The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	Setback for BJP as Speaker doesn’t accept split in party Recognises ‘expelled’ Chaman Lal as Leader of BJP Legislature Party Dinesh Manhotra Tribune News Service Jammu, March 27 The BJP today received a severe setback as Speaker of the Assembly Mohammad Akbar Lone refused to accept a split in the party and treated Chaman Lal Gupta, expelled MLA from the BJP, as Leader of the BJP Legislature Party in the Assembly. Enraged over the decision of the Speaker to treat both factions of the party as one unit, four BJP legislators staged a walkout from the Assembly. Earlier when the Speaker was distributing time for debate on grants for departments under the purview of the Chief Minister, BJP legislator Jugal Kishore Sharma, who is claiming to be the Leader of the BJP Legislature Party, said: “We have only four members in the Assembly, so distribute time among the four of us. You have allotted us time as a party with 11 members in the House, which is wrong.” The seven legislators of the party have been expelled from the BJP so are no more MLAs of the party, he added. He demanded that the seven legislators expelled from the BJP should be treated as a separate group. “As far as the Assembly record is concerned, all 11 BJP MLAs are one unit and Chaman Lal Gupta is the Leader of the BJP Legislature Party and Ashok Khajuria is the chief whip of the party,” Speaker replied and told Sharma that the matter was sub judice so it was unwise to further debate on the issue. “I have already told you that we have only four members in the House because the BJP has already expelled seven of its MLAs from the party. I don’t know why you are counting us as eleven,” Sharma pleaded before the Speaker. As the Speaker refused to accept the argument of Jugal Kishore, other three BJP members, namely Ashok Khajuria, Choudhary Sham Lal and Choudhary Sukhnandan, joined him and entered into an argument with the Speaker. Later, all four BJP legislators staged a walkout. After the infamous cross-voting controversy of April 13, 2011, seven legislators headed by Chaman Lal Gupta were expelled from the BJP on the charges of voting in favour of National Conference and Congress candidates. The BJP had written a letter to the Speaker and asked him to disqualify those seven MLAs from the Assembly. The expelled party members have moved court in the matter.
	Sreedharan part of reconstituted Vaishno Devi Shrine Board Other members include Sudha Murty, Pt Shivkumar Sharma Tribune News Service Jammu, March 27 Governor NN Vohra, who is also the Chairman of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB), today reconstituted the Shrine Board. Giving details, Navin Kumar Choudhary, Chief Executive Officer, SMVDSB, stated that the Governor, had nominated E. Sreedharan, former Managing Director, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation; Sudha Murty, Chairperson, Infosys Foundation, Bangalore; Dr S. S. Bloeria, Vice-Chancellor, Central University of Jammu; Pt Shivkumar Sharma, santoor maestro; Dr Ashok Bhan, former Director General of Police, J&K; and HL Maini, former Chief Engineer and Technical Consultant, SMVDSB; as members. E. Sreedharan is fondly called the “Wheel of the Nation” for his tireless work in building the Konkan Railway and for his outstanding achievement in establishing the Delhi Metro before the scheduled date and for progressively expanding it to cover the adjoining areas in UP and Haryana. Sudha Murty is Chairperson of the Infosys Foundation which she set up in 1996. Wife of the legendary Narayana Murthy, she holds an M. Tech in computer science from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, and has been actively contributing to the social uplift of the poor and the neglected, under the aegis of Infosys Foundation. Credited with a distinguished administrative career in the IAS, Dr S S Bloeria, currently Vice-Chancellor, Central University, Jammu, had earlier served in the Army. Before taking over as the Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir, he was Director, Enforcement Directorate, Ministry of Finance. Pt Shivkumar Sharma, an internationally acclaimed santoor maestro, has the distinction of bringing forth the folk instrument from the Valley to its classical status. With his creative genius, the maestro has created a new genre of instrumental music. Dr Ashok Bhan joined the Indian Police Service in 1976 and retired as Director General of Police in 2010. During his career, he served the state in various capacities such as SSP in districts of Anantnag and Rajouri; Principal, Police Training College; DIG, Jammu; IGP, Kashmir and Armed Police; IGP, Security; Additional DGP (CID); Commissioner of Vigilance; and DGP (CID). Dr Bhan is recipient of the DGP Commendation Medal, Police Medal for Meritorious Service, President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service, Police Medal for Gallantry, Sher-i-Kashmir Police Medal for Gallantry, and Chief Minister’s Gold Medal for Honesty, Integrity and Meritorious Public Service. H L Maini, Technical Consultant to the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, has remained closely associated with various development activities of the Shrine Board since its inception 25 years ago.
