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Unhappy with minister’s reply on road works
Governor inaugurates dormitory
complex at Neha Ghar
Govt submits Rs 2,600-crore health plan to Centre
Amendment needed to abolish Council: Govt
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Curfew relaxed for 8 hours in Rajouri
Azad loyalist Jugal named for LC seat
Jamiat threatens stir over varsity Bill
Hoteliers to promote tourism at Mansar, Surinsar lakes
Kashmiri Pandits rally for protection of temples
20 women poets attend mushaira in Jammu
Odissi dancers enthral audience
Bail plea denied in rape case
Rural Women Cultural and Sports Meet
Farooq breaks silence, rubbishes charges
Man hurt in militant attack
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Unhappy with minister’s reply on road works
Jammu, March 12 “I will move a breach of privilege motion against the department concerned if the replies made on the floor of the House prove fallacious,” said PDP MLC Murtaza Ahmad Khan, while contesting the reply made by the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Ali Mohammad Sagar, on behalf of the minister in charge, PWD (R&B). Murtaza was contesting the minister’s reply that no funds had been allocated or spent on a 27.7-km stretch of Sakhi Maidan-Kalai road in Poonch, for which the Economic Reconstruction Agency was the executing agency. He said: “If you (the minister) don’t have the details, I will like to bring to your notice that the tendering process for the project has been completed and work is also under way. But the reply suggests that no work has been done.” He also asked the minister about the transfer criteria adopted for junior engineers. He alleged that most officials had overstayed their place of posting. Sagar said transfers and postings came under the purview of the Chief Engineer, who had the authority to retain efficient officials. Murtaza retorted by saying: “I want an explanation on the criteria adopted for retaining officials at the same place for years.” He said he had specifically sought the details of strengthening, upgrading or constructing the Fazlabad bridge, Mendhar-Surankot road, Sakhi Maidan-Kalai road and Mandi Phagla-Bafliaz-Mahada road. He had sought particulars of these projects, including their cost, executing agency, year of initiation of work, deadline and status of financial closure. He alleged that the replies were misleading. The government reply on the Bafliaz-Murrah road was deceptive and the actual detail was hidden, he claimed. Earlier, the minister said the department had furnished appropriate details and the member was interpreting these as a lawyer. Murtaza did not accept the clarification and threatened to challenge the replies. The minister then assured that he would come up with updated replies as per the queries of the opposition. “I am directing the Commissioner Secretary, PWD (R&B), to look into the matter and come up with more details on the floor of the House,” he said. |
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Governor inaugurates dormitory
complex at Neha Ghar
Jammu, March 12 Built at a cost of Rs 7 lakh, this double-storey dormitory complex can accommodate 15 beds on each floor. The funds for the project had been provided by Dr Kapila Vatsayayan, MP (Rajya Sabha), under the MPLAD Scheme. The Neha Ghar is a short-stay home run by the Association for Social Health in India (ASHI), J&K chapter, for women and children in distress. Governor’s wife Usha Vohra, who is the president of the ASHI, J&K chapter, was also present. The Governor lauded the functionaries and members of the association for their dedication towards serving those in distress. Emphasising the need for effective implementation of welfare schemes, he underlined the role being played by NGOs in supplementing the government initiatives. The Governor announced a support of Rs 5 lakh for providing computers and addressing the needs of
the young inmates of Neha Ghar. He complimented the ASHI for completing the construction of the dormitory complex within one year. The remaining cost of the complex, over and above the amount already made available, would be mobilised, he added. Usha Vohra said it was a social obligation to help those in need. She complimented the functionaries of the ASHI for improving the lives of the inmates. The dignitaries went around the dormitory complex and interacted with the inmates of Neha Ghar and Apna Ghar. The Governor presented awards to eight inmates of Neha Ghar and Apna Ghar, besides the functionaries of the ASHI. Earlier, the Governor and his wife were accorded a traditional welcome by the functionaries and inmates. Sushma Choudhary, vice-president, ASHI, thanked the Governor and his wife for taking keen interest
in the functioning of the ASHI. Prominent among those present were Nahid Soz, managing director, Women Development Corporation, Prof Ved Kumari Ghai, senior officers, functionaries and members of the
ASHI. |
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Govt submits Rs 2,600-crore health plan to Centre
