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Assembly in session
Bemina fidayeen attack |
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BJP state chief Jugal Kishore Sharma and Social Welfare Minister Sakina Itoo get into a verbal duel in the Lower House in Jammu on Tuesday. Tribune photo: Anand Sharma
PDP boycotts Council session too
Army helps heal hearts of poor children
Gojri film shines at National Awards
Cong, NC spar over anti-national remarks
Govt assessing livestock loss, says minister
ADGP, Security, Ram Lubhaya with Governor NN Vohra at Raj Bhawan in Jammu on Tuesday. A Tribune photo
JPPF expresses concern over Assembly proceedings
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Assembly in session
A Cabinet minister and two MLAs, supporting the government, also rushed into the well of the House to support Rasheed. In the melee, Panthers Party MLA Balwant Singh Mankotia and BJP member Sukhnandan Choudhary tried to push aside Rasheed in a bid to stop him from “spewing venom” against India. Amidst pandemonium and unruly scenes, Speaker Mubarak Gul was forced to adjourn the House. Earlier, as soon as proceedings of the Assembly started this morning, Rasheed stood up and raised slogans against the decision of the government to reject his resolution on bringing back the mortal remains of Parliament attack convict Mohammad Afzal Guru. Members of the BJP, Panthers Party and JSM vociferously countered Rasheed, who repeatedly mentioned that Kashmir was a disputed territory. As opposition members were interrupting Rasheed, the Speaker told them that he (Rasheed) was also a member of the House and he too had the right to speak. “He (Rasheed) is neither demanding ‘azadi’ nor supporting Pakistan, he is only demanding the mortal remains of Afzal Guru,” the Speaker said while snubbing opposition members for not allowing the Independent MLA to speak. After delivering the speech in support of Afzal, Rasheed went into the well of the House and started raising slogans. In the meantime, opposition members also trooped towards the front row and later entered into the well. Opposition members repeatedly drew the attention of the Speaker to Rasheed, who was raising slogans in favour of Afzal. “Stop him from spewing venom against India,” shouted BJP member Jugal Kishore Sharma while urging the Speaker to stop the MLA from using Assembly as a platform to preach secessionism. As Rasheed continued to shout “provocative” slogans, Mankotia joined by Choudhary tried to push him aside. As opposition members had virtually gheraoed the Independent MLA, Minister for Higher Education Mohammad Akbar Lone, CPM legislator M Y Tarigami and Peoples Democratic Forum (PDF) MLA Hakim Yasin rushed into the well to lend support to Rasheed. With members of the opposition as well as the coalition storming into the well, there was total chaos in the Assembly. The watch and ward staff of the Assembly had a tough time handling MLAs engaged in a scuffle. Some Congress members, who were also on their feet, lodged their protest against allowing Rasheed to speak against India in the House. Finding it difficult to control the pandemonium in the House, the Speaker adjourned the Assembly and left his chair in a huff. Opposition members later charged National Conference-Congress coalition with intentionally giving liberty to Rasheed to use the Assembly to speak against India. |
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Bemina fidayeen attack
Srinagar, March 19 Two armed militants, he said, had entered the sports ground of Police Public School at Bemina in Srinagar on March 13 at around 10.45 am and attacked the CRPF personnel who were there on “standby deployment” for dealing with the “law and order” situation in the wake of a strike call by separatists. The fidayeen attack, he said, had resulted in the death of five CRPF personnel and injuries to 10 persons including six CRPF personnel and four civilians. “The investigations have so far revealed that the attack was carried out by two Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) cadres, identified as Saif, a resident of Dera Ghazi Khan and Haider, a resident of Multan Pakistan at the behest of their commander Ahmad and logistics chief Anas Bilal who are based across the LoC,” Mir said, while revealing the identities of the two slain militants. He said Ahmad was the operational chief of the LeT and Anas Bilal was the launching chief of the
Lashkar.
“So far, we have arrested four persons who handled and provided logistical support to the terrorists who carried out the attack on the CRPF on March 13,” Mir said. “The duo (fidayeen) had been facilitated, handled and controlled by Pakistani commander Mohammad Zubair alias Talha Zaraar, a resident of Multan, Pakistan, and locally released militant Bashir Ahmad Mir alias Haroon from Uri,” he said while sharing the details of the arrested persons. After the arrest of Bashir, Zubair alias Talha was arrested during a raid in Rampura Chattabal locality of the old city by the J-K Police on the evening of March 14. Mir identified the other two persons arrested by the police in connection with the Bemina fidayeen attack as Pradeeep Singh, a contractual sanitary inspector in the health department hailing from Baramulla and Mukhtar Shah, a local resident. “Pradeep Singh has been arrested for providing logistical support to the fidayeen militants,” he said. Asked about the past activities of Bahir Ahmad, Mir said Bashir was a released militant and had recycled himself. “He was a militant of Hizbul Mujahideen and had later joined the Al-Badr militant outfit. In 2002, he was arrested and booked under POTA and released in 2008.” “This is the problem with released militants; they get recycled,” he added. Asked if the attack was carried out by militants in retaliation to Afzal Guru’s hanging, he said, “The investigation does not say anything about this so far.” Mir said investigation had revealed that militants had infiltrated into the Valley in January and February, 2013.
