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Two
aircrafts violate LoC Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Feb 19: Indian army shot down a Pakistani Turbo Prop aircraft this afternoon after two planes violated the Line of Control (LoC) and intruded deep into Indian territory in Chhamb sector of Akhnoor tehsil. This was for the first time after announcement of cease-fire by Indian and ‘maximum restraint’ offer of Pakistan on the LoC that enemy aircrafts violated the air space, which has been viewed very seriously by the Defence authorities. A Defence spokesman late tonight confirmed the ‘blatant violation of air space’ by Pakistan army but didn’t comment on shooting down of the aircraft. Reliable sources, however, confirmed that one of the two aircrafts was shot down when it was returning to Pakistan. Sources said two ‘Mushaq’ planes, (Turbo Prop with pilots) of Pakistan army crossed the LoC while on a reconnaissance mission in Chhamb sector at 1430 hours and intruded deep into the Indian side. The aircrafts reportedly hovered over the Indian skies for five to six minutes and flew over the area of Pallanwalla and Khour. Ground troops of Indian army opened the firing aiming the aircrafts. Firing continued for five to seven minutes and a volley of shots reportedly hit one of the plane when it was flying back to Pakistan. The plane fell down in Pakistan territory and was extensively damaged, the sources said, adding there would have been casualties in shooting down of the aircraft but details were not available. "Definitely, the plane was shot down and damaged. Troops on this side could easily see the plane taking a dive in the air and falling down", the sources said. People in Pallanwalla and Khour also saw the aircrafts from their houses, residents later told visiting police and security officials. Both the aircrafts were fixed wing, Turbo Prop with pilots and were stated to be on a recce. Residents said they saw repeated flashes from the planes which indicated that motive of the aircrafts was to take photographs of strategic locations and vital civilians areas. However, the sources said, all these aspects were under investigations. A strong protest of air violation is being lodged with Pakistan authorities, they added. While intrusions into Indian skies have taken place periodically, this was the first time after the Pakistani Atlantique was shot down on August 10, 1999 that planes from across have come in so deeply. The sources said by all indications the two planes, similar to the HPT 32 with the Indian Air Force, were on a recce mission and since nothing had been recovered till late tonight the aircraft must have returned to the Pakistani territory. They said Pakistani planes have been quite frequently intruding into Indian airspace but mostly they come in at high level, test the waters and go back, the sources said. The Indian Air Force fighters in August, 1999 shot down a Pakistani Navy surveillance aircraft in the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat and 16 people on board were killed. Pakistan claimed 60 million dollars as damages but the international court of justice threw out the case. Last year, an IAF helicopter carrying Border Security Force personnel went down mysteriously in the Rann of Kutch on the Indian side of the border. At the height of the Kargil conflict in 1999, Pakistani ground forces shot down two IAF MiGs and a helicopter. |
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Prime Medical College
issue Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Feb 19: Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah today washed his hands off the most controversial issue of illegal admissions of the students of Prime Medical College to other Govt Medical Colleges claiming that Central Government was responsible for the entire episode. Making this statement in the State Legislative Council here today, the Chief Minister said," Kare Koi, bhare Farooq Abdullah." The agitation launched by the ABVP and supported by some vested organisations including RSS have the only motive to defame National Conference Government. Some people are playing dirty and cheap politics over this issue. Commenting on the recent developments in the winter capital in view of the agitation launched by student organisations and situation prevailing here for the last few weeks, the Chief Minister said, "I have suffered a lot due to this act of some Central ministers. Enough is enough. I have lost my patience now and now I would not hesitate to expose the people responsible for it, " Dr Abdullah maintained. Making a frontal attack on the Centre, Dr Abdullah was apparently in totally different mood today. He confessed that by doing this illegal act the Centre wanted to cast blame on him of their own misdeeds." I am not going to tolerate it any longer," he asserted. The students who have set up a tent and staging dharna outside Medical College Jammu should move to the Union capital and sit in front of Parliament in Delhi to lodge their protest. Dr Abdullah revealed that the students of this Prime college which is unrecognised and not approved by Medical Council of India were after him for their case. This college came into existence during Governor’s rule and the students got admissions by on donation basis amounting to several lakhs. These hapless students moved from piller to post but we rejected their case as it was not fair to accommodate them. Some politicians projected their case before the Prime Minister, Home Minister, HRD Minister and Health Minister. A letter was received from the Centre to accommodate these students with the mention that such cases have already been adjusted in other states. Even such