	Justice Kalifulla elevated to Supreme Court DS Chauhan Jammu, March 27 The Bar Association, Jammu, today organised a felicitation function in the District Court Complex, Jammu, to honour the Chief Justice of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court, FM Ibrahim Kalifulla, on his elevation as the Judge of the Supreme Court. Justice Kalifulla is expected to take an oath as the Judge of the Supreme Court on April 3. President of the Bar Association, Jammu, BS Slathia, in his welcome address described Justice FM Ibrahim Kalifulla as a complete Judge, who possessed the quality of head and heart. “The judiciary, especially in a democratic state, is well known for its impartiality. In numerous cases it has taken decisions even against the state for achieving justice. This impartiality of the judicial system in a democratic state can be attributed to the good qualities of judges, who have always asserted their independence from executive control and Justice FM Ibrahim Kalifulla can be cited as a complete example,” said Slathia. Senior advocate SS Lehar also appreciated the receptive qualities of Justice Kalifulla. Lehar lauded the strength of Justice Kalifulla and valued his integrity, legal knowledge, experience and judicial temperament. Justice Kalifulla in his emotional address described the members of the legal fraternity belonging to the Bar Association, Jammu, as one of the best lawyers in the country. The felicitation function was attended by Justice JP Singh, Justice MY Mir, Justice Hasnain Masoodi, Registrar General of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court, Principal District and Sessions Judge, Jammu, members of the subordinate judiciary, senior advocates and members of the Bar Association, Jammu. Hailing from Karaikudi in Sivgangai district of Tamil Nadu, Justice Kalifulla was born on July 23, 1951. He was enrolled as an advocate on August 20, 1975. He was an active Labour Law practitioner. He was the standing counsel for the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board. On March 2, 2000, he was appointed as a permanent judge of the Madras High Court. He was transferred to the Jammu and Kashmir High Court on February 2, 2011. He was appointed as the acting Chief Justice of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court on April 7, 2011, and took oath as Chief Justice of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court on September 18, 2011.
	BJP demands CBI probe into cricket body scam Tribune News Service Jammu, March 27 Even as BJP legislators in the Assembly are hesitating to join the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to corner the state government on the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) scam, party’s national secretary and former MP Kirit Somaiya today demanded the resignation of president and chairman of the JKCA, following embezzlement of crores of rupees. Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Dr Farooq Abdullah is the president of the JKCA and his political adviser Aslam Goni is the chairman of the association. The BJP demanded that the accused should be debarred from performing the JKCA duties. Somaiya demanded a CBI probe into the JKCA scam because names of some high profile persons had figured in the scam. Somaiya, who is the convener of the BJP scams committee, regretted that no action had been taken so far in the JKCA scam, in which amount worth crores was embezzled by those, who were at the helm of affairs. Somaiya said in the recent months the BJP had to its credit exposure of the massive National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) scam in UP, which had paved the way for exposing the NRHM across the country. The NRHM scam has its roots in Jammu and Kashmir as well, said Somaiya, adding that while at the Centre the money was misappropriated through the purchase of ambulances, in Jammu and Kashmir it was Asha kits, which were used for manipulating purchases. Hitting out at the Omar government for trying to defend scamsters, Somaiya asked why no follow up action was taken against revenue officials involved in the defence land scam.
