fit for a statement and hence we are waiting for their nod,” Anu Kumar, SHO, Bagh-e-Bahu police station, told The Tribune. The case was under active consideration and once we record the statement of the victim an FIR would be registered, he added. “If we record the statement of the girl without the permission of the doctors, it would not be held valid by the court,” he said. It has also been reliably learnt that the girl, Raj Rani, sustained 15 per cent burns in her bid to end her life. “The girl has suffered 15 per cent burns and is out of danger,” a doctor at the GMCH told The Tribune. The media, particularly television channels, today aired the statement of the girl, who maintained that she did not steal anything, but after being accused by the school principal of trying to steal money and paraded on the school premises before other children she could not bear the humiliation and took the extreme step. Furthermore, Chief Education Officer Natha Ram, who ordered a probe yesterday and was to get the report today, had switched off his cellphone. Natha Ram had constituted a two-member committee comprising the Zonal Education Officer, Gandhi Nagar, and the principal of Shastri Nagar Government School. The 12-year-old student of class VI of Government Girls Middle School had set herself ablaze in her house in Gorkha Nagar yesterday after her school principal Rizwan Ara had accused her of trying to steal money from her purse. Raj Rani, however, claimed before the media that she found the purse of her teacher on the floor with some money lying near it. She claimed that she was putting the money back in the purse when her principal arrived and started slapping her. The principal then paraded her in the school. Humiliated, she tried to take the extreme step. |
|
NC trying to derail dialogue process: PDP
Srinagar, November 18 Referring to repeated arrest of Syed Ali Geelani and some other leaders and activists by the police, senior PDP leader Tariq Hameed Karra said there was no logic in such action as there was no breach of peace anywhere as a result of their political activity. He said it seemed the state government was unnerved by the Centre’s offer of inclusive talks to find a lasting solution to the Kashmir issue. Speaking at a one-day convention of party workers in Budgam district today, Karra said renewed dialogue process could provide the much-needed space for the battle of ideas the PDP always pleaded for. But he said the government seemed to be scared to enter a civilised debate on issues and had resorted unabashedly to strong arm methods. Karra said the party view that the dialogue could be fruitful only if all parties were involved in it. |
|
Govt urged to release DA instalment
Jammu, November 18 Subhash Shastri, NMC president, has also requested the government to release the DA instalment of five per cent. A press note issued here stated that the NMC had submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister and the Finance Minister. “Since the Union government and most of the states have extended the benefit to their employees and pensioners, the coalition government should also take a positive decision on this issue well before the coming festival,” Shastri said. He said that the prices of all essential commodities, particularly of daily use, had risen causing a huge financial burden to the salaried class and the release of the DA instalment would provide some relief to them. Shastri hoped that the pay anomalies of various categories of employees would also be removed at the earliest as per the commitment made. |
|
Guv’s wife gives Rs 50,000 to society
Jammu, November 18 Usha said the needy and poor children should be supported by everyone to ensure that they excel in life. The children presented a cultural programme consisting of two skits “Beti Ahihai Hai” and “Panchayat”. Others also presented cheques to the society to help the needy children. Sneh Chopra, working president of the society, thanked the guests for their cooperation. |
|
Encroachments removed
Jammu, November 18 (JDA) during an anti-encroachment drive
here today. The enforcement wing of the JDA also shifted five scrap godowns, which were constructed illegally on the roads. The functioning of five illegal service stations was also stopped, as they were damaging the roads. The team also warned two transport companies to remove their goods placed on the road, else the dumped material would be confiscated. The Director, Land Management, has warned all shopkeepers in the Transport Nagar area to vacate the encroached space in front of their shops. |
|
|
Jora inspects Sidhra Golf Course
Jammu, November 18 Jora said golf tourism had taken a flight in the state due to its wonderful locations, which needed to be developed into a proper infrastructure to attract western as well as domestic tourists. The 18-hole golf course, spread over 1,400 kanals, is being developed at an estimated cost of Rs 44 crore. In the first phase, the 9-hole golf course will become operational in December this year. |
|
|
8 hurt in road mishap
Tribune News Service
Jammu, November 18 Domana police station SHO Bishnesh Kumar said the minibus collided with the horsecart, injuring eight passengers. They injured were shifted to the GMC. 3 consume poison Three persons consumed some poisonous substance at their respective houses, the police said today. Shoki Lal of Udhampur, Pooja of Tilla Billawer and Pooja of Sarwal were admitted to the GMC after they consumed poison.