Medical colleges still exist in few states which have no infrastructure, own good building but they are running. As the admission to these 55 students was given on the instructions of Centre, the ABVP should burn the effigy of Central leaders responsible for it why they are targetting Farooq Abdullah only. They should try to go into the details. " I have written to them to cancel the admissions as they have done it not Farooq Abdullah and I hope they would take serious note of it and respond as per the demand of the situation,"he added. Expressing serious concern over the closure of school, colleges and academic loss to the students, Dr Abdullah said that they should realise it that they will not be able to get any compensation for it. The most precious time of their studies is being damaged due to exploitation by some vested interests. The students would not get any concession or relaxation in exams and they must utilise their time for studies. The pass percentage is going down every year and education system is facing crisis every year. Sincere efforts are required from all the quarters to improve the education system and contribute for its overall development. |
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Girl’s security prime
concern : CM Excelsior Correspondent UDHAMPUR, Feb 19: Eleven day long kidnapping of teen-aged Meenakshi took another turn last mid-night when the girl reportedly spoke to her family members twice on telephone from an unidentified location and conveyed that she was alright and will return to the house shortly. In Jammu, the telephone call was also confirmed by Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah and BJP Legislature Party leader Lala Shiv Charan Gupta in the Assembly today with Abdullah stating that ‘safety and security of the girl was prime concern of the Government’ while Lala sought an apology from the Congress (I) whose one of the member had earlier alleged that the girl had been hidden by the Lala. DIG Udhampur-Doda range S K Mishra told EXCELSIOR that the girl rang up the telephone of her residence twice between 2330 hours to 0030 hours last mid-night and talked to her brother, father Natha Singh and mother Shesh first for a minute and secondly for about two and a half minutes and told them that she was alright. "I will return to the house shortly", Meenakshi’s uncle Balbir Singh quoted the girl as saying in a rally held at Dabbar Park. He said the parents repeatedly asked the girl to disclose her location and the telephone number she was speaking but Meenakshi refused to do so and dis-connected the line. A lady reportedly spoke on the telephone before the telephone was given to Meenakshi, police said, suspecting the lady could be a PCO operator. Mishra, however, said the girl reportedly threw a hint of her location either in Saket (South Delhi) or Union Territory of Chandigarh. "Police teams have been dispatched to these two places as well as some other states to trace the abducted girl", he added. "Police was on the job and a breakthrough was expected". Official sources said the telephone number of the family wasn’t being kept under observation. Otherwise, it would have identified her location. "As of now, we can’t say from where the girl made the telephone call as she didn’t reveal it to her family members", a police officer said, adding ‘the investigations revealed that it was an outside the State call’. In Jammu, Meenakshi’s relative Ashok Charak said that only one telephone call was made by the girl and she didn’t reveal her location. Shops and business establishments remained closed in the town here for 11th day today but no untoward incident was reported during the day. A meeting of citizens and core committee, spearheading the agitation, was held this evening in which some members reportedly decided to suspend the strike for a week. However, this decision was resented by some youths, who shouted slogans and decided to continue the agitation till the girl was recovered. In the Legislative Assembly, Lala Shiv Charan Gupta raised the issue during Zero Hour and informed the House about the telephone call made by Meenakshi to her family members. He said the Congress (I) members should now apologise to the House for making ‘baseless allegations’ against him that the girl was in his house. "The Congress (I) has tried to tarnish my clean political image of 60 years", he lamented. Lala alleged that a mafia group was operating in Udhampur and many such incidents hadn’t been reported at all. The CBI should investigate as to who were the culprits, he demanded. Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah also briefed the House about the telephone call and said the ‘girl was frightened. He said safety of the girl was very important for the Government and House will be briefed and taken into full confidence whenever she was recovered. Abdullah said that all relevant papers on the kidnapping incident have been handed over to the CBI team. BJP member Chowdhary Piara Singh said that many girls of Jammu and Srinagar have been taken to different areas and demanded that mafia should be thoroughly exposed. |
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Toll 10; haul of arms,
