J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R    E D I T I O N

Uproar in House over delimitation report
Jammu, March 6
The National Conference-Congress coalition government had to face a tough time in the state Legislative Assembly when the legislators of the ruling parties along with members of the Opposition created a ruckus, accusing the government of discriminating against Kupwara district.

Legislators from opposition parties protest in the Assembly on Tuesday. Tribune photo: Anand Sharma

Privilege motion against Labour Minister
Jammu, March 6
Harsh Dev Singh, leader of the Panthers Legislature Party, today moved a privilege motion against Minister for Labour and Employment A G Malik for misleading the Assembly and giving an incomplete reply to a question in the Lower House.

Togadia’s remarks spark clashes in Rajouri
Jammu, March 6
Tension gripped Rajouri town this evening after clashes broke out between two communities following alleged “inflammatory remarks” made by Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) chief Parveen Togadia during his visit to the area on Sunday.

Governor felicitates 525 police personnel Jammu, March 6 Governor NN Vohra presented the President’s Police Medals for gallantry and distinguished service to 525 state police officers and men at an investiture ceremony held at Raj Bhawan here this evening. Governor NN Vohra presents the President’s Medal to a police officer in Jammu on Tuesday.

Holi greetings extended
Jammu, March 6
Governor NN Vohra has greeted the people on Holi and prayed for sustained peace, progress and prosperity in the state. In his message, the Governor observed that festivals strengthened the bonds of brotherhood, love and amity.

MLAs seek action against VHP chief
Jammu, March 6
The controversy over the “provocative” and “objectionable” remarks made by Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) international president Parveen Togadia against a community rocked the Assembly today, with legislators from treasury and opposition benches demanding action against the leader.

Uproar in House over delimitation report
Tribune News Service

Jammu, March 6
The National Conference-Congress coalition government had to face a tough time in the state Legislative Assembly when the legislators of the ruling parties along with members of the Opposition created a ruckus, accusing the government of discriminating against Kupwara district.

The legislators from the ruling as well as opposition parties demanded that the government should table the report of the Delimitation Commission for creating new administrative units in the state Legislative Assembly.

The NC legislators, including Mir Saifullah and Khafi-ul-Rehman, PDP legislator Abdul Haq Khan, Congress legislator GM Saroori, Panthers Party MLAs, Harsh Dev Singh and Balwant Singh Mankotia moved to the front row and demanded that the report of the Delimitation Commission be tabled in the House.

Minister for Relief and Revenue Raman Bhalla said the government would table the report of the Commission only after following proper procedure and completion of all necessary formalities.

While pressing for an early tabling of the report, the agitating MLAs moved near the well of the House and raised anti-commission slogans. Though the legislators from the ruling parties and the PDP continued their protest, the Panthers Party members staged a walkout from the House. Later, the Speaker asked the Revenue Minister whether he would table the report in the House by Monday (March 12).

Upper House adjourned for five minutes

Chairman of the Legislative Council Amrit Malhotra on Tuesday adjourned the business for five minutes as members from both the ruling and the opposition parties created an uproar just after the proceedings started, alleging that they were not being taken into confidence while implementing various Centrally-sponsored schemes. Anguished MLCs staged noisy protests while Minister of State for Cooperatives Manohar Lal Sharma was responding to a question by Aga Syed Ahmad Rizvi. They castigated the authorities concerned for not taking MLCs into confidence while implementing the Centrally-sponsored schemes.

Privilege motion against Labour Minister
Tribune News Service

Jammu, March 6
Harsh Dev Singh, leader of the Panthers Legislature Party, today moved a privilege motion against Minister for Labour and Employment A G Malik for misleading the Assembly and giving an incomplete reply to a question in the Lower House.

Singh pointed out in the written privilege petition filed before the Speaker that the reply given by Malik was misleading, contradictory, evasive and there was a deliberate intent on the part of the minister to conceal vital information from the House.

Singh stated in the notice that the minister in his reply to a question in the current session had contradicted his own statements made in response to another question in the September-October session last year.

The Panthers Party leader said he had sought information from Malik regarding the total appointments made in the state in the class IV category from 2009 onwards along with the district-wise break-up of the same. He lamented that the minister had mentioned different and contradictory figures in the two replies and had “concealed vital information” from the House.

Togadia’s remarks spark clashes in Rajouri
Tribune News Service

Jammu, March 6
Tension gripped Rajouri town this evening after clashes broke out between two communities following alleged “inflammatory remarks” made by Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) chief Parveen Togadia during his visit to the area on Sunday.

Yesterday, the police had registered an FIR under Section 153-A against Togadia for allegedly hurting the sentiments of a particular community by making some “objectionable remarks”.

There was strong resentment among a particular community against the administration. Its members demanded that the administration should ban the entry of the VHP leader in the communally-sensitive Rajouri town, reports said.

Sources said the members of a community today took out a religious procession, as a mark of respect to Baba Bhairav Nath. While they pressed for taking out the procession on the traditional route via City Chowk in the town, members of the other community objected to the decision, which resulted in violent clashes between the two communities.

Members of both the communities threw stones at each other and damaged shops and other property. The police rushed to the town and dispersed the protesters.

The situation in the town was tense but under control. The administration has deployed additional security personnel to avoid any untoward incident.

Governor felicitates 525 police personnel
Investiture ceremony held after 10 yrs
Ravi Krishnan Khajuria
Tribune News Service

Jammu, March 6
Governor NN Vohra presented the President’s Police Medals for gallantry and distinguished service to 525 state police officers and men at an investiture ceremony held at Raj Bhawan here this evening.

The last investiture ceremony was held about 10 years ago on June 18, 2002.

The DGP, Kuldeep Khoda, attributed the delay in holding the investiture ceremony to some pressing circumstances in the state, including insurgency.

The medals awarded for the 2002-2010 period included 49 President’s Police Medals for Gallantry, 325 President’s Medals for Gallantry, 12 President’s Police Medals for Distinguished Service and 139 President’s Medals for Meritorious Service.

After the ceremony, the Governor interacted with the recipients and lauded their valour and devotion to the nation. He also met the next of kin of those who were awarded posthumously and enquired about their welfare.

Governor’s wife Usha Vohra, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand, senior civil and police officers, family members of the recipients and kin of those brave police officers and men who were awarded posthumously were among those present at the investiture ceremony.

Earlier, in his welcome address, Kuldeep Khoda said in the fight against terrorism, the police had lost 1,529 police officers and men during the past 22 years.

Holi greetings extended
Tribune News Service

Jammu, March 6
Governor NN Vohra has greeted the people on Holi and prayed for sustained peace, progress and prosperity in the state. In his message, the Governor observed that festivals strengthened the bonds of brotherhood, love and amity.

He expressed the hope that the festival would spread happiness and joy all around and further promote harmony and brotherhood.

The Governor prayed for the well-being and prosperity of the people.

MLAs seek action against VHP chief

Jammu, March 6
The controversy over the “provocative” and “objectionable” remarks made by Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) international president Parveen Togadia against a community rocked the Assembly today, with legislators from treasury and opposition benches demanding action against the leader.

Raising the issue during Question Hour, the Independent MLA from Langate, Engineer Abdul Rashid, said the House should condemn the “objectionable speech” made by the VHP leader in Rajouri town on Sunday. “Strict action must be initiated and he should be booked for his provocative remarks,” the legislator said.

The firebrand MLA of the Peoples Democratic Party, Javed Mustafa Mir, said the VHP leader had made “serious and objectionable” remarks against a community.

The ruling National Conference MLA from Poonch, Aijaz Ahmed Jan, also demanded that the government should initiate action against the VHP chief. — TNS