|
|
|
Farmers block highway over shortage of seeds
Kathua, November 18 Trouble erupted around 11.30 am today when over 150 farmers from Palli, Barwal, Barnoti, Budhi and Pallard villages blocked the highway and disrupted vehicular movement for nearly an hour. Shouting slogans against the Agriculture and Cooperative Departments, they staged a sit-in and refused to lift the blockade. A police party led by Kathua SHO Surinder Rao and Agriculture Officer Raju Gupta reached the spot and pacified the agitating farmers. The Agriculture Officer told the farmers that more stocks of wheat seeds had been requisitioned and the same would be distributed among them once these reach Kathua. However, Director Agriculture Vinod Bala Sharma denied any kind of scarcity of wheat seeds for the Rabi season. “This year, the department has acquired 28,000 quintals of wheat seeds for Jammu province unlike the past practice of 16,000 quintals every Rabi season,” she said. “We also decided to give drought-hit farmers a subsidy of Rs 500 per quintal of wheat seeds,” she said. Last year, the farmers were given wheat seeds at a price of Rs 1,800, but this year the government took a sympathetic view and tried for the maximum subsidy, she added. She felt that the subsidy might have been the reason behind the brisk purchase of wheat seeds. However, to ensure proper distribution and check black marketeering we had appointed a chief agriculture officer, she said. She added that we requested the farmers to purchase the seeds as per their requirement. “The field staff of my department had been alerted and cautioned against any malpractice after the recent incident of 27 quintals of subsidised wheat seeds finding its way to a flour mill in RS Pura,” she said. The department had already distributed 20,000 quintals of seed, while another 8,000 quintals would reach us within days, she claimed. |
|
|
NCC cadets help cops streamline traffic
Jammu, November 18 About 20 NCC cadets have been deployed mainly at Jewel Chowk, Bikram Chowk, Vivekananda Chowk, Dogra Chowk and some other points, where traffic remains chaotic for the whole day. Police sources said more than half the number of traffic policemen were busy with the visits of VVIPs and VIPs to the city after the darbar move. As a result, traffic violators were having a gala time. Thus, to check traffic rule violations, the cadets were stopping those driving on the wrong side or making a wrong entry or parking at a wrong site and driving without helmets or with loose seat belts. Sharing his experience, Mukesh Sharma, an NCC cadet, said: “It is a great experience for me and I have learnt new techniques from traffic cops. We found that most of the two-wheeler riders were not wearing helmets and we simply advised them to follow the traffic rules.” “Life is precious and it should not be lost in an accident. This is what the NCC cadets are telling commuters,” Sajan Gupta, a traffic police personnel, said. A senior traffic cop said the NCC cadets should be deployed permanently with the police to curb the increase in traffic rule violations. However, repeated attempts to contact IG Traffic Mohammad Amin Shah proved futile. |
|
|
Verghese to probe bungling in promotions
Jammu, November 18 The terms of reference of the inquiry, as per an order of the GAD, include examining whether promotions at different levels vide the said order have been affected by following the recruitment rules of the J&K Agriculture (Gazette Services), whether any senior officer/officers have been ignored and junior officers, who were not due for promotion in the normal course, have been given the benefit; whether general category/reserved category candidates have received their due share in promotions as per rules; whether basic inputs of the recruitment rules have been taken into account while affecting the promotions; whether any officer against whom vigilance cases are pending or prosecution sanctioned or period of unauthorised absence was undecided have been conferred upon the benefit of grade; whether the promoted officers have actually worked on these posts; whether the exchequer has suffered any loss as a result of these undue promotions and to pinpoint the officers responsible for this. The inquiry officer, as per today’s order, shall be free to co-opt any officer/officers during the process of inquiry and shall submit his report within a period of 45 days. It may be recalled that Minister for Agriculture Ghulam Hassan Mir had directed the constitution of an inquiry committee on September 8, 2009, to look into the allegations of malpractices in promotions in the Agriculture Department. The committee, after perusing the relevant records, submitted its report in September. The minister had received several representations and complaints against the promotions made in the department alleging violations in seniority. |