Jammu, March 12 This was stated by the Health Minister in response to a supplementary question raised by legislators to a main question by Kafeel-u-Rehman in the Legislative Assembly here today. Sharma said the Centre had declared 100 districts as high focused health care districts in the country, which also included nine districts from Jammu and Kashmir. He added that the expansion and up gradation of health infrastructure in hilly and far-off districts of the state, including four districts in Kashmir and five in Jammu was also contemplated under the plan. Replying to the main question, the Minister said the construction work on a community health centre at Tanghdar was going on at a fast pace and would be completed at an estimated cost of Rs 7 crore. He said Rs 5.73 crore had already been spent on its construction. While giving detail of the number of medicos and paramedics working in health institutions of Karnah tehsil, Sharma said the new transfer policy in the Health Department would be announced soon. In reply to another question, the Health Minister said the construction of one more community health centre was under execution at a cost of Rs 6.21 crore. He added that of the total amount Rs 1.9 crore, including Rs 90 lakh had been utilised on the construction work of the health centre under the National Rural Health Mission. The Health Minister said tenders for installation of the central heating system in the health centre had been floated and the process for allotment of the work was under progress. |
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Amendment needed to abolish Council: Govt
Jammu, March 12 “It (abolition of Legislative Council) needs a constitutional amendment and a two-thirds majority in the Assembly. A simple order from my side won’t work and you should try to muster the requisite number of legislators for the abolition of the Upper House,” said Minister for Finance Abdul Rahim Rather while referring to the demand raised by the leader of Panthers’ Legislature Party, Harsh Dev Singh. The legislator had earlier introduced a private member’s Bill seeking the dissolution of the Council but he failed to muster support from other parties. While initiating a discussion on the demand of grants for the Ministries of Finance and Ladakh Affairs, he suggested the dissolution of Council, saying it would save at least Rs 200 crore annually, which could generate employment for at least 50,000 unemployed youth of the state. “The members of the Council don’t belong to any constituency and are still getting Rs 1.5 crore as constituency development fund annually, besides other benefits. At least 23 states have already abolished Legislative Councils and only six states, including J&K, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, have the Upper House,” he said. He alleged that the Council was functional because of the “political compulsion” of the government to accommodate “defeated candidates”. Other opposition parties preferred to maintain silence to the demand. The Panthers Party leader also sought the abolition of the post of vice-chairman in various public sector units to reduce the burden on the state exchequer. “The state cannot afford expenditure on these matters. The government itself violates austerity measures by giving minister’s status to 25 leaders. In the US Cabinet, only 16 secretaries enjoy the ministerial powers. But in Jammu and Kashmir, 25 political leaders are enjoying the benefits of a minister,” he pointed out. He flayed the “biased and parochial” approach of the government. The Finance Minister prodded the legislator to bring a Bill on abolishing the Upper House, saying: “You should try your luck next time. I hope you will succeed.” |
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Curfew relaxed for 8 hours in Rajouri
Jammu, March 12 In a bid to end the impasse and soothe the frayed nerves of both communities, the district administration had been holding talks with members of the two communities since yesterday. “The situation has improved since last night. The curfew was relaxed in the town from 9 am to 12 pm and further extended till 5 pm today,” Rajouri Deputy Commissioner Khawaja Ghulam Ahmad told The Tribune over phone. The police and paramilitary forces are deployed in and around the town to keep an eye on the situation. No untoward incident has been reported from any part of the town, he added. The Deputy Commissioner said the initiation of dialogue had paid off and the two sides had been asked to issue a joint statement to the media. The police has so far registered four cases, including one against VHP leader Praveen Togadia for his alleged inflammatory speech, which had sparked communal tension. Mohammad Akbar Lone, Speaker of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, today informed the Lower House that the government had decided against sending its ministers to the town fearing a “reaction” from the people. The Speaker had asked the government to send a group of ministers to Rajouri to hold a dialogue with the representatives of both communities. Responding to the concern expressed by BJP MLA Chaman Lal Gupta after Question Hour, the Speaker said a team of senior officials was camping in Rajouri and had engaged both sides in talks. “Sending ministers to the town could have invited a reaction from the people of Rajouri. So, we decided against it,” he said. |
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Azad loyalist Jugal named for LC seat
