Jammu, May 18
Confronting the party high command directly on the cross-voting controversy, six of the seven suspended BJP MLAs announced this evening that they would not appear before the disciplinary committee in New Delhi on May 20. The six suspended MLAs, after a four-hour marathon meeting, again reposed faith in the leadership of Chaman Lal Gupta, who was also suspended along with them and removed from the post of the BJP Legislature Party by the high command.

“Six of my colleagues have conveyed me that they will not appear before the disciplinary committee,” Gupta told The Tribune. “As far as I am concerned, I will take the final decision on Thursday,” he said.

Giving reasons for not appearing before the disciplinary committee to clear their position, the six suspended MLAs, in a joint statement issued this evening, stated that, “Since the matter is sub-judice, we do not consider it proper at this stage to bring forth the facts and law on the matter”.

“It suffices to emphasis that we have submitted our replies to the show cause notice and have demanded from the disciplinary committee the documentary evidence and also the names of those who have witnessed us indulging in cross-voting, besides the parameters applied for singling us out for cross-voting while leaving the other four MLAs. Such documentary evidence has not been made available to us so far,” they said.

The suspended MLAs added that since the documentary evidence relied upon for suspending them and issuing the show cause notice was not so far available to them and, therefore, they were unable to attend the disciplinary committee meeting in Delhi on May 20.

Outrightly rejecting the high command’s request, they said, “We are not appearing before the disciplinary committee in the absence of the documents. We still hope that these will be made available to us at the earliest, enabling us to defend ourselves”. Bharat Bhushan, Durga Dass, Prof Garu Ram, Jagdish Raj Sapolia, Master Lal Chand and Baldev Sharma had signed the joint statement.

The BJP high command had summoned all 11 party MLAs, including the four “loyals”, to take the final decision on the cross-voting controversy on May 20. To discuss the high command’s proposal, the suspended MLAs held a meeting this evening to discuss different aspects of the cross-voting issue.

Sources said the suspended MLAs were divided on the issue of appearing before the disciplinary committee. While three legislators were of the opinion that all of them should jointly appear before the high command so as to effectively put forth their viewpoint, all of them later decided against appearing before the disciplinary committee.

The sources said the suspended MLAs had collected some evidence against the chief whip of the party, Ashok Khajuria, and were demanding action against him.

Srinagar, May 18
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was today taken by surprise as he received an unusual request from a delegation from Kupwara district to cancel the sanction of a primary school in their village.

“I am surprised. This is for the first time that I have got such a request,” Omar told the delegation from Check Natnoosa village in Kupwara district.

The delegation met Omar during the “open house” at his private office here and requested him to cancel the sanction for a primary school under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) in their village, as a middle school was already functioning there.

They demanded that the middle school in the village be upgraded to the high school level instead of setting up a separate SSA school. The delegation cited “contradictory” reports filed by officials of the Revenue Department and the Education Department, which had led to the sanctioning of the SSA school in the village.

Omar directed the officials concerned to probe the matter, as different population figures were submitted by the Revenue and Education departments for the same village. — PTI

Srinagar, May 18
Mohammad Maqbool Bhat, who was shot at and injured by militants yesterday for filing nomination papers for the panchayat elections in Sopore town of Baramulla district, said today that he was determined to contest the poll on May 25. “It has been ordained by the Almighty that I contest the elections. Even if my last drop of blood is spilled, I am not going to backtrack,” Bhat told PTI from his hospital bed.

Bhat, 65, was shot in the right foot by militants at Hajam Mohalla in Sopore town yesterday for filing nomination papers for the post of panch in the ongoing panchayat elections.

He said two persons stopped him while he was on his way home and shot him. They (militants) said, “We had warned you against taking part in the elections. Now, we would not kill you, but would only maim you,” Bhat added. — PTI

Jammu, May 18
Contrary to the claims of the state government to streamline the education system, two topmost posts in the Education Department have been lying vacant for quite some time, thus exposing non-seriousness on the part of those at the helm of affairs.

The J&K State Board of School Education continues to be headless for the past seven months. The government is yet to decide on a suitable person to be its chairman and the delay in filling the post is affecting decision making in this vital institute.

Similarly, the state is yet to get a Project Director for the Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) scheme, which was meant for universalising secondary and higher secondary education. The scheme was launched in 2008, but the post had been lying vacant.

Initially, the additional charge of Project Director, RMSA, was given to the Joint Director, Education, and later it was given to the Commissioner/Secretary, Education.

Though the Central government allocates a large sum of money for the upgrade of infrastructure and other requirements in high and higher secondary institutions, these important posts lying vacant is affecting the functioning of the education sector.