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Jugal Kishore suspended for being ‘aggressive’ with woman
minister
Jammu, March 19 The BJP announced to boycott the rest of the Budget session of the Legislative Assembly till the “honourable revocation” of its member’s suspension and termed it (suspension) a “black day” in the history of the Legislative
Assembly. Itoo, a National Conference leader, asked Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj to tender an apology for the “misbehaviour” of the BJP
state president in the House and demanded that the party take stern action against him. As soon as the House reassembled after adjournment following a scuffle between Panthers Party member Balwant Singh Mankotia and Langate MLA Engineer Abdul Rasheed during the Question Hour, the Speaker asked the BJP member to raise his question. The BJP member, who expressed concern over the delay in construction of flyovers in Jammu city, blamed the state government for adopting a “discriminatory policy” towards the Jammu region and said he needed a specific reply on it. He was joined by other members from Jammu, including BJP MLA Ashok Khajuria, Panthers Party member Harsh Dev Singh, Congress MLA from Bhaderwah Mohammad Sharief Niaz and Jammu State Morcha MLA Ashwani Kumar Sharma. They cornered the government over the delay in construction of flyovers in the city. Minister for Planning and Development Ajay Kumar Sadhotra said the government had engaged M/S RITES for preparing city mobility plans for Jammu and Srinagar and it had submitted a plan of Rs 30,000 crore for traffiic decongestion in the twin capital cities of the state. Sadhotra said the construction work on flyovers would be taken up soon. Dissatisfied with the minister’s reply, Jugal Kishore Sharma walked into the well of the House amid protests as he posed more supplementaries to the minister. As the BJP member thumbed the reporters’ table in the Well, the Minister for Social Welfare made some comments, leading to a verbal duel between the two. Some NC ministers and members, including Mohammad Akbar Lone, Sajjad Ahmed Kichloo and Surjit Singh Slathia, took on the BJP MLA and jostled with him before the Speaker ordered Sharma’s marshalling out. After Sharma was marshalled out, BJP, Jammu State Morcha And Panthers Party MLAs staged a walkout from the House. Soon after, visibly angry Chief Minister Omar Abdullah entered the House and condemned the “derogatory and aggressive posture” exhibited by the BJP legislator against the minister. “The incident that took place in the House today downs our head with shame. On the one hand, we talk of protecting women and giving them respect and on the other side, the elected representatives demonstrate such a disrespectful and aggressive behaviour against a woman member. This deserves to be condemned in strongest words,” Omar said. “What kind of disciplinary action the Speaker is going to take for this indiscipline, I leave that to him,” he said. Minister for PHE and Irrigation Sham Lal Sharma, who is a Congress member, also condemned the BJP MLA’s behaviour. Later, the Speaker suspended the BJP legislator for the rest of the Budget session after the consent of the House in this regard over a motion moved by Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Law Mir Saifullah. |
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PDP boycotts Council session too
Jammu, March 19 The PDP alleged that the state government had eroded the authority and sanctity of both Houses of the legislature and added it would be meaningless to sit inside the House if opposition members were disallowed to raise “public-oriented” issues. The party has three members in the Legislative Council. Newly elected MLC of the PDP Naeem Akhtar is yet to be administered the oath. The PDP, which has 21 MLAs, had announced to boycott the proceedings of the Legislative Assembly on March 13. As soon as the Upper House assembled for the day’s proceedings today morning, all three members of the PDP were on their toes and brought into the notice of Council Chairman Amrit Malhotra the statement of National Conference leader and the Chief Minister’s uncle, Mustafa Kamaal, wherein he had accused the PDP of following a “dual policy” by boycotting the Assembly proceedings and attending the Budget session in the Legislative Council. The PDP members said the Chairman should look into the statement and call the leader into the House for tendering an apology for his remarks. “An outsider, who is not the member of this House, has no right to question the prerogative of members of the Legislative Council. He (Kamaal) should be called into the House and asked to tender an apology for his comments,” a PDP member said. Malhotra, however, turned down their request and continued the proceedings of the House. The PDP members created an uproar and announced to boycott the House for the rest of the Budget session. Later, PDP member in the Upper House Asgar Ali told reporters that the ruling National Conference (NC) was trying to “strangulate” the voice of the opposition as it did in the Legislative Assembly today when they (NC) suspended a BJP member for the rest of the Budget session, which ends on April 5. “The state government has failed to control the situation in the Valley which has been put under siege. It is trying to control the situation through military and police which will have serious repercussions,” Ali said.