	Now, women to man borders in Jammu Jupinderjit Singh/TNS Akhnoor, March 27 Members of the fairer sex will finally stand along with men in protecting the sensitive border here with the Border Security force (BSF) starting recruitment of women from the state. This came to light during a special recruitment rally held for youth of the state by the BSF after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah reportedly sought such recruitment to help contain unemployment. Over six lakh youth in the state are unemployed. Nearly 8,000 youths turned up for recruitment against 700 posts of male constable while so far 34 girls have filled forms against eight posts. Earlier, woman constables of the BSF were deployed on borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh in Punjab and West Bengal, respectively. It is for the first time that the recruitment has begun here at an open recruitment rally in Akhnoor. “Initially, there is a vacancy for eight woman constables. These are Constable-General duty posts, which involves border patrolling also,” said IG, BSF, A K Jain Officials said only those women who belong to Jammu and Kathua districts were eligible for the posts offered in the recruitment rally. Sources said the BSF had one battalion of woman constables so far and another may be raised in the near future, if required.
	CM meets Governor Jammu, March 27 Chief Minister Omar Abdullah met Governor NN Vohra at the Raj Bhawan here today. During their hour-long meeting, the Governor and the Chief Minister discussed various important issues relating to the state which included the establishment of the Panchayati Raj institutions, elections to the urban local bodies and setting up of the State Vigilance Commission. The Chief Minister briefed the Governor about the implementation of various schemes and programmes and the measures being taken for the time-bound completion of major development projects. — TNS
	Students protest attack on Geelani M Aamir Khan Srinagar, March 27 Students of the University of Kashmir (KU) today staged a protest against the assault on chairman of the hardline faction of the Hurriyat Conference Syed Ali Shah Geelani in New Delhi yesterday. Carrying placards, the students gathered on the university campus and staged a peaceful protest against the attack on the separatist leader. According to media reports, Geelani was assaulted by activists of the Bhagat Singh Kranti Sena (BSKS) and Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) when he was walking towards a seminar hall in north Delhi.
	Anti-graft panel puts ex-minister on notice Ravi Krishnan Khajuria Tribune News Service Jammu, March 27 The Jammu and Kashmir State Accountability Commission (JKSAC), an autonomous anti-graft panel, today issued notices for appearance to former PWD Minister Gulchain Singh Charak and has also called for comments from Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. The panel has also slapped notices on the then Managing Director of Jammu and Kashmir Projects’ Construction Corporation (JKPCC); Daleep Thussoo, the then GM, JKPCC; Naim Ahmad, the then DGM, JKPCC; and AK Constructions, Builders and Engineers. Taking cognisance of a complaint filed by Dr Rehmatullah Khora, former District Sheep Husbandry Officer, the panel headed by Justice (retd) YP Nargotra observed that the complainant had alleged violation of the codal procedure in inviting tenders for a mega project for constructing a cantilever bridge across the Chenab river in Ganpat Doda at a cost of Rs 30 crore. The bridge had to provide alternate connectivity to the Doda residents following submergence of Pul Doda in the wake of the Baglihar power project. The complainant alleged that for the construction of this bridge, the JKPCC vide number HC/2858-60 dated February 19, 2007, wilfully and based on managed recommendations of the committee constituted vide number 2116-25 dated January 19, 2009, and following approval of these recommendations by the then PWD Minister and JKPCC Chairman, Gulchain Singh Charak, had allotted the mega project to AK Constructions, Builders and Engineers. The complainant further submitted in his complaint that the project worth over Rs 30 crore was allotted to AK Constructions without adhering to the codal procedure of inviting tenders. Referring to the complaint, the panel observed that interestingly no bank guarantees or securities were demanded by the JKPCC while allotting the tender. Further, it has been stated that time of completion shall be 25 working months from December 12, 2006, which means the bridge should have been nearing completion by this time but the said firm has stopped the work after taking away Rs 7.39 crore from the JKPCC. The panel observed that the contract was allotted by the JKPCC with the approval of the then PWD Minister without inviting tenders and without demanding any security or bank guarantee. Furthermore, the JKPCC released in advance Rs 2.66 crore to the firm as mobilisation amount. “How could the JKPCC grant the contract to AK Constructions without inviting tenders and without demanding security or bank guarantee release an amount of Rs 2.66 crore in favour of the contractor,” observed the panel. It further observed that how could the then PWD Minister Gulchain Singh Charak give his approval to the grant of contract in such a way by the JKPCC. With these observations, the panel issued notices to Charak and four officials, who had been at the helm of affairs at that time in the JKPCC. The matter will be listed for regular inquiry on April 24. The panel has also called for comments from Chief Minister Omar Abdullah regarding the present status of the project along with details of action, if any, taken in the matter.
