|
|
|
|
|
Legislative Assembly
Regional Imbalances in Budget
Debate on Budget
Marshals separate scuffling MLAs in Assembly
|
Unending wait
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Won’t accept Madni’s resignation, says Speaker
Charak plays down factionalism in Punjab Congress
Members condemn derogatory remarks against last Dogra ruler
Spread of Yellow Rust
IAF airlifts 662 stranded passengers
Jaish chief commander shot dead
Follow teachings of Ramakrishna, says
Governor
Lt-Gen Parnaik on Ladakh visit
Lt-Gen KT Parnaik
Honour killing suspected behind youth’s death
|
|
Legislators unite over plight of SPOs, VDC members
Dinesh Manhotra Tribune News Service
Jammu, March 10 Speaker of the House Mohammad Akbar Lone also spoke on the plight of the SPOs and directed the government to formulate a comprehensive policy for them. While replying to the question of Panthers Party MLA Balwant Singh Mankotia, Sagar said the government was serious about redressing the grievances of SPOs of the state. He informed that a proposal to enhance the honorarium paid to the SPOs from Rs 3,000 per month to Rs 5,000 per month had been submitted to the Centre. He said after the approval for the proposal was received from the Centre, the honorarium of the SPOs would be enhanced. The legislators cutting across the party lines said the SPOs and the members of the VDCs had played a dominant role in fighting militancy in the state and there was need for resolving their problems. Congress legislator from Doda Majid Wani reminded that when militancy was at its peak, it was SPOs and members of the VDCs who came forward to take on militants, especially in the erstwhile Doda district. PDP legislator Nizam-ud Din Bhat and CPM legislator MY Tarigami also pointed towards the miserable condition of the SPOs. As the minister said the government had forwarded the proposal to the Centre, JSM legislator Ashwani Sharma intervened and shouted that for the last two decades the government had been formulating proposals for these valiant people, but nothing concrete had come out. He was supported by the MLAs of the BJP and the Panthers Party. All legislators resorted to shouting slogans against the government for not solving the problems of SPOs and VDC members. They later staged a walkout from the House.
|
|
Regional Imbalances in Budget
Jammu, March 10 Claiming that the issue of inclusive development had been taken care of in all three Budgets presented by him so far, Rather reiterated the commitment of his government to a balanced growth of all regions and sub-regions of the state. He quoted from his Budget speech, saying besides all budgetary allocations, special funds would be available as per the recommendations of the task forces appointed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for Jammu and
Ladakh. For this purpose, a provision of Rs 146 crore had been proposed for the annual plans of Leh and Kargil districts and Rs 100 crore as the state’s share under the Border Area Development Programme to meet the special requirements of the remote and inaccessible border areas. “In addition, a special package is being worked out to address the unique developmental needs of other backward areas,” he said. |
|
|
PDP, NC legislators have heated exchanges
Archit Watts Tribune News Service
Jammu, March 10 A heated exchange between the legislators of the NC and the PDP became so fierce that the acting chairman of the House, Arvinder Singh Micky, had to intervene and expunge some remarks from the proceedings. The commotion occurred during a debate on the Budget when PDP legislator Syed Asgar Ali pointed towards some shortcomings in the Budget. However, NC legislator Altaf Ahmad Wani repeatedly interrupted Asgar and praised the Budget. This infuriated Ali and he said, “The NC is a group of sycophants. Earlier, I have been tolerating interruptions, but it will not be tolerated now”. He added that he was expressing views, which was a constitutional right. Mohammad Rashid Qureshi of the NC objected to it and made derogatory remarks against Asgar Ali, which were expunged from the proceedings of the House. Meanwhile, Micky directed both groups to calm down and attend the proceedings peacefully. In another incident during Question Hour, a heated exchange was witnessed when Minister of State for CAPD and Transport Shabir Ahmad Khan was replying to a question of PDP legislator Nizam-ud-Din Khatana regarding the supply of ration to Gujjars and Bakerwals. Not satisfied with the minister’s reply, another PDP legislator Murtaza Ahmad Khan said, “You are misleading the House and I will move a privilege motion in this regard”. Both Khatana and Murtaza made a number of allegations against the state government on the issue. Khatana even handed over a document to the acting chairman showing the minister having given a contradictory reply last year. The PDP members also sought a half-an-hour discussion on the issue. The acting chairman accepted their request and scheduled the discussion for tomorrow. Meanwhile, Shabir Ahmad Khan assured the House that if the Gujjars and the Bakerwals were not getting adequate supply of ration, the government would soon provide them mobile ration cards, which would be accepted in Jammu as well as in the Valley.