Education Minister Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed had also accepted the fact that these two posts had been lying vacant for a long period, but he failed to fill these.

During the Budget session recently, Peerzada had said the department was seriously thinking to fill these posts, but even after almost two months no action had been taken in this regard.

Former Education Minister Harsh Dev Singh had also targeted Peerzada a number of times on the issues related to the Education Department. However, repeated attempts to contact Peerzada proved futile and people close to him said the minister was out of the state.

Abdullian, May 18
Following intelligence inputs of a possible spurt in intrusion bids, the security forces, including the BSF and the Army, have intensified night vigil along the international border and the Line of Control (LoC).

“Soon after the US forces killed Osama bin Laden in Pakistan, there has been an uneasy calm along the border in the RS Pura sector and we have been anticipating some misadventure, which eventually happened on May 14 and 15 when the Pakistan troops fired on the Indian positions at Nikowal and Budhwar forward belts,” said a BSF official. “Despite all confidence-building measures between the two countries, you simply can’t trust them and hence we are alert,” he added.

“So far this year, the international border, including the RS Pura sector, has remained quiet, but on May 14 and 15 the Pakistan troops resorted to unprovoked firing in Nikowal and Budhwar, compelling us to retaliate,” the BSF official said.

“The ceasefire violations on May 14 and 15 in the RS Pura sector, which led to the killing of a BSF jawan, besides inputs of a spurt in the intrusion bids, particularly along the LoC in the Poonch sector, clearly indicates a hectic schedule for our troops along the LoC,” said an Army officer. “Around 450 ultras had been moved to the launching pads on the other side of the LoC and we anticipate more misadventures by the Pakistan troops in the coming days,” he added.

The Army officer said compared to year 2010 when there were 96 infiltration bids from across the LoC between February and April, there had been almost no attempt during the same period this year. “Now, there is a possibility of a sudden increase in the intrusion bids and intelligence inputs of the presence of the militants at various launching pads on the other side of the LoC in the PoK has alerted us,” said the official.

“We have also intercepted a sufficient number of messages of the mentors of terrorists from across the LoC telling the surviving militants in the twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch to flare up violence,” he added.

Jammu, May 18
The Tithwal Brigade of the Army dedicated one building with two fully furnished classrooms to Government Higher Secondary School at Bhowani in the Nowshera area today. The school building was inaugurated by the Commander, Tithwal Brigade.

Besides, the Army also gave classroom furniture to 18 schools in various villages of the border area during the function. The function was organised in continuation of the drive of the Tithwal Brigade in enhancing the quality of basic infrastructure to the schools of remote border villages. It was attended by 500 persons, including schoolchildren along with their teachers and village functionaries.

Simrandeep Singh, Sub Divisional Magistrate, Nowshera; Dr Kaushal Kumar Sharma, Additional SP; Jitender Kour Behal, Deputy Chief Education Officer, Nowshera; Trilok Sing, Zonal Education Officer, Nowshera; Devender Pal Singh, Tehsildar; Girdhari Lal Sharma, SDPO, Nowshera; and other prominent personalities of the area were also present.

A colourful cultural programme was also organised on the occasion in which a large number of students from various schools participated. Speaking on the occasion, the Commander of the Tithwal Brigade urged the teachers and the students to take advantage of the facilities being provided by the Army to the schools.

He exhorted the students to come forward and present their ideas to spread the message of peace and development in society with the aim of nation building.

Srinagar, May 18
Minister for Tourism and Culture Nawang Rigzin Jora today honoured Oveesa Iqbal, who cracked the Union Civil Services examination this year.

Jora, on the sidelines of a Buddha Purnima function, presented a traditional Ladakhi Scarf “Khataks” to Oveesa. He said it was a moment of pride for the state, especially for the people of Ladakh, that a woman candidate from Leh had cracked the most prestigious examination in the country.

The minister said Oveesa had demonstrated that the youth of Ladakh were as talented as anybody in the country. He added that her success would go a long way in inspiring the youth to strive for the civil services and become a part of the administrative set up of the country.

Jammu, May 18
Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand visited Basohli in Kathua district and inspected the proposed Ravi bridge site here today. On May 23, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi would lay the foundation stone of the 592-meter cable-stayed bridge.

The bridge would serve as a link between the Basohli area of the state and Dunera of Punjab, thereby providing alternate road connectivity between the two states.

The Deputy Chief Minister was accompanied by Lal Singh, MP; Umesh Chander, Director, GREF; Dr Pawan Kotwal, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu; Zahida Khan, DDC, Kathua; Farooq Khan, DIG, Jammu-Kathua Range, and JL Sharma, SSP, Kathua.