|
|
Repair works on Mubarak Mandi complex inspected
Jammu, November 18 SM Sahni, Director Tourism, Jammu, and other senior officers of the archives and tourism departments accompanied Banerjee. Banerjee inspected the darbar hall, conference hall, old High Court complex, Gole Ghar, Maharani Charak Mahal and other sites in the complex. The Director Tourism apprised the Union Secretary that the restoration work was being carried out by the Tourism Department in close coordination with the INTACH.He said while INTACH was preparing the detailed project report for preserving the heritage complex, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) was heading the conservation work. The PWD was looking after maintenance and protection works, he said. Banerjee emphasised on expediting the work so as to restore the pristine glory of the Dogra architecture. |
|
|
SRTC employees renew ‘unusual protest’ threat
Jammu, November 18 The government representatives and the employee leaders had held four rounds of talks, the latest being on last Sunday. Though both parties termed the talks as a positive step ahead, they had remained inconclusive. “We had served an ultimatum on the state government till this afternoon and now we can hold our unusual protest at any time,” said Shakeel Ahmed Kuchay, chairman of the JKSRTC Workers Union. He added, “The four rounds of talks were held in a very conducive environment, as the government representatives listened to our problems carefully. We had given a deadline till 2:30 pm today, but the government had done nothing.” He said the ‘unusual protest’ would be launched in Jammu and Srinagar simultaneously. “We won’t give the details of our course of action, as the government would take every measure to thwart that. So it would be a surprise move,” Kuchay said. He said the government had assured them that an apex body would be formed under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who would take decisions to resolve our issues. But recent development showed that no such committee had been formed, Kuchay said. Kuchay said four committees had been formed till date to solve the problems of the SRTC employees, but none of them was empowered enough to take any decision on the fate of the corporation. “Only a committee headed by the Chief Minister can resolve the issue,” Kuchay said. |
|
|
Boards constituted for remission of sentence
Jammu, November 18 The board members for Jammu division are District and Sessions Judge, Jammu, District Magistrate, Jammu, Dr. VK Kapoor; former Prof, Law Department, University of Jammu, Seema Shekhar; advocate Ved Ghai; director, Social Welfare, Jammu; a nominee of Advocate General, while superintendent, Central Jail, Kot Bhalwal, Jammu will be member secretary. The members of the board for Kashmir division are District and Sessions Judge, Srinagar, District Magistrate, Srinagar, Afzal Qadiri; former Prof, Law department, University of Kashmir, Fozia Imam Ashai; project officer, State Resource Centre, University of Kashmir, Dr. Qazi Masood; Prof, Government Medical College, Srinagar, Nighat Pandit; NGO Help Foundation and a nominee of Advocate General, while Superintendent Central Jail, Srinagar will be its member secretary. |
|
|
Protest against price rise
Jammu, November 18 The demonstration was held under the leadership Sanjeev Gupta, mandal president of the BJYM, Jammu East. Gupta flayed the Union Government for its failure to control the rise in prices of essential commodities. He regretted that poor people had been facing hardship due to sky-rocketing prices of essential commodities, but the government was not serious about solving the problem. Gupta alleged politicians were hand in glove with the hoarders and big businessmen and this was the main reason for the rise in prices of essential commodities. |
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
Lending a helping hand to an acutely understaffed traffic police to streamline chaotic traffic, NCC cadets would be stationed on city roads for a week.
About 20 NCC cadets have been deployed mainly at Jewel Chowk, Bikram Chowk, Vivekananda
Chowk, Dogra Chowk and some other points, where traffic remains chaotic for the whole day.