Jammu, March 12 Soz was rescued by the police from the enraged supporters of Mangat Ram Sharma who had gathered at the residence of the latter. Supporters of Mangat Ram were simmering with anger after the party this morning officially declared Jugal Kishore Sharma, a loyalist of Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, as a candidate for the LC seat. Mangat Ram, a veteran Congress leader, was Deputy Chief Minister in the coalition government headed by Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. As both Mangat Ram and another veteran leader Bhupinder Singh Pathania were in the fray, Soz this morning decided to approach Mangat Ram to placate him. As soon as Soz reached Mangat Ram’s residence, a large number of supporters of Mangat Ram began raising slogans. The protesting party workers gheraoed Soz and in the melee that followed some enraged workers manhandled the JKPCC chief for “succumbing to Ghulam Nabi Azad’s wishes”. “The Congress leadership has not learnt any lesson from the UP debacle,” shouted a Congress worker and alleged that instead of listening to the genuine workers, the Congress high command had been paying heed to some leaders who were allegedly responsible for the mess in the Congress. As Soz has gone to Mangat’s house without any security, some workers locked the main entrance of the gate and warned that they would not allow the JKPCC chief to leave the place. Mangat’s supporters continued to gherao Soz till the police rushed to the spot and rescued the JKPCC chief. Later, supporters of Mangat Ram Sharma took out a procession and blocked traffic at Balmiki Chowk for some time. They shouted slogans against the party high command and warned that the Congress would be wiped out from the state due to the “wrong decisions of the high command”. Spokesman of the JKPCC Ravinder Sharma said every worker had the right to protest but the incident at Mangat Ram’s residence was unfortunate. He, however, refused to comment on the decision of the high command. Meanwhile, Jugal Kishore Sharma filed the nomination papers for the lone LC seat. A large numbers of supporters of Sharma were present when he filed the papers. Soz was also among those present on the occasion. |
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Jamiat threatens stir over varsity Bill
Srinagar, March 12 The Jamiat members led by president GR Malik took out a procession from Barbar Shah to the Press Enclave here and raised slogans against the government and Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee president Saifuddin Soz for creating “impediments” in passing the Transworld Muslim University Bill. Talking to reporters, Malik said: “The government is unnecessarily creating impediments in the passage of this Bill. If it does not get passed in the ongoing session, we will launch large-scale protests and an agitation.” Incidentally, the Assembly had passed Bills for the establishment of Transworld Muslim University and Sheikh-ul-Alam Research University in the Kashmir valley in 2010. However, the Legislative Council had referred the Bills to the Joint Select Committee for further discussions as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress had then come out with statements claiming that these universities would “encourage extremism” in the state. The BJP had alleged that the “aim behind” establishing the Muslim universities was to “encourage extremism” while Soz stated that the universities could become “launching pads” for “promoting extremism”. The Legislative Council had referred the Bills for further discussion when the Jamiat was led by Maulana Showkat Ahmad, who was known as a moderate voice and had publicly opposed stone-throwing. While Maulana was killed in an IED explosion last year, before his death he had strongly asserted that Transworld Muslim University was being made a “victim” of vote bank politics. “It has been our message from day one that the university will not be limited to Kashmiris and there would be no discrimination on the basis of caste, creed or region. We will lay emphasis on Islamic courses but we will also offer other conventional courses,” Maulana had said. |
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Hoteliers to promote tourism at Mansar, Surinsar lakes
Jammu, March 12 At a joint meeting of several organisations connected with tourism and pilgrimage, held here today under the chairmanship of the AJHLA president, Inderjeet
Khajuria, the organisations joined hands to exploit the tourism potential of the twin lakes. They included the
AJHLA, the Jammu Pryatan Vikas Mandal, the Jammu Hotels, Restaurants and Bars Association, the Travel and Tour Operators Union of Jammu, the Jammu Province Tourist Taxi Operators’ Union, the Mansar-Surinsar Lake Bachao Aandolan Movement and the Tourist Trades Employees’
Federation. Thakur Mahender Singh, CEO of the Surinsar-Mansar Development Authority, who was the special invitee in the meeting, extended full support to participants in developing tourism at these lakes. The participants demanded construction of an all-weather road from Chichi Mata to Mansar and a link road between Mansar and
Surinsar. They rued that the present roads to these lakes were in a shambles. They also demanded pressing into service regular public transport, particularly deluxe coaches to these spots, giving adequate publicity to these tourist destinations. Stress was also laid on providing more infrastructural facilities and beautification of these lakes, with preservation of ecology and environment in the area. The participants also demanded that the water supply schemes to households and use of water for irrigation from the twin lakes should be stopped forthwith and alternate arrangements should be made for these purposes. |
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Kashmiri Pandits rally for protection of temples
