The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Cross-voting in LC elections
MLAs expelled from BJP to move court
To sue party high command for projecting them as ‘traitors’
Dinesh Manhotra
Tribune News Service

Jammu, December 8
Even as one of their colleagues has been hobnobbing with the ruling National Conference (NC), the MLAs who have been expelled from the BJP have decided to drag the party high command to court for dubbing them as “traitors”.

Out of the six MLAs expelled from the party, five of them will hold a joint press conference tomorrow to announce the launch of an aggressive campaign against the high command for damaging their image in public by singling them out as “traitors who had voted against the party candidate in the Legislative Council elections” held on April 13 this year.

“Without any authentic proof, the BJP leadership has dubbed us as traitors and expelled us from the party on the charges of cross-voting,” Jagdish Raj Sapolia, one of the expelled BJP legislators, told The Tribune. He disclosed that they would take the BJP leadership to court by filing defamation cases against party leaders in different parts of the state.

“I don’t know what parameters the high command has adopted to single us out as traitors,” he said and claimed that the expelled BJP members had sufficient grounds to file defamation cases against party leaders for damaging their image in public.

Sources close to the dissident leaders said the MLAs expelled from the BJP had also decided to contest the authority of Jugal Kishore Sharma, claiming to be leader of the party in the Assembly, to recommend their disqualification as MLAs. The expelled partymen would approach the court to challenge the authority of Jugal Kishore to recommend to the Speaker their disqualification as members of the Assembly.

While six BJP legislators were expelled on charges of cross-voting during the Legislative Council elections, their leader Chaman Lal Gupta, a former Union minister, was sacked from the primary membership of the party on the charge of anti-party activities.

Interestingly, one of the expelled MLAs, Baldev Raj Sharma, who represents the Reasi assembly segment, has been avoiding the company of the other expelled partymen for some days. “Baldev Raj is in contact with the NC and he may associate himself with the ruling party very soon,” sources close to the dissident BJP leaders said, adding that Baldev had bluntly told his colleagues that he was not with them in their fight against the high command.

CPM rallies against recruitment policy
M Aamir Khan

Srinagar, December 8
The Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Youth Federation (JKDYF), youth wing of the state unit of the CPM, staged a protest here today against the new recruitment policy of the state government.

The JKDYF members gathered in the Press Enclave area here and raised slogans against the government for its new recruitment policy.

Federation president Mohammad Iqbal Wani, who led the protesters, said the policy was “anti-youth” and should not be implemented. “If the government goes ahead with its decision, it will lead to unrest in the state,” the protesters said.

According to the policy, a new recruit in government services will be entitled to only 50 per cent of the basic pay as salary for the first two years and 75 per cent of the basic pay for the next three years.

Incidentally, the PDP and the BJP were also opposing the policy. Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president Saifuddin Soz had urged the NC to review it.

Meanwhile, the JKDYF members also protested against the decision of the Centre to allow foreign direct investment (FDI) in retail.

Sahni to continue as Jammu varsity VC till new appointment
Varun Suthra
Tribune News Service

Prof Varun Sahni’s three-year term ended on December 7

Jammu, December 8
Even as the three-year term of Prof Varun Sahni, Vice-Chancellor (VC) of the University of Jammu, ended last evening, he would continue to hold the charge till the appointment of the new Vice-Chancellor, says the university calendar.

Sahni did not attend office today amid speculations that he may not accept the offer to continue as Vice-Chancellor. University insiders said he wanted to continue in office provided he was given something in black and white, that too with a specified tenure.

“He did not miss his office intentionally. He may be busy somewhere. According to the university statute, he can continue to hold the chair,” said a university professor. Quoting the statute, he said, “Prof Sahni shall continue in office till the new Vice-Chancellor joins the university. And he has not been relieved yet.”

“No university activity was halted today and things went on as usual. But there are some elements, which exploit the situation and spread rumours,” he added.

Another university professor said the selection committee should expedite the process of recommending names to end uncertainty prevalent in the university.