explosives Excelsior Correspondent RAJOURI, Feb 19: Army and police today eliminated six more militants in the continued encounter at Rud nullah in Kot Chadwal area of Budhal taking toll in the encounter since last evening to 10. A dreaded militant Kasif Bhat alias ‘Bhat Saheb", who had master-minded and executed the massacre of 15 nomads at Kot Chadwal was among those killed. While four militants were killed last evening, six others were liquidated in the fierce gun-fighting today, DIG Rajouri-Poonch range Ram Lubaya said tonight. He said army personnel, assisted by police parties from Rajouri and Reasi, continued a hunt for the absconding militants after killing four of them last night at Rud nullah. Troops had reports that as many as 15 militants were present in the area. Another group of ultras was spotted this morning. Army and police parties retaliated after being fired upon by the hiding militants. A heavy exchange of firing ensued, which continued till late this evening, official sources said, adding by the afternoon four militants were killed while two others were gunned down late this evening when they were trying to flee from the village. A total of 10 militants have so far been killed since last evening and all of them were involved in the massacre of nomads. No casualty or injury was reported on security forces side during the operation, which was still going on as troops had the reports that atleast five more militants were present in the area. Army was hopeful of liquidating the remaining ultras by tomorrow morning. Bodies of all 10 slain militants were recovered from the scene of encounter this evening. They have been identified as Kasif Bhat alias ‘Bhat Saheb", a resident of Lahore, who had led the militants in killing the nomads, Raja Shaukat Hassan Bhat alias Colonel Mausif, Abu Tarik of Muzafarrabad, Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), Akib Bhai alias Babbar Khan, Zahid Khan alias Vakas Khan, Nadeem Khan alias Abu Bakar, Rahman alias Billal, Inteqam, Noor Ahmed and Omar Riasar, all Pakistanis, hailing from Rawalpindi, Sialkot, Lahore and Islamabad. A huge quantity of arms, ammunition and explosive were recovered from the scene of encounter. Seizure included eight AK-47 rifle, one Rocket Projectile Gun (RPG), three radio sets, five hand grenades, one dictaphone, one transistor, some incriminating documents and Rs 5000 Indian currency. Killing of 10 dreaded militants of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and Harkat-ul-Jehad Islami (HUJI) outfits in a single operation was a major setback to Pakistan-backed outfit. The killings of these ultras have also thwarted their plans to indulge in more killings in the area, the sources said, adding local people have hailed army and police for killing the killers of 15 members of three innocent nomad families including seven children and three women. Meanwhile, militants gunned down another Gujjar identified as Mohd Shaffi son of Farooq Ahmed at village Narkote in Prankote area of Reasi hills in Udhampur district last night. Sources said the Gujjar was killed mercilessly. A volley of shots were fired on him and then he was beheaded. Militants escaped after the killing. |
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Qualification bar for MLAs
rejected Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Feb 19: The State Government today categorically ruled out the reduction of Legislative Assembly’s term from six to five years and making Graduation compulsory for a candidate to contest legislator’s election. The Government also rejected the demand for abolition of Upper House, which was described by one of the Opposition member as a ‘financial burden’ and ‘white elephant’. Replying to three private members’ bills introduced by Panthers Party member Harshdev Singh, Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather said the State has its own Constitution and the term of Assembly was fixed as six years under Section 147. The term was not fixed under 42nd amendment of the Constitution as stated by Harshdev, he pointed out. Pointing out that frequent elections lead to ‘serious financial implications’ , Rather, who was speaking in the absence of Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister P L Handoo, said ‘this aspect has even been endorsed by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee. In his statement of objects and reasons to the bill and elaborating on them, Singh noted that all State Assemblies in India as well as Parliament had a five year term. "On one hand, the National Conference Government wants parity with the country and other States while, on the other, they followed their own rules", he said. He said the term of Parliament was extended from five to six years in 1976 through 42nd amendment. However, the term was reversed to five years in 1978 though 44th amendment. "While our Government readily followed the extension, it didn’t reduce the term later", he regretted. The bill was put to vote for introduction and was rejected by the House. Besides Harshdev Singh, two Congress (I) members Lal Singh and Balbir Singh also supported the bill. Another bill of Harshdev Singh pertaining to put a qualification bar of Graduation for the MLAs too didn’t find favour in the House. It wasn’t supported even by the BJP members and BJP City East MLA Ashok Khajuria was among those who openly opposed it. BSP member from Samba Som Nath and BJP MLA from Chenani, however, supported the bill. Harshdev Singh said since the principle task of the legislators was to make legislations, the legislators should atleast be Graduates to do their job. "Even to become a chowkidar or a Class-IV employee, one needs to have some qualification but there was no qualification bar to become Chief Minister or Prime Ministers", he said and appealed to the treasury benches to atleast allow debate on the bill. The bill was opposed by the Finance Minister and rejected by the House with a voice vote. Third bill of the same member, which was rejected by the House at the introductory stage, pertained to abolition of Legislative Council. Rather asserted that a debate on the issue had already been held in the House. "Framers of the Legislature had used far-sightedness