|
|
Marshals separate scuffling MLAs in Assembly
Jammu, March 10 Infuriated over the remarks, Balwant Singh Mankotia rushed towards Rashid and entered into a scuffle with him. Before the situation could turn ugly, marshals of the Assembly swung into action and separated the quarrelling MLAs. Though Mankotia returned to his seat, Rashid continued to create an uproar, displaying some papers. There was total din in the House at 11.5 am when some members resorted to shouting slogans. Around 11.20 am, Rashid again entered into the well of the House and created a ruckus. On this, the Speaker lashed out at the legislators for not maintaining decorum in the House. “You have turned the House into a fish market and you have failed to maintain its dignity, ” he said. He asked the staff of the Assembly to provide rules book to Rashid so that he could learn how to behave in the Assembly. “If you continue with such an attitude, I will be left with no option but to ask the watch and ward staff to take you out,” the Speaker warned Rashid. Enraged over the unruly behaviour of Rashid, PDP legislator Choudhary Zulfikar, BJP legislator Chaman Lal Gupta and Harsh Dev Singh asked the Speaker to suspend Rashid for creating “nuisance”. However, PDP legislator Muzaffar Hussain Beigh intervened and asked Rashid to return to his seat. While urging the Speaker not to take any harsh action against Rashid, Beigh asked all legislators to respect the Chair. Later, Rashid walked out of the Assembly alleging that he was not allowed to highlight the problems of the people. |
|
Won’t accept Madni’s resignation, says Speaker
Jammu, March 10 “As long as I am the Speaker of the Assembly, I will not accept the resignation of the Deputy Speaker,” Lone told the House when PDP legislator AR Veeri asked for a seat for Madni as a member in the Assembly. “The Deputy Speaker has a right to tender his resignation, but I will also exercise my power to reject the resignation,” Speaker said. He added that, “I have high regards for Madni and I want him to continue as the Deputy Speaker”. As soon as the Speaker finished his reply, PDP leader Muzaffar Hussain Beigh started thumping the bench.
|
|
Charak plays down factionalism in Punjab Congress
Jammu, March 10 He will start a tour of Punjab tomorrow, where he will pay obeisance at the Golden Temple and Durgiana Mandir, Amritsar, besides visiting the Jallianwala Bagh. Afterwards, he would leave for Chandigarh to chair a meeting of the delegates of the state Congress. Charak was given a rousing welcome here on his arrival to his native city after being appointed as a member of the Congress Working Committee (CWC). Congress leaders owing allegiance to Ghulam Nabi Azad welcomed him, while the leaders belonging to the pro-Soz faction stayed away. Political analysts believe Charak’s appointment is a big boost to the pro-Azad faction. Charak discounted the reports of factionalism in the party in Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir. “The Congress has a history of inherent democracy. Everyone is free to voice his opinion. Divergent views should not be taken as factionalism in the party,” he said. Talking of Punjab, Charak said he would strive to choose clean candidates for the Assembly elections next year. “Punjab is already in the poll mood, as less than a year is left now. I don’t know if there will be early polls or not, but the Congress will have a landslide victory,” he said. He added that the SAD rule was an example of autocracy and mis-governance. “The Centre has introduced many schemes, but the Punjab government has failed to implement them properly,” Charak said.
