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Mehbooba questions Centre’s silence on corruption in state
To highlight corruption in state, BJP to hold 4 yatras
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Lashkar man key suspect in Delhi HC, Udhampur blasts
Centre keen to see J-K progress in all sectors: Cabinet Secy
Welfare of artisans part of economic policy: Omar
Pt Premnath Dogra remembered
BRO told to erect crash barriers in Ramban
Home Secy cautions state on terror funding
Former militant to marry bureaucrat
Intrusion bid in Nowshera
Minister lauds role of Army in state
CCI expresses concern over I-T surveys
Help resolve Kashmir issue, UN urged
Army organises medical camp
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Mehbooba questions Centre’s silence on corruption in state
A large number of youth participated in a rally organised by the PDP against the NC-led coalition government here today. While Mehbooba led the rally, other senior party leaders, legislators and youth leaders, including Mohammad Sartaj Madni, Abdul Rehman Veeri, Nizamudin Bhat, Mohammad Khalil Bandh, Syed Bashir Ahmed, Zahoor Ahmad Mir, Mushtaq Ahmad Shah and Mohammad Ashraf Mir, participated. Carrying placards and banners, the protesters marched from the party headquarters, near the Sher-i-Kashmir Park on the Residency Road, to Lal Chowk, but were stopped by the police near Regal Chowk. They were also carrying an effigy of the government and were raising slogans against it for promoting corruption. Addressing the rally, Mehbooba cautioned the Centre against dealing with Jammu and Kashmir through “power brokers” and urged it to build bridges with the people of the state. She alleged that the state had become an island of darkness, corruption,
misgovernance, favouritism and nepotism due to the denial of justice, democracy and fair play. “Without the accountability of rulers, the problems of the state cannot go away,” she said. Mehbooba said while an anti-corruption movement was going on throughout the country, corrupt politicians were being protected in the state. She added the Chief Minister of Maharashtra and Karnataka had to resign on charges less serious than the one faced by Omar Abdullah. The PDP chief said J Jayalalithaa was being questioned in court and had even been denied exemption from personal appearance. “Here a man walked into the Chief Minister’s home, discussed money matters of the family, left in a sick state and died. Still no cognisance had been taken of the case and no FIR lodged,” she said. |
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To highlight corruption in state, BJP to hold 4 yatras
Jammu, October 24 He said that this single incidence was enough to prove that there was “corruption at higher places with the active involvement of top leadership of the NC”. He said the menace of corruption had reached every sphere and field in the state. “While the Congress-led UPA has been getting exposed each passing day for its corrupt practices, the need of the day is to reach out to the masses across the state in order to make them aware of the prevailing corruption in the state also,” he said. Manhas said BJP leader LK Advani had launched Jan Chetna Yatra at the national level with a motive to expose the Congress-led UPA over the sensitive issues of corruption, black money and price rise. Jammu and Kashmir had achieved the “distinction” of being the second most corrupt state in the country, he alleged. He said in this context the state unit of the BJP had decided to launch four yatras simultaneously from Hiranagar, Paddar, Samba and Poonch. The yatras would be led by Manhas, national executive members Nirmal Singh and Ashok Khajuria and party MLA Jugal Kishore Sharma. Giving details of Yatra routes, Manhas said one yatra would start from Hiranagar and pass through Kathua, Billawar, Basohli, Udhampur and Katra. The other would start from Paddar and pass through Kishtwar, Bhaderwah, Doda, Inderwal, Ramban and Katra. Both these yatras would culminate at Reasi on November 11, where Member of Parliament and TV celebrity Smriti Irani would address a public rally. The third yatra would start from Samba and pass through Bishnah, RS Pura, Suchetgarh, Gandhi Nagar, Jammu East, Jammu West, Nagrota, Marh, Raipur-Domana and Akhnoor. The fourth would start from Poonch and pass through Mendhar, Darhal, Kalakote, Rajouri, Budhal and Akhnoor. These two yatras would culminate at Jourian, the historic land of martyrs. A top leader of the BJP was expected to address the rally there. Spread over 10 days, the four yatras would cover more than 800 villages under 37 constituencies of Jammu province. |
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Lashkar man key suspect in Delhi HC, Udhampur blasts