and set up the Upper House to keep a visit on the Lower House and make some suggestions", Rather said. Harshdev Singh said that finances to the tune of 100 crore of rupees can be saved in a year with the abolition of Upper House, whom he described as a ‘useless body’ and a ‘white elephant’. The Upper House was being used by the ruling party to give ‘employment’ to its activists through back-door, he asserted and maintained that all legislative business can be transacted without the Upper House. The Panthers Party MLA from Ramnagar said while the Lower House comprised representatives of the people, who are directly elected by the people, the Council comprised the members nominated or enrolled through indirect process and in, no way, represent the will of the people. "In view of the prevailing financial crunch in the State, a substantial portion of already scarce resources are frittered away in the maintenance of the House, its staff and members. As such, the House has outlives its utility and there was an acute urgency for its immediate abolition", he said. He said that many States had already dissolved the Upper House and the same pattern should also be followed in the State. However, his assertion as well as the bill was rejected by the treasury benches. Opposition members of BJP, JD and BSP supported the bill and described the Council as a ‘goushala’. They stood from their seats in protest when it was rejected by the House. |
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J&K militancy confined
to foreign groups From B L Kak The President, Mr K R Narayanan, has lambasted Pakistan for continuing cross border terrorism and aiding and abetting killing of innocent people in Jammu and Kashmir. Mr Narayanan, in his blistering attack on Pakistan, regretted: "There has been no let-up, much less an end to, cross-border terrorism and vicious anti-India propaganda, originating from Pakistani soil". In his address to joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament on the opening day of the Budget session on Monday, the President said that while many innocent lives "continue to be lost" every day to acts of barbarism by those who cloak them in the garb of ‘Jehad’, Pakistan "bears the responsibility for these acts against humanity, which are a travesty of religion". Arguing that Islamabad's protestations about its eagerness to resume talks with India will not carry conviction so long as it allows the terrorists' guns and bombs to do the talking, Mr Narayanan said that should Pakistan create an atmosphere conductive for meaningful talks, India will be more than ready to resume the dialogue process. The President, while asserting that the Government was pursuing a multi-pronged strategy to bring peace and normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir, pointed out that the bold initiative, namely, the unilateral ceasefire, was extended twice up to February 26 this year. As anticipated this was, he claimed, warmly welcomed by the people of Jammu and Kashmir, who, he also asserted, were longing for an end to militancy and violence in their beautiful state. Stating that the international community had also given overwhelming support to India's peace initiatives in J&K, the President lamented: "It is a matter of deep distress and concern to all of us that Pakistan has not reciprocated India's sincerity". The President said that the Army and paramilitary forces "are working under trying circumstances and the nation appreciates their supreme determination and sacrifice". He made it abundantly clear that action against terrorist organisations would continue relentlessly. Militancy in Jammu and Kashmir, Mr Narayanan informed Parliament, is "now increasingly confined to foreign mercenary groups". This, he pointed out, had widened the scope for democratic activity in the State. The people of the State, he noted with satisfaction, participated enthusiastically in the recent Panchayat elections. He reiterated the Government's readiness to have talks with every group in Jammu and Kashmir that abjures violence. Referring to India's foreign policy, the President said that it had responded creatively to the changing global scenario. According to him, the international community is beginning to recognise that a resurgent India - peaceloving, prosperous and strong - is a reliable factor for peace, stability and balance in Asia and in the world. "The principal thrust of our foreign policy is to promote an external network of peaceful and friendly relations, which would enable us to focus on our internal task of nation-building. Central to this objective is our consistent pursuit of friendly relations with all our neighbours", he said. Mr Narayanan added: "Indeed, our ties with all of them, barring Pakistan, have continued to grow both in substance and in scope". According to him, while India and Nepal share an intimate relationship characterised by wide-ranging interaction in all spheres, improvement of infrastructural links has also been a focus of bilateral cooperation with our neighbours. Stating that India continued to be committed to friendly and good-neighbourly ties with China based on ‘Panchsheel’ and mutual sensitivity to each other's concerns, the President asserted: "We share deep-rooted historical and cultural bonds with the Central Asian countries and attach great importance to further developing our relations with them". The President, who made a pointed reference to the steadily growing strength of India's interaction with the United States of America, said that it formed an "important new dimension of our external relations". He pointed out that New Delhi continued to engage with the Administration of President George W Bush