A university official told The Tribune that Sahni was awaiting written orders from the Chancellor, else he would have left for his old place of posting. “Earlier he was not willing to continue, but now he may hold the charge till the new Vice-Chancellor joined,” he said.

A senior university professor said, “There was speculation that anyone from among Vice-Chancellor of the Central University of Jammu, SS Bloeria, Commissioner/Secretary, Higher Education, Tanveer Jahan and Commissioner/Secretary, Finance, Sudhanshu Pandey could be given the charge of acting Vice-Chancellor, but nothing of sort happened.”

“Maybe Varun Sahni has agreed to continue in office till the new Vice-Chancellor is appointed,” he added.

Some of the faculty members said the selection of a senior professor of the university as acting Vice-Chancellor could have helped in avoiding uncertainty. While others said the move would have worsened the chaotic situation in the university.

Vikas Sharma, a student leader, said, “Prof Sahni should not continue in office as he had always said he would not to stay after his three-year term ended.”

Anganwari workers protest in support of demands, call for strike on Dec 24
Our Correspondent

Srinagar, December 8
Anganwari workers, joined by a faction of the Employees Joint Action Committee (EJAC), staged protests here today demanding that their long-pending demands be fulfilled. The EJAC faction also gave a call for a strike on December 24.

Carrying placards, the anganwari workers along with the EJAC members gathered in the Press Enclave area here and raised slogans against the government for its failure to fulfil their demands. “We have only been given assurances over a long time now that our demands will be met, but the government has failed to fulfil any of the promises made to us,” a protester said.

The protesters were demanding the regularisation of their services by “declaring” anganwadi workers as government employees and a hike in salary. Later, the EJAC faction held a press conference where members of the Anganwari Workers and Helpers Association, led by their president Tasleema Subhan, joined the action committee. EJAC faction spokesperson Aijaz Ahmad Khan welcomed the workers and said the committee would extend “full” support to them in their “fight for justice”.

Khan also urged the government to fulfil their demands, including the payment of the arrears of the Sixth Pay Commission, removal of pay anomalies, increase in retirement age by two years and increase in the salary of daily wage workers, besides regularisation of their services.

“The government had assured us that 20 per cent of the arrears would be paid this year, but, so far, we had received nothing,” he added.

The EJAC faction also announced that it would observe a statewide strike on December 24 if the government failed to fulfil their demands.

Health Minister calls on Governor
Tribune News Service

Jammu, December 8
Minister for Health, Horticulture and Floriculture Sham Lal Sharma called on Governor NN Vohra at Raj Bhawan here yesterday.

During the meeting, the Governor and the minister discussed various issues relating to the health care delivery system in the state. Problems being faced in the promotion of horticulture and floriculture in the state keeping in view the vast growth potential of both sectors were also discussed.

The issues of governance, improved efficiency, honesty and accountability also came up for discussion.

CM reviews powers given to panchayats
Tribune News Service

Jammu, December 8
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has directed the District Development Commissioners to monitor and ascertain the status of devolution of powers to panchayats and present the detailed report in this regard at the upcoming meetings of the District Development Board.

Taking stock of the implementation of the government order regarding the transfer of powers to panchayats at a high-level meeting here today, the Chief Minister told the Administrative Secretaries concerned to sensitise their offices to involve panchayats in the formulation of the next year’s annual plan.

“A strategy is required to be adopted right from now to involve panchayat members in the plan formulation so that funds are earmarked accordingly for works at the panchayat, district and block levels,” he said. He added the monitoring of the implementation of the power transfer orders at the ground level was necessary to ensure the panchayats functioned effectively.

It may be mentioned here that a high-level committee headed by the Chief Secretary had identified the transfer of services from 14 departments to the panchayats and the state Cabinet had approved the same. A government order in this regard was already in place.

Stressing on the capacity building of sarpanches and panches, Omar said non-government organisations (NGOs) and universities should be involved in the programme.