Jammu/New Delhi, October 24 The name of Ghulam Sarwar, a Lashkar-e-Toiba terrorist, has emerged as the main brain behind the September 7 blast after the NIA found similarities between the high court blast as well as the May 2 blast near the Northern Army Headquarters in Udhampur. Plastic explosives and a remote-controlled detonator used in the Udhampur attack were similar to those fitted in the suitcase bomb that had exploded outside the high court. Sarwar was named by the police as the prime suspect in the May 2 attempt to assassinate Major General D S Pathania, commandant of the Northern Command's base hospital. Meanwhile, sources privy to the investigation said probe teams had fanned out in the Dachhan area in Kishtwar after some leads emerged about the presence of Akram Malik Junaid in that area. The NIA has already announced a cash reward of Rs 10 lakh for information leading to the arrest of Junaid, whose age has been stated by the probe agency as 19 while his parents claim him to be only 16 years old. Junaid’s brother Wasim Akram, a medical student studying in a medical college in Bangladesh, was sent to Tihar Jail today after his custodial interrogation ended. He may also record his confessional statement, like the other two accused who had sent emails to media houses after the blast at the Delhi High Court that left 15 persons dead. — PTI
Two accused sent to judicial custody
New Delhi: A Delhi court on Monday sent Aamir Abbas Dev and Wasim Akram Malik, accused in the September 7 Delhi High Court blast, to judicial remand for 14 days after the NIA submitted that it did not require their custody. Special NIA Judge H S Sharma sent Dev and Malik to Tihar Jail till November 8. Dev, a native of Jammu and Kashmir, is accused of sending terror e-mails to media groups after the blast. |
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Centre keen to see J-K progress in all sectors: Cabinet Secy
Srinagar, October 24 The Chief Secretary, Madhav Lal, expressed gratitude to the Centre for extending liberal financial support to the state for achieving development goals. He said the meetings with Union secretaries during their current visit to the state had been fruitful and a number of issues were discussed and addressed in these meetings. The Cabinet Secretary took brief on the status of centrally sponsored schemes and flagship programmes and complemented the state government for progress on these schemes, emphasising on timely completion of physical and financial targets. The meeting discussed education, power, health, tourism, roads and railways, agriculture, horticulture, industries etc and programmes concerning the development of backward and poor sections of society. Matters relating to the protection of environment, pollution control and aforestation also came up for discussion. The issues pertaining to skill development, training and employability of youth in various sectors were also deliberated upon during the review meetings, an official spokesman said. Strengthening of the Panchayati Raj institutions at three levels and transfer of power and resources to panchayats and capacity building of panchayat members were also discussed in detail. The meeting was attended by Union secretaries, Alok Rawat, Secretary, Coordination; S Ramadorai, Advisor to the Prime Minister (Skill Development); Sudha Pillai, Secretary, Planning Commission; Prem Narain, Senior Advisor, Planning Commission; RK Singh, Home Secretary; RH Khwaja, Secretary Tourism; and Anshu Vaish, Secretary, School Education and Literacy. |
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Welfare of artisans part of economic policy: Omar
Srinagar, October 24 Omar said the welfare of artisans was part of the economic policy of the state. He said a pilot project for the development of artisans’ clusters should be put in place as early as possible. “All the departments concerned should collectively formulate the requisite plan in this direction,” he said, emphasising on the time line for the implementation of the project. About water transport, the Chief Minister said the idea needed to be translated into reality as early as possible. He added the Jehlum in Srinagar possessed a good potential for this kind of transport activity. He said the launch of water transport in Srinagar city would relieve pressure on surface transport to a great extent and provide an added facility to the people and the tourists to move around in the city. The Chief Minister was also briefed about the Radio Taxi scheme prepared by the Transport Department for the twin cities of Srinagar and Jammu. The scheme would make transport quick, efficient and comfortable for the people. There would be a communication network and a control room to govern the system and make it viable. Omar directed the officials concerned to place the scheme in public domain for two weeks to get response from the people before the final notification. Earlier, Chief Secretary Madhav Lal gave a presentation of the initiatives aimed at addressing the welfare of artisans and improving the public transport system in the two capital cities. |
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Pt Premnath Dogra remembered