to foster a stronger and mutually beneficial bilateral relationship. The President, who prefaced his address with his statement on the devastation caused by the earthquake that struck Gujarat, assured the nation that the Union Government and the Government of Gujarat had been working closely in the relief and rehabilitation operations throughout the State. He complimented the jawans and officers of the Army, the Air Force, and the Navy for their outstanding role in this effort. Mr Narayanan strongly argued that the catastrophe in Gujarat, as also the super cyclone in Orissa in 1999 and natual calamities in other parts of the country in recent years, had once again highlighted the urgent need to expand and modernise the country's disaster management capabilities. He emphasised the need to urgently revise and update the rules and regulations governing construction and town planning. The President also asserted that India's external and internal security "is the highest priority" for the Government. "We are committed to further strengthening the country's strategic response capability to meet any eventuality", he said and added that a group of Ministers had examined the recommendations of the Kargil Review Committee on the national security system, and would soon submit its proposals. |
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Clashes continue on
4th day SRINAGAR, Feb 19: Six security personnel including a CID official were killed and 16 injured as militants attacked an Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) camp, two BSF pickets, an Army convoy and ambushed a police vehicle in the Kashmir valley today during the past 24 hours. Meanwhile, 10 people were injured and 35 taken into custody as clashes between the demonstrators and Police continued for the fourth consecutive day today. Militants ambushed a Kupwara bound Police Gypsy carrying two detenues on police remand at Amargarh in Sopore area of Baramulla district killing three cops and injuring two others including a detenue, Superintendent of Police, Baramulla, Abdul Qayoom Manhas, told PTI. Head Constable Ghulam Rasool died instantly and five others, including a detenue were seriously injured in the ambush, Manhas said, adding the injured were rushed to hospital where two policemen - Special Police Officer Manzoor Ahmad and Constable Mohammad Asif of Indian Reserve Police -succumbed to injuries. The condition of the detenue Mohammad Ramzan Mochi who received head injuries was stated to be "serious", he said, adding the other detenue Bashir Ahmad who escaped unhurt was taken to Handwara police station by another police party which rushed to the scene from Sopore. The Jaish-e-Mohammad, floated by Maulana Masood Azhar, released by India in 1999 along with two other militants in lieu of the passengers aboard the hijacked Indian Airlines plane - IC 814 has claimed responsibility for the attack. One ITBP Constable Rati Ram was killed and five were injured when militants fired four rifle grenades at their camp in Bemina here, official sources said adding the ITBP personnel fired back and later cordoned off the area. The injured Havaldar Ranjeet Singh, Surat Singh, Jagdesh, Ashok Kumar and R P Jagdeep have been hospitalised. Elsewhere in the Kashmir valley, militants shot dead a policeman attached to Criminal Investigation Department (CID), in Pattan area of Baramulla district and a surrendered militant working with the Forest Department in Turkapora-Dragmullah in Kupwara district. At least four civilians were injured when militants hurled a grenade towards an army convoy at Bijbehara, 45 km from here, this evening but it missed the target and exploded on the road injuring four civilians, they said. The officials said militants also hurled grenades towards BSF pickets at Nawakadal and Narwarah in downtown Srinagar, but none was hurt in the explosions. Police apprehended a Lashkar-e-Toiba militant Zahoor Ahmad Bhat and seized five Chinese grenades and some documents from his house at Saderkote in Baramulla district. Meanwhile, at least 10 people including a woman were today injured and 35 youth detained as demonstrators clashed with police for the fourth successive day in Srinagar, where curfew was lifted from all areas barring Maisuma, official sources said. Trouble began when about 3,000 residents of Maisuma, Kokerbazar and Amirakadal, defying curfew orders, participated in a religious ceremony for Javed Ahmad Nath, killed in police firing in Maisuma on Friday, and pelted stones on policemen and Tourist Reception Centre while returning from Dalgate graveyard. Police fired dozens of teargas, used batons and arrested 35 persons to bring the situation under control, the sources said. As the news of the arrest spread, people, including women, took to streets defying curfew in Maisuma, Kokerbazar, Badshah Chowk, Lal Chowk and Amirakadal, demanding their release. Police used teargas to disperse the demonstrators who fought pitched battles, the sources said. Clashes spread to almost all places in downtown and uptown Srinagar in which 10 people including a woman, who was hit by a teargas shell in Bohrikadal, were injured, they said. Meanwhile, barring Maisuma, curfew imposed on Friday in some areas of Kothibagh, Shaheedgunj and Batamaloo, in view of clashes between police and demonstrators protesting against custodial deaths and police firing in Haigam last week, was lifted today. Several vehicles were damaged in the stone pelting by demonstrators in Safakadal, Kanikadal, Chinkral Mohalla, Babademb, Rainawari, Qammerwari, Khawaja Bazar, Chottabazar, Sekidaffar, Khayam Chowk, Dareshkadal, Magermalbagh and Batamaloo, the sources said. The clashes forced shopkeepers, who opened their shops after three days, to down shutters and brought vehicular traffic to halt, they said. Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Police today said they had busted a gang involved in extortion and theft with the arrest of four of its members from Anantnag district of south Kashmir. A police spokesman said here that acting on complaints received from locals, police arrested four persons from Bijbehara and seized some arms and ammunition from them. The four arrested had been identified as Bashir Ahmad Wagay of Jablipora, Muzaffar Hussain Lone of Pazalpora, Nisar Ahmad Bhat of Hassanpora and Uzafar Ahmad Khan alias Bita Khan of Hassipora, he said. (AGENCIES) |