	Omar-led govt has become synonymous with corruption, says Mehbooba Dinesh Manhotra/TNS Jammu, March 27 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti today lambasted the Omar-led regime and said it had become synonymous with “crime and corruption” because corruption had been legalised in this part of the country. “While as people in other parts of the country are struggling against corruption, in Jammu and Kashmir corruption has creped the administration from top to bottom,” Mehbooba said while speaking on the grants to departments under the purview of the Chief Minister. As Mehbooba was allowed to speak on behalf of her party, she availed the opportunity to “expose” the claims of the government. “Jammu and Kashmir is the only state in the country where corruption has been legalised,” she said and spoke about various corruption cases that were exposed in the state during the last three years. She regretted that the Chief Minister had failed to come up to the expectations of the people. “The people had high hopes from this “young” and “dynamic” Chief Minister, but he has proved as a “dynamite” for the people because he (Omar Abdullah) through his misdeeds and mis-goverance has dashed the hopes of all sections of society,” she said and regretted that the Central government had given this regime an unflinching support at every crucial moment, but unfortunately the government had failed to utilise this support for the wellbeing of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. “The constant support you are getting from the Centre can be utilised for the betterment of the people, but you brazenly mis-used this support and failed to address the basic problems of the masses,” she said. The PDP, which usually avoids attack on the Congress, today took Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand to task for backdoor appointments in his Housing and Urban Development Department. Tara Chand belongs to the Congress party in the government. “Although backdoor appointments have been going on in all the departments, Housing and Urban Development Department has crossed all limits,” she said and added that thousands of youth had been appointed in the House and Urban Development Department through backdoor channels.
	Minister grilled for irregularities in public distribution system Tribune News Service Jammu, March 27 Minister for Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD) Qamar Ali Akhoon had a tough time in the Legislative Assembly today after legislators of all the opposition parties grilled him for “irregularities” in the public distribution system (PDS) and “faulty” lists of the Below Poverty Line (BPL) people. It all started during Question Hour, when PDP legislator Abdul Haq Khan while pointing out the chaotic situation prevailing in the CAPD Department said a majority of the population was still deprived of ration facilities in the state. Other opposition members joined him and alleged that the people, especially those under the BPL category in rural areas, were facing several hardships in their daily life due to the “shortage of ration, irregularities in distribution system and faulty BPL lists.” They further alleged that no criteria had been fixed for releasing ration to the people on a monthly basis. “You have said 3.14 lakh families in the state still don’t have ration cards. The government also does not have any criteria to distribute ration among the ration card holders. If a family has 10 members, it is being given the same amount of ration, as is being given to a family with five members,” PDP legislator Abdul Rehman Veeri said. Leader of the Panthers legislature party Harsh Dev Singh also pointed out the flaws in the distribution system, suggesting that the government should appoint local youth as Rehbar-e-Khurat for distribution of ration. CPM legislator Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami while drawing attentions towards the shortcomings in the new Food Security Act said people would be at the receiving end and would face great difficulties after the implementation of the Act. Legislators of the BJP, JSM and Panthers Party also castigated the Minister for irregularities in the distribution system and alleged that the people in rural and far-off areas were the worst sufferers. The Minister, however, said the government had started the process of re-verification of the BPL lists. “The people are still getting ration as per the Census of 2001. After the Food Security Act gets passed in Parliament they will get ration as per the Census of 2011,” he said. He added that the issuance of new ration cards would be taken in hand only when the Centre enhances the allocation of food grains.