Jammu, October 24 The function started with a havan and was followed by garlanding of the statue of the late leader. Later, the speakers recalled the life and services of Dogra and asked the party cadres to adopt the principles of Dogra in their lives. Speaking on the occasion, Manhas said Dogra was a great nationalist, who was of the view that Jammu and Kashmir was the crown of India and it was the duty of every patriotic citizen to work towards ensuring the safety and security of this crown. He said, “Ek Vidhaan, Ek Nishaan, Ek Pradhan”agitation launched by the Praja Parishad under Dogra’s leadership was a big success and the permit system for entry into the state was abolished and later the post of Prime Minister was also abolished. However, the state still continued to have a separate flag and a constitution. “The real tribute to him on this day will be to take a pledge to put more efforts to get rid of the separate flag and the Constitution of the state and thereby fulfil the mission of getting the state fully integrated with the Indian Union. National Executive member Dr Nirmal Singh said Article 370 was an instrument which was incorporated into the Indian Constitution by the then government and during all these years it had fostered militancy, discrimination, uncertainty, resentment and insecurity among the masses. He said the BJP reiterated its demand for the abrogation of Article 370 and offered to have a debate on the issue. It had proved beneficial only to elite politicians of Kashmir and though it was temporary in nature, it had been not abolished, he added. The chief whip of the party in the state, Ashok Khajuria, said the Chief Minister spoke the language of Geelani and other separatists. He demanded the resignation of Omar for his failure to come up to the expectations of the people. |
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BRO told to erect crash barriers in Ramban
Udhampur, October 24 The directions in this regard were issued by District Development Commissioner (DDC), Ramban, Shabir Ahmad Bhat while chairing a meeting at Ramban Saturday. Senior officials of the district administration, Police, Traffic, BRO and the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) were present in the meeting to discuss the measures to prevent road mishaps, which have seen a sharp increase during the past one month. The DDC emphasised the need for taking immediate measures to avert mishaps and sought the suggestions of the departments concerned. The directions were given in the wake of the recent observation made by the House Committee of the state Assembly about frequent road accidents in the area. In Digdol, 25 persons were killed in a road mishap on September 13. A number of persons lost their lives and many sustained serious injuries in separate accidents at Seri and Mehar Kundi Nullah on October 10 and 19 in the district. The committee headed by MLA MY Tarigami had impressed upon the district administration concerned, the Home Department and Transport and Traffic authorities to take immediate measures for providing relief and financial assistance to the affected people, besides ensure strict implementation of the preventive measures, as suggested and conveyed to the quarters concerned to minimise such fatal accidents on the national highway. |
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Two Bhand Pather plays staged in Kupwara
Srinagar, October 24 “Naav-Laj-Daanj”, written and directed by Manzoor Ahmed Bhat, was staged by the Dilkash Folk Theatre at Shatwaari Nagri in Kupwara. “Daaj-Pather”, written and directed by Bilal Ahmed Mir, was presented by the Gulistan Bhaghat Theatre at Trukpora and Rajwarh. The plays attracted a large number of locals, who were enthralled by the new and revived presentations. The Natrang, Jammu, in collaboration with the Sangeet Natak Akademi was organising the shows. According to Thakur, who had been personally supervising the performances, the plays were being organised to revive the traditional folk theatre of Kashmir, which had taken a back seat over the years. The series, which began on October 22, would conclude on November 2 and it would show 20 plays at different locations in all districts of the Kashmir valley. |
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Home Secy cautions state on terror funding
Srinagar, October 24 Officials from Central agencies, state DGP Kuldeep Khoda and other senior police officers were present at the meeting, sources said. The Home Secretary took a serious view of the funding of terror and separatist groups in Jammu and Kashmir and asked for details about some cases in which close aides of separatists leaders had been arrested, they said. RK Singh is part of a high-level team of senior bureaucrats led by Cabinet Secretary Ajit Kumar Seth, which is on a visit to the state. He said the Centre would send more manpower from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Income Tax Department to the state for handling all PMLA cases, the sources said. The ED and the investigative wing of the Income Tax Department raised the issue of security of their team members while pursuing cases against hawala operators and separatist leaders. Following this, the police assured them of security. — PTI |
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Former militant to marry bureaucrat
Srinagar, October 24 Farooq Ahmad Dar alias, Bitta Karatay, now a leader of a faction of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), will exchange wedding vows with Kashmir Administrative Service (KAS) officer Assabah Arjumand Khan, on November 1. “Yes, we are getting married,” said Karatey, adding the two knew each other and decided to get married. Karatey was a front-ranking commander of the JKLF in the early stages of militancy in the Valley. He was arrested in 1990 on charges of several militancy-related crimes. Karatey was released on bail by a TADA court in 2006 after spending 16 years in prison. Assabah, who qualified the KAS examination in 2009, is currently posted as a trainee in the General Administrative Department.