He also emphasised the need for conducting the status analyses of the transfer of powers and the functioning of the panchayats in the state by the National Rural Development Institute (NRDI).

Speaking at the meeting, Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Ali Mohammad Sagar said the holding of the panchayat elections after a gap of over 30 years was a historic decision by the Omar-led government. He added the transfer of powers to panchayats was yet another significant decision.

The meeting was attended by Minister for Forests Mian Altaf Ahmad, Minister for School Education Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed, Minister for Public Health Engineering Taj Mohi-ud-Din, Minister for Agriculture Ghulam Hassan Mir, Minister for Health Sham Lal Sharma, Minister for Revenue Raman Bhalla, Minister for Social Welfare Sakina Itoo, Minister of State for Rural Development Ajaz Ahmad Khan, Chief Secretary Madhav Lal, Principal Secretary, Agriculture, Iqbal Khandey, Chief Minister’s Principal Secretary BB Vyas, Principal Secretary, Roads and Bridges, KB Agarwal, Administrative Secretaries of the departments concerned and the heads of the departments.

‘Sher-e-Kashmir job policy right initiative to tackle unemployment’

Srinagar, December 8
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah laid the foundation of a Rs 14.60-crore hostel building at the Jammu and Kashmir Entrepreneurship Development Institute (JKEDI) Complex at Pampore, near here, yesterday.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister termed the Sher-e-Kashmir Employment and Welfare Programme for Youth (SKEWPY) the right initiative to combat the unemployment crisis in the state and asked educated youth to take advantage of this programme to seek self-acquired livelihood.

The Chief Minister said the Micro, Small and Medium Entrepreneurship (MSME) sector offered encouraging opportunities to the youth. — TNS

Artistes from Pakistan expected at Faiz centenary
Ashutosh Sharma
Tribune News Service

Jammu, December 8
The daughter and grandchildren of Faiz Ahmed Faiz will be among the delegates and artistes from Pakistan attending the festival here to mark the centenary of the great Urdu poet. The festival, which is a two-day affair, starts on Saturday.

Pointing out that Faiz was opposed to the partition of India, organisers hoped that the festival would contribute to improve relations between India and Pakistan.

A member of the organising committee said: “In the aftermath of the Mumbai attack, talks between the two countries were held at different levels but hardly any concrete step was taken for confidence building and for increasing people to people contacts.”

Several prominent personalities of the state including Khalid Hussain, Sohail Qazmi, Choudhary Masood, Aslam Qureshi, SS Anand Lehar and Ravinder Kaul etc are involved in organising the festival. Some of them The Tribune spoke to, hoped that it would help revive cultural bonds between the two countries and go a long way in ‘conflict resolution’.

The Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah will be the chief guest at the inaugural session while Dr Karan Singh will preside over the function on the second day.

The first day of the event will see Kathak dance performance by Richa Jain based on the poetry of Faiz and ghazal rendition by noted peace singer of the subcontinent Seema Anil Sehgal, Jagir Singh Punjabi and Ustad Hamid Ali Khan from Pakistan.

The second segment of the event would be a “mushaira” in which 16 distinguished poets from Pakistan including Amjad Islam “Amjad”, Iftikhar Arif, Kishwar Naheed, Anwar Masood, Fakhar Zaman, Fehmeeda Riaz, Ayub Khawar, Ishrat Aafreen, Aijaz Azar, Ali Akbar Natiq, Manzar Naqvi and Afzal Sahar will participate.

Indian poets like Jnanpith awardee Shaharyar, Nida Fazli, Bashir Badr, Waseem Barailvi, Malikzada Manzoor, Farhat Ehsas, Dr Rahat Indori, Munnawar Rana, Khushbir Singh Shad, Surjit Patar, Anwar Jalalpuri, Nawaz Deobandi, Parveen Kumar Ashk, Meraj Faizabadi and Fayyaz Farooqi will take part.