Jammu, March 12 Protesters carried banners and placards and raised slogans in favour of their demand. The gathering was addressed by representatives of various organisations of the community The protesters appealed to legislators of all the parties to support their demand and move the Bill and get it passed in the current Assembly session. They also appealed to the government to bring an official Bill in the budget session and pass the same, since leaders of all the parties had assured the Pandit community of their support to the Bill. The Kashmiri Pandit community has been demanding the constitution of a statutory body to protect, maintain and manage their religious places in Kashmir, on the pattern of the Auqaf Board for the religious property of Muslims and the Gurdwara Parbandhak Board and Committees for the protection and management of Gurdwaras. “The passage of the Bill will be a biggest confidence building measure for the displaced Pandit community to return and settle with a sense of security and dignity in the Valley,” said Pyare Lal Badgami, Convener, Kashmiri Hindu Conference. Minister for Relief and Rehabilitation Raman Bhalla said, “We do not have any plans yet to introduce a Bill for the protection and management of Hindu temples and shrines in Kashmir.” |
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20 women poets attend mushaira in Jammu
Jammu, March 12 Savita Bakshi and Shamima Akhter, additional secretaries of the academy, were also in the presidium. Around 20 women poets from across Jammu took part in the event. Prominent among those who recited their poetic collections were: Khyama Koul, Krishna Gupta, Rohini Gandharab Singh, Dr Usha Vyas, Dr Rama Sharma, Kiran Kanchan, Santosh Khajuria, Vijaya Thakur, Usha Kiran, Aruna Sharma, Madhu Jamwal, Madhu Sharma, Chanchal Sharma, Prof Darshan Kour, Tejinder Kour, Manmeet Kour, Harmeet Kour, Resham Kour and Sharelha Sawhney. In her presidential remarks, Dr Koul complimented the efforts of academy for holding women oriented events. In her welcome address, Savita Bakshi said the academy had been holding events for women in recognition of their contributions in relevant fields of their activity. |
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Odissi dancers enthral audience
Jammu, March 12 The show was hosted by the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages, as part of its ongoing cultural activities. Besides Kour, two other prominent dancers Narain Prasad and Priya Dutta also performed during the dance evening. Minister for Relief and Rehabilitation Raman Bhalla was the chief guest on the occasion. The Minister said by holding such events the Academy was providing an opportunity to prominent artistes to showcase their talent at the regional level as well. — TNS |
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Bail plea denied in rape case
Jammu, March 12 The judge, while rejecting the accused’s bail plea, observed: “The accused had committed rape with a minor girl, who is related to him, without thinking of the effect it would have on her psychology or future life.” On May 3, 2008, the victim had left her hut to answer the call of nature. Anil Kumar, her cousin, had followed her to a secluded area before raping her. The accused had threatened her against disclosing the matter to anyone, including her parents. The victim’s mother later reported the matter to the police. A case under Section 376, RPC, was registered against the accused. |
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Rural Women Cultural and Sports Meet
Jammu, March 12 Governor NN Vohra’s wife Usha Vohra was the chief guest on the occasion. She lauded the efforts of the Viraj Kala Kendra for the socio-economic uplift of rural women, educational advancement of children of slum areas and promotion of rural arts. Referring to various sports activities and the cultural programme presented on the occasion, Usha Vohra said rural women and children had huge talent, which needed to be channelised. She appreciated participants for their confidence, talent and for presenting a captivating programme. She stressed the importance of the right to education for all children, particularly the education of the girl child, as this was the key to progress and empowerment. She gave away a cheque of Rs 50,000 to the management of the Viraj Kala Kendra on behalf of the Governor, as a token of help to provide education to children from less advantaged families. The Governor’s wife gave away prizes to participants of the cultural programme and to those who were adjudged best in various races organised on the event. Earlier, she laid the foundation stone of an additional room at the Viraj Bal Bhawan, a school run by the Viraj Kala Kendra for slum children. Raj Bharti, president, Viraj Kala Kendra, in her welcome address, presented a detailed report on the activities and functioning of the Kendra. She thanked the Governor and his wife for taking a keen interest in the activities of the Kendra and supporting its initiatives. Dr Madhu Khullar, Director, Health Services, Jammu; Dr Indu Koul Khoda, chairperson, Jammu and Kashmir Police Wives Welfare Association; members of the Viraj Kala Kendra; prominent women; senior officials; a large number of women of the area and the children of the Viraj Bal Bhawan were present on the occasion. |
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J&K Cricket association scam