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Army helps heal hearts of poor children
Beerwah (Kashmir), March 19 The children, Mir Adnan, a resident of Sopore town, Raja Asif Khan, a resident of Kupwara district, Zamruda, Nilofar and Wasif Ahmad Bhat, all residents of Budgam district, were suffering from congenital heart ailments. At Budgam’s Beerwah town, where the Army’s 35 Rashtriya Rifles, which facilitated the treatment, is based, the five children were received by General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Srinagar-based 15 Corps Lt Gen Om Prakash and GOC of Victor Force Maj Gen RR Nimbhorkar. The treatment of the children was facilitated under the Army’s ‘Operation Healing Little Hearts’, an initiative of Operation Sadbhavana. The Army has taken some people-friendly initiatives, including changing the timing of the convoy movement, in an attempt to redo its past image. The children, all under the age of 10, were successfully treated at Hero Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana in Punjab, an Army officer said. “The entire expenditure on the children was approximately Rs 30 lakh excluding another Rs 10 lakh for travel, accommodation and boarding,” the officer said. The families of the children thanked the Army for extending help to them.
— TNS
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Gojri film shines at National Awards
Jammu, March 19 The film was lauded for portraying the life of nomadic shepherd Gujjars-Bakerwals families of Jammu and Kashmir, with an energy that goes far beyond empathy, creating a moving and compelling narrative that is vividly committed to its subject. ‘Shepherds of Paradise’ shared the Best Cinematography award with Marathi film
Kaatal, which won the Best Direction (Vikrant Pawar) and Best Short Fiction awards as well. The awards were announced today in New Delhi. Dr Javaid
Rahi, Secretary, Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation, said it was an honour for the entire Gujjar community that for the first time, a film in Gojri had been adjudged the best in a national level competition. He congratulated the director of the film for portraying real cultural heritage of nomadic
Gujjars-Bakerwals, which constitute the third largest group in the state. Earns plaudits
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Cong, NC spar over anti-national remarks
Jammu, March 19 PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Minister Sham Lal Sharma, who belongs to the Congress, even threatened to come out of the government on the issue. When the Speaker adjourned the House at 10.24 am amid pandemonium over Rasheed’s anti-national speech, Sham Lal Sharma lost his cool. He snubbed the coalition partner while mediapersons were sitting in the press gallery. “It would be really difficult for us remain in the coalition with the National Conference if constitutional norms are thrown to the wind”, he said. “Go out of the coalition if you are facing difficulty”, Minister for Higher Education Akbar Lone, who belongs to the National Conference, dared Sham. Lone was also supported by his party colleague Nazir Ahmed Gurezi, who is Minister of State for Animal and Sheep Husbandry. “You have a habit of giving threats. Don’t terrorise us,” he told Sham.
— TNS
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Govt assessing livestock loss, says minister
Jammu, March 19 Expressing sorrow over loss of livestock in Changthang area, Minister for Finance and Ladakh Affairs Abdul Rahim Rather said the Revenue and Animal & Sheep Husbandry departments had been asked to conduct a joint survey so that actual loss of livestock in Changthang area of Leh could be worked out. He said the affected nomads of the area whose livestock died would be provided relief. Minister of State for Home Sajjad Ahmed Kichloo, while replying to main calling attention notice, said during the winter months, nomads belonging to Nyoma subdivision of Leh district take their livestock to Changthang area for open grazing.
— TNS
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Guv briefed on security management
Jammu, March 19 The Governor discussed with Kumar important matters relating to the arrangements which are required to be put in place for the smooth conduct of the Amarnath yatra, which is scheduled to begin from June 28. The Governor wished Kumar, who is taking over as the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, a successful tenure ahead. In a separate meeting, Lubhaya briefed the Governor
about matters pertaining to the internal security management.
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JPPF expresses concern over Assembly proceedings
Jammu, March 19 Addressing a press conference here today, president, JPPF, Justice Pavitter Singh (retd) expressed concern over wasting of precious time of an August House like the Assembly on the issue pertaining to Afzal Guru. “Afzal was hanged lawfully after exhausting all the legal remedies available. Notorious politicians of Kashmir, for their vested interests, started playing politics over his body to increase their vote bank in the Valley,” he said. He further said, “It seems as if we are not in India. The Chief Minister has crossed all limits and has given Afzal an honour by calling him sahib.”
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The state Assembly today witnessed a free-for-all when BJP, Panthers Party and Jammu State Morcha MLAs entered into a scuffle with Independent legislator Abdul Rasheed Engineer for “delivering anti-India” speech on the floor of the House.
Jammu, March 19
State president of the BJP Jugal Kishore Sharma was today suspended for the rest of the ongoing Budget session by Assembly Speaker Mubarak Gul for his “derogatory and aggressive posture” against Minister for Social Welfare Sakina Itoo.