Nagot cultural fest to start tomorrow
Tribune News Service

Reasi, December 8
The Nagot Cultural Festival, Bakal, is all set to create history as this first ever cultural bonanza in the lap of Reasi hills will feature a record 900 artistes. Natrang Director Balwant Thakur said this at a press conference here yesterday.

The three-day festival will start at 11 am on December 10 with the lighting of a traditional lamp by Minister for Technical and Medical Education RS Chib.

The opening programme will feature a mega “Kud” performance featuring 250 traditional dancers. On the second day, the famous Romalo Ram and party will present “Geetru”. The concluding function will feature Natrang’s famous Dogri play “Suno eh Kahani”.

Traditional artistes from all parts of Reasi will perform during the festival. All arrangements are being made to provide food free of cost to over 15,000 persons who are expected to visit the festival.

Other major attractions of the festival will be an exhibition of local handicrafts and artifacts by the Hari Saran Cultural Centre, Bakal.

Radio awareness workshop begins
Tribune News Service

Jammu, December 8
A three-day Community Radio Awareness Workshop, being organised by the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in association with the Commonwealth Educational Media Centre for Asia (CEMCA) and the University of Jammu, started here today.

RD Sharma, Dean, Academic Affairs, University of Jammu, was the chief guest at the inaugural function while R Shreedher, Director, CEMCA, New Delh, presided over the function.

About 25 participants from Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana and Uttarakhand participated in the workshop. Speaking on the occasion, Sharma said, “ It is a great opportunity for the university to establish a radio station for the benefit of the students and the community. The university can broadcast programmes for the students and the community within a radius of 15 km.”

Shreedhar said it was the 32nd workshop on community radio awareness and 28th to be organised by the CEMCA. He added such a facility was important and useful not only in peace times but also during natural calamities.

Cabinet panel discusses NHPC projects

Jammu, December 8
The Cabinet Sub Committee (CSC) constituted by the government to look into the hydroelectric projects being run by National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) in the state met here today under the chairmanship of the Minister for Finance and Ladakh Affairs, Abdul Rahim Rather.

Minister for Rural Development, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Ali Mohammad Sagar, Minister for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Taj Mohi-ud-Din and Commissioner Secretary Power Basharat Dhar attended the meeting. — TNS

Probe bungling in BEd colleges: NSF

Jammu, December 8
The National Secular Forum (NSF) has urged the authorities concerned to initiate a high-level inquiry into the issue of alleged bungling in private B.Ed colleges affiliated to the University of Jammu.

Addressing a press conference here today, NSF president Vikas Sharma said some university officials had exposed malpractices prevalent in some private B.Ed colleges. “Although the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Jammu has ordered an internal inquiry into the matter, it appears to be a mere eyewash,” he alleged.

Sharma added, “B.Ed colleges are demanding another counselling session to fill vacant seats, but already two months of the academic session have passed and under the circumstances another counselling holds no substance.” — TNS

CCI lends support to lawyers’ strike
Tribune News Service

Jammu, December 8
The Chamber of Commerce and Industries (CCI), Jammu, has extended support to the ongoing agitation of the Bar Association of Jammu.

In a statement issued here today, president of the CCI YV Sharma said the lawyers of Jammu had rightly launched an agitation against the decision of the government to transfer registration powers to the Revenue Department as the move was bound to cause a lot of inconvenience to general public.

He said the CCI believed the existing systems should not be demolished and, if required, they should be suitably modified and improved.

The judiciary and the lawyers were important organs of society who rendered useful services. The transfer of their powers to the Revenue Department would create a chaotic situation, Sharma said. “Efficiency is the hallmark of good governance and no one can claim that the judiciary cannot discharge its duties efficiently,” he said.

The CCI appealed to the government to resolve the issue amicably and persuade the advocates to withdraw their agitation. “Such a long strike by any section of society does not reflect well on the government. Decisions should be taken by consulting all stakeholders and tension should be avoided in the name of efficiency,” Sharma said.