	Tulip Garden ready to greet tourists in Valley M Aamir Khan Srinagar, March 27 With over 70 varieties of tulips in vibrant colours, Tulip Garden is all set to woo tourists as its doors will be thrown open to the public on Thursday. Spread over 35 hectares, the garden located in the foothills of the Zabarwan hill range here has become a major tourist destination of the Kashmir valley since 2007, and this year it will display eight new varieties of tulips. “This year we have acquired eight new varieties of tulips. The garden will have around 3.30 lakh flowers this season as more than 70 varieties of tulips will be put on display,” said Javed Ahmad Shah, in charge of Tulip Garden. On public demand, the tulips have been arranged in straight-line beds this year. “Putting in place these straight-line beds requires a lot of efforts but it will provide a visual treat for visitors as well as enable good camera angles,” Shah added. Stating that the straight-line beds would also attract Bollywood to shoot films at the garden, he said: “People still remember the song of Silsila movie (dekha ek khwab) that was shot at a tulip garden in Holland. When people especially visitors from outside the state visit this garden, they except to see similar scenes and the straight-line beds will definitely give them that experience this time.” In 2008, a song of Bollywood movie Sadiyaan was shot at Tulip Garden. Later, a few scenes of a Tamil film were also shot at the picturesque garden. The garden was earlier known as Siraj Bagh and was named Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden in 2007 by then Chief Minister of the state Ghulam Nabi Azad. The main aim of setting up the garden was extending the duration of the tourist season that usually starts in the Valley by April-end. The garden would be inaugurated this year by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on March 29 and would be opened to the public on the same day.
	30 pilgrims injured in Katra bus mishap Devinder Thakur Katra, March 27 Six Vaishno Devi pilgrims were critically injured and 24 others received minor injuries when the bus they were travelling in rolled down into a gorge on the Katra-Jammu road around 1 km from Katra near Durga Palace late last night, police officers said. The bus, which was on its way from Katra to Jammu, met with the accident around 10.30 pm, the police said. The critically injured pilgrims were identified as Suresh, 2, from Orrisa; Sawita, 26, from New Delhi; Swatri, 60, from Pathankot; Ashok, 6, from Bihar; Vimla Thakur, 45, from New Delhi and Sagita Singh, 27, from Bihar. They were rushed to Government Medical College and Hospital, Jammu. Those with minor injuries were taken to a hospital in Katra. The police rescued the passengers with the assistance of local residents. Thirty passengers were on board the vehicle when the mishap occurred. A case has been registered in this regard.
	Cancer screening camp in Doda Raju William Tribune News Service Udhampur, March 27 A total of 23 persons, including women, showed signs and symptoms of cancer at a district-level free of cost cancer screening camp organised for the first time at District Hospital, Doda, yesterday. It was organised by the Directorate of Health Services, Jammu, in association with Fortis Escorts Hospital, Amritsar. Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Doda, Dr Mohammad Iqbal Zargar told The Tribune that all suspected patients, including 12 women and 11 men, were advised to visit the Nodal Cancer Centre for Jammu province at Gandhi Nagar, Jammu, for further tests and diagnosis. Eighty patients from different parts of the mountainous district turned up at the camp. “The men showed symptoms of food pipe and stomach cancer while the women showed symptoms of breast and cervical cancer. According to experts, one in every 1,000 persons in Doda district could be suffering from cancer. The initiative is useful because we do not have any facility to diagnose and treat cancer patients at District Hospital,” said Dr Zargar. A similar camp was organised last month at Udhampur, where 43 people were suspected of having cancer and were advised further tests. Inaugurating the camp, District Development Commissioner Farooq Ahmed Khan appreciated the efforts of Dr Rajeev Gupta, consultant medical oncologist and hematologist at Fortis Escorts Hospital, Amritsar, who conducted the camp to help the needy patients. A session of continued medical education was also organised after the camp for about 40 health professionals, including doctors working in the district. The CMO, Dr Zargar, emphasised the need to train people for implementing cancer treatment programs at the district level. Dr Gupta highlighted various aspects of cancer, its occurrence, detection, screening and prevention in the initial stage to save precious human lives.