— PTI |
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Intrusion bid in Nowshera
Jammu, October 24 An Army spokesman said the troops on patrol duty observed some suspicious movement along the LoC in the Lam area of the Nowshera sector around 10 pm yesterday. “As a precautionary measure the troops opened fire and when searches were launched in the area in the morning, we recovered the body of a suspected militant, aged around 45 years,” said the spokesman. The slain ultra was wearing a Pathani suit, he added. “We are construing the misadventure along the LoC as an unsuccessful intrusion bid and the identity of the slain ultra was also being ascertained,” the spokesman said.
— TNS |
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Minister lauds role of Army in state
Jammu, October 24 He paid tributes to Maj Babbar and said he had sacrificed his life on June 17, 2003, while fighting militants in Assam. The minister said the supreme sacrifices of the Army had helped in bringing peace and fostering brotherhood and communal harmony in the state. He added that the responsibility of the Army was to safeguard the territorial integrity of the nation against external aggression. “In addition, the Army is often required to assist the civil administration during internal security disturbances and in the maintenance of law and order, in organising relief operations during natural calamities like floods, earthquakes and cyclones and in the maintenance of essential services,” he said. “The role of the Army has increased due to its continuous deployment in intense counter-insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir and the North Eastern parts of the country,” he said, adding “to achieve these objectives, the Army has to be constantly modernised, suitably structured, equipped and trained”.
— TNS |
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CCI expresses concern over I-T surveys
Jammu, October 24 In a statement issued here today, the CCI claimed that the Income Tax Department was arbitrarily rejecting the applications for the registration of trusts, denying exemption under the law to chartable, religious and educational trusts and NGOs. “The state has already suffered due to militancy, which also resulted in a large scale unemployment in the state. The Central package for the promotion of industry also could not bring the desired results due to the wrong interpretation of law on the issue of excise refunds by the income tax authorities,” it stated. The statement said, “The CCI has decided to seek an appointment with Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Chairman, Board of Direct Taxes, Mukesh Chand Joshi to appeal to them that the income tax authorities in Jammu should not resort to coercive and punitive practices and they should not arbitrarily reject the applications for the registration of trusts and societies.” |
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Help resolve Kashmir issue, UN urged
Jammu, October 24 Speaking at a function held in connection with the foundation day of the UN here today, JKPM leader Ghulam Ahmed Mir said, “The United Nations, which was supposed to be the guardian of peace and stability in the world, had miserably failed to fulfil its mandate.” Mir said the need of the hour was to review the overall functioning of the UN to make it a potent and powerful body. “To achieve that goal the poor and developing nations of the world will have
to come together to liberate the UN from the influence of the big powers like the US and the UK,” he added. |
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Army organises medical camp
Jammu, October 24 Dr Sahni congratulated the Army unit for the yeoman service and interacted with villagers. A team of four medical officers and a dental officer examined and prescribed essential medications to the villagers of Kalsian, Bhawani, Manpur, Dhindeka, Chowki-Handan, Langar, Ganiya, Kanara, Garhi and
Noniyal. |
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Srinagar, October 24