Tara Chand issued instructions to the BRO authorities to do the needful and reviewed various facilities provided at the site for the function. He issued instructions to the authorities concerned for providing essential services at the site. Later, he also convened a meeting of the workers at Kathua.

While addressing the gathering, Tara Chand said the coalition government had started various development schemes in the state. He added that these mega projects would go a long way in meeting the infrastructure demands of the people of the state.

Jammu, May 18
Peeved over what he claimed “unwarranted” remarks by Swami Agnivesh about the ensuing Amarnath yatra, former convener of Shri Amaranth Yatra Sangharsh Samiti, Lila Karan Sharma, has demanded the swami’s immediate arrest.

On May 16 social activist Agnivesh, on the sidelines of a peace conference organised by the Jammu and Kashmir Peace Foundation in Srinagar, had reportedly described the annual pilgrimage as a religious deception. Sharma said he had also decided to file a case of criminal proceedings against Swami Agnivesh.

Addressing mediapersons here today, Sharma said Swami Agnivesh was a “paid agent”, being used by certain agencies. His unwarranted remarks may create resentment among the people of the country, he added.

Sharma asked the state government to immediately take him (Swami Agnivesh) into preventive custody till the yatra ends.

Such remarks could create trouble in the state and across the country. The government should take serious cognisance of his utterances, Sharma said. He asked the people not to give attention to Agnivesh’s utterances.

Meanwhile, several organisations, including the Bharatiya Chaitanaya Party, Bajrang Dal and the Shiv Sena staged protests against Swami Agnivesh here today.

Srinagar, May 18
Governor NN Vohra has emphasised the need for imparting ethical and moral values to the youth along side the courses taught to them at various levels for ensuring that they develop a healthy and wholesome personality.

The Governor was interacting with a delegation of Brahma Kumaris, which called on him here today. The seven-member delegation was led by Brahma Kumari Mruthyunjaya, executive secretary, Brahma Kumaris, Mount Abu, Rajasthan.

The Governor said it would be beneficial if all education and training institutions organised periodic lectures on ethical and moral values and assigned an appropriate percentage of the overall marks to this segment of learning. He also stressed the need for the propagation of the Gandhian values of communal harmony, peace and brotherhood.

Briefing the Governor about the activities of the Brahma Kumaris, the delegation stated that the Prajapita Brahma Kumaris Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya, World Headquarters, Mount Abu, was running a postgraduate diploma and masters degree course on value education and spirituality through the distant education mode and offered to help Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (SMVDU) in organising lectures in value education and spirituality for the benefit of its students.

The Governor, who is the Chancellor of the SMVDU, said he would urge the Vice-Chancellor of the university to hold discussions with them to assess the possibility of putting in place an appropriate collaboration.

Meanwhile, children, who participated in the two-day Peace and Solidarity Cricket Trophy held in Srinagar city, called on Governor NN Vohra this evening.

One cricket team each of children from Delhi, Linton Hall School, Raj Bagh, Srinagar and another trained by the CRPF participated in this sports event, which was organised by the Guild of Service, a national-level voluntary developmental organisation dedicated to the welfare and empowerment of women and children, and sponsored by the National Foundation for Communal Harmony. The players were in the age group of 12 to 15 years. In all, 88 children, including 34 from the Rahat Ghar, Srinagar, called on the Governor.

The team of Linton Hall School, Raj Bagh, Srinagar, lifted the Peace and Solidarity Cricket Trophy. The Governor interacted with the young peace ambassadors from Delhi and Srinagar and observed that such events helped in promoting camaraderie, national integration and harmony. He presented gifts to them and wished them a bright future.

While interacting with the chairperson of the Guild of Service, Dr Mohini Giri, about the activities of the Guild, the Governor announced that he would provide an even more imposing “Peace and Solidarity Running Cricket Trophy” for the competitive matches from next year onwards.

Srinagar, May 18
Sajid Iqbal, son of Principal Secretary, Agriculture, Iqbal Khanday and Sessions Judge Kaneez Fatima, died in a road accident on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway, near Awantipora, about 30 km from here, last night.

Sajid, a lawyer by profession, was on his way back home after attending a marriage function in south Kashmir when the mishap occurred. He reportedly died on the spot.

The Governor, Chief Minister, ministers and senior officers have expressed grief over the tragic death of the young advocate. In his message, Governor NN Vohra conveyed his heartfelt condolences to Iqbal Khanday and other members of the bereaved family and prayed for eternal peace to the departed soul.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah visited the bereaved family, stayed there for some time, consoled them and expressed his solidarity and sympathy with them. Later, Omar attended the Nimaz-e-Jenaza (funeral prayers) for the deceased.