	PHE Dept demands wage hike for casual labourers Tribune News Service Jammu, March 27 The PHE (water works) Employees Association held a protest demonstration to demand a hike in the wages of casual workers at the Rural Division BC Road today. The association is demanding the release of pending wages of Rs 125 fixed by the government and the wages of those workers who have been engaged since 2005. The association is demanding that the labourers, who have completed their 7-year tenure with the department be given regular status and authentication be done for all labourers who have joined since November 2011. Shiv Kumar Sharma, president of the Indian National Trade Union Congress and provincial president water works, raised the demand that all Class IV staff, who has completed their tenure, should be transferred back to their home stations since they are facing hardships in other towns. Their other demands include that technical grades be given to the skilled PHE employees and seniority lists be maintained at all levels. Prominent leaders who addressed the gathering were Tilak Lal Singh, Bansi Lal, Manzoor Dhar and Ravi Kumar.
	Health Minister calls on Governor Tribune News Service Jammu, March 27 Health Minister Sham Lal Sharma called on Governor NN Vohra at Raj Bhawan here this evening. During their meeting, the Governor and the Health Minister discussed the implementation of various Central and Centrally-sponsored schemes for promoting the health care delivery system in the state. Matters relating to the advancement of horticulture and floriculture sectors, which have a very high potential for generating employment opportunities in the state, also came up for discussion during the meeting.
	Efforts on for transfer of hydel projects: Taj Tribune News Service Jammu, March 27 Minister for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Taj Mohiuddin yesterday assured the Upper House that the government was pursuing the transfer of power projects from the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) with all seriousness. Replying to a discussion on a private members’ resolution moved by Murtaza Khan, the Minister said the cabinet subcommittee had recommended the transfer of the Salal and Uri-I to the state government and the Rangarajan Committee, too, had recommended the transfer of the Dul Hasti power project to the state. He said the cabinet had accepted the recommendations in totality and was pursuing the matter with all seriousness. Taj said no government in the last 65 years had bothered to protect the state’s water resources so seriously, as the present government had done. He said enough politics has been done on the water resources of the state, but the present government took bold initiatives of first enacting the J&K Water Resources Act-2010 and then demanded the transfer of hydel projects to the state. Earlier, Khan stressed on coordinated efforts and taking of practical steps for getting hydel power projects back from the NHPC. Later, the House rejected the resolution via voice vote.
	Police to trace missing Sikh engineer in Amritsar Our Correspondent Srinagar, March 27 After failing to trace a local Sikh engineer, who went missing from the city last month, the police today said it would launch a search operation in Amritsar and Chandigarh. “We have received inputs that he may be in Amritsar or Chandigarh and our team will soon visit these places,” a police officer said. The police said they had been carrying out search operations at various places, including gurdwaras, hospitals, bus stands and railway stations across the state, but without any success. Executive Engineer Jagdeep Singh Bali (57) had left his residence at Magarmal Bagh in Srinagar on February 18 and remains untraced ever since. After appeals from various quarters, the police announced a cash reward of Rs 10,000 for any information that would help in tracing the missing engineer.