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Massive sloganeering
against R&D Minister Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Feb 19: For the first time in the current budget session, almost the entire Opposition unitedly flayed the Government for the proposal of nominations to Panchayats and Block Development Councils and staged a collective walk-out shouting slogans against Rural and Development Minister Ajay Sadhotra. All MLAs of BJP, Congress (I), Janata Dal and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), present in the House, walked out of the House shouting ‘Chor Darwaza Bandh Karo, Nominations Naheen Chalengi, Rural Development Minister Hai Hai’. They continued shouting slogans for a couple of minutes in the House before staging a walk-out. Those who staged the walk-out included Lala Shiv Charan Gupta, Ashok Khajuria, Piara Singh, Prem Lal, Prithvi Chand and Prem Lal (BJP), Som Nath and Sagar Chand (BSP), Lal Singh and Balbir Singh (Congress-I), Harshdev Singh (Panthers Party) and Dr Jagdish Dubey (Janata Dal). The issue of nominations figured during a private member’s bill seeking amendments to Panchayati Raj Act moved by Panthers Party member Harshdev Singh seeking an end to nominations and election for the post of Chairman Planning and Development Boards. In his statement, Harshdev Singh said there was no criteria for nominations and feared that Government could adopt a pick and choose policy. "There should be a set procedure for the nominations and not only a Government prerogative", he asserted. He said there was no bar on nomination of ‘unsound persons’ and wanted to know what justice an unsound person can deliver. In his reply, Minister of State (independent charge) for Rural Development Ajay Sadhotra said the Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah was also against the procedure of nominations but since the Panchayati elections were held for the first time under this Act, the Government was vary of women’s participation. As far as the nominations of Scheduled Tribe was concerned, Sadhotra said there was a provision for them under ‘any other’ category. Regarding Harshdev’s amendment on a bar on nomination of unsound persons was concerned, the Minister said :"we respect the wisdom of Sarpanchs and Panchs that they won’t recommend an unsound person". "There was nothing wrong in the nominations of Chairman", Sadhotra said. This irked the Opposition members, who were on their feet, and walked-out of the House shouting slogans. In his statement to the amendment bill, Harshdev Singh said the Act merely provided that if women and Scheduled castes weren’t adequately represented in the Panchayats and Development Councils, a suitable number of them shall be nominated. Singh sought to suggest a judicious process for making the said nominations. Secondly, the Panthers MLA said, there was no reference to Scheduled Tribes in the Act. He wanted that if STs too weren’t adequately represented a suitable number of them should also be nominated in fair and judicious manner. He also proposed through the amendments that Chairman of District Planning and Development Board should be elected by the Board members and not nominated by the Government as laid down in the Act. The amendments were rejected by the House after Opposition’s walk-out. Yet another amendment bill of Harshdev Singh, which was rejected by the House, sought an amendment in J&K Migrants Immovable Property Act of 1997 for preservation, protection and restraint on the distress sale of migrants immovable property. Harshdev Singh said that this Act covered only the migrants from Kashmir valley and not from other parts of the State like Doda and Udhampur and demanded that all migrants should be treated at par. Describing the issue as ‘human issue’, Speaker Abdul Ahad Vakil intervened in the debate and said all migrants were citizens of the State and there should be equal treatment to all. Finance Minister A R Rather said he appreciated the sentiments of the member but added that it was Government’s policy to discourage migration. "If we encourage it, more people will migrate", he asserted and pointed out that situation was returning to normal on the border and there was every possibility of some migrants’ return to their houses. However, he assured the House that if migrants of other areas didn’t return to their House, a comprehensive bill will be introduced by the Government in the next session and passed. The Bill was rejected by the House amidst protests from Harshdev Singh, who regretted that the Bill was not even brought at the consideration stage for a debate in the House. "This is a sorry state of affairs. The Government was scared of discussion", he remarked. |