|
|
Members condemn derogatory remarks against last Dogra ruler
Jammu, March 10 Another Panthers Party member Harsh Dev Singh also took strong exception of the remarks and informed the House that Maharaja Hari Singh had laid the foundation of the democracy in the state. He reminded the House that it was Maharaja Hari Singh, who had brought many social reforms in the state. “We hold Maharaja Hari Singh in very high esteem,” Singh said. PDP member Muzaffar Hussain Beigh also hailed the Maharaja and informed the House that Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, who had fought against the Dogra dynasty was not personally against the Maharaja. “Sheikh Abdullah’s struggle was against a system and not against an individual,” he said and added that the Maharaja too had great regard for the people of Kashmir.
|
|
|
AIR roped in to help farmers save wheat crop
Rajesh Bhat
Jammu, March 10 Based on the directions of the Union Agriculture Ministry, the Director General, AIR, New Delhi, has asked all its stations in the Jammu region to start suitable programmes to educate farmers living in far-off places about the disease well in time. The AIR stations located in Jammu, Kathua, Poonch, Bhaderwah, Rajouri and Nowshera have begun to broadcast instructions from experts so that further harm to the standing crop is prevented. Through different programme formats, including phone-in programmes, these AIR stations repeatedly ask farmers to express their observations and problems so that experts sitting in studios could give them timely guidance. An official of the radio station here said there had been a tremendous response from the farmers, as instructions were passed on to them through a programme called “Kissan Vani”, sponsored by the Union Ministry for Agriculture. Based on the opinion of experts and as directed by the ministry concerned, farmers were being told to immediately sprinkle an appropriate mixture of propiconazole-25 EC and water on the affected crop and repeat the process after three weeks depending upon the severity of the disease, the official said. He added that the success stories of some farmers having acted upon experts’ advice were also being broadcast. Intermittent rain over the past one month is being cited as the main reason for the spread of the disease. A Kissan Call Centre has also been set up and the affected farmers of the region are also being told through the medium of radio to approach the department for further guidance on telephone number 18001801551.
|
|
|
IAF airlifts 662 stranded passengers
Srinagar, March 10 According to Aamir Ali, coordinator, Disaster Management, Kashmir, 540 stranded passengers of Kargil were airlifted from Srinagar to Leh in the IAF aircraft today. Due to constant cancellation of the flights of the Kargil Courier from Srinagar and Jammu to Kargil due to inclement weather, the number of stranded passengers had gone up, following which special arrangements were made. The AN-32 aircraft between Jammu and Kargil could not operate due to a technical snag in the aircraft after take-off. The Kargil-bound passengers at the Jammu airport got agitated and protested against the cancellation of the flight. The IAF had assured that subject to weather an AN-32 aircraft would be deployed exclusively between Jammu and Kargil for airlifting the stranded passengers on Friday. Efforts were being made to arrange an IL-76 aircraft between Jammu and Leh, Aamir said. Meanwhile, IAF aircraft also made three sorties each between Kupwara and Tanghdar and 112 passengers were airlifted today. As many as 55 passengers were airlifted from Kupwara to Tangdhar and 57 from Tangdhar to Kupwara. The pilot of the aircraft made an aerial recce of the Macchil area but was unable to land.
|
|
|
Jaish chief commander shot dead
Srinagar, March 10 Acting on specific information, the police followed a Maruti car plying on the Fore Shore road and intercepted it around 3.45 pm. The militants were asked to stop the car but they opened fire on the police, resulting in a gunfight. Both of them were killed while two policemen were injured in the encounter. A woman in the nearby Habbak area was injured by a stray bullet. The police recovered an AK rifle, two pistols, seven magazines, two hand grenades, one Under Barrel Grenade Launcher and its eight grenades, one radio set and two pouches. This is the first such incident close to Srinagar city this year after two JeM militants were killed in an encounter with the police and security forces at Maloora near Srinagar in October last year. According to SM Sahai, IG, Kashmir Range, Afghani was the chief commander of the JeM, and was active in Sopore, Rafiabad and Zaingeer areas of Baramulla district for the past eight years. He had been engaged in recruiting youths in the militant group, the police said.