Jammu, March 12 The state’s principal opposition party, however, created a ruckus and staged a walkout from the Assembly after the Speaker, Mohammad Akbar Lone, disallowed its adjournment motion seeking a “free and open discussion” on the issue in the House. It also staged a sit-in outside the Assembly Secretariat, demanding registration of an FIR against JKCA president Farooq Abdullah and a CBI inquiry into the scam. “The PDP is in the habit of giving a political colour to a non-issue. They have been targeting the NC leadership since the inception of the Omar Abdullah government. The party is in isolation as nobody buys their political agenda. They are levelling allegations just for the sake of allegations,” Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ali Mohammad Sagar told reporters outside the Secretariat. Outrightly rejecting the PDP’s demand for a CBI inquiry into the JKCA scam, Sagar said: “The state government has nothing to do with the JKCA and there is no need to hold a CBI inquiry into the case because an FIR has already been registered and the police is investigating the matter. The findings of the police will be known to all in the next few days.” He also took on the Opposition for equating Farooq Abdullah with Suresh Kalmadi, saying “there is no comparison between the two”. Earlier, the PDP legislators, including Mehbooba Mufti, created an uproar in the House for half an hour during Question Hour and demanded an open discussion on the JKCA’s multi-crore scam. As soon as the House assembled for the day’s proceedings, PDP legislators sought adjournment of normal business and wanted a detailed discussion over the issue. They resorted to massive sloganeering after the Speaker disallowed their adjournment motion. Amidst sloganeering, the PDP legislators walked out of the House and staged a sit-in outside the Secretariat, alleging that the government was making efforts to “suppress facts” about the JKCA scam like it did after the death of NC worker Syed Yousuf. Incidentally, the letter written by the manager of Jammu and Kashmir Bank was addressed to Farooq Abdullah. It states that the bank was sanctioning a loan of Rs 1.90 crore to JKCA treasurer Ahsan Mirza -- an accused in the case -- after receiving a recommendation from the president. The letter clearly suggests that Farooq was aware of the bogus accounts created to siphon off the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) funds. |
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Farooq breaks silence, rubbishes charges
Jammu, March 12 In a press statement released in New Delhi, Farooq, who is the president of the association, said certain news channels had been stating that he had authorised a loan to Ahsan Ahmad Mirza, the then treasurer of the association. He clarified that when the accounts of the association were sealed by the court and no money was available to run the day-to-day affairs of the association, Mirza had, from time-to-time, advanced interest-free loans from his own funds to help run the affairs of the association. The loan amount
had accumulated to Rs 1.9 crore. “On June 28, 2008, the cricket association resolved to repay the interest-free loan of Rs 1.9 crore. As such, it was resolved to authorise the J&K Bank branch at Khanyar to raise a loan of Rs 1.9 crore against two cash certificates (Nos. 2587618 and 2587619) of the cricket association, amounting to Rs 1,07,39416 each,” Farooq said. It was further resolved that the amount of Rs 1.9 crore was to be transferred to Mirza’s account No. 90605 to liquidate the loan that he had forwarded to the association from time to time, he stated. He said he did not authorise any loan in his individual capacity. The loan was raised on the basis of a unanimous resolution of the association and passed by its Governing Body. It was done to square up the borrowings of the association, which had been properly documented. So far as the happenings after 2008 are concerned, the association had already lodged an FIR and the J&K Police, which had seized the documents, would conduct a detailed investigation, he added. He said those found guilty would have to face the consequences as per law. Farooq alleged that certain forces were trying to malign his image to draw political mileage. |
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Man hurt in militant attack
Srinagar, March 12 The police said the militants opened fire on 45-year-old Ghulam Hassan Cheechak, leaving him grievously injured, at Arampora on the outskirts of Sopore. The injured was taken to the hospital, where he was undergoing treatment. Four empty cartridges were recovered from the crime scene. A case has been registered and further investigations are on. This is the third such incident in the Valley since Friday. A policeman was shot at by suspected militants at Saraibala here on Friday. In another incident, a sarpanch was injured when suspected militants fired upon him in the Dadsara area of Pulwama district on Saturday. |
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Infighting in the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) took an ugly turn today when supporters of veteran leader and Congress stalwart Mangat Ram Sharma reportedly manhandled JKPCC chief Saifuddin Soz, and gheraoed him against the decision of the party high command to give the mandate for the lone Legislative Council (LC) seat to Jugal Kishore Sharma.
Various Kashmiri Pandit organisations under the banner of the Pt Prem Nath Bhat Memorial Trust today held a protest in support of their demand to introduce and pass the Bill for the protection and management of Hindu temples and shrines in Kashmir.
As part of International Women’s Day celebrations, a day-long mushaira for women was organised by the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages here today. Dr Khyama Koul presided over the programme, while Darshan Kour was a special guest.
The Viraj Kala Kendra, a Jammu-based local NGO, organised a Rural Women Cultural and Sports Meet at Youth Hostel,
Khanpur, Nagrota, near here today. The meet was sponsored by the Youth Services and Sports Department.
Jammu, March 12