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Economic performance of J&K Govt has improved: Omar NEW DELHI, Feb 19: The achievements of the present Jammu and Kashmir State Government are larger when compared to those during the Governors’ rule in the state with greater recovery of the dues including that of Electricity Bill and other basic services, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Omar Abdullah said here today. Abdullah, who was speaking to reporters after being presented the report of the committee on export promotion in the State, said "the achievements of the State Government have been larger than during the Governor’s rule in the State and there has been better realisation". On the opportunities for developing the industry in the wake of militancy in the State, he said not the entire State is in the grip of militancy and Jammu is not affected. "We have problems such as shortage of electricity in the State, but we have to restart and cannot keep quite due to the militancy problem in the State", he said. The minister declined to comment on the ceasefire issue. Earlier, speaking at the function, Abdullah said the report of the committee on promotion of exports from Jammu and Kashmir would not be confined to the shelves, but would be reviewed periodically. Cautioning that there was absolutely no scope for providing Government jobs in the State including those in the Class IV category, Omar said it was essential to develop the State industry and promote exports for providing employment opportunites. He said the State Government should coordinate with the centre to increase the exports currently pegged at around Rs 1000 crores in value terms. On the release of the report, he said "this marked the conclusion of another promise I made to the people of Jammu and Kashmir after installation of the software technology parks in the State. "This report is not an end in itself", he said adding this would only serve as a blue print giving an impetus to exports from the State. "Unless we act, this report will be worthless and it is imperative on our part that the efforts are not wasted as a lot of money has been spent", he said. He said the other central ministries would also be coordinating in the state’s efforts. Union Commerce Secretary Prabir Sengupta said it would not be possible for the Centre alone to take all the initiatives for promoting exports from the states and there would have to be a coordination between the State and the Centre. Omar said it was essential to improve the ratio of negative stories compared to a few positive stories emanating from the State. This report should enthuse people in Ladakh and other areas, he said. The minister also suggested a pro-active labour policy in the State to improve job opportunities. The report of the committee headed by HEC Prasad, Economic Advisor in the Ministry of Commerce, calls for adequate incentives for giving a boost to exports from Jammu and Kashmir. Prasad, who is also the chairman of the committee on promotion of exports from Jammu and Kashmir, said an export development fund should be set up for the State for taking up specific activities for promotion of exports. He said the report called for setting up of pioneering and pilot projects for exports, provision of equipment and machinery besides common facilities for facilitating exports. Prasad said this can be part of the programme for development of "disadvantaged region", which is WTO compatible. The report says as much as 5 per cent of budget by key Central Government departments should be earmarked for Jammu and Kashmir in a non-lapsable pool as in the north- east and of this fund, a definite part should be for "export development fund". (PTI) |
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Farooq to lead official Indian Haj delegation Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Feb 19: Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah will head the official Indian delegation for Haj this year. He will leave on February 24 for New Delhi as head of the delegation. Authoritative sources told EXCELSIOR that while the official delegation will return on March 17, Dr Abdullah will return here on March 10. Budget of the State was scheduled to be presented in the Legislature on March 12. During the absence of Dr Abdullah from the State, Housing and Urban Development Minister Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din Shah will officiate as Chief Minister. However, Works Minister Ali Mohd Sagar will look after the Home Department. Meanwhile, Minister of State for Home Mushtaq Ahmed Lone is also leaving for Haj tomorrow. In view of bad health of Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister P L Handoo, his portfolios are being entrusted to Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather, the sources said. |
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Taliban agrees to hand over Laden to Saudi Arabia ISLAMABAD, Feb 19: Afghanistan’s ruling Taliban militia has told Pakistan that it is willing to hand over Saudi dissident and terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden to his native country to face trial, a leading Pakistani daily reported today. The offer to send Bin Laden to Saudi Arabia was made by Taliban’s supreme leader Mulla Mohemmad Omar to Pakistan’s Interior Minister Moinuddeen Haider during the latter’s recent visit to Kabul, ‘The Dawn’ quoting authoritative sources said. Omar offered to hand over Bin Laden to Saudi Arabia even without Haider raising the issue, the newspaper said. "We never raised the Osama issue. It was raised by no less a person than Mulla Omar during the talks," it quoted a high level Pakistan official. The paper quoted the official as saying that Omar told Haider that if Saudi Arabia was not willing to accept Osama because of political repercussions in the country, Kabul was ready to shift him to another Musilm country. He however did not name any particular country, the official said. The Saudi Government has already stripped Bin Laden of his citizenship for his terrorist activities at home and abroad. Since then he has stayed put in Afghanistan under Taliban patronage. (PTI) |