|
|
|
Follow teachings of Ramakrishna, says
Governor
Jammu, March 10 The Governor was addressing a gathering of people after releasing a book titled “Sri Ramakrishna Ke Iqwal-e-Zarrin” at a function held at the Ramakrishna Mission, Udheywala, here last evening. This book is the urdu translation of “Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna” originally written in Bangla by Mohinder Nath Gupta, based on the daily discourses of Ramakrishna with his devotees. The Governor observed that if we had to survive as individuals, as societies and as sovereign countries globally we had to revert to and revive the teachings of the great thinkers and philosophers. Referring to the teachings of Ramakrishna, the Governor said that the most eminent persons in India and abroad were influenced by his Pantheistic philosophy. He added that Ramakrishna taught us oneness of all gods and the value of adhering to truth and sincerity. Referring to the Urdu translation of the book, the Governor observed that it was very well written in a simple language and was easy to understand. He congratulated all those associated with this appreciable effort. He also announced Rs 5 lakh for carrying out the activities of the Ramakrishna Mission in Jammu. Earlier, on his arrival at the Ramakrishna Mission, the Governor visited the Medical Centre set up by the mission, interacted with the management and doctors and enquired about the consultancy, diagnostic and treatment facilities made available to the needy. Speaking on the occasion, Khalid Hussain, a noted writer, gave a detailed account of “Sri Ramakrishna Ke Iqwal-e-Zarrin” and stressed the need for translating various religious books in Urdu for the benefit of people. The co-translator of the book, Puran Chander Sharma, explained various chapters of the volume. |
|
|
2,200 attend Army medical camp
Jammu, March 10 As many as 2,200 persons from 44 villages of the Pargwal sub-sector visited the camp. The Commander, Chicken Neck Brigade, inaugurated the camp which was visited by people of all ages. A team of doctors, including some from the Army, checked the patients at the camp. The locals expressed gratitude to the Army for organising the camp. Under the Operation Sadbhavana of the Army, the doctors provided medical aid free of cost to the residents of the area.
|
|
|
Lt-Gen Parnaik on Ladakh visit
Srinagar, March 10 A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence, Lt-Col Rajesh Kalia, said Lt-Gen Parnaik was received by Major General RK Yadav, officiating General Officer Commanding, Fire and Fury Corps. During the first leg of his visit, Lt-Gen Parnaik visited eastern Ladakh and reviewed the defence preparedness. He also laid a wreath at the Rezang La War Memorial of 1962 operations. The Army Commander also visited the Siachen Glacier, the highest battlefield in the world, and interacted with the officers and troops posted there. He appreciated their efforts in carrying out their assigned tasks while braving the hardships of the high altitude, weather and terrains in the most challenging area of the country.
|
|
|
Honour killing suspected behind youth’s death
Jammu, March 10 Area residents blocked the Jammu-RS Pura road for two hours today, demanding the registration of a murder case against some relatives of the girl, who they alleged killed the youth. Sohan had strangulation marks and bruises on his body. The police started investigations under Section 174 of the CrPc, but the relatives of the youth and the residents of the village demanded that the culprits be booked for murder. The protesters staged a dharna in front of Miran Sahib police station today and relented only after Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO), RS Pura, HS Gill assured them of a proper investigation. The bereaved family claimed that the doctors in the medical report had established that Sohan was strangulated. “There were deep injury marks on the body of my son, which indicated that he was first killed and then hanged by the murderers to make it look a suicide case,” alleged Sohan’s mother Poli Devi. “Our family has no enemy except the girl’s family in the village. People say our elder son, Monu, had eloped with a girl from a different caste of their village about four months ago. However, we know nothing about it. Since then, the girl’s family has adopted a revengeful attitude towards us,” alleged Madan Lal, father of the deceased. The SDPO said some people named by Sohan’s family members were being questioned. “Nothing concrete can be said about the case at this stage. The post-mortem report can only confirm the cause of death,” he added.
|
|
| 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 | |
today highlighted the plight of special police officers (SPOs) and members of village defence committees (VDCs), who had been fighting militancy in different areas of the state. 
GS Charak, the newly-appointed in charge of Punjab, Chandigarh and Bihar affairs of the Congress, said today that he would strive for empowering the grass-roots party workers, right from the polling booth to the highest level.
Srinagar, March 10