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Per capita
Central assistance to J&K is NEW DELHI, Feb 19: The per capita Central assistance to Jammu and Kashmir during the last fiscal, including reimbursement of security-related expenditure, stands at about Rs 6,000 per year, according to the Union Home Ministry. While the Central assistance, both plan and non-plan, stood at Rs 4603.67 crore, the Home Ministry released Rs 337.82 crore to reimburse security-related expenditure during the year, a ministry spokesman said. Other Central ministries also released assistance to the State Government under various Centrally-sponsored and aided projects in the State. Putting together the assistance on all these heads, the per capita Central assistance stood at Rs 6,000 per year, the spokesman added. (PTI) |
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Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Feb 19: Director General of Police A K Suri today ordered transfers and postings of five Deputy Superintendents of Police (DySPs). Sanjay Sharma, Sub Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Mahore has been transferred and posted as SDPO East in place of Devinder Sharma. Devinder has been posted as SDPO Basohli vice Nasir Khan. Khan was posted as DySP in 12th battalion of JKAP. Rajinder Mishra, DySP JKAP 12th battalion has been posted in Crime and Railways, Jammu for track duty. Jaswant Singh Katoch has been posted as SDPO Mahore vice Sanjay Sharma. |
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Notorious cheat nabbed by police Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Feb 19: Punjab Police have arrested a notorious cheat from here, who had cheated a number of companies including a prominent business house. Police sources here said that a Punjab Police party from Bhatinda raided a hideout of the cheat Mahender Jha here and took him into custody. The cheat has been whisked away to Bhatinda for sustained questioning to ascertain his involvement in different cheating cases. Police said details about Jha’s arrest by neighbouring police were being ascertained. Jha was also wanted here in different cheating cases. |
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NEW DELHI, Feb 19: A crucial meeting of Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) affairs, which was put off yesterday at the last minute, is likely to be held on Wednesday to decide whether or not to extend the ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir beyond the February 26 deadline, official sources said here tonight. The meeting, which will be chaired by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, will take into account the recent terrorist killings of innocent people in the State while taking a decision on this sensitive issue, the sources said. It is expected to be attended by Home Minister L K Advani, Defence Minister George Fernandes, External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh, Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha and National Security Adviser Brajesh Mishra among others. CCS meeting last night was cancelled because officials said that the Prime Minister was pre-occupied with the meeting of the National Committee on Disaster Management which he chaired at Parliament House. Amidst reservations from within, the Government had on January 23 stuck to its bold initiative by extending the ceasefire for a month beyond Republic Day to give peace "every chance" in Kashmir even as the Prime Minister had asked Pakistan to rein in militant outfits which rejected the extension. The CCS decision had come notwithstanding views of sections within the Government and the Sangh Parivar which opposed the extension on the grounds that Pakistan-backed Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and other groups had stepped up violence against civilians and security personnel. Vajpayee had declared on November 19 that security forces would not launch combat operations against militants during Ramzan and extended the ceasefire by another month till January 26. (PTI) |
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Pak continues support to ultras: India NEW DELHI, Feb 19: Mr Brajesh Mishra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, today said India had not received any evidence of Pakistan stopping its support to cross-border terrorism. Pakistan’s continued support to militants in Jammu and Kashmir had prevented an immediate breakthrough in relations with that country, he said in an interview on the Doordarshan. "There is no change in our stand on resumption of dialogue with Pakistan as we have not received any evidence that Islamabad has stopped its support to the cross border terrorism," he said. Mr Mishra admitted that "our interlocutors know" Pakistan’s role in aiding and abetting cross-border terrorism. He said the Government had not taken any decision on issuing passports to Hurriyat leaders for visiting Pakistan. He made it clear that there was no room for tri-partite talks on the Kashmir dispute. However, Pakistan wanted to give this impression that by allowing Hurriyat leaders to visit Islamabad, the process of tri-partite talks would be set in motion, he added. On convening the SAARC summit, he said: "We have never completely stopped the SAARC process." Technical level meetings are already taking place, he added. He hoped that Foreign Secretaries of the SAARC member countries would meet in future once the technical committees complete their agenda. (UNI) |
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